Err, hello, Mexico?
I considered joining them and asking outright what they were talking about. But knowing Jeannie, that tactic was a complete nonstarter.
Jeannie leaned in closer to Clem. ‘Now, keep your mouth shut, if you know what’s good for you. Got it?’
My mind raced as they stood there in silence. I had never heard Jeannie speaking like that to anyone, and Clem looked visibly shaken. After a few moments, I picked up the cups and brought them over, schooling my face into a banal smile.
‘Here we are,’ I said. ‘Be careful, they’re quite hot.’
‘Oh, thank you, dear,’ she said, taking a cup. ‘Clem, shouldn’t you go and check on Fergus? He’s been gone rather a long time.’
‘Hmm? Oh– oh yes, of course.’ Clem nodded, avoiding eye contact with me as she grabbed one of the mulled wines and left me alone with Jeannie. An uncomfortable silence settled over us as we sipped the steaming, sharp wine. My mind was reeling from what I’d overheard. Infidelity? It was Tristan and Mimi they were talking about… right? And what was that about Clem spending Toots’s money?
As if reading my mind, Jeannie said, ‘Clem and Fergus are having a bit of trouble with money again. Nothing new there.’
‘Ah, that’s a shame,’ I said, taking a sip of wine and burning my tongue.
‘It’s not a shame, they are both totally feckless.’ She took a sip of wine and winced; this was not the sort of wine Jeannie was accustomed to. ‘Miles said the house is sold now?’
‘Yes,’ I smiled.
‘House sales fall through all the time though, don’t they…’ she said, glancing towards the barn doors.
I let out a breathy laugh. ‘Well, let’s hope not.’
Jeannie opened her mouth to say something when Miles burst through the barn doors, his cheeks flushed. ‘Help!’ he cried breathlessly. ‘We need help! Someone with phone signal!’
All heads turned to Miles as I rushed towards him.
‘Miles, what’s wrong? Where are the kids?’ I looked behind him but couldn’t see them. Miles held my arms, eyes wide. ‘Call an ambulance, quickly!’
I pulled out my phone from my pocket, but no signal. Miles swore ferociously, looking around for anyone who could help.
‘Where’s Fergus?’ demanded Jeannie. ‘Is he causing a scene?’
‘No. No, it’s not Fergus. Don’t go out there,’ he said to Jeannie. ‘Promise me, Liv, that you won’t go out there.’ He ran to the till to ask the girl behind the counter to use the phone.
Jeannie and I looked at each other, deciding at the same time we weren’t going to stand idly around. Heading out of the barn, there was no one to be seen. Through the windows to the shop, people chatted casually, but I couldn’t seeanyonein the family. Further over was a small orangery-cum-tearoomwhere we could see Toots sat sipping tea on her own, completely in her element.
We headed towards the maze of Christmas trees, zigzagging through the lines, until we reached the end that led out towards the field. More trees. And a hundred yards away, a group of people. We trotted over the spongy, wet pine needles, I broke into a run whilst Jeannie straggled behind.
With a pounding heart, I approached the group of people. They were all gathered around a perfectly shaped twelve-foot blue spruce, their faces pale and serious. Next to the tree sat a large piece of machinery. A man strode away from the vehicle, turned his back to us and subsequently hurled his guts up into the snow.
I slowed my pace. I could see someone lying in the snow– a pair of feet… legs. I walked closer, squinting to make sense of what I was looking at. Smart, brown outdoor boots, a pair of blue jeans. A red sticky substance. Chips of wood, sawdust. My feet took me closer.
‘Don’t look, love,’ said a large woman, pulling me away. My stomach dropped. Those boots. They were Tristan’s. I couldn’t see more than that. I glanced over at the machine the farm used to cut down the trees, blood sprayed out around it.
I stumbled backwards and collided with Jeannie. I whirled around, trying to block her view. Her eyes went wide, skimming over my face and past my shoulder to the scene behind me.
‘Is that—’ she started, but her voice failed.
I nodded, dumbly. Jeannie let out a sharp gasp and pressed her hand to her mouth. The rest of the family was nowhere to be seen. I held her firmly and tried to lead her away.
‘This can’t be happening…’ Jeannie managed.
I shook my head, trying to keep myself from shaking all over. This couldn’t be real.
Clem appeared then, looking frantic and dishevelled. Her eyes darted between us and the growing crowd. ‘What on earth is happening? I saw Fergus run past me like he’d seen a ghost!’
