The Perfect Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page B

headed out to the car where Zoe was waiting.
    ‘Thank god for this coat,’ Maggie said as she pulled the soft cashmere around her and did up her seat belt. ‘It’s freezing out there.’
    ‘So I spoke to Holly, she’s working tomorrow night. It’s the start of her night shift,’ Zoe said.
    ‘And Jack finishes at eleven,’ added Maggie. ‘Oh it’s all so exciting.’
    She opened the envelope and pulled out the tickets to the carols, with a note from Holly.
    ‘The best seats in the house, or cathedral, as it were,’ Maggie read aloud.
    They laughed until the sound of a ringing phone interrupted them.
    ‘Is that your phone?’ Maggie yelled.
    ‘No,’ said Zoe, looking panicked.
    ‘It is so,’ said Maggie and she put out her hand. ‘Hand it over.’
    ‘What? No!’ said Zoe, clutching her handbag to her chest.
    ‘Hand it over now, woman,’ said Maggie and Zoe reluctantly opened her handbag.
    Maggie put her gloved hand inside, pulled it out and turned it off. Then she placed it in her own handbag.
    ‘You get this back when we return to LA,’ she said.
    ‘Are you serious?’ asked Zoe.
    ‘Deadly,’ said Maggie.
    Zoe rolled her eyes but Maggie ignored her as they were driven through the beautiful Christmas lights of London.
    ***
    The next morning, Zoe and Maggie went to more stores, buying more gifts for themselves and each other. They lunched in Soho, and hit up Topshop and Zara. Maggie was barely recognisable in her woolen hat ‒ that or the shoppers were too frantic in their bid to find the perfect last-minute gift to notice.
    Either way, it was a great day. Not once did Maggie start to feel depressed about Will, instead she bought presents: books on Alfred Hitchcock for Elliot and a set of tiny silver dessert spoons for Zoe.
    ‘Are you nearly done?’ asked Zoe as they wandered around Liberty.
    ‘One more thing,’ said Maggie as she picked up a beautiful pad of handmade paper and matching envelopes.
    ‘They have a calligraphy service here for Christmas cards, I want to get something done,’ said Maggie mysteriously.
    Zoe followed her to the table, where a woman was writing with a set of pens that looked like something from times gone by.
    ‘Excuse me, I know you’re busy but could you possibly fit in a little letter, it’s a Christmas surprise for two people who need to be together but circumstance has divided them and their love.’
    Maggie felt Zoe nudge her, but she ignored the jab in the ribs.
    ‘How can I say no to a request like that? And at Christmas?’ the woman asked with happy smile. She pushed a notepad and pen in front of Maggie, ‘Write down what you want to say and I will do it right away.’
    Maggie picked up the pen and looked at Zoe. ‘Meet me at St Paul’s Cathedral at midnight,’ she said and pulled the tickets from her bag. ‘Pew three, left aisle, last two seats on the end. What else should I write?’
    Zoe thought for a moment, ‘Say something about how it’s a matter of life and death. Otherwise he might not come.’
    ‘Now who’s being dramatic?’ scoffed Maggie. ‘No, let’s write, “It’s a matter of love and bravery and I have had one for a long time but the other is just for Christmas Eve.’”
    ‘Perfect,’ said Zoe, ‘Who knew you were such a wordsmith?’
    Maggie shrugged, wrote it all down and pushed the pad back to the woman.
    ‘Give me fifteen minutes,’ said the woman.
    Zoe and Maggie wandered about the store again.
    ‘Do you think it will work?’ Zoe asked.
    ‘I hope so,’ said Maggie, as she tried on a purple top hat. She took it off and put it on Zoe’s head.
    ‘Sometimes you just have to put it all out there, top hat and all,’ she said as she tapped the top of the hat.
    ***
    Back at the hotel, Maggie and Zoe stole through the foyer, giggling as they saw Jack talking to a guest at the front desk.
    ‘God, we’re like kids,’ said Zoe, as they got into the elevator.
    ‘This is much more fun than when we were kids,’ said