Page 30 of The Christmas Star

I really wanted to ask about Jackson’s difficulties and why the need for a fresh start? And where was Sasha? Why was she no longer in the picture? But having been cut short in the car earlier, I opted for a more gradual and sensitive approach. ‘Oh, I don’t know. What made you choose Settledown? Or what you do for work?’

‘Why not Settledown?’ Theo replied. ‘It’s a great place to live. As for my job, I’m a chef.’

I laughed. ‘Hence the baking and your dislike of salads.’

‘It helps me unwind. Any type of cooking does. Be it preparing or eating, food isn’t just about energy, it’s good for the soul.’ He nodded to my empty plate. ‘Even a portion of chips can work magic.’

Admittedly, I certainly felt better for eating them.

‘Although if I’m honest, as of yesterday I’m actually between jobs.’

I cocked my head, recalling how Theo had mentioned that, like me, he’d had one of those days. ‘Why? What happened?’

‘I’m not sure if I got fired or if I quit.’ He chuckled. ‘To be honest, it was all a bit chaotic.’

Just like that, my estimation of Theo fell. Good or bad, he seemed to find everything funny. Even the fact that he’d lost his job was a source of amusement. I frowned, unable to hide my disappointment.

‘Don’t worry. It’s not a problem.’

With a son still at home, a house to maintain and bills to pay, I’d have thought being jobless was major.

From the understanding he’d shown Sasha, Theo evidently had a good side but as I watched him happily drink his coffee, his casual approach to life was off-putting. First, he’d been reluctant to hit the road and chase down his missing son. Now he didn’t care he was unemployed.

He reminded me of Connor, another of my good-for-nothing exes.

Connor spent hours discussing the injustices in the British class system. He’d theorise about world politics and the problems with capitalism. By then in my early twenties, I clearly hadn’t learned from my experience with Jamie because what Connor couldn’t do was keep a job.

Although that was hardly surprising. He had no concept of punctuality and the energy levels of a sloth, neither of which made for a great employee.

At first, he’d seemed intellectual. His views were the perfect antidote to the corporate bullshit I experienced in my career as an estate agent. However, the longer we dated, the more I realised he didn’t actually believe a word of it; he simply liked the sound of his own voice.

Looking at the man before me, I bristled. Theo might be good looking; he might be passionate about food and have supported Sasha when it came to her womanhood. But I should have known from experience there’d be a hiccup somewhere. When it came to me and men there usually was.

CHAPTER 22

Theo had taken charge of the wheel, and we spent the rest of the drive in relative silence. Daylight had turned to darkness and while he was probably too exhausted to talk, I didn’t see the point in idle chit-chat. I’d learned all I needed to know at the service station.

The roads had been hectic and progress slow thanks to the amount of traffic here, there and everywhere and the port itself wasn’t any better. The lines to the check-in booths were long with cars and vans sitting bumper to bumper. Assessing passports and issuing boarding passes took forever, which was hardly surprising considering we were towards the back of a queue. While I silently questioned if anyone stayed home for Christmas these days, Theo seized the opportunity to snooze, only opening his eyes when it was time to nudge his little Smart car forward.

I took in my soon-to-be fellow sailors. With little else to do, some scrolled on their phones, while others walked their dogs, no doubt, hoping their four-legged travel companions would empty before embarkation. A trio of eager children raced around playing tag while their parents called out, warning them not to stray too far. I sighed, wondering why Mum and Jackson couldn’t have delayed their trip until after the festive migration.

‘Passports and booking reference, please,’ the operator said when we at last reached her booth. Having tied her ponytail up with tinsel, the young woman clearly wasn’t letting work get in the way of her Christmas spirit.

I rummaged in my bag as Theo produced his phone and brought up our booking information. Handing him my passport, he gave the young girl everything she’d requested.

‘Christmas in France…’ The young woman’s dangly Santa earrings swayed from side to side as she tapped on her computer. ‘…very romantic.’

‘It certainly is.’ Theo turned to me and smiled. ‘Isn’t it, darling?’

I tilted my head. ‘You wish.’

Theo was still chuckling when the booth operator finally handed back our travel documents, including boarding passes and a window card which Theo hung on the rear-view mirror.

‘Have a safe journey,’ the young woman said with a big grin.

‘We will.’ Theo replied. ‘Merry Christmas.’

He restarted the car and as we drove in search of the next line, a member of ferry port staff thankfully waved us straight on. We wound our way towards the boat and up the ramp into the vehicle deck where a worker in a fluorescent jacket and hard hat guided us into place. He put a hand up telling us to stop. Theo hit his brakes and switched off the engine, ready for the next leg of our journey.