An Unexpected Christmas

by Lori Jennings

  'Ella, Where's Nate? I thought he might have joined us?' My head snapped up at the sound of his name coming from Sally's lips.

  Ella looked at me, a questioning look on her face. 'Could you pass the tomato sauce?' I asked quickly.

  'You don't like tomato sauce.' Her eyes narrowed.

  'I meant the vinegar.' I smiled at her, hoping she would drop any questions of my mistake. She took a second then reached over and passed me the bottle and turned her attention back to Sally.

  'Nate had some work things to sort out otherwise you know he would be eating his way through a steak and ale pie.'

  'When are we going to see him?' I tried to turn my focus on to the food in front of me but Sally's eagerness to see Nate had made me lose my appetite and fill my head with questions. Did she like him? Did he like her? Had something happened between them before now? Why was I so jealous of a woman I didn't know?

  'He's coming to the carol service so will be in the pub before and after. You know it's tradition.' Ella smiled at Sally and I just continued to move my food around my plate with my fork. I needed to get a grip, I had no claim to Nate and I would be a fool to think I had a chance anyway. I needed another drink.

  'Does anyone want another drink?' I stood up from the table and everyone looked up at me. It seemed everyone was alright so I wandered over to the bar and waited.

  'What can I get you hun?' The barmaid from earlier asked.

  'Just another gin and tonic please.' She sent me a smile then set about fixing my drink. I took a deep breath. I probably shouldn't be having another drink I could feel a headache forming in my temples which usually meant I was stressing out about something.

  My drink was placed I front of me and I paid then took another deep breath before heading back over to the table.

  'The house is really coming along. We have nearly finished the kitchen then it's just the living room and the baby's room, which we're leaving until last because we can't decide on a colour. James wants it to be blue but I was thinking that yellow might be a nicer colour.' I was glad the conversation had turned away from Nate and back towards Victoria and James and how excited they were for their baby's arrival.

  'I think yellow is a great colour for a nursery.' Ella looked really excited for her friends and I knew she wanted a family of her own; it was something we had chatted about not too long ago and she had started getting a dopey look on her face whenever she was around babies.

  'I always thought green would be a nice colour for a baby's room.' Green was my favourite colour and I had let myself think what it would be like to paint a nursery in a calming green for my own baby one day. I pushed the thought away, it seems I was trying to do that a lot recently, not thinking about the things I wanted.

  'Oh green, I didn't think of that.' Victoria smiled and leaned back in her chair and rubbed her swollen belly. I would guess she was about six months pregnant and that her baby's room was now probably going to be green.

  After our table was cleared and I had finished my drink I leaned over to Ella. 'Hey, I'm not feeling too good, I'm going to go.'

  'Oh, are you okay? Do you want me to come with you?'

  I stood and lifted my coat off the back of my chair. 'I'm fine; just need some fresh air I think. You stay, I will see you later.'

  'Are you going?' Daniel was looking up at me with concern on his face.

  'Yeah.' I sent him a small smile.

  'Are we going to see you before the carol service? We usually have a drink before.'

  He was sweet, and cute, and I wished I felt anything towards him but it seemed my heart had other ideas. 'I will be there.' I turned to the rest of the table, 'It was really nice meeting you all. I will see you later.' I smiled then headed towards the door.

  Pushing the pub door closed behind me I buttoned up my coat and pulled the collar up around my neck, cursing myself for not wearing my gloves. I pushed my hands into my pockets and headed along the road towards Maggie's cottage.

  I took my time walking down the main road towards the house. It was so beautiful; I had never been this far south before and even though it was freezing cold the sky was a bright blue, but the snow clouds had gotten a lot closer and I could almost smell that fresh powdery scent that lingered just before a snowfall. I walked along the main road of the village and passed a couple of small shops I hadn't noticed when we drove past. There was an adorable little florist with rows of Poinsettias in the window, a dress shop with party dresses draped over mannequins and a sweet shop. When I reached the cafe I stopped and pushed the door open. I moved around the small tables, there was only one other person in the café - an older looking gentleman who was happily tucking into a scone, and I made my way over to the counter.

  'Good afternoon, what can I get for you?' The lady behind the counter was only a little taller than I was and wore a very floral dress with a crisp white apron over it. If I had to guess she was in her early fifties and had a warm, friendly smile on her face.

  'Do you serve coffee to go?' I kept my fingers crossed, after a couple of gins I could really do with some coffee and it may keep me warm for the walk back.

  'We do, milk and sugar?'

  'Yes please.' I smiled and waited for her to fill a takeout cup with steaming hot coffee and add milk and sugar. I paid and thanked her, then headed back out into the cold.

  Turning off the main street I wandered down the hedge lined road that headed down towards the beach and Maggie's house. I got glimpses of the beach and the sea through the hedgerow and I was quickly lost in thoughts of Christmases and holidays with my family. As I rounded a corner I bumped into something and just as I was about to fall flat on my back two strong arms pulled me forward. I looked up into stunning blue-green eyes and a breath taking smile that held a hint of concern.

  ‘Are you okay?’ I had to take two deep breaths for my heart to slow to a slightly more normal rate before answering.

  ‘I think so.’ Nate still held onto me but after a few moments he lifted his head and looked around.

  ‘Where is my sister? Did she abandon you?’ He looked back down at me.

  ‘She’s still at the pub. I got a headache so decided to head back early.’ The smile was gone and concern still filled his face. He lifted his hand towards my head but then seemed to think better of it.

  ‘How are you feeling now?’

  I gave him a reassuring smile; ‘I’m okay. The fresh air helps.’ He nodded then realised that he was still holding me.

  He let go and took a step back. He ran a hand through his hair then gestured down the lane. 'Can I walk you back?' I nodded and we both turned towards the house.

  Chapter Ten

  Nate

  I had spent the last few hours on the computer trying to make a dent in my e-mails and not think about April. Not thinking about her curled up in the armchair in the lounge, a book open in her lap and then not thinking about her sitting in the pub talking to whomever it was that Ella thought was good enough for her. Well whoever it was, and I really didn't care, he wasn't. I had needed to get out for a while and I thought a stroll up to the pub and a catch up with some old friends was an excellent idea.

  I had just walked up the lane and rounded the corner when April slammed into me. I didn't know what she had been looking at but she hadn't been watching where she was going and if I hadn't reached out for her she would have gone flying backwards, luckily I had quick reflexes from all the stunt training I had received for my last movie.

  'Are you okay?'

  She looked flustered and a little shocked. 'I think so.'

  I still had my hands on her arms and there was something stopping me from letting go. I looked down into her face then I wondered. I looked around and then back to her. ‘Where is my sister? Did she abandon you?’

  ‘She’s still at the pub. I got a headache so decided to head back early.’ She sent me a small smile.

  I lifted my hand instinctively to brush it across her head. I didn't like the thought of her in pai
n but it was too much, too intimate a gesture, and so I lowered it back down. 'How are you feeling now?'

  ‘I’m okay. The fresh air helps.’

  I nodded then realised that I was still holding her, I gently let go and took a step back, needing a little space between us. I pushed my hand through my hair then turned and gestured down the lane. 'Can I walk you back?'

  April nodded then we fell into step with each other. After a minute I couldn't take the silence. 'So did you have fun? Despite the headache?'

  She looked up at me and smiled, 'I did. It was nice.'

  'So who was there? I'm guessing James and Victoria, they never miss an outing.'

  She nodded then turned her attention back down the road. 'Yes, they seem nice, they’re really excited about the baby.'

  I had been friends with James since my mum bought the house. We used to cause havoc tearing up the roads on our bikes and then he went off to university and met Victoria, they had been madly in love ever since. 'They will make great parents. Anyone else?'

  'Yeah, Roddy, Daniel and Sally.' She left a little pause before she said Sally's name and I wondered if she didn't like her. Sally was a nice enough girl but she had a crush on me when she was in college with Ella and I had tried to keep my distance. The fact that April wasn't a fan gave me hope that maybe Sally had said something and April was a little jealous.

  I wondered if it was Roddy or Daniel that Ella had in mind for April; they were both nice enough blokes, but the thought of her with either of them left a horrible feeling in my stomach. 'What did you think of them?'

  She thought for a moment. 'They were all really nice. I had a bit of a chat with Daniel, and Roddy told us some of the things the kids in his class had said to him over the last term. I had a good afternoon. What about you? Did you get much work done?'

  'I did. I had a million emails to sort through and a few call to make but I needed a break and some fresh air before the pile of reading I have waiting for me.' She sent me a sympathetic smile and we continued to wander down the road. The house came into view and I realised I wasn't ready to go back and I hoped April wanted to keep me company. 'Do you want to walk along the beach for a little while?'

  Her smile brightened and she nodded, 'I would like that.'

  We followed a small path that led over the sand dunes and down to the water's edge. I wanted to get to know her, I knew I was attracted to her and I had a feeling that if I learnt more about her I would know if she was someone I could trust with my heart. It wasn't something I gave away lightly. Over the past couple of years I had avoided getting too close to women, my last relationship was with Olivia Reed and that wasn't something I wanted to think about in April’s company. Relationships were also hard when I didn't know where my next job would take me and I knew long distance relationships were difficult, but even though I was going to Miami for a couple of months I wanted to find out if April was someone I would be willing to work at it for.

  'April?' She looked up at me. 'Tell me something about yourself.'

  She laughed. 'That's a bit vague. What exactly would you like to know?'

  Everything, and anything. 'What about the basics. Age?'

  'Twenty eight.'

  'Family?'

  'Mum and Dad; Kate and Michael. Older sister; Abby, married to Scott, they have two kids - Mia who is four and a half, the half is very important, and Henry who is two. That’s us.' April spotted something on the sand and stopped to pick it up, I watched as she dusted off the sand. The shell was small and pink and looked like a tiny cream horn and I watched as she turned it in her fingers. She looked up and smiled and I couldn't stop myself from smiling down at her. There was something about the way she smiled at me that I felt somewhere in the depths of my chest. I was falling for her, I knew it, but the only way I was going to be sure was to do what I hadn't managed to do last night; I needed to kiss her.

  I watched as she took a deep breath and then turned to carry on down the beach. 'Is there anything else you want to ask me?'

  'Favourite colour?'

  'Green.' She didn't hesitate to answer and I wondered if she was so certain about other things.

  'Favourite food?'

  I watched her smile broaden, then she laughed; 'Chocolate.'

  'Why chocolate?'

  'Chocolate goes with so much. Champagne, coffee, you can get it with chillies and salt or any kind of nut and you can even add it to spaghetti sauce. It is so versatile that's why it's my favourite.' She dropped her gaze then looked back up at me. 'Can I ask you something?'

  'Anything.' I meant it; I would answer anything she asked me.

  She was quiet for a moment. 'Well I know what you do for a living but that isn't just who you are. So who are you?'

  I hadn't been expecting such a deep question. In my line of work I had been asked so many things about what I was working on or how I felt about it. Recently the questions had turned to my social life and most of the time I could talk my way out of answering them. April's question was something I hadn't been asked before, just something else that made her different. I stopped and waited for her to turn towards me.

  'What?' She looked worried. 'I'm sorry, you don't have to answer that.'

  I sent her a small smile to reassure her. 'No, it's okay, most people want to know about my work not about me. I mean I love my job...' I pushed my hand through my hair again then let it fall to my side, 'but it is usually all that people want to know about.'

  She looked up me and I saw a flash of what could be anger or disgust on her face. 'That is crazy; people shouldn't be defined by their job. I mean working shouldn't be the be-all and end-all of who we are. Yes, you're an actor and part of that means you have to talk about your work but you are still a person and...' I had lifted my hands and placed one on either side of her face before I could think, and I pulled her gently towards me as I lowered my lips to hers. Her lips were cold against mine and I could taste her coffee and a hint of salt. It took her a moment to realise what was happening but I felt her lean into me then kiss me back. Her arms moved up; one fisted in the front of my jacket and the other, which still held her coffee cup, wrapped around my side. I shifted closer to her and deepened the kiss. She let out a little moan and I lowered my hands from her face, down her arms and to her back where I could hold her firmly against me. I lifted my head from hers then and broke the kiss, I watched as her eyes fluttered open and I smiled down at her.

  When she returned my smile I lowered my mouth to hers again and she kissed me instantly. Our kiss became urgent and more demanding and thoughts of stripping her out of her coat and her clothes filled my head; I wanted to know what she felt like wrapped around me. My head was beginning to fill with all sorts of ideas of what I wanted to do with her that I thought I could hear music. The opening bars of Vivaldi's 'Spring' rang out of my pocket. I lifted my head from April and sent her an apologetic look. I pulled my phone out and glancing at the caller ID swore and answered. 'Ian, give me a second.' I didn't wait for his reply. I dropped the phone from my ear and looked down at her, 'I'm so sorry I have to take this, I'm not sure how long it will take.'

  She took a step away from me and I found myself reaching out for her with my free hand, I pulled her closer and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.

  'I will come and find you... later.' She had to realise that I would rather be kissing her on the beach then talking to my agent.

  She smiled back at me and I relaxed a little. 'Don't worry. I'll head back to the house.' She didn't wait for my reply, just turned and began to walk slowly away from me.

  I took a deep breath then held my phone back up to my ear. 'Ian, you have some seriously bad timing.'

  'What?' Ian sounded stressed and I realised I was going to have to let him off the hook.

  'Nothing, sorry, what can I do for you?' I continued to watch April walking back towards the house.

  I heard him take a deep breath. 'I was just checking in and I wanted you to know that I have sent some more scripts
, you should get them in the morning.'

  'Alright.'

  'And I have sent you some details about flights, oh, and there was some mail for you at the office that I will send over as well so you get it before you leave.'

  'Anything else?'

  There was silence on the line for a moment. 'Is everything alright you sound distracted?'

  'Everything is fine. I will read through the scripts when they get here and let you know as soon as I can.' I heard him let out another heavy breath, 'And Ian?'

  'Yeah, Nate?'

  'Take some time off and go spend Christmas with your family.'

  'I will. Have a good one and I will try and not pester you again until Boxing Day.' I heard the emphasis he put on the word 'try'.

  'Thanks man. Merry Christmas.'

  'You too.' I lowered my phone and hit the end call then slipped it back into my pocket. April had disappeared over the sand dune and I wanted to go after her and continue what we had just started but I had a pile of scripts I needed to read waiting for me and I didn't have much time to read them. My chat with April was going to have to wait, I had made a promise and I didn't go back on promises.

  Chapter Eleven

  April

  When I got back to the house I made my way up to my room and closed the door behind me. I wanted to take a moment to play the last few minutes over in my head. I unbuttoned my coat but then a laugh escaped me and I span on the spot not knowing what to do. I stopped then shook my head, I felt like a teenager with that excited first crush feeling. I shrugged out of my coat and threw it over the chair that stood in the corner of the room then kicking off my shoes; I crawled onto the bed and lay down. I let out a laugh and I felt a broad smile cover my face. My fingers reached up and brushed across my lips and I closed my eyes. It had been a while since I had been kissed but no kiss I had ever received had felt like that, it had warmed me and my mind had emptied of everything but him. My heart rate had quickened just at the thought of it and I realised that I was in serious danger of falling for a man that I was certain I wouldn't get to keep.