Page 71 of A Festive Surprise

Chapter Twenty-Three

Farid

A princess in a movie couldn’t have looked better. Holly was more dazzling than a ruby under a spotlight. She was beautiful in her pyjamas, in her lounge clothes, in the elf costume, in nothing, but this was a whole new level.

‘Holly, you are so beautiful.’ Farid took both her hands in his own and kissed the backs of them.

‘You look damn good yourself.’

‘We will be quite the pair, no?’

‘Come on then.’ She smiled, but the sad eyes he’d spotted the first time he saw her were back. Since those early days, her pale-blue irises had sparkled. He was sure he’d succeeded in bringing magic into her life. But she’d shut the door. She didn’t want what he had to give and he’d run out of tricks – almost. Could he accept her conditions? Accept she was leaving and their time would end? Yes. But it would cleave his heart in two. He’d already told her he would do anything for her. If that was the task, then he would follow through.

One last roll of the dice remained. Before the night was out, he’d try it.

Holly lifted her jacket from the hook in the hall and passed Farid his. This house had been as much a home for him as his own side of the cottage. The companionship with Holly had given him so much joy in a new and unfamiliar place. It had made it more bearable and transformed the life he’d been forced to accept into something he’d happily have chosen. Could he trust the universe to send him someone else as perfect as her after she’d gone? Maybe he wouldn’t have to.

He smiled at her as he pulled on his jacket. ‘When I say you are beautiful, jamilati, I don’t just mean your face, your hair, your body, your clothes, I mean everything inside too. You’re fun, you work hard, you have spirit, passion and when it gets mixed together, it makes a beautiful Holly.’

‘Farid, you missed a vocation in life. You should be some kind of salesman, you can charm anyone.’

He took her hand. ‘I only speak the truth.’

She squeezed his fingers and they left.

‘I’ll drive, jamilati, then you can drink.’

‘Thank you. And, Farid, I’m sorry. What I just told you sounds so petty compared to what you’ve had to deal with this past year.’

‘It’s ok. My biggest hurt is not having my family. Your biggest hurt was losing the man you set your heart on. Both are pains caused by love.’

‘Exactly.’ The look in her eyes reminded him this is a short-term thing.

His chest ached like someone had dropped a life-sized stone Santa on him. Must concentrate. These roads in the dark were awful. Holly sat quietly and he mirrored her. He drove across the island to the east side and into the driveway of the Glen Lodge Hotel.

Inside the foyer, soft music played, and people milled around.

‘Nice place.’ Holly pushed open the left side of a double swing door into a twinkling main room. A wooden dance floor gleamed in the centre. ‘There’s Robyn.’ Holly waved to her. A man close to her caught Farid’s eye. Per Hansen, looking better groomed than usual in a smart shirt and tie, though his flyaway grey curls were as unruly as ever.

‘Hi,’ said Robyn. ‘How are you?’

‘Good,’ said Holly. ‘I’ve sent you an email.’

‘I got it, thanks. I’m happy for you to work anywhere. I didn’t realise you were leaving so soon after Christmas but it makes no difference to me. Most of my work is done remotely anyway.’

‘Great.’

The knife in Farid’s chest twisted a little more. Holly was making plans and they didn’t involve him. How could he prove he wasn’t the same as Gavin? Whoever he was, he’d cut her deep. And missed out. Why would anyone turn down the chance of a wonderful life with the beautiful Holly?

‘Hello.’ A hand clapped Farid on the shoulder.

‘Hi, Per. How are you?’

‘Very good. I have my whole family here, so I couldn’t be happier.’

Farid easily picked out Per’s three sons; they were tall, handsome and had blond curls of various lengths.

‘Magnus is our eldest.’ Per pointed to the tallest son, who had his arm around a smiling woman. ‘He’s here with his wife, Taylor. And that’s Jakob with his wife, Livvi, and our two grandchildren.’ Jakob had a little princess on his hip, chatting and pointing at the lights. His wife had a large baby sleeping on her shoulder, and she talked to Per’s wife. ‘And Carl, of course, you met him at the carol service.’

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