Page 77 of The Christmas Letter

He smiled. ‘Nothing. Just like hearing you laugh, that’s all.’

She felt the jump in her stomach, then couldn’t help laughing again when the boat swept around the corner – even if a tiny part of her felt guilty, for laughing. And even as a bigger part of her wished Emma could be here to enjoy this with them.

Chapter Twenty-five

Back at the hotel, Holly checked her phone for the time, trying to calculate how many hours there were before she could see Emma again. Another fourteen – she still had to get through the night before they were allowed back.

As if Emma was somehow sensing her worry from afar, a text popped up.

I’m ok. I’m going to sleep so I’m awake and perky for when you come to visit tomorrow – mainly because I want to have words with you for going behind my back and calling a certain someone.

Holly felt her lips twitch.

Would you rather I sent him back home?

The reply was almost instantaneous.

He’s still here then?

It broke her heart a little, the idea of Emma worrying about that.

Yes. Shall I tell him thanks for coming all this way, but actually he best be off home?

I’m not going to rise to that.

Are you ok – honestly? Can I do anything?

I’m ok – honestly. And there’s nothing you can do right now, and I need to sleep anyway. Keep exploring Venice with Jack and then at least you’ll have something interesting to tell me tomorrow.

‘What are you smiling at?’

Holly looked up to see Jack standing by the window – a window which offered just the tiniest glimpse of the beauty of Venice. ‘Emma,’ she said, putting her phone down, then suddenly wondering what to do with her hands. They’d been mid-conversation when they’d got back to the hotel, and had just carried on talking as they climbed the stairs, heading to Holly’s room, neither of them questioning it. But now what?

‘She has her phone on her?’ Jack asked.

‘Sure. It’s not a prison. A monastery, once upon a time, but not a prison.’

Jack nodded, looking back out at the street below. Holly wondered if he’d message her, let her know he’d still be here tomorrow, was still planning to stay. But that was for him to decide, and she was trying to be less pushy.

‘So, what do you want to do now?’ Jack asked.

‘I don’t know . . . We could grab dinner somewhere?’ Obviously, Holly. Because what was the alternative – they didn’t eat? But maybe he’d want a break from her, the chance to clear his head a bit. She opened her mouth, ready to suggest that, but he beat her to it.

‘Ok, well, don’t laugh, but I may have googled the top ten things to do in Venice.’

‘Of course you have.’

It earned a grin.

‘When, exactly?’

‘When you were trying on your lacy thing.’

‘Right. And?’

‘Venice Jazz Club came pretty high up. I put our names on the list, if you want to go?’

‘Jazz?’ Then she shrugged. ‘Ok. Why not?’ It would be good to have the distraction, in any case. ‘Just let me shower and change.’ Then she frowned at him. ‘Actually, do you want to shower too?’