Page 32 of Christmas, Actually

‘It’s a deal,’ Clara said, smiling, feeling something inside her click.

Something was happening between them, Clara could feel it. And for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t being pushed or cajoled. She was exactly where she wanted to be. And whatever happened tonight, she knew she was going to be alright, actually.

Clara sat on Liam’s sofa holding a bowl of roasted vegetables with pasta in the shape of cars as she watched Liam put the final touches onto the Christmas tree before standing back.

‘Ta da!’ he said as he switched on the fairy lights and a mass of sparkling white, pink and blue bulbs threw sparkles across the room. After Charlie had packed his favourite pyjamas and toys and headed next door with Jenny, Clara and Liam had spent half an hour undecorating the bulging lower branches, before filling the tree back up. Eleanor had packed the box she’d given to Liam with all her favourite sparkly ornaments, and had even included an elf that Liam had placed in the centre of the mantlepiece, wrapped around a golden candlestick.

‘I can’t help feeling that thing is going to do something evil while I sleep,’ he said, staring at it suspiciously. ‘How about we hide it in the bookshop when Ezra isn’t looking?’ He turned towards her and grinned wickedly before his eyes dropped to her half-full bowl.

‘Don’t you like vegetables, or is it the pasta – not a fan of cars?’ he said, grinning. ‘Charlie’s gone off that shape, it’s all about dinosaurs now.’

She chuckled. ‘I love vegetables – they are not at all yuk – and the car pasta is worthy of a Michelin star, I was just—’ She filled the spoon and ate a mouthful because that way she wouldn’t have to explain she’d been far too interested in watching him than in the food. As soon as Charlie had left, Liam had popped upstairs and changed into jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, making Clara wish again that she’d brought a change of clothes.

She’d never had a thing for men in jeans, but the way Liam filled them out, the way the T-shirt hugged his frame, drawing attention to the muscles on his arms and forearms, accentuating the ripples across his chest made her stomach feel like it had been pumped full of bees. She gulped down the mouthful of food. ‘It’s good. The pasta’s lovely – vegetables too.’

He beamed. ‘Right answer – you can have a brownie when you’ve finished. Charlie found the star sprinkles this time and used the entire pot, so they’re crunchy but taste great.’ He smiled. ‘Thanks for helping today.’ He glanced around as he sank onto the sofa beside her and picked up his bowl, scooping a little out. ‘Sorry we couldn’t sit at the table but…’ He glanced into the other room. They’d tidied a lot of stuff, but most of it had been transferred into the dining room for later, including some of Charlie’s gifts which Liam was hoping to wrap.

‘I enjoyed it. It feels like Christmas now.’ More like the kind of family Christmas she’d always wished for. ‘You haven’t opened your cards,’ she said, nodding at the pile on the coffee table which she’d discovered under one of Charlie’s jumpers.

Liam put his bowl down as music began to play on the TV and Hugh Grant started to shimmy along. Clara loved the film but given the choice between watching Hugh or Liam, there really was no competition. ‘Do you want to help?’ he asked, handing her a couple of envelopes.

‘Yes, please.’ She paused. ‘Do you really want me to open your Christmas cards?’ she checked, wondering how many were waiting for her back in New York.

Since her family and Hudson’s didn’t really celebrate Christmas, she’d often only receive one during the festive season – and that was from Eleanor. She sniffed the envelope, smelled pine needles and grinned, although it was probably just Liam’s tree.

‘I do,’ Liam said, sliding a couple more in her direction. ‘We can put them on the mantlepiece, just tell me who they’re from so I can make sure I actually send one back to whoever it is this year.’ He pulled a face. ‘I didn’t write any last year, and I can’t remember if I did the year before. Eleanor told me it was about time I got my act together and she’s included a box of cards with the decorations.’

‘I can help you write them if you like?’ she offered as she opened the first card. ‘This one’s from Mrs Brown.’

Liam smiled. ‘She’s a customer, one of my favourites because she always bakes me gingerbread cookies and then tells me she hates them, so I have to bring the whole lot home.’

‘Are they better than trifle?’ Clara teased.

‘Nothing’s better than trifle, Clara,’ Liam said, his voice husky, making the bees start buzzing in her stomach again.

She cleared her throat and watched Liam slide open a couple of envelopes and add more cards to the growing pile. She turned back to her stack and opened the next card, which immediately dumped glitter all over her lap.

‘It’s from Doris Sparkle.’ She laughed. ‘Hence the sparkles, I guess. She says Merry Christmas, come and visit her soon and make sure to bring your beautiful wife.’ She flushed.

Liam chuckled. ‘She’s incorrigible. She’s tried to marry me off more times than I can count, but she’s never tried quite this hard before. Her daughter was the first, but she was already married. You’d better watch yourself.’

Clara didn’t respond. She didn’t mind being matched with Liam even in the fantasies of an older woman. Instead, she opened the next card and frowned.

16

CLARA

Dear Liam,

I want to wish you and Charlie the most wonderful Christmas. I also want to say again that I’m sorry, so truly sorry for what I did.

I’ve said it before, but I want to write it this time. I don’t expect you to contact me, but I want you to know my door is always open if you do.

Graham

Clara quickly shut the card and stiffened.

‘Who’s it from?’ Liam asked.