Page 102 of Under the Mistletoe with You

‘A tradition of yours?’

‘Something like that.’His chest aches a little to think of it.He never really thought he’d miss all the traditions of Christmas – baking in the kitchen while the dogs sniffed at his feet, going to Laurel’s family’s annual ball and dressing up, Esther’s insistence on new Christmas pyjamas, and Otto’s on-tap bubbly.And last year was special for a few reasons, not least because it was the first year he and Kit started to come back together after years of awkward barely knowing each other.To make up for it, she’s been there by his side the whole past year, helping get this ambition off the ground since he first voiced it.

‘And I should call my family,’ he says out loud without really meaning to.

Nash gives him a little nod of approval, and something in Christopher’s chest flutters at the thought of them being back in his flat, alone.Somehow, after all that’s happened today, things have turned a little fromdear god I don’t want to be home alone with this mantomaybe it would be nice to be home alone with this man.It would be a mistake, perhaps, to sleep with him again, but perhaps he is overthinking.Presuming.Worrying for no reason.

They pop in to say hello to Myffy, whose mind it seems is also on sex.‘Do you want to borrow this one?It’s a realbodice-ripper,’ she says, brandishing a book at him that has two men dressed in some historical floaty shirts pressed up against each other.Well, perhaps it’s obvious to some people.

‘Another time,’ Nash says.‘But I’ll make a note of the title, just for you.’

‘You won’t regret it.’

There’s still nothing from Mohan, and not much else they can do for Myffy today.Priti squeezes her goodbye, and Christopher almost wants to do the same.

They bid her farewell for now and pile back into the bakery truck.Priti sniffs at the air as she gets in.‘No offence, but have you had a dog in here?’

‘More like nine,’ Christopher says.‘Sorry about the smell.’

‘Oh, it’s all right.Just a little ...rustic,’ she laughs a little awkwardly, picking a black-and-white hair off her coat.‘At least it’s warm!’

They drive along quietly, all tired from the day’s activities.

In the overhead mirror, Christopher watches Nash in the back seat, his brows deeply furrowed.‘If you think that hard, you’ll get a wrinkle,’ Christopher teases, startling Nash from his thoughts.

‘Eyes on the road, Calloway,’ he growls.

‘What’s on your mind?’Priti asks Nash, much more delicately than Christopher managed.

‘I know it’s still snowing here, but is it the same everywhere still?’

‘From what I saw on the news earlier, things are better further south.But the trains are still not running,’ Priti replies.

‘Right.And Myffy said Mohan can drive,’ Nash murmurs, as though he’s thinking out loud.‘I was wondering if we should try and find a car or something for them so he can get back home?A kind of Christmas present.’

‘Oh, bless you, but we already looked and there’s nothing,’ Priti responds, with a resigned tone.‘Even with the premium prices, which I think Mohan would have found the money for if he could.’She shakes her head.‘It’s hard enough to beaway from your partner at the holidays, but even more so when they’re your carer too.’

‘But you think if we could get him a car, he might want to try and drive up?’Nash asks.

‘Yeah, he was keen on trying, even if I don’t love the idea of him getting stuck somewhere en route.’

‘There must be someone we know in London with a car they’re not using right now,’ murmurs Nash, peering intensely at his phone.‘Londoners don’t even drive, right?’

He’s right.After all, Christopher had his car just sitting at home when he was in London.There must be someone Christopher knows that Mohan can borrow a car from?This is the sort of thing his dad would be good for; through all his weird business contacts, he probably knows someone with at least three parked up in a garage somewhere.

But is that too much to ask?After all, he doesn’t want his own parents taking unnecessary risks, but maybe they could help ...

‘Let’s ask my parents,’ he says, explaining his train of reasoning.‘There are no promises, but my mother does love to force people into doing what she wants.If anyone can find a car for Mohan in the South of England right now, it’s Esther Calloway.’

They pull into the car park at the village hall and Priti hops out, just as Christopher takes out his phone.

‘I’ll go inside too,’ says Nash, half a question, half a statement, but Christopher nods.The last thing he needs is his mother distracted by Nash and their whole situation.That woman has a preternatural sense for knowing someone else is at the other end of a phone call; she’d make a tremendous spy.

His mother answers just as Nash shuts the van door.

‘What’s that noise, Christopher?Why are you in a van?Are you labouring?’

‘What islabouring?’