The Magic of Christmas

‘Just focus on his flaws. Did you ever find one, by the way?’

‘Oh, yes.’ Lara hesitated and then gave a sad smile. ‘His flaw was that he was unavailable.’

Jane sighed. ‘You don’t think if you—’

‘No.’ Lara interrupted her quickly. ‘I don’t. Anyway, back to work. Where do you want me? Resus? I don’t quite know what I’m going to do when I leave here. Will I know how to occupy my time when I’m not surrounded by bleeping machines and injured patients?’

‘You’ll have a great time with your brother and then you’ll meet a fit, healthy Australian male who will take your mind off everything.’ Jane’s voice was falsely bright and Lara looked at her.

‘Yes. That’s what I’m going to do. You’re a good friend. Have I told you that lately?’

Jane leaned forward and gave her a hug. ‘You’re going to be all right.’

Was she?

Maybe. One day.

And in the meantime she was going to put one foot in front of the other, do her job and try and forget just how much love hurt.

* * *

Why had he agreed to ice-skating?

Christian watched as Lara made slow circles on the ice, as poised and graceful as a ballerina, her hands carefully guiding an excited Aggie.

‘Look at me, Daddy!’ Aggie’s voice echoed across the ice as she wobbled precariously, her bottom sticking out. ‘If Lara skates backwards, I can do it!’

‘You should try it, Dad!’ Chloe sailed past him, arms whirling, and crashed into the side of the ice rink. She turned to him with a grin, laughter brightening her face. ‘This is brilliant. Lara hasn’t taught me how to turn yet.’

Christian pushed his hands deeper in his coat pockets. It was wonderful to see Chloe so relaxed and unselfconscious.

Since her emotional confession, they’d turned a corner. She’d blossomed.

Thanks to Lara.

Lara was skating on her own now, executing spins and turns that made Aggie gasp and clap her hands with delight.

‘Look at Lara, Daddy!’

He was looking.

‘You like her, don’t you, Dad?’ Chloe’s voice came from right next to him and he tried to keep his smile casual, cursing himself for being so obvious.

‘Of course. Who couldn’t not like Lara? She’s a nice girl.’

‘Girl?’ Chloe gave him a disbelieving look. ‘She isn’t a girl, Dad! She’s a woman.’

Memories of the hot, passionate interlude in his office filled his brain and he loosened his scarf. He knew she was a woman.

Aggie slid up to them, her arms outstretched like a tightrope walker as she struggled to keep her balance.

Christian caught her and lifted her over the barrier and into his arms, skates and all. ‘So—have you had enough?’

‘I’m starving.’ Aggie was breathless and her cheeks were pink. ‘Lara said they sell hot chocolate here. It won’t be as good as hers, but can we have some? Please?’

Lara skated towards them and glided to an elegant stop in front of the barrier. ‘Hot chocolate?’

Was it his imagination or had he seen less of her since that night?