The Unexpected Holiday Gift by Sophie Pembroke Read Free Book Online Page B

forgotten how irritating that was.
    â€˜Maybe,’ he allowed. But Clara was already walking on, probably in search of an even more expensive gift for his sister. He didn’t begrudge spending the money but he was beginning to think this was some sort of game for Clara. She’d certainly never encouraged him to buy such luxurious gifts for her.
    The high-end shopping district Clara had directed the taxi to was filled with tiny boutiques, all stocking a minimum of products at maximum cost. Even the Christmas decorations strung between the shops on either side of the street, high above the heads of the passing shoppers, were discreet, refined and—Jacob was willing to bet—costly.
    â€˜Is this where you usually shop for your clients?’ he asked, lengthening his stride to catch up with her as she swung into another shop.
    Clara shrugged. ‘Sometimes. It depends on the client.’
    Which told him nothing. Jacob wasn’t entirely sure why he was so interested in the day-to-day details of her job, but he suspected it had something to do with never realising she wanted one. He’d thought he’d known Clara better than anyone in the world, and that she’d known him just as well. It had been a jolt to discover there were some parts of her he’d never known at all. What if this entrepreneurial side of her was just the start?
    Of course, for all that he’d shared with Clara, there were some things he’d kept back too. He couldn’t entirely blame her for that.
    â€˜This would be just right for your father.’ Jacob turned to find her holding up a beautifully wrought dark leather briefcase, with silver detailing and exquisite stitching. She was right; his father would love it. Except...
    â€˜He won’t be coming in to the office much longer.’ It still caught him by surprise, almost daily. In some ways, he suspected he was in denial as much as Heather; he wanted to believe that if he could just make Christmas perfect then the rest would fall into place.
    But he couldn’t save his father’s life. Even if a part of him felt he should be able to, if he just worked long enough, tried hard enough. If he was good enough.
    Jacob knew he’d never been good enough, had known it long before his father fell sick.
    Clara dropped the briefcase back onto the shelf. ‘You’re right. Come on.’
    Even Jacob had to agree the next shop was spot on.
    â€˜You want something your dad can enjoy.’ Clara opened her arms and gestured to the bottles of vintage wine lining the shelves. ‘From what I remember, this should suit him.’
    Jacob smiled, turning slowly to take in the selection. ‘Yes, I think this will do nicely.’
    One in-depth conversation with the proprietor later, and Jacob felt sure that he had the perfect gift for at least one member of his family, ready to be delivered directly to Clara’s offices in time to be shipped up to Scotland.
    â€˜How are they all?’ Clara asked as she led him into a tiny arcade off the main street. The shops inside looked even more sparse and expensive. ‘Your family, I mean. The news about your dad... It must have been terrible for you all. I can’t imagine.’
    â€˜It was,’ Jacob said simply. ‘It still is. Mum... She takes everything in her stride—you know her. But Heather’s still hoping for a miracle, I think.’
    Clara looked sideways at him. ‘And you’re not?’
    â€˜Perhaps,’ he admitted. ‘It’s just too hard to imagine a world without him.’
    Watching as she paused by a display of necklaces, Jacob remembered the first time he’d brought Clara home to meet his family—just days after their elopement. He remembered his mother’s shock and forced cheer as she realised she’d been done out of the big wedding she’d always imagined for him.
    But, more than anything, he remembered his father’s reaction.