The Perfect Present Read online

  ‘Melody, please, I never meant to hurt you,’ Rae said as she stepped forward.

  Melody backed away, raising her hands in front of her as if to protect herself from Rae. She was losing her cool, unravelling like a piece of string—one chord at a time, but she was going to hold herself together even if it killed her.

  Melody didn’t want Rae to see her cry. She didn’t want her to see the broken pieces of her heart that had been whole a short while ago. The heart that Rae had shattered.

  When Melody spoke her voice was as cold as the air had been on her walk home. ‘Well, you did.’ She clasped her arms around her waist. ‘You need to go.’ Tears welled in her eyes as her emotions crashed into her like a tidal wave of destruction, threatening to drown her.

  ‘Mel, baby, we need to talk,’ Rae said reaching out and resting her hand on Melody’s forearm.

  Melody pulled her arm back as if she had been scalded. ‘No, Rae, we don’t need to talk. What you need to do is get the hell out of my flat. Now!’ Melody’s voice was shrill as her usually cool temperament lost the battle with her emotions and her temper flared.

  ‘Okay, okay, calm down...’ Rae said gingerly, as she side stepped Melody and signalled for the woman to follow her.

  Melody felt the last chord snap as she realised that the redhead was still standing in the room, witnessing Melody’s world fall apart with cool green eyes and a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.

  ‘Calm down? Are you kidding me?’ Melody said incredulously as she spun around and strode back towards the kitchen. She stopped momentarily, turned and said to Rae who had followed her down the hallway. ‘Have a great Christmas. I hope you get everything you deserve and more.’

  She stepped into the kitchen and slammed the door behind her. The tears Melody had valiantly kept at bay, freely rolled down her cheeks. She brushed them away angrily with the back of her hand as her eyes fell on the pan sitting on the hob. She let out a bitter laugh that came out as a half laugh, half choked cry. Only minutes ago the biggest problem she faced was deciding whether to have marshmallows or Maltesers in her hot chocolate. Her eyes started to close. A shallow dark descending. This wasn’t the first time fate had dealt her an unexpected blow and Melody was sure it wouldn’t be the last. If she wasn’t so level headed, she would have been convinced Christmas had a personal vendetta against her.

  Chapter Three

  Holly looked at the light blinking on the desk phone. She had a mobile that most people called her on. There was only ever one person who bothered to call her on the landline. That person would be the one individual she had spent the day avoiding.

  ‘Dad?’ Holly said with false cheer as she picked up the phone. She glanced at the time on her mobile. It was nearly six pm. That meant she had managed to spend the whole day being unproductive. A new record.

  ‘I need to see you,’ Nicholas said with a tone that lacked his usual cheeriness.

  ‘Is everything okay?’ Holly asked. Her dad’s curtness had taken her a little by surprise. It wasn’t like Mr Jolly to be serious.

  ‘Everything is fine. Can you come over to my office?’

  ‘Sure. Do you need me right away?’ Holly asked as she glanced at the half finished game of Angry Birds she was playing on her phone.

  ‘Well, sooner rather than later,’ Nicholas said and then hung up.

  Holly sat back in her chair and pondered what her dad might want. Was he going to berate her again for not getting into the spirit of the season? She hoped not. If he did she just might have to tell him a few home truths which would only exacerbate the situation. Holly stood up with a sigh. There was only one way to find out.

  The annoying bells on the elf’s shoes filled her ears as Holly opened her office door, and she glared at him menacingly. He stopped in his tracks and watched her as she made her way towards the front door. Holly opened it and walked out into the bracing air. As she closed the door behind her, she heard the bells start up again. Tenacious little elf, that one. Holly smiled despite herself as she walked down the wooden steps and in the direction that led to Peppermint mountain and her father’s office.

  The snow that had been a beautiful, clean, blank sheet that morning had been transformed into mush under hundreds of tiny feet. Holly grimaced as she marched through the pools of half melted snow. The walk didn’t take long, but it was long enough for the icy winds to send a chill down Holly’s spine. She hoped it was the wind, but couldn’t help feel a sense of foreboding as she neared.

  Her father’s office was a striking building that sat at the top of Peppermint mountain, with a wonderful view of the entire town. Holly climbed the wooden steps, each one painted with images of candy canes and other Christmas ornaments. I live in a Christmas nightmare! She pushed back the morbid thoughts and opened the doors to her dad’s office without knocking.

  ‘Hi, Angel.’ Holly smiled at her dad’s secretary. Angel was an institution in her life, having worked for her dad for as long as she could remember.

  ‘Why it’s nice you coming to see your dad at work, Holly,’ Angel said as she smiled.

  ‘I’m here on his orders,’ Holly said, curtsying in mock servitude.

  ‘I’ll just see if he’s free for you.’ Angel hopped off of her stool and walked quickly over to the grand oak doors that had a gold plated ‘Santa’s office’ sign attached to it.

  Angel poked her head in, and said a few words that Holly couldn’t catch but a few seconds later she pushed the doors wide open. ‘You can go in, dear,’ she said giving her a reassuring smile before returning to her desk.

  ‘Thanks,’ Holly said over her shoulder as she walked into her dad’s office and dropped onto a large seat opposite him. She could barely see his face above the huge piles of letters on his desk. Wishes that people from all over the world had sent to Santa, praying for him to make them come true. What a burden to have to deal with.

  ‘I wasn’t expecting you so soon,’ he said with a warm smile on his face. ‘I’m glad you came quickly though. Thank you.’

  ‘Well I figured it was probably important,’ Holly said as she shoved her hands in her pockets.

  ‘You’re right, it is important,’ he said and then paused.

  Holly watched as a thoughtful look washed over his face and then faded away like an early morning mist. She felt bad for him; it couldn’t be easy being Santa. Everyone expected so much from you. She felt a wave of begrudging admiration for the man sitting opposite her and, not for the first time, wished she had more of his big heart.

  ‘Look, Holly.’ He removed his glasses and rubbed his tired looking eyes. ‘I know you struggle with Christmas cheer,’ he finally said.

  Struggle is an understatement. Holly felt herself scoffing as throaty noises escaped her lips and her dad looked at her sharply, causing the noises to cease as abruptly as they had started. Sometimes he made her feel as if she was twelve again and had been caught being mischievous. She sat up straight, trying to look like the adult she was.

  ‘Yes, well. You’re twenty-two years old now,’ he said, as if he had read her mind, ‘and it’s about time you did your part for the family business. You will, after all, take over one day. What with all of this equality business there’s a call for a female Santa, so this couldn’t come at a better time. Your time is now, Holly,’ he said with a stern look that seemed odd on his soft face.

  ‘You’re joking right?’ Holly said shaking her head. ‘Dad, why can’t you understand that I don’t want any of this?’ Her voice rose with emotion. Why did no one ask her what she wanted? She didn’t ask to be born the daughter of Santa Claus!

  ‘It doesn’t really matter what you want.’ He leant towards her. His bright blue eyes bore into hers and there was no looking away. ‘I know that’s hard to hear, but it’s true. It’s my job to bring joy and hope to the world and when I’m gone it will be your job too,’ he said matter-of-factly.

  ‘But I don’t want that. I don’t want to dedicate my life to other people’s happ
iness. I want some happiness of my own,’ Holly said and then cringed inwardly at how selfish she sounded.

  ‘Do you think I have no happiness of my own? Do I appear to be unhappy? We have a wonderful life, and my work brings us all joy; as well as giving joy to other people. What a wonderful job to have! This is what our family has done for centuries and must do for centuries to come. It’s our calling. You know that as well as I do! I’m happy being Santa and you will be too.’

  Holly took a deep measured breath and tried to explain her feelings in a logical fashion, ‘You found Mum; and I know she brings you a lot of happiness,’ Holly started. ‘But I don’t have that. It’s just me. I don’t have someone at my side to be my other half and make this ... this ...’ She waved her arms around her head expansively ‘... this happy little world happy! I’d be miserable. Alone and miserable, Dad! Is that what you want for your only child?’ Her eyebrows knitted together. Well that was totally pathetic. She couldn’t even articulate why she didn’t want to take over her father’s very large boots.

  Nicholas leant back in his red velvet chair and smiled at her ferocious outburst. ‘You still have a lifetime to find it though. One day you will find someone to love and that person will share this life with you,’ he said with a twinkle in his eye.

  ‘What here in the North Pole?’ Holly scoffed. ‘So what? I’m going to fall in love with a lesbian elf?’ Holly rubbed her hands over her face in frustration.

  ‘You never know when or with whom you will fall in love,’ he said sagely.

  ‘Well I “know” I’m not going to find another lesbian anywhere around here am I? And since when is Santa a relationship guru? You don’t know what it’s like, Dad; you really don’t have any idea at all what it is like being me, being a lesbian in a world of snow, elves and reindeer! Not too many prospects out there, are there?’

  Nicholas stood and moved around the table. Placing a large hand on her shoulder, his tone was full of compassion. ‘I’m sorry about all of this, Holly, but it doesn’t change anything. You have a duty. The same one that befell me and will fall onto your own children.’

  ‘What?’ Holly jolted forward. ‘Children? I ... I ... don’t think so,’ she spluttered then let out an exaggerated groan when she looked up and saw the hurt in her dad’s eyes. She knew she came across as an ungrateful spoilt brat. But it wasn’t as simple as that. Yes she lived in what could possibly be the happiest place on earth, but she felt nothing other than sadness. Holly lived in a town that surrounded her with friendly faces and warm greetings, but she always felt alone. She was the oddity—the proverbial square peg in a fluffy, sparkly, happy round hole.

  Holly had accepted a long time ago that she didn’t belong in the North Pole, but now that her dad was pushing her into taking up the family business she was feeling it more than ever.

  ‘Look, I’ve got things to do.’ Holly rose to her feet. ‘So if we’re finished here...?’ She looked at him questioningly and he gave a small nod of his head. He rubbed his weary eyes and her heart twisted. She loved him so much. She wished things could be different, but they weren’t and he just couldn’t accept that.

  Turning around abruptly, Holly strode out of the office without saying another word, walking past a surprised Angel. Once outside she kicked the snow in frustration. A bloody female Santa of all things! She looked in the direction of her office and without a second thought began to walk the opposite way. She’d had enough for one day. Being stuck in an airless room was the last thing she wanted right now.

  Holly crossed the road and walked aimlessly until she came to a field on the outskirts of town. She needed solitude. The stillness of the untouched, white snow, contrasted with the constant whirlwind of colour, bells, music and people in her life. She was a miscast character through no fault of her own. Somebody, somewhere had a warped sense of humour when they cast her as Santa’s daughter.

  Holly looked out at the sky that connected the world and its universe and wondered whether the woman she was meant to be with was looking up at her patch of sky somewhere, and pouring out her heart to her. Holly had to believe that there was someone for everyone, or what was the point of having a heart that could love if it just meant loneliness and pain?

  Holly lowered her gaze and turned back towards the town. The sun was starting to edge its way below the horizon. That meant it was time to return back to the place that she’d always called home, but which had never felt like it. I’m like Alice in wonderland; except I just don’t see the wonder. Maybe there’s something wrong with me after all.

  Chapter Four

  Four boxes stood in the centre of Melody’s living room. Her life with Rae contained within them. Melody had spent the past hour rummaging around her flat, attempting to eradicate every trace of Rae from her home. Melody glanced at the boxes and then at her phone. She just wanted them out of her flat so she had no more reminders of the betrayal. Her pulse roared in her ears as she finally switched the screen on and scrolled to Rae’s name. She hesitated, steeled herself and then made the call.

  ‘You need to pick your stuff up, today,’ Melody said as soon as she heard the clicking noise that meant the call had been connected.

  ‘I thought you were going to give us a chance to talk,’ Rae said with a sigh.

  ‘What’s there to talk about?’ Melody asked with genuine interest in what her answer might be.

  ‘Well,’ Rae said and then paused as she struggled for an answer. ‘Us,’ she said finally.

  ‘There isn’t an “us” anymore, you and your redhead made sure of that.’

  ‘You can’t just throw away two years of our lives together, Melody. Be reasonable,’ Rae said with an edge to her tone that Melody couldn’t believe was there.

  ‘You’re telling me to be reasonable?’ Melody snorted. ‘Really, Rae? I didn’t throw away what we had, you did. You slept with that woman. You cheated on me in my own bed. In “our” bed. How could we possibly move on from that?’

  ‘But I love you.’

  ‘Then I hope she was worth losing me for. If that’s the way you show love, then I don’t want any part of it,’ Melody said bitterly before disconnecting the call.

  Melody glanced around the room. It held so many memories of times she and Rae had shared together. Sadness overwhelmed her and she let her head fall into her hands. She couldn’t believe that Rae had cheated on her. That not only had she betrayed her, but she’d chosen Christmas to do it. Especially knowing how Melody felt about this time of year. The season when things weren’t jolly but full of sadness for her.

  Melody was ten years old when her parents had gone out on that cold Christmas Eve. They had both kissed her goodnight, tucking her pink fluffy blanket around her as she lay in bed; and spoken of the wonderful day they were going to have together on Christmas morning. She had gone to bed expecting to wake up to presents and a day full of blissful family happiness. Melody’s body started to shake as the memory of that night came back to her. It had been snowy, but a chill had taken over the lazily floating flakes and had frozen the ones that had already fallen to the ground. Her mum had gone into labour and her parents left the house for the hospital. Melody was about to become a sister to her very own baby brother.

  It had all been going fine. Melody’s nan had been called in to babysit and everything seemed as though it was going to have that Christmas miracle vibe to it, but instead a lorry overturned on a bypass and went straight into the front of her parents’ car, killing them instantly.

  In the early hours of Christmas morning Melody was awoken before the sun had even had a chance to rise by a policeman, with a dejected expression and soft brown eyes. He’d struggled to find the words to explain to her that her parents were never coming home.

  Melody lost her mum, her dad, her unborn brother and her childhood that night. Christmas also died in that accident, as if it had been a passenger in the back seat. That lorry driver had stolen her world, so all Christmas was to her, was a reminder. A horrible reminder,
drenched and saturated in pain, of the family that she had lost. Despite this, she had been trying to let the past go in order to make fresh memories with Rae.

  Hot tears formed in the corners of Melody’s eyes. She closed them tightly to prevent their escape, but her sadness had too much force and they began to stream down her cheeks. Why was it that she seemed to always lose the people she opened her heart to?

  Long hours passed and darkness crept up on her. Melody had no idea how long she had been sitting like that when a knock at the door roused her from her melancholic reverie. The sun had fallen so far that Melody was sure the other half of the world must be shading itself from its dazzling light. She got up stiffly and walked slowly over to the front door.

  Melody knew who was waiting on the other side. The familiar knock giving away her visitor instantly. It was Rae’s knock. Squaring her shoulders, Melody opened the door briskly.

  ‘You couldn’t have done this earlier?’ Melody could barely raise her voice above a whisper. Reliving the past always drained her—mentally and physically.

  ‘Well I had to find somewhere to stay didn’t I?’ Rae said in a disgruntled way.

  ‘What’s wrong with your place?’ Melody asked, as she walked into the living room and pointed out the four large boxes full of Rae’s belongings.

  ‘It’s irrelevant,’ Rae said.

  ‘No wait, it’s not irrelevant,’ Melody said as thoughts started to connect in her mind. ‘Why did you bring that woman over here? What’s wrong with your place?’ she pushed.

  ‘I gave it up a few months ago.’ Rae shrugged like it was no big deal.

  ‘You gave it up?’ Melody said with a look of disbelief on her face. ‘So where did you stay when you weren’t here?’

  Rae didn’t say anything; she just shifted her weight from one leg to the other and stared down at her feet. Melody waited for her to explain, but the silence that hung between them told her all she needed to know.

  ‘You’ve cheated on me before then?’ Melody asked. Her voice was raspy with pain and held back emotion.