Chapter 14 #2
Clara nodded. ‘So…’ She opened the box and peered inside, her eyes widening.
‘Wow, that’s a lot of sprinkles, but that’s okay because I happen to love them.
’ She turned away and headed back into the kitchen.
‘I’m cooking too. I do that when I need to clear my head.
At least I did before I lived in New York,’ she admitted, her voice wavering a little.
‘The cupcakes are just…’ As she said the words, an alarm started to beep and she went to switch it off before drawing a tray from the oven and putting it on the side.
The smell of chocolate was stronger now and it wafted across the kitchen, making Liam’s stomach grumble. ‘I made trifle too if you’re hungry?’
As olive branches went, it wasn’t very enthusiastic, but Liam nodded. ‘Yes, um, thanks. So, did you hear from Hudson?’ he asked, watching as she got the trifle from the fridge and put it on the side and then proceeded to scoop a generous portion into a bowl before grabbing a spoon.
‘No.’ She sighed. ‘It’s probably easier. Even if he’d contacted me, I wouldn’t have changed my decision. But it hurts that I wasn’t worth at least a phone call.’ She offered him the bowl and went to put the dessert away.
‘I’m sorry,’ Liam said. He meant it, but he wasn’t sorry that Clara had kicked Hudson to the kerb. He didn’t deserve her, but then again, neither did he… ‘Look, I’ve got some things to say.’
‘So go ahead,’ Clara said softly as she busied herself around the kitchen. She had her back to him as she loaded the dishwasher, clearly trying to avoid his gaze.
‘The thing is…’ Liam paused. This was more difficult than he’d imagined and he’d been expecting it to be hard. ‘I’m here to apologise – not just with brownies but with words.’ He paused again. ‘Will you stand still for a moment please?’
‘Sure.’ Clara went to stand at the other side of the kitchen, leaned back against the counter and folded her arms, her expression blank. ‘Go ahead.’
‘I should have told you about Charlie,’ he began.
‘But you didn’t because…’ She sucked in a breath.
‘I’ve thought about this, you understand.
’ She pouted as she concentrated and Liam lost his train of thought.
‘I’ve realised it would have been hard to trust someone after what your brother and wife did.
’ Her shoulders tensed. ‘And you weren’t sure if you could trust me with Charlie.
After all, he’s your child, the most important thing in your life. ’
Liam nodded because Clara had just articulated it perfectly. Nobody had read him so well in years. ‘Yes,’ he said simply.
She jerked her chin, reached behind herself and opened the container he’d brought and found a brownie, then nibbled a corner while she studied him. ‘So I forgive you,’ she said finally. ‘And by the way please tell Charlie these are excellent.’ She waved the chocolate dessert.
Liam studied her face. He should be delighted with the ease of his apology. After all, he’d hardly had to say a word. But the way she’d simply…
‘No!’ he blurted and her eyebrows rose in unison.
‘What?’ she squeaked, jumping and spraying sprinkles onto the floor.
‘You shouldn’t. Forgive me so easily I mean, Clara, what I did was.
’ He scratched his chin. ‘It was rubbish. I didn’t tell you about my son.
I kept you in the dark. I even kissed you – or let you kiss me,’ he added quickly because she looked like she was about to argue.
‘But I kissed you back quite willingly.’ The memory of it lived inside him and suddenly his whole body felt like it had been electrified.
‘And liked it,’ he added and noticed her cheeks were now pink.
‘I don’t deserve your forgiveness – not that easily. ’
‘So you want me to what, not forgive you?’ She cocked her head, looking confused.
‘Of course I want you to forgive me.’ He rubbed a hand across his eyes.
He was tired – so tired – he’d barely slept, too eaten up by guilt about Clara and worry about Mia – what she was going to say when they met.
‘I don’t know, you deserved so much better from me.
You deserved the truth. So make me work for it, make me suffer. ’
The edge of her mouth tipped up and Liam’s did too because what he was asking for was ridiculous. But he didn’t like that she’d capitulated so easily. He’d been wrong and he deserved her ire. He wasn’t Hudson, he wasn’t looking to gaslight her – he wanted to meet this whole thing head on.
‘Fine.’ She wandered across the kitchen and took his half-full bowl from the counter and put it in the fridge, spoon and all.
‘I’m confiscating your trifle until you give me the apology I deserve.
’ Her eyebrows knitted and she pouted and the concrete block that had been living in the pit of Liam’s stomach since the event in Nora’s pet shop suddenly lightened.
‘But I’ll warn you –’ She folded her arms. ‘– it should involve begging and… A lot more words.’
Liam grinned. He couldn’t help himself. ‘Okay, I’m so sorry.
What I did was wrong. I did lie to you about my son by omission and I shouldn’t have, but I was hurt and afraid and it just seemed so much easier to keep you in the dark because telling you about him would have meant I was letting you into my life. ’
‘Enough!’ Clara held up a palm. ‘That’s enough.
’ Her expression turned serious. ‘I get it, but please don’t lie to me again, Liam.
I value our friendship and our festive marriage far too much.
’ Her lips curved, making something inside him thump.
‘I’m also a huge fan of the brownies, so please ask Charlie if he’ll bake me more – the sprinkles really work.
Friends?’ she added, holding out a palm.
‘Friends,’ Liam said, taking it, trying not to think about the way their hands fitted so perfectly. Or that – for the first time in a long time – he wanted far more than friendship from someone, and the thought terrified him.
‘So, hello, lovely listeners, I’m Tom Berry, your host for today’s programme – and we’re here at Festive FM this afternoon talking about the upcoming Hollythorpe Christmas fayre which will take place on the twenty-fourth of December.
We’ve got some very special guests in today who are going to tell us all about it.
’ Liam glanced across the room at Clara who was grinning at the host. ‘I know a lot of our listeners have been excited about hearing from Hollythorpe’s very own Mr and Mrs Christmas.
We’re going to open up the phone lines in a few minutes, but first I’d like to welcome you both to the show.
Welcome.’ Tom opened his palms wide and gazed across the small table at Clara and Liam, who were both dressed in their festive attire.
‘Thank you,’ Liam and Clara said in unison.
They were in a small studio in a community centre located a few miles outside of the Hollythorpe village.
The whole room was kitted out with microphones and various equipment and looked very professional.
Liam knew the show attracted a large local audience and he’d appeared on it in the past. Once to advertise his electrical business and twice as Mr Christmas to promote the Christmas fayre.
The whole thing felt familiar, but oddly different because Clara was here.
‘That’s right,’ Clara said. ‘Are you going to come?’ She gave Tom a sparkling smile.
‘Absolutely.’ The host nodded, his eyes glittering. ‘It’s one of my festive highlights. So tell me, you two haven’t been… married –’ He made quote marks with his fingers. ‘– for very long. How are you enjoying being Mrs Christmas this year, Clara?’
She grinned. ‘I’ve loved every minute of it. We’ve met so many wonderful people – and animals too.’
The host smiled. ‘Of course Mr Christmas is an old hand. He’s been doing our festive events for a few years. What’s your favourite part of this time of year?’
Liam thought about the undecorated tree in his sitting room, about the pile of gifts he still needed to wrap, of Mia and Graham and the whole sorry mess he still needed to sort. Then he thought about Clara…
‘The people,’ he said, feeling his cheeks warm.
‘This time of year can be quite magical, you feel like the world is suddenly filled with endless possibilities. Things happen at Christmas that wouldn’t happen at any other time of the year — and everyone is so much happier…
’ Him included. At least he was now that he’d sorted things with Clara.