An Aussie Christmas Angel by Clare Revell

had to know. His reaction was confusing to say the least. “Did I do the wrong thing?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I just flew twelve thousand miles on a whim to see you, and you just stood there like a statue.” She sucked in a deep breath, trying to ease the rising panic within her. “I just thought that as we’re going out, we should maybe go out rather than just talk and e-mail. Plus I wanted to see you, but if I was wrong and you don’t want me, then—”
    She broke off. History was repeating itself. He’d arrived in Sydney to be unwanted and have nowhere to stay. Now it was her turn. And even closer to Christmas and she’d never find a hotel…never mind a stable.
    John hugged her. “I just didn’t expect it, that’s all. I’ve been really worried because you weren’t answering your phone. You turning up here wasn’t something I thought of. But I’m really, really glad that you did. ‘Going to see a friend indeed’. Sneaky woman. How did you manage a seat on the same flight? I assume you hadn’t booked it when she did?”
    She leaned into him, relishing the feel of his arms around her. “No. I booked it a week ago. It was the last seat on the plane. I assume it was a God-thing and He’d find me a stable when I got here. Although your mum did say I could stay with you when I rang and asked.”
    His face dropped a mile. “Mum knows?”
    She grinned. “Yep, I said that just now, but didn’t think you were listening properly.”
    “Sorry, no. It’s almost too much to take in. How long are you here? Not that I want you to leave. I mean you only just got here.”
    “Until January the third. I managed to get a seat on the same flight back as Pip. See, it must be a God-thing. Are you really OK with this?”
    “Yes.” He smiled at her. “I’m more than OK with it. In fact, to use an Aussie term, this Christmas is going to be awesome.”
    Pip rejoined them. “So, are we going straight to the match? Or leaving the cases at your parents place first?”
    John nodded. “Yes, straight to the stadium…Oh, no, Jo…The match is sold out. Umm…”
    Jo grinned at the look of dismay on his face as he realized he didn’t have enough tickets for all of them. “Apparently your brother-in-law said he wanted to go, too?”
    “Yeah, we’re meeting him there. I got him a ticket when I got mine and Pip’s.”
    “Uh, no, actually. His ticket is really for me.” Jo grinned at the look of amazement and shock that crossed John’s face.
    “Seriously? Am I the only person who didn’t know you were coming to visit?” He shook his head at her. “Wait ‘til I see him. Is there anything else I should know?”
    Jo pretended to think for a minute, and then shook her head. “Nope.”
    Pip grinned. “We didn’t warn you about her sneaky streak, did we? Maybe we should have done.”
    John picked up Jo’s case. “I think I can learn to love her sneaky streak. I have one of my own to rival it.”
     
    ****
     
    Jo shoved her hands into her pockets. It was freezing. Well, not by John’s standards where the temperatures were still above freezing, albeit only just, but to come from the height of summer to this? It was more than a body could stand.
    John cheered as someone from what she assumed was his team, kicked the ball into the net. The opposing supporters didn’t like this and shouting broke out in one of the stands, with bottles being thrown onto the ground.
    Terror gripped her, and she leaned closer to John. He wrapped an arm around her tightly. “It’s all right. It happens a lot. The police will contain it.”
    Pip, on the other hand was in her element. She was yelling at the teams and taking photos of the fighting fans.
    Sure enough it died down and Jo concentrated on the rest of the game. She wasn’t sure she liked soccer enough to want to go to another game, but she sure liked being in John’s arms. The final whistle blew and a volley of abuse and bottles came from the opposing