Page 137 of Someone Like You

‘Right, and now my gift for you…’ He rushes over to the tree, still in his chef’s whites, and comes back with a smallish box about the size a mobile phone comes in. I look up at him, confused. Did Raff buy me a new phone?

‘Well, open it,’ he says, still standing there.

Unlike he did, I tear the paper, revealing a white box without any branding. So not a phone then. I eye him curiously and he nods, prompting me to lift the lid. I do.

Inside are tightly packed cards and I use a nail to prise one free. It’s a Global Reach business card and under my name is ‘Marketing Director’.

Now I know how Raff felt a few minutes ago, seeing his name on his chef’s jacket. Itdoesmake it feel real. But wait…

‘You must have had these made before I landed the role.’

‘Yes.’

‘But…’

‘Iknewyou’d get it, Gabs,’ he says, his belief in me emanating from his eyes. ‘All I had to hope for was that Claire would break the news before Christmas.’

‘Wow, that’s…Thankyou, Raff.’

‘That is so sweet,’ says Issy. ‘Your gifts to each other – they’re, like, the same.’

Raff and I look at her, then back to each other, and share a grin. Because Issy’s right. These gifts both say, ‘I believe in you.’

‘Hold on… what if didn’t get the job? Or what if Claire hadn’t told me before Christmas? What would you have given me then?’

‘A rather boring cashmere jumper.’

‘Is it here?’ I ask.

‘In Seattle? Yes.’

I raise my brows and blink at him slowly, making him laugh. ‘How about I give it to you on your birthday?’

‘Her birthday’s in June,’ interjects Issy.

‘All right, yes, fair point. I’ll go up and get i—’ Raff’s phone chimes with a text notification. ‘Hang on, this could be Aunt CiCi and Uncle Devin.’

He slips his phone out of his pocket to check, and I look down at my new business card.

Gabriela Rivera

Marketing Director

Luxury Brands Division

Global Reach

It’s kind of an old-school gift – well, it would be if we worked in Seattle – but people in London still exchange business cards. And even if they didn’t, it’s the gesture that counts – a manifestation of Raff’s belief in me.

‘Um… would you please excuse me?’ says Raff. ‘I should…’

When I glance up at him, he suddenly seems very uncomfortable.

‘Is everything all right?’ Mom asks.

‘Yes,’ he says with a fake smile. He waves his phone. ‘It’s not them but…’

‘Oh, is it your parents?’ I ask, concerned.

---