Page 68 of A Festive Surprise

Farid leaned over and squinted. ‘That’s great.’

‘Is it? Years ago, I used to make things with FIMO. I loved it but I don’t have time anymore. This is the same idea.’

‘What’s FIMO?’

‘It’s like modelling clay that comes in different colours. It was all the rage when I was little.’

‘You have a talent.’

‘Thanks. So, I have a log and an axe. That’s to symbolise you. The lumberjack.’

He grinned. ‘Then I will make holly.’ He sat opposite her and rolled some tiny balls. ‘And a heart. It tells me Holly and Farid made this cake with love.’

She glanced up and half-narrowed her eyes.

‘Because remember, jamilati, Christmas is about love, family and joy.’

‘You should know better. Western Christmas commercialism has sucked you in.’

‘Maybe it has, but this is my home now.’ Like it or lump it, he had to accept it. Acceptance came easier with enjoyment. His heart had been filled with resentment when he was forced out of his homeland, but each little thing he tried and enjoyed lowered his stress levels. What would happen once Holly left? Already since her arrival, he’d got back so much of his old self and he wanted to keep it like that. No more upheaval required. But more was looming, whether he liked it or not.

‘That’s not a good argument, Farid.’ She picked up her mini log and examined it. ‘You don’t always have to fit in and becoming too attached to a place is never a good idea.’

‘I don’t want to change myself but to make peace with what I have. I want to understand the culture, not lose who I am, but I work better in the place if I know how it works.’

Holly rested her chin on her hands. ‘You’ll easily manage that. You have a way with people.’

‘Thank you, jamilati. And I don’t mean to attach myself to a place, but I want to find things to love in a place so I can enjoy my home even if it isn’t forever.’

‘That’s more sensible because nothing lasts forever. People change, priorities change. Things you thought you once wanted aren’t important anymore.’

‘I agree.’ Though she clearly didn’t extend that way of thinking to him. They placed their decorations on top of the cake and Farid covered it carefully with cling film. He lifted it to the far side of the worktop under the upper units, where it was coolest. As he stepped back to admire it, Holly’s arms wrapped round him from behind.

‘Let’s go to bed,’ she said.

‘At six o’clock?’

‘Why not? We missed a trick earlier.’

No more persuasion needed. They resumed their position on the bed where they’d been a couple of hours before. Holly’s words still rung in his ears. She was leaving. Would a more experienced man walk away right now? How could he relinquish one moment with Holly? He’d missed out on every kind of love for so long. He wouldn’t refuse it now but bank it and store it in reserve for empty times ahead.

She cuddled into him as they ran their hands over each other and he kissed her hair, pulling her as close as he could. ‘Bahebek,jamilati.’

‘Merry Christmas to you too.’ She nuzzled his neck. ‘Though that isn’t what you said to that boy. You said something completely different for Merry Christmas to him.’

Rumbled! He kissed her some more, lolling back on the bed and taking her with him. ‘You can work it out for yourself.’

‘Oh, I will.’ She straddled him and raked her fingers into his hair. Wildfire rampaged through him. ‘And if I find it’s something naughty, I’ll make you pay.’

He clamped his hands around her bottom and pinned her close. Maybe she’d be furious when she found out, but he still meant it and that wouldn’t change any time soon.

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