Page 42 of A Festive Surprise

‘Sure. I have loads at the house. I’ll bring them up later.’

‘I can pick them up tomorrow on my way to work.’

‘Ok. Great.’

Hours couldn’t have passed any slower. The acute torture of having Holly through the wall and out of reach pierced every atom of Farid’s soul. Going around and giving in would be easy, but was it smart? What did he want to happen next? Did he want to keep seeing Holly? If he did, what were the consequences? This relationship couldn’t stay chaste until their wedding night. Not at the rate they were heading. He snorted aloud. Wedding night! Holly was the modern woman personified. She lived alone, worked alone, and was self-sufficient. Weddings didn’t figure in her life.

So where did that leave him? He could go back, get his clothes off and sleep with her. They could do that every day and every night until she packed her bags and left. But what then? Would he look for someone else and start again? Would it ever be the same? Were these feelings a complete lack of experience shining through? He could do it just for the sake of it. Holly could be his first – the one he could laugh about in years to come. No, that would never happen. What if he’d struck gold first time?

‘Argh!’ He threw his head into his hands and growled. Why so confusing?

∞∞∞

After barely sleeping a wink that night, he got up early and left for work in the pitch black. Forestry wasn’t feasible in the dark, so he parked up next to the area they were clearing and sat, tuning the radio and keeping warm. Faint music played intermittently between the fuzz. Eventually, light peeped through and Farid got out and stacked the logs before Per turned up.

‘Morning.’ Per rubbed his hands together; a long puff of air streamed as he spoke. ‘It’s bitter.’

‘I’ll soon know how a snowman feels.’

‘You and me both, son.’ Per rubbed the pink tip of his nose. ‘I could give Rudolph a run for his money.’

‘This is the reindeer who can fly?’

‘The very same.’ Per laughed. ‘Sounds ridiculous when you put it like that.’

When Mike arrived, there was enough friendly chat to take Farid’s mind off everything.

‘We had some great news at the weekend,’ said Mike. ‘I’m going to be a grandad of sorts. My wife’s daughter is pregnant.’

‘Is that Autumn?’ said Per.

‘Yup. She’s due at the end of April.’

‘Wonderful,’ said Per. ‘Our eldest granddaughter, Polly, is almost three now and her little brother, Rory, is nearly one. It went fast with my own children but it’s even faster with grandkids.’

Farid heaved the logs on top of each other, stacking them neatly. Hearing about these families was fine, but his chest stung. What about his family? When would he see them again? Feel Mama’s hugs. Listen to his sisters giggling and grumbling. Even have Baba cross with him about something. He slammed down the last log. Who knew when? If ever.

With three weeks until Christmas, the nights came early. By half-past three, the light was fading significantly and Per called it a day.

‘No point in struggling on if we can’t see; we’ll just make costly mistakes. Go home, guys, enjoy your evening.’

Farid hopped into the pickup. The lights. Damn. He was supposed to pick them up from Georgia that morning. Hopefully she wouldn’t mind him being several hours late. He drove to Monarch’s Lodge and pulled on the handbrake.

Georgia came out before he’d left the car. She waved and hurried around to his door.

‘Sorry.’ He clicked it open. ‘I forgot this morning.’

‘That’s ok, I’ve been here today anyway. We’re not opening the shop on Monday and Tuesday during the winter. Just as well really. Autumn is in the grips of morning sickness.’

‘Mike said.’

‘Yeah, poor girl. Her husband’s got the full-time job of waiting on her hand and foot while she rests up, so it has some perks. Funny though, I was sure Robyn would get pregnant first. I had money on it, but I was wrong.’

‘Is that Per’s daughter?’

‘Daughter-in-law. She’s married to Carl.’

‘I met her at the carol singing.’

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