If the outside of the house looked welcoming and festive, the inside was even more so. A large Christmas tree dominated the hallway, and candles glowed and flickered on every surface alongside garlands of greenery. Through an open door she could see a log fire blazing, and Percy immediately padded into the room and helped himself to the warmest spot.
Hayley had never been anywhere like this. She wanted to curl up by the fire with Percy and never leave.
Jamie dumped their bags in the hall next to his sister’s and glanced around him. “Wow. Did you leave any decorations for anyone else?”
Rosie grinned. “I know! Isn’t it brilliant? Mum has gone totally overboard. Probably because of Hayley, in which case thank you, Hayley, you’re welcome any time.”
Hayley had no idea how to respond to that, and fortunately she didn’t have to because at that moment Jamie’s father stepped forward to introduce himself, and so did Declan, Rosie’s husband.
She noticed immediately that Declan was far more reserved than his wife. Or maybe he was just tired. She knew they’d driven up from London in pretty bad weather.
He stood in silence, his dark eyes watchful, and Hayley knew instantly that he was a listener, not a talker.
Rosie, on the other hand, was very much a talker.
“This bag can stay down here.” Rosie pushed an overstuffed bag into a corner with her foot and her mother tutted.
“You’re not to leave things lying around, Rosie. We have a house full of people and they don’t want to be tripping over your belongings.”
“But they’re presents. They’re going to go under the tree!”
“Then put them under the tree.” Jenny shook her head and turned to Hayley. “I hope you’ll make yourself at home. If there’s anything at all you need, you’re to let me know.”
“How come Hayley is allowed to make herself at home and I have to be unnaturally tidy?” Grumbling away, Rosie dragged the bag into the living room and then emerged again. “That’s unfair. It isn’t Christmas if you’re not tripping over presents.”
She was pretty, Hayley thought. Really pretty, with hair the colour of polished oak that tumbled over her shoulders in bouncy waves, and eyes the same green as Jamie’s.
Jenny didn’t seem to be interested in her daughter’s appearance at that moment.
“If your grandmother trips and breaks a hip you’ll be cooking the turkey.”
Hayley stood quietly by the Christmas tree, her head buzzing. She wanted to join in and be part of the banter, but those types of exchanges could only happen between people who knew each other well. They were normal family dynamics, something she knew nothing about.
“I can cook a turkey,” Rosie said. “Whether anyone would want to eat it is another matter. I always panic it won’t be cooked and I’ll poison everyone.”
“You’d ruin it on purpose,” Jamie said, “just to make us all eat your boring vegetarian option.”
“I wouldn’t share my mushroom Wellington with you if you were starving and begging me. If you want to eat a sweet, kind little turkey who never did you or anyone any harm, then go ahead.”
“I’ve seen the turkey. Trust me, it’s not little.”
“Ignore them,” Jenny advised Hayley, “I’ve never understood why my otherwise adult children, all of whom have responsible jobs, revert to childhood when they’re home.”
Jamie grinned at Declan. “She hasn’t turned you vegetarian yet?”
“Declan eats fish,” Rosie said, “but he also loves vegetarian food. Adores it.”
“Either he’s lying to you or you’ve been brainwashed.” Jamie gave Declan a sympathetic slap on the shoulder. “How do you stand living with her?”
Rosie glanced at Declan, and Hayley thought she saw a flash of anxiety in that look.
Before Declan could answer, Rosie turned away and gathered up a couple more bags.
Her shoulders were stiff and Hayley knew then that she hadn’t imagined anything. She sensed that the brightness Rosie exuded was false. That it was taking a supreme effort that had just proved too tiring. Perhaps because she so often adopted a false face herself, she was able to detect it in other people.
She felt a wave of sympathy. She didn’t even know Rosie, so why did she have a sudden urge to follow her, pull her to one side and check she was all right?
She remembered Rosie quietly telling Jamie that she wanted to talk to him. Maybe it was related.
