Page 43 of The Christmas Holiday
I didn’t have the right words just then, so I smiled instead. But I knew I would, in time.
Having demolished several puddings between us, we savoured the dark, rich coffee that followed. An announcement by the maître d’ then informed us the outdoor festivitieswould begin in ten minutes. Liv made a little squeal and grabbed Sandeep’s hand.
‘Come on!’
Hunter and I held back a little more so he could get some shots of the whole scene, and focus on them without me getting in the way. In the low light of the evening, I could see his features concentrating on the task. His long fingers held the camera steady as he captured the scene and the atmosphere,his height helping him cut out extraneous matter from the shots. I’d always loved watching him work but there was an extra layer of fascination now because I was part of it all. For the moment, anyway.
All of a sudden, the charcoal black of the sky was transformed into colour as fireworks shot upwards, their explosions booming out as colour rained down from them in a fantastic display. Thenoise was unrelenting as one after another chased into the sky, accompanied by oohs and exclamations from the crowd. I glanced back at Hunter, my expression of delight immediately turning to a frown. His face was tense and, from the light of another eruption, I could see a sheen of fine sweat on his brow. He grabbed a few more shots and began to lower the camera. There was no way I could make himhear me over the noise of the display, so I stepped closer to check he was OK. Just as I did so, a barrage of explosions rang out as they flew into the sky, raining gold and pink. Hunter staggered back a couple of steps, almost tripping as he got his back up against a wall. Quickly, I moved towards him as he leant back, his eyes closed.
‘Hunter.’ I touched his arm, gently.
He jumped andhis hand was around my wrist in an instant. A split second later, his eyes on me, he let go.
‘Sorry. I…’ He didn’t finish.
‘What’s going on?’
He shook his head. ‘Nothing.’
‘So obviously not true. Do you have what you need?’
‘What?’ His eyes were back on the sky.
I put my hands firmly on his upper arms. ‘Hunter. Look at me.’
He pulled his gaze away and I was shockedby the look of pain and horror they held. Where was he in his mind? And just what had happened to put that memory there? I couldn’t bear seeing this great, solid rock of a man recoiling in fear at the sounds. Whatever the hell had happened, or was still happening in his head, I knew I needed to get him out of there.
‘Answer me. Do you have what you need?’ I gave him a little shake to makehim focus on me.
His eyes darted briefly until they found my face. ‘Yeah… I mean… Yes. I think so.’
‘OK. Then let’s go.’
‘I… no. I have to…’ His eyes were darting again and his fingers were gripping the camera body so tight I thought it might shatter under the pressure.
‘You said you have what you need. Come on. Those fireworks are giving me a headache. I could do with findingsomewhere a bit quieter for a break. Any ideas?’
‘Yes. Sounds… sounds good. I…’
His brow knotted deeply as a huge firework shattered in the sky with an enormous boom that I felt in my chest. I linked my arm with his, wrapping my hands around his forearm, and steered him back inside the hotel. We stepped into the lifts and he leant back against the mirrored interior, his eyes closing, notopening until the soft ping of the doors signalled him to do so. Our rooms were on the other side of the hotel to the grounds where the celebrations were being held and the sounds, although still audible, were more indistinct here.
‘I’ll see you in the morning,’ he said, not looking at me as we got to his room.
I didn’t want him to go in and lie there, thinking about whatever it was thathad caused the reaction I’d seen downstairs, or possibly drink himself into a stupor in order to try and chase it away. His keycard bleeped.
‘Hunter?’
He turned his head, but his eyes remained lowered. I knew he didn’t want me poking around in his mind, but I couldn’t help it.
‘Please talk to me.’
‘There’s nothing to talk about. Goodnight, Mia.’
I quickly stepped between himand the door.
‘Fine. Don’t talk to me then. But don’t lie to me either. And don’t treat me like I need to be protected from something because I don’t—’
‘You have no idea…’ He shook his head.
