Page 93 of The Twelve Dates of Christmas
“Who’s minding the shop?” Kate asked absent-mindedly as she scrolled through Richard’s messages. They began chirpy—borderline cheeky—before descending into nervousness and finally deteriorating into panic and or disgruntlement. She would have to call him.
“Petula and Carla,” said Matt. “I brought gifts,” he said, and held up a brown paper bag with grease patches over it.
Kate instantly forgot about Richard’s neuroses.
“Please tell me that’s a loaded bacon doorstop slathered with butter and ketchup!”
Matt grinned up at her.
“It most certainly is!” he said. “It’s a bit cold, you might want to—”
But Kate had already plucked the bag from his grip and was gratefully stuffing the contents into her face.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said with her mouth full.
“I brought one for Mac too,” he said. “He had his while it was hot.”
Matt stood, crossed the kitchen, and pointed to a tall cardboard takeaway cup.
“And this,” he said.
“Tell me,” said Kate, ripping off a crust with her teeth.
“Large mocha,” he said. “Triple shot with gingerbread syrup.”
Kate moaned with delight.
“God, I love you,” she blurted through a mouthful of bacon and bread.
She flustered. The words had just popped right out of her!Way to go, Turner!she shouted internally.Geez, you couldn’t keep your mouth shut for one day!
Would he know that she meant it? Would he think she was joking? Bloody hell, she hoped he’d think she was joking!
The bacon sandwich stuck in her throat.Keep it together!she thought.Act casual!She swallowed hard, then coughed as the sandwich went down her suddenly dry throat.
“In a cupboard love sort of way, obviously,” she added quickly.
“Yeah, I know,” said Matt. “I used to have a cat like you; only wanted me for food.”
Matt seemed unmoved by her outburst; she dearly hoped this meant she was in the clear.
“When did you have a cat?” asked Kate, glad of the distraction.
“When you were off globe-trotting,” he replied wryly.
“What happened to it?” asked Kate.
“Maria took it when we divorced,” said Matt.
Kate stopped chewing.
“Oh,” she said. “Sorry.”
Kate’s armpits were prickling with sweat. She didn’t know how to behave. Her heart raced. Externally she chewed her food and continued to chat casually with Matt, while internally she tried to hammer nails back into the box of feelings that had just exploded all over her kitchen.
“It’s all right,” said Matt. “It was a long time ago.”
This was the first time Matt had even mentioned his marriage to her.This is good, thought Kate.Move the focus totally away from me telling Matt that I love him.
