Chapter one.

The cold winter wind blew through Eve’s hair, as her mother, Holly, smiled affectionally at the small girl. She was so beautiful in every way, Holly thought. She would always think that. Holly chose the name Eve for her daughter because she had always believed the eve of every holiday was the most exciting day. Holly went to bed full of joy on Christmas Eve, ready to open her presents. The night before easter she would waste her time until she fell asleep thinking of all the possible little nooks and crannies the easter bunny would hide delicious eggs for her to find in the morning. Holly was no longer a little girl, but her love for the holidays never faded, and the only thing she looked forward to more than those special times was her daughter. Her daughter was her new ‘eve’ and so she had named her as such.

“Mommy.” Eve’s small voice was almost lost amongst the cars and the busy sidewalk as she called to her mother.

“What is it, baby?” Holly looked down at her young daughter.

“That man is staring at us.” Holly followed her daughter’s finger with her eyes until they landed on the man standing across the street. Eve was right, he was staring right at them. Most people would look away once they had been caught staring, but this man continued to watch her and her daughter unashamedly.

At first, Holly didn’t recognise the handsome man across the street. It had been almost six years since she saw him last after all. He was taller now, and he had lost his boyish charm. In his place stood a grown man. He was as handsome as ever. His arms flexed under his tight black T-shirt. His brown hair was short and naturally messy as it had always been, but somehow the mess always looked purposeful, like it was styled that way. Only Holly knew that it wasn’t. Holly could not fathom how cold he must be right now, why wasn’t he wearing a jacket?

Eve may only be five, but she was exceptionally intuitive for her age.

“Do you know him, Mummy?” Eve asked after she had noticed the way her mother was looking at the man. She looked worried, like the man frightened her in some way. Eve didn’t like that. Eve would never like anyone who would upset her mother, her mother was so kind, He must be some one bad.

Holly stood there feeling frozen, she did not know what she should tell her daughter. The truth was out of the question of course, she was much too little, she would never understand. But she had promised Eve long ago, that she would never lie to her.

“I did once when I was a little girl.” Holly finally answered, proud she had been able to keep her voice as calm as she had. It was the truth after all, even if it wasn’t all of it.

Holly took Eve’s little hand in hers and ignored the gut-wrenching feeling spreading through her entire body. She could only hope that if she ignored him, he would leave her alone. She was not going to be in town for long after all.

“Holly, is that you?” A women gasped loudly. Holly would know that voice anywhere. She had been telling herself for years now, that she didn’t miss the women it belonged to, but she had never truly believed it. They had been best friends their whole lives. Cutting her off the way she did was the second hardest thing Holly had ever done. The first was giving birth to Eve alone.

Holly turned to her old friend and did her best to act natural. Hopefully she wouldn’t pay attention to the little girl with her. Holly was certain that her old friend would figure out her secret, just by looking at her daughter. It was the reason Holly had left her old life behind, she knew she would not be able to hide it.

“Maggie, hey, I can’t believe it’s you.” Holly forced herself to smile through her fear. If Eve had not been with her, the smile would have been sincere. Holly had to fight back tears seeing her old friend again. Panic, guilt, fear and shame riddled Holly, she should have never returned to town, she knew it would be a bad idea, and she was right. But her mother was terribly sick, her chances of still being here next Christmas were slim.

Her mother had respected Holly’s wishes all these years and had never once pressured her to return home. She knew of course why her daughter ran away, and although she thought there was a better way to handle things, it was Holly’s decision, so instead every year she travelled to Holly and Eve for Christmas. But now she was too sick to travel, her dying wish was to spend one last Christmas with her daughter and granddaughter. Holly had not been able to deny her mother that. So here she was.

“I spoke to your mother just last week; she never said you were coming to town.” Maggie said unable to hide her disappointment as she pulled Holly in for a hug. The gesture surprised Holly immensely. Maggie should be so angry with her; she should be cursing her where they stood. Holly couldn’t believe she would act as if nothing had happened.

Holly did not know what to say to Maggie. She knew of course that Maggie still spoke with her mother.

Holly had made her mom swear when she left not to tell Maggie what had happened, or where she had gone, and her mother had kept that promise all these years, but she could not ask her to stop talking to the people she loved, and she didn’t want to hurt Maggie even more so she never asked her mom to stop talking to the family.

Before Holly could gather her thoughts, Maggie called to her older brother, who was still watching them from across the street.

“Link, Lincon.” Maggie shouted. Eve noticed that the strange lady who seemed to know her mother was calling to the man who had been watching them. Scared, Eve tugged on her mother’s hand.

“Mommy.” Eve called. Maggie now noticing the little girl did a double take. Holly gripped her daughter’s hand a little tighter in fear. Would she figure it out?

“Mommy, can we find grandma now?” Eve asked. Eve knew her grandma was at home, probably resting in front of the fireplace where they had left her before coming down to the Christmas markets.

“Holly.” Maggie gasped looking down at the gorgeous little girl. Eve had brown hair, the same shade as her father’s, but had her mother’s stunning curls. Ironically, Holly’s curls were about the only thing she passed down to her daughter.

“Is she—” But before Maggie could ask, is she Lincoln’s, her brother coughed alerting the women to his presence.

“Hi, Holly.” He smiled awkwardly. Maggie closed her mouth and looked between the two of them feeling completely stunned. Maggie had known that Holly had pined over her brother for years, she talked about him constantly when they were kids. Maggie knew that Lincoln had even liked her back, and had hoped that they would one day get together, but Lincoln was the captain of the football team, and although he had liked Holly, he liked the attention from many girls just a little more.

Maggie had scolded her brother many times, he knew as well as her that it hurt Holly’s feelings to see a different girl on his arm every other week. But Lincoln always brushed her off. Did something really happen between them? Why hadn’t Holly said anything? Or Lincoln. Is that why Holly left? Did she know she was pregnant when she did? Did Lincoln? Why did she hide it? All these thoughts swirled in Maggie’s mind; she did not know what to make of them.

“Hello, Lincoln.” Holly said. “I am sorry but Eve wants to go home to her grandmother, we really must be going, but it was nice seeing you again.” Holly turned her back on her past once more and did her best to breathe again. She had to get out of there, before she panicked. She did not like the way maggie was looking at her daughter. If she could figure it out, then surely Lincoln would too.

“We will give you a ride.” Lincoln offered politely before she made it even two steps. Holly stopped in her tracks; how did she say no without making it a big deal? She did not want to frighten Eve, or offend her old friends.

“It’s really okay, we will just call a taxi.” Holly politely declined his offer. Holly had not brought her car with her as she had flown in. Most things were walking distance from her mother’s house or she could borrow her mother’s car in a pinch so renting one hadn’t been necessary. The only reason she had left her mother’s car behind tonight, was it had a flat, she would call someone to come and change it in the morning. Holly would have done it herself, but her mother had already used the flat and had not had the money to replace it.

It had made Holly sad to learn this, she would have given her mother money if she had known that she needed it. But her mother was a proud woman who had stubbornly refused to ask for help.

It made Holly feel extremely guilty for running away after seeing her mother’s condition, but she didn’t know if she could move back here permanently and risk seeing Lincoln all time. She has barely been in town a day and she was already worried.

Her mother had informed her that Lincoln was engaged to be married. Holly did not think she could bear the heartache of seeing him with another women. How could she stand by and watch the man she loved, love another every day. How could she hide Eve from them? How would his soon to be wife, react to their daughter? What if she was a cruel woman who despised them? What if eve liked her do much she was pushed aside and forgotten?

“Nonsense. Maggie would chew me up and spit me out if I let you lay for a taxi.” Lincoln smiled. He did not really care about what Maggie would think of him. He just wanted to be near Holly again, even if it was wrong, Maggie was simply an excuse.

“Is your husband here? Will he be joining us?” Lincoln asked hopeful that she had come alone, he did not want to meet Holly’s husband. He spent years loathing the man’s very existence, but he knew if he refused to offer the man a lift, then Holly would not accept his offer.

Maggie stared at her brother like he was an idiot, Holly had yet to confirm, but she was sure the darling little girl holding her best friends’ hand was his daughter. How could he be so ignorant? Who would meet their own daughter and not recognise them. She looked exactly like him for crying out loud.

“I am not married.” Holly shook her head. Holly had not been with a man since Lincoln. She had loved him her whole life and no matter how hard she tried, and she had tried, she could never get over him.

The only thing Holly feared more than seeing Lincoln again, was never seeing him again, oh how her predicament had tortured her very soul. One day, Eve would likely ask to meet her father, how could Holly face him and explain that she had let another man raise their daughter? He would rightfully be so angry with her.

Besides she worked so hard, that when she come home, the only person she was worried about was Eve, she did not need a man distracting her from her responsibilities.

Lincoln was pleasantly surprised by the news. He remembered vividly the day Holly had come to him to tell her she was pregnant. He was crushed, he had no right, but he always hoped she would wait for him. Holly was the kind of girl you settled down with, you didn’t date her, you married her, but he had not been ready for such a commitment at a young age. Knowing what type of girl Holly was, he was sure she must have loved the boy she gave herself to. And when she left, he could only assume it had been to follow him, after all they were expecting a baby together.

Maggie hoped that if he spent more time around the strange beautiful young girl, he would come to the realisation that he was a father on his own. Taking the situation into her own hands, she begged her old friend.

“Please, Holz.” Maggie went as far as to invoke her friend’s old nickname. “I would love to get to know your little girl. She looks so sweet, and I know your mom has been sick, I was planning on checking on her soon anyway. I am sure she would be happy to have a visitor.” Maggie was not above begging.

Eve didn’t understand that the lady was in fact her aunt. But she did know that for reasons unbeknownst to her, she liked the woman very much. Besides her mother needed a friend, she was lonely.

“Please, Mommy.” Eve asked surprising her mother.

Holly looked down at her daughter’s pleading eyes, they were so much like her father’s, as blue and as deep as the ocean. How could she say no to her?

Reluctantly, Holly agreed. “Thank you, Lincoln,” she gave a half smile. She felt sick. Thank goodness her mother only lived a short distance from the markets.

Lincoln was so happy he had to fight the urge to punch his fist in the air and cry out in victory.