by Molly Green
Now Stephanie was coming they should make more effort. She would find the box of baubles and trimmings and get Suzy and Ronnie to help her scatter a few bits around the house and on the dining table. It was too late to buy a Christmas tree but something must be done to bring some sign of the season of goodwill into the house.
The square box containing an assortment of Christmas nonsense, as her father used to call it, was in the attic, so she set up the ladder on the small landing, then climbed up and pushed open the trapdoor. She stuck her head in the space. Damn. It was black as night. Down she went again and fetched a torch from one of the kitchen drawers, then climbed back up the ladder.
She wedged the torch between a couple of beams and bending low so as not to smash her head, she made her painstaking way over the boards, skirting round old suitcases and trunks, and boxes of French magazines her mother had collected over the years and refused to throw out. Ah, that was the Christmas box. She put out her hand and managed to knock over several pictures propped against one another. She swore softly as a cloud of dust rose and began to cough as she shoved the box towards the trapdoor with her foot.
The front door bell rang making her jump and bang her head on a beam, causing another cloud of dust.
‘Damn, that hurt,’ she muttered under her breath.
There were muffled voices. Then she heard Ronnie exclaim, ‘Yes, this is the Linfoots’. Do come in.’
Oh, no. It couldn’t be Stephanie already, surely.
‘Thank you.’
The low sound of a man’s voice. It must be Dr Hall. Suzanne said he dropped in every week to make sure Mother was all right and keeping occupied. She needn’t worry about her wild appearance – Dr Hall was bound to have seen much worse.
‘I just wanted to wish Raine a happy Christmas. Is she in, by any chance?’
Raine froze. Alec! Her mind raced. How had he found her? Why had he come? Oh, if only he hadn’t. She glanced down at herself. Dust and cobwebs clung to her old skirt and jumper that she’d planned to change in time for supper.
‘Raine!’ Ronnie’s voice called up the stairs. ‘There’s a visitor to see you.’
She couldn’t answer. Heart beating in her eardrums she listened as Ronnie told him to come into the sitting room.
‘I’ll go and fetch her,’ she heard her sister say.
Good. If she was quick she could rush to the bathroom and wash her face. Tidy her hair and apply a dab of her precious lipstick. She switched off the torch and threw it in the Christmas box. Shoving the box under one arm, she turned to come down the stepladder backwards, holding onto the rail with her free hand.
She was almost down when the box masked the final rung and her foot slipped. Frantically she let the box go to recover her balance, but with a cry she crashed to the landing, falling heavily onto her bottom, the Christmas decorations tumbling around her. She tried to haul herself up but was stopped by a violent pain that shot through her ankle and up her leg.
A door was flung open and a man’s footsteps bounded up the stairs, Ronnie and Suzanne behind. In a flash Alec was down on his haunches beside her.
‘Raine, what happened? Here, let me help you sit up properly.’ Strong arms encircled her as he eased her into a sitting position. ‘Are you hurt?’
‘Only my pride.’ She gave him a weak smile. ‘Actually, it’s my ankle. Left one.’ She leant forward and held onto it with both hands.
‘Can I see? I do have some first-aid knowledge.’
Ridiculously, she wished she could sit a few moments longer with his arm around her, without the curious glances of her sisters, but instead she said, ‘Be my guest.’
He took off her shoe.
Even under her stocking she could see the swelling. Gentle fingers probed.
‘I’m not sure if it’s broken or sprained,’ he said, ‘so you need to go to the hospital and have it X-rayed. I’ll order a taxi.’
Raine shook her head. ‘No, honestly. I’m all right. Hospital’s the last thing I need on Christmas Eve.’
‘You should go,’ Suzanne said, her white face appearing over the banister. ‘You gave us such a fright and at least they’ll tell you if it’s broken or not.’
‘I’m all right,’ Raine said more firmly this time, remembering what a sight she must look. ‘Just give me five minutes, you two, and I’ll be down.’
‘Are you sure you should stand on it?’
‘Quite sure, Suzy.’
She smiled to herself to see Ronnie grab hold of Suzanne and pull her older sister down the stairs.
‘Okay, we’ll see if you can stand on it.’ Alec put his arm around her waist again. ‘Lean on me, but try to help yourself up so I can judge how bad it is.’
Conscious of his nearness she pushed herself up, muffling her squeal against the shooting pain as he gently pulled her to a standing position.
‘How is it?’
She grimaced. ‘Painful, but I’m sure it’s only sprained.’
‘You’re probably right,’ Alec said. ‘If it was broken I don’t think you’d be able to bear the weight. But I wish you’d let me take you to get it checked.’
‘There’s really no need.’
He looked at her, his green eyes unwavering. It was as though he revealed his innermost thoughts and wanted her to understand why he’d come especially to see her. Her eyes suddenly narrowed.
‘How did you know where I lived?’
He cleared his throat. ‘I bumped into your room-mate.’
‘Who, Stephanie?’ He nodded. ‘You went to the Adamsons’?’ she demanded.
‘Yes. I thought you might be there. Stephanie told me you’d invited her for Christmas. She was trying to cadge a lift to Biggin Hill. I knew I could get hold of a Maggie so I told her she could come with me. We took a taxi from Biggin Hill. It all worked out perfectly.’
Raine’s eyes flew wide. ‘You mean Stephanie’s here as well?’
‘Yes, she’s in the sitting room talking to your mother.’
‘Alec, I’m not sure about all this tracking me down. I haven’t heard from you in weeks since we last met …’ she hesitated, ‘when you acted very strangely that evening. I didn’t know what I’d said or done.’
‘Do you really not know?’ Alec raked his fingers through his hair.
She was close enough to breathe in the scent of him. His warmth. His energy. Her insides fluttered. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer. And this wasn’t the time or place for any intense discussion.
She took a deep breath. ‘I must look a fright so I’ll go and freshen up. Will you join the others downstairs?’
She didn’t miss the fleeting look of disappointment on his face before he composed himself.
‘Let me pick up these baubles first before you have another accident. I’m guessing they’re for the tree.’
‘We don’t have a tree.’
‘How can you have Christmas without a tree?’ His brow creased comically.
‘Easily. I don’t think any of us are in the mood for Christmas this year.’
‘Do you think two new people at the table might make a difference?’ He raised an eyebrow, a hint of laughter hovering over his lips.
‘Oh, did my mother—?’
‘Yes,’ Alec interrupted. ‘She invited me to stay for supper, but I said I’d have to clear it with you.’
Raine frowned. Maman should have been the one to clear it with her. She wasn’t ready to have Alec at the table with everyone scrutinising him and making assumptions. But she’d been rotten to him before and regretted it. And he’d come a long way just to say ‘Happy Christmas’. It would be unkind to send him back to the station with no food inside him.
‘Then I’d better set another place on the table,’ she said.
Alec’s mouth turned up a fraction. ‘I’ll take that as a yes,’ he said. ‘See you downstairs, then.’
Raine locked herself in the bathroom and glanced in the mirror. No wonder Alec had looked as though he wanted to
break into laughter. She could have stood in for Miss Havisham. Cobwebs clung to her hair and eyebrows, the dust had turned her dark hair to a sticky matted grey, and her face was pale as a ghost.
Suddenly she giggled. Poor Miss Havisham didn’t have a very good ending, because she refused to believe that her man wouldn’t come back for her and marry her. Whereas she could simply wash her face, brush her hair and touch up her lipstick and she’d be more or less presentable again. Though whether she could trust Alec any more than Miss Havisham was able to trust her errant fiancé, heaven only knew. The very idea of such a ridiculous connection amused her and she couldn’t help chuckling. Maybe the evening would turn out better than she imagined.
A jolly scene met Raine as she limped into the sitting room. Her sisters and Alec were chatting animatedly and Stephanie, who’d been sitting next to Maman, sprang up to greet her like a long-lost cousin, hugging her tightly, then letting her go so abruptly that she almost overbalanced again.
‘We heard you fall over,’ Stephanie said. ‘Are you all right?’ Without waiting for a reply, she went on, ‘It’s so lovely to be here and your mother has made me so welcome, entertaining me with stories of when she used to live in France before she met your father. And isn’t her accent charming?’
Raine gazed at Stephanie in astonishment. Usually, you had to prise it out of Maman to utter a few snippets here and there about her life before Dad. Yes, she had an annoying habit of comparing France with Great Britain, nearly always favouring France, even though England had welcomed her immediately after the Great War. But she’d rarely described any actual incidents in her previous life, or said much about her parents who were still in Paris – only that they were strict Catholics with whom she didn’t always see eye to eye. They may have been grandparents but they’d had no contact at all with their granddaughters and Maman had never explained why.
Her mother caught her staring and nodded as though to confirm that Stephanie was an easy and willing person to talk to.
‘I came to see what happened, Lorraine,’ her mother began, ‘but there were so many people on the stairs and landing that I think one more person will be in the way. I could see you had not hurt yourself too much, so I thought it best to let your Alec help and I can start the supper.’
Your Alec. Oh, why was her mother always so embarrassing? She really had no tact at all. Raine felt her neck grow warm and stole a glance at Alec, who caught her looking and sent her a huge wink. Furious with him, her mother and herself, she opened her mouth to explain to Maman that Alec wasn’t hers at all, but instead she pressed her lips together. It wasn’t worth the bother. Her mother wouldn’t believe her, anyway. Maman always maintained that a man and a woman could never just be friends. And Alec would just keep that smirk pasted on his face.
Everyone had grown silent, looking at her and then at Alec who was still smiling and watching her.
Raine swallowed, wishing the floor would let her sink through. ‘That was thoughtful of you, Maman,’ she said, trying hard to keep the sarcastic edge from her voice. She smiled at no one in particular. ‘Has everyone had a drink?’
She wished she could have marched out, but her ankle was too painful.
‘He’s nice,’ Ronnie said when she appeared at the kitchen door to ask Raine if she needed some help. When Raine didn’t answer, her sister tapped her arm. ‘And he’s very handsome.’ She giggled. ‘I can see why you like him.’
‘Ronnie, will you and everyone else please stop making out Alec is more than he is. He’s a friend, that’s all, and sometimes a very annoying one. Maman’s already embarrassed him and me to death. He’ll be gone after supper, and frankly I’ll be pleased to see the back of him.’
‘Can I do anything?’
Alec. Oh, no. Had he heard her last remark? He must have done. Oh, why had she risen to Ronnie’s bait? Why hadn’t she kept her mouth shut? Her face flooded with heat as she forced herself to look at him.
‘Or should I disappear now?’ His mouth was unsmiling.
‘Ronnie, please leave,’ Raine ordered.
Ronnie looked as though she wanted to say something, but instead took one look at Raine’s face and scuttled off.
‘Okay, what’s all this about?’
Raine sighed. ‘I’m sorry. My ankle’s throbbing, my mother is her usual tactless self and even Ronnie is getting on my nerves.’ She knew she was near tears – the last thing she wanted Alec to see. She heard her mother’s voice from the sitting room. A stab of pain shot through her ankle and she winced. ‘Actually, Alec, my ankle’s hurting like mad.’
‘You should put your feet up – rest it,’ Alec said, stepping nearer.
Maybe he hadn’t heard her crass remark.
‘I couldn’t help overhearing—’
Her heart sank. ‘Alec, I’m so sorry. It wasn’t you … it’s me. I’m in a bad mood … angry with myself for falling down the ladder and—’
‘Strangely enough, Raine, I understand.’ Alec stepped away and pulled out a packet of cigarettes. He lit one and inhaled deeply, then calmly blew out a stream of smoke. ‘But now I’ve seen you and brought your visitor, I think I’ve overstayed my welcome. Are you on the phone? If so, I can ring for a cab.’
She wouldn’t let him see her disappointment.
‘Honestly, Alec, you don’t have to. It’s getting late for you to fly and—’
‘Let me remind you – I’m used to night flying. And I need to get back to the camp.’ He took another drag of his cigarette. ‘I’ve borrowed the plane so if I don’t return it soon, someone’s going to notice it’s gone and then there’ll be hell to pay.’
‘Alec, don’t go like that.’
He looked at her. ‘Like what?’
‘You’re angry – and it’s my fault for allowing my mother to upset me.’
He went to the sink and stubbed out his cigarette. Then he turned round and stepped towards her. He gripped her arms, his eyes burning into hers.
Electricity sparked the air. She gasped as his fingers seemed to sink into her flesh.
‘You told your sister you couldn’t wait to see the back of me. So I’d better go.’ But his grip didn’t lessen in its intensity.
‘Alec, I’ve said I’m sor—’
The apology was stifled as Alec’s mouth possessed hers, his kiss fierce and demanding. Then just as suddenly he thrust her away and looked at her, his expression unfathomable.
‘Lorraine? Where are you?’
Maman! Oh, why do you have to come at this moment?
Raine swung round, her fingers involuntarily touching her tingling lips. Maman was standing at the doorway, a frown spoiling her carefully made-up face.
‘It’s very rude of you to leave Stephanie, Lorraine.’ Her mother’s eyes lifted to the ceiling. ‘After all, you did invite her.’
Stephanie. Oh, no. She’d forgotten everything, everyone – been aware of nothing except the brief strength of Alec’s body against hers, his heart beating as fast as her own.
She was conscious of him behind her, pulling on his coat.
‘It was a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Linfoot,’ he said, ‘but I must be on my way.’
‘Oh, I did not mean for you to go,’ Simone protested. ‘A friend of Lorraine is a friend to me, and I invited you to have supper. And do call me Simone.’
Alec nodded. ‘I really do have to get back to the airfield, Simone. It was only meant to be a brief call. But thank you for your invitation. Another time, perhaps.’ He glanced at Raine as he put his cap on. ‘Get that ankle seen to.’
‘We have a telephone—’ Raine started. But he was halfway out of the door.
Raine knew her mother was watching her, but she couldn’t drag her gaze away from Alec’s departing figure as he swiftly walked down the path and out of the front gate. If it hadn’t been for the interruption she was sure she could have persuaded him to stay. Why did she always let her temper take control?
‘Lorraine?’
‘Yes, Maman, I’m
coming,’ Raine said wearily as she limped after her mother into the sitting room and flopped down.
How she wished she was on her own. She needed time to think. Her mouth felt tender. Why had he kissed her like that?
‘How’s your ankle?’ Stephanie said, bouncing up from her chair. ‘Oh, where’s your lovely Alec?’
‘He’s not my Alec,’ Raine snapped.
Stephanie’s blue eyes opened wide. ‘You two haven’t had a row, have you?’
She didn’t want to discuss him with anyone, least of all Stephanie.
‘Of course not. He’s had to leave now to get his plane back to the airfield before anyone reports him, that’s all. He asked me to say goodbye to everyone.’ Even though he hadn’t mentioned it, for some reason she wanted to put him in a good light.
‘Taking the plane just to see you for such a short time was a risk,’ Stephanie persisted, ‘so he must really like you.’ She reached over to a side table and picked up a packet wrapped in Christmas paper, then handed it to Raine with a smirk. ‘He asked me to give you this and to wish you a merry Christmas.’
He’d brought her a present? She swallowed. She didn’t deserve anything after she’d been so nasty to him. How hurtful to say in his hearing that she’d be glad to see the back of him. She hadn’t been brought up to be so rude. And she hadn’t meant it anyway. She’d just wanted to shut Ronnie up. Raine swallowed the tears that gathered in her throat.
‘You are going to open it, aren’t you?’ Ronnie burst out, a grin lighting up her features.
‘Yes, Ronnie, I will.’ Raine gave her sister a thin smile in return. ‘But tomorrow morning … and not before.’
In the bedroom she shared with Suzanne that night, Raine sat on the edge of the bed. She had mixed feelings about the gift Alec had left her. Guilty that he’d come all this way in a borrowed plane, against all the regulations; that she hadn’t thought to buy him a little gift, and that he’d kissed her for the first time, but not in the way she wanted. Once again they hadn’t parted on the best of terms.
The last thing she wanted to do was open the present in front of Maman and Stephanie, but knowing her mother, it would look as though Alec meant even more to her if she tried to make a secret of it. Raine sighed and fingered the packet. It was soft. Stockings? Bedsocks? Handkerchiefs? Well, none of those would come amiss.
