“This little guy was going to spend Christmas alone?” Amory asked, her eyes glistening as she stroked his fur.
Cruz nodded solemnly, “But now we can give him the Christmas of every puppy’s dream.”
“He’s so beautiful!” she said, and for a split second or two her mask fell away and she looked really quite vulnerable. Her face softened and her eyes shone.
“Amory, I know we both had different visions about starting a family, and about marriage, but we got through that hurdle by being open and honest, and if we can get through that we can get through anything, together. So when I spotted this little guy, I just felt like he was right for us. The same way that I knew as soon as I saw you, that day in Manhattan when we first met, that you were the one for me. It was like my soul recognized you, and I had that same feeling with this fluffball. And I hope you do too.”
I cast my eyes to floor, feeling like I was intruding, but my heart was beating fast for my friends. Their love was so strong, so evident in everything they did, that even huge dilemmas couldn’t force them apart. Cruz’s gift of a rescue pup was perfect.
“I love him already,” she said holding back tears. “And I felt the very same way about you, but of course, I couldn’t tell you that. I’m a born and bred New Yorker, we don’t share our feelings so easily.” She tried to joke about it, but it was clear Amory was letting down the defenses she’d built in the past. “I love you, Cruz, I really, really do, and I don’t care who knows it,” she said as she reached for his hand and then looked down at the new addition to their family.
I exchanged a quick glance with Kai, who was trying to contain a smile too; Mom and Aunt Bessie were grinning behind their hands. It was a beautiful thing to witness, two people so in love.
Then the puppy glanced up and licked Amory’s nose, provoking a giggle which he took it as sign to pee in her lap, lightening the mood instantly. “Oh,” she laughed. “We need to potty train him.”
The puppy jumped, his front paws landing on her chest, and licked her chin as if he was saying hello. She threw her head back and laughed. “OK, you’re forgiven.”
Mom came back in with a wet hand towel for Amory to clean herself up, which she took gratefully and uselessly wiped at her jeans.
“Do you want to borrow something of mine?” Aunt Bessie asked.
I stemmed my own giggles, picturing Amory in one of Aunt Bessie’s sparkly ensembles. Amory laughed too, “That would be great, Bessie, if you don’t mind.”
“Be right back,” she said leaving the rest of us to coo over the puppy.
He was a ball of energy, and jumped and rolled on Amory’s lap. She lifted him to her face and kissed him on the nose. “Oh, he’s adorable. Thank you, Cruz. He’s a little ray of sunshine.”
“What are you going to call him?” Cruz asked, bending down to pat him.
She gave Cruz a peck on the cheek. “I don’t know, I’ll have to think about it. Get to know him first.”
As Amory went off to change, Aunt Bessie bustled to the kitchen. The scent of roasted meat and crispy potatoes had my mouth watering, despite the amount of food I’d already eaten. I really was going to roll out of there, I was sure of it.
“Stir the gravy, will you, Clio?”
“Sure.” She trusted me with the gravy? Yikes.
The turkey came out, roasted golden, then the root vegetables which were crisp and glistened with butter. Aunt Bessie parboiled some green beans, drizzled them with olive oil and mixed through some pomegranate seeds that resembled shiny rubies. My old childhood nemesis, Brussels sprouts, were crumbed and deep fried, and served with a melted cheese dipping sauce. They were disguised so well I was eager to try one and see if I really was a grown up now – didn’t you achieve the highest level of adulting when you could eat Brussels sprouts?
Cruz wandered in. “Do you need a hand?”
Aunt Bessie threw him a grateful look. “Can you carve the turkey?”
He nodded and set to work.
She dusted her hands on her apron, and wrinkled her brow. “What am I forgetting?”
“The carrots?” I ventured, noticing the neat julienned stems that Kai had chopped were now swimming in a pan of garlic butter.
“Yes!” she laughed. “Also I made bread and butter sauce this year, now don’t turn your nose up at it, it goes very well with the richness of the turkey.”
I held my hands up in surrender. “I’m not saying a word. I’m more than happy to eat a feast someone else cooked. And I’ll try all of it.”
“Good girl,” she kissed my cheek. “Start taking these to the table and I’ll bring the serving spoons.”
Once Amory had changed we all sat at the dining table, now laden with food and decorations ready for our second feast of the day. With the puppy asleep in Amory’s lap I couldn’t help but smile as I saw how sweet they were together. I’d never thought Amory was a pet person, but here she was falling head over heels for a puppy.
I poured everyone a glass of wine, and Mom and Aunt Bessie went to fetch more platters before joining us at the table.
As we all jostled around in our seats we turned when Aunt Bessie clinked her glass with a fork. “Now, I wanted to raise a toast before we start eating. Here’s to our first Christmas together in a long time.” She held her wine glass aloft, and blinked back sudden tears. “A big welcome to our guests,” she said turning to look each of my friends in turn, “and thank you for spending the day with us. Let’s hope it becomes a new tradition.” She beamed so hard it almost broke my heart. I hadn’t really thought in all the years I’d been away that it would have just been Mom and Aunt Bessie sharing a turkey lunch with all the trimmings. Why hadn’t I come home more? Since being back I’d realized I was as much to blame as Mom for the radio silence. Still, I was here now, and things were changing – albeit at a snail’s pace.
When Aunt Bessie sat down I was astonished when Mom lifted her glass, and cleared her throat to speak. I leaned forward so I wouldn’t miss a thing.
With downcast eyes, she said, “Thank you all for looking after my daughter. I know you’ve been there for her in one way or another the past few months. It helps…” her voice petered off, and tears sprung in my eyes, “… it helps knowing she has support and friendships that will carry her through the good and bad.”
Silence fell.
I was so shocked I couldn’t think of a thing to say, but the smile on my face must have spoken volumes because Mom gave me a small nod and a wobbly smile of her own.
Aunt Bessie broke the hush by saying, “Well now we’ve got the toasting out of the way let’s drink and be merry!” We all leaned forward and clinked glasses. I darted a quick glance at Kai, who was lost in thought, and I figured Mom’s words might have touched a chord with him too.
The chatter rose as we feasted on every delicious morsel, even the bread and butter sauce was a hit, mixing with the steaming hot gravy, and perfect for dipping each mouthful into. Combined with the nutty, herbaceous stuffing, it was a meal made in heaven, and one I wished I had the skills to recreate. I was awed by people who could cook so many things at once and not burn it all. Sadly, I didn’t reach peak adult status because the Brussels, no matter how dressed up, still tasted like bitter greens to me, and in a way I was thankful – who wanted to be an adult anyway?
The puppy chose that moment to steal a piece of gravy-covered turkey off Amory’s plate. It was too big for his little choppers, and somehow missed the napkin on her lap, but found her clothes. She slapped her head. “Outfit number three coming up! He’s a wardrobe menace!”
“Your jeans should be dry by now,” Aunt Bessie said. “You can change again after lunch.”
“Thank you,” Amory grinned. “I’ll throw these in the wash at the same time.”
Mom didn’t say much, but actually ate rather than picking at her food like she would usually do. She was so thin, it scared me, but just maybe this was a tipping point. Were we on our way to
sorting out our relationship? Only time would tell, but so far so good.
Empty plates sat in front of us all and no one moved. We were too full to do anything except sit with blank faces. Aunt Bessie was the only one still sprightly, she ambled to the kitchen and returned with more mulled wine and a tray of peppermint chocolates.
“Thank you, gang, for making this one of the best Christmases we’ve had in a long time. I’m hoping your youth rubs off on me.”
We laughed, and sipped our wine, and my eyelids grew heavy from contentment.
“Have you all called your families?” Aunt Bessie asked into the satiated quiet. “They must miss you, being so far from home.”
Amory spoke up first. “I rang them this morning. My parents are enjoying their very first child-free Christmas! They’re travelling in India, and quite content to swap turkey for goat curry and not bother with the clean-up, or waiting on their grown-up children. Can’t say I blame them. I’d choose India too. We are a bit of a handful when we’re all together.”
“I’m sure they’re missing you too, though,” Aunt Bessie said. “But I’m glad they’re enjoying India. I’ve always wanted to go there. What about you, Cruz?”
Cruz filled them in on his phone call home. The fact he had to speak to every extended family member, and some of the neighbors. And that they were excited about him and Amory visiting as soon as they could.
“And Kai? I suppose Christmas is over for another year in Australia?”
A blush crept up his cheeks, and I was about to save him by making some excuse when he said, “I’m all set to Skype them when I go back to the lodge this evening.”
Sitting beside each other, we locked gazes for a moment, and I was lost to him, and everything around me.
“Is it hot in here, or is it just me?” Amory made a show of fanning herself. I kicked her under the table but must have hit Cruz instead who let out a yelp of surprise.
“Sorry,” I said. “Pass it on,” I motioned to Amory, and he grinned.
Under the table, Kai clasped my hand and held it firm against his jean-clad thigh. I couldn’t remember a better Christmas, being surrounded by friends and family, even my mom who was smiling at Amory’s joke. Things were looking up for the New Year, especially with all of these people here to stay… or at least most of them.
Chapter Four
Back at the lodge, Amory and Cruz made excuses and headed up to their suite with the puppy, who was once again asleep in her arms. My big city party-the-night-away friends were no match for a long festive lunch and a country walk in the fresh air. They were wiped out and bleary-eyed, all set to nap.
I flopped on the chaise in the front parlor, and Kai did the same. It had just gone six, and outside the sky shifted from blue to inky black.
“What’s the story with your mom, Clio? I didn’t realize she was so… reserved.”
As usual with Kai, the words held no malice, just a greater need to understand. Today had felt like a dream, like life was on the right track. Mom had overcome her anxiety to join us, and even spoken up a fair bit. But I didn’t really want to burden Kai with the whole story when he had so much going on so I kept it light, told him an edited version. Some secrets should stay secret, so whilst I told him about my upbringing, my father’s death, Mom’s pulling away, and finally, her mysterious connection to Cedarwood, and the fact no one would fess up to what exactly happened here all those years ago, I kept some things back too, and sped through it like I was recounting someone else’s story.
“Wow,” he said.
I sighed. “I know.” Things were complicated, there was no pretending that one Christmas lunch had solved everything, we had a way to go before we were really the mother and daughter type I’d always dreamed of. I hadn’t told him about the photographs I’d found or the significance of the maze Isla had discovered. “Mom’s always been that way. I used to think she was cold, sort of bitter about life, but now I can see it’s more than that. She’s fighting an internal battle every day just to be here. I wish I knew what to say or do that would pull her up out of that rabbit hole.”
His brow knitted. “Watching her today made me think of my own mom, and how my silence is probably hurting her. I think you’re right, the longer I wait before talking to them the worse it’s going to be. So I’m glad I messaged them after our chat.”
I sat up straighter. “I don’t think there’s ever a ‘right time’ with these things,” I said, thinking of my own predicament, and knowing it applied to Kai too.
“What about your mom?” Kai said, reaching over and smoothing a hand over mine.
“We’re getting there, slowly but surely.” I smiled up at him, appreciating the gesture. “Go call them, Kai. I’ll be here if you need me.”
He consulted his watch. “OK, mind if I use your office?”
“Go for it.”
When he left, I went to the kitchen and brewed some herbal tea. My phone beeped with a text.
Merry Christmas, Clio! Hope Santa spoiled you… If it’s OK I’ll pop around tomorrow to discuss the New Year’s Eve party? My boss is thinking masquerade ball now, think there’s time? I’ll bring a bottle of wine. Love Timothy x
In all the craziness of Christmas I’d nearly forgotten about the New Year’s event we were planning. Like always, the thought of organizing an event sent a thrill through me, but so far we had been time poor with every party we’d held at the lodge and this would be no different. A masquerade ball would require a lot of prep, and we’d have to order decorations and pay for quick delivery. Still, then we’d have those props for future parties…
I fired off a reply:
Merry Christmas, Tim! Hope the kids had a ball! Tomorrow is perfect, we’ll have to move fast if the theme is masquerade but we can definitely do it… I have wine, so don’t bring a thing. See you soon,
Clio x
With the scent of lemongrass and ginger in the air, I sat cradling the steaming hot cup of tea, and thought about what we’d need for the party, and what kind of menu would suit, what drinks, music? Cocktails, pink champagne, and hors d’oeuvres, feathery masks, jazz music? Or classical guitarists? A black and white masquerade ball! Everything in monochrome…? The lodge was the perfect venue for such an elaborate party, I just hoped we’d be able to pull it off.
Instead of worrying, I grabbed a notebook, its pages swollen already with to-do lists, and started scribbling my thoughts down. I thought a photo booth would be fun, the old school type that shot a length of film out which guests could take home. Aunt Bessie could do donut towers… As the ideas came thick and fast I was tempted to fetch Amory and brainstorm, but reminded myself Christmas night probably wasn’t the ideal time to talk about work.
Without meaning to, I pricked my ears for the sound of Kai; he’d been gone twenty minutes, a good sign that they were really talking and not just making pleasantries. I smiled and got back to my planning, falling into deep concentration. Before long his footsteps echoed down the wooden floors, and I hastily jotted down a note before I forgot as he walked into the room.
He sat opposite me, and I pushed a cup of now lukewarm herbal tea across.
I waited for him to say something, but he didn’t move. “How did it go?” I asked softly.
The grandfather clock in the hall tick-tocked while he formulated a response. “As well as it could have in the circumstances, I guess.” Raking a hand through his hair, he pursed his lips and gazed past me. “They wanted to know if I was planning to head back to Australia soon.”
My belly clenched at the thought of him leaving the US for good. It was hard enough seeing him leave for other parts of the country. And it wouldn’t be long before he left for San Francisco again, even that was too much to bear. He seemed to think of Cedarwood as a place of calm, somewhere he could get lost if he wanted to, find that solitude he craved. All he had to do was head up the mountain and he could clear his thoughts, and think without the daily grind of the big city. T
here was a part of me that just knew he belonged at Cedarwood, but it had to be his choice.
“Of course, they want to see you in person and make sure you’re really OK. If it was me, that’s what I’d want to do too…”
He gave me the ghost of a smile. “I’m not leaving America, Clio. Not yet.”
Selfishly, I was over the moon he wasn’t leaving the country – Australia was so far away. “Well you’ve taken the first step, and I know it wasn’t easy.” I reached out and squeezed his hand. “Now you’ve spoken the first time it will get easier going forward, trust me.”
Kai had to follow his own path. Our timing may not have been right – we were both dealing with messy fallouts from real life – but my world made more sense with Kai in it. Even if I only saw him once a year, it would be better than nothing. Maybe our paths would cross again in the future when he had worked things out, and was where he wanted to be…
“Thanks, Clio. For everything. Having someone to talk to, someone I could trust with all of this has made it so much easier.”
We clasped hands a little tighter. “I’m glad you trusted me.”
We stared into each other’s eyes as moonlight shone through the gauzy curtain and for a moment everything was right with the world.
Chapter Five
In my office, I added a log to the fire and watched it until it caught alight. Boxing Day was always a mixed bag for me. While the fairy lights still flashed on the tree, the fun itself was over for another year. Still, this Christmas had been a good one, and the first I’d spent with my mom in such a long time.
While the lodge inhabitants slumbered, I worked. I checked various tourism websites we used that helped connect guests to accommodation, and was happy to see a few enquiries about the special offers we’d introduced, and one booking for March. I replied to the queries, did we offer guided walks? (Yes! Micah had climbed those mountains since we were kids, he knew them backwards.) Were there enough things to do to keep a tech-obsessed ten-year-old busy and away from his phone? (Yes! Plenty of indoor and outdoor activities, enough that screen time would be forgotten.) Did we cater for gluten intolerance? (Yes!) And lastly, could dance lessons be booked ahead of arrival so they didn’t miss out? (Sure!)
Midnight and Mistletoe At Cedarwood Lodge Page 4
