The Christmas Holiday

by Maxine Morrey

  He stopped his lecture just in time to lift two champagnes off the tray brought by his new favourite employee. She gave me a subtly appraising look as he handed one of them to me, then smiled at him again and moved on through the cabin.

  ‘I enjoy myself plenty, thank you very much!’

  ‘Really,’ he said, the disbelief evident in his voice as he took a sip from the flute.

  ‘Really,’ I replied, with emphasis.

  ‘When?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘When was the last time you enjoyed yourself? Really let yourself go and laughed and didn’t care?’

  ‘I think I need to swap this for some orange juice.’ I turned to see if I could catch the eye of one of the crew.

  ‘Just drink the champagne, Mia. You like champagne. Unless that’s changed.’

  ‘No. I do. But I’m working. You might get away with drinking on the job. But I intend to be a little more professional.’

  ‘Probably helps that I don’t fall asleep after two glasses.’

  I narrowed my eyes at him. A glimmer of a smile played at the corners of his mouth.

  ‘It’s not unprofessional. It’s one glass and we’ve got an eight-hour flight ahead of us, so you can sleep it off anyway.’

  I rolled my eyes at him.

  ‘See it as a celebratory drink for getting a great assignment.’

  ‘No thanks to you.’

  ‘That’s true.’

  ‘Sorry if I spoiled your plans to take your friend.’

  ‘Are you?’

  ‘No. Not in the slightest.’ And with that I silently congratulated myself. as he’d suggested, pulled out the SkyMall magazine and began window shopping.

  Several hours later, I’d read the magazines I’d brought, watched a film and made some more notes. Opposite me, Hunter was dozing, thick eyelashes casting shadows on his cheekbones. I took the opportunity to pull the guidebook he’d dismissed earlier out of my bag and began reading some more.

  ‘Don’t let their views and writing influence yours.’ His deep voice was soft in deference to the others around us.

  I jumped anyway.

  ‘I thought you were asleep.’

  ‘Resting my eyes.’

  ‘Well, go back to doing that then.’

  He shook his head. ‘I’m trying to help you.’

  ‘Thanks. But I don’t need your help.’

  ‘Oh yeah. That’s right. I forgot. Mia always has to do everything by herself. Just to prove she can. She doesn’t need anyone. For anything.’

  ‘There’s nothing wrong in wanting to do things for yourself. It’s not a crime, you know.’

  ‘I never said it was. But right now, you being stubborn and a pain in the arse is hurting you way more than it’s hurting me, if that’s your intention.’

  ‘Of course it’s not! Guess what, Hunter? Everything isn’t always about you.’

  ‘Oh boy. Believe me, that I know.’ He turned and looked out of the window for a moment, and I could see his sharp features reflected in the glass. His jaw was tense and the muscles in his neck were cabled. He took a deep breath and tilted his head from side to side, a crack emanating from his neck as he did so.

  ‘Ouch.’ I pulled a face.

  ‘It’s fine,’ he said, dismissing my concern. ‘Look. What I’m trying to say, without being condescending or any of the other things you’ve labelled me as, is that you need to write as you. You read too many of these guidebooks and you can end up sounding like one yourself. Jeremy, and those two,’ he indicated Olivia and Sandeep across the cabin, ‘want colour, feeling, atmosphere. They want your writing. Your voice.’

  I looked up from where I’d been staring at the cover of the book.

  ‘I’ve been doing this a while and I’ve seen newbies…’ He held up his hands, palms facing me, as I frowned. ‘I’ve seen people new to this area mess it up. They’re trying so hard that they forget why they were picked to do it in the first place. Whatever happened between us is nothing to do with this. I can see what this means to you and, even though you weren’t my first choice to work with, I want it to be right for all of us. You spend your time trying to be something – or someone – else, you’ll forget who you really are.’

  He sat back in the seat again as I thumbed the pages of the book, running my fingers over the paper edges as his words filtered into my brain. He was right, of course. And, as much as I hated it, I knew I could learn from him and his experiences. If he’d let me. I was pretty sure the only reason he was sharing this piece of knowledge now was down to the several champagne top-ups he’d had during the flight. It had always made him pretty mellow. I guess not everything about him had changed.

  Chapter Five

  It was evening by the time we landed and made our way through the large, airy terminal at Delhi.

  ‘Bit of a difference to how it was before, eh?’ Sandeep made a gesture to Hunter, encompassing the surroundings.

  Hunter laughed an easy laugh. ‘Just slightly. God, it was dingy, wasn’t it?’

  ‘Hardly went along with India’s image of a burgeoning economy.’

  Hunter shifted his shoulder and moved his rucksack higher, nodding in agreement as he did so. I cast a glance under my lashes at him. I’d always loved travelling, although most of my experiences’ had been of the armchair kind. Truth be told, I was dying to ask Hunter about all of his travels and the work he had done in the time since we’d split up – an event that had been shortly followed by his career going stratospheric. I’d given in to temptation and done a little more research on him once I’d found out we were going to be working together. I’d always known he was a brilliant photographer but it was like he’d taken it up and beyond everything he’d done before. The photos ranged from stunning to incredible to moving and shocking. His images conveyed beauty and fear, joy and devastation. His work was varied but the quality wasn’t. It was easy to see why he was so much in demand, and why my boss was so pleased, and surprised, that he had agreed to do something like this. But it was clear he was very fond of Olivia and Sandeep so, assuming not everything had changed about him, it didn’t surprise me that he’d agreed to it. My mind wandered back to the woman he’d been dating, the one he was supposedly doing the favour for. From seeing his warmth towards Liv and Sandy, I got the impression they were more the reason he was here, rather from any sense of obligation caused by his break-up with Ilana.

  ‘You’ve been here before then?’ I asked Hunter as we paused for a moment. Sandeep was giving a quick scan of the many drivers waiting for pick-ups at the arrivals gate, looking for the one from our hotel.

  Hunter shifted the rucksack again. ‘Yeah. Few times.’ He glanced down at me. ‘I think you’ll like it.’

  I looked up, not able to keep the excitement off my face. India had been on my wish list for ever but I’d never quite managed it.

  ‘Really?’

  A smile tempted his mouth, and the corners of his eyes crinkled just slightly.

  ‘Pretty sure. It can be a bit of a culture shock.’ He tilted his head at me, ‘But you look like you’re ready for it.’

  For a moment, I forgot all the tension between us. Right now, I was just excited and practically bouncing to share it with someone.

  ‘I’m so excited!’ I blurted, before casting a glance up. ‘I know that’s not terribly professional. And yes, I know I’m not on holiday and I should be all calm and acting as if this were just another normal day for me, like you are… but I’m sorry, I can’t! I’m in India! And yes, I’m well aware that’s probably another tick on your list as to why I shouldn’t be here, but right now, I don’t care.’

  He nodded at Sandeep as he spotted the driver from the hotel.

  ‘Here we go.’

  His comment – or lack thereof – confirmed to me that he agreed with everything I’d just said about my excitement probably not being the proper behaviour for a professional travel journalist. I hoisted my laptop bag over my shoulder and grabbed my suitcase. Hun
ter stood back and indicated for me to go first, as he followed behind.

  ‘It’s OK. I’ll catch up,’ I said, juggling my hand-luggage bag.

  Hunter leant over and took it from me, tossing it over his other shoulder.

  ‘I’d rather you were in front.’

  I frowned.

  ‘Trust me.’

  And despite everything, I absolutely did.

  I nodded and set off, following Olivia and Sandeep, who were in front of us, Sandeep chatting amiably with the driver who had taken their luggage. He’d tried to take ours too but Hunter had waved him off with a smile. Liv clearly wasn’t one to pack light and the poor man was already struggling with a very full luggage trolley. It was hard to see how he would have dealt with trying to push two, but he’d been determined to try until Hunter had put him at his ease, laughing with the others about the amount of luggage they had, but without making it at the expense of Olivia. The driver had relented and, after checking with us several times that we were all right, had led us off towards our car.

  It was hard not to admire the diplomacy and kindness Hunter had shown. He’d always been good at putting people at their ease – a fact that had sometimes surprised people. His height and build could easily come off as intimidating, but he had always made an effort not to live up to that. Unless the situation warranted it. I imagined both aspects had probably come into play, and had their usefulness, over the past several years in his work.

  Heading out of the cool, air-conditioned atmosphere of the airport, the warmth of the Indian autumnal night surrounded us, as did the sudden noise and insistence of other independent drivers touting for business among all the travellers now spilling out from the clean, sanitised building into the dusty, cacophonous city.

  ‘Taxi, ma’am?’

  ‘You want taxi? This way?’

  ‘Taxi, ma’am?’

  Drivers called and questioned from all directions. I shook my head, and kept walking, aware of Hunter close behind me. I could see now why he wanted me in front of him. Their presence and insistence was definitely part of the culture shock he’d mentioned. I wasn’t frightened but it was easy to see how it might feel overwhelming. There was nothing intimidating in their manner – they were in a competitive market and, with families at home to feed, they were doing what they could. It was all part of India, and that was, after all, what I was there to see and record.

  We reached the vehicle and the driver began loading in our luggage as Sandeep and Olivia got in the front row of seats. Hunter gave the driver a hand, and keeping his camera bag with him, climbed into the car next to me in the row of seats behind the others. There suddenly seemed a lot less room as he shuffled in his seat, reaching for the seatbelt, his body leaning towards me as he did so.

  The driver got in, checked everyone was secure and gave us all a big smile again before pulling out into traffic that seemed to have no discernible rules.

  Through the glass, I watched as the city and its contrasts became clear. On the pavement, a woman swept with a rough, apparently handmade broom, readying the area where she would spend the night. Children played, families ate and slept on the ground as supercars drove past them, bound for the high-rises and villas that had become more and more prevalent over the last decade or so as the divide between the haves and have-nots had also expanded.

  In front of us, Liv and Sandeep had their heads close together as they looked out at the colours, lights and life of Delhi.

  ‘You all right?’ Hunter’s voice broke into my thoughts.

  I turned to face him in the dim light of the car’s interior. ‘Yes. Why?’

  He gave a little shake of his head. ‘Those guys at the airport can be a bit full-on.’

  I chewed my lip for a minute. ‘It’s different, that’s for sure. And I can see how it could easily be a bit much for some people, even intimidating. It’s kind of an assault on the senses to start with. But I’m fine.’

  He nodded briefly and turned to look out of his own window. I pulled on his sleeve to get his attention. Sandy and Liv were leaning forward, listening to something the driver was saying and I took advantage of the opportunity.

  Lowering my voice to a whisper, I met his eyes, dark as the night outside in the low light. ‘I know you think I’m naive and incapable—’

  ‘I never said that.’

  I pulled a face.

  ‘I appreciate you bringing up the rear at the airport but I’m fine. Honestly. I’m not some eighteenth-century heroine who’s going to be overcome and faint or anything. I know you’re thinking it’s the “right thing to do” or something – but I don’t need you compensating for me, or trying to look after me. Please don’t think I don’t appreciate your manners, but I can take care of myself.’

  For a moment there was silence. Hunter’s face remained impassive but as the streetlight flashed across the car, lighting us momentarily, I caught the tense set of his jawline and recognised it from a time past.

  ‘So you said once before.’

  He dropped his head and shook it, a breath coming out almost in a laugh, but not quite. Lifting his head, he turned back to me. When he spoke, it was in the same whispered tones as my own words had been.

  ‘Look. I don’t actually give a shit as to whether you feel out of your depth, overwhelmed or whatever else the hell you feel – which could be anything, because you’re sure not good at letting anyone know what that is. Those two,’ he pointed at the couple in front, now engrossed in conversation with the driver, ‘need us both and I have no intention of wasting time scouring the city, just because you got yourself lost, or freaked out or whatever. I put you in front of me so I could see exactly where you were. For my own comfort. Not yours. So you really don’t need to worry about me doing stuff to try and be the hero when it comes to you, Mia. Believe me, I learned a long time ago that you don’t want anyone showing you anything that might remotely be construed as taking care of you. I might have been stupid enough to believe I could fight against that once, when I wanted to, but I’ve been there, done that. As you said, you’re more than capable of taking care of yourself – but like it or not, we’re here as a team and, as other people I’ve worked with know, I’m happiest when I know exactly where my other team members are. Don’t go getting on your high horse and thinking you’re special. You’re not. It’s logistics. Nothing more.’

  He turned away, his broad back now facing me, ending the conversation. Part of me knew he was right. Part of me was mad as hell. And part of me was hurting far more than I knew it should be. I chose to focus on the “mad as hell” bit and ignore the rest.

  ‘You know, I’m really happy your career has gone so well, but it’s a shame it’s turned you into such a pompous, arrogant arse.’

  Hunter looked round.

  ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘You accuse me of thinking I’m special when in truth you’re the one thinking you’re so bloody special and experienced.’

  ‘I am experienced!’

  ‘Yes, I know. And I appreciate that. What I don’t appreciate is your high and mightiness! You were always confident, Hunter, and it was attractive. Now you’re just arrogant – and it really isn’t!’

  He gave a derisive snort. ‘Funny that I don’t give a shit about what you find attractive any more, isn’t it? Being a team, and knowing where everyone is, is for safety reasons. You dawdling, or getting caught behind, means I don’t know where you are. And it’s important that I do.’

  I opened my mouth, but he cut me off.

  ‘Mia. Whether you think it’s arrogance or not, shit happens and knowing where everyone is can literally be life and death. If you can’t work with that, then you should turn around and go home now because that’s the way it’s going to be. The way it has to be. And you need to get onboard with that.’

  A thousand retorts were circling in my mind but the only thing I could think of was that, even in our whispered conversation, when he’d mentioned things being life or death, his voice had tak
en on a different tone. There was an edge of desperation to it that I couldn’t argue against, no matter how egotistical I wanted to make him out to be. That part, at least, had a deeper meaning than he was saying, and more than I was ever likely to find out. I looked down to where his hand had gripped mine. His gaze followed and he let go immediately, his expression showing a hint of surprise to find he had done so.

  ‘Sorry.’ He pulled his hand away and shoved it in the pocket of the light jacket he’d thrown over his T-shirt.

  ‘Hunter—’

  ‘Here we are!’ Sandeep’s cheery voice rang out as the car slowed to a stop outside the five-star hotel.

  Two tall doormen, each dressed in ornate Sikh robes, opened the doors of the car as another hotel employee brought a brass luggage trolley up to the car and began unloading our bags onto it. He made a gesture towards the one Hunter still carried, but Hunter just smiled and held up his hand, indicating he preferred to keep it with him. His photographic kit had been worth a fortune when we were living together and I could only imagine he’d upgraded it in the time since. It made sense he’d want it close to him at all times.

  We entered through heavy glass doors, held open by the impressive and elegant doormen, and were greeted immediately by two extremely pretty female staff members who welcomed us to the hotel with garlands of marigolds, which they placed around our necks. They led us over to two desks, with Sandeep and Olivia at one and Hunter and me taking our place opposite the clerk at another. The paperwork was done smoothly and efficiently and we were accompanied to the lifts by a customer manager who had appeared, announcing himself as being pleased to show us to our rooms. The rooms were all on the same floor, with Hunter’s and mine being next to each other, and Liv and Sandy further up the corridor in one of the luxury suites. Having said that, my own room wasn’t exactly basic.