Page 101 of Under the Mistletoe with You

‘Well, someone’s getting lucky tonight,’ whispers Nash as he gently lifts the box of puppies out of the van.

Christopher follows them all inside with the bags and sets them down in the kitchen.‘Do you want me to put these anywhere for you?’

Given the lack of response, it’s very clear that Thelma and Dai only have eyes for each other.

He finds Nash in the living room, settling the box of puppies on the rug next to Nessa.The box is low enough that she can poke her head in while lying down, and she takes out one puppy at a time to inspect them.Christopher bends down to give puppy number eight, still the tiniest of them all, a little stroke on her pink nose.

‘I think we should go.We might be intruding,’ he whispers.

Nash growls in some kind of agreement.They drag themselves away from the box of puppies and walk back to the kitchen.

Thelma and Dai have not moved.Between them on the table, Nash places a small square of card, which Christopher hopes is Nash’s phone number rather than how to contact him via his agent.‘Call us if you need anything.’

‘Aye, thanks lads,’ says Dai, not taking his eyes from Thelma.

It’s a dismissal, but one that Christopher is glad for.As the door shuts behind them, Christopher could swear he hears, ‘Well, I’ve never had a film star’s number before.’

They hop back into the front of the van.‘What a day.’Nash leans back in the passenger seat, arms folded and eyes closed.

‘Huh,’ Christopher says, looking at the steering wheel.

‘What?’Nash asks, sleepily opening one eye.

‘I left the keys in the ignition.’

‘So?’

‘I’ve never done that before,’ he says, pulling out of the farmyard and back onto the winding roads.

‘It’s been a long day,’ Nash shrugs.

‘No, it’s not that.’

He doesn’t know how to find the words for what he’s feeling.He’d never have done that in London, and not even in Oxlea, really.But here, he’s starting to feel different.The lack of nerves, and perhaps his guard coming down.Perhaps these missions are changing him on a structural level.Maybe now he can really feel that he might be somewhere safe, somewhere that’s starting to actually feel like home.And, more importantly, that he’s starting to have an impact here.Will people remember him after all this?He hopes so.

‘Never mind,’ he says instead, brushing past it all.‘Shall we get back to the community centre?’

As they drive up and out of the valley, and over the hill past Dai’s farm, Christopher’s phone lights up with a text.Before he can ask Nash to get it, Nash has already picked up the phone, unlocking it with Christopher’s pin.

‘Bloody hell, how did you know that?’

‘It’s not like you shield it from me.What, worried I’m going to snoop at your selfies?In fact, I should definitely do that…’

Christopher swats at Nash, who leans back cackling.

‘Don’t you dare.’

‘Oh, I do dare, but I’ll save that for a time when you’re not going to swerve us into a mountain.’

‘Who is it from?’

‘Priti.Can we swing by Myffy’s to pick her up, driver?’

‘Your wish is my command,’ he says, turning off the main road towards Myffy’s village.

‘You shouldn’t promise things like that,’ murmurs Nash in a way that sends goosebumps right up Christopher’s spine.‘I’ve told her we’re on our way.She sent the message a few hours ago.Hopefully she won’t mind that we were delivering puppies.’

‘And when we get home tonight ...well, it’s Christmas Eve, so I should really make my gingerbread house.’