One Perfect Christmas (2 page)

It’s hard to concentrate on the service. The next time we have to stand up, I look around to catch his eye, just to check it’s really him. It is, he’s unmistakeable, even with
his new facial hair. Joe. My Joe.

Of course he isn’t just
my
Joe. He’s Joseph Strike, A-list actor and Hollywood’s hottest rising star, and millions of women around the world feel like they own a
little piece of him too. But they don’t. Not really. He’s mine, all mine. My heart is so full it feels like it could burst.

How did he get here without being recognised? It must be the beard. I suddenly have an uncontrollable urge to guffaw and I seriously consider stuffing Ruth’s tissue into my mouth to stop
myself, but luckily it’s time to sing so we all stand up again. This time he grins back at me – he knows I’m close to losing it. I really need to concentrate, but I see him begin
to sing with such animated, over-the-top gusto to make me laugh, and it works. Amy flashes me a look so I quickly turn to face the front of the church, but I glance back at him to see him mouth an
apologetic ‘sorry’ for getting me into trouble with Bridesmaid Number One. I purse my lips and try as hard as I can to sing the words on the order of service in my hands. What if he
leaves because he knows he’s distracting me? Panicked, I look back, but he’s still there, singing more calmly and watching me. He gives me another meaningful nod, and after that I force
myself to concentrate.

The service is beautiful and when Jessie finally kisses his bride I have a valid excuse to clap so hard my hands sting. It’s also blissfully quick, with two short readings and hymns that
are uplifting and only a few verses in length.

The congregation follows the wedding party out of the church, and I know that Joe will wait until the end to leave, so I have time to congratulate my friends. Jessie sweeps me up in a big bear
hug, and I whisper in his ear: ‘He’s here.’

He puts me down, a stunned look on his face as he scans the crowd.

‘Inside,’ I add quietly with a grin.

‘What’s this?’ Emily asks, sensing something is going on. The three of us put our heads together.

‘Joe is here,’ I whisper.

Her eyes widen. ‘Is he? Is he coming to the reception?’

‘Oh. I don’t know.’ I hadn’t thought about that. ‘There won’t be room, will there?’

‘It’s a buffet!’ Jessie exclaims. ‘Of course there’s room.’

‘He might worry about being seen,’ I quickly add.

‘He’ll be alright,’ Jessie tries to convince me. I know he’s dying to meet Joe.

‘Definitely!’ Emily urges. She can’t wait to meet him, either. I suspect she’s a bit of a Strike Stalker at heart, not that she’d ever admit that to Jessie.

‘Come on, you three,’ Jessie’s mum, Judy, interrupts in a chiding tone. ‘Let’s get these photos over with. Everybody’s freezing.’

Thankfully the snowy roads have been mostly cleared, so it’s not too hard for us bridesmaids to make our way in high heels through the narrow medieval streets to Garret Hostel Bridge.
I wish Joe were next to me to keep me warm, but I know he’ll be staying out of sight for now. The bridge has a very steep incline, but it has been well gritted, so we make it to the top
without slipping over. The female photographer shoots some quick shots of the wedding party while we grin and bear the cold.

We all cheer as Jessie and Emily climb into their waiting punt beside the bridge, which Jessie’s groomsmen decorated earlier with silver tinsel and shimmering garlands made out of tinfoil.
We shower the couple with rose petal confetti as Jessie punts his laughing bride away to the reception venue further down the river. The rest of the congregation sets off, but I pause for a moment
as my eyes fall on Trinity Bridge. I can’t help but feel melancholic as I remember Lukas sitting there many summers ago, reading his book. Lukas. My tall, blond, good-looking, former husband. I try to close my mind off to him, because I don’t want to feel unhappy, not today. I shiver and turn away, coming face to face with Joe. I throw my arms around him and he hugs
the breath out of me, warmth radiating from his body and engulfing me.

‘I can’t believe you’re here.’ My voice is muffled against his chest. He pulls away and I look up at him.

‘I wanted to surprise you.’

‘You did.’

His smile fades as his gaze falls to my lips, and then he’s kissing me. The world around us shrinks as shivers travel up and down my entire body. I can’t believe he still has this
effect on me. He holds me tighter and I press my body against his, sliding my hands inside his suit jacket to get close to him. He feels broader and more muscled than the last time I saw him, which
was an unbearable three months ago. I suddenly, desperately, want to get him undressed. And then I remember myself and pull away, gasping for breath.

His dark eyes flash and he takes my face in his hands and stares down at me.

‘I could get seriously carried away,’ I say with meaning, touching my hand to his hand. I know I should be at the reception venue to welcome Jessie and Emily and the rest of the
guests.

‘Later,’ he replies in a low tone. Then he tugs me to him and we walk down the bridge arm in arm.

I reach up and stroke his beard. ‘What’s this?’

‘Had to grow it for the part.’ He grins down at me. He’s been filming on location in the Brazilian rainforest. We’ve had to talk via satellite phone over the last three
months because the mobile reception has been practically non-existent. ‘I’ll shave it off when we get home,’ he promises.

Home. The thought sends a thrill through me.

When I separated from Lukas at the beginning of the year, I moved into a house share, which was the only thing I could afford on my teacher’s salary. It was a lovely little house, and my
housemate Lisa was easy enough to live with, but I still felt like I’d returned to my student days. Joe wanted to buy a house for me – he went on and on and on about it – but I
resisted, until about two months ago, when he said he was coming to Cambridge to spend Christmas with me. Our first Christmas together. The sale went through last week. In my head, of course,
it’s his house, and I’ll look after it for him when he’s not here, which sadly will be often. But he keeps insisting it belongs to both of us.

His filming schedule has been jam-packed this year, and next year doesn’t look to be any better. His base is in LA – I went over there for the summer holidays, but it felt very
surreal. I’m not sure I liked it very much. After that, Joe vowed to spend more time in the UK. It still astounds me that we’ve managed to keep our relationship under wraps. I love that
I can have a normal life, with a normal job, even if I do have to listen to my colleague Roxy going on about Joseph Strike all the time. Honestly, she’s obsessed. Every piece of salacious
gossip comes directly my way. It’s the thing I find hardest to deal with.

‘This place is amazing,’ Joe says, looking around at the historic college buildings as we walk along the narrow streets, the Christmas lights twinkling prettily over our heads. I can
see Amy and Ruth up ahead, so we’re not too far behind everyone.

‘It’s even lovelier than usual with the snow,’ I say. ‘I’ll show you around at some point.’

‘Don’t forget you also promised to take me punting.’

I laugh. How does he remember me saying that? It was almost a year ago! ‘I haven’t punted in donkeys’ years.’

‘I bet you’ll pick it up again quickly.’

‘I’ll make you try it,’ I reply.

‘Now that will be a good way of drawing attention to ourselves,’ he says with amusement.

‘No doubt you’ll be an immediate pro, just like you are with everything else.’

He laughs and squeezes me and happiness once more courses through my body.

We reach Magdalene Bridge just in time to see Jessie and Emily arrive at the punting station.

Everyone cheers and claps as Jessie helps Emily off, and then they begin to lead the way to the reception venue a little way down the river.

‘You will come to the reception, won’t you?’ I ask Joe urgently as we hang back a bit.

He glances up ahead. ‘I don’t know, am I invited?’

‘Of course you are. But are you worried about being recognised?’

‘Ah, it should be alright, shouldn’t it?’ he asks.

‘It should be,’ I reply hesitantly. ‘Anyway, it’s all about Jessie and Emily today, isn’t it?’

‘Exactly.’

‘They can’t wait to meet you!’

We walk hand in hand for the last hundred metres or so, but neither of us speaks. I know we’re taking a risk. When our relationship eventually goes public, everything will change. I
won’t be able to keep my job, a job I love. Sure, teaching six- and seven-year-olds can be stressful at times, but it’s also fun and often very rewarding, and even more importantly,
it’s normal. I know where I stand with it. The idea of being constantly scrutinised and harassed – even hunted down – by everyone from snooping hacks to obsessive girls filled
with jealously and hatred… I shudder.

‘We don’t have to do this,’ Joe says in a low voice, sensing my anxiety.

‘No, it’s okay.’ I grip his hand more tightly, but inside I feel slightly sick. He puts his arm around me and gives me a quick, comforting squeeze, and then we’re at the
venue. We’re the last ones to arrive, but Jessie and Emily are waiting for us, their eyes shining with anticipation. They know all about Joseph Strike. It’s hard
not
to know
about him. But they’ve seen all of his films too, and I know they’re huge fans. It’s enough to make my nerves temporarily dissipate.

‘Hello!’ I cry.

‘Hello!’ Emily squeaks, her eyes darting to Joe.

‘Hey,’ Joe says warmly, shaking Jessie’s hand and patting him on his upper arm. ‘Congratulations!’

‘Thanks,’ Jessie replies, blushing a deep beetroot colour.

‘You look stunning,’ Joe says to Emily, bending down to give her a kiss on her cheek. She also blushes furiously and mumbles a thank you, but I notice now she’s unable to look
Joe in the eye.

‘Thanks for letting me come,’ Joe says earnestly to them both.

‘Of course.’ Jessie shifts on his feet.

‘No problem,’ Emily adds. They both seem a little lost for words, but Joe doesn’t appear fazed by their reaction. I guess he’s used to the effect he has on people.

‘Here,’ Jessie says, swiping two glasses of champagne for us from a passing waitress’s tray.

‘What about you?’ Joe asks, noticing their near-empty glasses.

‘Oh yeah.’ Jessie grabs another two.

‘Cheers!’ I exclaim and we all chink glasses. Jessie downs half his champagne in one gulp.

‘It was such a lovely ceremony.’ I try to break the ice.

‘It was,’ Joe agrees. ‘Where are you going on your honeymoon?’

‘Austria,’ Jessie replies. ‘I’m going to teach Em how to snowboard.’

Emily rolls her eyes. ‘Good luck with that.’

He chuckles and kisses her temple. She blushes again.

‘I wish I knew how to snowboard,’ Joe muses.

‘Haven’t you ever been?’ Jessie asks with surprise.

‘Nope. Never got a chance.’

‘You should come with us sometime!’ Jessie exclaims.

‘That would be great,’ Joe replies sincerely. ‘You teach it, don’t you?’

‘I used to.’ Jessie nods. I’m impressed Joe remembers this, actually.

‘Maybe you could teach me.’

Jessie looks pleased. ‘Absolutely. I’ll get some practice in on my wife, first.’

Emily smacks him on his arm. ‘You’ll be lucky.’

‘You guys are MARRIED!’ I suddenly squeal, and they both laugh. They’ve visibly relaxed, thankfully.

‘Are you looking forward to seeing your new house?’ Jessie asks Joe.

‘I can’t wait. Is it alright?’

‘I don’t know. She wouldn’t let anyone else see it until you had.’ He gives me his best unimpressed look.

‘Aw, really?’ Joe peers down at me, his eyes twinkling.

‘But now that you’re here…’ I say, giving Joe a look. He nods and I turn back to Jessie and Emily. ‘You could pop over tomorrow, if you’d like
to?’

‘We’d love to!’ Emily gushes eagerly.

‘That would be great,’ Jessie agrees.

‘Jessie! Emily!’ We all look over to see Judy waving. She spots me and comes over. ‘I should have known I’d find you three together, again.’ She glances at Joe.

‘Mum, this is Joe,’ Jessie introduces them.

‘Hello!’ She smiles brightly, but there’s no trace of recognition. One down, ninety-odd to go.

‘Can you and Emily come and chat to your Great Uncle Gerard, darling? I don’t know how long he’ll last before he’ll nod off.’

‘Sure, Mum,’ Jessie replies in a resigned tone. ‘See you later,’ he says to us, taking Emily’s hand and leading her away.

Joe smiles at me.

‘Shall we find a dark corner?’ I ask him.

He raises one eyebrow at me. God, he’s sexy.

‘Oi,’ I gently berate. ‘Enough of that.’

He looks past me and nods to the far corner of the room, where there’s an empty booth. ‘Over there.’

He leads the way, and I’m intensely aware of every glance, but no one does a double take. The beard is an excellent disguise, and who would expect Joseph Strike to be here, anyway?

I slide into the secluded booth and he joins me, our thighs pressing together under the table. Suddenly the air between us is charged with electricity. I turn to face him and we stare into each
other’s eyes for a long moment, before he kisses me tenderly on my lips. It’s over far too quickly. This is not the time or the place, and we both know it.

‘I missed you.’

These words come out of our mouths at exactly the same time and we both laugh. He touches his hand to my cheek.

‘You look so beautiful.’

I smile back at him. ‘You look pretty damn sexy yourself.’

‘Even with the beard?’

‘Even with the beard,’ I confirm. I place my hand on his chest, which definitely feels bigger than it was before. ‘Have you had to bulk up for this part?’ I ask
curiously.

He looks a bit embarrassed. ‘Yeah. It’s been pretty full on.’

‘Dodgy macrobiotic diets?’ I ask with amusement. I’ve teased him about this before.

‘Unfortunately, yes.’ He rolls his eyes. ‘But not anymore.’

He’s just finished filming an action thriller called
The Darkest Side
. All that’s left for him to do now is record some voiceover stuff in LA in January.