Page 88 of A Festive Surprise

‘Eh, no.’

He ripped off the paper and pulled out the map tube. ‘Oh, this is good. I like this. A map of our new home.’

Holly nodded, unable to say anything as a well of tears rose in her throat. Their home. She had a home with someone and it wasn’t scary. The buzz crackling through her came from something different. The usual worries about where she was going next weren’t there because she wasn’t going anywhere. When work was done, she could switch off her laptop and go for a walk with Farid. ‘We could get a puppy.’

Farid squinted up and frowned. ‘What?’

‘I always wanted a dog but my lifestyle didn’t suit.’

Farid got off the rug and hopped onto the sofa next to Holly. His arms were around her and she was back in the happiest place in the world. ‘Of course. I would love that. Our first baby.’

‘Exactly.’ She snuggled in and rested her head on him. ‘Are we mad? I only met you a few weeks ago.’

‘Life is short. Some people don’t get the chances we have. I have lost many friends. This is a gift to both of us. We must accept it and use it. Let’s not waste this chance, worrying what could go wrong. Let’s take it and embrace what could go right.’

‘The man who has a way with words.’

They held each other on the sofa while Holly processed what he’d said. It made sense. She’d given up on fate but something had brought her to Monarch’s Lodge at the right moment for Farid to throw that elf costume at her. The second she’d seen him in his lumberjack shirt, her heart had raced off down the path of no return. She was well and truly on that road and it was exactly where she wanted to be.

‘I’ll always have space in my life for more programmers,’ said Holly. ‘You and I could work together. The project I’m doing for Robyn needs someone else alongside me.’

‘You’d let me?’

‘Why wouldn’t I?’

‘My qualification doesn’t count here.’

‘Screw that. Maybe it doesn’t work for the corporate giants but for the self-employed among us, I’m happy to take you on merit. I saw your work the other day. The corporations would do well to let their applicants demonstrate their skills like that before picking the ones with the best on-paper qualifications.’

‘Oh, jamilati, I’d love that. I miss the work.’ His blue eyes twinkled.

‘Then it’s done.’ She smiled.

He returned to the kitchen and Holly put on Classic FM, allowing herself to appreciate the gentle tones of Christmas carols. They didn’t sound so painful anymore. More hopeful and comforting, like they’d plucked out the best parts of the past while also promising more in the future.

Holly set the breakfast bar ready for their Christmas feast with a difference.

‘So, this is all my invention,’ Farid said. ‘We have the turkey kebabs instead of lamb. But let’s go with it. And we have Fattoush, a delicious salad with tomatoes, peppers, celery and many more things. Now, here are the sprouts. I cook these using a recipe from the internet with pine nuts and maple syrup and I add some haloumi just for fun. We also have hummus, flatbread and olives.’

‘This is possibly the strangest Christmas lunch I’ve ever had but it appeals to me more than usual. I’m always the weird one who doesn’t like potatoes.’

‘One day, I learn to cook them. I should try.’

‘This will do for now.’ Holly tucked in, enjoying the rainbow of flavours and grinning at the idea they’d created their own Christmas tradition. This was their own Christmas lunch. No one could take it from them. If they wanted hummus instead of Hellman’s, so be it. The world wouldn’t end tomorrow and they were still enjoying it. The carols played in the background until Holly and Farid were almost too full to move. With a great effort, they cleared up and flopped on the sofa, ready to watch any Christmas film that happened to be on. Mary Poppins would do.

Farid chuckled through it while Holly cringed. But enjoying time in his company was worth so much. After it finished, they got their coats and walked to the big house to exchange Merry Christmases with Georgia and Archie. Then they headed to the shore as the day waned. The sea lapped on the beach at the bottom of the steep path. Holly took Farid’s bearded cheeks in her hands and pulled him in for a kiss. Waves chased the shore beyond and a lone bird let out a high cry. ‘I’m so happy we’re ok now,’ she said.

‘Me too. Let’s get back before it’s too dark to see.’

A flush of heat hit Holly’s face as they returned to the house. ‘Shall we have our cake now? Or can you not eat another thing?’

‘I think we should.’

Holly slipped her hand into the back pocket of her jeans and felt a slip of paper under her fingertips. Her heartrate shot up. Did she have the nerve to do this? Was it tempting fate? It could fall flat on its face like the last time. The drumming of her heart increased as she peeled the film off the cake. ‘Shall we cut it together?’

‘Ok.’ Farid wrapped his arms around her from behind, reminding her of how he’d done the same thing when they’d stirred the cake and she’d made a crazy wish. He placed both his hands over hers and together they slit the cake with a clean slice. It was like cutting a wedding cake. Farid kissed Holly’s cheek. ‘Bahebek,jamilati.’

‘I love you too. But I forgot plates.’

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