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She considered it. ‘The Holiday. Jude Law and Kate Winslet.’
‘And you laughed at my film choice?’
‘What’s wrong withThe Holiday?’ It was her turn to sound defensive.
‘It’s agirls’film.’
She couldn’t help laughing. ‘Fair enough. Point taken.’
He was grinning. ‘Bloody cheek.’
They headed towards the lake and over a small wooden bridge. Strings of fairy lights were wrapped around the posts, forming a canopy of twinkling lights. It struck her that, as well as being Christmassy, it was also very romantic.
They stopped and looked over the edge, watching the water disappearing under the bridge.
Calvin rested his arms on the balustrade. ‘What’s your favourite Christmas song?’
‘Well, I have two… Ella Fitzgerald’s version of “The Man with the Bag”, which I used to love playing on the piano, and more recently, “Christmas in the Air”, by Scouting for Girls. You probably don’t know it.’
‘Actually, I do.’ He straightened up. ‘You don’t have completely bad taste then. Just in films.’
‘From the grown man who still watchesHome Alone.’
He followed her off the bridge, laughing. ‘Woodland or lake?’
She pointed ahead. ‘I saw signposts for a magical trail. I like the sound of that.’
They headed towards the woodland, the crowds dispersing as the ground became wetter and heavier. The trees were full of lights and she wondered how on earth anyone could afford the electricity bill for such an elaborate display.
‘Wow, look at the reindeer.’ The woodland was filled with a herd of glistening wire sculptures, grouped together to form huddles. ‘It’s so beautiful,’ she said, unearthing her phone so she could send some photos to Beth.
They continued walking and reached the start of the magical trail, where only a few brave souls were stoic enough to attempt the route.
As they got closer, Kate could see why. A wooden-slatted walkway had been erected above the forest floor, with rope attached to posts, each one lit by a flickering lantern. It didn’t look particularly stable – something that was confirmed when she stepped onto it and it moved beneath her.
Calvin reached for her. ‘Careful, it’s slippery. Do you want me to go in front so you can hold on to me?’
‘Yes, please. Although I can’t promise not to bring you down with me.’
He grinned. ‘Same here.’
‘That’s okay, then.’ She let him go past and clutched the back of his jacket.
They moved slowly down the walkway, admiring the reindeer and the occasional star dangling from a tree, which shimmered when a blast of light swept across the forest floor.
‘You okay back there?’
‘Positively peachy,’ she said, slipping and smacking into his back. ‘Oops, sorry.’
His hand reached around to steady her. ‘So, continuing with our festive theme… what’s your favourite Christmas food? And please don’t say Brussels sprouts.’
‘I wasn’t going to.’ She was briefly distracted when the light show switched to purple, giving the woodland a mythical glow. ‘Chinese.’
He glanced over his shoulder. ‘That’s not a Christmas food.’
‘I know, but the first Christmas after Tristan left, my mum was away visiting Brian’s family, and I couldn’t be bothered to cook,’ she said, urging him to continue walking. ‘So I ordered in a Chinese, and it sort of became a tradition. Doesn’t matter where I end up spending Christmas Day, at some point over the holidays I order myself a takeaway. I guess it’s my way of sticking two fingers up to convention.’
He laughed. ‘You’re such a rebel, Katiekins.’
