Driving Home for Christmas

by Emma Hannigan

  ‘Hello, Holly.’ Jay bent down to kiss her.

  ‘It’s great to see you, Jay. I’m glad you two have sorted out your differences. It wouldn’t have been the same without you this Christmas.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘We need to keep up the male population in this place,’ Paddy said. ‘I’m delighted to have another able-bodied man on site!’

  Skye tried not to do open-mouthed staring, but Huntersbrook House was quite simply magnificent. She couldn’t stop herself exclaiming, ‘Look at the tree!’

  ‘I think I have a fellow Christmas enthusiast on my hands here,’ Holly said.

  ‘You bet!’ Skye said.

  ‘Do you want to see the other trees before I bring you to your room?’

  ‘Others?’

  Holly giggled. ‘I feel like a teenager again, being able to show you my decorations.’

  As they opened the dining-room door, Skye gasped. ‘It’s like a fairyland – look at the tiny birds! Even better than that, I think I must’ve arrived in heaven!’

  ‘Now I’d better show you your room. It overlooks the front of the house,’ Holly explained. ‘Hope you like it!’

  They went upstairs, and along a corridor. Holly opened a door and Skye rushed in, dropping her bags. Yellow and gold damask wallpaper was complemented by the golden carpet. A sleigh bed, with a toning patchwork quilt, made the room inviting and cosy. ‘This is like a luxury hotel. Thanks a million for having me,’ she said, turning to Pippa, Jay, Holly and Paddy, who were huddled at the doorway.

  ‘Pleasure,’ Holly said sincerely. ‘There’s tons of space in the big old wardrobe so do use it.’

  ‘We’ll let you get settled,’ Paddy said.

  ‘Sure!’ Skye said. ‘I’m warning you, though, you might never get rid of me. This is like a fairytale castle!’

  ‘See you whenever. We’re going to throw our stuff into my room. Come and visit!’ Pippa said. ‘I’m just across the landing. Mum and Dad are at the top of the house.’

  ‘Should we wait until later when your parents are asleep?’ Jay asked, as he pulled Pippa into his arms.

  ‘God, no!’ She giggled. ‘They’re off downstairs playing host. They won’t miss us for a few minutes,’ she said, and began to peel off his clothes. As they made love, she tried again to remember why she’d nearly let Jay go.

  29

  Santa Claus Is

  Coming to Town

  Holly wanted to press pause on the moment. This was what she’d waited for all year. Her entire family, except Maggie, were under one roof. Her children all enjoyed coming home so much that they’d even brought friends. She was flattered by that, but didn’t take it for granted.

  ‘Once they hit their teens they don’t want to know you,’ Mrs Lambert had told her many years ago. ‘I thought we were close, but as soon as they could get away they did.’

  Holly could still recall the panic that had flooded her at that moment. Her own children had been small, but the comment had stuck with her. Now here she was, many years later, still surrounded by her children.

  There was a knock on the door.

  ‘Hello, all. Hope I’m not disturbing you?’ Scott said, taken aback by the group of women confronting him. They were sitting at the kitchen table, gossiping. The men had taken drinks to the living room and were probably involved in a conversation about rugby.

  ‘Not at all,’ Holly said, and introduced him to Skye and Jules.

  ‘It’s getting a bit messy out there. Snow must be hitting four feet by now,’ he said. ‘Pretty awesome, mind you. Back home Christmas means sun and barbies on the beach, so I’m really digging this version.’

  ‘I can’t imagine Christmas in the heat,’ Pippa said.

  ‘Me neither,’ Lainey agreed. ‘If our Joey hadn’t fallen down that hole he might have been in the Canary Islands now with Sophia.’

  ‘He’d a narrow escape,’ Pippa said.

  ‘Are there any men around this place at all?’ Scott asked hopefully.

  ‘They’re in the living room,’ Holly said. Looking relieved, Scott dashed out of the kitchen.

  ‘God, he’s good-looking, isn’t he?’ Jules said. ‘Not my type, mind you,’ she winked at Lainey, ‘but he’s very beautiful.’

  ‘He’s a nice fella too,’ Holly said. When neither of her daughters commented she said it again, louder, ‘He’s a nice fella too.’ Staring at Lainey, she waited for a reaction.

  ‘No, thanks, Mum,’ Lainey said. ‘He’s too lumberjack for me.’

  ‘Oh,’ Holly said. ‘I’m not sure I know what that means but far be it from me to tell you what to do. You can pick your own men, I’m sure,’ she said. ‘Not that the last one was any great shakes.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Lainey said, crushed.

  ‘Right, ladies,’ Sadie said, moving towards them with a large pot. ‘Sorry to break up the party but I need the Aga to do a bit of cooking. The Christmas dinner won’t make itself.’

  ‘Many hands make light work,’ Skye said. ‘Why don’t we all take a job and it’ll be sorted in jig time? Besides, it’ll make us feel like we’re not just sponging.’

  ‘Well, we have quite a bit to do before tomorrow so it would be lovely to have some help,’ Holly admitted.

  Lainey set to work chopping onions to soften in butter for the stuffing. ‘Panda eyes!’ Pippa shouted, as Lainey’s mascara ran down her cheeks.

  ‘Those onions are damn strong,’ she said, dabbing her eyes. ‘I’d better be careful or I’ll chop my finger off while I’m doing the herbs. I know makeup’s meant to enhance me and Jules has encouraged me to wear it more often, but it’s a right pain when it streams down your face.’

  ‘Would you two girls like to get the huge pot from the larder and we’ll put the ham on to boil?’ Sadie asked Pippa and Jules.

  ‘Are we using cola?’ Pippa asked.

  ‘Sure are!’ Holly laughed. ‘That was the only way I could get Joey and Pippa to eat ham as little ones,’ she explained to the group. ‘They’d see me pouring in bottles of Coke and decide it simply had to be all right.’

  ‘The spiced beef is ready to go, so we can put that on the other ring of the Aga,’ Sadie instructed. ‘I made pickled red cabbage last week and that’s in the freezer along with the carrot and parsnip purée. I’ll get it out now so it’s thawed in time.’

  ‘Can we skip the sprouts this year?’ Lainey asked hopefully.

  ‘No!’ Paddy said, as he walked through the kitchen. ‘I happen to love sprouts. Jay is giving me a hand stocking up the firewood and turf.’

  ‘It’s like Santa’s workshop in here,’ Holly told him. ‘The girls are being amazing. I’ll be ready for tomorrow in no time.’

  ‘Good work, everyone!’ Paddy said, as he and Jay headed out into the elements.

  ‘Will I make some bread sauce?’ Jules offered. ‘It looks like porridge but it tastes delicious.’

  ‘Thank you, love,’ Holly said. ‘Take one of my aprons off the back of the door. I don’t want you ruining your outfit.’

  Pippa switched the radio on and Christmas music added to the wonderful atmosphere.

  Holly leaned against the worktop to watch Paddy and Jay chopping wood outside. The girls were joking behind her, and Sadie was clucking like a mother hen. Would this be their last time preparing Christmas dinner in this kitchen?

  As tears threatened to trickle down her cheeks, Holly saw clearly for the first time that the gathering she was a part of was about the people, not the house. She would do anything in her power to hold on to Huntersbrook, but either way she’d still have her family.

  When Paddy returned with Jay, both laden with logs and kindling, they were buzzing. ‘We took the liberty of going up the back field in the tractor and it’s absolutely calling for people to come and slide down it. There’s enough snow for a good session. I’ve found the three toboggans in the shed,’ Paddy said. ‘Any takers?’

  ‘Great idea,’ Holly enthused. ‘We’ll be finished here in a few minu
tes. You might as well make the most of the snow while we have it.’

  ‘But bags have the old oven tray,’ Lainey called. ‘It’s by far the fastest.’

  ‘I’ll go in and get the men,’ Paddy said. He returned moments later, with an ecstatic Scott and a pissed-off Joey. Holly’s heart went out to her son.

  ‘I’ll have to sit it out.’ Joey sighed.

  ‘I’ll stay with you,’ Skye offered. ‘I’m an awful scaredy-cat when it comes to toboggans.’

  ‘You don’t have to miss out on my account,’ Joey said.

  ‘I really don’t mind.’ She held his gaze.

  ‘That’s all sorted so,’ Holly said. She hadn’t missed the look that had passed between the pair. Skye was a lovely girl and fitted in with the family beautifully. Not wanting to be an interfering old woman, she decided to do her level best to keep her nose out of the situation.

  The tobogganing party left in their outdoor gear, complete with pairs of Marigold rubber gloves at Holly’s insistence. ‘You’ll thank me when your hands are dry – there’s nothing better for snowball fights and tobogganing. Wear them over your usual gloves!’

  ‘I had my day planned around the cooking and now it’s all been done!’ Holly said to Skye, Joey and Sadie as she came back into the kitchen. ‘All that’s left to do is set the table in the dining room.’

  ‘We’ll get that done in a jiffy,’ Sadie said.

  ‘I could make you a nice centrepiece, if you like,’ Skye offered. ‘One thing I learned from my hippie mother was how to arrange bits of bushes.’

  ‘Thank you, Skye!’ Holly was genuinely thrilled. ‘I’ve two stubby red pillar candles I was going to do something with. Maybe you could work them in.’

  ‘Perfect,’ Skye said. ‘I’ll go and pick some holly with berries.’

  ‘I’ll keep you company,’ Joey said. ‘I’m not much use to anyone, seeing as all I’m good for is sitting. But I’d love a breath of fresh air. Do you think you’d manage to push me? There’s a decent holly bush just to the right of the back door.’

  ‘You can show me where to go so I don’t get lost.’

  Holly wrapped Joey in a blanket, then helped Skye to push him out the back. ‘Do you want to come into the dining room first and see the candles and their holders?’ she asked Skye.

  ‘She can see them later on,’ Sadie interrupted, grabbing Holly’s elbow and shoving her into the kitchen.

  ‘Okay,’ Holly gasped. ‘What was all that about?’ she asked Sadie, when Joey and Skye were out of earshot.

  ‘Take the hint, for goodness’ sake, woman!’ Sadie hissed. ‘Don’t you feel the electricity between the two of them?’

  Holly burst out laughing. ‘For an old bird you’re very intuitive when it comes to young love! And for your information I had noticed a little bit of a frisson there.’

  ‘Then do the decent thing and make yourself scarce while the others are out of the way,’ Sadie said.

  They gathered the things they needed to set the table and went into the dining room.

  ‘I can’t believe it’s Christmas Eve and I’m not running around like a blue-arsed fly, yet we’ve a house full of guests!’ Holly mused.

  ‘They’re a lovely bunch of kids,’ Sadie said. ‘I’m glad that Sophia isn’t here. Skye’s a much nicer young one.’

  The two women pulled the huge white linen cloth into place on the table, then found the good china and silverware.

  ‘The crackers are pretty, Holly.’ Sadie removed them, gold and red, from their boxes.

  ‘I’m very pleased with them,’ Holly agreed.

  Taking advantage of the quiet, Sadie and Holly sat on the sofa and put their feet up for a while.

  ‘Isn’t this the life?’ Sadie said. ‘How many years have we prepared Christmas in this house?’

  ‘I’ve never had Christmas anywhere else,’ Holly said sadly.

  ‘Isn’t that a lucky thing to be able to say?’ Sadie nodded to herself.

  ‘I’ve never taken it for granted,’ Holly said.

  ‘I know you haven’t. You love this place with all your heart, don’t you?’

  Holly jumped to her feet. ‘If you’ll excuse me for a minute, I’m going to root in those boxes upstairs. I bought Mrs Claus in the sales last year and she’d be lovely on the sideboard.’

  ‘You do that, dear,’ Sadie said, looking at her in mild surprise.

  She was still worried by Maggie’s silence. As Holly went upstairs, she walked to the kitchen and turned on the laptop. There was still no email from her old friend. She wondered whether or not she should say something to Holly but at that moment the tobogganing party reappeared and in the flurry she forgot about it.

  ‘You should’ve seen Lainey,’ Jules said. ‘Talk about fearless.’

  ‘Leave all that wet stuff at the door, please,’ Sadie instructed. They did as they were told, then went upstairs to change into dry clothes. ‘Where’s Scott?’

  ‘He was soaked so he’s gone next door for a shower. Why?’ Paddy asked.

  ‘I was going to ask him to bring over the eggs from Jacob. He knows I’m sending someone over today so he should have them gathered for me.’

  Lainey pulled her boots back on. ‘I’ll go.’

  ‘Would you, love? That’d be great.’

  ‘No bother,’ Lainey said. ‘I won’t be long.’ As she trudged across the field to the fence, Lainey felt relaxed and happy. The snow had stopped falling and the low winter sun was casting a bright glow over the pristine whiteness. Climbing the fence, she looked around. It was years since she’d been here. ‘Hello?’ she called. There was no response and no sign of Scott. She turned to go back when she heard footsteps.

  ‘Hello?’ said the man.

  As he came into view, Lainey flushed. ‘Hello, it’s Lainey from next door.’

  ‘Hi,’ he said. ‘Of all the people I thought I’d meet today you weren’t one of them.’

  ‘Ditto!’ Lainey giggled. ‘How are you doing?’

  ‘A lot better than the last time we met,’ he said. ‘I’m Matt, by the way. Although I’m sure you know that.’

  ‘I do now, but I didn’t work it out in the bar that night after my office party,’ Lainey said.

  ‘Well, in fairness it must be twenty years since we’ve seen one another, and I wasn’t in the best form considering the situation I was in,’ Matt said.

  ‘What happened with the awful wagon you were with?’

  ‘I did as you suggested, left her bags outside the room. When I woke the next morning her stuff was gone and there was no sign of her.’

  ‘Didn’t she call you afterwards to apologise?’

  ‘Nope,’ he said. ‘It was a fairly quick way to find out what sort of person she was. Really embarrassing, but that’s about it.’

  ‘Well, hopefully tomorrow will be a lot more fun. Yourself and your folks are coming to Huntersbrook for dinner, aren’t you?’ Lainey asked.

  ‘So I heard,’ he said, looking hesitant.

  ‘Listen.’ Lainey held her hands up. ‘I promise I won’t mention our first encounter. At least we’ve met properly now so the awkward moment is done with and we can move on to how-time-flies.’

  ‘Thanks, Lainey,’ he said, relaxing visibly. ‘Your family are so kind to invite us. Dad’s really glad to have a plan for tomorrow. Things have been awful with Mum. She’s deteriorating so fast and it’s really hard on him.’

  ‘I can only begin to imagine. I’m so pleased you’re coming over. I’ve a pal called Jules staying and my sister Pippa’s brought her boyfriend and flatmate so we’ll be a lively bunch.’

  ‘Sounds great.’

  ‘Oh, I almost forgot. I was sent for eggs,’ she said.

  ‘Hiya, Lainey,’ Scott said, appearing from the house. ‘What yah doing?’

  ‘I’m here for the eggs for Sadie. The tobogganing was fun, wasn’t it?’

  ‘Brilliant!’ Scott turned to Matt. ‘You’ll have to join us next time, mate.’

  �
�I’d love to, but I’m a bit grounded with Mum. It must be ten years since I did anything like that. And now I’d better make sure she’s all right. She’s not having a great day.’

  ‘Great to catch up,’ Lainey said. ‘Can you give me a hand with the eggs, Scott?’

  ‘Sure. See you later, Matt.’ Scott scaled the fence.

  ‘Around two tomorrow, if that suits?’ Lainey called to Matt.

  ‘I’ll look forward to it,’ he said.

  As they trudged through the snow Scott chatted, and although Lainey replied, she wasn’t really listening. Her mind was on Matt and how her pulse had quickened at the sight of him. Now more than ever she couldn’t wait for Christmas Day.

  30

  ’Twas the Night

  Before Christmas …

  Joey and Skye had picked plenty of holly and were in the shed putting the finishing touches to the table centrepiece. ‘This is great,’ Skye said, as she shoved the wheelchair towards the back door.

  ‘Are you being sarcastic?’ Joey asked. ‘Sorry for making you push me around.’

  ‘I’m glad to do it,’ she said. ‘I love being back in the country. I grew up with very few comforts and I don’t miss that side of it. But I do love clear air.’

  ‘Where exactly did you live?’ Joey asked, as they reached the kitchen door.

  ‘We were in a couple of places, but for the most part we were outside Kildare. Three families lived in a house the size of your kitchen, pretty much. Echo, he’s my cousin, and I were the only ones who wanted to get out. As soon as we finished school we came to Dublin.’

  ‘Wow.’

  ‘We were the only two who weren’t home-schooled,’ she said. ‘We were allowed to attend an educate-together school where the rules were less stringent than they were in the usual religious-run institutions.’