‘May I come in?’Nathan’s blue eyes sparkled more brightly with the contrast of the snow. He was there, larger than life, hair ruffled and stubble at least a day old, looking thoroughly lovely in the doorway.
Lisa realised she should step back, open the door wider and welcome him in, all things that would be appropriate if only she could move. ‘It’s you… you’re here… at my parents—’
‘Your mumknows I’m coming.’
‘She does?’
‘I’d like to explain, but it’s freezing out here.’
Snapping out of her stunned paralysis, Lisa moved back from the door. ‘Of course, come in.’ She looked up towards the first floor as she heard her mum, dad and Luke scuttle back from the banister.
Still taken aback, Lisa took Nathan’s coat, the smell of his aftershave and the feelof his hand brushing against hers proving to her senses that he was actually there; that this was actually happening. He slipped off his boots, revealing thick socks. He was wearing jeans and a jumper that touched in all the right places to show his muscles. Lisa wished she had made more of an effort instead of hurrying out of the shower, excited to open her Christmas presents. She didn’t know whyhe was there, but the fact it was Christmas Day and her mum knew he was coming had to be good signs, didn’t they?
Lisa directed Nathan up the stairs and followed behind him, noticing the quiver in her legs with each step.
‘Nathan, it has been a very long time.’ Lisa’s mum kissed Nathan on both cheeks. ‘I’m so pleased you found us OK.’
Lisa looked at her dumbfounded.
While Nathan moved on to shaking hands with her dad and Luke, exchanging Christmas greetings, and talking about the condition of the roads and the snow, Lisa took her mum by the elbow. ‘Come and help me fetch Nathan a drink,’ she insisted, throwing the words ‘excuse us,’ as casually as she could behind them as they went.
Once in the kitchen, Lisa took several deep breaths and raisedher eyebrows expectantly at her mum.
‘I hope I’ve done the right thing,’ her mum whispered.
‘Mum, Nathan is here,’ Lisa attempted to maintain a hushed tone, while hoping to elicit more of an explanation.
‘I know! He’s come all the way to France to speak to you. He’s been travelling for hours.’
Lisa couldn’t help but think that, for somebody who was whispering, hermum seemed desperately animated and excited.
‘Harold said—’
‘Harold?Mum, what is it with you encouraging Harold Martin to snoop into my life.’
‘I haven’t encouraged him to snoop, darling, just to keep an eye on you.’
‘An eye! Honestly, I’m beginning to think he’s been living in the loft or something. Oh God, Mum, he hasn’t been living in the loft, has he?’
‘Lisa, darling, you’re not still watching those silly crime programmes that scare you, are you? Of course he hasn’t been living in the loft. Now, calm down.’
‘I’m sorry it’s just, Harold is… and this is… well, it’s all…’ Lisa poured herself a drink of water from the cooler on the fridge and drank it straight down. ‘Nathan is here, in France, in your chalet and I don’t know why orhow.’
Lisa’s mum walked over and stroked Lisa’s arm, in an attempt to calm her down. ‘Why, I’ll leave to him. How… well, let’s just say he’s been paying a lot of interest in our house back home, and eventually Harold told him he needed to know who he was and why he was there, or he would be forced to make a citizen’s arrest. Not wanting to do anything to overstep the mark if Nathan wastelling the truth about knowing us, Harold phoned me a few days ago to see if I could corroborate his story.’
Corroborate his story?Lisa couldn’t help but think that Harold had danced, skipped and leapt over the mark some time ago, but decided to stick to the matter in hand. ‘But he is here, Mum. How has Nathan ended up here, on Christmas Day? It’s Christmas Day, for goodness’ sake!’
‘I know, isn’t it perfect? I can’t believe he got a crossing at such short notice.’
Needing something stronger than water Lisa turned the coffee machine on.
‘After our chat yesterday, when you said about the year you’d had and about the “what ifs”… I just thought… well, no matter what you say, I know I encouraged you not to get too serious too young. I know I influencedyou with all the things I told you I’d missed out on. But, Lisa, you’re all grown up now. And Nathan, well, even though I know you were up to all sorts behind my back – never trust your brother to keep a secret, darling – Nathan always made you happy. He was crushed when you left and word is he never got serious over anyone else. So when Harold said he had been hanging round the house and you said… well… I wanted to make you happy. To see you smile on Christmas Day.’
Lisa looked at her mum, tears welling in her eyes. She put down her empty glass and gave her a hug, not knowing what to say to her kind words.
‘So I, um, well, what is it Luke called it? I drunk dialled him last night. I told him if he was that desperate to see you he should stop skulking around and come here,and find you.’
‘Mum!’
