Chapter 24
One week until Christmas
Thinking Seb could use the coffee table as a workstation, I’d piled all of Jules’s Christmas activities on the floor next to it, along with a few extras that I’d picked up after squeezing in a second visit to Wildeholt, such as a glue stick, child-friendly scissors and pencils. And I’d got in snacks should hunger strike – fruit, nuts, and more than a couple of sweet treats, which were ready and waiting in the kitchen. “What do you think, Frank?” I said. “Enough to keep an active little boy happy?”
A knock at the door told me Lizzie and Seb had arrived and heading to let them in, I couldn’t deny I felt a little nervous. But what I lacked in experience I made up for in enthusiasm. Besides, looking after a seven-year-old couldn’t be that difficult, I insisted, before plastering a welcoming smile on my face and opening the door to greet them.
My smile vanished and I stood there confused. With no one in sight, it appeared my visitor was a Christmas tree.
“For you,” Jason said, calling out from behind its branches. “I saw you still hadn’t got one and because Lillian’s doesn’t look the same without, we thought we’d surprise you.”
As I took in the mass of greenery, I was surprised all right. The tree was humongous.
“Jason’s idea,” Barrowboy said, denying any responsibility for the situation I found myself in.
“I don’t know what to say,” I replied. The gesture might have been appreciated, but as someone who had aless is moreapproach to Christmas, I couldn’t say the tree experience was wholly pleasurable.
“You might want to move out of the way,” Jason said. “So we can get it in.”
Good luck trying!I thought.
I stood aside, as Barrowboy manoeuvred the boughs so Jason could squeeze his way into the hall and while one pulled, the other pushed in their efforts to force the tree through the front door. After lots of huffing and puffing, Barrowboy also came into view and wrapped up in thick coats and woolly hats as they were, the two of them looked hot and bothered. Forcing the tree as far as they had seemed like enough of a feat, and they still had to get it into the lounge.
Finally, they managed it, but whereas Jason was pleased with their progress, his brother frowned. “The things you make me do,” he said, hissing rather than speaking.
“We’ll put it in the window,” Jason said, seemingly oblivious to Barrowboy’s annoyance.
“It’s as good a place as any,” I replied, forced to pretend I, too, hadn’t noticed Barrowboy’s tone. Staring at the carpet of pine needles in their wake, I wondered how I was going to get them all up. And as I watched them continue in their struggle, I flinched, hoping against hope that they didn’t knock over one of Aunt Lillian’s ornaments, or scratch her furniture.
Keeping hold of the greenery with one hand, Jason reached inside his coat with the other and pulled out a metal stand. He tossed it down onto the floor in readiness. “What do you think?” Jason said, as they at last secured the tree in position. He stood back to admire their efforts, clearly delighted with the result.
I, however, stood wide-eyed and silent. The tree almost touched the ceiling and was roughly as wide as it was tall. Light from the window struggled to penetrate its branches, leaving the room dark and dingy. “It’s very commanding,” I said, at least trying to sound positive.
“That’s one way of putting it,” Barrowboy said, clearly taking a less charitable stance.
Frank let out a whine and headed out of the room.
“I think it’s great,” Jason said, his enthusiasm more than making up for any shortfall.
“Antonia?” Lizzie called out.
We all turned as she popped her head into the room with Seb in tow. “The door was open, so I thought…” As she stepped forward her eyes automatically focused on the tree. She stood there, clearly trying to organise her thoughts before letting herself speak.
In contrast, her son knew exactly what to say and letting go of Lizzie’s hand, he raced over to touch the branches. “Wow!” the little boy said. “This is one heck of a Christmas tree.”
“Seb! Language, please,” Lizzie said, scolding him.
Much to my surprise, Barrowboy let out a burst of laughter. The crow’s feet around his eyes deepened and for once his smile appeared to be one of amusement rather than scorn. Watching him ruffle the little boy’s head, it was a revelation to know the man had a softer side underneath all his gruffness.
“He’s just saying it like it is,” Barrowboy said. As his and Lizzie’s eyes met, Barrowboy quickly pulled off his hat and ran his fingers through his short mousy hair. It was evident that the flush in the man’s cheeks no longer had anything to do with the exertion he’d been put through.
Astonished, I followed his gaze, noting that Lizzie was a little on the pink side too; and her rosy cheeks clearly had nothing to do with her son’s outburst. As my eyes flitted from one to other, it was as if the rest of us weren’t there. Had a child not been present, I’d have told them to get a room.
“I should get going,” Lizzie said, continuing to blush as she turned her attention to me.
“Yes, we should go too.” Barrowboy might have been talking to Jason, but he obviously struggled to take his eyes off Lizzie.
I wasn’t the only one to notice the attraction between them. Sharing a knowing look, Jason and Seb giggled, having obviously clocked it as well.
