The Christmas Holiday

by Maxine Morrey

  ‘Wait… I’ve got a card here for the restaurant.’ Marty pulled out some papers and a beaten-up card for a restaurant from his pocket. ‘Here you go. Best shrimp in town!’ His smile was so cheery I didn’t have the heart to tell him I was allergic to prawns.

  Liv leaned over and squinted at the card. ‘Elmer’s Fish Shack. That sounds… delightful!’ She gave Marty one of her winning smiles and then looked at the delicate Rolex on her wrist. ‘Gosh! Look at the time. We really ought to be going. Thank you so much for your services today. We’ve had a wonderful time.’ She shook his hand and Hunter and Sandeep did the same. When I went to shake his hand myself, Marty held it a little longer.

  ‘I’m really looking forward to tonight, Mia.’

  ‘Yes. Me too. I’ll see you at seven-thirty then.’

  ‘You sure will.’

  I slid into the front seat and closed the door. Hunter turned the engine over and headed out of the rough parking lot, driving carefully along the unsealed road that had led to the inlet, our car tyres kicking out dust behind us.

  ‘Where’s that card, Mia?’ Liv asked. I handed it over. ‘Hunter, we need to go and check this restaurant out. Here. Put the address into the satnav.’ She read it out.

  ‘Don’t be daft. I’ll just give the taxi driver the address later.’

  ‘Errm… Elmer’s Fish Shack? We need to see it first to decide if there’s even going to be a later.’

  ‘It does kind of sound like a bait shop rather than a restaurant.’ Sandeep had taken the card from Olivia and was turning it over in his hand. ‘It doesn’t even have a website. That’s not a good sign these days.’

  ‘I suspect it’s not especially fancy. Contrary to your belief that he uses his job as a way to get dates, I think Liv was right about Marty. He might not be as sophisticated in his tastes as some, but I’m sure it will be a pleasant evening. And whatever the restaurant is like, I can’t not turn up now. I’ve said I’m going. Actually, to be accurate, you both said I’m going.’

  ‘People get stood up all the time.’

  ‘Not by me. It’s horrible. There’s no excuse for just leaving someone sitting waiting these days.’

  ‘No. I didn’t mean it was right.’ Liv suddenly sounded a little more contrite. ‘I just meant you could tell him beforehand if you’d changed your mind.’

  ‘I’m sure it’ll be fine. Let’s just go back to the hotel.’

  ‘If you’re sure.’

  ‘I am. Totally. It’ll be fine.’

  Chapter Thirteen

  ‘Oh. Wow. This so isn’t fine. And what the hell is that smell?’ Hunter put the back of his hand over his nose and mouth, his face screwing up against the unpleasant odour that had permeated into the car. And I hadn’t even opened the door yet. ‘You’re dressed way too nice. They’re all in flip-flops and shorts.’

  ‘I knew I should have got a taxi.’

  ‘I had time to kill.’

  ‘I wouldn’t have got a running commentary from a taxi driver.’

  ‘I’m just saying…’

  ‘Well, could you not just say then, please? And you can never dress too nice. It’s called making an effort.’

  He turned towards me and dropped his arm from his nose. ‘I didn’t mean it how it sounded. You… you look really nice.’

  I took a deep breath, immediately regretting it as I inhaled more of the stink. ‘Thank you.’

  Marty appeared at the top of the wooden steps up to the restaurant. He gazed out across the water and then recognised the car idling close by, and its occupants.

  ‘Well, he didn’t stand you up at least. That would have been awkward.’

  ‘I never thought he would.’

  Hunter looked across at me. ‘But someone stood you up.’

  ‘Like Liv said, it happens all the time.’

  ‘And like you said, there’s no excuse these days.’

  I shrugged. ‘Doesn’t matter now.’

  ‘Whoever he was, he’s an idiot.’

  I lifted my head from where I’d been checking the strap on my sandal. Hunter was watching me. ‘Nice shoes.’

  ‘I’m thinking I’m going to lose a heel down the slats of that damn restaurant now. I should have worn flats.’

  ‘Just get old Marty to toss you over his shoulder. Strong lad like that, shouldn’t be a problem.’

  ‘That’s more your style, you Neanderthal,’ I said, pulling the door catch.

  He grinned at me. ‘You say the nicest things.’

  I waved at Marty as I went to close the door.

  ‘Call me when you need a lift back.’

  ‘No. I’ll get a taxi.’

  ‘Mia.’

  ‘Hunter. Thank you for the lift but now please go.’

  He stretched his hands on the steering wheel and then curled them around it again. ‘Impossible woman.’

  ‘Bye!’ I smiled cheerily and slammed the door before heading up the steps to meet Marty.

  ‘Wow. You look real nice. I’m thinking you’re probably more used to fancier restaurants than this.’ His confidence out on the water earlier was no longer evident. Either the boys were right and he was just playing on this wholesome hometown-boy persona, in which case he was damn good at it. Or he really was that guy. Personally, I had a feeling all of this was real.

  I searched for an appropriate reply. ‘I’ve certainly not been to a restaurant like this in London, that’s for sure.’

  ‘We can go somewhere else.’ Marty shoved his hand in his back pocket and ran a hand over his hair, the baseball cap from earlier gone to reveal a tidy, combed-down side parting, clipped short at the back and sides.

  ‘No! It looks… great! I do have a tiny confession, though.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘I don’t actually eat prawns.’

  Marty gave me a blank look.

  ‘Shrimp? I can’t eat them.’

  ‘Ohhh! What d’you call them?’

  ‘Prawns.’

  He laughed and held out his hand. I took it, navigating the slats with my heels. ‘Uncle Elmer has a whole lot of other choices. And he cooks the shrimp all separate what with allergies and stuff. So long as you eat fish. You do eat fish, right? I guess I should have checked that, huh?’

  ‘No, I definitely eat fish.’

  ‘Well, hi there!’ An older woman with a piled-high hairdo and friendly face approached the table, ‘Marty said he was bringing a real pretty girl for dinner tonight, and he wasn’t wrong.’

  Across from me, Marty went the same red as my dress. ‘Aunt Em. Please.’

  She batted his protestations away. ‘Oh, just you shush. Now what can I get you to drink?’

  Marty opted for a non-alcoholic beer and I chose the same. Mostly because it was easier to do so.

  ‘And just listen to that darlin’ accent! I can see why he was smitten like he says.’

  ‘Aunt Em!’

  ‘You know, everyone thinks he’d be asking girls out all over the place. I mean, look at him! Handsome, tall, ex-military to boot but—’

  ‘You were in the military?’ I directed the question at Marty, but glanced at his aunt, so as not to seem rude. I had to do something. For one thing, I felt like I was on a date with Marty’s aunt, and for another, the poor man was dying of embarrassment.

  ‘I was. Ten years,’ he replied.

  ‘I’ll go and get those drinks.’ His aunt seemed to get the hint and finally left.

  He smiled at me, bashful. ‘Sorry about all that.’

  I laughed. ‘It’s OK. She means well. She’s obviously very proud of you.’

  He nodded. ‘Since I came out, they all got kind of protective.’

  ‘Oh?’

  His hand drifted to the fork on the table, moving it a tiny bit one way and then back again, keeping his eyes down. ‘I had a little trouble readjusting to civilian life initially. I was supposed to be getting married but my fiancée wanted to move to the city…’

  ‘And you didn’t?’

 
He shook his head. ‘We’d talked about doing that but, when I got home, I couldn’t deal with the noise. I like it here. I love the quiet of nature, kayaking up the river. I help out here too when I have time. ‘Course, none of it pays very much and it wasn’t exactly what me and my fiancée had talked about before. It wasn’t fair to ask her to change her dreams. She’s always wanted to live in the city.’

  ‘I’m sorry it didn’t work out, Marty.’

  He looked up and smiled. ‘It’s all good. It’s what it’s supposed to be. There’s someone for everyone, right?’

  ‘Right.’

  He kept the smile, shaking his head. ‘I don’t think I can see you wanting to live in a backwater like this either, though, somehow.’

  ‘I… um… haven’t ever really thought about it.’

  ‘I don’t know what I was thinking, asking someone like you out.’

  ‘Someone like me?’

  ‘Sophisticated, fearless, pretty as hell.’

  ‘Now you just mind your language, young man.’ His aunt put the drinks down on the table, gave me a smile and left.

  I giggled, and so did he and the ice was broken.

  ‘I’m really not any of those things.’

  ‘You are to me. That guy you work with? He’s obviously really good at his job and has that whole Alpha Male thing going on but you weren’t taking any shit from him.’

  ‘He’s not as scary as he likes to make out.’

  ‘So he wouldn’t have thrown you out of the boat?’

  ‘Oh yes. He totally would have. I was definitely on my last warning with that.’

  ‘Good job I would have been there to save you then.’

  I gave him a look and smiled. ‘That’s very sweet of you.’

  ‘I wish you weren’t leaving so soon. I think I’d like to get to know you better.’

  I wasn’t quite sure what to say to that right at the moment so I hoped a smile would suffice while I studied the menu.

  As the tide came back in, the smell from the exposed silt disappeared and it turned into a pleasant evening.

  ‘This is a great spot,’ I said, looking out over the dark water. I bet it’s lovely on a summer’s evening.’

  ‘It really is. And honestly, the smell isn’t that bad normally. Just typical it had to be at its worst when I bring someone like you.’

  I laughed. ‘I wish you wouldn’t keep referring to me like that.’

  He blushed. ‘Sorry. I kind of always wanted to travel. I guess that’s partly why I joined the army. Although, gotta admit, Afghanistan wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.’ I didn’t have a reply for that either so I just listened. ‘London was definitely on my list. I feel like a hick compared to you. That’s all I meant.’

  ‘Don’t be silly. And just because you haven’t done it yet doesn’t mean you won’t at some point. Things change. People learn to deal with things in their lives better.’

  He nodded. ‘Yeah. Maybe you’re right. And I do find it easier to go into the city nowadays. I still wouldn’t want to live there, and I’m always glad to get out of it. But it’s not like it was a few years ago.’

  ‘There you go, then. Who knows what the future holds for you, and what places you might discover.’

  ‘I think I’m pretty sure it doesn’t include you, though. However much I might want it to…’

  ‘Marty…’ I smoothed the paper napkin on my lap.

  ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.’

  ‘No. You haven’t. And it’s very sweet of you to say something like that. But you really don’t know me. I’m quite often a huge pain in the arse, especially when I set my mind to something. Just ask Hunter.’

  ‘Nothing wrong with tenacity. Your co-worker?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Is there something going on between you two? I mean, I didn’t step in the middle of something, did I? I kinda got the feeling he wasn’t thrilled when I asked you out.’

  ‘No. Really. There’s nothing at all. And he doesn’t care what I do. Even if he did, it’s none of his business. And if you got that feeling, believe me, it was just because he was still pissed off at me for whacking him with the paddle.’

  ‘You did manage to get him a few times,’ Marty laughed. ‘Poor guy.’

  ‘I know. And I do feel bad. Well. Sort of.’

  The rest of the evening passed quickly and enjoyably. Our desserts were served by a pretty woman around my age who smiled at us both, but I sensed something a little unsure in the one she gave me.

  ‘That’s Sally. We used to go to school together. Real nice girl. She moved back here about a year or so ago after her divorce. Got a little boy. Great kid.’

  ‘So she’s single then?’

  ‘Mmmhmm,’ Marty replied, distractedly.

  I let the words sink in and he looked up from his dessert at me.

  ‘Oh no! We’re not… like that. We’re just friends.’

  ‘She’s pretty.’

  ‘She really is! But she’s already been through it with her ex. I don’t think she’d be interested in… why? Do you think she’d be interested?’ His voice had lowered now and he leaned in a little.

  I leant in too. To anyone else, it might have looked romantic. Which I suppose it kind of was. Just not in the way you’d expect.

  ‘I’ve lost count of the times she’s glanced your way since she came on duty. And that smile she gave you?’

  ‘She always smiles like that.’

  ‘Not to everyone.’

  He chuckled and blushed a little. ‘I had the biggest crush on her all through high school. But she was always with this other guy. The guy she married. I knew he wasn’t good enough for her. I tried to tell her one day but just ended up upsetting her and then she moved away and I joined the army. We kind of lost touch.’

  ‘But you’re friends again now.’

  ‘Oh yeah. She said she knows now I was just looking out for her.’ He sat back in his chair and studied me for a moment.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve ever been on a date before where my date was trying to set me up with someone else.’

  I screwed my face up. ‘Now you know why I’m single. I’m really not good at this dating lark.’

  He laughed. ‘I’m glad you agreed to come tonight anyway. Even though it’s not exactly what I thought – or hoped – it might be. I’ve really enjoyed it.’

  ‘Me too,’ I said, honestly. ‘Thank you for asking me.’

  ‘You’re welcome. I guess you’ll be wanting to get back to your hotel.’

  I pulled my phone from my bag and checked the time. ‘Yes. I ought to really. Do you know a good taxi firm?’

  ‘I do. But I’d be happy to drive you. I can even get my aunt to sit in the back if you want?’

  ‘I don’t think that’ll be necessary. But I think I’d prefer it if you stayed here and maybe helped out the waiting staff.’ I gave him a meaningful look and he grinned and dropped his gaze, shaking his head. ‘You are quite different from any woman I’ve ever met.’

  ‘Some might say “thank goodness” to that.’ One man in particular sprang to mind.

  ‘Not me. But OK. I’ll call you a cab.’

  I’d been back in my room a few minutes and was just pulling my dress over my head when there was a knock at the door. Stuck half in and half out of my dress, I swore under my breath and yanked at it some more.

  ‘Who is it?’

  ‘Me.’

  I pulled off the dress and grabbed my dressing gown from the hook in the bathroom. Shoving my arms in hurriedly, I belted it as I opened the door to Hunter. ‘Is everything all right?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘I just wanted to check you got home OK. You were supposed to call me.’

  ‘No I wasn’t. I told you I was going to get a taxi.’

  ‘And I told you I could pick you up.’

  ‘Hunter. I was on a date. It’s bad enough you droppe
d me off, but I didn’t have the time to argue with you.’

  ‘I don’t see the problem.’

  I put a hand on my hip. ‘My ex is dropping me off and picking me up from dates and you don’t see how potentially awkward that makes me feel?’

  From the look on his face, I could see it hadn’t even occurred to him.

  ‘Right. OK. I admit, I hadn’t fully considered that. I just—’

  ‘Like to know where everyone is all the time. I get it.’

  He gave a nod. ‘I’m sorry if I made you feel awkward. That wasn’t my intention.’

  I leant on the door and let out a sigh. ‘I know it wasn’t.’

  ‘I promise not to take you when you see him again. If that helps.’

  ‘I’m not seeing him again.’

  Hunter frowned. ‘Really?’

  ‘Really. What’s the point? I’m only here for a couple of days.’

  Hunter gave me a look and then at least had the grace to look a little embarrassed.

  ‘Yes, well. You and I obviously operate on different levels. And Marty wasn’t interested in that sort of arrangement either.’

  Hunter snorted. ‘If you’d offered, he would have accepted. Believe me. He barely took his eyes off you the whole time.’

  ‘Rubbish. To all of it. He’s looking for something far more meaningful than a quick shag.’

  One corner of Hunter’s mouth curved up. ‘Who said anything about it having to be quick?’

  I straightened from the door. ‘Goodnight, Hunter.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  ‘So, let me get this straight,’ Olivia said, as she skewered a piece of kiwi fruit with her fork. ‘You meet and agree to go on a date with a perfectly nice, good-looking man who is super-keen on you…’

  ‘I wouldn’t have said he was super-keen…’

  ‘I would. And I’m never wrong about these things.’

  Sandy looked over at me. ‘That is true.’

  I chased a blueberry round my bowl with my fork before giving up and grabbing it, slightly uncouthly, with my fingers and popping it in my mouth. ‘Sorry. I’ll still be here at lunchtime otherwise.’

  ‘I do it all the time.’ Liv waved her fork in dismissal. ‘Bloody things. But back to last night.’

  Hunter slid me a look and the hint of a smile brushed his lips, all of which said Nice try.