Meet Me Under the Mistletoe

by Carla Burgess

  ‘It is quite comfortable. There’s a bathroom through here,’ she said, opening a door to the left of the bed.

  ‘Brilliant. Thank you.’

  ‘And of course, feel free to hang your clothes up in the wardrobe. There’s a kettle with tea and coffee over there, and if there’s anything else I can help you with, just give me a shout. You know where everything is, anyway, don’t you, Anthony?’

  ‘Of course I do. Don’t worry about us.’ He dropped a kiss on her cheek.

  ‘Oh, it is good to see you, Anthony.’ Judy took his hand and looked up at him warmly. ‘You’ve always been such a lovely boy. Nice to see you’ve found a beautiful girl, too.’

  She beamed at me. ‘He’s never brought anyone before, you know. You’re very honoured.’

  I laughed and glanced at Anthony, uncertain whether he’d request a separate room for me, but he just put his suit carrier on the bed and went to look out of the window.

  ‘I’ll leave you to it. See you downstairs.’

  The door closed behind her. I walked over to the bed and ran my hand down the carved wooden bedpost. ‘We’re sharing a room?’ I said.

  ‘Looks like it. Why, is that a problem?’ He looked over his shoulder at me. ‘I wouldn’t worry. I’ll likely be too drunk to stand later, let alone do anything else. I always drink too much at these things. Besides, you’re better off in here with me. There’re rumours this place is haunted.’

  ‘I don’t believe in ghosts.’

  ‘I do.’ He grinned at me and I wasn’t sure if he was joking or not. ‘You can keep me safe.’

  ‘I’ve never slept in a four-poster bed before.’ I sat down on it and bounced. ‘Oh my word, it’s so comfortable!’ I lay back against the pillows and stared up at the canopy above my head. Anthony climbed up next to me and lay down. ‘Mmm.’ He closed his eyes.

  ‘Are you having a nap?’

  ‘Muhuh.’

  ‘I’m going to have a bath then.’ I leaned over and kissed his forehead. His eyes flickered, but he was already drifting off to sleep.

  The bathroom occupied the other side of the turret and was the same size as the bedroom. A large, claw-foot bath stood against one wall and a washbasin in front of the window. I turned on the tap and water gushed into the bathtub. I couldn’t believe I was staying in such a romantic place, or that Anthony knew someone who owned such an amazing castle. It was obviously a hotel. I wondered if it hosted weddings. It would be a great place to get married.

  I wasn’t entirely sure what time the party started, but I thought I should make a start on getting ready. I still wasn’t certain I’d chosen the most appropriate dress and was feeling anxious as I slipped into the hot bath water. Anthony’s assurances that I’d be fine in what I’d travelled in had done nothing to alleviate my worries. In fact, they’d made them worse. What if I went downstairs looking like one of the crystal chandeliers and everyone else was wearing normal clothes?

  On the other hand, though, I wanted to look my absolute best for Anthony. He was always beautifully dressed, and I didn’t want to show him up by looking dowdy next to him. In fact, I wanted to blow him away. I wanted him to think I was beautiful.

  I sat in a huge, purple, throne-like chair to apply my make-up. Anthony was still snoring on the bed and I wondered if I should wake him up. It was now half past five and I wasn’t sure when we needed to be downstairs. Sitting down on the bed, I shook his shoulder gently and his eyes flickered open.

  ‘It’s half past five. I don’t know when we need to go downstairs?’

  ‘Oh.’ He rubbed his eye with the back of his hand and sniffed. ‘Six. I’ll have a shower now.’

  I went back to the mirror to finish putting my hair up, and then stepped into my dress. It was a long sheaf of sparkling gold silk with a plunging back. Looking at myself in the mirror, I was suddenly terrified it looked like a bridal gown. Anthony would run for the hills. What had I been thinking when I bought it?

  Frantically, I looked through my case to see if, by some miracle, I’d brought something else that might be suitable. I had another dress for tomorrow, but it was just one of the usual ones I wore in the shop. It didn’t have the wow factor, but it was probably less worrying for Anthony.

  The door opened suddenly and Anthony stepped out with his shirt untucked over black trousers. He stopped dead and stared at me.

  ‘I’m going to change,’ I bleated.

  ‘Why? You look absolutely stunning.’ He blinked at me as though he couldn’t believe his eyes.

  ‘Are you sure it’s not too much?’

  ‘Of course. You look amazing.’

  ‘Not too… weddingy?’

  He frowned in confusion. ‘Brides wear white, don’t they?’

  I opened my mouth to say not always but then shut it again. If that’s what Anthony thought, then that was fine by me.

  ‘Can you zip me up then?’

  Anthony moved behind me and zipped up the back of the dress. It wasn’t a long zip, but his fingers lingered on my skin, making the hair rise on the back of my neck. He dropped a kiss on my bare shoulder and stepped away, fiddling with a cufflink. He couldn’t stop looking at me and I suddenly felt hot all over. Pretending not to notice, I sat on the bed and put on my shoes.

  ‘I was going to dye my hair back blonde,’ I said, more for something to say than anything else. ‘But Mum said I shouldn’t risk it before Christmas.’

  ‘Are you naturally blonde?’

  ‘Yes.’

  He nodded. ‘Red suits you, though.’ He tucked in his shirt and pulled on his jacket. ‘I hate bow ties,’ he said, walking to the mirror to tie it around his neck.

  ‘Looks good, though.’ I smiled at him in the mirror and received a smouldering look in return.

  If Anthony was nervous, he didn’t show it. He led the way downstairs to the dining room, where the guests were waiting. I slid my hand into his and he squeezed it gently. The sound of laughter and chatter drifted down the hallway, the voices growing louder as we approached. About fifty people were standing around, clutching glasses of champagne. To my relief, all the ladies seemed to be wearing sparkly evening dresses, so I didn’t feel out of place at all. They let out a cheer when Anthony walked in, swarming around him to shake his hand and kiss him hello. I stood to one side and accepted a glass of champagne from Judy.

  ‘Everyone, this is Rachel,’ he said, pulling me back towards him. ‘Rachel, this is everyone. I’ll introduce you individually, else you’ll never remember all these names.

  ‘A girl, at last. We all thought you were gay, Ant!’ someone shouted.

  ‘Yes, yes, I know.’ Anthony took a sip of the champagne Judy pressed on him and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. ‘Be gentle with her. She’s not used to rabble like you lot.’

  There was more laughter and Anthony drew me away towards a small, stout woman with white hair drawn back into a bun. She was smiling, and looked warm and friendly with sparkling blue eyes. ‘Mother,’ he said, bending to kiss her on the cheek, ‘I’d like you to meet Rachel. Rachel, this is my mother, Cath.’

  ‘Hello, dear,’ she said, squeezing my hand. ‘Lovely to meet you.’

  ‘Lovely to meet you, too,’ I said. I remembered Anthony describing her as terrifying. She looked perfectly lovely now.

  ‘What did you do to deserve him?’ she asked, tilting her head towards her son. ‘Kill someone in a past life?’

  I laughed in surprise as Anthony protested. ‘That’s not very nice!’

  ‘He’s a bugger,’ she said, narrowing her eyes at her son. ‘Watch him.’

  ‘I will, don’t worry.’

  ‘It’s a good job I’m not the sensitive type, isn’t it?’ he said, looking wounded.

  ‘How have you been, anyway?’ she said, looking up at him. ‘Have you caught any criminals lately?’

  Anthony glanced at me in amusement. ‘You could say that.’

  ‘At least you’re doing s
omething useful. Good boy.’

  ‘Thanks!’ He rolled his eyes and laughed.

  ‘Now, go and see your brother. I’m off to the loo.’

  Laughing, Anthony led me over to the other side of the room where a carbon copy of himself was standing next to a window. He was grinning as he watched Anthony approach, arms lifted ready to hug his brother. They embraced noisily with lots of backslapping. ‘So, you’re the girl who’s tamed my brother, are you?’ he said, turning to me.

  ‘I don’t know about that,’ I laughed.

  ‘I’m Julian, and that’s my wife, Liz.’ He pointed at a dark-haired woman across the room who smiled and waved. ‘And somewhere around here are my children, Grace and Charlie. I think they’re hiding somewhere, though. They’re excited about being allowed to stay up late. God knows what they’ll be like tomorrow when they’re overtired. They’re monsters as it is.’

  ‘How old are they?’ I asked.

  ‘Grace is six, Charlie’s four.’

  ‘Six and four? They can’t be that already.’ Anthony looked incredulous.

  ‘They are. You just haven’t seen them in ages. How long has it been? A year?’

  Anthony winced guiltily. ‘I’m sorry. I really didn’t realise it had been so long.’

  ‘Well, I guess you’ve been busy at work. And at least you’re here now. It’s good to see you.’ Julian slapped him on the arm.

  ‘You, too.’ They smiled at each other and a lump formed in my throat, watching them together.

  ‘So, what have you been up to then? Apart from the obvious, that is.’ He winked at me and I blushed.

  ‘I’ve just been working really.’ Anthony scratched his head, seemingly unable to recall anything else he’d been doing. ‘I moved into a flat in Chester, and that’s where I met the lovely Rachel. She runs the flower shop below.’

  ‘You’re a florist?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Well, how wonderful.’ Julian smiled warmly at me.

  ‘What do you do?’ I asked.

  Julian shot Anthony an indignant look. ‘Hasn’t Anthony told you anything about me at all? Well, I am disappointed. I’m a solicitor.’

  ‘Oh, very good.’

  ‘Our mother doesn’t think it’s very good, does she, Ant? She wanted us to be farmers and work the land like real men.’ He grimaced and shuddered.

  ‘Farmers? Really?’

  Anthony shifted uncomfortably. ‘I think she’s come to terms with it now. Especially as you’ve provided her with the much-longed-for grandkids. I take it she’s coming to you for Christmas?’

  ‘Yes, of course.’

  ‘Phew, I was slightly worried I hadn’t checked and she’d be sitting there alone, waiting for me to call.’

  ‘She’d be waiting a bloody long time! You’ll be working, of course.’ Julian gave his brother a long-suffering look.

  ‘I will.’ Anthony bowed his head guiltily and Julian smacked him on his arm. ‘Make sure you catch some bad guys. Make it worthwhile. What will you be doing Christmas Day, Rachel?’

  ‘Spending it with my parents. Anthony’s very kindly allowing us to use his flat to cook Christmas dinner, though, as my water tank burst last week and flooded my house, and then my father managed to blow up the microwave a few days ago.’

  ‘Oh no! Disaster all round.’ Julian looked back at his brother curiously. ‘Nice to know you’ve found some Christmas spirit, Anthony.’

  ‘You know me, Jules. I’ll be staying well out of the way.’

  A gong sounded and we took our places at the dinner table. I was relieved to find myself at the end of the table, next to Anthony. Julian, Liz and their two beautiful children were seated opposite, and Cath sat on the other side of Anthony. There was lots of banter around the table and Anthony seemed to get quite a bit of ribbing for being a police officer. There were lots of jokes I didn’t quite understand, but I was happy to let them pass over my head.

  ‘I love your dress.’ Liz leaned towards me across the table. ‘It’s very vintage-looking.’

  ‘I’m a bit of a vintage freak, I’m afraid.’

  ‘You look amazing.’ She gave me an earnest look. ‘How did you meet Anthony? He’s always so busy. I never thought he went out or did anything other than work.’

  I told her about him renting the apartment above my shop in Chester and she frowned. ‘I didn’t even know he was living in Chester. I’m sure I sent his birthday card to Manchester.’ She shot an annoyed look at Anthony.

  ‘He’s only lived there for a couple of weeks. He may well have got it.’

  ‘A couple of weeks? Is that all you’ve known him? And he’s brought you here?’ Liz raised her eyebrows at me. ‘My goodness, you must have something no one else has got, because he sure as hell has never brought anyone here before.’

  I shrugged. ‘Maybe he couldn’t face coming alone again this year?’

  Liz cast an appraising eye at Anthony, who was deep in conversation with his mum and the man sitting the other side of her. ‘Maybe he’s changing.’

  Shaking my head, I pressed a napkin to my lips. ‘I wouldn’t bank on it. He’s already warned me he doesn’t do relationships.’

  Liz’s jaw dropped. ‘He told you that? And you’re still with him?’

  ‘We’re just friends, really.’ I laughed, feeling embarrassed. ‘We’re not really together.’

  ‘I’m not surprised if he told you that!’ Liz gave a short laugh. ‘Even so, I saw the way he was looking at you before.’ She looked thoughtfully at Anthony again. ‘If I’m not very much mistaken, you’ve stolen his heart.’

  I blushed scarlet, feeling hot all over. ‘I don’t think so. What about you and Julian? How did you two meet?’

  ‘At college. We’ve been together for years.’ She looked across at him adoringly. ‘He’s very straightforward. Much less complicated than Anthony.’

  ‘What was that?’ Hearing his name, Anthony looked around enquiringly. ‘What are you ladies talking about?’

  ‘I was just telling Rachel that Julian’s much more straightforward than you.’

  ‘Thanks a lot!’ Julian protested, leaning forward to join in the conversation.

  ‘It was a compliment!’ Liz told him.

  ‘Doesn’t sound like one! It sounds like you’re saying I’m thick. Or easier to handle or something.’

  Anthony laughed and Liz reached out to her husband and squeezed his hand. Their children were messing about with their soup, stirring it around and watching it drop from the spoon.

  ‘Your children are gorgeous,’ I said. ‘Grace is the spitting image of you, isn’t she?’

  ‘I know, and Charlie is the image of Julian. And Anthony, for that matter. They’re all so alike. What do you think, Anthony? Do you think if you had a boy he’d look like Charlie?’

  Anthony laughed. ‘I guess we’ll never find out.’

  ‘Spoilsport! Why are you saying things like that in front of Rachel, anyway? Is it your intention to scare her off for good?’

  ‘It’s only fair she knows I never want to get married or have children.’

  Liz gaped at him. ‘I can’t believe you, Anthony. You’re going to end up a lonely, bitter old man. Who’s going to look after you when you’re old?’

  ‘I’ve already thought about that. I’m going to move in with you and Julian so you can look after us both.’

  ‘No chance! You’re going straight into a home.’

  He laughed. ‘I won’t live that long.’

  ‘Anthony! Don’t talk like that.’ Cath slapped Anthony’s wrist and he caught her hand and squeezed it gently

  ‘Sorry, Mum.’

  ‘I should think so. We barely ever see you, and when we do you start talking about dying.’

  ‘I’m only joking!’

  ‘Well, don’t!’

  Anthony put his arm around his mother’s shoulders and kissed her head. It was lovely to see him with his family, to know
he really cared about people, and it was comforting to see that the people here really loved him, too. I felt like it revealed more about him than simply spending time alone with him would. I’d never got to meet any of Patrick’s friends or family – apart from his little girl, of course – so I never saw that side of him.

  The main course came: an early Christmas dinner of roast turkey with all the trimmings.

  ‘So, you all do this every year, do you?’ I asked, midway through the meal.

  ‘Yes, for years and years and years,’ Anthony said.

  ‘Are these all your relatives?’

  ‘No, they’re mostly Judy’s relatives, but we’ve all known each other for years. We’re just friends of the family, really.’

  ‘You’re family to me, dear,’ Judy called down the table, obviously overhearing the conversation over the murmur of other voices. ‘I remember the day you were born, Anthony. It only seems like yesterday.’

  Anthony chuckled, but I felt quite touched by their shared history and the love around this table. I only had a small family, really. I was an only child and only had one cousin who I didn’t really get on with. Elena was like a sister, though. I supposed my family would expand to include her children when they eventually arrived. And Daniel, of course.

  After dinner, we went into the drawing room and sat on the sofas to talk. Anthony introduced me to more people and they told me stories about Anthony and his brother as children and some of the things they used to get up to. Grace suddenly became very interested in the sparkles on my dress and asked me lots of questions about it before complaining loudly that she’d been promised dancing and there had been none.

  ‘We’ll have to rectify that, Grace, won’t we!’ Judy said, getting up and leading her by the hand to the dance floor. Someone put some music on and Judy swayed with Grace, holding her hands. Little Charles bounded up next to them and proceeded to jump up and down like a lunatic, despite the fact it was very calm classical music.

  ‘He’s nuts!’ Julian complained, shaking his head at Liz. ‘Can we put them to bed now?’

  ‘Don’t be mean! Let them have some fun. Besides, your mum likes to see them.’

  ‘She’s coming back to ours tomorrow. She can spend a whole week with them then.’ We watched as Cath went up on the dance floor and took Charlie’s little fists in hers.