She was right. With my hair pulled away from my face and the sparkling hairpiece adding instant lift, I looked party ready. I smiled.
‘It’s beautiful, thank you.’
‘Good. Now, we must go.’
We went downstairs and found only Nick waiting in the hallway. He stood up as soon as he saw us coming down the stairs, wearing his shirt now, which had been immaculately pressed.
‘Marilise, you look sensational,’ he said, smiling warmly, then turning to me, ‘As do you. Are you ready to go?’
‘Thank you,’ I replied. ‘Yes, we’re ready.’
‘The others have gone on ahead,’ he explained. ‘We needed two cars, anyway.’
He offered his arm and Marilise moved to lean on him as I followed them outside. He had brought his car around to the front of the house and helped Marilise into the back as I took the passenger seat. The journey was a few minutes and when we arrived, I was left in no doubt at all that the Halloween theme was long forgotten and the Westmans were thoroughly embracing Christmas. The front gate at the bottom of the short drive stood open and was wrapped in twinkling golden fairy lights. The lights continued on either side of the gravel drive, like two sparkling gilded streams, studded with illuminated candy canes, at least twenty on each side, which stood at jaunty angles as they lit the way. The house itself, a long, low, traditional farmhouse, was strung with thousands more lights, all in the same warm hue. There were silver icicles hanging from everywindow and, on the roof, a huge star rippled with multicoloured lights that seemed to dance in the darkness. Nick pulled up and stopped near the front door.
‘Everyone else is using the field to park,’ he said, pulling on the hand brake. ‘But Joanie Westman said we could park here so it was less of a hike for the guest of honour.’
‘Guest of honour, am I?’ cackled Marilise. ‘I should think so, too, although I think I’m outshone by these decorations. Tasteless, of course, but at least you know it’s Christmas. Maybe we should do the same at Lyonscroft?’
I felt, rather than saw, Nick’s shudder.
‘Not sure the electricity grid is up to it,’ he said lightly, then got out of the car. I followed suit and we helped Marilise out.
‘No more help now,’ she said firmly, leaning on her stick. ‘I like to walk into parties like a proper guest, not some old lady in need of an arm. It’s good manners. How I leave, of course, may be a different matter.’
I stepped back slightly, casting my eye over a herd of spangled wicker reindeer that had been arranged on the other side of the front door. Nick rang the bell and, when the door was opened, a blast of warm, cinnamon-scented air and the strains of ‘Sleigh Ride’ hit me in the face and the heart. I gasped as I was transported back to my first Christmas with Paulo in our house, when we had gone all out, determined to give all our senses a festive treat. He had rigged up a system that played that same song every time you stepped in the front door, and my love of scented candles meant that the house smelt of gingerbread and cranberries, even when they weren’t lit. We had looked up recipes for spiced cakes, spent hours untangling lights and dragged home a tree that was a foot too tall and wide for our small living room and necessitated moving out several items of furniture to squeeze it in. We had sat admiring it, once it was bedecked with dozens of baubles, basking in the glow of thefairy lights and candles, sipping our third attempt at eggnog, the first two being too disgusting to drink, if hilarious to make. It was there that we had sketched out our hopes and plans for the future, including how many children we might have, little knowing that in a few short months it would all be snatched from us and life – and Christmas – would never be the same again.
‘Laura?’
I jumped as Nick said my name. He gestured for me to go into the house in front of him and I quickly caught up with Marilise. The woman who had opened the door gave me a broad smile and offered her hand.
‘Lovely to meet you, I’m Joanie, come in! Hello, Nick. Everyone else is through there getting stuck into the prosecco. What can I get you all to drink?’
‘You know me,’ said Marilise.
‘Of course,’ said Joanie. ‘The champagne’s on ice and waiting for you. Bubbles for you, too?’ she asked me.
I hesitated, then said, ‘I’m working, so something soft, please.’
‘Nonsense,’ said Marilise. ‘Have some champagne. I’m your boss, and I insist.’
I might have put up more of a fight, but I could see Marilise paling already, and I wanted to get her sitting down somewhere she could enjoy the party without having to put in too much effort.
‘Looks like I’ve got my instructions. Champagne would be delicious, thank you.’
‘I will stick to non-alcoholic,’ said Nick. ‘Designated driver tonight.’
We went through into a huge living room that oozed faded glamour. The walls were papered in a red and cream pattern and the window frames, dado rail and cornicing were painted black. Three enormous and very comfortable-lookingsofas stood around a tiger print pouffe that was about the size of my bathroom and various other chairs and small tables were scattered about. A fire blazed and the mantelpiece bore a dramatic arrangement of dried wildflowers. A Christmas tree that must have been eight feet tall stood near a door, smothered in tinsel, lights and a riot of decorations, from grand gold-tasselled baubles to wonky, glitter-smeared loo rolls that could only have been made by a small child. In all, there was a complete mishmash of styles, colours and patterns, but so artfully done that it worked to make the room look stylish and inviting. Joanie directed me towards an armchair she had been saving for Marilise. I settled her in and pulled myself over a chair so that I could sit with her. A couple of minutes later, Nick approached with our drinks. He gave a flute to Marilise, who was already in deep conversation with a young man who had come over, and offered me the other glass.
‘Thank you,’ I said, taking it. ‘I must say, I’m glad I’m not wearing that Cousin Itt outfit.’
He grinned.
‘Might have been a bit warm. Talking of outfits, you’ve done a kind thing for Astrid.’ He nodded over to where she was chatting in a group of people, looking happy and animated and unusually glamorous in the shirt I had picked out earlier. ‘I’m not sure how happy she is at the moment, and she never takes time for herself, always worrying about everyone else.’
‘I hope she’ll be all right in Texas.’
Nick frowned.
