Page 97 of A Manny for Christmas

I wouldn’t let her sell it, anyway. My Molly, immortalised in oils? I probably love it even more than she does.

‘You know, my trust fund’s just gathering dust,’ I tell her, my tone deceptively casual. ‘The cost of living in Malawi hasn’t exactly crippled me.’

She jerks her head towards me. ‘Max. No. No way am I letting you play white knight and throw your money at me.’

I lean over so I can plant a soft kiss on the part of her temple where her adorable blonde baby hairs begin. ‘Once I’ve put a gun to your head and marched you down that aisle, which Iwilldo, sweetheart, it won’t be my trust fund. It’ll be ours. Anyway, I’m not talking about being a white knight. I’m talking about being a canny investor who knows when to back a sound business opportunity when he sees it.’

She turns her face to me, her lips soft and pliable and perfect as they meet mine.

‘The only word I heard in that speech wasaisle.’

I kiss her back. ‘Good. Now, let’s watch this movie. But the offer’s there, you know. Like Evelyn, I have an ulterior motive. I want you in my bed when I wake up.’

She entangles her tongue sweetly with mine before pulling back. ‘I want that, too.’

‘So think about it. Maybe it’s a project for the new year. When you’ve promoted me from being just the manny.’

I can feel her lips curve up into a smile against mine. ‘Don’t get ahead of yourself, buster.’

‘Watch, wench.’ I pull her in tightly against me. ‘As long as I don’t need to be jealous of Jude Law?’

‘You’re much hotter,’ she tells me. ‘Manlier. But he’s a widower, so he gets points for that.’

‘Hey. If you wanted a guy with two kids, you could have gone for PaulLancaster. Though I think it’s time you stop with the tradition of choosing men whose surnames are British cities.’

She frowns.

‘Stafford? Lancaster? Seriously? I think Molly Rutherford sounds much better, don’t you?’

‘Oh my God,’ she says with a giggle. ‘I never thought of that.’

‘Lucky escape,’ I say drily.

‘You know,’ she says, ‘right before you showed up and turned everything upside-down, I was whining at the girls that my life didn’t look more like a Nancy Meyers movie.’

I frown. ‘Who’s Nancy Meyers?’

She points at the screen, where the movie is ready to play. ‘She directedThe Holiday. AndIt’s Complicated.AndSomething’s Gotta Give.And loads more.’

‘Oh yeah,’ I say vaguely. Some of those others ring a bell. ‘And how’s your life looking now?’

She glances around the room. ‘Well, Nancy Meyers would definitely approve of this suite. And I have a deliciously sexy new leading man.Anda pipe-dream of a possible cake business. So yeah. I’d say my life is looking a lot more Nancy Meyers-esque than it was a month ago.’

I kiss her, hard, just because I can. And because the sight of her face shining with contentment, and with the hope she’s finally allowing to bloom, makes me deliriously happy.

‘I should fucking well hope so,’ I tell her.

35

MOLLY

I’m not going to lie. Even though I’ve known Clara for months now, and I’ve met Alex multiple times, both in passing at the farm and at the occasional social event, it’s still surreal—and very cool—hanging out with them.

I’d like to think I’m not a total groupie. Plenty of celebrities pass through the farm. Evelyn runs in seriously A-list circles and was regular tabloid fodder when she was married to her famous ex, the chef Seb Macleod. Although she and Angus live far more under the radar down here in deepest Kent, her celebrity friends are constantly visiting and throwing parties here.

Even so, it still amazes me that my beautiful, creative friend Clara, who’s happiest holding either a camera or a paintbrush, is married to Alex Molloy, celebrity personal trainer and bona fide national treasure. He holds a special place in the heart of the British public, not just because of his commitment to the wellbeing of the poorest segments of our population, but because of his relentless efforts in prison reform and rehabilitation, especially regarding young people.

And of course, none of us can resist a good old love story, especially when it has a happy ending. When Alex and Clara told their tale of love and loss and happiness, the nation swooned and doubled down on its Alex-mania.

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