Page 6 of Christmas, Actually

‘How long did you say you were staying for, dear?’ Nora suddenly piped up, her attention sweeping to Clara before she pinned her with her dazzling blue gaze.

Eleanor’s forehead crinkled. ‘Do you think you’ll still be here for Christmas? I mean, no pressure, but it would be wonderful if you were.’ Her godmother sounded excited now; her eyes were gleaming and she’d started to wriggle in her chair.

‘I haven’t exactly decided. I mean, I need to be back by the twenty-eighth,’ Clara said. Everything had been booked for the investor party – caterers, servers and the venue – and she needed to be there…

She didn’t need to check her mobile again to know Hudson hadn’t tried to contact her yet because it hadn’t buzzed since she’d left the airport. But when he did, when he realised she’d left New York, he would – and she was going to need an excuse not to cave in too early when he asked her to return. It was imperative that she didn’t immediately forgive him and jump on a plane. He had to understand how much he’d hurt her. He had to know that he couldn’t behave like that.

‘I could stay until Christmas day, actually,’ Clara said slowly after another few beats. Hudson wasn’t into the festive season and usually worked right up to Christmas day anyway. He allowed himself that one day off to visit family – although Clara hadn’t been invited last year because his mother had been sick and hadn’t been up to having strangers in the house.

The whole office had been back in on Boxing Day and it had ended up feeling like she hadn’t had a Christmas at all. It would be nice to be around people this year – and better still, her fiancé would get plenty of time to notice what life was like if she wasn’t there… time when he’d realise that he missed her. That he’d made a terrible mistake. At least she hoped he would, even if a part of her was afraid he’d find it easy to walk away.

‘Then it’s decided!’ Nora jumped in.

‘What’s decided?’ Clara asked, realising she’d missed something important when the older woman’s face gleamed.

‘They want you to play Mrs Christmas,’ Ezra said dryly. ‘I’m sorry but you walked right into that one.’ His dark eyes twinkled warmly.

‘Do you mind? If you don’t want to, then it’s fine if you say no. I know you were just coming to visit me and we haven’t even had a chance to talk.’ Eleanor’s voice raced. ‘There’s no pressure at all.’

‘There’s plenty of pressure,’ Nora said grimly. ‘We need a Mrs Christmas, your goddaughter is here and she can stay until Christmas.’ She eyed Clara critically. ‘She’s pretty enough so she won’t scare the children. I’m guessing she’ll even fit into the costume. Plus, she’s free.’

‘And there’s no one else who can do it,’ Ezra said seriously.

‘But do you want to do it?’ Eleanor asked as all of the faces at the table turned back to Clara.

‘Well.’ She felt her cheeks flush and her whole body tingle with dread. The thought of being paraded around the village, of having all that attention focused just on her was a little overwhelming. She’d probably hate every minute. She sighed. ‘Of course I will…’

‘Well, that’s settled then,’ Nora said as everyone at the table visibly relaxed. ‘Okay with you, Liam?’

The man beside her cleared his throat. ‘Of course it is,’ he said, although there was something odd in his voice. When Clara turned to look at him, she realised everyone was staring at them both. Why?

‘Have I missed something?’ she asked, feeling a ripple of heat travel up her spine.

Liam shook his head. ‘Not at all, but I suppose I should formally introduce myself again.’ He held out a hand and Clara gazed at it feeling dumb. ‘It’s lovely to make your acquaintance. I’m Mr Christmas, your festive husband for the month…’

5

LIAM

He was late. Later than he’d intended to be anyway. Liam helped the committee tidy up the mugs and plates on the table, feeling his heartbeat notch up. A sure sign that he was getting stressed. Jenny wasn’t going to complain about having Charlie for longer, but the later he tried to transfer his son to his own bed and woke him, the less sleep they were both going to get. He had a busy day tomorrow and wasn’t wild about the idea of wrangling an overtired four-year-old who didn’t want to go to preschool on top of that.

‘I really need to go,’ he told Eleanor, sparing Clara a quick smile – and feeling irritated when he noticed the tell-tale stirring of heat in his limbs.

She was having the oddest effect on him. Right from the moment he’d first seen her when he’d got out of the car. When she’d been standing outside The Cosy Christmas Shop dripping with slush — those huge green eyes staring at him in pure surprise and her damp shoulder-length bob clinging to her pale face.

She’d been pouting too – pouting. Not an irritated ‘I’m annoyed you didn’t do the washing up’ pout – more of a subtle pinch of her rosebud lips. Like she was trying to work out what had just happened. And in that moment his stomach had decided to launch itself off a cliff just like it had when he’d first met Mia. Before he’d made the biggest mistake of his life.

Scratch that – if he hadn’t fallen for her, there would be no Charlie, and his son was worth all the heartache. Liam knew he’d bear the whole world’s pain for just a single smile from his boy’s lips.

He cleared his throat, trying to find his voice. ‘Will you be okay?’ His eyes flashed to the door as if confirming he still had an exit and Figgy tugged at the lead, determined to get to Clara’s silk shirt. ‘I’ve got to dash, but Eleanor can get you back to the shop. I assume you’re staying there?’ he blurted. Was he asking because he wanted to know where she was going to be? It’s not like he was going to offer her a bed if she said no. The blood rushed to his cheeks as he imagined it.

‘Of course Clara will stay with me!’ Eleanor said, looping an arm around the younger woman’s small shoulders, which emphasised their height differences. The older woman was at least five foot seven, and Clara was a good four inches shorter. Petite and curvy with a tiny waist – just his type. If he was looking. Which he definitely wasn’t.

‘It’s been far too long and we’ve got so much to catch up on. I’ve got a spare room, so Clara can make herself at home for as long as she likes. In fact, she can stay forever if the fancy takes her.’ Eleanor beamed.

‘Yes, thanks,’ the younger woman said as her whole body seemed to sag into her godmother like a piece of a puzzle that had finally found its way home. She brushed a lock of brown hair from her cheek. ‘And thanks for helping me today.’ Her eyes met his and something inside his stomach somersaulted.

‘It was the least I could do after almost drowning you.’ He started to back away and as he did, he caught the way Eleanor’s gaze zigzagged between them. He wanted to tell her no, that wasn’t going to happen, but he wasn’t looking to draw attention to whatever was winding its way between them. ‘I guess I’ll see you at the⁠—’