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“This place is looking so homely. You even use coasters now.”
“I’m all grown up,” Kate laughed. “Anyway, how was Christmas?”
“Same as ever. Brothers rowing, parents not speaking, everyone boozing too much.”
“You didn’t enjoy it then?”
“I loved every second. There’s nothing like the comfort of dysfunctional family dynamics that never change. Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
“Don’t worry about it,” said Kate. “I love hearing about your family. I’m sorry I didn’t visit this year. You know what it’s like though, first Christmas in a new place.”
“Yeah, but I know it must have been tough, and I do realise how lucky I am.”
“It wasn’t as tough as I expected. I spent some time thinking about Mum, went to church with Joy…”
“Hang on, you went to church?”
“Yes, and I loved it.”
“Wow, you’ve changed.”
“I’ll have to take you down there sometime. They’ve got this amazing Christmas tree festival, but I’m not sure how long they’ll be up for.”
“Sounds… fun…?”
“Don’t be like that. It’s actually pretty magical. Joy said they do it every year.”
“You’re turning into a proper small-town girl.”
Kate smiled, but noticed the edge to Maddie’s voice. Was she trying to put her down? It must be the hangover making her grumpy, Kate decided.
“So how was the Christmas do you were heading to when we last spoke?”
“Oh, just your average office bullshit. Nothing special. Shall we watch a movie?”
Kate felt a tug of disappointment. This was supposed to be their time to catch up, but Maddie wanted to watch TV? Something was up with her friend, but Kate couldn’t put her finger on what… yet.
Maddie fell asleep five minutes into the film. Kate studied her pale face and the purple rings around her eyes. She looked across at the Christmas tree. Maddie hadn’t even mentioned it. Kate had spent Christmas afternoon adding fairy lights and handmade decorations she’d picked up at a Christmas market a few years ago. It would have been the first thing Maddie noticed usually. Nor had she commented on the greenery decorating the house.
After getting back from the church with Joy, Kate had heated up a microwave lasagne, poured a glass of Prosecco, and raised a toast to absent family. She doubted Moira would have approved of her lonely Christmas dinner. It wasn’t exactlyfilling the house with love and laughter, but Kate had Boxing Day to do that, and there was something liberating about spending the day alone. Not that she was truly alone, Flo had joined her for a FaceTime lunch during her break at The Sunbeam. As well as enjoying the comfort of friendship, seeing Flo sitting in the grotty Sunbeam staffroom on Christmas Day confirmed to Kate she had made the right decision to leave.
With lunch cleared away, she had strolled up to the nature reserve behind her house and filled a basket with holly and ivy, singing the aforementioned carol as she went. Back at home, she’d tied greenery around the house, before settling down to the Queen’s speech with a glass of wine. It was the no pressure, relaxed day she had been hoping for.
Maddie let out a snore, and Kate retreated from the room so as not to disturb her. She used the opportunity of a spare couple of hours to begin the food prep, wishing she’d opted for a takeaway. Cooking wasn’t a skill she was known for, and she crossed her fingers that the old Delia Smith book found among her grandmother’s stuff would be a reliable guide.
An hour later and the potatoes and carrots were peeled, sprouts prepared, lamb in the oven on a low heat and everything that couldn’t be cooked in advance laid out ready on the kitchen counter. Kate ducked her head around the door to check on Maddie, who lay on her back, dead to the world. Her phone had fallen from her hand. Kate picked it up and placed it on the table. The phone buzzed and Kate stared at the screen. Alex’s name flashed up with the message:We need to talk.
Kate retreated to the kitchen, leaning over the kitchen sink and splashing water over her face. What did Alex and Maddie have to talk about? It had to be about her, but why go behind her back? This wasn’t school. She was big enough to have a conversation herself without needing an intermediary. There was no point asking Maddie about it yet. Kate would have to wait until Maddie was a) awake and b) not hungover.
Kate’s own phone flashed with a message from Bob-I’m here early, but can head off for a walk if you fancy some time alone with Maddie?Kate smiled at the thoughtfulness of his message and tapped out a reply-Maddie’s asleep so fine to come in now, but can you come around the back so we don’t wake her?Seconds later Bob replied with a simple-No probs x
“Merry Christmas,” said Kate, opening the door and giving Bob a brief hug.
“Ouch,” he said, clutching his side.
“Are you OK?”
“Yeah, sorry, I just hit my side against a metal railing yesterday.”
