A Temp For Christmas

FESTIVE SERIAL CONCLUDES PART THREE: Work-obsessed Carole begins to open up to Gabriel, but what happens when he pushes her too far?

Concluding chapters of our festive serial

office, exuberant and jolly, ten minutes later. An impromptu chorus of WeWish YouAMerryChristmas sung mostly off-key was followed by laughter and a round of applause as Gabriel began to hand out the Secret Santa presents.

Carole closed her blind.

It was gone five when she heard a knock on her door.

“Come in.”

Gabriel walked in, smiling broadly. “We’re off to the King’s Head for a drink before the meal. There’s still room, if you’d like to join us?”

“No, thank you.”

He looked disappointed. Carole was annoyed by his reaction. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t warned him.

“Have a good time,” she added. He nodded. “Carol concert was a hit.” “I’m pleased.”

“You were upset,” he said.

“I don’t like Christmas, remember?” “Gabe, are you coming, mate?” A voice called from the other office.

“You go on, I’ll meet you there.”

“Don’t tell me she’s making you work late? You need a medal, mate.”

The outer office grew silent.

“Sorry about that,” he said.

Carole shrugged. “She’s not going to make you work late,” she said. “I heard you doing the Secret Santa presents earlier. What did I buy you?”

“A pair of leather gloves.”

“I thought the limit was ten pounds?” Gabriel shrugged. “You and I spent a bit more,” he admitted.

“How much do I owe you?”

He waved away the suggestion. “I needed the gloves anyway. Tell me why you were crying?”

Instinctively, Carole looked towards Holly’s photo. “I lost someone very precious to me at this time of year.”

Gabriel sat – boldly, in Carole’s opinion – on the edge of her desk. “Would that be the pretty girl in the photo?”

Carole nodded. “Holly, my sister.” “Carole and Holly? And you don’t like Christmas?” The skin around his eyes crinkled as he laughed.

“We were twins. Born on Boxing Day.

eventually come out on the other side.”

Carole could feel the tears coming. She did not want to break down in front of him. He’d feel the need to put his arms around her and then… and then…

“I don’t want to talk about this.” “Closing yourself off isn’t healthy…” “I told you, I don’t want to talk about it! Please leave or I’ll call security and have you removed.”

“You’ll have me removed?”

Carole stood, glowering at him.

“I don’t think it would be a good idea for you to come back. I can find someone else to cover until Mandy is better.”

He laughed in disbelief.

“You’re sacking me?”

“Letting you go. It’s for the best.” “Don’t bother, I quit!” he said. “I hope you’re happy in your fortress, Carole, because if you keep pushing people away, it won’t be long until you find there’s no one left to try to break down the walls you’re so busy putting up.”

Carole turned away from him.

“And spare a thought for your poor mother too, while you’re at it. By not spending Christmas with her, you’re leaving her with two empty chairs at her Christmas table instead of only one.

Think about that!”

The blinds rattled as he shut the door. Carole’s tears began to flow before he’d even crossed the open-plan office. He didn’t see them. No one did.

When she arrived at work on Christmas Eve Carole disconnected the lights on the tree and cocooned herself within her office, despite the fact there was no one else in.

The early evening knock on her door surprised her.

“Come in.” Her heart lifted for a moment as she thought it might be Gabriel.

Instead, one of the security guards entered carrying a box.

“Sorry to disturb you, Miss. Gabriel left this with me, asked if I might give it to you this afternoon.”

The box was covered in plain white paper with an elaborate silver bow on top. “Thank you.”

The guard put the box on the desk. “Merry Christmas, Miss.”

“Merry Christmas,” she replied.

“When did Mr Dunn leave it with you?”

“Would have been about eleven last night,” the guard said.

“Thank you.”

Post argument then. Post sacking or quitting depending which side of the

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row you had been on. Carole regretted her actions. She had just wanted Gabriel to stop pushing at the bruise on her soul, and she had overreacted.

She reached for the card. AnotChristmaspresentforsomeonewho doesn’tdoChristmas.LoveGabrielx

Curiosity got the better of her and Carole opened the box. Inside were a pair of beautiful white ice skating boots and nestled between them was a card.

NationalHistoryMuseumIceRink. Eightthirty.Youandme.

She stood the box behind her and went back to work.

The contents of the box were, however, impossible to ignore. Her gaze tracked up to the clock and she found herself calculating the travel time between work and the ice rink. Fortunately, because it wasn’t an official work day, she was already dressed down in jeans and a jumper so there’d be no need to go home first and change. She added a few minutes for the inevitable Christmas Eve crowds. Was she really doing this?

She tucked the boots into her cavernous bag and worked out the Tube route in her head. She hated the way her conversation with Gabriel had degenerated into a row. She owed him an apology, if nothing else.

The Christmas market in the grounds of the Natural History Museum was teeming with people. Faux wooden chalets housed all manner of food and presents. Carole passed through it as carols blasted into the frosty air. The experience dialled Christmas up to eleven.

She made her way over to the rink. It had five skaters on it. A small crowd of onlookers were cradling hot drinks and gossiping at the side. Carole pulled the card from her pocket and checked the time. She definitely wasn’t late. Then she heard Gabriel’s voice calling to her from the side of the rink.

“You came,” he said with a smile.

“I did.”

“There are lockers inside for our stuff. Come in. We can get changed.”

Carole turned back to the rink. “Are you sure? It looks like they’re closing.”

“They are. But I know the man in charge. He’s going to let us have ten minutes on our own.”

He headed for the building.

Carole caught his arm. “I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you at the office.”

“I could have handled it better myself,” he admitted with a rueful grin. “Come on – let’s get our skates on.”

A few minutes later Carole and Gabriel

www.myweekly.co.uk were the only ones on the rink. The crowd of onlookers had turned away; even the rink staff were more concerned with packing up.

“How are the boots?” Gabriel asked. “They’re beautiful. They need a bit of breaking in, though. New ones always do.” “So, go on then, show me your stuff.” Carole grimaced.

“It’s been a long time.”

“Like riding a bike, I reckon,” he said with an encouraging smile.

With a laugh, Carole put out her arms and let herself glide over the surface. As she bent her knees and pushed down into the ice, her speed increased. She started to do figures of eight from one end of the rink to the other, looping around Gabriel who was standing in the middle watching her and smiling. for being alive, Carole. You should be living for both of you.”

On impulse, she grabbed his hand. “Skate with me.”

“I’ll slow you down.”

“It doesn”t matter. I’d rather skate slower and with you than faster alone.”

Arms around one another’s waists, they did three circuits of the rink, a little faster each time. Carole laughed. It was good to see Gabriel out of his comfort zone. She’d begun to think such a thing didn’t exist.

“Time to go?” Carole asked, a twinge of regret in her voice as she saw Gabriel’s friend tap his watch.

“I’m afraid so.” Gabriel raised his hand in acknowledgement to his friend. “Enjoyed it?”

“Enormously. Thanks again.” As they skated leisurely across the rink towards the exit, Carole squeezed Gabriel’s hand before coming to a halt mid-rink. “I didn’t mean what I said at the office. I want you to come back after Christmas.”

“Thank goodness for that because I didn’t mean to quit,” he admitted.

They laughed.

“And us?” Gabriel asked.

“I’d like there to be an ‘us’,” Carole said tentatively.

“I got my present early, then.”

“When you drove away the other night, I left it too late to tell you that I think I’m falling in love with you, too.”

“A Christmas romance?” he teased. Carole thumped his arm. “Stop it!” “I knew the season would win you round eventually.”

“It had nothing to do with the season,” Carole admonished. “It had everything to do with you. Thank you for caring.” “You’re welcome.”

“What you said about the two empty chairs at Mum’s table really hit home. I’d never thought about it like that. I’m going to ring Mum tonight, and tell her I’m coming home for Christmas.”

Gabriel grinned. “Marvellous. Then my work here is done.”

“Mum always makes enough food to feed an army,” Carole said hesitantly. “Would you like to come with me?”

As the floodlights surrounding the rink were extinguished, Gabriel brought Carole into his arms and kissed her.

“I couldn’t think of a better way to spend Christmas,” he said.

BY ELLIE HOLMES

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