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The fact that she couldn’t see him any longer could absolutely put a damper on her time there, but their limited interactions should make it easier to leave when the time came.

So, after giving herself a stern talking to, Claire picked her spirits up and made herself busy by helping Tasha religiously until six o’clock rolled around and the guests began to arrive.

With over twenty people in attendance, the house was filled to its capacity, but Claire didn’t mind as everyone made her feel warm and welcome. She had never been to such a wonderful, home-feeling party. Christmas music played out from a speaker in the kitchen, the tree glowed magically in the dim light of the front room, and laughter and happy conversation abounded throughout the house.

The only thing to make the evening better would have been for Liam to arrive. That had to be any minute now, right?

And yet, an hour later, he still hadn’t shown up. Claire did her best to stay positive, but when Tasha came up to her with a sober expression, Claire’s hope scattered.

“Liam texted,” Tasha said. “He’s not going to be able to make it back in time for the party.”

Claire attempted to hide her disappointment, though she knew her crestfallen features were a dead giveaway. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

Tasha nodded. “I suppose we should’ve expected this. They really do take advantage of him there. They always have.”

Her deflated tone made Claire instantly chastise herself. Here she was, thinking all about her own disappointments without even considering how Tasha would feel missing her son.

“I’m sorry,” Claire said.

Tasha took Claire’s hand in hers. “So am I.”

* * *

Just after midnight, Liam arrived home. He closed the door softly behind him as he yawned, dropping his wallet and keys onto the table and hanging his coat on the hook near the door. It had been a long day—a foreshadowing of the next few years of his life as he took on his new responsibilities of the promotion. How was he ever going to last?

“Liam?”

He looked down the hallway, Mum’s voice coming from the sitting room. “What are you still doing up?” he asked.

“Wrapping a few presents. You can come chat, if you’d like.”

He made his way to the sitting room, finding Mum seated on the floor, wrapping paper, scissors, tape, and boxes all around her.

She looked up at him with a warm smile. “So?”

He paused. “So, what?”

“How was the new job?”

Realization dawned, and Liam flopped down on the couch. “It was…” Exhausting. Grueling. “Fine.”

“Just ‘fine,’” she repeated, her eyes narrowing.

He nodded, though describing his new job as ‘fine’ was even a stretch. What made matters worse was that he’d discovered that he actually hadn’t been given the promotion based on his own merit, but by the company desperately scrambling. Apparently, the woman they’d hired before had left them high and dry in a matter of hours, using her new position at Peregrine to obtain a better job somewhere else.

Liam wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up demoting him at some point or hiring someone else to replace him. Because that was just the way they worked.

Realizing his mum was still waiting for more of an explanation, he leaned farther into the couch. He didn’t want to worry her unnecessarily. It would be better to just let her think he enjoyed it. “No, it was great. I’m just going to be…busy.”

“Even more than you already were?”

Liam nodded, focusing instead on the lights still twinkling away in the Christmas tree, presents pouring out beneath the branches. He still hadn’t wrapped the gifts he’d purchased for everyone. He had been planning on doing that after his walk with Claire that never happened.

His chest tightened. He’d tried so hard not to think about her, and still, her blue eyes occupied the majority of his thoughts all day long. He’d been furious when Garrett asked him to stay longer, forcing him to miss his mum’s party and, of course, more time with Claire.

“We need to land this new client, Liam,” Garrett had said. “Armstrong Glass doesn’t celebrate Christmas, so this year, we aren’t either.”

Obviously, Liam had protested, taking a silent stance by staying late Christmas Eve so he wouldn’t have to come in Christmas day—despite his boss’s earlier promise. Only time would tell if Garrett would honor the effort.