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“I don’t mind,” she said, wondering at Dimitrios’s comment. If Ellie was as reluctant to speak as he’d indicated, surely her inquisitive nature was a good thing? “I have a place in Barnes.”

“I’ve never heard of it.”

“It’s not far from Hammersmith. Near Putney.”

“Oh.”

“I grew up in Putney,” Chloe elaborated. “My mum and dad are there, and my sisters and brother have all stayed within easy reach.”

“Do you have a big family?”

“I’m the youngest of five,” she agreed with a nod.

“He’s got two brothers,” Ellie said, nodding towards Dimitrios as she reached for another cookie, her slinged arm folded in front of her stomach. “I always wanted a little sister or brother.”

What could Chloe say? She simply nodded her understanding and a moment later, Ellie was forcing a tight smile to her face. “So, you don’t like my room?”

Chloe almost laughed at the question. It was so like a teen to take a possible project like this as a criticism. “I like it fine,” she contradicted. “But I think a room should be a haven. A place that holds you tight, you know? Somewhere you want to be, most in the world. And as much as possible, it should reflect your personality. Do you think your room does any of those things?”

Ellie bit into the cookie, her eyes on the tree across the room. Eventually, she shook her head.

“Before I started doing all this,” Chloe pointed to the Christmas tree. “I was an interior designer, and I still enjoy taking on projects when I’m able. If you want, I can help you. But it’s completely up to you. I know Dimitrios wants your room to reflect your choices, your decision. If you’re happy with it as is, then we can leave it.”

Ellie opened her mouth to say something, then clamped it shut. “I just don’t think I’d be any good at that.”

“You don’t have to be. That’s what I’m here for.”

Ellie lifted her shoulders, her expression now showing uncertainty. “Maybe. I guess. I don’t know.” Chloe let the subject drop, for now.

The request to cook gingerbread cookies hadn’t been a throwaway line, and it hadn’t been forgotten. At least, not by Ellie. When Sunday afternoon rolled around and Chloe still hadn’t shared the kitchen space with the teen, Ellie went in search of Chloe and all but insisted they get to it.

And so it was on a Sunday afternoon, as a dusting of snow began to fall outside, with carols playing through the Bluetooth speaker, Ellie and Chloe began to bake gingerbread cookies, side by side. Not talking at first, and then, slowly sharing stories about their Christmas memories. Ellie’s were melancholy, because it sounded like Christmas had been a time of year her mother had truly loved, and made magical, despite her lack of culinary prowess. There’d been visits to Harrods and photographs with Father Christmas, shopping trips, matching gift wrap, and big lunches with all their friends—including Dimitrios.

And it made her understand more clearly why he’d come to her office with such a sense of urgency, refusing to take ‘no’ for an answer. He wanted to gift that to Ellie again, and he didn’t know where to start, so he’d come to a professional. And even though Chloe always went above and beyond to turn her clients’ dreams into a reality, she made a silent pledge that afternoon that this Christmas—Ellie’s first without her mother—would be as beautiful and meaningful as she could possibly make it.

“I’ve got an idea,” Chloe said, as they popped a tray of gingerbread biscuits into the oven. “Why don’t you go pack and shower while these bake, and I’ll make some hot chocolates, then we can eat, drink and watch a movie?”

“What kind of movie?” Ellie asked, looking like she was torn between skepticism and enthusiasm. The conflicting emotions of a teen were familiar to Chloe. She hid a smile as she folded a tea towel neatly.

“A Christmas one, obviously.”

“Mmm. Got a fave?”

“About twenty,” Chloe responded seriously. “What do you think?”

“My mum always loved the old-fashioned ones, anything with Jimmy Stewart,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “But I secretly loved Hallmark and would watch them whenever I could.”

“Hallmark it is,” Chloe said with a decisive nod. “You go get ready for school and I’ll let Dimitrios know.”

Ellie’s lips pulled to the side. “He won’t like it.”

“Like what? Us watching a Chrissy movie?”

“Missing dinner,” she said with a shrug. “We always eat together, at the table. And at six thirty sharp. You might have noticed, he’s like weirdly obsessed with systems.”

Chloe kept her expression neutral. “Lucky for you, I’m in charge of Christmas cheer while I’m here, and I’m suggesting a movie. You get sorted and I’ll do the rest.”

She found Dimitrios in his office. The moment she walked in, ideas began to pop into her mind of how she could decorate it for Christmas too. The boring-looking shelves lined with black, leather-bound books needed thick, green garlands with artificial snow tips. There was a perfect space near the window for a red velvet armchair and a Christmas tree, the sort of nook that would be ideal for curling up and reading.