by Kaylie Kay
‘Of course,’ Jeff said. She was so relieved that he had taken her seriously. ‘I’m sure she hasn’t meant to, she’s just a bit uncomfortable with women in general.’
‘Oh, okay,’ said Susan. She supposed, reluctantly, that it could be feasible; she had in fact been surrounded by men when she had been laughing earlier, and Susan couldn’t actually recall ever having seen her speak to another woman, but it still didn’t make her rudeness okay. ‘Here’s your chance.’
Janice had just stood up, and Susan nudged Jeff, gesturing in her direction.
‘What, now?’ Jeff asked, looking at her imploringly.
‘No time like the present.’ Susan was not letting this opportunity slip. She was afraid that if Jeff didn’t sort this out then she may have to say something herself, and she wasn’t sure how that would go after so much wine.
Jeff pushed back his seat and stood up reluctantly. Janice was passing with a wide berth, and he excused himself through a few people to head her off. Susan watched him get her attention by touching her arm, and wondered what the enigmatic look that she gave him meant, if it meant anything at all. She turned back around quickly as they both looked in her direction, trusting her husband to deal with things.
A few minutes later the chair next to her moved, signalling Jeff’s return. He looked a bit drained, she thought, like he really hadn’t enjoyed the chat that he had just had. He picked up his glass and took a long drink.
‘Everything okay?’ Susan asked tentatively, when he wasn’t offering anything up. She felt like an immature teen that had just got her boyfriend involved in a petty row and she felt bad now, she knew that Jeff hated confrontation.
‘Yes, fine.’ He smiled tightly, his voice controlled. ‘She’s says she hasn’t been off with you, but she’s not feeling well so she’s going home anyway. You don’t have to worry any more about it.’
‘Oh.’ Susan knew that she hadn’t been imagining it, but she could tell that Jeff wasn’t going to discuss it anymore. She looked behind her to see Janice heading towards the top of the stairs, and thought for a minute that she looked upset, quickly brushing off the idea and any sympathy that came with it. Her head was hung so that her hair fell forward, and she walked quickly, practically pushing people out of her way. As she held the rail to go down the steps her bag caught on the post at the top. Susan couldn’t miss the annoyed look on her face as she unhooked it impatiently. Neither could she miss that it was a beautiful leather Mulberry bag, the same one she had been waiting for these past weeks, the same one on the receipt she had found in Jeff’s blazer pocket......from Paris.
Chapter 58
Oh, the rollercoaster she had been on these past few days. She had tried to be reasonable, to put it to the back of her mind, but the whole thing with Janice just wouldn’t go away, going around and around in circles.
‘I’m not being paranoid, am I?’ she had asked Mel repeatedly that night.
‘No, not at all, she definitely has a problem,’ her new friend had assured her, time and time again.
So why couldn’t Jeff see it? Did he really think that his explanation of her just being uncomfortable with women was enough of an excuse?
Up and down she went. Perhaps Janice really was that uncomfortable, but why? Had something happened to her? Was she frightened of being read, judged maybe, for something? Was she really like it with all women though? Susan found that very hard to believe.
And the bag…
AAARgh, Susan shook her head, trying to rid herself of the threatening madness. There was no sense in thinking like this. Just because she behaved the way that she did, she had never for a moment believed that Jeff would ever be disloyal, she knew that he wouldn’t be. She had always trusted him, and she always would, she told herself firmly; no good would come of things being any other way. Besides, there could be many explanations for the bag, and Janice’s behaviour…
‘Darling, they are here,’ Jeff called up the stairs.
‘Just coming,’ Susan called back in her most amiable Susan Kennedy voice, resetting herself.
Back in the present everything was normal again, she thought, looking around. Her room was just as it always was. Her husband was calling her in his usual loving tone. Everything was okay. Well as okay as they could be when his parents had just arrived.
She walked briskly down the stairs, joining the kids, and the dogs in the hall just as Jeff opened the front door. Jeff’s dad stood on the other side hidden behind a tower of presents.
‘Merry Christmas,’ a voice boomed from behind the parcels.
Susan couldn’t help but smile at the looks of joy that the presents and the salutation put on the faces of her children. They were all oblivious to her own personal demons, and she resolved in that moment to forget all of the nonsense. Christmas was going to be wonderful, and Jaded Janice was not going to ruin it!
‘Merry Christmas,’ they all replied in unison, stepping forward to help the old man with his beautifully decorated burdens.
It was like a scene from a Christmas movie, Susan observed, looking at the wide grins on George and Margaret’s faces, noses red from the cold, all wrapped up in their winter clothes.
‘Come on in out of the cold!’ Susan said, ushering them in.
‘Oh no, my dear, we have more in the car,’ George said cheerfully, turning back to the Bentley.
‘I’ll help you, Dad.’ Jeff followed him.
‘Merry Christmas, Margaret,’ Susan said with genuine affection, leaning forward to kiss her on the cheek once she was over the threshold.
‘You too, dear, and you two.’ She leant forward and both of the children stepped up dutifully to kiss her. ‘Thank you for having us,’ she said softly as she stood upright.
‘Oh, anytime, you are always welcome.’ Susan was somewhat taken aback by Margaret’s gratitude, and her overall demeanour. Something was different and it was a good thing. Maybe she had had an epiphany, like everyone had at points in their life, she wondered.
‘Right, straight through here, Dad.’ Jeff’s voice broke the moment, and Susan laughed to see her husband carrying another tower of presents. His parents had always been generous, but in a less understated way. They would usually drop off a small pile of expensive presents a week or so before Christmas, before their cruise, presents that reflected Margaret’s tastes more than the recipients’.
‘Oh my goodness, you are far too generous.’ Susan looked at Margaret, and thought how happy she seemed as she watched the gifts that she had obviously spent a long time buying and wrapping, finally delivered.
‘Well since we are here to see the children unwrap them, I got a bit carried away with things.’
Sophia and Lewis were jumping up and down, like they were small children again, and for a brief moment Susan felt sad that all of their Christmases hadn’t started like this.
They all followed the men into the lounge, the children helping them to put the presents under the tree, eagerly inspecting each one to find their names.
‘Well that has got to be the biggest Christmas tree I’ve seen in my life,’ George remarked, hands on hips, looking at the lit up overgrown shrub.
‘It looks marvellous in here, Susan,’ said Margaret, looking around.
‘Thank you.’ Susan was loving this new mother-in-law, she could come more often! ‘Here, let me take your coats.’
They both handed her their coats and scarves and she carried them through to the hall, hanging them on the coat stand. Two small cases sat by the door and she carried them quickly up the stairs to the guest room, sitting them next to the ottoman at the foot of the bed. She smiled to herself at the perfection of the evening, full of promise for a wonderful Christmas, and all of the turmoil of the last few days was washed away. What mattered was here and now, not there and then, or the ifs and maybes, and here and now was just perfect.
Chapter 59
Never in all of their years had Susan known her children to wake up so early on Christmas Day, such was
their excitement. She had heard other parents groan at their little ones waking at four or five in the morning, but she and Jeff had always marvelled at how theirs would still sleep in until seven, with them sitting up waiting impatiently for them. She suspected that the sheer volume of gifts under the tree was the catalyst for the 5.30 thunder of footsteps, and the excited voices coming from their rooms as they opened their stockings.
‘Lewis, bring yours in here,’ she heard Sophia whisper loudly, followed by the sound of Lewis dragging his sack across the hall.
‘Coming.’ She looked at Jeff who was wide awake now too, and they both chuckled at the sound of their offspring trying to be quiet. Susan wrapped her arms around Jeff and hugged his warm body.
‘Happy Christmas,’ he said, and she looked up to kiss him.
‘Happy Christmas, my love,’ she replied, eventually pulling herself up, needing to be privy to whatever was happening along the way.
Tiptoeing in her slippers along the landing she could hear George’s snores above the excited whispers of the children. She pushed Sophia’s door open slowly and stood silently watching them open their presents. She was sure that neither of them believed in Santa anymore, but despite their questioning she would always refuse to admit that he didn’t exist. Anyway, a stocking was a stocking, no matter who delivered it.
The coffee machine gurgled to an end as Susan lifted the turkey and all of its trimmings into the oven. She may have cheated with some of the accompaniments, ordering them already prepared, but the turkey was her centrepiece and she would take all credit for it later when it sat in the middle of the table.
‘Merry Christmas.’ Margaret walked into the kitchen. Susan hadn’t heard her coming above the noise of the coffee machine and the Christmas music that was playing on the radio.
‘Oh, merry Christmas, Margaret, you’re up and dressed early!’
Her mother-in-law was already dressed in her wool skirt and twin set, pearls draped around her neck. Her hair was set and makeup applied, and all by 7.30.
‘Oh, I’m always up early, my dear,’ she informed her, and Susan wondered if she probably should have known this fact. ‘Can I help?’
‘No, no,’ Susan dismissed. ‘Everything is under control here. Would you like a coffee?’
‘That would be lovely.’
Susan poured two cups of coffee, aware that she herself was still in her dressing gown and without makeup.
‘There you go.’ She placed the porcelain mug down on the island. ‘Please forgive me a moment, I’m just going to go and pop some clothes on before I get breakfast ready. The children are in the lounge with their presents from Santa.’
‘Of course,’ Margaret conceded, needing no persuasion to go and find her grandchildren.
‘Has something happened to your mother?’ Susan asked as she applied her makeup.
‘What do you mean?’ Jeff asked, from the ensuite.
‘Oh, it’s a good thing,’ Susan said quickly, suspecting that Jeff was expecting a complaint. ‘I’ve just never seen her so.... nice.’
Jeff appeared in the mirror, smiling.
‘I know what you mean.’ Susan was happy to have his agreement. ‘I think she’s just realised what she’s been missing out on all these years. She’s been phoning me this past month about what the children like, and I think the Christmas spirit has just got to her.’
Susan nodded, the explanation seeming feasible.
‘A bit like Scrooge,’ Jeff joked and Susan laughed at the comparison.
‘Well whatever it is, I like it,’ she said.
‘Me too,’ Jeff agreed. ‘Right, I’m going down.’
‘Won’t be long.’
Susan was nearly ready, and she knew the perfect thing to finish off her outfit. She dug deep in amongst the boxes in her jewellery drawer. Many years ago, Margaret had given her a ring, an heirloom, a sapphire surrounded by diamonds. It was very beautiful, but at the time her dislike of the woman, which she believed to be mutual, had made it very ugly in her eyes. Now though, she would wear it happily, and she hoped that Margaret would approve.
Ten minutes later, with the entire contents of the drawer out, Susan sighed in frustration; it was nowhere to be found. Nor had her earrings reappeared. She couldn’t help but presume there was a connection, although she hadn’t seen the ring for years, so it could have been missing for a long time. She made a mental list of what she thought had been in the drawer, and nothing else seemed to be gone, so she was pretty sure that they hadn’t been burgled. So where had they gone?
Well, today was not the day for a full inquiry, for questioning Sophia, or worrying anyone, but she would have to come back to it, she thought as she put everything back. She was disappointed that she couldn’t wear the ring, sad that her opportunity to please Margaret was gone, and infuriated that someone had just taken it. She filed the thought for later.
Chapter 60
The dining room had been strictly off limits this past week as Susan had laid the table and added touches to it daily. They seldom used the room anyway, so it had been her studio for creating her work of art without affecting their routines. She lit the candles on the two candelabra that sat at either end and stood back to admire the white and silver decor. Napkins in sparking rings sat on diamanté-rimmed charger plates, crystal glasses stood proudly, polished and reflecting the flames that now flickered. The ivy and foliage that stretched along the centre screamed Christmas, and the silver crackers that she had ordered from Harrods were laid at each seat, waiting to be pulled and reveal their luxury surprises. She dimmed the lights on the chandelier that hung in the centre of the room, before finally opening the door, ready to share her work with everyone.
‘Wow.’ Lewis’s eyes were wide, first to enter, and he dashed to the table to find his name on a place card.
‘Well you’ve truly excelled yourself this year,’ Jeff said, his arm around her, squeezing, as they watched the others take their seats.
‘Thank you,’ she said, accepting the compliment which she knew she deserved.
‘I’ll be back in a moment with starters,’ she said cheerfully, grateful for the hostess trolley that usually sat in the larder unused. She had even decorated it with left-over Christmas decorations and it was in the kitchen ready to wheel in the many courses that she had prepared, albeit with a little help from M&S!
Happily exhausted, Susan sank into the chesterfield and took the glass of champagne that Jeff offered her. Dinner had been a complete success, and she deserved it more than ever.
‘Can we open presents now?’ Sophia asked, raising her eyebrows like a puppy to give her the best chance of success.
‘Of course, darling,’ Susan said; everyone was gathered around now and this was the perfect time to start.
The paper frenzy that followed was like none that she had ever seen before as the children opened one present after another, adding each gift to their individual present mountains. She watched George and Margaret beaming as they received one hug after another, relieved when they finally reached the ones that she had bought them so that she could have some hugs too.
‘This is for you.’ Sophia put a gift bag on the floor in front of her, standing and waiting for her to open it. She turned the tag over to see who it was from.
To My Beautiful Wife
All My Love
Jeff
Susan looked at Jeff and smiled in anticipation. Everyone was watching her now as she carefully opened the large bag and removed the tissue paper. A small blue box sat on the top, and she took it out slowly. She opened the lid to reveal a beautiful diamond eternity ring which took her breath away for a moment.
‘You liked it in Dubai,’ Jeff said, almost shyly.
‘I did,’ Susan nodded reflectively, remembering how they had looked in the jeweller’s window on the way back from the restaurant, and also remembering its huge price tag. ‘I mean I do, it’s beautiful, Jeff, thank you.’
‘Let me put it on.’ Jeff took the box fr
om her, lifting out the ring and sliding it onto her wedding finger. Everyone had gone silent, the beauty and romance of the moment not even lost on the youngest. Susan kissed Jeff, looking back down at the ring that was sparkling insanely.
‘What else is in there?’ Lewis was bored with the jewellery now obviously, and was peering into the bag that was far too big to hold just that small box.
‘Oh yes,’ Susan said, excited to see what else her wonderful husband had bought her.
‘Ooh, very nice,’ said Margaret as Susan held up the cashmere coat. It was very tasteful, she had to admit, wondering if he had had any help in choosing it. She had known Jeff to enlist the help of a personal shopper before, and suspected that he may have done so this time.
‘I’m a very lucky lady,’ Susan said humbly.
Slowly the pile of presents was distributed, everyone happy with their caches, and Jeff fighting a losing battle with clearing up the paper. Susan sighed as she stood up, ending the break that she had taken out of martyrdom to help him, unable to look at the mess anymore. As she stuffed the last of the paper into the bag she looked back at the tree that seemed quite sad now, without its offerings. Deep down something was niggling her, and she thought hard about what it was. She felt disappointed for some reason, despite the diamonds on her finger, like she had expected more.
The bag, that was it, she had expected the bag. The one from Paris. The same one as Janice had.
Chapter 61
Oh, the unwelcomness of this new emotion. Susan paced up and down the bedroom, controlling her breathing. Everyone was downstairs but she had needed to get away for a moment, think this over, deal with this insecurity.
Was Jeff having an affair with Janice?
She looked at the receipt that she held in her hand, that she had kept when she put his jacket in the cleaners that day, in case she needed to return her bag. The evidence was there, staring at her, but was it absolutely true, or was there another explanation? Would she be naive to believe anything else?
