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“I WISH I DIDN’T HAVE work in the morning,” Liam murmured, brushing a few stray hair strands behind Ciara’s ear.
They were lying on his old bed, facing one another. It was already late, and Liam’s parents had been asleep for some time.
“I wish I had to go to work in the morning,” Ciara said, chuckling. She didn’t remember the last time she had had a proper Christmas holiday. But she agreed with Kellan that the team deserved time off. And they didn’t get chances like that often.
Liam smiled. “But would you rather go to work or lie in bed with me all day?”
Ciara pretended to think, tapping her cheek. “That’s a tough one.”
“Workaholic.”
Ciara chuckled. “I’d stay in bed with you all day, silly,” she said and wrapped her arms around Liam, welcoming his body warmth.
Liam smiled and pecked her lips. “You know, I didn’t get to say something on the phone earlier today.”
“What do you mean?”
“I love you, too.” He looked deep into her eyes, and she felt as if she was melting. The feeling wasn’t as thrilling as their first kiss the previous week had been, but it was just as good—if not better.
A blush crept up onto Ciara’s cheeks, thinking back to the call. She had just hung up on Liam, fearing his reaction. “I wasn’t sure...you know...I mean...you and...uh, Iris and...”
Liam shushed Ciara, brushing his finger across her lips. “I don’t love Iris. I did once, but that’s in the past. I love you, Ciara Veronique Jareau. I would never have stopped if I hadn’t given away that memory.”
His voice held so much love that it was overwhelming for Ciara. She had missed the feeling he gave her. But finally, he was hers, and she was his.
Ciara smiled at Liam, brushing her fingers on the side of his face. “Well, who knows what could have happened if you hadn’t lost that memory. We could have broken up because of some stupid fight or...well, anything. Either way, we wouldn’t be right here, right now.”
Liam smiled, but a hint of sadness flashed in his eyes. “And you would never have been with Theo.”
Ciara froze, surprised to hear his name. They hadn’t talked about Theo.
“Is it wrong to mention his name?” Liam asked worriedly.
“No.” Ciara shook her head and paused. “No, it’s not.”
She didn’t want to forget Theo. Even if she was with Liam, she still grieved. It had been nearly a year since his death. She was moving on, but it didn’t mean she would forget.
“How do you feel about...well, everything now that it’s almost Christmas?” Liam asked, knowing it was Ciara’s first Christmas without Theo.
“It feels like all that happened ages ago.” Ciara rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling. “I miss him here and there. But if everything hadn’t gone this way, I wouldn’t have so many other things in my life. Like I wouldn’t be here with you.” Ciara turned to look at Liam. “I would be in Canada.”
Liam nodded. He took Ciara’s hand into his and squeezed it. “I’m glad you’re right here with me. Although, I wish you had never gone through everything you have.”
Ciara smiled at Liam. “I’m glad I’m right here, too.”
“How did you spend last Christmas?”
“With Theo and Estella.” Ciara turned to look at the ceiling again. She felt uncomfortable talking about Theo while looking at Liam. “It was a traditional Christmas, I suppose. Christmas dinner and presents with family. Estella was at our house. And no, I didn’t cook.”
“You had your own house?”
Ciara nodded. “Estella and I sold it after Theo died. I lived on rent after that.”
“So you owned a house, and you were engaged. It’s going to be a different Christmas this year.”
Ciara turned to look at Liam. “I don’t mind one bit. I’ve always loved spending Christmas here. I’ll get to see your siblings. I can help your parents, except with cooking. I get to see Henry and Jenna, too.” Ciara smiled. “And I get to be with you. So it’s going to be great.”
Liam smiled. “I think this might turn out to be the best Christmas in a while.”
“Why do you think so?” Ciara turned to her side again to look at Liam.
“Because I’ll get to spend it with my family and you.”
Frowning a little, Ciara asked, “What about your last Christmas?”
“We were at Iris’s parents’ place on Christmas Day,” Liam said. “It was great at the time, but it’s not the same.”
“We were both engaged back then.”
Liam’s expression turned into a smug grin. “You know, I still have time to get a ring if that’s what you’re implying.”
Ciara chuckled. “Or perhaps you should slow down a little.”
“You don’t want to be engaged to me?”
“Less than a week after we started dating again?” Ciara shook her head. “I love you, but my answer would be no.”
Liam chuckled. “Guess I’ll have to wait.”
Ciara smiled but shook her head. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re cute when you pretend not to care about my nonsense,” Liam said, grinning.
“You’ll never get enough sleep if we keep talking through the night.”
“I’ll just grab an energy drink or—”
Ciara brought her mouth to Liam’s and kissed him. Short and sweet. “You need to sleep,” she said and pulled away.
Liam smiled. “If you insist.”
“I do.”
He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, and she rested her head on his chest.
“Good night, beautiful.”
“Good night, handsome.”
***
MARY WAS ALSO ON HER Christmas holiday, so she was home when Ciara woke up. Liam and Ray were both at work.
For most of the day, Ciara helped Mary with cleaning the house. Magic made it a lot faster and easier, so they were done before Liam and Ray arrived. Even the dinner was ready before the two came home from work.
***
THE FOLLOWING DAY, Ciara and Mary went grocery shopping for Christmas. Ciara had suggested splitting the list, so they would be faster, and Mary had agreed.
It was a busy day at the supermarket. Everyone was buying food and drinks for Christmas, so it was bustling with people.
Ciara had already picked up almost everything on her list; she just needed olive oil. When she found the right aisle, she grabbed the first bottle she could reach. As she was about to place it in her basket, she realised there was something attached to it.
A note. It looked just like the previous ones. Even the handwriting was the same as on the last one. The only difference was the location.
Someone was following her.
Ciara’s eyes widened. She shoved the note in her pocket and switched olive oil bottles in case it had been tampered with.
She looked to her left and right, just in time to see a hooded figure dash out of her sight. She dropped the shopping basket and ran. Dodging a few other customers, she got out of the aisle.
But by then the hooded figure was gone.
It had been a witch hunter. There was no other explanation.
Ciara had to find Mary. She went back to where she had dropped the groceries and grabbed them. She was nearly jogging, trying to find Mary, when she bumped into someone.
“Ciara?”
She looked up. “Jesse?”
He smiled down at her, his hair ruffled—likely from the wind outside. “Christmas shopping?”
She glanced at the basket in her hand. “Uh, yes. I’m helping Liam’s mother get everything. I swear, the grocery list was infinite.” She tried to force a smile, but most of her focus remained on her surroundings and the people passing by. She couldn’t spot the witch hunter, though.
Jesse chuckled. “I bet.”
“You’re shopping pretty far from home.” Jesse lived closer to central London, and they were closer to where the Rosslers lived farther from the city.
He shrugged. “They have a better selection here.”
“How are you spending Christmas?” Ciara kept glancing around. The witch hunter could still be around.
“With my parents. You?”
“With the Rosslers.” Ciara nodded and took a step to leave. She had to find Mary.
“Cool. Well, I’ll leave you to shopping then,” Jesse said and smiled, probably noticing that Ciara wasn’t focusing on him. “Merry Christmas, Ciara.”
“Merry Christmas.” With a wave, she hurried to find Mary. Luckily Mary had finished getting everything from her half of the list by the time Ciara found her.
She didn’t tell Mary about the note in case it made her worry. And she knew Mary would have told Liam who would have also been worried.
But Ciara kept eyeing their surroundings. She was half-worried and half-disappointed when she didn’t find the hooded figure in the crowd.
***
CIARA DIDN’T LOOK AT the note until later when she was alone. Mary was cooking dinner downstairs, and Ciara was upstairs in Liam’s old room.
It was two words this time.
Very soon.
Ciara tried to scan the note for fingerprints or other evidence, but, like last time, there was nothing.
She sent a photo of the note to Kellan and dialled his number.
“Ciara, I know you hate having time off, but—”
“I got another note,” she said, keeping her voice down. She didn’t want Mary to hear.
That was enough to worry Kellan. “What? At the Rosslers’ house?”
“No. At a supermarket.”
“They’re following you?” Kellan hissed.
“They were following me, for sure. I sent you a photo of the note. See it?”
After a brief silence, Kellan said, reading aloud, “Very soon.”
Ciara hummed. “So am I supposed to wait for them to attack or what?”
She was slowly going crazy with worry and anxiety.
“They’re just trying to mess with you. Besides, we’re ready if something happens.”
“You expect me to do nothing?”
“For now, yes. We’ll work on this after Christmas. We will solve this,” Kellan said determinedly. “You just have to accept that everything can’t happen instantly. In fact, I reckon you said that to me originally.”
Sighing, Ciara said, “I truly hate the holidays.”
“I know,” Kellan sighed. “Try to enjoy the time with your friends. And be careful.”
“You, too.”
***
LIAM AND CIARA WERE staying up later than Mary and Ray. They were cuddling on the living room sofa, watching a comedy show.
“Tomorrow is my last day at work this year,” Liam said.
“I know,” Ciara said and looked up at her boyfriend.
“I wish today had been, because now I won’t be able to come pick up Gabe, Polly, and Poppy with you and Mum.”
Ciara bit her lip. “Do they know we’re together?”
“They’ll find out tomorrow,” Liam said, grinning. “The girls will freak out.”
“In a good way?”
“Of course.” Liam smiled at Ciara reassuringly. “You should have seen Poppy when I first saw you since your return. I was filling the glasses, and, well, if it weren’t for Poppy’s comment, the whole house would have been flooded. She looked amused for sure. Maybe even excited.”
“Because of the flood?”
“Because of my reaction to seeing you.”
“You were in love with Iris back then.”
“Even if so, you looked stunning. You still do. You always have done,” Liam said, gazing at Ciara.
“Now you’re just being cheesy,” Ciara said, but she couldn’t help smiling.
“Still, it’s true.”
***
THE FOLLOWING DAY, Ciara went with Mary to pick up Gabriel, Polly, and Poppy from school.
The school hadn’t changed at all. The building was a large old manor with towers and a huge garden. Ciara had never appreciated how beautiful it was. Not until now. After all, she no longer had to spend most of her year there.
School had been fun for her, but she had never been the most enthusiastic student. She didn’t miss her school years, but it was nice to recall the memories.
Liam and Henry’s younger siblings were surprised to see Ciara with their mother.
“Why didn’t Henry come?” Gabriel asked once they were home.
“He’s at work, I think,” Ciara said.
Polly’s eyes widened. “You don’t know for sure?”
“To be honest, I don’t.”
They were still standing in the hallway.
“Ciara is staying with us for now because of some problems at her flat,” Mary told her children.
“In our room?” Polly asked excitedly, turning to Ciara.
Mary chuckled, but she didn’t say anything.
“I’m staying in Liam’s room,” Ciara said.
Poppy pouted. “But I thought he would spend a few nights here, too.”
“He will,” Ciara assured.
Poppy’s eyes widened. “Don’t say!”
“Say what?” Polly asked.
“Are you two dating?” Poppy squealed.
Ciara gaped at the girl. She couldn’t believe Poppy had figured it out just like that.
“You are!” Polly squealed, getting enough proof from Ciara’s expression.
Ciara bit her lip. “We are.”
Mary smiled at the scene before she left to prepare dinner. Gabriel excused himself to his own room. The girls pulled Ciara to the living room.
“For how long?” Poppy asked before they made it to the sofa.
“Not even a week.”
“So did he ask you out on a date?” Polly asked, grinning, when the three sat down with Ciara in the middle.
Ciara chuckled. “Not exactly.” There was no way she could tell them the complete story.
“Wait, what about your other boyfriend?” Poppy asked, crossing her arms.
“My other boyfriend?” Ciara asked, confused.
“Kellan.”
Grimacing, Ciara said, “That was actually just for work.”
Poppy’s expression turned into one of understanding. “Undercover?”
“Sort of.”
Polly giggled. “Poor Liam! He was so jealous.”
“So which one of you confessed first?” Poppy asked, grabbing Ciara’s arm.
“I’m honestly not sure,” Ciara admitted.
“Was it romantic?” Polly asked, grabbing Ciara’s other arm.
“Girls, please, stop pestering my girlfriend.” All three turned to look to the doorway where Liam was casually leaning against the doorframe, a slightly amused smile on his face. His hair was tousled, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows.
“Liam!” his sisters exclaimed and rushed to greet their brother.
Ciara couldn’t help but smile, watching Liam hug his sisters. She stood up and moved a little closer, but she made sure not to disturb the precious moment.
“Gabriel is upstairs! I’ll go get him!” Polly said before rushing to the stairs.
Liam turned to look at Ciara, a one-sided smile on his lips. “Hi.”
Ciara moved to stand beside him. “Hi.”
He wrapped his arm around Ciara and pulled her closer to kiss her lips.
“You two are sickeningly cute,” Poppy said, amused.
Ciara blushed at the comment.
“I know,” Liam said, smirking, while he still had his arm wrapped around Ciara. He didn’t drop it until Gabriel came downstairs.
***
LATER, WHILE LIAM WAS hanging out with his siblings, Ciara excused herself to her room. She had a gift to send off before Christmas. She wanted to be sure the present would reach its destination on time.
It was a small present for her mother, to make sure she knew Ciara was thinking about her, because it wasn’t safe for Ciara’s mother to come back to England.
Ciara placed the wrapped present on the bed, making sure the card was attached. She smiled, thinking about her mother’s warm smile.
“Merry Christmas, Mum,” she whispered and used magic to send the present away.