Coco glanced at me, and I gave her an encouraging look.
‘I was, but I couldn’t stay. The chef…’ She broke off and looked at Theo. I helped her out.
‘The chef wasn’t a suitable colleague. I’m sure Coco can fill you in later.’
‘Yes,’ she said, with relief in her voice. ‘Can I do that? Alexander, Dad, I was hoping Icouldstay over Christmas? You said that Stephen and Chrissie are away…I’ll do all the cooking…’
Nobody needed anything further to be said as the relief-o-meter zoomed to the top. A chorus of voices agreed warmly, only dying down when Alexander cleared his throat.
‘That is a very kind offer, Coco,’ he said, his face serious but a telltale smile touching his lips, ‘but are yousureyou shouldn’t be at work? Maybe you should ring them, offer to finish your contract or something? And besides, as you can imagine, we’re allvery happysharing the cooking, we don’t need to be rescued from ourselves. Maybe we should take some time to think about it…’
Nobody spoke, all desperately hoping, I’m sure, that the time he needed was about three seconds.
‘Okay, I’ve thought about it. Oh, come on everyone, stop looking so desperate! Ofcourseyou can stay, Coco, this is your home as well as ours, you don’t even need to ask! And we’ll be bloody grateful to have you cook, although’ – he looked round at us all – ‘everyone was very polite about the prospect of takeout and pesto for the next month and God only knows what would have happened to Christmas lunch.’
Now it was Coco’s turn to fling her arms around him. I could have done the same myself, and not just because I’d been saved from hell’s kitchen. He was looking particularly dishy in the cold morning light and a freshly laundered shirt, and since poor Annabel’s banishment, he seemed to have lightened up considerably.
‘Thank you!’ she cried. ‘I’ll look after you all brilliantly, I promise. Have you had breakfast?’ Everyone nodded disappointedly. ‘Cereal and toast, I imagine. Well, if I can borrow the car, I’ll go shopping. You won’t be sorry I turned up.’
‘Never that,’ said Douglas, taking his turn to hug his daughter. ‘It’s always lovely to see you, darling. You haven’t got your mother in tow, have you?’ he added.
‘Not yet,’ she replied, grinning. ‘Not yet.’
‘Might she come here, do you think?’ asked Mum, ever so casually. I wasn’t fooled, but Iwasinterested to see her look slightly worried.She must really like Douglas, I thought.
‘Oh, probably!’ said Coco. ‘She’s a total homebody but does like to pop by every so often.’
‘She never liked this house,’ said Douglas. ‘Always said it was too big and cold. But, as Coco says, she comes and stays every so often anyway.’
Mum’s lips tightened, just a fraction.
‘And is she given to staying for long…?’
‘She always says it will be a flying visit,’ said Coco. ‘But I’m afraid it does usually turn into a few days. Her husband comes with her, though,’ she added, and I saw Mum’s face relax.
‘Well, I’ll be delighted to meet them, if they do come. Douglas has told me so little about her, just that she is very interested in baking.’
I saw a lightning glance flash between Coco, Douglas and Alexander – what was going on there? Nobody explained, Douglas merely smiled weakly and said, ‘Indeed, she is. Now come on, Coco, I’ll take your bag up and you can tell me what you’ve been doing since we last saw each other.’
Everyone melted away, leaving Mum and me standing in the hall.
‘Are you all right?’ I asked tentatively.
‘Of course I am, darling, why wouldn’t I be?’
‘Well, it’s just that the prospect of one of Douglas’s ex-wives turning up for Christmas can’t exactly fill you with festive joy. I’d be in agony.’
To my great surprise, she clutched at my arm with her claret-painted nails.
‘Wouldyou? Oh, darling, you would! I have to admit I’m notsupercomfortable with the idea myself.’ She looked – and this was an absolute first for me to see – glum. ‘We all have our pasts, I don’t care about that, but – oh, Fallon, I dolovehim.’
Now it was my turn to surprise her, but I couldn’t resist a hug.
‘I know you do, Mum. And he loves you.’ I lowered my voice, grinning. ‘And anyway, how could she be a patch on you?’
Mum straightened up and smiled dazzlingly –tits and teeth, sweetie.
‘Well, Fallon, that is true. Now, shouldn’t you be nose-to-nose with Alexander over a glass of gin or something?’
