Page 17 of The Mission

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David was in the shower when Conrad got back to the room. While Conrad had been on the shuttle, he’d checked the distance to Arlo’s family chalet and decided to walk there and on the way find something to take as a present for Arlo’s parents. A bottle of wine if he couldn’t come up with something better. But what the hell could he take for people he didn’t know? Hopefully, they weren’t non-drinkers. He tucked his swimming trunks into a pocket of his ski jacket, took out his other gloves and hat from a drawer and as he laid them on the bed, David emerged from the bathroom.

“Hi,” David said.

“Have a good day?” Conrad asked.

“Great. Though we continually had to wait for Ernesto. He kept snowploughing when it was the slightest bit steep. Drove Mark mad.”

Good.“Oh dear.”

“Shall I wait while you shower and we can go down to the bar together?” David asked.

“Thanks, but I’m going out. I won’t be back for dinner.” Conrad closed and locked the bathroom door. That had been very satisfying. He wished he could have said that he wouldn’t be back for the rest of the holiday, but maybe Arlo’s family wouldn’t like him. Plus, it was a big risk. What if he ended up not liking Arlo? He might feel that was impossible right now, but he hardly knew the guy. And really, sharing his bedroom so quickly? What the hell would his family think about that? Even if it had been a serious offer, Conrad wasn’t sure he was brave enough to stay.

In fact, he knew he wasn’t.

He liked that Arlo wanted to move that fast, but Conrad couldn’t.

Finding a present proved as difficult as Conrad thought it might be. He almost bought champagne, then decided it gave the wrong message so he picked out a bottle of expensive red wine and a box of Swiss chocolates. Boring but safe.Shit, is that me?But he didn’t know these people. What else could he get?Nothing. Calm the hell down.

The closer he got to the address, the more nervous he became. It wasn’t too late to turn back, manufacture some excuse, but he didn’t want to disappoint Arlo. He didn’t know why he was so anxious. He didn’t have a problem meeting strangers.Er…strangers who know you have your eye on their youngest son, youngest brother?Conrad definitely wasn’t staying the night. Best behaviour was called for. In other words, the way he usually behaved.

Arlo must have been watching for him because he opened the door before Conrad could knock.

“Hello, gorgeous,” Arlo said and kissed him.

Conrad’s anxiety melted along with his heart.

Arlo hung up his coat, gave him felt slippers to put on instead of his walking boots and led him up the stairs. “Give the wine to my mother, the chocolates to my father,” he whispered. “And whatever happens remember I’m sorry, but I don’t regret a thing.”

“What?”

“You’ll see.”

Conrad took a deep breath before he followed Arlo into the room. The moment he stepped inside, he was bombarded with Christmas. There was a huge tree, lights and decorations everywhere, music playing, a fire blazing,The Grinchon the TV and so many people and kids, one of whom was on roller blades while two wielded lightsabres. The ones with weapons advanced on him. And there was a flying globe circling his head.Bloody hell.

“Friend or foe?” demanded the tallest Jedi.

“Let him breathe!” Arlo yelled. “For Pete’s sake, back off, you two. Do you want him to think we’re all crazy?” Arlo stood in front of him with his hands on his hips.

“He’s going to find that out soon enough,” a guy called. Conrad thought it was Benedikt.

An older couple stepped forward in matching Christmas sweaters, but tasteful Fair Isle ones that could have been knitted by Conrad’s mother.

“You must be Arlo’s brother and sister,” Conrad said in German and immediately wished he hadn’t. What if he’d not said it right? But they both laughed. Hopefully for the right reason. He offered the wine to Arlo’s mother and the chocolates to his father, then held out his hand. “I’m Conrad Hamilton. Thank you for inviting me for dinner. It’s very kind of you.” English this time, just in case.

“You’re welcome. I’m Sam and this is my wife, Hannah.”

Hannah shook Conrad’s hand. “Lovely to meet you, Conrad.”

“You can speak German.” Arlo gazed at him. “Pretend you don’t and you can catch my brothers out.”

Arlo’s parents rolled their eyes.

“Come and get introduced to everyone. Don’t worry about remembering names.” Arlo tugged at Conrad’s elbow. “Oh, and please don’t freak out. You haven’t yet, but I don’t think you’ve seen the reason I said that.”

“Why would I fr…?” Conrad’s feet stopped moving though he managed to complete the sentence. “…eak out?” Then he wondered why he’d bothered.Oh my God.He was officially freaking out. He could feel himself shaking.

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