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“I’m sorry I missed the party,” he said, watching his mum wrap another present. “How was it?”

“It was really nice,” she replied with a smile, her eyes focusing on the red reindeer wrapping. “I think everyone had a great time. They all asked where you were and said they were sad to miss you.” She gave him a sidelong glance. “Claire, too.”

Liam’s heart twinged. So much for avoiding any mention of her. “How was she?”

Mum taped up one side of the wrapping. “She was missing you, I think.”

Liam didn’t know what to say. He’d missed Claire, too.

Taping up another side, his mum continued. “Liam, can I ask what’s going on between you two?”

He shrugged, attempting to play it off coolly. “Nothing. I mean, we like each other, but there are too many obstacles between us, so we both decided just to…not.”

She didn’t look up at him, turning the final wrapped present over and sliding it beneath the tree. “Would you have wanted to date her if you hadn’t gotten the promotion?”

Liam hesitated. He’d been avoiding that same question in his mind all day. “I don’t know,” he lied.

He had wanted to date her. He still wanted to date her. But he couldn’t very well string her along when this new job would make him busier than the last, despite his hopes that it would not.

“But…you’re happy with your new job?” Mum asked.

“I—”

“Be honest, Liam,” she said softly.

Liam let out a heavy sigh. “Honestly, I don’t know. I should be happy. Isn’t that enough?”

Mum stood, straightening a few presents beneath the tree. “If you ask me, no. That’s not enough. You deserve happiness, whether that’s with Claire or not. Ultimately, that’s for you to decide.” She gathered the wrapping materials from the floor and tucked them beneath her arms before giving him a soft smile. “Now get some rest. We’ve an early morning ahead of us.” She walked away from him before pausing. “You’ll get the lights?”

He nodded in silence, his thoughts churning.

“Happy Christmas, son,” she said with a warm smile, then she turned away and headed upstairs.

Liam remained on the couch, staring at the tree as his mind churned through the days he’d just spent with Claire. Apart from taking photos and key moments from his childhood, Liam couldn’t remember ever being so happy as he’d been with the woman.

So what did that tell him about his decision making, that he was giving up photography and his time with Claire for a promotion that hadn’t brought him any happiness at all?

He had to give the job a chance, though, right? He would feel better about it in time. Or…would he always regret not giving his relationship with Claire a chance—not giving his photography a chance?

He sighed, scrubbing his hands over his eyes. Mum was right. He needed to get to bed. Tomorrow would be another long, taxing day. Not because of his work, but because of his own stupid mind and his inability to make a logical decision.

Happy Christmas, indeed.

THIRTY-ONE

Claire had always been a sucker for snow on Christmas, but as she looked outside that morning, mist cloaking the world in a cozy gray darkness, she knew one thing was for certain—she could get behind a gray Christmas just as much as a white one.

“Alright, are we ready?”

She looked over her shoulder as Tasha spoke, the families congregating in the front room. Claire’s eyes met with Liam’s at once, but she looked away after a quick smile, moving to sit next to Melody on the kitchen chairs brought in and situated by the tree.

She hadn’t spoken with Liam beyond a few words that morning. She’d asked after his new job—which he’d described as “fine”—before he swiftly changed the subject to her Mando pajamas.

“Melody made me wear them,” Claire had said with a blush.

Liam hadn’t had the chance to respond as Melody’s family arrived in that moment from the Airbnb they were staying at.

Claire tried to tell herself she was better off without talking to Liam at all. She knew his job would usurp a lot of his time, so she may as well get used to being without him as soon as possible.