Page 109 of Make You Mine This Christmas

And perhaps because it’s late, or because he’s so tired and worn out, Christopher answers truthfully. ‘Yes. I want to go to patisserie school, do my training, and work up to owning my own bakery.’

‘You should tell them that’s what you want, and then go do it,’ says Kit. ‘You’ve got the money saved, I’m sure. And you own that little flat.’ As Christopher shakes his head, Kit gets up and sits next to him on the sofa. ‘You can’t live your life doing what you think they might want you to do. You’ve got to live your life for yourself. No fake girlfriends and careers you hate.’

‘It’s probably too late for me to retrain.’

‘Christopher, you’re twenty-seven. You’re hardly on your death bed. And if you were, that would be a perfect reason to chase your dream,’ says Kit.

He sighs wearily.

He’s not there yet. Haf can feel it in her bones. But maybe, with their help, he could be. ‘Maybe this is a conversation for after Christmas?’ Haf says. ‘Or daylight?’

Kit gives her a little nod of agreement.

That’s one thing finally talked about.

She’s dreading the next part, and what will inevitably come after.

‘So, we should probably talk about what’s going to happen now.’

‘What do you mean?’ asks Kit.

‘The secret’s out, isn’t it?’ shrugs Haf. ‘Or half out? I dunno. Where are we going with all this?’

Kit gets up from the couch and refills her glass.

‘You know, you could offer us one of those,’ Haf points out, though doesn’t get up to get her own.

‘Whisky isn’t for liars,’ Kit says, sticking her tongue out at them both, but she does take two more glasses from the cart and fills them. She hands a glass to each of them and returns to her seat.

‘Considering the circumstances, and that we’re already four days deep into this lie, I will agree to go along with it on a few conditions.’

‘Really!?’ cries Haf at the same time Christopher hopefully whispers, ‘Really?’

‘No matter how much you deserve to be found out, I am not going to be the one to drop that bombshell. I’m not the biggest Christmas fan, but I also am inclined to pick the easiest road andjust go along with this mess. Plus, can you imagine what Esther would be like if she found out?’

‘Thank you, Kit,’ breathes Christopher, and Haf could swear he’s about to keel over in sheer relief.

‘Don’t thank me yet. You haven’t heard my conditions.’

‘Go on then,’ Haf urges.

‘Condition one,’ she begins, pointing at Christopher. ‘In January, you have to tell the parents you’re quitting. You can come up with a plan, show them how it’s going to work and what your aims are, so it’s like a business case. I’ll help you with it.’

Christopher blanches. There’s something distinctly rabbit-in-the-headlights about his eyes.

‘Kit,’ Haf says softly, shaking her head. ‘Give him time. I don’t think either of us can ultimatum him into this.’

‘He needs a push.’

‘Yes, but not off a cliff.’

Kit rolls her eyes.

‘Can I think about it?’ he whispers, and Haf’s heart swells with pride. ‘I just... I’m not saying I won’t. You’re right about needing to present it to them, and I think it’ll help me too. I haven’t let myself think about it before, and that’s not going to help.’

‘Okay,’ agrees Kit. ‘No deadline. Just a commitment that you’re working on it. And I’ll help.’

‘Deal,’ he says, and they shake hands.