Page 104 of The Christmas Holiday
Chapter Twenty Three
Liv waved from the breakfast table as I entered the dining room.
‘Hi!’ she said, holding her arms up for a hug as I reached her. ‘Are you OK? I was going to phone you yesterday but I didn’t know if I’d be interrupting something.’
‘Possibly,’ I said, taking a sip of the freshly squeezed orange juice she’d put in front of me, ‘but probably not what you think.’
Olivia’s delicate features creased into a frown. ‘Oh?’
‘Hunter told me about Syria.’
‘Oh,’ Liv repeated, now looking slightly uncomfortable.
I covered her hand with mine. ‘It’s fine, Liv. I know you couldn’t say anything. Hunter had to tell me when it felt right for him. We both know he’d have gone up the wall if you’d told me before.’
‘I said weeks ago he should tell you!’
‘All the time we were just work colleagues, I don’t suppose he felt it was so important for me to know. Although I’d still like to have helped if I could.’
Liv had paused with her coffee cup halfway to her lips. She raised one eyebrow and gave me that cute little head tilt. ‘Do I infer from that that you two are now more than just work colleagues?’
I poured my own coffee. ‘Honestly?I’m not entirely sure right now. It’s… complicated.’
Liv gave a sigh and took a sip. ‘Isn’t it always?’
‘There is that.’
‘Do you want to be more than just work colleagues again?’
‘I’ve lain awake most of the night asking myself that question.’
‘And did you come up with an answer?’
‘I have arguments both for and against.’
Liv gave me a look.
‘I know. That soundsquite cold and logical but it’s the best way, I find, of dealing with decisions.’
‘That’s all very sensible and sounds like a great idea for most decisions. It’s just that… well, you know love isn’t at all logical and isn’t always the best at fitting into nice, neat little boxes, right?’
I balanced my elbow on the table, resting my chin on my hand. ‘It really would be so much easier ifit did, though, wouldn’t it?’
‘Without a doubt.’
The conversation drifted onto a different subject, swiftly followed by several more as we happily munched our way through fruit, cereal and a fried breakfast each. Liv explained that Sandeep had gone Christmas shopping and had coaxed Hunter into going along to keep him company. The plan was to meet up with them at four at The Cavendish forafternoon tea after we’d done our own Christmas shopping. Having experienced shopping with Liv a few times now, I poured another coffee. I was definitely going to need the stimulant.
‘You look fit to drop,’ Hunter whispered as I leaned in to place my few purchases on top of Liv and Sandeep’s in the boot of the car Sandeep had arranged to have sent from the hotel.
‘I don’t suppose you haveanother energy drink hidden away, do you?’
He grinned. ‘No. Sorry. I needed it all myself today.’ He caught the slight look of concern on my face and flicked my plait. ‘Don’t look so worried. I didn’t really have any. I just made Sandeep stop for coffee regularly, which, between you and me, I think he was pretty happy to do.’
‘I’m surprised he doesn’t have someone do all this for him,to be honest. Isn’t that the point of having money? So you don’t have to do the stuff you don’t like?’
‘One of the benefits, I guess. But Sandy’s not like that – at least not in this instance. He’s not a fan of shopping but I don’t think he’d feel right giving gifts to people he cares about he hadn’t chosen himself. I’m sure he has someone to do all the boring, corporate and schmoozing presents.’
‘That sounds like a good compromise. Did you buy much?’
