The Christmas Menagerie

by Minna Howard

  Amelia was relieved not to be sitting anywhere near Hamish. Jules and Ben were either side of her. Hamish, now the other side of the table, leered at Evie, much to Callum’s consternation.

  ‘How are they getting on raising funds, Amelia? It least it would save you being plagued by pet owners hoping to foist their pets on you when they go away, and Easter’s coming up,’ Jules asked as they ate the chicken, now beautifully cooked, thanks to Evie.

  ‘I’d be happy to have Ziggy, even Osbert as I’ve occasionally fed him when Gloria is away working, but I wouldn’t want the rest. I’d feel a bit mean about it, as some of the owners, like Micky’s mum, really deserve a break. Though my older daughter is coming home in a few days, so I’ll be busy with her.’ She wondered if she would or if Grania and this new man would go off into the sunset together. ‘But you’d probably put a stop to me doing it again, wouldn’t you? You were rather shocked, that I was left in charge of so many pets. Probably something to do with dreary old health and safety.’ She teased him.

  ‘You managed very well,’ he said, his look inscrutable. ‘We do need a kennels in the district, but I don’t see this one opening any time soon.’

  ‘So, you approve of them reopening? Sophie, my daughter thinks you wouldn’t.’ She faced him.

  ‘If they are rebuilt properly, with no short cuts, or cobbled together on the cheap, then, yes I do,’ he said, ‘otherwise there is no way I’d let them open again. Anyway,’ he smiled, ‘you might all be shot of me soon if I decide to take that job I’ve been offered in Hampshire.’

  39

  Amelia was not enjoying the party. She’d known there was talk about Jules moving on to another job, but seeing Dickon enrolled in the school she thought that meant he’d stay here. His remark about going to Hampshire took away all the joy in her.

  Hamish was also spoiling it and she sensed she was not the only person who felt the same way. It was worse for his wife and Amelia found it hard to compare the confident Rosalind she’d met in her shop, and later at Giles’s Christmas Day party, with the crushed and miserable woman now, trying to pretend she wasn’t fazed by her husband’s outrageous flirting.

  She wondered why they had been asked to this party. Vero had told her Giles and his house party was coming and she knew Callum and Evie were going to be here. Evie seemed to be the only person who did not mind Hamish’s tiresome attentions; in fact, she seemed to be almost egging him on, laughing at his jokes, much to Callum’s discomfort. He was probably too young and inexperienced to deal with it and Amelia felt sorry for him as did Vero, who occasionally caught her eye, and Amelia knew she too was horrified at Hamish’s behaviour.

  To get her mind off it, Amelia asked Jules how Dickon was settling into the school. ‘As far as I can see he seems to be making friends now. It must be hard for him to go into a new school like that. If you move on, he’ll have to settle in some where different again.’ She was aware her voice was rather judgemental, showing the teacher in her.

  ‘You think that would be a bad idea?’ He frowned at her.

  ‘No… well, it’s not ideal, but if you have a better place to go to, well then you must. People in the army and things move all over the place and their children get used to it, or though some go to boarding school, which might be more stable for them.’ She knew she sounded patronising and really it was nothing to do with her where Jules lived and what arrangements he made for Dickon.

  ‘He has suffered the worst thing possible, losing his mother.’ Jules studied his plate. ‘As long as we are together, I think he’ll be fine.’

  ‘Of course, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to sound bossy. It must be so hard losing her so young, and for you too.’ She didn’t know what else to say. Hamish’s crude behaviour and Rosalind’s misery had quite ruined the mood of the party. Giles and Leonora were bravely trying to keep the evening on track, but Ben and Vero were finding it difficult, upset at Callum’s misery at his wife’s apparent fascination with Hamish.

  ‘You lost your husband around the same time, I think,’ Jules said gently, touching her hand for a second. ‘You know how difficult it is, and those of us left behind have no choice but to plough on, especially if we have children.’

  ‘It’s very hard. I miss Esmond every day, but he was much older than me, and our daughters are old enough to cope and understand, though it’s very sad for them.’

  They had reached the pudding course now, a beautiful meringue cake piled with cream, tangerines, purple grapes and a few strawberries. There was also a cheese board.

  It was obvious now, that to add to his appalling behaviour, Hamish was extremely drunk. His remarks to Evie and then to Vero on his other side, became too much.

  Rosalind, as if girding herself for battle, got up from the table and in a lull in the conversation said, ‘It’s time we went home, thank you so much for such a delicious supper, Vero and Ben. Come on, Hamish,’ her voice was fierce, ‘time to go.’

  ‘Oh, do sit down, stop making an exhibition of yourself. The night is young,’ he snapped at her.

  Giles came to her rescue. ‘She is right, you’ve had enough to drink, Hamish, and it is time to go. But I hope you are not driving. I can call you a taxi.’

  ‘How dare you speak to me like this?’ Hamish rose to his feet, swaying a little, his hand raised as if he might hit Giles, but Jules was there in an instant. He grabbed Hamish’s arm, put it behind his back and frogmarched him out of the room, Rosalind, Giles and Ben following behind.

  Vero, looking shocked, said, ‘I’m so sorry. I’ve never met Rosalind’s husband. I know her through her shop and liked her. I thought it nice to include them.’

  ‘It’s hardly your fault, dear. Poor woman, I think we all felt for her,’ Leonora said. ‘What a bully. I wouldn’t put up with that if I was her.’

  Amelia noticed that Evie looked rather uncomfortable. She had not exactly encouraged Hamish’s behaviour but nor had she put a stop to it, though it was true it might have been difficult in such intimate surroundings.

  Giles came back into the room. ‘Well, we’ve seen to that bore of a man, his wife should get rid of him.’ He sat back down at his place.

  ‘So, what’s happened? Have they left, and his poor wife, how will she cope?’ Leonora said.

  ‘It’s not the first time. She says she can drive them home, seemed adamant, so we let them go. Though Ben insists that she rings when they are safely back,’ Giles said.

  Jules and Ben now came in and Ben apologised for the upset, though he said it was the first time he’d met them. He assured Vero when she began to say how bad she felt about inviting them, that it was no one’s fault but Hamish’s.

  ‘You were brilliant at dealing with it, Jules,’ Vero said. ‘Just marching him out like that.’

  ‘Only thing to do. Pathetic for an adult man not to be able hold his drink,’ he said.

  Coffee and chocolates appeared, and the party became light-hearted, all moulding together, and Amelia wished it had been like this from the start. The conversation suddenly turned to the kennels again.

  ‘So, you had masses of pets for Christmas, Amelia,’ Callum said. ‘Sounds chaotic. Sort of Mrs Dolittle,’ he said.

  ‘She was marvellous.’ Jules smiled at her. His eyes were warm as they turned to her and she felt suddenly happy.

  40

  Dom came to stay at the weekend. Rufus was busy getting his aunt and uncle’s house clean enough for lodgers. He put in an advertisement for them, in the local paper. He and Sophie – usually rather a slapdash cleaner – worked hard at spring cleaning it. Amelia had some towels and sheets and a few kitchen things she didn’t need, that she gave them. They bought curtains and rugs in second-hand shops or even from the tip where other people had left things they no longer wanted.

  ‘It’s amazing what you can get for very little,’ Sophie said to Dom as they ate breakfast on the Saturday morning. ‘Once we’d given the place a huge clean and a dash of paint, it improved it no end, you must come
over and see it.’

  ‘Okay, if you like.’ Dom did not sound that interested. He’d arrived late last night, tired and rather quiet for him. Amelia had a feeling something was on his mind. He seemed tongue-tied around Sophie. Perhaps he was bored with her going on about the kennels, or annoyed, even jealous, that she’d rather be doing that with Rufus than be with him in their flat in London.

  Amelia thought it best to leave them alone. Jamie and Wilfred were coming over later to see to the garden – their present, as they kept assuring her, for taking in Cleo over Christmas. ‘Plan now and plant later,’ Wilfred decreed.

  ‘I expect I’ll spend much of the day in the garden with them,’ Amelia said. The house was big enough for Sophie and Dom to be alone somewhere, though as it was a clear, crisp day they’d probably want to go out together for a walk.

  Jamie and Wilfred arrived promptly at eleven with books on plants and a small iPad to take notes on.

  ‘Such a sad garden,’ Jamie said, walking round it with her, ‘but don’t worry, darling, we will transform it for you.’

  ‘It needs to have plants that work all year round,’ Wilfred explained, when they got back inside, rubbing their hands to warm them up. ‘We’ll take those horrid, old-fashioned green shrubs away and we can have pretty things like an early daphne, and a lovely red camellia called Yuletide.’ He pointed to a picture in one of his books, open on the table, of a red flower with deep yellow stamens. ‘There are jasmines, magnolia…’ He pointed out more winter flowering plants, until Amelia felt overwhelmed with choice.

  ‘At least you have some clumps of snowdrops, cyclamens and things,’ Jamie said, ‘though you need to be more extravagant. You need to make a statement, dear, and you have almost succeeded with those.’

  ‘But you must let me pay for some of it, you seem to be doing so much.’ She felt they were being over generous, this was hardly Kew Gardens.

  ‘We won’t hear of it. Remember we get everything cost price and it won’t take us long to plant a few things and after all you can help us, so you’ll feel it is yours,’ Wilfred said. ‘And if anyone remarks on it – which they should, it will be spectacular – you can always give us a little publicity.’ He winked.

  They ate a snack lunch with her while they made a list of everything they needed. Wilfred said, ‘I hear there was an upset when you had supper with Vero and Ben last week.’

  ‘Oh, well sort of. How do you know about it?’ Amelia asked.

  ‘Ah, these things get about and it’s not the first time that oaf, Hamish, has ruined a party. Don’t know how Rosalind stands it. The other women in his life soon pushed off.’

  ‘I don’t know her that well,’ Amelia explained.

  ‘She’s a lovely woman, but Hamish took advantage of her and she married him with the unrealistic mission of “curing” him of the drink. He’s good-looking, I’ll give you that, but when he drinks…’ Jamie lifted his eyes.

  ‘I don’t think Vero knew that. She liked Rosalind, as I did when I sat next to her at Christmas with Giles, though her husband wasn’t there then. Jules, who was at the dinner too, sorted it out, frogmarched him from the room.’

  ‘Very brave,’ Wilfred said. ‘Time Rosalind got rid of him if she wants to be invited anywhere.’

  They were disturbed by the front door opening. Sophie, with Dom trailing behind, came into the room. Amelia sensed that something was wrong. Sophie looked as if she’d been crying and Dom was ashen. They greeted the two gardeners who were now collecting up their things and about to leave.

  ‘So, we’ll be in touch soon to come and plant,’ Wilfred said. ‘Best to wait until all chance of frost is over.’

  ‘I can’t thank you enough, such an amazing present,’ Amelia said, now aware that something monumental had happened between Sophie and Dom.

  ‘Well, you took in Cleo so we could have our lovely holiday, let’s hope the kennels are up and running again by next Christmas or we may have to ask you to have her again.’ Jamie winked.

  ‘Long time until then,’ Amelia said, showing them to the door.

  When she got back to the kitchen only Dom was there. He looked miserable.

  She said, ‘What’s the matter, Dom? Would it help to talk about it?’

  He sighed. ‘I told you I might be sent to the US. Well, I’ve been offered to go to Washington. I really want to go. I’ve never lived anywhere but here, and it will be good for my career, essential really. Sophie is upset about it, but she can visit, and I’ll be back for holidays.’

  ‘It’s a great chance and your firm must think well of you to have chosen you. It’s a shock for Sophie now, but I’m sure she’ll understand in time and look forward to visiting you out there,’ Amelia said to comfort him, shocked this posting had happened so soon, though he had warned her about it.

  ‘It’s not as if she comes to the flat anymore. I keep asking her, but she says she’s so busy with this kennels thing.’ He looked upset.

  ‘She tends to get dug in with whichever cause has attracted her. You know that.’ Amelia felt sad for him, for both of them, but they were young, and events were apt to turn up and bring changes. Dom should take whatever his firm offered him if he wanted to get on. If he stayed here and they married it might hold him back in his firm, and he’d come to resent it. It would damage their relationship that way, and what if there was a baby to add to the equation? They had plenty of time to have it all, both of them must follow their dreams. She wondered if he would get rid of the flat in London. If he was going away, Sophie would surely stay here and get on with starting up the kennels, and there was Rufus who was attracted to her. She wondered if Dom had noticed.

  It seemed that the time had come when Sophie and Dom must go their own ways, which hopefully would not ruin their relationship, though, if it did, then better now than later when perhaps there were children to think of.

  41

  Grania came home on Sunday evening. Amelia and Sophie picked her up from the station, Sophie giving up her time at the kennels to welcome her sister home.

  For a second Amelia didn’t recognise her. Gone was her long, dark hair, replaced by a short, elfin cut. She seemed taller and thinner but full of life and energy.

  ‘It’s so good to be back.’ Grania hugged them both. ‘I loved it, but it was time to come home.’ She dumped her bags in the boot and got into the car.

  ‘So, tell us about Gus,’ Sophie demanded.

  ‘Give her a moment, love,’ Amelia said, wanting to know herself but not wanting to seem too nosey.

  ‘Well… where do I start?’ Grania laughed. ‘He’s small, fair and handsome… Not that small, taller than me.’

  ‘That wouldn’t be difficult.’ Sophie teased.

  ‘Shut up, you’re jealous, wait until you see him,’ Grania said. ‘Anyway, how’s Dom? You said he’s going to work in the States. You could go too.’

  ‘I can’t,’ Sophie said with a sigh, explaining his firm’s rules.

  ‘They can’t stop you going out there to see him.’ Grania said. ‘Gus and I are not sure where we will settle. He has a house in Wales that belonged to his grandfather.’

  ‘So, when are we going to meet this Adonis?’ Sophie asked.

  ‘Very soon, I hope. I’m going to join him with his family soon, they live in Kent, then I hope to bring him back with me,’ Grania said.

  They had arrived home and Grania went into the house. ‘Home at last,’ she said. ‘I adored India but it’s so good to be home.’

  ‘Lovely to have you back.’ Amelia wondered how long she would stay.

  Exchanging news over supper, Sophie told Grania that their mother had a date.

  ‘Good on you, Mum, what’s he like?’ Grania turned to her.

  ‘He’s nice, but nothing special,’ Amelia said, wishing she wasn’t going out with him at all.

  ‘And it’s Valentine’s Day,’ Sophie teased, winking at her sister.

  ‘Don’t be silly, he didn’t even know that it was.’ Amelia wo
ndered how she could get out of it. If only Grania would stay a few more days she could use her as an excuse to postpone it, but naturally, she was longing to be with Gus again especially on Valentine’s day, so she left a few days before to join him.

  Amelia felt as nervous as an adolescent going on her first date. Though why on earth couldn’t two people of the opposite sex go out together without it being expected to end in some bedroom fiasco? Or was that just her being paranoid?

  The difference between them was that David’s previous girlfriend had left him and married someone else, while Esmond, her beloved husband had died and would not, sadly, turn up again in the future saying he’d made a mistake and wanted to be with her again. She suspected, remembering that night after the concert when his ex rang him and told him she was getting married, that David still loved her, and if things did not work out with her new love, they might get back together again.

  She knew she was over-stressing about this date, but unless one of them came down with flu, or something, it looked like it was going to happen.

  She confided in Vero when she dropped in on her after her day’s teaching. Vero had just got home from the bookshop and was surrounded by boxes of books which had been delivered at her house instead of the shop.

  ‘It’s a new company, so I hope this is the only mistake they make,’ she grumbled. ‘Anyway, let’s have some tea. There’s the remains of a fruit cake if Ben hasn’t found it.’

  ‘But you made it quite clear you only wanted to be friends, didn’t you?’ Vero asked when they’d settled, and Amelia had shared her feelings about David.

  ‘I did, but I don’t know if he took it in or not. It would be Valentine’s Day and bound to be a romantic atmosphere.’

  ‘Of course.’ Vero laughed. ‘Though you say he didn’t know that it was?’