When he handed it to her Amelia opened it out to see a pencil sketch. ‘This is you. Wow, she drew this? She really is talented.’
‘She admitted she took a photograph of me at the Christmas tree stall when I was working, and drew it from that.’
The details she’d captured in soft grey, a deeper shade for the contours of his face and his hair, were powerful. ‘You should frame it. If someone drew such a nice picture of me I’d want to treasure it. And it’s a wonderful keepsake.’
‘I probably won’t see her after this holiday.’
‘That’s the attitude,’ she added sarcastically.
‘Be serious. She lives in Hove, I live in Cornwall. Neither of us has a car. Makes it pretty difficult. Not to mention her dad hates me. Even if she fell head over heels in love with me, her dad would set up roadblocks to stop us ever seeing each other.’
‘You’re probably right. Hey, at least you can take your aggression out on those trees at the Christmas tree farm soon. Until then, try to keep a cool head.’
They were in a good place, for now, and when Amelia called it a night she fell straight to sleep, but when she woke in the early hours and couldn’t settle, she decided to try to catch Connie on the phone before she left for work.
‘It’s me. Amelia,’ she clarified again to the groggy voice at the end of the line. Had she totally got the time difference wrong? She double-checked on her phone but she hadn’t. ‘What’s up? I thought you’d be about to leave for work.’
‘I’m not going in today, I’m not feeling great.’
‘Ah, your work Christmas party by any chance? Hangover from hell?’
‘Busted,’ Connie replied, still half asleep.
Over the years Amelia had enjoyed seeing Connie let her hair down after everything she’d been through with Stuart and Kyle. But right now, when she was tired, Amelia didn’t seem able to summon the same forgiveness. ‘Aren’t you going to ask about Kyle?’ Her voice demanded an answer, she was ratty because she cared.
‘How is he?’ Woozy still, most likely dry-mouthed from alcohol, Connie sounded more asleep than Amelia was and it only served to wind her up all the more.
‘He’s fine. Bit of attitude, accused of stealing, in trouble because of a girl, the usual thing.’
Connie cleared her throat and Amelia could imagine her sitting up in bed. At least that was something. ‘Start from the beginning.’
So Amelia did. She relayed everything that had gone down since they arrived, starting with the accusation of theft in Madison Square Park, finishing with Kyle and Scarlett and Nathan’s manhandling of Kyle at the inn.
‘I’m sorry he’s not behaving better.’ Connie sounded shattered. ‘How’s the work at the market stall?’
‘That’s going well.’
‘I’m glad.’
‘I wish you’d talk to him more, try to help him.’
‘I never seem able to get through to him,’ Connie replied, coughing before she even got to the end of her sentence.
‘Have you really tried though?’
‘Of course I have.’
‘He’s still grieving about his dad and having me to talk to isn’t the same as you.’
‘Ease up, Amelia, I can’t deal with this right now. I feel really bad.’
She resisted the urge to yell about her partying and her carefree life with Kyle out of the picture. If Connie had a man in bed beside her then Amelia would truly lose the plot. ‘You need to deal with it, it’s not going to magically go away.’
‘I know.’
Amelia softened at the hopelessness in Connie’s voice. ‘He’s hurting, Connie.’
‘He’s so angry most of the time. At me, at the world.’
‘I expect the anger is bundled up with his grief and he hasn’t separated the two, but the more you back off, the worse he’s going to get. He needs you.’ She was about to snap and demand a reply when she realised Connie was crying. ‘I’m doing my best, but I’m not his mum.’
‘I know.’ Connie sniffed her tears away. ‘I tried to tell him to work harder at school but at the same time I didn’t want to nag. Then he got in with a bad crowd and I just didn’t know what to do.’
‘He doesn’t want to hang out with them, you know. I can tell. Coming here has really helped him to see how things could be if he turned his life around. He hasn’t said as much but it’s obvious.’
‘I really appreciate you doing this, Amelia. You’re a good sister.’ Exasperated, her voice rising with frustration, she said, ‘I bet you see this all the time at work – I’m another hopeless parent who needs to get it together.’
She didn’t argue otherwise. ‘Just promise me you’ll take steps to work on this when we come back to England.’
Coughing on the other end of the phone gave away that Connie had likely succumbed to a cold, most probably the result of too many shenanigans with her new-found freedom. ‘I’m sorry I’m so hopeless. I really am grateful for everything you do, and I know I don’t tell you enough.’
Amelia was drained from the heavy conversation and she lay back against her pillows as they moved on to safer topics for some semblance of normality. ‘We got a tree at the apartment.’
‘I’m impressed. Did you make Kyle help you decorate it?’
‘Make him? I couldn’t have stopped him.’ When Connie went quiet she tried not to sound so cutting. ‘You know boys, they like to take over. And we’d left it far too long. Bet you put yours up ages ago.’
‘It’s been up a while.’
‘And what’s the theme this year?’
‘No theme.’
‘Really?’
‘I decided I’d go back to basics.’
‘Any plans for the big day?’
‘My friend Jill is coming over from Wales.’
‘She’s the chef, right?’
‘I’ll be well looked after but I’ll be helping her. She’s already made a timetable of preparation and cooking.’ She sounded brighter now, perhaps the thought of Christmas keeping her going. ‘She’s making her famous sticky figgy pudding with caramel sauce.’
‘Well, don’t you two have too many Irish cream liqueurs this time, I know what you’re like when you get together.’
‘I’ll do my best.’
‘Jill usually heads off somewhere hot, doesn’t she? How come you’re getting the special treatment this year?’
‘I think she fancied a change.’
‘Good for you, eh.’ When an awkward silence overtook the sisterly banter she asked, ‘I was wondering, do you still have the bauble Kyle made?’ If he wasn’t going to mention it then she would. ‘The special one with the fire truck.’ God, please don’t let her have thrown it away. He’d be devastated. ‘Connie, you still there?’
‘Still here.’
‘Have you got it?’ If she’d thrown it out Amelia would have to break it to Kyle and she already knew the kind of reaction he’d have.
‘I still have it.’
‘Kyle says you don’t put it on the tree anymore, since you went all designer.’
‘Is this call a chance to chat and tell me about your holiday or is it all about me and what I’ve managed to get wrong with my son?’
‘Connie…’
‘I need to go, Amelia. I should get up and go into work.’
Her voice softened. ‘I think we both know you’re not going anywhere. You sound like shit.’
‘Thanks, love you too, sis.’
‘Don’t worry, I get it. I’m a ratty cow too when I’m not well,’ Amelia smiled. Hangover or just a cold, her sister really did sound terrible.
‘I haven’t forgotten Kyle, you know, even though he’s away with you.’
‘I know you haven’t.’ Her heart warmed at the admission.
‘I think about him all the time, every day. I think about his future – what if…?’
‘What if what?’
‘Nothing.’ Her voice trembled before she asked whether he was awake. ‘I’d love to chat with him.’
/>
‘I expect he’s sound asleep, but I can check if you like.’
‘No, don’t disturb him. I’ll talk with him next time, ask him all about his trip.’
‘Scarlett’s nice.’ She was suddenly desperate to keep the conversation going on a bit longer and she didn’t really know why. Sometimes she just got a feeling when she spoke with Connie. Call it a sisterly bond, whatever, but now she didn’t want the call to end. ‘You’d like her. She’s talented too, can draw like nobody’s business. Even drew a picture of Kyle I’ve told him he has to get framed.’
‘It doesn’t sound as though the dad likes the idea of Kyle much.’
‘He’s not so bad, maybe he’ll come round.’
‘I see right through you! You like this man.’
‘I do not, I just sympathise with him, that’s all. He’s looking out for his daughter. Remember what Dad was like when either of us brought a boy home?’
‘Don’t remind me. It was like the Spanish Inquisition if a male acquaintance dared to knock on the door for either of us. Talking of boys and men, have you heard anything from Paul?’
‘No, why would I?’
‘It’s Christmas, I wondered if he’d changed his mind about ending things with you.’
She’d thought the same thing, but as time went on it became less and less likely. ‘He’s probably met someone else by now. I hope they’re very happy.’
‘Liar,’ Connie giggled. ‘You always were too good for him anyway. I really do have to go,’ she coughed.
‘You’d better rest up and I hope you’re better soon. Love you.’
‘Love you too, sis. And thank you again, from the bottom of my heart.’
For all that Amelia felt put upon over the years and had resented this trip a couple of times when she felt Kyle was a problem her sister wanted to wash her hands of, the emotion in Connie’s voice brought Amelia back down to earth. They’d talk about it more when she was home, but this wasn’t the sound of a woman who wanted to disown her son, only a woman who seemed stuck for which way to turn.
Amelia hung up and crept out of her room to the next door along, to Kyle’s room to check on him. She knew how happy he’d be that his mum still had that Christmas ornament. But he was sound asleep, snoring lightly as he lay on his front, one arm at a right angle on his pillow, the same way he’d slept as a toddler. And beside his bed was the picture Scarlett had drawn of him, a boy with the weight of the world on his shoulders yet with so much possibility.
She’d tell him about the ornament in the morning but for now she sent Connie three photographs she’d taken of him. One at the Christmas tree stall as he laughed with a customer, another of him chowing down on a triple burger they’d found in a diner, and a third of him with a wool hat on, his hair flicking out from the bottom, the same smile he’d always had. And he looked happy.
If she could, she’d get one of him with Scarlett and perhaps it would all help Connie to see that her son was just a little lost and needed help to find his way to a better place, like they all did from time to time.
Chapter Ten
Cleo
Amelia was due to come to the Garland Street markets any minute now, which meant Cleo could finally act on her advice and have some time with Ruby. She’d been putting it off, work and dread getting in the way, but today, Prue was bringing Ruby to meet her and they were going to have one-on-one time.
‘Business is going well here.’ Kaisha put out a few more men’s sweaters on the display tables in the chalet. She was helping out today along with Amelia and so Cleo wouldn’t have any need to worry. She could focus solely on Ruby. ‘Do you think you’ll do this again next year?’
Cleo put her gloves back on now she’d finished serving the customer who bought the bottle-green cashmere sweater that had been hanging at the open door of the chalet. Some days they wouldn’t put much stock on the doors if the weather was more brutal but today there didn’t seem any hint of rain or the snow they’d been treated to yesterday. ‘I think a store, the Inglenook Falls markets and a wedding to organise might just be enough for us all.’
‘I know you too well, you might not be able to resist it.’
‘True. And we are making more money here than in Inglenook Falls. It’s not a whole lot more, but I expect it will be a tidy sum by the time we finish. We get more exposure here too and I’m hoping it might draw people to Inglenook Falls and the Little Knitting Box. It’s been delightful to have a few of my old regulars from the store I had in the West Village stop by and say hello.’
‘I heard a woman asking about your workshops earlier. She wanted to bring a group of friends along.’
Cleo smiled. ‘There you go. Coming here has drummed up more business.’ Now she needed to make sure she didn’t take on too much and ignore her other commitments. Cleo never once thought she’d end up married with a blended family when she arrived in New York for the first time, and now she wouldn’t want it any other way, but her headache this morning was a sure sign things were getting to her. And she was always careful to stay on top of her emotions given the family history with depression. Recognising the signs that she was overdoing it was key and was difficult to do when she was so busy all the time.
Cleo waved to Amelia, who’d just said goodbye to her nephew before he made his way to Mitch’s stall. She did a quick handover before she spotted Prue’s blonde, immaculately styled bob approaching over the heads of a couple of teenagers. ‘Prue, good to see you. Hey, Ruby.’ She smiled down at Dylan’s eldest and her soon-to-be stepdaughter.
Ruby smiled but was soon talking to Kaisha, the trendy assistant at the Little Knitting Box who was almost a surrogate auntie in many respects. Ruby had often come to the store and sat out back waiting for Cleo and during those times Kaisha had taught her some basic knitting skills and they got on well.
‘Thanks for bringing her to the city, Prue.’ And you can go now, Cleo thought, although Prue was picking up garments already, which Cleo found surprising because these items didn’t come with a designer label. ‘That one would suit you.’ She had hold of a burgundy roll-neck sweater.
Prue put it down. ‘I’d better go.’
‘Before you do…’ She made sure Ruby was well occupied with Kaisha. ‘I wanted to talk to you about Ruby.’ She took another step away so they wouldn’t be overheard. ‘She’s been a bit…’ She wasn’t sure how best to phrase it. Bolshy? Rude? Off? ‘She’s been a bit out of sorts lately.’
‘She seems happy enough to me.’
‘I mean she’s been strange with me, not anyone else.’
‘And you want me to talk to her, is that it?’
Actually it was the opposite. It was most likely Prue being in Ruby’s ear that had caused half the problems in the first place. ‘I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.’
Prue looked at her watch impatiently. ‘Get to the point, Cleo.’
‘Ruby and I got on well for a long time, but lately she seems to be pushing me away.’
‘I’m sure it’ll all blow over.’
‘Maybe.’
‘I was terrible at that age,’ Prue laughed, and Cleo could see there’d be no talking to her today, especially when her laugh had already caught Ruby’s attention. Kaisha was showing her the multicoloured scarf she’d been knitting and Ruby was wrapping it around her own neck, parading up and down the back of the chalet like a model on a catwalk.
‘I have to go,’ Prue said again, fingers waggling in the air in her daughter’s direction. ‘Bye, Ruby,’ she called out. ‘And stop worrying, it’s not good for the face,’ she told Cleo before she breezed off.
‘I heard that.’ Amelia was right by her side. ‘Talk about catty.’
‘That’s Prue.’
‘How was Dylan ever married to her?’
‘I think he was wowed by the blonde hair, the long legs and the glamour.’
Amelia put an arm around her friend. ‘Well, it’s a good job reality finally set in for him.’
&nb
sp; Cleo emptied out the last two boxes of stock that they had and reiterated to keep an eye on the items hanging on the open doors in case a light-fingered shopper came along. The woman two chalets down had had jewellery stolen and had taken to having her husband man the doors. Shame, Cleo wasn’t sure anyone would be keen to browse the earrings and necklaces if they first had to get past a man who sported a Forrest Gump-like beard, was well over six feet tall and didn’t seem to have many smiles to offer around.
‘I have my phone if you need me,’ she told both Amelia and Kaisha.
‘Go!’ they both urged.
‘Don’t worry, we’ve got this,’ said Amelia.
Ruby followed Cleo out of the chalet. ‘Where are we going?’ She at least had on sensible boots today and not the pair Prue had bought her with a little heel, and she was wrapped up nice and warm too.
‘Somewhere very special.’
Ruby perked up when the Magnolia Bakery came into view but it wasn’t cupcake time and they kept walking until they reached a quaint boutique with a curved window at the front.
‘Mind the step,’ said Cleo, trying not to look too pleased that Ruby’s face exuded pure enrapture at seeing the wedding gowns on display behind the glass. This was where Darcy had found her dream dress and Cleo knew then that she’d come here if she and Dylan ever tied the knot.
They stepped down into the store where Serenity and Alexis, the jolly sisters who owned the boutique, were busy at the till with another customer. ‘I thought you could help me out today,’ she told Ruby, trying to act as though she didn’t already know Ruby was excited. ‘Maybe with my dress and bridesmaid dresses too.’
She felt a bit like Prue, trying to buy Ruby’s affections, but she wasn’t attempting to do anything of the sort – it was more an effort to soften Ruby’s feelings and let her in on the planning stages, which might help her come around to the idea. Perhaps her barriers would gradually come down a little.
Serenity came over to say hello, recognising Cleo but not remembering her name, and Cleo gave her the brief of what was going on – a wedding next December, a wedding gown as well as bridesmaid dresses to find, this being the initial stage of their research.
Christmas Promises at the Garland Street Markets: A feel good Christmas romance (New York Ever After, Book 5) Page 14
