A Villain for Christmas (The Holyoake Christmas Series, Book 2)

A Needle Drop Moment

She would've slammed into Dair's large form, had he not evaded her with the grace of a leopard, while balancing a tray of coffee cups on the tips of his fingers, like a waiter in a film. At least that was how Billie had always imagined a leopard to move, fluidly and with force, which was mostly inspired by the nickname Rosemary Barton gave to the delicious Anthony Browne. Were Billie less distressed, she'd be able to perceive the irony of comparing Dair to the dark and mysterious man also known as Tony Morelli.

"Please apologise to your grandmother for my outburst," Billie whined. "I need to wash my fa–"

The rest of her explanation drowned in a series of little half-sobs, half-hiccups; and she rushed towards the bathroom.

"Rhys, t-take the c-caffè!" Dair roared.

Billie didn't know if the other Holyoake did indeed save the flock of minuscule cups, because she sprinted down the hall, closed the door behind her, and jerked the tap open. Water rushed into the sink, splashing onto her jumper. Billie pressed her back into a wall, breathing heavily.

Stupid, stupid, stupid Sybil Harewicke.

She lifted her head and stared at her reflection. Her eyes were red and puffy, adding to her overall frumpy disposition; and her face was predictably blotched.

It was all Dair's fault, she thought, falling back onto her usual self-pity. He was dragging after him, making her perform this ridiculous pantomime of being his girlfriend, or something or other. She was an innocent victim here!

Except, it wasn't; and he didn't; and she wasn't.

"Oh bother," Billie exhaled.

A knock came to the door.

"C-cara, are you alright?" Dair asked behind the door, his voice ringing with concern. "Stai b-bene? D-do you want– Do-do you want me to c-call someone else?"

As much as Billie despised onomatopoeia, the lowest of literary effects; there was no better way to describe the sound she made next other than than a 'blagh.' The man was so irritatingly considerate and attentive!

"Just a minute!"

Billie quickly rinsed her face with cold water and blotted it with a towel. Everything inside her protested it, but she braced herself and slowly opened the door.

"What h-happened, Billie?" he asked, stepping to her, his scorching hand immediately wrapping around her fingers.

She didn't even question it at this stage.

"Nothing! Honestly, it's OK," she muttered, avoiding meeting his eyes. "That was such a daft– Like some sort of tantrum. I should go and apologise to everyone."

"It's alright," he murmured and stroked her cheek with the thumb of his left. "T-take your time. And I'm s-sorry for p-putting you in this position. I honestly just wanted to–"

He paused, interrupted by quiet rustling in the corridor outside the bathroom; and then a little face popped around the door frame.

"Hi," a ginger girl said shyly.

Billie couldn't tell the twins apart, so that would be either Lynette or Olivia Holyoake, Clem's daughter.

"Hi," Billie answered and sniffled.

Upon a few seconds of consideration, the girl edged into the bathroom - and gave Dair's leg a full-on punch.

"Apologise this instant!" the girl ordered the man, her arms straight and tense along her body, little fists clenched.