Page 79 of A Festive Surprise

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Farid

Chilled air stung Farid as he finished clearing the logs. He thrust his hands into his pockets and tramped back to the pickup. Georgia and Archie were generous and he was ready to accept their gift. A laptop would help. Holly did everything remotely; could he do something similar?

Georgia answered the door like she’d been standing behind it waiting for him to knock. ‘Come in.’ Her beautiful smile split her face.

‘Hi.’ Farid ruffed up his hair. ‘I don’t want to interrupt your Christmas Eve, but Archie said—’

‘You’re not interrupting. Archie told me. He’s nipped up to the office at the main house to get the cables for the laptop.’

‘Ah, ok.’

‘Come and sit down. Would you like a drink? I could do a hot chocolate with all the trimmings. I need one myself.’

‘Ok, sure. Thank you.’

Farid made his way into the bright lounge area. The mantelpiece had very Georgia-esque décor around it. He recognised her handiwork in the greenery and the lighting, so similar to Holly’s cottage.

‘You won’t believe the afternoon I’ve had.’ Georgia placed a mug on the coffee table in front of Farid and slumped onto the opposite sofa with her own. ‘I’ve just had Carl on the phone. Apparently, Robyn had to go to the hospital earlier.’

‘Oh? Is she ok?’

‘She is now. She’s pregnant.’ Georgia shook her head and grinned.

‘Wow.’

‘Holly was with her this morning and Robyn felt some twinges and thought something was wrong. Holly took her to the hospital and, when they ran the scan, they discovered it was twins.’

‘Double wow.’

‘Carl sounded so happy. It’s sweet. He was my first friend when I arrived here. It makes me all emotional.’ She fanned her face and blinked. ‘I love the way it’s worked out.’

‘Sounds great.’ He sipped his hot drink, savouring the warmth of the cup and brushing a fleck of cream from the tip of his nose. Everyone’s Christmas dreams were coming true. Farid’s mind lingered on what Georgia had said about Holly. She was still here and that surely meant she’d be here for Christmas. She might catch the last boat today but none sailed on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

‘So, are you and Holly spending the day together tomorrow?’ Georgia asked.

Farid stared into his mug, swirling the remaining cream into the dark depths of the chocolate. ‘No. We’re not together.’

‘What?’

‘It was just a fling.’

‘No way. The two of you were getting on so well.’

‘We were, but Holly… Pah.’ He gulped some more hot chocolate, burning the back of his throat. ‘She is stubborn. She doesn’t want to be long-term with someone. So, she’s leaving. I crossed all the lines and acted like a stupid man.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I told her how I felt. I said I loved her.’

Georgia tilted her head and her eyebrows raised in the middle. ‘That is so lovely.’

‘She didn’t think so.’

‘I bet she does really.’

‘No, she doesn’t. She hates Christmas and she hates relationships because of some man.’

---