Christmas for Beginners: Fall in love with the ultimate festive read from the Sunday Times bestseller

by Carole Matthews

  They bounce around in the straw. The stable is knocked over, as is Baby Jesus’s crib. The press photographer steps forward and rattles off a dozen shots. Oh, Lord. I dash forward and shoot into the pen to try and grab them. In my haste, I commit the sin of all sins. I leave the gate open.

  As I grab the alpacas and try to disentangle them, everyone else makes a break for it. The sheep spill out into the yard, followed by the donkeys. Buzz Lightyear, not being one to miss a chance of escape, also makes a bolt for it. The other ponies follow suit, red ribbons flowing in the breeze. Instantly, the farmyard is in chaos.

  ‘Stop them!’ I shout.

  Our visitors dive this way and that, holding on to marauding sheep for all they’re worth. Even Christian in his sparkly Santa outfit has a go. The donkeys, over-excited, bray at the top of their voices. Which, on the plus side, helps to drown out the sounds of over-enthusiastic courting alpacas. The press photographer is having a field day.

  I see Bev, Lucas and Matt calmly taking control in the yard, while I try to regain some sort of order in here. I manage to grab their halters and stop the alpacas doing . . . er . . . what alpacas like to do.

  ‘Oh, Rod,’ I say. ‘How could you?’

  He looks at me in quite a lascivious manner. All comers are clearly looking attractive to him. Once they start, it’s a hell of a job to stop them.

  But stop them we finally do. With the help of our visitors, the sheep, goats, donkeys and ponies are rounded up. I’m mortified that our day has ended like this but, in the yard, there’s much laughter and camaraderie. Everyone is saying how much they enjoyed getting involved and, apparently, found our shagging alpacas ‘endearing’. I don’t understand humans, really I don’t.

  So when we’ve got all the animals back to where they should be, our crowd of well-wishers drift away home. We’ve no cakes or crafts left for sale, the stalls have been stripped. Our buckets are full and jingling. We’ve had offers of support, people asking if they can volunteer and even enquires about taking on new students.

  I’m stunned.

  Chapter Sixty-Six

  The yard seems weirdly still after everyone has gone and the animals are settled again. Peace has returned. I kiss Christian goodbye as he dashes off for his swanky party and thank him for his efforts. He’s kept a constant queue of children very happy with Santa selfies.

  Bev and I pull some deckchairs round the Christmas tree. I made the right call in putting aside some cakes and mince pies for us as a celebration, and I set them out on a picnic table that’s been pressed into service. There’s a crate of beer chilling and Bev is already dishing out the last of the mulled wine, cider and hot apple juice.

  She hands a juice to me and we clink cups together. I flop down into one of the chairs with a contented sigh. Open days, I’ve decided, are exhausting – but worth it as we seem to have buckets of cash. A job for tomorrow is to total it all up.

  Lucas has brought some blankets from the caravan and I wrap myself up against the cold. I’m pleased to see that Penny and Jess have stayed behind and that Lucas is being very solicitous towards them. They both have a chair and blankets and he’s getting them a drink. He might have his moments but, on the whole, he’s a good lad. Despite the fact that Aurora isn’t here, he looks very chipper. Penny is bathing in his attention.

  ‘Well done, Molly.’ Bev sits beside me and pats my knee in a motherly way. ‘You survived.’

  ‘Next time you have the bright idea of throwing our doors open, remind me to emigrate.’

  She laughs. ‘It was brilliant and you know it.’

  ‘Apart from the alpacas shagging.’

  ‘That only served to enhance the atmosphere.’

  That makes me laugh too. ‘We might make the front page of the local paper. What with that and your impromptu proposal.’

  ‘I’ve been so worried about Alan,’ she confides. ‘If anything happens like that again, I want to make sure that I’m his next of kin. Plus I fancy the pants off him. Thought I’d better grab him while he’s still available.’

  ‘Well done,’ I say. ‘I’m so pleased for you.’

  She raises an eyebrow. ‘You next?’

  ‘My loved one isn’t even here.’

  Bev frowns. ‘Shame he missed it. He’d better have a bloody good excuse.’

  Then Matt appears and says, ‘Is this a private party or can anyone crash it?’

  ‘You are more than welcome.’ I stand to get him a beer and I’m too aware that our fingers touch when I hand it over. ‘I thought you’d gone without saying goodbye.’

  ‘I just escorted Victoria back to her car. She couldn’t stay. Prior commitment.’

  ‘Ah. She seems very nice.’

  Again, an expression I can’t read. ‘Yes,’ he says. ‘She is.’

  But, if I’m honest with you, he doesn’t really sound as if he thinks so.

  ‘You’ll see her again?’

  He sighs. ‘Molly, I have to tell you something . . .’

  Then there’s a horn tooting from our gate and Bev shouts. ‘Shelby!’

  ‘At last!’ I left out a relieved breath. He might have missed all the festivities, but at least he’s safe and sound. I turn back to Matt. ‘What was it you wanted to say?’

  He shakes his head. ‘It doesn’t matter.’ He clinks his beer against my juice. ‘Well done. I hope it’s raised lots of money.’

  ‘Thanks. I think it has. I’m so glad you were here. No one could have done a better job of turning on the lights. Anyone would think you were a pro.’

  ‘I’m not as experienced as some,’ he says as he looks over at Shelby striding across the yard.

  ‘Sorry, sorry!’ Shelby calls in a voice that would reach the back of the stalls. ‘Traffic was hell!’

  All day? I think. Matt and I exchange a glance. Seems as if he thinks the same.

  Shelby comes over and seems a little put out that we’re having a celebration without him. ‘A party?’ he says. ‘I thought I’d missed it all.’

  For the first time, I wonder if it was deliberate he’s turned up so late. Did he not want to be involved in our open day?

  ‘It went brilliantly,’ I say and my voice sounds slightly brittle. ‘Matt did a sterling job of switching on the Christmas tree lights.’

  ‘Oh,’ he says and Shelby’s eyes appraise Matt.

  ‘A handy reserve,’ Matt says, mildly.

  ‘You missed the poems that Lucas wrote for us too. They were very good.’

  ‘Afternoon, Father,’ Lucas says. ‘You’ve managed to tear yourself away from Pantoland to come and bestow your Christmas wishes on us?’

  ‘If you mean I’ve been sitting in gridlocked traffic for the last few hours to get here, then yes.’

  ‘It went very well, thanks for asking, and we coped perfectly well without you,’ Lucas snipes. I signal to him with my eyes that it’s enough and, for once, he falls silent. I know how disappointed he is that his dad has, again, let him down.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Shelby says and, this time, he does sound conciliatory. ‘I really had intended to be here.’

  ‘No matter,’ I say, too brightly. ‘It’s all done and dusted now. No point worrying.’ This from the Queen of Worrying. ‘Come and join us. Have a beer, have a cake.’

  The tension goes out of the atmosphere and Matt throws a tin of beer to Shelby who nods, gratefully.

  ‘A toast!’ Bev raises her glass of wine. ‘To us for being flipping brilliant!’

  ‘To us,’ we echo.

  ‘And to the newly engaged couple,’ I propose.

  Shelby looks at me blankly.

  ‘Something else you missed. Bev asked Alan to marry her. Thankfully, he said yes.’

  They both look bashful.

  ‘Congratulations,’ Shelby says and there are hugs all round. ‘This is definitely a cause for a celebration.’

  ‘Looks like we have a wedding to organise,’ I add.

  ‘It will be small,’ Bev promises. ‘A few friends and fa
mily only.’

  ‘And definitely no alpacas,’ I warn her.

  ‘Strictly humans only,’ she assures me. ‘Could you cope with being a bridesmaid?’

  ‘For you, anything.’

  ‘I’ll hold you to that,’ Bev laughs. ‘I have witnesses.’

  So we relax and we laugh. Lucas keeps his distance from Shelby, but he does seem to be having fun with Penny and her mum. Matt chats mainly to Bev and Alan, but whenever I happen to look over at him, he’s looking right back at me.

  ‘You seem to have got on very well without me,’ Shelby says and pulls my attention back to him.

  We did. What can I say? At times we were so busy that I completely forgot about him.

  ‘You’re here now.’ I smile up at him. He looks tired and I think this panto run is taking more out of him than he’ll admit to. Thank goodness, it’s nearly Christmas and it will soon be over. He’ll be home with us permanently and we can get back onto a more secure footing. ‘It’s good to have you back.’

  Even if it is only for a short while.

  Chapter Sixty-Seven

  When we’ve had a few drinks and are all feeling chilled, we tidy up and the yard looks more like a farm again. I let the dogs out of the caravan and they go into a frenzy of delight. They’re long overdue a walk and I’ll have to take them across the fields as soon as possible to run off their pent-up energy.

  Matt comes across to me and takes my hands in his. There’s a shock of electricity that we both ignore. ‘Thanks for having me,’ he says. ‘That was a great day.’

  ‘Again, thanks for your help.’ I can’t remember how many times I’ve had cause to thank this man over the last few weeks. ‘Couldn’t have done it without you.’

  ‘I’ll call you in a few days. To check on the total.’

  ‘Don’t be a stranger,’ I tell him. ‘You’re welcome any time. You know that.’

  He holds out his hand to Shelby and there’s a moment’s hesitation before Shelby takes it.

  ‘Good to meet you,’ Matt says. ‘Enjoy the rest of your panto season.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Shelby replies.

  Lucas comes over and stands by him. Matt grabs him in great big bear hug and says, ‘You, mate, blew me away. I don’t know how you do it. You’d better take me to one of those poetry nights you do.’

  ‘OK.’

  Matt lets go of him. ‘It’s a date.’

  Shelby looks taken aback by their casual interaction – as well he might. Sadly, he’s never been able to be like this with his own son.

  ‘See you all soon,’ Matt says and, with a wave, he strides away.

  Then Penny and her mum gather their belongings and get set to leave.

  ‘Are you sure you’re OK to go home?’ I ask.

  They nod, but both look uncertain. Penny looks particularly reluctant to leave.

  ‘I’m going to do my very best for you. But if you need somewhere to go, then just call me.’

  ‘Thanks, Molly,’ Jess says. ‘You’ve been a pal.’

  I hug her and then Penny. ‘See you tomorrow.’

  We walk to the gate complete with dog trio at my heels and then Lucas takes them across the road to the field where their car is. I look at Lucas and Penny together and feel they are much more suited as a couple. But it’s all too late for that. Shelby and I need to have some tricky conversations and I can’t really put them off any longer. He’ll be wishing that he hadn’t turned up today.

  ‘Penny’s nice,’ I say to Lucas when he comes back.

  ‘Yeah.’ He shrugs. ‘Hadn’t really noticed before.’

  ‘Nothing from Aurora.’

  ‘Nah. I think she’s ignoring me, but I don’t know why. I’m going to get a shower and then message her again.’

  ‘OK. I’ll walk the dogs and your dad, if he’ll come with me. Then I’ll find us something for supper.’

  ‘We should get a takeaway,’ Lucas says. ‘We deserve it.’

  Then I throw caution to the wind and hug him.

  I feel him tighten up in my arms. ‘What’s that for?’

  ‘For being brilliant,’ I tell him. ‘Your poem was wonderful and you worked so hard today. Do you know how great you are?’

  ‘Have you been at the mulled wine?’ he asks and he unpeels himself from my grip.

  I laugh. ‘No. Definitely not. I just wanted to let you know that you’re growing into a totally marvellous young man and I couldn’t be more proud of you.’

  ‘Huh,’ he grunts, always unable to take praise. ‘That’s a yes to takeaway, then?’

  ‘Of course.’ I feel filled with Christmas spirit and goodwill to all men. ‘I’ll take the dogs to run off some steam and we’ll get it as soon as I’m back.’

  ‘OK.’ Lucas heads towards the caravan. As he does, he turns and says over his shoulder. ‘You’re all right too, you know.’

  And I smile, happily, as he disappears indoors.

  Chapter Sixty-Eight

  Shelby is waiting patiently – I think – by the Christmas tree. Already he’s blowing his nose and rubbing his eyes. It doesn’t take long for his allergies to kick in.

  ‘Sorry to keep you hanging on,’ I say. ‘Fully histamined-up?’

  ‘I couldn’t take it until I’d driven up here,’ he says.

  ‘No Ken today?’

  ‘Family get-together for Christmas. He brought the car up for me in the week.’

  ‘Ah.’

  ‘The tree looks amazing. A monster.’ It does. It’s shining out like a multi-coloured beacon in the darkness.

  ‘Matt got it for us,’ I tell him. ‘One of his contacts donated it.’

  ‘Useful.’ Yet Shelby doesn’t look impressed. Well, he bloody should be.

  ‘He’s been fantastic. He’s helped us with the open day and we’re going to be his charity for the Mayor’s Ball in the New Year.’

  ‘It seems as if my presence hasn’t been missed,’ he bristles.

  Perhaps I did lay it on a bit thick. ‘You were very much missed. You know that.’

  ‘I need a drink and something to eat,’ Shelby says. ‘My blood sugar must be low.’

  ‘I promised Lucas we’d have a takeaway.’ Then I check my watch. ‘First, I need to check on the animals, feed them and then take the dogs for a walk. Up for it?’

  ‘Yes,’ Shelby nods. But his face says he’d rather be sprawled out in front of a roaring fire with a good book and a glass of red.

  ‘Are you sure your anti-histamine has kicked in?’

  ‘I’ll cope.’ He’s very crochety and I feel as if I’m walking on eggshells with him. Perhaps he is just tired after driving up here after a busy week on stage. Maybe he will relax when we’ve eaten.

  So we head to the stables and I do my evening check on everyone. We look over the gate into the first pen. ‘The alpacas disgraced themselves. Again. Matt was just posing for photos for the local paper and they decided to have an orgy behind him. I’m mortified. I hope they don’t run it on the front page.’

  ‘You’re kidding me.’

  ‘I don’t need to make these things up.’ Tina comes to have her neck scratched. ‘You don’t look the slightest bit ashamed of acting like a harlot in front of all those people. You saucy minx.’

  ‘Seems as if I missed quite the afternoon.’

  We walk up to check on the sheep and see that the chickens are all back in their coop. The goats are all safe and sound again too – already asleep in their hay.

  ‘We’ve got two new rescue turkeys,’ I tell him. ‘Meet Holly and Ivy.’

  ‘Hello, girls,’ Shelby says but he seems distracted and not that interested in our latest arrivals.

  ‘While I look in on the bunnies, can you check on Anthony, please?’

  Shelby sighs. ‘Do I have to? You know that thing hates me.’

  ‘It will take you one minute,’ I say. ‘All you have to do is make sure he’s in his pen and comfortable. And that his gate is securely locked.’

  Reluctance emanates fr
om him. He’s as bad as any of the students. I can’t bear to argue with him. ‘You can do the bunnies, then, and I’ll see to Anthony.’

  ‘Can’t Lucas help?’ he asks. ‘I thought this was his job?’

  ‘He’s not stopped all day and now he’s having a well-earned shower.’ I pause and turn to Shelby. ‘Lucas is disappointed that you weren’t here. His poems were very good. He taught the kids to join in with one as a surprise for me. He’s a good lad. Be nice to him this evening.’

  ‘What does that mean?’

  ‘You seem out of sorts. We’ve had a nice day. It’s been a great success. I don’t want you two fighting and spoiling it all.’

  ‘I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t bothered to come. Seems as if Matt has quite easily slipped into my place. His feet are very much under the table here. With my son and with you.’

  ‘That’s unfair. He’s a nice guy,’ I counter. ‘He’s become a valuable fundraiser and a good friend to the farm.’

  ‘And to you in particular?’

  I ignore the barb. ‘I’d like to think so.’

  ‘More than a friend?’ he snaps. ‘Perhaps a boyfriend?’

  ‘I thought I already had one of those,’ I snap back. ‘Is there something you want to tell me?’

  Shelby’s shoulders sag and he looks squarely at me. The drawn expression on his face is unbearable and my heart skips a beat when, in the saddest voice I’ve ever heard, he says, ‘Actually, yes.’

  Chapter Sixty-Nine

  ‘Let’s take the dogs across the fields and then we can talk.’ I can tell this is serious and the sooner we get it over with, the better.

  Shelby nods his agreement. ‘I’ll get my coat from the car.’

  Watching him go, I wonder if his head has been turned by one of the young women in his company? Lucas warned me as much. Well, I guess I’m about to find out.

  I call Lucas and ask him would he mind feeding the animals. I don’t feel that I can put them ahead of this conversation – which I’m not expecting to be good. Lucas doesn’t even ask why, he just agrees. I’m relieved about that.