A Beautiful Broken Christmas

By Sara Barnard

Six months after leaving home to live with her aunt, Suzanne is forced to spend Christmas with her family in the town she left behind. Even though all she wants is to be back in Brighton with her friends, where happiness is, she can get through one day, right?

A companion short story to Beautiful Broken Things.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sara Barnard
• Release date: Dec 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463325636

Sara Barnard

Sara Barnard is the author of Fragile Like Us; A Quiet Kind of Thunder; Goodbye, Perfect; and Destination Anywhere. She lives in Brighton, England, with her husband and their grumpy cat. She studied American literature with creative writing at university and never stopped reading YA. She has lived in Canada, interrailed through Europe, and once spent the night in an ice hotel. She thinks sad books are good for the soul and happy books lift the heart. She hopes to write lots of books that do both. 

Book preview

On the day before Christmas, my brother calls me up. It's 9am and I'm in my pyjamas in front of the mirror.

Just so you know, he says, Dad lost a big client at work.

I look at my reflection. My hair is half done, sleek and calm on one side of my head. On the other, it is tangled and wild.

Right... I say. And I guess he's not taken it that well?

He's OK about it, Brian says carefully. But I just wanted to let you know. He might be a bit off.

How unusual, I say.

I'm looking forward to seeing you, he says. Who cares about Dad, right? I'll be there.

My reflection has broken into a smile. Right.

I'll see you tomorrow, Zannie. Have a good trip up, OK?

When he hangs up, I put my phone on the cushion by the mirror and go to find my aunt. She's already dressed and sitting at the kitchen table, drinking coffee. Morning, she says when she sees me. Tea?

I shake my head. Brian just called. He says Dad lost a client.

I know, Sarah says evenly. I spoke to your mother last night.

I wait, but she doesn't say anything else. Do I still have to go?

Suzie, Sarah says through a sigh. It's the kind of patient voice that means she isn't patient at all. We've been through this so many times.

You can go, I say. I'll stay here.

You're not spending Christmas by yourself, Sarah says, rolling her eyes.

I could go to Caddy's house, I suggest. I keep my voice jokey, even though I'm completely serious. I would love to spend Christmas at Caddy's house. It would be like a dream.

Go and get ready, Sarah takes a long glug from her cup. Please.

I could ask her, I persist.

"Drop it, Trouble.