Chapter 56 Andrea
Andrea
It was snowing outside. Wham!’s “Last Christmas” was blaring over the speakers, and the whole of the pop-up ski lodge was full of light and people.
“It was most kind of you to open this to friends and family, Liam,” said Monish, pulling Priya onto his lap and reaching for a mince pie.
“They really have turned it into a magical alpine retreat.” James glanced around at the pine trees and twinkling fairy lights. “I must say, I prefer this new leadership approach. Less Patrick Bateman, more Ted Lasso.”
“Glad you approve,” Liam said. He dropped an arm around my back and pulled me close to him.
“It’s nicer than I expected, actually.” Bonnie was already onto her third hot spiced cider, and her nose had a Rudolph look about it. Her eyes drifted toward the bar. “Oh, Big G’s here,” she said, almost to herself.
“Did she just say Big G?” James asked under his breath.
Across the room, Gerald was trying to get the bartender’s attention. Then he looked over to the table and raised both thumbs at Bonnie with a smile.
“What the fuck—?” mouthed Kelly. “Does she mean … Gerald?”
James and I looked at each other and frowned.
Bonnie had been acting super weird for the last couple of weeks. She’d eased off on the lipstick, and the other day she’d come to work in trainers.
Definitely something going on with her.
“How are you finding the new role, Kelly?” Ben asked. “I heard it’s less cold calling, more working with NGOs?”
“Yeah,” she said. “I’m coordinating field supply now instead of selling into practices. It’s actually very … satisfying. And I love working under Monish.”
Monish gave a small smile and raised his drink.
Liam’s eyes snagged on something and he froze, a tiny glass of Harveys Bristol Cream halfway to his mouth. The table turned to see Dex approaching, his chin completely bare.
“Jesus Christ.” Liam’s mouth dropped open. “He’s had a Brazilian.”
Dex pulled up a seat. “Thought it might be time for a change,” he said sheepishly.
“But … 1970s vagina was your signature look,” I said. “I don’t recognize you anymore.”
“And you removed it just in time for winter?” asked Kelly. “Everyone knows that’s when you need full bush.”
“Is it wrong that I’m strangely turned on by it?” said Ben.
Kelly winced. “Yes, Ben, it is.”
“I can grow it back,” Dex said. “I mean … if you really think …”
Liam peered at him. “I never thought I’d say this, but maybe you should.”
The music kicked up a notch just as Gerald rolled up to the table carrying a tray of shot glasses.
“What have you got there, Big G?” asked James, giving me a look. “Cherry liqueur?”
“Sloe gin,” Gerald replied, ignoring James’s jab and passing the drinks around. Jesus, was he actually used to the name? He sat next to Bonnie at a distance I considered a little close for a work do.
“Ooh, Andy, your mum’s here,” said James. “With Eliza … and … is that Murray?”
Oh my God, my sister had made it. When she said she was coming back from Goa for Christmas, I could hardly believe it.
“Eliza, Mum. Murray.”
They waved at me from behind a fake snowman and made their way over.
“Is that … Murray Sullivan?” Monish said.
“You know him?” I asked.
“He’s a semi-famous cricketer, apparently,” James added, like that explained it.
“The Muzz? I can assure you he’s not semi-famous,” replied Monish, a strange fanboy look glazing his face.
I guess that explained the tickets to Lord’s.
I hugged them all, then stood back to look at my sister. She was deeply tanned, and her clothes were more floaty than usual, but other than that, she was just the same.
“Andy.” Eliza was beaming. “I missed you.”
“You too. You look gorgeous,” I said. “It’s so good to see you. And you too, Mum, Murray … thanks for coming.”
“This is flash, mate.” Murray leaned into Liam, taking in the ski props and the reindeer. “Back home, Christmas means sausages and an esky. Only thing white is the ice.”
Mum and Murray reached for a glass each and sat at the end near Liam and me. Eliza plonked herself down opposite.
“Have a sloe gin, my dear,” said Monish, sliding one across to her. He nodded at the henna tattoo on her hands. “Does that mean something profound, or were you just bored near a beach bar?”
“The temporary nature of all constructed selves,” she said. Then quietly, “The woman who did it didn’t speak English, so I can’t be entirely sure, but I feel like that’s what her gestures meant.”
Monish nodded like he understood.
“Actually, Mum, Eliza, can I … borrow you for a minute?” We stepped away from the table and stood near the fireplace.
“Here,” I said to Mum, passing her a parcel. “Merry Christmas.”
“Oh, Andy, you didn’t have to.”
“I know. But … I wanted to give it to you while Eliza was here.”
Mum tore off the wrapping paper, then her eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, Andy.” She pressed a hand to her mouth.
It was Eliza, but not at eighteen. Her shoulders were looser now, the frame wider, and there was space around her. Air.
“Is this a print?” Eliza asked.
“Limited edition,” I said. “There are only ten. I’m keeping the original.”
It felt like keeping my sister closer somehow—but without keeping her in a cage.
“This isn’t the painting that sold,” Mum said. “She looks … different.”
“She is,” I said.
Eliza held it carefully. “Wow, Andy. But … I didn’t even pose for this one.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t need you in front of me this time.”
Eliza was quiet for a few moments. “I look older, don’t I? Like I’ve slept or something.”
Mum laughed.
“And there’s more of a twinkle in my eye,” she added. “Like I don’t really care if you approve.”
“You look happier,” I said.
She turned the frame over.
“Exhale,” she read softly. “I appreciate your subtle symbolism.”
Trust Eliza to chuck in a barb of mockery.
“Thanks,” I said, laughing.
“At least I don’t look fat in this one,” she added, with a snort.
“Artistic license,” I said. “Plus, I knew you’d kill me if I did it again.”
The tempo of the music picked up as we walked back to the table and sat.
“Ooh, ‘SexyBack’. Come on, Gerald.” Bonnie disappeared toward the dance floor with him hot at her heels.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think that woman was getting some,” James murmured.
“Yes, but from Gerald?” I whispered.
“Did not have that on my Christmas bingo,” said Kelly.
We all grimaced and turned back to our drinks.
“Liam, so nice to see you again,” said Mum. “You know, I was thinking, you could be a model.”
“Ah, thank you, Celeste. I’ll give it some thought.”
“No, I mean it. You’ve got a great jawline. You’d photograph well.”
“Yes, Mum,” Eliza said, “Liam’s going to quit his billionaire investor career to be a model.”
“You could be the new face of ErectaGel?” Ben said.
“Works for me,” James said quietly.
Liam choked slightly into his sherry.
I looked around the room—snow against the windows, candles flickering, Monish already debating cricket stats with Murray while Mum examined Liam’s bone structure. Eliza had her hands in the candied pecans like she’d never left.
It felt close to perfect.
“I’m getting a proper drink,” I said, slipping out from the bench. “And not one with cinnamon in it.”
“Champagne?” James asked. “And bring one for Baz, if you don’t mind? He’s just finishing a fare.”
“Anything for you.”
I made my way through the crowd, past the icicle lights and sheepskin throws. Bonnie was leaning against the bar, her cheeks flushed.
“I think I need a water,” she said. “Great party, isn’t it?”
I nodded. “You and Big G seem to be getting along well.”
The corner of her mouth twitched like she wanted to say something and changed her mind.
Bloody hell … was this actually a thing?
“We spent a lot of time together working on the resource redeployment,” she said. “The design of it. Once Liam decided that’s what he wanted.”
And that was the turn-on?
“Gerald really cares about his team, you know,” she said. “All of you. I respected that.”
Was that why he’d been so concerned about making sure none of us screwed up? Was he just trying to keep us all … safe? I hadn’t thought of it that way before.
“Right,” I said.
“I’m glad it all worked out with you and Liam,” she added, her vowels slipping slightly. “He wasn’t … functioning well. Before.” She took a sip of her water. “I didn’t know how to help him.”
She suddenly sounded less like a period drama and more like … me.
“I knew after the Toby thing that you were all right,” she said. “Toby’s a dick, but you had Liam’s back. And then when you revised your statement … and resigned too. I mean, you didn’t have to quit, but I could see you really cared. About Liam. Meant I could stop worrying about him so much.”
Oh.
The bartender pushed a pint of shandy across the bar, and I raised it.
“Well, then. Here’s to standing down,” I said.
“And not pretending,” she added, raising a brow.
We clinked, and she smiled at me briefly before turning to look across the bar.
I followed her gaze. Liam looked so handsome sitting there next to my family and all my friends. His face was unguarded, and he was laughing at something Mum had said while she patted him on the arm. How could I have ever thought Liam—Wilhelm von Roth—was just a cold, calculating businessman?
I guess there aren’t any cartoon villains once you know the backstory.
Then Liam’s face changed, and he stood, looking toward the door.
Eleanor was here.
She brushed the snow off her coat and glanced around the room.
Then her eyes settled on Liam as he made his way across to her, and her face spread into a breathtaking smile.
I was too far away to hear what he was saying, but I did see him take her into his arms for a hug that lasted longer than it had the first time I’d seen them together.
We’d visited quite a few times since then, even staying overnight one weekend so we had more time with her.
I learned a lot about Liam Roth that weekend, and all of it just made me love him more.
He whispered something into her ear, and she threw back her head, laughing, then they both looked at me on the other side of the bar. Liam waved me over.
“Is this how you do office parties now?” Eleanor was beaming. “I expected it to be more … office.”
I smiled, and we hugged. “It’s a bit of a change,” I said, and Liam caught my eye.
“Come and meet Andrea’s family.” Liam took her by the elbow and guided her over, and I watched as my mum and Murray stood. Eleanor was immediately wrapped into the conversation with introductions and hugs.
My heart felt rather sore, like the happiness bubbling inside me had fought hard to settle in there permanently and needed some time to recover.
Eleanor glanced over at Liam and smiled softly. She looked comfortable there, like she belonged. Everyone did.
Liam turned to me. “This didn’t turn out too bad, did it?”
“It didn’t,” I said.
He pulled me close and kissed me on the side of my head.
“Do you think any of this would have happened if I hadn’t got stuck in a lift with you?” I asked.
“Of course it would, silly.”
“But how, though? How would I have ever known what you’re really like?”
“Oh, you’d have jumped on me in the art gallery anyway, and I’d have felt obligated to rescue you.”
I laughed. “Never going to let that go, are you?”
“I’m never going to let you go, Andy,” he said, then wrapped his arms around me.
THE END
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