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It had been an effort not to tell her mother anything. She probably would sometime, but right now it was just too raw. Holding onto a smile and pretending everything was fine was exhausting.

‘It looks great, Mum.’ She blinked at the twinkling lights and the handmade decorations and then began packing up the boxes ready for when the ornaments had done their duty and had to be boxed up for another year.

As always, she’d brought her cat with her, who was now fast asleep on a wingback chair near the fireplace.

She thought about Carlos and his opulent Christmas décor and the tree that would have done Trafalgar Square proud. She could have kicked herself for not facing the obvious more robustly.

She and Javier had been worlds apart. How could she not have let that simple truth deter her from any involvement with him? How could she have let her feelings go haywire when, fundamentally, they were so different? How on earth could she have thought that for someone like her, always so careful with her feelings, lust would suddenly be this huge thing taking over her life? In the end, only love could have made her be the person she had become, tender and vulnerable and, yes, adoring.

Once she started thinking about Javier, she couldn’t get him out of her head.

‘Mum…’

‘Yes?’ Julie Jamieson was inspecting the tree with assessing eyes. ‘Do you think there are enough decorations on the tree, darling? I have another box somewhere in that cupboard in my bedroom.’

‘The tree will collapse if we put another bauble on,’ Hope said. ‘I think I might go grab a coffee in town.’

‘Everywhere will be packed!’

‘I need a little fresh air.’ Hope forced a smile. ‘And one of those pastries from Annie’s.’

‘Now why didn’t you say so? That makes a lot more sense than a coffee and some fresh air. I could come with you, if you like?’

‘And leave our chicken in the oven to get burnt? You banned me from lifting a finger to help cook dinner so now I’m banning you from leaving the dinner in the oven to keep me company for a couple of hours.’ Hope winked. ‘I’ll bring you back a pastry. I know you love them.’

‘Mulled wine will be waiting for you when you’re back. You look like you need cheering up, even though you said that your photography stint went brilliantly.’

‘Oh,’ Hope said vaguely. ‘I’m fine.’

She never lied. Now she was drowning in half truths. She would clear her head in town, would watch the world go by and try and put things in perspective.

For the first time in her life, Christmas was shaping up to be the most miserable time of the year.

* * *

Javier saw Hope through the window of an upmarket café called Annie’s. She was sitting by the window and staring absently out at the street, her face cupped in her hand.

He sucked in a deep, shuddering breath.

So much had happened in a handful of days. The life he thought he’d known had taken so many interesting side tributaries that he had lost count. But the most important thing, the thing that made his heart soar, was his relationship with his brother, which had changed in ways he had never dreamt possible.

So much change and yet…

The one constant he wanted back in his life was Hope. Every feeling of betrayal, of hurt that she had withheld things from him, every second of pain that her actions had caused, had been overwhelmed by a love for her that was powerful enough to make him feel weak.

And now here he was.

He breathed in deeply and began walking towards the café. He approached from an angle that would allow some element of surprise when he joined her.

The café was a converted old bank, with elegant sash windows and pale walls and wooden floors.

Outside, lights were strung around the sash windows, glowing in the dark, and inside they continued along the exposed beams. Smells of mince pies, cinnamon buns and the crisp scent of pine from the Christmas tree that stood proudly in the corner surrounded him.

It was busy. Obviously, in the run up to Christmas, everywhere was open much later than normal.

He brushed past a winding queue of people waiting to be served and headed straight towards Hope.

She had her back to him.