Meet Me Under the Mistletoe (31 page)

‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!’ Bea called out. Milly groaned good-naturedly and shifted her position on the sofa so that her head was resting against her dad’s shoulder. ‘Every year, Zak. You can’t keep cheating like that, you know. It’s really obvious.’

Rachel got to her feet and picked up a box of chocolates from the sideboard. ‘Chocs?’ she said, passing them around. Eager hands reached out, and she passed the picture list to Bea, the most discerning chocolate eater among them. ‘Shall we let Granny choose first? After all, she’s not going to be able to eat many chocolates when she’s on safari.’

‘You know what, Rach,’ Aiden said, with an expression of faux puzzlement. ‘I think we might’ve forgotten one present. What do you reckon?’

‘I think you’re right,’ Rachel said. ‘Maybe something fell out of Santa’s sack on the way to the tree?’

Zak swung his head from left to right looking for a present that they might have missed.

‘There’s something in your stocking, Zak,’ Milly said, spotting a large red envelope poking out of the top of the emptied stocking which had been rehung on the mantelpiece.

Zak dashed over to retrieve it and bounced on to the sofa next to his sister. ‘It’s got both our names on it,’ he said. ‘Can I open it?’ Milly nodded, and he ripped open the red paper with gleeful abandon. Inside was a cut-out card of a marmalade-coloured cat. ‘What does it say?’ Milly nudged him. Zak opened the card. ‘Vou-cher,’ he read slowly. Milly took over, reading over his shoulder, ‘“This voucher entitles the holders –” that’s us, Zak – “to a …”’ Milly’s eyes lit up and her hand went to her mouth. Aiden turned to Rachel and gave her a wink as Milly finished reading, ‘“… to a kitten of their choice.”’

CHAPTER
36

Monday 25th December, Christmas Day

‘Merry Murray Christmas!’ Laurie called down the phone.

‘And to you too,’ Rachel said back. Laurie could hear Milly and Zak shouting hello in the background. It was a crisp day, and Laurie felt the chill even in her centrally heated flat. There was frost on her bay window and, she noticed as she peeked out, a glistening white coating on all the cars in the street.

‘So, how’s your day going up there?’ Laurie asked.

‘Good, thanks. Thank you so much, Laurie, for everything you did – all the cooking. We’re absolutely bowled over.’

‘No trouble at all. Least I could do.’ Laurie felt a rush of warmth at the memory of cooking in Rachel’s kitchen in Skipley. ‘Just hope it doesn’t poison you.’

‘I think we’re safe – and given how good it tasted it wouldn’t be such a bad way to go.’

‘So any good presents over there?’ Laurie asked, imagining a room full of shiny, ripped wrapping paper.

‘Well yes, actually. Milly and Zak have got a cat – or the promise of one, I mean. Mr Ripley was a bit of a hit when we were staying at your place. Oh – and Aiden’s surprised me with a trip to Venice.’

‘How exciting,’ Laurie said, ‘and after the last month you guys really deserve a break.’

‘I can’t wait. And get this – Bea’s just announced she’s off to Africa.’

‘Are you serious?’ Laurie said, walking over to the kitchen.

‘Yes. It’s been non-stop this morning. Anyway, how are you? I thought you’d be down at Lily’s by now. Are you going over there later?’

Laurie flicked on the kettle and got out a mug to make herself coffee. ‘I don’t know …’ she said. ‘Maybe.’

‘Maybe?’ Rachel said. ‘I thought it was the event of the year?’

‘It is …’ Laurie bit her lip. She could hear music coming up through Jay’s living room floor. She pictured him and his girlfriend exchanging gifts and having a festive love-in before going down together to Lily’s flat. It’s just …’

‘You should go,’ Rachel said. ‘Lily will want you to be there. You’ll enjoy it.’

‘Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps.’ She quickly changed the subject. ‘Oh, I got your email by the way, of course that’s fine about Milly coming to stay. I’d love to have her here. And at Seamless, once I’m back at work.’

‘You are going back then?’ Rachel said. ‘For sure?’

‘Yes. But – don’t ask me how – Skipley seems to have knocked the workaholic out of me, Rachel. I’m going back, but it’s going to be different this time.’

Laurie got out her suitcase and put it on the bed. Spain. She’d help her mum get over her broken heart – and maybe, somewhere along the line, she thought, she’d forget about her own.

She held up her strapless platinum bikini – checking the material hadn’t gone saggy. Nope – not really surprising, she hadn’t had much of a chance to wear it over the last couple of years. She slung it in the suitcase, idly dreaming about sangria and swimming pools. She tried to choose between two pairs of strappy heels, then opted to pack them both. She placed a white cotton dress on top of her other clothes. She’d pack the rest later.

She thought about what Rachel had said, about going to Lily’s, and checked her watch. It was only 3.30 p.m. – her flight wasn’t until ten. She still had plenty of time. Going to her wardrobe, she pulled out a red dress, then put the shower on full blast, peeled off her clothes and stepped into the steam.

Laurie arrived at Lily’s door holding a bottle of champagne and trying with all her might to keep her smile fixed in place. When Lily opened the door to her flat, reggae music drifted out. Lily took one look at her outfit and hooted with laughter.

‘Well,’ she said, ‘it’s certainly different.’

Laurie was wearing her V-neck red dress, but with a cardigan over the top, a brown and black one with a huge, three-dimensional knitted robin on the righthand side. It was one she’d picked out of the rag bag in Skipley and brought back on a whim. There were rows of gold sequins down each arm.

‘I know, it’s dreadful, isn’t it?’ Laurie said, pulling the sleeves of her cardigan down. ‘But Christmas comes but once a year, eh?’

Lily smiled, then took her by the hand and led her into the flat. ‘It’s good to see you, gal,’ she said. ‘We’ve missed you around here. Now, let me show you what they did for me,’ Lily said.

Laurie walked past some guests chatting by the doorway as Lily led her to the kitchen. Laurie gasped as she saw the difference. The kitchen walls and some of the living-room ones had been repapered with a gorgeous print, and there was a stylish, homey set of shelves holding her cookbooks. The torn lino had been replaced, and the whole flat looked even better than new. ‘Nice, isn’t it?’ Lily said, smiling. ‘Jay made the shelves,’ she said, running her hands over the wood. ‘Talented man, that one,’ she said, giving Laurie a wink. ‘And your friend Rachel and her children, they helped out too. Bless them all,’ Lily said, her eyes shiny with unshed tears.

All around her people were eating and drinking, laughing together. On the kitchen tiles, there was a middle-aged couple swaying to the music. Lily raised her eyebrows at Laurie in approval as she saw them grinding closer. ‘Now there’s the Christmas spirit in action,’ she said, with a chuckle. Friends of Lily’s from the neighbouring blocks were scattered around the table, along with their teenage children. Laughter filled the room.

As Laurie put some jerk chicken out on her plate, she caught sight of Jay. Or the back of his head, at least. He was outside in the back yard, just visible through the window, laughing and talking to someone just out of view.

Laurie had tried to mentally prepare herself for this moment, but still, her first instinct was to hide. She looked around – the sofa tucked away in an alcove was pretty much invisible from where Jay was. There was a guy sitting on it whom she recognised, but couldn’t place. He was wearing a sharp blue suit and had long, greying dreadlocks. She went to sit next to him. He’d lifted a framed photo off the side table and was looking at it. ‘Fine-looking woman,’ he said, appreciatively. Laurie looked up in surprise, then saw he was pointing at a photo of Lily at a party. Laurie moved in closer to look at the photo. Lily must have been in her thirties, about Laurie’s age now, dancing with a little boy on a crowded dance floor. Her face was turned to the camera with a wide smile.

‘Still is now,’ he said, looking up. Laurie took in his lively brown eyes and caramel skin. Not at all bad-looking, for a grandpa. ‘You’re Bill the Bikeman, aren’t you?’ Laurie asked. ‘It is Bill, isn’t it?’ Laurie had seen the sign he sometimes propped up next door, advertising his bike services in big chalk letters. There was always a queue outside it.

‘That’s me, yes,’ he said with a deep laugh, dragging his eyes away from Lily and putting his hand out for her to shake. ‘Pleased to meet you. Can I pour you another rum?’ He reached over for the bottle and poured her out a glass, topping it up with ginger ale. Laurie took a bite of her chicken.

‘You got something, just there,’ Bill said, politely, pointing at the place in Laurie’s teeth where some black jerk sauce had got lodged. Laurie, embarrassed, got it out and thanked him.

‘Pretty good cook, isn’t she?’

‘The best,’ Laurie replied, then followed Bill’s line of sight back to Lily. ‘You should talk to her, you know,’ Laurie prompted him.

‘Really, you think so?’

‘Oh yes. I happen to know for a fact that she’s single. Hot property.’

That was all the encouragement Bill needed. ‘Well, in that case,’ he said, ‘will you excuse me for a moment?’ Laurie motioned for him to go ahead, and he stood up, straightening out the fabric in his trousers. With just a brief backward glance and a smile at Laurie, he made his way over to where Lily was standing talking to a friend.

Laurie scanned the room: there were a few familiar faces circulating around the table, but it didn’t look like Siobhan and Ed had arrived yet. Laurie checked the clock on the wall. It was only four, she had hours still.

Her phone buzzed with a message. She clicked in order to read it, grateful for something to do.

Rachel.

One thing. You do know Jay’s still in love with you,
don’t you? And that he’s single? x

Laurie’s pulse raced. She looked up and caught sight of Jay right away, in the kitchen. He had come in from outside. He wasn’t talking to that girl, or in fact any girl at all, but to Sean from the basement flat. Jay saw her looking. Excusing himself from the conversation, he made his way over to where Laurie was sitting. Her heart started to race.

‘You made it,’ he said, a smile spreading across his face. She hurriedly tucked her phone away as he took a seat next to her.

‘Wouldn’t have missed it,’ Laurie said.

‘I’m glad you did,’ he said, smiling. ‘Merry Christmas.’ Jay lifted his can of Red Stripe to clink it with her glass.

Laurie’s mind went blank – with Jay so close she couldn’t think of a word to say.

‘I enjoyed meeting your friend Rachel,’ he said, putting his beer down on the coffee table.

‘Oh yes, you two got on?’

‘Oh yeah,’ he said. ‘We’re like this,’ he laughed, crossing two fingers to show her. ‘She even made it along to one of our gigs.’

‘Siobhan told me about that,’ Laurie said, feeling the tiniest pang of jealousy.

‘Rachel made me think about a few things, actually.’ He paused. ‘God, I’m really not good at this stuff,’ he said, raking a hand through his hair. ‘But I feel like …’

Laurie’s heart was thudding in her chest as she waited for him to continue.

‘At the end of the summer it seemed like there was something there. Something special between us,’ Jay said, ‘and there still is. On my side at least.’

His words hung in the air. ‘I think it’s worth another try. A proper one. I think you’re amazing, Laurie. I always have. That is unless that guy last night was your boyfriend … in which case—’

‘Ed?’ Laurie said, a smile creeping on to her lips. ‘No. He’s Siobhan’s.’

‘OK. Good,’ he laughed. ‘Glad we cleared that up. So, what do you think?’

As Laurie looked into Jay’s eyes, summer didn’t seem that long ago. She wanted it back – with Jay she felt different. Like a better version of herself.

‘I’m sorry I was an idiot,’ Laurie said. ‘It must have seemed really selfish. I think I was scared. Because you and me … well, it’s a big thing, isn’t it?’ she smiled, then covered her face with her hands. ‘God, this is hard, isn’t it? Listen,’ she went on. ‘I’ve got a flight to catch in a couple of hours.’

‘A flight?’

‘Yes. Long story.’ She took a deep breath and summoned up all of her courage. ‘But if you want to continue this conversation,’ she said, ‘we could talk upstairs, while I finish packing?’

‘Sounds good,’ Jay said.

Laurie couldn’t tell for sure if Lily had spotted Jay and her leaving – she was slow-dancing in the kitchen with Bill, to a reggae track.

Laurie’s heart thudded as she walked up the stairs with Jay and walked into her flat with him.

‘Wine?’ she asked, going through to the kitchen.

‘Yes, thanks.’

Laurie took a bottle of red from the side and opened it, pouring two glasses. He stood beside her and she was conscious of how close he was. She felt his familiar warmth, took in the smell of him that she’d missed.

‘So, where are you going this time?’ he said, taking one of the glasses and standing in the kitchen doorway.

‘Spain,’ she replied. ‘Just for a couple of weeks. I’m seeing in New Year with my mum. A bit of mother-daughter time’s long overdue.’

‘Sounds good,’ he said.

‘Sure you don’t mind keeping me company while I throw the rest of my shoe collection into my suitcase and try to close it?’