A Not Quite Perfect Christmas

by Annie Lyons

  ‘Have you lost them?’

  ‘No-o. Of course not.’

  ‘You have, haven’t you?’

  ‘Sort of.’

  ‘Well, come on, little sis, we better go and find them, hadn’t we?’

  ******

  Lily was having the time of her life. It was like being in an episode of Scooby-Doo. She had spotted the bad guy walking along with the pop star, ushering him down a corridor. They had disappeared into a room and moments later the bad guy had come out again. He had been talking on his mobile as he walked past her and she had even remembered to press ‘record’ to capture his conversation. She thought Emma would be pleased. Now, she could hear someone rattling at the door to one of the rooms. She edged along the corridor to get a better look.

  ‘Hello?’ said a voice. ‘Can anyone hear me?’ It was Cameron Soul’s voice. Lily’s heart skipped a beat.

  ‘Hello?’ she said. ‘Are you trapped?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Cameron. ‘I think someone might have locked the door. There was a guy with me but he’s vanished.’

  ‘He’s the bad guy,’ said Lily knowledgeably.

  Cameron laughed. ‘And who are you?’

  ‘I’m the good guy. Well, girl, actually. You’re Cameron Soul, aren’t you?’

  ‘I am. What’s your name?’

  ‘Lily Summers.’

  ‘That’s a lovely name.’

  ‘Thanks,’ said Lily with a girly giggle. ‘We need to get you out of there.’

  Cameron sighed. ‘Oh, it’s okay. You know, it’s actually quite nice to be alone for a change. I’m hardly ever on my own these days.’

  ‘Yeah, I know how that feels. I’ve got two brothers and they’re flippin’ annoying sometimes.’

  Cameron laughed again. ‘Shall we just hang out here for a bit, then?’

  Lily sat on the floor and grinned. ‘Okay! I really love your songs, by the way.’

  ‘Thank you, Lily. That’s good to hear. Which is your favourite?’

  ‘I like Lollipop Girl best.’

  ‘Me too.’

  Fifteen minutes later, Emma and Rachel arrived on the scene with one of the venue staff to find the pop sensation of the year and Lily delivering an enthusiastic duet of their shared favourite song. The door was opened and Cameron was released. He held out his hand to ‘high five’ Lily and, seizing her moment, she wrapped him in a tight hug. He grinned.

  ‘Just like her mother,’ whispered Emma. ‘Oh, Cameron, I’m so sorry about all this.’

  Cameron held up his hands. ‘’S fine. It was an adventure, wasn’t it, Lily? Now, where do you want me?’ They led him up to the performance area so that he could set up. Then they made their way back downstairs to be greeted by an angry-looking Michael with Wendell at his side.

  ‘Emma. A word?’ he said. Emma felt Lily pass over her phone. ‘Can you tell me what has been going on? From what Wendell tells me, you seem to have been doing your best to sabotage Cameron Soul’s visit. Please tell me this isn’t true?’

  ‘It isn’t,’ said Emma.

  Wendell frowned. ‘First, you fail to turn up to meet him and then you lose him. I mean, where is he right now?’

  A twang from a guitar answered the question as Cameron warmed up. ‘He’s there,’ said Emma. ‘And as you know, you offered to meet him for me but then denied all knowledge and it was you who just locked him in the bathroom.’

  Wendell shook his head and looked at Michael. ‘She’s gone insane, Michael. Why would I do that?’

  Emma held up her phone and pressed ‘play’ on the voice recorder. There was a crackle of background noise but you could clearly hear Wendell’s voice on the phone. ‘It’s done, Chris. I’ve locked Soul in the bathroom. By the time they find him, his people will be gunning for Allen Chandler. Their reputation will be shot.’

  Wendell was struck dumb. ‘I should have you arrested,’ said Michael, turning to face him. ‘But as it’s Christmas I’m just going to fire you and recommend that no other publisher ever hires you. I presume it was Chris Berg at Wild and Madison who put you up to this?’ Wendell nodded. ‘Well, I’ll be calling his boss in the morning.’

  Emma leaned in to Wendell. ‘You could say, “I would have got away with it too if it weren’t for this meddling kid” if you like.’

  Wendell looked at her darkly. ‘You’re so low-brow, Emma.’

  ‘Maybe, but at least I’ll have a job in the morning,’ said Emma.

  ‘I think it’s time you left,’ said Michael. Wendell was about to protest but, seeing Michael’s stony face, he turned on his heel and sloped off into the night.

  Michael turned to Emma. ‘I think I might owe you an apology,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry.’ She gave a gracious nod of the head. He knelt down in front of Lily. ‘And I think I might owe you a thank you. Would you like to come with me to watch Cameron perform?’

  Lily smiled and took his hand. ‘Come on, Auntie Em,’ she said.

  Chapter Six

  ‘Who wants to watch The Snowman with Mum?’ cried Rachel, already feeling a little misty-eyed at the thought.

  ‘Not The Snowman again,’ groaned Lily, unimpressed.

  Rachel ignored her. ‘Will?’

  ‘No, thanks,’ said Will, glancing up from the game he was playing on the iPad.

  ‘I’m giving the turkey a bath,’ called Steve from the kitchen.

  ‘Of course you are, darling,’ replied Rachel.

  Steve appeared in the doorway wearing matching ‘Christmas Chef’ apron and hat. ‘If it’s good enough for Nigella, then it’s good enough for me.’ He grinned.

  ‘Can I help you, Daddy?’ said Lily in the syrupy voice she reserved only for Steve.

  ‘’Course you can, Lils. Follow me.’

  They disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Rachel staring forlornly at the DVD she was clutching in her hand. ‘I’ll watch it with you, Mama,’ said Alfie, climbing up onto the sofa and nestling into her arm.

  ‘That’s my boy.’ Rachel smiled, pulling him closer.

  There was a knock at the door. Rachel glanced at her watch. ‘That’ll be Granny. Early as usual.’

  ‘I’ll get it,’ said Will, sloping to the door, followed by Alfie singing a chorus of, ‘Granny! Granny! Granny!’

  ‘Hello, my little dears,’ came Diana’s voice from the porch. She appeared in the doorway moments later with Alfie hanging from one arm.

  ‘Let Granny come in,’ said Rachel. ‘Hi, Mum. You’re just in time to watch The Snowman.’

  Diana wrinkled her nose. ‘Isn’t that a children’s cartoon, Rachel? Ooh, your tree’s very wonky and you’ve got far too many decorations on the lower branches.’

  ‘And so Christmas begins,’ sighed Rachel. ‘Right, I’m going to make some popcorn and watch this with Alfie. If anyone wants to join us, they can.’

  As the film ended Rachel looked around her through tear-blurred vision. Alfie was cuddled under one arm and Lily had crawled in next to her mother on the other side. Will stood in the doorway watching but pretending not to. Rachel noticed her mother dab one eye with a handkerchief.

  ‘Are you all right, Mum?’

  ‘I’m fine, thank you, Rachel. I just had something in my eye.’

  ‘Why do we watch this every Christmas?’ wailed Lily. ‘It’s so sad!’

  ‘I have no idea. I just love it.’ Rachel sniffed.

  ‘Right, well, I need some little elves to help me put my presents under the tree,’ said Diana, regaining her composure.

  ‘Me! Me! Me!’ cried Lily and Alfie.

  Rachel smiled. ‘I’ll take your bag up to your room, Mum. I’ve put out a towel.’

  ‘Could I also have a hand towel and a flannel, please, Rachel? I’m not a barbarian.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Rachel through gritted teeth. She went into the kitchen where Steve was casually throwing star anise and peppercorns into their recycling box, which had been transformed into a bath for the turkey. ‘Is it too early for a gin and tonic?
’ sighed Rachel.

  ‘It’s never too early for a gin and tonic at Christmas.’ Steve smiled, offering an arm for a hug, which Rachel gratefully accepted. ‘Don’t let her get to you,’ he said, kissing the top of her head.

  ‘Easier said than done,’ said Rachel. ‘I’ve just been sent in search of towels.’

  ‘Is someone about to give birth?’

  ‘Ha ha. You’re funny.’

  ‘I like to think so,’ said Steve, kissing his wife on the lips.

  ‘And quite sexy,’ she added, kissing him back. He started to work his hands up and down her body.

  ‘Euw, that’s gross,’ declared Lily, wandering into the kitchen.

  ‘Towels it is, then,’ said Rachel, disappearing up the stairs.

  ‘Daddy, can I Skype Cameron?’

  ‘Again?’

  ‘I just want to wish him a Merry Christmas. Pleeease?’

  ‘Go on, then.’

  ‘Yesss!’

  Lily switched on the laptop and expertly typed in the password. Diana walked into the kitchen, carrying a bottle of wine and a Christmas cake.

  ‘A small offering,’ she said, smiling at Steve. She spotted the turkey in the box. ‘How very modern,’ she observed.

  ‘Thank you for the gifts, Diana,’ said Steve, ignoring the comment.

  Diana nodded and approached Lily. ‘What are you up to?’

  ‘Just Skyping Cameron. You know, the pop star we met in New York.’

  ‘Oh, yes, he was a lovely young man.’

  ‘Come and say hello.’

  Diana looked unsure but sat down next to Lily and peered at the screen. Lily pressed a couple of buttons and the computer made a dialling sound. After two rings, Cameron answered.

  ‘Hey, Lily!’

  ‘Hi, Cameron. I just wanted to wish you a happy Christmas.’

  ‘Happy Christmas to you too. Oh, hey, Mrs Darcy. How are you?’

  ‘I’m fine, thank you, Cameron dear. How is your grandmother?’

  ‘Better after the hip operation, thanks. She’ll be at Mum’s tomorrow so that’s cool.’

  ‘That’s very cool indeed.’ Diana smiled.

  ‘Did you get the tickets, Lily?’

  ‘I did. Thank you. I can’t wait to come and see the show next year!’

  Cameron nodded. ‘It’s going to rock. And you’ve got backstage passes so you can come and hang out with the band.’

  ‘Awesome! I’ll have to bring my mum, unfortunately.’

  ‘I heard that,’ said Rachel, walking into the kitchen. ‘Merry Christmas, Cameron.’

  ‘And to you too.’ Cameron grinned. ‘I better go. I’m heading home in a minute. Have a great time, guys!’

  ‘Bye, Cameron,’ said Lily, pressing the ‘end call’ button.

  ‘That Cameron Soul is such a loser,’ declared Will, walking into the kitchen and receiving a punch on the arm for his troubles. ‘Ow!’

  ‘Okay, pack it in, you two. I know Christmas is a time for fighting with your family, but it’s still only Christmas Eve so there’s a long way to go and we need to go to the Nativity Service.’

  Will rolled his eyes. ‘Why do I have to go? I’m an atheist.’

  Rachel shook her head. ‘Just because you’ve learnt the word, doesn’t mean you are one, William.’

  ‘What’s an atheist?’ asked Alfie, joining the merry throng.

  ‘It’s someone who doesn’t believe in God,’ said Lily dramatically. ‘Mrs Spratt, the librarian, says if you don’t believe in God, you will go to hell.’

  Tears brimmed in Alfie’s eyes. ‘But I don’t want Will to go to hell,’ he cried.

  ‘No one is going to hell but we are going to church,’ said Rachel, making a mental note to talk to the headmaster about Mrs Spratt in the new year. ‘Shoes, coats, hats, let’s go, go, go!’

  It was almost dark as they made the short walk from home to the local church. Rachel loved Christmas Eve night. There was that air of anticipation that you only felt on this one day.

  ‘That’s the Christmas star,’ said Alfie, pointing a fat finger heavenwards.

  Rachel looked up and didn’t have the heart to tell him that the star was in fact moving in the direction of Gatwick. She patted his bobble-hatted head. They made their way up the steps of the church, which was alive with candlelight and the faint scent of incense. They found some seats near to the front and soon afterwards the vicar came bounding in like an overexcited puppy.

  ‘Hello, everyone!’ he boomed in a voice that echoed around the walls.

  ‘Hello!’ cried the children.

  ‘Welcome to St Mark’s for our Nativity Service. We are going to have so much fun because guess what? It’s almost Christmas!’

  ‘Is that the vicar?’ murmured Diana with a frown. ‘He’s rather forward.’

  ‘He’s quite new,’ said Rachel, ‘and very enthusiastic.’

  ‘I can see that.’

  ‘Right, now, if you look at the crib, it’s very empty so I need some volunteers to help me find the nativity characters.’

  Every person in the room under the age of ten shot up their hand. The vicar looked pained. ‘Oh, I can’t choose. We’ll have to all go together! Come on, let’s all go on a tour round the church to find the characters!’ It was possible that he hadn’t thought this through as fifty or so children raced around the church, unsure of what or who they were looking for. Chaos ensued. A sheep was nearly dropped, Steve caught a tall, leaning candle before it set fire to the crib and the Virgin Mary had to suffer the indignity of being carried upside down. Eventually, all the figures were safely stowed in their straw-lined scene. The vicar held up the figure of the baby Jesus. A hush descended.

  ‘This is the most important character. Can anyone tell me who this is?’ A four-year-old stuck up his hand. ‘Yes?’ said the vicar, smiling at the small boy with encouragement.

  ‘Babyccino,’ said the little boy with grave authority.

  Everyone laughed, including the vicar. ‘Close, but no cigar. It’s baby Jesus and he won’t go into the crib until later on this evening. But I do think we should sing “Away in a Manger” to him, don’t you?’

  The lights were dimmed and, in the flickering candlelight, Rachel watched her three children’s faces. They were all singing, even Will. She felt tears form in her eyes and Steve’s arm around her shoulder. She and Diana smiled at one another. It was one of those almost perfect moments, although in her heart of hearts Rachel wished that Emma were there to see it too.

  ‘I love Christmas,’ sighed Lily on the walk home.

  As they rounded the corner they could see two figures standing outside the house. Rachel squinted and broke into a run as soon as she recognised them.

  ‘It’s Emma and Martin!’ she cried over her shoulder.

  She wrapped her sister in a tight hug. ‘Surprise!’ Emma grinned. ‘Now can you let us in, please? It’s flippin’ freezing and I really need a pee!’

  Half an hour later, they were sitting around the tree with mulled wine and hot chocolate.

  ‘But why didn’t you tell us you were coming?’ asked Diana.

  ‘I didn’t know myself until yesterday,’ said Emma, smiling at Martin. ‘It was a Christmas present from my beloved.’

  Martin put an arm around her. ‘Will you have enough food?’

  ‘We’ve always got far too much,’ said Steve reassuringly. ‘Will you be all right on the sofa-bed?’

  ‘Fine.’ Martin smiled.

  ‘Actually,’ said Emma, ‘we do have some news. I was going to save it for Christmas Day, but I can’t wait any longer.’

  ‘You’re engaged again?’ asked Diana hopefully.

  ‘No. I’m pregnant!’ cried Emma.

  The next five minutes were a commotion of surprised hugs and joyful congratulations.

  ‘Mum, are you all right? You haven’t told us that we should have got married first,’ said Emma, teasing.

  Diana raised one eyebrow. ‘Emma, I do know the way of the world the
se days. I’m delighted to have another grandchild on the way. I just wish your dear father could be here to share in the news.’

  Emma gave her mother a hug. ‘Me too,’ she said.

  While they were all celebrating, Diana approached Lily. ‘Lily,’ she said. ‘Do you think you could help me with something?’

  ‘Sure, Granny,’ said Lily, following her grandmother out of the room.

  ‘You’re going to get fat!’ cried Rachel joyfully.

  Emma stuck out her tongue. ‘I don’t care,’ she said, putting an arm around Martin.

  ‘Are you going to get married, then?’ asked Rachel.

  Emma looked at Martin and they both shrugged. ‘I don’t see any hurry for that. We want to enjoy starting a family.’

  ‘You’re going to get fat!’ repeated Rachel with glee. ‘It’s the best Christmas present ever!’

  ‘You’re welcome?’ said Emma, shaking her head.

  Lily came back into the room looking pleased with herself. ‘Where’s Granny?’ asked Rachel.

  ‘Talking to her boyfriend on Skype. I helped her,’ she said proudly.

  Emma and Rachel exchanged glances and crept out into the hallway to listen.

  ‘And so I’m going to be a grandmother yet again,’ Diana was saying.

  ‘Well, that’s wonderful news, Diana. You must be so proud,’ said George.

  ‘I am,’ said Diana. Rachel squeezed her sister on the arm.

  ‘I’m pleased to hear from you, Diana. I hope this can become a regular occurrence.’

  ‘So do I, George. Well, I mustn’t hold you up. I just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas.’

  ‘And to you and your family. I may be coming to London in the new year so perhaps we could meet up?’

  ‘I look forward to it. Goodbye, George.’

  ‘Goodbye, Diana.’

  Diana carefully pressed the ‘end call’ button as Lily had shown her and rose from her seat. ‘I know you two are out there,’ she called to Emma and Rachel. The sisters giggled. ‘And I’m not sure what you’re sniggering about,’ she added, walking out into the corridor. They faced their mother, pretending to be serious. ‘But I am glad we’re all together,’ she said with a smile, patting them both on the arm as she made her way back into the living-room.