Mills & Boon Christmas Delights Collection. Rebecca Winters

our first encounter.’

      ‘Not, perhaps, my finest moment.’

      ‘Don’t worry. You’ve improved a little.’

      ‘You haven’t. You still drive me nuts.’

      ‘Good. It means the plan is working.’

      ‘The plan?’

      ‘Yes. Basically, I annoy you so much that you do what I tell you to, just to get all this over and done with as soon as possible.’

      ‘I see. Just one thing.’

      ‘What’s that?’ I asked, pulling my scarf back down from my face so that I could speak.

      ‘You don’t annoy me so much these days.’

      ‘Huh. Guess I’ll have to try harder then.’

      He smiled and took the door from me as I opened it.

      ‘And think some more about getting a dog,’ I said, turning back to him from the top of the second step. ‘It’d be good for you.’

      ‘Kate?’

      ‘Yes?’

      ‘You’re annoying me now.’

      ‘Excellent. Goodnight Michael.’

      ‘Night Katie. And thank you for today.’

      ‘You’re welcome,’ I called, my voice getting lost in the wind whipping around the bare branches of the plane tree on the boundary of his property. I waved instead and made a shooing motion with my hand, indicating he should get back inside. He raised a hand and I did the same, before bending my head against the wind and battling down the road towards the Tube.

      ***

      During the process of organising a house, there are occasionally times when people are unsure about getting rid of an item because of the memories attached to it. I’d seen people chuck out everything, declaring that it was an entirely fresh start, but then a few months later, regretting that they no longer had those love letters or that photo or that piece of jewellery because, although there’d been pain in those memories, there had also been joy. What I liked to advise in such circumstances, was that I could take the items to store for a set amount of time, and then, having had that distance, and living ‘without’ those possessions for a while, the client could make a less emotional decision as to whether to keep or discard. Obviously, I only had a tiny office so storage space was limited but I did what I could, and explained this to every client during the process. And, in truth, it wasn’t something that happened very often. Deep down, most people knew what the right decision was.

      ‘But you said you could look after things that were sentimental, until I decided,’ my client said, confusion on her face.

      ‘Umm, yes. I did say that.’

      She looked at me. I looked at the bag.

      ‘It’s just that it’s usually items like photographs or an engagement ring. Items that spark memories…’

       Not items that spark Richter scale orgasms!

      ‘Oh, my dear. These do spark memories! Wonderful memories! There was one time I particularly remember when – ’

      ‘OK! No problem. Of course, I can take them,’ I said, interrupting.

      ‘Oh, you are a poppet, thank you! Gerald, God rest his soul, and I had such fun with these but, I have to say, Antonio is really quite resourceful, so I’m not sure I’m going to be needing them any more, but I’m not sure I can throw them away just yet. Do you know, the other night, he – ’

      ‘Oh, I’m sorry, that’s my phone. Do you mind?’

      Normally, during my time with clients, I just let my phone calls roll to voicemail but right now I needed an escape. Bernice had said she’d call after the meet with her new client and let me know how it had gone. Glancing at the clock, she was right on time, in more ways than one. I grabbed the phone out of my bag and answered it, stepping into the hallway as I did so.

      ‘Perfect timing! I could kiss you!’

      There was a moment of silence.

      ‘Well, don’t let me stop you.’

       Oh! Bugger.

      I pulled the phone away from my ear and checked the screen, something I clearly should have done before answering it. Michael O’Farrell.

      ‘Sorry, I thought you were Bernice.’

      ‘Oh really?’ I could hear he was smiling.

      ‘Not like that. It’s just ... never mind. How can I help you?’

      ‘I just wondered if you had any spare time today?’

      ‘Is everything all right?’

      ‘Oh. Yeah. Fine, fine. I just wanted a bit of…umm…advice.’

      ‘Michael?’

      ‘Hmm?’

      ‘What have you done?’

      His laugh made me smile.

      ‘It’s worrying that you know me as well as you do.’

      Who was I to tell him that most of the time I had no idea what was going on behind those hypnotic eyes? But if he was under the impression he couldn’t get anything past me, then I wasn’t about to shatter any illusions.

      ‘So?’

      ‘I thought I’d make a start on the kitchen.’

      ‘And?’

      ‘And I have no idea what I’m doing. You have to help me! I don’t even know what half of this stuff is for, let alone whether I need it. And now the place is in even more of a state than it started in.’

      ‘I find that hard to believe.’

      ‘So cruel.’

      I laughed. ‘Look, I’m just finishing up with a client. I was going to catch up on some stuff in the office this afternoon but I can come round to you for a couple of hours if it’s an emergency.’

      There was a pause. ‘Let’s say I don’t think it’s good.’

      ‘Right. Just step away from whatever it is you’ve done so far and we’ll tackle it together. Give me an hour. Is that OK?’

      ‘Perfect. Thanks Katie.’

      ‘You’re welcome. I’ll see you in a bit.’

      ‘Bye.’

      I hung up and returned to my client.

      ‘Sorry about that Mrs B.’

      ‘Not to worry, dear. So you don’t mind looking after these for me for a little while then?’

      My gaze fell on the bag again. The old adage about always making sure you had clean underwear on just in case you got knocked down by a bus suddenly sprang into my head. My logical mind had always had a problem with that scenario as I was sure seeing a double decker hurtling towards you probably didn’t do a lot for the state of your underwear anyway, whether it had started out clean or not. But right now, I was pondering on a similar scenario. What if I got knocked down by a bus and this lot tumbled out of my bag? I’d be praying for the driver to back over me and end the mortification.

      ‘Dear?’

      ‘Sorry? Oh yes, yes, of course. No problem whatsoever. I can keep it until the New Year and then you can make a decision and let me know.’

      ‘Perfect. Thank you so much.’

      I took the bag and stuffed it in my oversized shoulder bag.

      ‘I’m so happy with what you’ve helped me achieve here Kate. I can’t thank you enough.’

      ‘You’re