Home for Christmas

By Kate Davies

She left everything familiar behind - but love found her anyway.

Sophia is determined to spend Christmas on her own terms this year. Her daughter will be spending the holidays with her boyfriend's family, and Sophia has no intention of staying home alone with her memories. She knows Ethan would be more than happy to keep her company. But he's her business partner-and her late husband's best friend. It's past time to stop leaning on him and learn to stand on her own two feet. A cruise to the Caribbean might be just the ticket to discovering who she is now, and what she really wants.

Ethan is stunned to discover that Sophia has decided to go on a cruise for Christmas - alone. He'd thought something more was finally developing between the two of them. If she's ready to move on after the loss of her husband, he'll be damned if he lets her move on without him!

On the spur of the moment, Ethan books a stateroom, determined to prove to Sophia that what they have goes far beyond friendship. The romantic atmosphere of the cruise sparks a passion the two had only dreamed of before - but can their fledgling relationship survive beyond the vacation of a lifetime?

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language (but don't tell my mom).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kate Davies
• Release date: Nov 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005292492

Kate Davies

Kate Davies is a novelist, screenwriter and author of children’s books. Her first novel, In at the Deep End, won the Polari Book Prize and was shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize. She lives in East London with her wife and son.

Book preview

Home for Christmas

Kate Davies

Dedication

For Patricia Helen. Thanks for being my second mom, my mom’s best friend, and an all-around wonderful person. Though you probably won’t recognize it now that I’ve gotten through with it, this story was sparked by your idea, and I’m forever grateful.

Chapter One

Surprise! Samantha kissed her mom on the cheek as she bounced into the house, arms loaded with packages. Bet you didn’t expect to see me today!

You’d be right, Sophia said, a smile tugging at her mouth despite herself. What are you doing here?

Presents, of course.

Sophia quirked one brow. Giving or getting?

Sam stuck her tongue out. Both.

Well, at least you’re honest, Sophia said, a hint of laughter in her voice. Aren’t you and Robert supposed to be on your way to his parents’ house by now?

We’re heading out after this. His parents aren’t expecting us until dinner. He sends his love, by the way. Samantha smiled, her cold-chapped face glowing even brighter. He’s busy getting the car packed.

So you two are all ready to hit the road, huh? Sophia gave Samantha her best concerned-Mom look. Make sure you drive carefully, and if the weather turns bad don’t hesitate to stop.

Samantha rolled her eyes. Mom, we’re both safe drivers. We’ll be there by dark. Besides, the big snowstorm isn’t supposed to hit until tomorrow.

I’m your mother. It’s my job to worry.

Yeah, I know.

Sophia put her arms out for the presents. Here, let me take those.

Nah. Sam sidestepped her and headed straight for the living room. I’ll just stick them under the…

Sophia froze, waiting for her reaction.

She wasn’t disappointed.

Samantha stomped back into the hall, eyes wide. Where’s the tree?

I, uh…

Mom, it’s three days until Christmas! You always have the tree up way before this!

Sophia’s voice was low. Not this year.

Why didn’t Ethan help you?

I didn’t ask.

I don’t believe this. Sam looked around, noticing her surroundings for the first time. You don’t have any decorations up either.

Not this year, Sophia repeated.

Samantha looked down at the wrapped gifts she was still carrying. Well, I have to put these somewhere, she muttered.

Kitchen, Sophia ordered, finally taking control of the situation. Or at least as close to control as she could get.

Samantha followed her to the back of the house, the little gasps and exclamations as she passed each undecorated area grating on Sophia’s already jangled nerves.

Once inside the kitchen, Samantha dropped her packages on the table and sat down. The shock had worn away, leaving her with a bewildered expression that tugged at Sophia’s mommy-guilt.

Sophia debated sitting across from her, but long experience told her that she’d be better off keeping busy for this discussion. She headed for the stove, turned on the burner under the teakettle and pulled two mugs out of the cabinet.

Samantha wrinkled her nose. Not even the Christmas mugs?

Biting back a sigh, Sophia rummaged through the cabinets for the tea canister. Her back still to Samantha, she asked, Lemon or peppermint?

The chair scraped along the linoleum as Samantha stood. She walked over to the counter, forcing Sophia to meet her gaze. Mom, what’s going on?

Sophia shook her head. I just—couldn’t. Not this year.

But why? Sam’s brow furrowed. I’d understand if we were talking about last year, but…

Sophia closed her eyes for a moment. How could she find the words to explain? She almost didn’t understand it herself. Last year was… She stopped. We were all in a sort of fog, weren’t we? The first Christmas without your father.

They’d all tried, Sophia and Samantha and even Ethan, to keep the traditions alive. They’d decorated and baked cookies and had the traditional Christmas Eve dinner.

And Sophia had hated every minute of it.

The thought of going through that again… I just couldn’t.

Oh, Mom. Samantha reached out and wrapped her arms around her mother. I know it’s hard. I miss him so much, too. But it’s been almost two years.

Sophia closed her eyes and swallowed. Even after two years, she couldn’t believe Dan was gone. He’d been her partner, her lover, her best friend since they were in high school. Now she was a widow in her mid-forties, with a grown daughter and an empty house.

But don’t you think you’ll feel better if you, I don’t know, decorate and stuff?

Sophia