Chapter 23

“What time will she get here?” asked Adam sister. It was nine-thirty on Christmas Eve morning and the fifth time she’d asked the question.

Adam sighed. “You already know, Laura, because I’ve told you six times a day for the last week. So either you haven’t been listening to me, in which case there’s no point me telling you, or you’re too thick to remember, in which case there’s still no point in my telling you. In other words, I’m not telling you.”

“I know what time she’s supposed to get here. But I just thought she might have left early, or the traffic might be bad. I mean, she’d call you, wouldn’t she, if she knew she was going to be late or early.”

Adam shook his head. “Shut up, squirt. Go and annoy someone else.”

“Stop calling me squirt! I’m taller than you these days.” She stomped out of the room in a huff and stood at the top of the stairs. “Mom! Tell him to stop calling me squirt!”

Adam yelled down the stairs himself. “Tell her I’ll stop when she stops bugging me about Chloë.”

Mrs Smith climbed the stairs to deal with her warring offspring. “Adam, stop being mean to your sister, she’s just excited about meeting Chloë.” Laura stuck her tongue out at her brother but quickly closed her mouth when her mother turned to her. “And you leave Adam alone. He’s bound to be nervous enough without you making it worse. When Chloë gets here, make sure you give them some peace—she’s here to see Adam, after all. Not you and not the rest of us. Now, while you’re both waiting for our guest, you can tidy this mess up.” She gestured towards Adam’s room.

“It is tidy,” said Adam, defensively.

“Adam, your definition of tidy and mine are quite a bit different. I don’t want anything on the floor that shouldn’t be there. I want all your dirty clothes in the laundry basket in the bathroom. I want that desk to look like it’s a place of work and not a dumping ground. Come on, get on with it. Chloë’s a guest and, movie-star or not, I won’t have her sleeping in a pigsty.”

Laura dutifully helped Adam pick up the clothes, books and myriad of other stuff off his floor and to put his desk in some sort of order. Less than half an hour after they had finished, there was a knock at the front door.

“Adam,” his mom called up the stairs. “I think you should get that.”

Laura squealed and clapped her hands. “Oh, she’s here. She’s here!”

“Okay, okay,” said Adam. “I’ll go and let her in. You go and wait in the lounge and I’ll introduce her.”

Laura ran towards the stairs. Adam followed and as his sister went into the lounge he said to her, “And just be cool, okay. Don’t go all psycho on me.”

When he opened the front door, Chloë was standing up straight and holding a small bag in front of her. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a black jacket over a white T-shirt. “Oh, thank God. It’s you.” She relaxed and beamed at him. “I thought one of your parents might answer.” She sighed. “It’s so good to see you. I know it’s only been a few days, but I’ve missed you so much. Is that really pathetic? Is it, isn’t it? That’s pathetic.”

Adam stepped forwards and kissed her cheek. “I’ve missed you too.” The kiss became a hug. It felt so good to be holding her against him once more that he didn’t want to let her go.

“Well, invite the poor girl in and close the door,” Adam’s mom said as she carried a tray laden with tea, biscuits and cakes into the lounge. “It’s freezing out there, she’ll catch her death.”

He took Chloë’s bag and stood aside for her to enter. The bag was surprisingly light. “Is this all you’ve brought?” he asked as he closed the door.

Chloë smiled and shook her head. “I’ve got a suitcase in the car, but it’s too heavy for me. I was hoping you’d...”

“I’ll get it later. But first, let’s get the introductions over with, shall we? This way.” He left the bag in the hallway and led his girlfriend into the lounge where his family were waiting. “Everyone, this is Chloë. Chloë, this is Mom, Dad, My Grandma Bea, and my sister Laura.”