Page 12 of Confessions of a Christmasholic

‘I’m so excited about the Christmas market that’s happening quite soon, in two weeks. Followed by the lighting of the Christmas tree on the green. Kate’s Christmas shop donated all the decorations. There’ll be sledging down Conningworth Hill. There should be snow this year. Christmas carols on the green – Gus is organising it all!’

Eli ended his pronouncement with a breathy sigh, making it sound like Gus was the answer to all Conningworth’s Christmas prayers and more. ‘He’s a total Christmasholic, insanely into the season.’

No, actually, he wasn’t.

The man who kicked the crap out of Santa last night wasn’t a fan. She distinctly recalled Gus saying he effing loathed Christmas, if he saw another Christmas bauble he’d effing puke, he hated effing tinsel and Christmas carols made his effing ears bleed. She’d heard all that, right? That wasn’t a figment of her drunken imagination?

Was he even allowed to hate Christmas if he owned a Christmas store? Wasn’t that against the laws of nature or something? She took a second espresso from Eli and wrapped her hand around the small cup. Eli’s phone buzzed with an incoming message, and he looked at Will. ‘I messaged Gus, but he’s had to go into the tour company to do something. He said he’ll bring the twins over later. Marvellous.’

Sutton caught Will’s excited grin. It was obvious the two men loved the twins and they seemed very fond of Gus. Eli passed Will a cup of green tea – ugh, gross.

‘So Gus likes Christmas, huh?’ Should she tell them what happened last night?

‘No, he loves Christmas!Adoresit.’

‘Because of his dead wife?’ Sutton pressed. Sympathy for Gus rolled over her. She didn’t know anything about being married, and she hadn’t had many long-term relationships – or any – but she did know how it felt to lose her best friend. And hers wasn’t even true loss, a dead-not-coming-back loss. Losing Layla, even the possibility of losing Layla, hurt. Burying your wife, and your life partner at a young age had to be exceedingly traumatic.

‘Well, maybe it started like that,’ Eli replied. ‘He’s not the type to wear his heart on his sleeve, but now he loves it for himself and his children.’

Wrong, so wrong. No, the Christmasholic of Conningworth loathed Christmas.

‘What would you say if I said Gus doesn’t like Christmas?’ Sutton asked, testing the waters.

‘That you are nuts,’ Will cheerfully told her.

‘And you being here just reinforces how much he loves this time of the year,’ Eli earnestly assured her.

Her?It did? How?

‘He’s always been resistant to asking for help with the twins, but he knows he can’t run two businesses and various events and give the kids the attention they need. He’s a very hands-on dad.’

Where was Eli going with this and what did it have to do with her? Her head hurt, and she didn’t have the mental energy to keep up with his rapid-fire explanation.

‘I first thought you were a lover, but Gus doesn’t bring lovers home. But then I remembered that Moira’s been nagging Gus to get some help with looking after the kids over Christmas. It’s a crazy busy time for him and he can’t run two businesses, be Mr Christmas and look after the twins. We’re so glad he hired you.’

Eli didn’t jump to conclusions, he took flying leaps. And who was Moira?

‘So glad,’ Will agreed. Right, so it didn’t take them long to move from her being a one-night stand, a potential lover, to her being a nanny. Her ego ran into the corner and covered its head with its arms, wholly mortified by her super-swift downgrade.

‘We’re happy to help him look after the twins, we always are,’ Will continued. ‘But we weren’t sure whether our cruise would be extended or not.’

Cruise? As in ship? As in…oh God, oh God. Oh…sod it.

‘Do you two work as onboard entertainers?’ she asked, her voice croaky. Please say no. Dear God,please…

Will nodded. ‘We live in Sunshine Cottage, two up. You go past the entrance to Conningworth Hall and we’re the next house opposite. Youmustcome to visit.’

She was going to kill Jason, she really was. He’d assured her his uncle – Will, obviously – would be away until the new year!

‘When did you get home?’ she asked, panic lacing her words.

‘Oh, we haven’t even been home yet,’ Eli replied. ‘We landed early this morning, caught the first train to Kendal and Old Bill gave us a lift to the village. The nice thing about having a lock-up-and-go house is that there isn’t any rush to get home. And we don’t have to worry about animals.’ He looked around, frowning. ‘Talking about animals, where are Pig and Pepper?’

Not wanting to explain about the originally cream, now brown couch, Sutton ignored his question.

‘Does anyone look after your house for you? Do you have any family?’ Sutton croaked.

Will frowned. ‘I have a nephew who I can call if there’s an emergency, but he’s useless. Gus keeps an eye on it for us while we’re away.’

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