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‘Make a wish,’ Xavier said, holding the candle close to my morning breath.
I closed my eyes and blew it out, wishing to be a skiing-pro or any kind of snow-pro before the season was over. Progress was still embarrassingly slow.
‘Thank you so much, guys, this is a lovely surprise,’ I said, taking the tea and the pancakes and stifling a little yawn. ‘What time is it?’ I looked around for my phone.
‘7 a.m.,’ Liv said.
‘Is it?! What the hell? Why have you woken me up so early?’ I said, enraged.
‘Because we are working breakfast and then you have your girls’ day out, so I probably won’t get chance to see you,’ Xavier said, handing over a squishy present, wrapped in red paper and tied with silver ribbons.
‘It’s from both of us,’ he said, and Liv nodded.
I ripped the paper open to find a gorgeous pair of boarding pants rolled into a soft, padded sausage.
‘Nooo? A pair of my very own?’ I said, unfurling them sleepily and shaking them out. ‘They must have cost a fortune!’ I put them on over my pyjamas and they were a perfect fit – a pair of snuggly, leg duvets to keep me warm on the slopes.
‘We used the rest of the Xtreme competition winnings from your generous benefactor,’ Liv said with a wink, ‘so don’t feel too bad about it.’
‘Those vouchers have dressed me from head to toe. I absolutely love them. Thank you so much – both of you.’ I gave Liv a big kiss and Xavier a cuddle. ‘Auntie Pam’s salopettes might have to be permanently retired.’
‘I think that would be for the best,’ Xavier said.
‘Yeah, and I can get some of my clothes back,’ Liv laughed.
‘Absolutely not,’ I said. ‘I love your clothes too.’
‘We’ve got to go to work but eat your pancakes and we’ll be back later to top up your tea,’ Xavier said, jumping up off the bed.
‘Yeah, laters, mate – we’re going out at 10 a.m., so get your ass up and be ready. Rach is meeting us at the lift.’
The two of them left and I checked my phone for birthday messages. It was a bit early for people to be awake and thinking of me, but there was already aHappy Birthday Darlingfrom Mum and aBonne Anniversairefrom Margot.
I scoffed my pancakes, set my alarm for 9.30 a.m. and went back to sleep. A 7 a.m. wake-up call on my birthday was outrageous.
Liv burst in at 9.34 a.m., switched off my alarm and shook me awake.
‘Come on lazy bones, you’ve gotta get up and at ’em,’ she said.
‘Morning, again,’ I said, dreamily. ‘Was Luca at breakfast?’
‘Yup. And the lady of the house. Both now on their way back to Paris,’ Liv said, stripping off her uniform and putting her snow gear on.
I checked my phone again. One new message:
George:Happy Birthday Hols! The house is on the market. I’ll keep you updated on any offers. Enjoy your birthday xx
Seeing his name on my phone again caught me off-guard. I’d almost forgotten we co-owned a house. Strange to think how differently I now felt about him. I’d done a complete 180 on the man I was all set to marry. I jumped out of bed and ran into the shower, about to break my record for getting mountain-ready.
‘Xavier has done you a birthday picnic with the works,’ Liv said. ‘Home-made bread, a charcuterie, cheeses, grapes, chocolate-dipped strawberries, madeleines. I’ve never seen anything like it.’
‘Sounds amazing. Can’t wait to get up there and eat it,’ I said, laughing. ‘I might sack off the skiing today, for a birthday treat.’
‘You’re still not in love with it then?’
‘It’s hard to fall in love with it when I spend so much time on my face.’
Liv and I speed-crunched through town to the lift, where Rachael was waiting for us. I was twenty-eight years old. Nearly three decades on earth and what had I got to show for it? Well, a nice ski outfit and two new friends for starters. That wasn’t so bad.
