“No. Christmas isn’t that big a deal to him—I mean to them. So he was okay about coming here with me. More than okay, obviously.” She tripped over her words. “He was excited.Isexcited. It’s going to be great. Especially as Dad won’t be running off to heal the sick.”
Jenny saw her mother glance at Rosie with a faint frown.
There was no doubt that Rosie wasn’t quite herself. It wasn’t what she was saying as much as the way she was saying it. With slightly too much energy, as if she was making a supreme effort to be jolly and convince everyone she was fine.
She hoped her mother wasn’t about to ask a tactless question, but fortunately Phyllis turned her attention back to the mince pies.
But now Jenny was worrying about Rosie again. She’dthought last night that something wasn’t quite right, and although Martin had dismissed her concerns she still felt that. She made a mental note to find a way of getting Rosie on her own later.
In the meantime she kept her own response warm and neutral. “Well, we’re very happy you were all able to come home.”
Rosie glanced at the door. “Talking of Dad, where is he? Normally he’s trying to persuade us all to play Scrabble or go for a family walk. I haven’t seen him since breakfast, and that was only briefly. And he wasn’t around when Jamie and I took Percy out this morning.”
Jenny wiped the kitchen table. “I think he’s outside helping Jamie and Declan.”
She hoped being vague might work, but Rosie squinted through the windows.
“I don’t see him. Jamie is out there with Declan stringing up lights, but no sign of Dad.”
Jenny met her mother’s gaze briefly and knew she had to do something about it before it became a focus.
“I’m sure he’s somewhere around. I’m just going to remind Jamie to cut some more holly for me.” She removed her apron. Where was Martin? And was he expecting her to cover for him? Was the whole of Christmas going to be this way? “Rosie, perhaps you and Hayley could carry the glasses through to the living room ready for tonight.”
She headed for the back door, grabbed her coat, pushed her feet into her boots and joined her son outside.
Jamie was laughing at something Declan had said and Jenny was pleased to see the easy comradeship between them.
It was freezing and she slid her hands into her pockets.
“That’s looking good.”
“I cut the holly you wanted.” Jamie was balanced on top of the ladder, trying to string the last length of lights around the tree. “It’s by the back door in a bucket of water. It jabbed me amillion times when I was trying to cut it, and Declan is actually bleeding. Worse than owning a cat.”
“I should have given you gloves. But thank you.”
“And while I’m up this apple tree, I cut some mistletoe. For the party. In case anyone wants an excuse to kiss.” He gestured to a bunch of it on the ground. “And on that topic, can you ask Granny to stop asking people if they’re pregnant?”
“You say that as if I have some control over her, which you know I don’t. Anyway, it’s a bit late. She has already asked Hayley and Rosie. There’s only Becky left, and as she’s single I’m hoping she’ll escape. Have you seen your dad?” She kept her smile bright and the question casual. She didn’t want the children knowing something was wrong.
“Not since breakfast.” Jamie reached and secured the final loop of lights then descended the ladder with an alarming lack of care. “I assumed you had him on kitchen duty.”
“No. He’s probably helping Grandad with his book. Don’t fall, will you?”
“Obviously falling isn’t my intention.” Jamie helped Declan move the ladder. “Is this the book that doesn’t exist?”
“It exists in your grandfather’s head.” But it wasn’t her father’s book, or lack of it, that was worrying her right now. She needed to find Martin. “I need to get back inside. Thanks, both of you.”
“Is Hayley okay? Granny isn’t interrogating her, is she? I don’t want her to be overwhelmed and she is far too polite to tell her to mind her own business.”
“She’s been helping us cook,” Jenny said. “She has been a great help.”
“Good. She’ll like that. We just need to check these lights work and then I’ll come back in and help her.” Jamie stood back to survey their handiwork. “Any news from Becky and Will?”
“Not since that message first thing saying that they expected to be here early afternoon.”
And she was looking forward to Becky’s arrival. Becky would at least be able to work out what was wrong with her sister and hopefully fix it. That would be one less thing for Jenny to worry about.
“Where is Dad?” Jamie glanced at the house. “I really want to talk to him about work before they arrive and it gets busy. I need his advice.”
