Page 29 of A Festive Surprise

Farid smirked. ‘It is.’

‘Seriously?’

‘But we will have fun. Much fun.’

A cake stand arrived laden with sandwiches and sweet treats. Farid grinned as the waitress explained the selection. Holly’s screwed up nose told him many of these were Christmassy. Turkey and cranberry sandwiches, mini yule logs and marzipan fruits got a particularly sour reaction but tasted delicious.

The café closed at five, and they went for a stroll around the village. Holly slipped her hand into Farid’s and he took it; their palms burned together as they climbed the steep brae. He gazed out over the harbour, now lit fully by street lamps and reflecting the gleaming Christmas lights in the square.

‘Right, tell me now, where are we going?’ said Holly. ‘I hate surprises.’

‘Ok. Carol singing.’

Holly ran her free hand down her forehead. ‘You are kidding, right?’

‘No. Tonight we carol sing. Georgia and Archie are going. They are opera singers by the sound of things.’

‘I bet Georgia’s the one who sings the descant bits at the top of her voice.’

‘I have no clue what that is.’

‘Well, you’ll hear it. I wish I’d brought earplugs. And it’s bloody freezing out here.’

Farid wrapped his arm around her. Her height put her in exactly the right position to do the same to him and they balanced each other. ‘I’ll keep you warm.’ His own central heating ratcheted right up. Blood pumped fast, throbbing in his veins. Holly’s hair smelt beautiful, mellowing the sting of cold air.

‘You better.’

Time may have passed as they stood or it might have stopped. Either way, they didn’t move. Vague memories of cold, lonely nights played in the back of his mind. When he’d been huddled in a doorway with rain driving down and warmth was a sensation he couldn’t recall, he’d dreamed of moments like this. Was it too good to be true? The speed was overwhelming. His emotions had been shaken up and were jammed on fast forward. A door opened in a house behind. Some people came out chatting.

‘Let’s go,’ he whispered. ‘It starts soon.’

‘I don’t want to move. I like this too much.’

‘I do too.’ He stroked her hair. ‘But we can’t be here all night.’

Cold wind bit as they broke apart.

One side of the main street was lined with buildings, their colourful fronts lit up by the street lamps; the other had a railing separating them from the sea. In the middle, a harbour wall jutted out and a throng gathered around the base of a clock tower. People talked and laughed. At the edge of the crowd, Farid nudged Holly in front of him.

‘What are you doing?’ she muttered.

‘Keeping you warm.’ He wrapped his arms around her from behind and leaned his chin on her shoulder, closing his eyes as his cheek touched hers. He let out a sigh through his nose that landed on her ear. She flinched and giggled.

‘That’s tickly.’

He shifted, but she raised her hand and pulled him back.

‘I like it though. Just stay right there.’

Cheek to cheek, he held her, swaying on the spot. What a moment of beauty. Could he cling to it forever? Ending this embrace would be painful; like cutting away part of his flesh. She was in him now, deep in his soul. This physical connection was an outward gate to so much more.

He shifted his head slightly. A man flickered into view through the sparkly Christmas lights. Per Hansen smiled back.

‘Hello, Farid,’ he said. ‘I thought it was you. Hard to tell in the dark and with all the layers on.’

‘Hi, Per.’ Farid straightened up and released Holly. Displaying public affection would be heavily frowned on by his parents.

‘It’s good to see you here.’ Per turned to a woman beside him, who smiled broadly. ‘This is my wife, Fenella, and my daughter-in-law, Robyn.’ A younger woman stepped into view; her ice-blonde hair shone under the street lights.

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