The Mills & Boon Christmas Wishes Collection. Maisey Yates

was hurt, conflicted about his life, and starting a romance now was a bad idea. Until he’d made peace with his past… This was a kiss goodbye.

      The Christmas tree blinked and shone, the lights radiating outwards, coloring the snow. Kai took me in his arms, and held me tight. I wished I could pause time and stay that way for ever.

      In the distance, Micah and Isla ran back from the lake, their boots sinking into the snow, their faces red with cold.

      “There’s a maze!” shouted Micah as they ran to catch up with us. “It’s hard to find, and it’s overgrown, but it’s definitely a hedge maze! How do you think we never found that before, Clio, on all our jaunts as children?”

      I had the sensation that I was falling, dizzy and breathless all at once. Now Mom couldn’t avoid it; the maze had been found. But I had the overwhelming sense I would lose her if I didn’t handle it right. Micah noticed my stricken face, “Clio, are you OK?”

      I’d have to be. I’d have to get this sorted out once and for all. “Fine, fine. Just a little cold.” Again, I had the oddest sensation someone was standing behind me, but when I looked no one was there. Goose bumps prickled my skin, and Mom’s face flashed in my mind, her teenage smile, and her bright eyes as she clutched the little girl’s hand. What was the very worst thing that could have happened? Did she have a child out of wedlock? Did the child die? Or was she adopted out?

      Tomorrow I’d be at Aunt Bessie’s for Christmas Day, and my family and friends would celebrate Christmas lunch together. There’d be no time to quiz Mom alone, but maybe I could make her see how much we all loved Cedarwood, how we were making it great again, and whatever bad memories the place held for her, this was a new era, a new time, and I wanted her to be part of it. The only way forward was going back and saying goodbye to the past.

      “Shall we fix the maze?’ Isla’s face was lit up.

      “Strictly no work talk over Christmas!” I said, trying to sound upbeat. “Let’s head inside before we freeze, and demolish that Yule log.”

      Kai and I exchanged a glance as we all trooped back inside, and my heart thumped in my chest, knowing I was saying goodbye to him soon too, maybe for good. If it was meant to be it would be… Didn’t I say true love would always find a way?

       Chapter Twenty-Seven

      The golden vocals of Frank Sinatra singing ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ drifted upstairs to greet me. Feeling decidedly festive, I wrenched the bedcovers back and raced to the bay window. Outside, the frosty ground was blanketed by snow and the mountains in the distance slumbered under dense white. If you squinted you could make out tracks in the snow from Santa’s reindeers. OK, maybe not, but a girl could dream…

      From downstairs came the rattle of cups, the shrieking of the kettle – Cruz was up and about and, from the scents wafting my way, baking something Christmassy.

      Not wanting to miss a thing, I pulled on my thick robe and went to investigate. Taking the stairs two at a time, I practically bounced into the warmth of the kitchen. Cruz had brewed a pot of gingerbread coffee and handed me a cup. The spicy ginger scent was synonymous with Christmas and gave me the desire to eat my bodyweight in baked goods – from gingerbread families to reindeer cookies, and as many of Aunt Bessie’s donuts as I could carry in two hands. After all, New Year’s resolutions were made for a reason, right?

      “Thanks, and Merry Christmas, Cruz!”

      “Merry Christmas, Clio. Nice PJs.” He raised a sardonic brow.

      Staring down at my ensemble I couldn’t help but smirk. Isla and Micah had gifted us all kitschy Christmas-themed gifts. My pajamas were festooned with grinning red-nosed reindeers and merry mistletoe; the material was so vividly red they were blink-inducing. Let’s just say you wouldn’t have missed me even if you were in the next town over. My dressing gown covered most of the garishness but not quite enough apparently.

      “Right?” I laughed.

      A moment later, in walked Amory, wearing her gift from Isla and Micah. Flashing candy-cane earrings and a matching headband.

      “Aww you look so… Christmassy.” I grinned. I hadn’t seen Amory embrace the holidays with quite so much flamboyance so early in the morning before.

      “Coffee.”

      We laughed at Amory’s usual one-word dawn greeting, her Grinch-like tone a total opposite to her flashing festive accessories. Even on Christmas morning she was unable to communicate until caffeine was pumping through her veins. I poured her a gingerbread coffee and she gulped it down, then held the cup out for another, which she sipped a little more gingerly.

      I gave her the prerequisite three minutes to let it work its magic before saying: “Did you hear the sleigh bells last night?”

      She rolled her eyes dramatically. “Is that some kind of euphemism? Because if you want to know about my sex life all you need to do is ask.”

      A shocked giggle escaped me. “Amory!” Cruz turned away and did his best to appear busy, though I could see his shoulders shake with silent laughter.

      “What? Isn’t that what you meant?” she grinned, evil minx that she was.

      “No, it isn’t! I meant actual sleigh bells! I think someone in town must have been marching around as Santa last night. Maybe we missed a Christmas parade or something.”

      “Oh, my bad.” Her face was the picture of innocence but it was hard to concentrate when she had all manner of kitschy Christmas jewelry flashing from her head. “Of course something like that would be happening in a town like Evergreen, darling! There seems to be a festival for everything here.”

      I smiled as I took a sip of coffee. Amory was right, Evergreen prided itself on having an event for every season. I’d missed the autumn food festival, but the switching on of the town lights and the ginormous Christmas tree had been truly spectacular. And before long, the spring flower festival would be here.

      “And I see you’re wearing your gift,” Amory said, motioning to Cruz.

      On top of Cruz’s head was a novelty chef’s hat announcing, No soggy bottoms this Christmas!

      He grimaced. “Well, I figure I have three hundred and sixty-four days that I don’t have to wear it. And I only whipped it on when I heard footsteps and thought it might be Isla checking up on me.” With a grin, he pulled it off and threw it on the bench.

      “Oh no, here comes Isla now!” Amory hissed. I darted a glance over my shoulder, sure Isla and Micah were elsewhere. They’d left in the early hours of this morning, after our Christmas Eve celebrations finally came to a close, in order to make it to Micah’s family for Christmas.

      Cruz’s eyes widened and he fumbled and cursed as he stuffed it back on.

      “Just joking! Isla and Micah aren’t coming for breakfast today.”

      He narrowed his eyes and clutched at his heart. “You’re evil. Pure evil.”

      Amory laughed. “But you make it so easy!”

      Cruz was the epitome of politeness and it was almost impossible for us not to play practical jokes or tease him mercilessly. He took it in good humor, and it made the busy days a little more fun.

      “And,” I said, “Isla has spies. She’ll know if you’re not wearing your hat.”

      Shaking his head, he donned the offending item, and said with a smile, “It’s a lovely hat. The best.”

      “You’re a lucky man.” Amory stood to kiss him, and I felt a moment of pure joy for my friends.

      “You should see what Isla got for Micah’s parents. Bright-Kermit-green Christmas onesies. With matching slippers. They’ll certainly