The Twelve Dates of Christmas

by Jenny Bayliss

Kate was not the kind of woman who needed a man. But equally, she thought she might quite like one.

The man in the armchair looked up from his newspaper hopefully and raised his hand to volunteer. His wife poked him sharply and he went back to considering the lifestyle column.

‘A man is like an optional extra: you should only take one on when it is beneficial to do so. It’s like refraining from the fourth plate at the all-you-can-eat oriental buffet,’ Kate continued. ‘Just because it’s there, doesn’t mean you have to have it.’

‘And I appreciate it,’ said Anthony. ‘You’re right. I don’t want more kids. Period. I won’t deny I’m gutted, though. I think things could have been really simple with us.’ ‘I think so too,’ said Kate.

‘You can’t have caffeine, you’re still breastfeeding,’ said Kate. ‘I like to have decaf and pretend,’ said Laura. ‘For the love of God, help me, Kate.’

‘Sorry I wasn’t your dream man!’ he called. ‘Sorry I don’t have a penis!’ Kate called back.

‘Less competition for me,’ he grinned. ‘Who says you’re still in the race?’ asked Kate. ‘After a false start, I’d like to put myself back in the running,’ he said. ‘If that’s all right with you?’

‘He brings out your sparkle.’ ‘That’s not sparkle,’ said Kate. ‘It’s rage glitter!’

But he didn’t make you sparkle either.’ ‘I’m not looking for sparkle, Dad,’ said Kate. ‘I am on a grown-up-woman mission to find a suitable, sensible partner who has no improper pride and is perfectly amiable!’ ‘Have you been watching Pride and Prejudice again?’ asked Mac. ‘Maybe,’ said Kate.

‘There’s nothing wrong with staying in, if it makes you happy,’ her dad had said. ‘But you’re hiding. And that’s not the same thing at all.’ He was right. She had been hiding. Because it was easier to hide away and never meet anybody than to potentially meet someone only to have a relationship fail again.

I mean, it’s like there’s someone from before and their memory is preventing him being fully invested with me; like he’s dipping his toe in but can’t go any further.’

Crikey! Kate thought to herself. I’ve kissed two men in the same twenty-four hours. Does that make me a floozy?

I’d have passed out from all the romance. I don’t have romance anymore. Ben’s idea of romance is not letting one go during sex.’

‘Dates are not relationships. Dates are the prelude to a relationship. You go on the dates first to see if it’s worth pursuing as a relationship.’

She leaned into him. She liked it. Just for a moment she let herself imagine: This is what it would be like to be loved by Matt. Another voice in her head whispered a warning: Stop it, Kate, this path isn’t for you.

her body language might divulge a secret she’d fought to keep even from herself.

her heart was so full – so full for him.

Kate could no longer deny that she loved him. As impossible and implausible as that love might be, it was love and there was nothing to be done about it.

Unrequited love.

because that’s what people in love do: they protect the hearts of those they love, even if that love will never be returned.

Kate was quiet. She’d never had such a candid conversation with her mother. Was it possible there was more depth to her than Kate had given her credit for?

At that moment there was a shout: ‘There’s a partridge in the Pear Tree!’

A striking snow Mr Tumnus stood beneath one of the lamp posts which lit the many paths and wooded walks.

‘Why did you have to be gay?’ said Kate. ‘Why did you have to be a woman?’ he replied.

was angry,’ said Matt. ‘I took it out on you because I was angry that I was still in love with you. Am in love with you. Have always been in love with you.’

don’t want to waste any more time, Kate,’ said Matt. ‘We’ve wasted enough already. I love you. And you bloody well love me too, I know you do. So, stop being such a stubborn arse and—’ Kate leaned over and kissed the words right out of his mouth.

Life’s too short to not tell the people who matter that you love them.

‘You have to see that everything that’s gone before has shaped who we are now. And now is what counts. Now is the perfect time to begin being us