Page 44 of Only for Christmas

‘Actually, I’m not.’ She rubbed her temples. ‘A sudden migraine. I need to go home.’

‘Crikey, I’ve never known you off sick before. You want me to call an Uber?’

‘I’ll be okay. The walk will do me good.’ She collected her coat and bag. ‘See you tomorrow.’

Georgia followed her into the main office. ‘Seems daft to come in for one day before the weekend. Why don’t you take tomorrow off. Hopefully you’ll feel better by Monday.’

‘I might just do that.’ She offered a weak smile. ‘Thanks, Georgia. Night, everyone.’

Jafrina and Tyler muttered their goodbyes, unused to the boss leaving work mid-afternoon.

‘Call if you need anything,’ Georgia shouted, before turning to her work mates. ‘Right… while the cat’s away… it’s time for some Christmas music!’

Leaving them to cause chaos in her absence, Sarah headed outside, praying no one would stop and speak to her. She wasn’t up for conversation; her head was all over the place.

The last thing she’d wanted was to prolong any involvement with Lucas, and now she’d told the head of the hospital they were dating and that she had feelings for him. Avoiding Lucas until he returned home to the US had been her plan. It might not be mature, or even what she truly wanted, but it was necessary for her sanity. Because however she viewed it, she was annoyed with him.

Pushing open the exit door, she was hit by the cold winter air and drizzle gently falling from the darkening December sky. The weather matched her mood, gloomy and damp.

Flipping up her hood, she marched across the forecourt.

She wasn’t annoyed with Lucas because he’d called her ‘messed up’ – that she could deal with. It was the truth, after all. She was annoyed because she liked him, and she really didn’t want to. She enjoyed his company, which wasn’t what she wanted. And worst of all, he’d reminded her what it was like to have a man in her life, to chat with someone and laugh with them. Until Lucas had crashed into her life, she hadn’t realised how lonely she was, and that’s why she was so annoyed. She’d been fine until he’d shown up.

Sarah might have walked straight past the woman huddled under the awning, if she hadn’t made a sobbing noise. The sound of crying couldn’t be ignored, so she stopped to check on her. ‘Are you okay?’ It wasn’t unusual to find someone crying outside of a hospital. Patients were often given bad news. No one visited a medic if they were fit and healthy.

The woman wiped her eyes. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean for you to hear. I’m waiting on my brother. He’ll be here soon.’

Sarah knew the US was a big place, but this couldn’t be a coincidence. ‘Are you Harper?’

The woman looked surprised. ‘Well, hey, how did you know?’

‘Your accent is the same as your brother’s. I’m Sarah; I live in the same building as Lucas.’

‘You’re Sarah?’ The woman smiled. ‘Jeez, he wasn’t lying. You sure are pretty.’

Sarah jolted with surprise. ‘He’s mentioned me?’

‘A little. He said you were nice. I think he’s sweet on you.’

Compliment aside, Sarah still planned to avoid him.

She glanced at the woman’s wet clothing. ‘Does he know you’re waiting? You’re allowed to go inside, you know. You don’t have to stay out here.’

‘I’m not fit to be in company,’ she said, wiping her wet hair away from her face. ‘I’m kind of a mess; I don’t want to embarrass him.’

‘Would you like me to find him?’ It seemed rude not to offer.

‘That’s okay. I’ll wait till he’s done.’

Sarah was torn. It was mid-afternoon. The woman would freeze to death if she stayed outside much longer. She was already shivering. ‘It could be a while yet. How about you come home with me? It’s not far. I live in the flat above him. At least wait in the dry for him.’

Harper’s teeth were chattering. ‘Sure you don’t mind?’

‘Of course not. Come on, this way.’ They crossed the road and headed for Putney Bridge. ‘Bad day?’

‘Bad year, more like. Today was the worst. No one told me rock bottom had a basement.’ Her laugh was self-deprecating. ‘Lucas might’ve mentioned I’m going through a divorce. A messy one. This morning I showed up at my ex-husband’s workplace and confronted the woman he left me for. Genius, huh?’

Sarah winced. ‘A bold move.’

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