Page 39 of Christmas, Actually

Ezra’s eyes flashed. ‘That’s hardly the point.’

‘Was anything damaged?’ She frowned. ‘Because if it was, I could⁠—’

‘It wasn’t!’ Ezra snapped.

‘Then what’s the problem, lad?’ Joe asked, taking a large swig of his mulled wine before he whistled and puffed out his cheeks. ‘Jeez, that’s strong. Just what the doctor ordered, though.’ He winked at Liam and guzzled more. ‘Give Ezra an extra-large one, Nora – sounds like the boy needs it.’

The older woman didn’t need to be told twice, and she immediately filled up a glass to the brim and slid it across the table without spilling any, which was an achievement in itself.

The bookshop owner sighed as he picked up one of the elves by the leg and shook it at Eleanor. ‘This whole thing needs to stop. I get it’s a joke – you like making people laugh, but I’m not laughing and I don’t want any more of them in my shop,’ he insisted.

‘Don’t you think it’s a little funny?’ Eleanor asked as she surveyed the pile of abandoned toys on the table. ‘You must have gained a lot of new customers on the back of it. If you like, we could work with that. Fit in a visit from Mr and Mrs Christmas and make more of a thing of it?’ She nodded, looking excited as she continued to plan. ‘We could announce it on the radio, bring more naughty elves and they could help out at the event.’ Her eyes travelled across the table, sparkling as she imagined it.

‘No!’ Ezra yelled, his eyes flashing. His mouth thinned and he picked up the mulled wine and drank the lot down in one. Then he slammed the glass back on the table.

It was so out of character for the usually quiet man that they all stared at him. ‘I don’t want Christmas in my shop – not a bit of it. That includes visits from you or you.’ He jabbed a finger at Clara and then Liam. ‘And especially not you.’ He pointed to Eleanor and her face dropped. ‘No offence,’ Ezra added, his forehead creasing as he took in Eleanor’s expression and his eyes widened.

Liam wondered if he regretted the outburst. He knew harsh words were easy to say but difficult to take back. They lingered in the air like chemicals that tarnished everything they touched.

It was odd seeing the usually unflappable bookshop owner in such a fury, though. A part of Liam felt sorry for him, but another realised Ezra was overreacting and this clearly had something else at its core.

Something to do with the woman he’d mentioned who’d loved his best friend, the wedding that had happened last Christmas and the life he’d reluctantly left behind. One that was still obviously haunting him and marring his life. Something he probably needed to move on from… And if that wasn’t a life lesson knocking him on the head with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, he didn’t know what was.

‘Okay then,’ Eleanor said after a long pause, her voice croaky. Her face seemed to have drooped, the usual happy glow had dimmed, and Liam guessed she was hurt. Things usually bounced off Eleanor, but Ezra’s words appeared to have wounded her. The bookshop owner must have realised it too because he was staring at her, his expression coloured by worry and guilt.

‘Um,’ Nora said awkwardly. ‘Now you’ve got that out of your system, we really should talk about the main event.’ Her tone was uncomfortable, but she continued, regardless.

Eleanor looked on and Liam noticed Hazel move across the room so she could squeeze her sister’s shoulder, saw Eleanor swallow and nod.

‘The Hollythorpe Christmas fayre. Shall we go through the agenda for today? Work out if there’s anything else we need to do?’ Nora asked loudly.

Eleanor jerked her chin, then she stared at her drink before picking it up and taking a big gulp. ‘Good idea,’ she said gruffly. ‘I’ve got a list of things planned; there’s some more advertising to do, but signs are good. I’m still not sure we’re going to get enough people to fill the high street, so I thought we could discuss last-minute PR opportunities – and if there are any other places Mr and Mrs Christmas might appear?’

Liam felt Clara lean into his shoulder as Eleanor continued. ‘What’s wrong with Ezra?’ she whispered. ‘He’s upset Eleanor, I don’t get it. He might be grumpy, but I never thought he was mean.’

‘I’ve got no idea,’ Liam admitted. He only knew he’d be talking to the bookshop owner the next time they met and telling him exactly what he thought about his behaviour.

It was Christmas and no matter how you felt – or what problems you were troubled by – it wasn’t the time to take it out on your neighbours or friends. His eyes shifted to Clara. It was the perfect time of year to spread joy and fall in love – at least it was if you were lucky enough to be able to let love in…

18

LIAM

One week until Christmas

‘Are we there yet?’ Charlie piped up from the back of Liam’s truck as he drew up in the car park of Evergreen House. Figgy – who was sitting beside his son – let out an excited bark.

‘We are,’ Clara said patiently. ‘In fact, we’ve just arrived.’

They’d picked her up from Eleanor’s shop twenty minutes before. She’d come out bearing gifts: an offcut of cashmere for Figgy and a dinosaur bauble for Charlie. If Liam wasn’t already halfway in love with Clara, he would have fallen in that moment – splatted face first into whichever cloud Cupid was currently lounging on. He was aware he was playing with fire, but he wasn’t sure what he should do.

Clara was wearing jeans and a lacy green top – one he hadn’t seen before, and it brought out the colour of her eyes. She grinned at him as he parked and opened the door so she could climb out, opening one of the back doors and helping Figgy to the ground, while he tackled Charlie’s car seat. His dog left his plush toy behind and chose instead to take his new scrap of cloth, clamping it between his jaws like it was his firstborn.

Liam took his son’s hand and Clara held onto Figgy’s lead and they walked towards the large old building, admiring the decorations on the trees and across the facade, which seemed to have multiplied since they’d last visited.

‘Wow,’ Charlie gasped as they approached and he looked up wide-eyed at the swathes of baubles that had been strung over the porch. ‘We need more, Daddy!’ he said, and Liam knew exactly what he meant, knew he was going to have to go back to Eleanor’s shop to stock up on extra fairy lights and sparkly ornaments later.

‘You’re here, Mr and Mrs Christmas, Figgy, and how wonderful, Charlie!’ Doris shouted as the door at the entrance swung open and she stood there beaming, her face and hair sparkling as if she’d dumped an entire glitter pot on her head. ‘I’ve been waiting for you.’ She gazed down at Charlie before pulling a pack of cards from her pocket and waving it. ‘We’re going to play poker. It’s an essential part of any child’s education and your father’s been slacking in that department,’ she said sternly as her attention jerked up to Clara. ‘And you’re going to make up a four. Liam dear, our lovely manager’s got something she wants you to look at in the kitchen. Do you have your tools in the car?’