The Girl In The Maternity Dress

 

Holly walked around the lounge talking to the customers as was her usual habit.

She had a less graceful gait than she used to but Steve still felt a great sense of pride that he was her husband and Holly was pregnant, very pregnant.

It was two years since they had met and she had changed the course of his life entirely.

 

It was Christmas again and Steve Berry had always had a dislike for it, despite all the jollity.

Unlike many of his Christmas mad friends he’d had no happy Christmas memories to anesthetise him against the season.

His childhood Christmases were memories he would rather have forgotten.

So he never trusted Christmas, he believed that shit lurked beneath the coloured lights and paper chains.

That was until Holly Davis opened his eyes to new possibilities and he realised that Christmas could also magnify joy and Steve had been cured of his Christmas phobia.

 

Due to Holly, Steve had found himself working behind the bar in her Uncle Phil’s pub, the Pig and Whistle.

He was still, even to that day uncertain quite how she managed to affect that, but affect it she did and during the ten days working for her she had turned his life upside down and it culminated in him wishing her a Merry Christmas and kissing her at closing time.

He had thought the kiss on Christmas Eve might be the start of something.

Judging by the way Holly responded to it but it didn’t lead

anywhere immediately.

Holly had responded to his advance and in fact had been hopeful of it but she knew it was far too soon to throw caution to the wind.

The effects of the kiss proved to be a slow burner which didn’t burst into flames until the early hours of New Year’s Day

 

The two years since had been very eventful, they became partners in January, engaged at Easter and Married in September. 

However it wasn’t only Steve and Holly’s fortunes that had changed over the preceding two years since they had met but so had those of the Pig and Whistle.

It had gone from a rundown dive to a thriving pub with a growing reputation as a gastro pub.

The restaurant had always been busy right from the outset but when Steve and Stephanos were in the kitchen it was good pub grub and no more because they didn’t have the repertoire to take it to the next level.

However since Steve and Holly had returned from their New Forest honeymoon the previous year with Chef Simon Clarke the restaurant had really taken off.

Simon had been working at the same country house hotel that the Berry’s were staying at as a sous chef for an arrogant sadistic bully.

Now he was a Chef in his own right and Steve and Stephanos had grown as cooks under him.

So this contributed to the general business that night.

It was Christmas Eve and Holly, despite being told to rest by Steve and everybody else was doing her usual walkabout as hostess and as Steve looked at her he sighed because he was so in love with that girl in the maternity dress.

 

Just like Christmas Eve two years before it was snowing, not as hard, but enough not to want to make any unnecessary journeys.

She had had a twinge or two which she just laughed it off, she said the baby had been really active all day.

“She’s dancing to the Christmas songs” she said to Steve “she really likes the Puppini Sisters”

But by 9 o’clock in the evening it was obvious the twinges were more than Christmas Dancing and she was having contractions.

Luckily Clare Andrews was dining in the restaurant with friends

“Get Doc Andrews” he said to Petra

“Ok” she replied and ran off while Steve and one of the regulars helped Holly in the private room at the back of the bar.

 

“Where is she?” The doctor asked

“In here” Steve called

Dr Andrews threw her car keys to Petra

“Can you get my bag from the car please?”

“Yes doc” she replied

“Ooooooh” Holly exclaimed through gritted teeth “that was a big one”   

After Dr Andrews examined her she said

“She’s definitely in labour”

“I’ll call an ambulance” Steve suggested

“No she’s too far along” Clare said “the baby is going to be born here, and soon”  

“I’d be happier if we got her to hospital” Steve said

“So would I” Dr Andrews replied

“But she’ll never make it to the hospital”

“She’s really too close?” Steve asked

“Yes” Clare replied “so under the circumstance, here is going to have to do”

 “Upstairs it is then” Steve said “but the first sign of an angel and three wise men and were calling an ambulance”

 

This was certainly different to previous Christmases’ he thought to himself as Steve looked out the door as he said goodnight to the last customers it was still snowing but still not hard.

He locked the doors and went back to where the staff were sitting, no one wanted to go to bed until the baby had been born.  

So they sat around a table in the bar until half past one when Noelle Clare Berry was born.

Trust Holly Berry to have the baby on Christmas Day.

 

 

The Girl In The Green Dress

 

Steve Berry had always had a dislike for Christmas, despite all the jollity and faux fun because unlike many of his Christmas mad friends he had no happy Christmas memories to anesthetise him against the season.

His parents were alcoholics and each year their Christmas came in a bottle and thanks to his father Steve’s came with a slap.

So his childhood Christmases were memories he would rather have forgotten.

But adulthood brought no relief and it always seemed to him that when shit happens Christmas just magnifies the misery.

If someone dies at Christmas the very season makes it more keenly felt.

He could testify to that as his mother died on Christmas Eve when he was 19.

He has no idea where his father is and quite frankly he doesn’t care.

He never showed up for the funeral and he could be dead as well for all he knew.

So as a result he has never trusted Christmas, he knows that shit lurks beneath the coloured lights and paper chains.

That was until Holly Davis opened his eyes to new possibilities and he realised that Christmas could also magnify joy.

 

But it wasn’t just Christmases that held horrors in his past so did

New Year’s Eve.

Steve wasn’t big on New Year’s Eve, it was not a time that held any deep significance for him

He found the whole idea of it rather pointless, why did people make such a fuss over going from one year to the next.

That would have been reason enough for him to dislike it, far apart from the personal memories it evoked.

It was one New Year’s Eve when he was six years old that his parents locked him in his room while they went off on a three day bender.

But he had decided to try and put that behind him and with Holly’s help he was hopeful that he might.

Since the first day he met her she had helped to tame his demons.

It all began when Holly temporarily took over running her uncles pub, the Pig and Whistle a week and a half before Christmas, Steve had got blind drunk and ended up spending the night in the lounge bar.

When he woke up the next morning she produced a contract he had signed the night before agreeing to work for her until New Year’s Eve.

Despite his initial misgivings he had thoroughly enjoyed it and he was still uncertain as to how she managed it, but during the ten days working for her she had turned his life upside down and it culminated in him wishing her a Merry Christmas and kissing her at closing time on Christmas Eve.

They were then snowed in at the pub for Christmas day and after exchanging presents they kissed again.

In the week that followed there was good deal more kissing as day by day the headed inexorably towards New Year’s Eve.

But he had a sense of foreboding as his normal dislike for the occasion was magnified this year because it marked the final day of his contract at the Pig and Whistle and could also mark the end of Holly’s Tenure at the pub and maybe their budding relationship.

 

Although he didn’t like it, it was a good earner for the pub and as the takings had not been optimised on Christmas Eve due to the snow added to the fact that the figures had been disappointing in the interim as well so a good New Year’s Eve was vital.

With this in mind Holly and Steve had been at the Cash and Carry all afternoon stocking up on vital supplies.

“Right that’s the lot Hon” she said

“Are you sure that’s enough?” Steve asked facetiously

“That’s enough lip from you” she said and kissed him.

And that simple kiss, a symbol of their familiarity, was a milestone moment for although they had kissed many times in that week since Christmas Eve they had only ever kissed when they were alone and certainly never in public. 

“If we sell that lot tonight I’ll be over the moon” she said although there wasn’t any chance that that might actually happen even if they did have an extension until 1.00am.

Steve normally spent New Year’s Eve at home in his flat, watching a DVD and hiding from the world.

But this year was going to be very different.

 

At least on New Year’s Eve there were none of the annoyingly jolly Christmas songs there was only one annoying New Year’s song and that was usually confined to midnight.

There was a steady trade in the bar, far more than Christmas Eve, but not exactly record breaking numbers, and most of the supplies they had bought earlier would remain unsold.

But just after 9 o’clock the numbers swelled and continued swelling until the place was absolutely banging.

There were seven of them working that night but on six at any one time behind the bar and they were rushed off their feet.

The staff and a hard core of the regulars were in fancy dress. Debbie was a French maid, Stephanos was in a toga, Clare was a witch, Ausra was a Gypsy, Petra was a clown and Steve was a pirate.

While Holly, as was her custom, was dressed immaculately as the Emerald Lady in a wonderful green dress adorned with a garland of holly leaves and around her neck was the holly leaf pendant that Steve gave her for Christmas.

By the end of the night he had to admit that he hadn’t enjoyed a New Year’s Eve more even though his feet were killing him.

When the last of the punters had been ushered out the door and the bolt shot at 1.25 am, Holly said

“Thank God for that, put the kettle on” and then she kicked off her shoes.

Everyone pulled together and gathered up all the glasses and cleared them to the kitchen and then Steph and Clare brought out the drinks on a tray

“Where are the others?” Holly asked

“They’re loading the glasses into the machine” Clare replied “You know what Steve’s like”

“Tell them not to worry” she said “We’ll do it in the morning”

Holly frowned and then corrected herself

“We’ll do it in later this morning”

So they all sat together drinking their tea and coffee and laughing at the exploits of one or two of the more enthusiastic punters.

Very soon there was only Holly and Steve left

“Do you want another tea?” he asked

“I’d rather have a proper drink” she replied “You could join me if you’re staying over”

He nodded and went behind the bar and returned shortly with two glasses of wine.”

As they sat together drinking she said

“My feet are so sore”

“Put them up here” he said tapping his knee “I’ll rub them for you if you want”

“Oh yes please” she said and put both stocking feet on his knee

“Hold up” he said “one at a time”

“Oh that’s really lovely” she said as Steve began massaging he little foot

And that was as all he got out of her for the next twenty minutes until he was halfway through her other foot when she said.

“You’re a free man now”

“What do you mean?” Steve asked

“The contract” she said

“It was only up to and including New Year’s Eve it’s now New Year’s Day so you are free to return to your old life”

“Good” he said sharply and Holly baulked at the force of the word.

“Because now I am here because I want to be”

And Holly’s face broke into a broad smile and she kissed him

 

They made love for the first time in the early hours of New Year’s Day and as they lay entwined in the semi darkness Holly said.

“We make a good team, we could run this place together”

“What about Phil?” Steve asked

“Ah I may have misled you regarding Uncle Phil” she confessed

“In what way?”

“He’s not coming back” she said

“Why not?” Steve asked

“He’s ill” Holly replied sadly

“How ill?”

“The “won’t see another Christmas kind” of ill”

“Oh” he responded “so he’s not on holiday?”

“No” she admitted “I am in the process of buying the pub from him”

“That’s a big step” he said

“I know” she agreed “but I have years of experience in Hospitality and you’re a good accountant”

“So you only want me for my numeracy” he said

“No I want you for your foot rubs” Holly corrected him

“Ok then it’s a deal” he said and sealed it with a kiss.

Which was a prelude to them making love again.

But Steve paused briefly and said

“You do realize what would happen if we were to marry?”

“What’s that?” she said pleasantly surprised that his thoughts had already strayed to the question of marriage

“You would become Holly Berry”

“I could live with that” she said and brought the discourse to a passionate conclusion.  

The Girl In The Christmas Dress

 

Steve Berry had always had a dislike for Christmas, despite all the jollity and faux fun because unlike many of his Christmas mad friends he had no happy Christmas memories to anesthetise him against the season.

His parents were alcoholics and each year their Christmas came in a bottle and thanks to his father Steve’s came with a slap.

So his childhood Christmases were memories he would rather have forgotten.

But adulthood brought no relief and it always seemed to him that when shit happens Christmas just magnifies the misery.

If someone dies at Christmas the very season makes it more keenly felt.

He could testify to that as his mother died on Christmas Eve when he was 19.

He has no idea where his father is and quite frankly he doesn’t care.

He never showed up for the funeral and he could be dead as well for all he knew.

So as a result he has never trusted Christmas, he knows that shit lurks beneath the coloured lights and paper chains.

That was until Holly Davis opened his eyes to new possibilities and he realised that Christmas could also magnify joy.

 

He had found himself working behind the bar in her Uncle Phil’s pub, the Pig and Whistle.

He was still uncertain quite how she managed to affect that, but affect it she did and during the ten days working for her she had turned his life upside down and it culminated on Christmas Eve with him wishing her a Merry Christmas and kissing her at closing time.

Judging by the way Holly responded Steve hoped that kiss on Christmas Eve might have been the start of something but alas for him it didn’t lead anywhere.

Holly had indeed responded to his advance and in fact had been hoping for it but she knew it was far too soon to throw caution to the wind.

There were scabs as yet unpicked regarding Steve Berry that needed to be attended to before she completely let down her guard.

Holly considered him to be a work in progress she thought he had potential but he still needed work but there was certainly hope for him.

 

The other event that occurred on Christmas Eve was a prolonged snowfall which resulted in them being snowed in.

Holly was due to go to lunch at her cousin’s house but as she lived 30 miles away it was not possible to make the journey safely with the amount of snow that was laying.

Steve was due to spend the day alone not celebrating Christmas at all but Holly invited him to spend the day with her instead as he hadn’t risked driving home the night before.

He would have been quite happy to have slept on one of the bench seats in the lounge bar as he had once before but Holly insisted he use the spare room.

So that was how Steve Berry came to celebrate his first ever Christmas and why he was sitting at the bar nursing a cup of coffee in the clothes he had been wearing the night before.

“Morning” he said as she appeared behind the bar

“Happy Christmas” Holly said and reached over and kissed his cheek.

Now it was not the kiss he was hoping for and it was not possessed of the passion that accompanied the embrace of the night before but that simple peck on the cheek held within it, hope.

“God its cold in here” she said

“Yes, there was a power cut during the night and it knocked the boiler out” he said

“I’ve relit it but it’ll take a while to warm up”

“This was not the Christmas day I had in mind” Holly said putting the collar of her dressing gown up

“Nor me” he added

She was supposed to be dining on a sumptuous feast at her cousin’s house, while he was supposed to be in self-imposed exile at his flat.

“Do you want a drink?” he asked

“Oh yes please” she replied and Steve got up and went to the kitchen returning a few minutes later with a steaming mug of tea

“Thanks hon” she said and winced at her involuntary over familiarization and quickly went on

“I don’t know what we are going to eat today” Holly said

“We will need to ferret in the freezer”

“I didn’t know ferret was traditional Christmas fare” Steve said

“You know what I mean” she said “Can you cook?”

“A bit” he replied

“Good because I’m rubbish” Holly admitted

Steve actually undersold himself when he said he could cook a bit

He could in fact cook very well, exceptionally well.

 

Steve not being a traditionalist or a fan of the season could certainly make something out of what was on hand in the kitchen.

Holly however wanted to have a roast lunch, with all the trimmings, but after they checked the freezer they had to rule out a roast dinner as the joints would never have defrosted in time, but there were alternatives.

The fresh vegetable stores were limited but more than sufficient for two people.

Although she couldn’t cook herself Holly was determined to help firstly by peeling the potatoes and carrots and then by getting out of his way so he could get on by taking herself off upstairs to get ready for the day.

 

While Holly was gone Steve finished preparing the food and he was pleased that he had achieved something to suit Holly’s traditional wishes at least in part.

He had just reached the point where he could safely leave the kitchen and get showered and shaved when Holly reappeared and he was stopped in his tracks.

She looked stunning, her mousy hair, washed and styled was adorned with Christmas slides and she was wearing a white wool dress decorated with poinsettias.

And her shapely legs were covered by black tights with motifs of bows and parcels.

As he looked at her he thought to himself that he’d like them to be stockings rather than tights but nice legs were nice legs regardless of what they were sheathed in.

“Wow” Steve exclaimed

“Wow” he said again and Holly blushed

“It’s a Christmas dress you know” she said

“I don’t care” he said

“But you don’t like Christmas”

“it’s growing on me”

“Good” she said “you won’t mind wearing this then”

When would he ever learn, He now had to wear another blessed Christmas sweater.

“Where do you keep getting them from?” he asked

“They’re Uncle Phil’s” she replied “I buy him one every year”

“I’ve never seen Phil in a Christmas jumper” Steve said

“No nor of I” Holly agreed

 

Steve went upstairs, showered and shaved and returned to find Holly had laid a table in the lounge bar, complete with festive serviettes, candles, party poppers and crackers.

On the CD player the Puppini Sisters were in full voice and his natural aversion to Christmas music was tempered by the fact he caught Holly singing and dancing along with the music.

He stayed out of sight in the doorway so he could enjoy the spectacle as long as possible.

When she eventually became aware of him she blushed redder than the poinsettias on her dress.

“How long have you been standing there?” she said suddenly flustered and began fussing with the table.

“Long enough” Steve replied

“You should have said something” Holly said as she headed towards the kitchen

“What and spoil the show” he replied as he followed close behind

 

Holly carried on with the table while Steve checked the oven and ten minutes later he was transferring everything to serving dishes which Holly took to the table.

All he had left to do was make the gravy and get the Yorkshire puddings out of the oven.

Christmas dinner was as traditional as he could manage given the limits of the provisions available.

It was Holly’s turn to say “Wow” as he served Chicken breast wrapped in bacon, served with Roast potatoes, roast parsnips, carrots, peas, stuffing and Yorkshire pudding.

“What no starters” she said tongue in cheek

Holly lit the candles and Steve opened the wine they pulled the crackers and she made him wear a paper hat.

For desert he served apple pie and ice cream after which they watched the Queens speech.

 

As soon as the speech was over Holly switched off the TV

“What now?” he asked

“Now we sit and talk” She replied

“You mean “talk”” Steve said

“Yes”

“Do we have to” He said

“How are we supposed to learn about each other if we don’t talk?”

Holly replied

“So what do you want to know?” he said resignedly

“You’re childhood” Holly said with great interest

“What about it?” he replied

“Well, it’s not just Christmas that was unhappy was it”

“No it wasn’t” he replied and Holly settled back to let him unburden himself

“It wasn’t just Christmas, it was Easter, Halloween, birthdays and New Year’s”

He paused and took a drink

“you see My parents were alcoholics, when I was young they managed to somehow keep it under control but once I got to school age I pretty much raised myself, which is how I came to learn to cook because if I didn’t cook I didn’t eat”

They had spent a very pleasant Christmas day together, snowed in at the pub, the last thing he wanted to do was regurgitate the unpleasant moments of his life, particularly as he had been doing his best to forget them.

But once he started he couldn’t stop and by the end of it he was exhausted as they sat in the gathering darkness.

Holly was largely quiet throughout and just added the odd word of encouragement and support.

Holly broke the short period of silence.

“How do you feel?”

“Surprisingly good” he responded

 

Despite his feeling unburdened there was an awkward silence so Steve disappeared down to the kitchen to make them a snack.

He wondered if he should have held back and if he had unnerved Holly with his honesty.

When he had finished with the snack he put it on a tray and carried it upstairs to the lounge where Holly greeted his arrival with a smile.

 

“God that was good” Holly said after consuming his offering with relish

“Every cloud has a silver lining” he said referring to the reason he learned to cook,

“There is always a positive” Holly said “you just have to look for it”

“Well that’s what I plan to do” he said and cleared the plates away

“I’ll pour us another drink” He said

 

When he returned she was sitting with a Christmas present on her lap and she was smiling broadly.

“Happy Christmas” she said as she handed him the gift

“What’s this?” he asked

“Well open it and find out” Holly answered

“I wasn’t expecting a present” he said

Steve sat down and squeezed the package

“Oh no not another Christmas sweater” he said and Holly giggled as he tore the paper open.

But when he had removed all the paper and unfolded its contents he saw it was indeed a sweater but not a novelty Christmas one but a plain blue cashmere.

“That’s fantastic” he said enthusiastically “I love it 

“Try it on then” Holly insisted and stood up

Holly took hold of the new one while Steve removed the one he was wearing and then they swapped.

As Steve pulled the cashmere over his head Holly held the novelty one he had just removed up to her nose and inhaled his scent.

“That looks great” she said when it was on

“It feels it” he said “can I keep it on?”

“Yes” she said and held the other one to her breast

He walked over to the tree and plunged his hand in between the branches.

It was perhaps testament to the progress that he had made over such a short period of time that he had actually bought her a present, which he removed from its hiding place and said

“Happy Christmas”

“When did you put that there?” she asked

“This morning” Steve replied

Holly ripped the paper off like a mad woman until she was left with a little blue presentation box embossed with gold relief. 

She looked at it in wide eyed wonder, it was jewelry, and from a quality jeweler’s.

She took a deep breath and then opened it and she gasped.

“It’s lovely” she said as she took it out the box and held the gold pendant in her hand.

It was in the shape of a holly leaf with her name engraved on it.

“I love it” she said “put it on for me”

Steve took the pendant from her and when Holly turned her back to him, she reached back and scooped her hair out of the way while he fastened it.

Then she went to the mirror, stood on her tiptoes and looked at herself and admired the pendant.

“I really love it” Holly said and let out a squeal and then for the second day running they ended the day with a passionate kiss.

The Girl In The Red Dress

 

Steve Berry had always had a dislike for Christmas, despite all the jollity and faux fun because unlike many of his Christmas mad friends he had no happy Christmas memories to anesthetise him against the season.

His parents were alcoholics and each year their Christmas came in a bottle and thanks to his father Steve’s came with a slap.

So his childhood Christmases were memories he would rather have forgotten.

But adulthood brought no relief and it always seemed to him that when shit happens Christmas just magnifies the misery.

If someone dies at Christmas the very season makes it more keenly felt.

He could testify to that as his mother died on Christmas Eve when he was 19.

He has no idea where his father is and quite frankly he doesn’t care.

He never showed up for the funeral and he could be dead as well for all he knew.

So as a result he has never trusted Christmas, he knows that shit lurks beneath the coloured lights and paper chains.

 

He used to dream of getting away at Christmas and going somewhere that doesn’t celebrate it in any way shape or form.

But where exactly is that place. If anyone has any ideas then answers on a postcard to Steve Berry.

So each year like the rest of us he is subjected to all the usual false jollity, Christmas Parties, Secret Santa’s and Christmas Lunch, Paper hats, crackers and all that shit.

And everywhere he would go from October onwards was bedecked with tinsel, garlands, bells, baubles and led lights.

Each and every shop plays endless spools of regurgitated Christmas tunes and God forbid you ever broach the subject of the morons who decorate the outside of their houses.

 

Steve never had a girlfriend at Christmas he always dumped them. Or got himself dumped, when they started to get too jolly.

So when he was 21 he developed the perfect anti Christmas strategy.

He would always save a chunk of annual leave and finished work at least one week before the big day and returned after the New Year debacle.

He would stock up with food along with the other festive numpties and armed with a stack of DVD box sets he became a Christmas recluse until the year turned.

It’s been 9 years now and he believes so far so good.

He has found it has become easier over the years with catch up TV, he just needed to avoid the adverts that remind him that it’s Christmas or that he can’t afford a holiday.

 

So he was in the Pig and Whistle, not exactly a real shit hole of a pub but the only one in town guaranteed not to play Christmas stuff because the landlord Phil hated Christmas almost as much as Steve did.

It was his last night out before his Christmas exile and it was his intention to get totally shitfaced as he had almost three weeks to recover.

He was not a social animal, he liked his own company and if he ever engaged in conversation with fellow patrons it was because he had initiated it.

He was averse to being rude if someone else spoke first.

So he was just enjoying his third pint as he sat in the furthest most corner of the bar reading his book when it happened.

“Hello” she said

Steve ignored her, normally if he didn’t respond they’d get the message and go away

“Hello” she said louder “Are you ok?”

“I was” he sighed

“Oh dear Mr Grinch” she said “what you need is some Christmas spirit”

“I’m fine” he insisted

“I don’t think you are sitting on your own in the furthest most corner” she said

Steve looked at her for the first time, she was roughly his age, maybe a little younger, and she was wearing a red dress and red and white striped stockings and had tinsel in her mousy hair.

“Who are you? The Christmas fairy?” he asked gruffly

He wanted to tell her to fuck off but she was quite cute.

“No I’m Holly, Phil’s niece” she said

“Holly? How very festive” He said sarcastically

“Yes I’m going to instil a little Christmas spirit” Holly said

“But Phil hates Christmas” Steve informed her

“I know” she said “which is why he’s going to Las Vegas until the New Year”

“When?” He asked

“Half an hour ago” she replied

“So are you going to come and join the rest of us?”

“No thanks I don’t do Christmas” he said and returned to his book

“Oh well perhaps some Christmas music will get you in the mood” she said resolutely

“Oh God” he said

 

The Christmas party mix was really grating on him but he was too far along with his Christmas strategy to go off hunting for another Christmas free pub so he had to put up with it.

As the evening wore on she persisted in trying to draw him out of his corner, but to no avail.

He left the corner only to go to the bar and get another drink and then returned to his slitude.

Apart from the music upsetting his plans there was the added annoyance of customers, more arriving every hour, word had got out that Phil “The Grinch who stole Christmas” had gone for the duration, and that there was a new Santa in town. 

This only became a problem however when while he was at the bar and somebody took over his corner.

So he returned to the bar again.

“Back again already Steve?” Holly asked

“Someone is in my seat” he said

“Well pull up a stool” she suggested

“Do I have a choice?” he said grumpily

“You’re just a little ray of sunshine” she said and laughed

“I can see I’m going to have to use all my magic on you”

He settled himself down

“I’ve never seen it so busy in here” Steve said

“I know” Holly said “I’m going to need more staff at this rate”

“Good luck with that” he said

 

He woke up the next morning with his face stuck to the mock leather of a bench seat.

And when he painfully sat himself up he saw he was in the lounge bar of the Pig and Whistle. 

Well he had intended getting shit faced the night before, so mission accomplished there, he had expected to wake up with a hangover, so another box ticked, but it was never part of the plan to wake up at the pub. 

“Good morning sunshine” Holly called as she crashed through the door wearing a dressing gown and slippers.

“Ow” he said “have some respect for the dead”

 She put a mug of black coffee on the table in front of him and peered at his bloodshot eyes

“Blimey! Can you actually see through those?” she asked

“I hope you don’t drink like that when you’re working”

“Well I don’t need to worry about work until January” he said and sipped at his coffee

“Don’t you remember anything about last night?” Holly asked with a wry smile on her lips

He closed his eyes and replied

“I remember I don’t like Christmas”

“Anything else?” Holly persisted

“It was very busy, very noisy” Steve said but could remember nothing else

“Do you remember me saying I needed more staff?” she asked

“Yes I do remember that” he replied

“Good” she said “because your it”

“What?” he said loudly and then winced

“You volunteered to work right through till New Year’s Eve”

“I can’t have” Steve said

“Well you did” She insisted and showed him a piece of paper detailing the fore mentioned offer signed by Steve.

“That doesn’t count” he said “I was pissed”

“It’s legally binding” Holly stated “It’s notarized by a solicitor”

Steve stared at the signature

“Sam Culver?” he said “he’s not a solicitor he’s a forklift driver”

“Be that as it may he has still witnessed your signature on this contract” she said coolly

“Contract?” he said in disbelieve

“Contract” she confirmed

“Oh please you’re not really going to hold me to this?” Steve said waving the “contract” in her direction

“You start tonight” she informed him

“Oh God I’ve sold my soul to the Christmas fairy” he said with his head in his hands

“I prefer Christmas angel” she said “But I’m not the one with tinsel in my hair”

“Oh shit” he exclaimed

“Get yourself a hair of the dog, I’m going to get dressed” Holly said smiling

“Oh and there’s no drinking on the job, by the way”

 

Over the week and a half that followed his entrapment, between his first shift and Christmas Eve, Holly had done her best to elicit the details of why it was that Steve hated Christmas so much.

Holly had noticed right at the beginning that he was not the miserable git that she first thought.

In fact that first night when he was forced to sit at the bar he had been very funny, once he managed to forget it was Christmas.

But every time he heard someone utter the words happy Christmas it was like he’d been stabbed.   

So she relentlessly picked away at the scab every day, but she couldn’t get him to open up, but she wasn’t prepared to give up under any circumstances.

 

Steve would never have admitted it and despite his initial protests he was rather enjoying working behind a bar again.

He hadn’t done it since he left university and started working as an accountant.

The repetitive festive music still grated on him, though less so, even the Christmas t-shirts and jumpers that Holly made him wear had become less onerous.

Holly herself led by example and wore an almost inexhaustible supply of festive outfits and he had to admit she still looked cute in which ever one she was wearing.

She was a nosey cow though and kept poking and prodding at him trying to find out what made him tick.   

But it amused him that his not playing ball was driving her crackers.

 

On Christmas Eve he drove to the pub, arriving at 9.30am, and thought

“It’s going to be a long day”

It was bitterly cold and the sky was grey and overcast, he sniffed the air and knocked on the front door which Holly opened within a couple of minutes and she was already dressed in her Christmas outfit, namely Mrs. Clause.

“Morning Steve” she said “Happy Christmas Eve”

“Why are you always so cheerful?” he asked in response

“Because “it’s a wonderful life”” she said

“Oh God are you going to throw festive film titles at me all day?”

“I hadn’t thought of that” she said “but it sounds like fun”

He took his coat off and revealed his jumper of the day adorned with a reindeers head.

“There’s snow in the air” he said hanging up his coat

“Lovely” she replied with a chuckle “White Christmas”

“Stop it” Steve said

Holly had walked to the bar picked something up and returned with it behind her back.

“What’s that?” he asked suspiciously

“Antlers” she said triumphantly and put them on his head

“Please no” he said “that’s too much”

“Stop whining Grinch or I’ll put the Christmas tape on” she threatened

 

They knew it was going to be busy in the pub that day so in addition to Holly and Steve there were barmaids Clare and Petra and in the kitchen were Stefano and Ausra.

It wasn’t manically busy but there was a steady flow all day, shoppers popping in for a warm, that kind of thing, and as it was such a bitter cold day the kitchen did a roaring trade in warming chili, casseroles and stews so much so that they kept the kitchen going right through the afternoon.

It was not however a day for cold desserts.

By five o’clock they had sold out and the till drawers were stuffed.

Holly kept taking them away to the office but they kept filling up.

 

While Holly counted the takings in the office, Steve and Petra manned the bar and Clare helped Steph and Ausra clear away.

Job done they joined Steve at the bar and were enjoying a well-earned drink when Holly came out.

“Well done you lot” she said “I hope that drink is on the house”

“It is” Steve said

“We have had a phenomenal day” she said handing out pay packets “so there’s a little something extra in there”

“Thanks boss” Stephanos said

“Cheers Hol” Petra

“Thanks Holly” Clare and Ausra said simultaneously

What she didn’t tell them was that the little extra was 100 pounds per head, they wouldn’t find that out until later.

“Where’s mine?” Steve asked

“Grinch tax” Holly said to the great amusement of the others and patted his cheek

“Charming” he replied but was laughing when he said it he knew that the others were finished until after Christmas he still and the evening shift.

Although he wasn’t bothered about the money particularly he knew he would get it, he had actually enjoyed Christmas Eve for the first time ever.

 

They all finished their drinks and it was the moment that Steve hated most, the final farewell when Christmas wishes were exchanged.

“Merry Christmas” Clare said and kissed Steve

“And you” he replied

“Happy Christmas Stevie” Ausra said kissing him

“Yes you too” said Steve

Happy, Happy Christmas” Petra said planting a very exuberant kiss on hids mouth

“Ditto” he replied

“A very happy Christmas my friend” Stephanos said extravagantly and feigned to kiss him but shook his hand instead and roared with laughter.

“Have a good one” Steve said and also laughed.

 

When they had gone Steve noticed it had started snowing lightly.

“So why can’t you say Happy Christmas?” Holly asked

“I told you it was going to snow” he said

“Don’t change the subject” Holly persisted

“I can say it, I just didn’t need to as everyone else said it”

He answered “I didn’t want to wear the phrase out”

“Baubles” Holly said

 

Holly disappeared upstairs for half an hour and when she came down she had changed outfits

She wore a different red Dress with white trim and a more daring neckline

But instead of her customary stripy tights she was wearing black tights with holly motifs, how appropriate Steve thought as he was wiping down the tables in readiness for the next wave of punters.

Steve thought she was quite cute but he would have to liberate her from the Christmas stuff first if she was ever to progress further than cute.

“I wish I’d asked Steph to keep some Chili back” Holly said “I’m starving”

“Don’t worry” he said “when Debbie arrives I’ll go over the road and get a take away”

“Ok” she concurred “but what takeaway”

“Your choice, my treat” he replied

“What a Christmas treat?” Holly asked

“No just a treat” he replied and smiled

 

Debbie arrived right on time.

“The snows settling” she said as she went behind the bar

“Hi Debbie” Holly said

“So what’s your poison?” Steve asked

“Pizza” She replied very definitely “Pepperoni”

“Have you eaten Debbie?” he shouted

“Yes but I can eat a slice or two” she replied

 

As he walked across the road to Dominoes he noticed the snow was falling faster and would lay quite deep if it persisted.

Despite Debbie saying she would only eat a piece or two he decided to get a pizza each, he’d seen Debbie eat before and for a skinny bird she could really pack it away.

When he got back to the pub the clientele had almost doubled so he thought it was the beginning of the evening rush and wasn’t sure if they’d have time to enjoy the pizzas.

He needn’t have worried it proved to be a false dawn and the rush never materialized.

He was right about one thing Debbie demolished a whole pizza.

By seven o’clock the numbers hadn’t really changed even if the faces had.

And by eight with the snow falling thick and fast in near blizzard conditions it was fairly obvious punters weren’t going to be venturing out in any significant numbers.

Knowing that Debbie had a ten mile journey home Holly said

“I think you’d better get off hon or you won’t get home at all”

“Are you sure Hol?” Debbie asked

“Absolutely” She said and handed Debbie her coat and her pay packet.

“Thanks Holly” she said “Happy Christmas”

“Happy Christmas and drive safely” she said “Text me when your home”

 “Ok, happy Christmas Steve” she said

“And you Deb” he replied

 

Holly had walked to the door with Debbie and stared out the window for a long time as she watched her get underway.

When she returned to the bar she said

“You’d better get off as well Steve”

“No I’ll stay a bit longer” he replied

“This might be your last chance” she said “it’s coming down like billy-o”

“That’s ok” he said “I can always kip in the lounge bar again”

 

It was a strange night although there weren’t many customers they still managed to sell quite a lot of beer.

They had a succession of punter coming in for jugs of ale, so much so that they ran out of jugs.

But all in all it was very quiet.

So by 9 o’clock Holly said

“Right let’s have a drink”

“I thought you didn’t like the staff drinking on duty” he said

“What the hell its Christmas” she replied and noticed that he visibly tensed at the word Christmas

She pulled him a pint and poured a glass of wine for herself.

And they sat on stools on the punters side of the bar to drink them.

“Do you mind if I crash here tonight Holly? He asked

“I’d rather you crashed here than out there” She replied

“And it looks like my plans for tomorrow will need to be revised, so we can spend the day together, if you like”

“Ok thanks” he said

They were well into their second drink when Holly asked

“So what exactly is the deal with you and Christmas?”

“Do we have to go there” he asked

“Yes we do” she said “I’ve been watching you this week and every time someone wishes you a happy Christmas you react as if you’ve been stabbed”

“Well I wouldn’t go that far” Steve responded

“I would” she said but he just shrugged

“Come on Steve” she insisted “You are such an infuriating man, cough it up”

“Can’t you just leave it alone?” he said

“You can’t tell me you haven’t enjoyed this week” she said “or that you would have preferred to be locked away in your flat pretending that that Christmas was just a bad dream”

Steve drained his glass and went through the hatch and pulled himself another one.

“I don’t want to go into all the details, suffice is to say that for me There was no happy little boy waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve” he said painfully

“My childhood was unbearable and Christmas was even more so”

Holly didn’t speak but sat with head sympathetically inclined

“Not everyone is raised by Mary Poppins” he said factiously

“That’s not very fare” Holly said hurtfully

“I suppose you think my Christmases were happy?”

Steve merely snorted

“I had a lousy Christmases as a child, my parents didn’t believe in it so we didn’t celebrate it,” she said forcefully

But Steve looked unconvinced

“My parents are hippies” She stated “Christmases for me were spent in a VW Camper van on Salisbury plain, don’t get me wrong, I love my parents and for me at the time it seemed perfectly normal and I was perfectly happy”

Holly paused

“And I would get a present, though it was never wrapped in Christmas paper, there was no Christmas trees, No baubles or tinsel, No garlands or colored lights, in my childhood Christmas just didn’t exist”

“So now you’re over compensating” Steve said and took another drink.

“Not at all I decided that feeling sorry for myself was not an option, and

I refused to be dictated to by the past” she said “I decided I would make new memories and stop looking back”

“I was 17 when I first experience a proper Christmas, and I thought it was wonderful, magical and I’ve made sure I’ve enjoyed everyone since”

“There is no similarity between our childhoods” he said

“Your childhood was happy it just didn’t include Christmas,

Mine was desperately unhappy”

“And you blame Christmas for it” Holly said “I know for your life was different, but I want to squeeze the most joy I can from every moment”

Steve just looked at her as she took a brief pause

“Just as you should” She said and put her hand on his knee

At that moment the doors opened and a new group of punters came through the door.

 

He stood behind the bar drying glasses as he watched Holly as she chatted to the clientele in turn.

He liked it as she walked from table to table, she had a gait that was easy on the eye and the way the flared skirt moved across her legs was quite sensual.

Then one by one the meagre band of customers disappeared into the snowy night.

 

It was midnight and as the last customer left for the night, Holly wished them a happy Christmas and locked the front doors.

As she slipped the last bolt across and drew the curtain.

Steve appeared behind her just as the church bells chimed.

Holly turned and faced him

“Merry Christmas Holly” he said and kissed her