Zach shrugged off the compliment. ‘How much flak do you think Joe’s taking for the non-proposal?’ asked Zach, as they passed Mr Bundy’s cottage.
‘Poor Joe.’ She couldn’t help it. She knew most people would have been revelling in Joe’s bad karma, but whatever had happened between them she would always care about him. He had been her first love, and the intensity of their relationship had burned a mark on her heart – somethingindelible, a little like a tattoo. She looked in his cottage window but there was nothing to see; no flying crockery or flailing arms. It was all quiet. Perhaps they were making up, she wondered, and a renewed sadness lay heavy on her.
‘You’re a good person, Lottie,’ said Zach. ‘Nana would be proud of what you’ve done this Christmas.’ Lottie shot him a doubtful look. ‘Your trouble is you’re too hard on yourself. You focus on the stuff that isn’t perfect and forget to celebrate all the brilliant little things that are.’
She knew he was right. She watched her mother hanging on to Scott’s arm as they walked. She knew why she was the way she was. Constantly striving for her mother’s approval, which would most likely never come. It was difficult to focus on the good stuff when the not-so-good things were constantly being pointed out to you. ‘I’ll make it my New Year’s resolution,’ she said.
‘Good,’ said Zach. ‘Now, what’s for tea? It’s not ham sandwiches again is it?’ She gave his arm a slap.
‘It’s the bread you made and the cakes that Jessie made. So if it’s no good, it’s definitely not my fault.’
Zach gave his sister a one-armed hug.
Everyone abandoned their snowy footwear and many outer layers in the hallway then descended on the drawing room. Lottie left Zach to prepare a fire while she went to put the kettle on for the inevitable round of teas and coffees. As she walked into the kitchen, her eye was drawn to the checked tea towel she had carefully placed over the warm cakes before they had gone out. Though it wasn’t so much the tea towel that attracted her attention, but rather the large furry cat who was now curled up asleep on top of it.
‘Duchess!’ said Lottie, her tone sharp. The cat opened one eye and stretched, pointing her toes and baring her claws as she did so. ‘Get off the cakes!’ Initially the cat didn’t move, eyeing Lottie from her warm bed with disdain, so Lottie gave her ample rump a gentle prod. The Duchess reluctantly got to her feet and, seeming to sense that Lottie was not best pleased, she jumped down and slunk out of the kitchen.
Lottie noted the large, cat-shaped dip in the tea towel and feared the worst. She tentatively lifted the fabric and her suspicions were confirmed. The once-pointy little cakes underneath were now squashed flat, some of them reduced to crumbs.
‘Hmm,’ said Lottie. ‘Trifle for tea then.’ She managed to rescue three cakes for Scott, which had been on the outer fringes and missed the full weight of the Duchess, and she put those to one side. The rest went into a large bowl and she covered them with raspberry jelly. She stuck the containers in the freezer and hoped a couple of hours would be enough time for the jelly to set.
Lottie brought drinks into the drawing room, handed them round and flopped down on the sofa.Back to the Futurewas on the telly and everyone was quiet. Jessie and Dave were sitting underneath the Christmas tree having a cuddle.
‘Are you okay under there?’ asked Lottie.
Jessie’s face peeped through the branches. ‘I don’t think it’s working any more now that Christmas is over.’
‘What’s not working, sweetie?’ asked Lottie, cupping her mug with both hands.
‘The magic tree,’ said Jessie, lifting her head to look up through its branches.
Lottie smiled. ‘You’re probably right. Maybe next year it will work again.’
Jessie shuffled out from under the tree and curled up on the sofa next to Lottie. She looked furtively around and then beckoned Lottie to lean down to her level. Jessie whispered in her ear, ‘I was hoping to get a necklace to match.’
Lottie tried to make sense of the sentence. ‘To match what, Jessie?’ she asked, keeping her voice low.
‘The ring it gave me on Christmas Eve,’ said Jessie, tilting her head towards the tree.
Lottie spun around so fast she slopped her tea in her lap. She whispered in Jessie’s ear. ‘A ring?’
Jessie nodded. ‘It’s very shiny.’I bet it is, thought Lottie.
Zach and Emily were both watching the film, although Zach looked like he was about to nod off. ‘Have you still got it, Jess?’ asked Lottie, excitement tickling her insides. Jessie nodded. ‘Where?’
‘Somewhere safe.’ Jessie was wearing her most serious expression.
‘Okay. Will you show it to me, please? I’d love to see it.’
Jessie seemed to ponder this. ‘Okay.’
‘And can Daddy see it too?’
‘I don’t think he’d be interested. He’s not a girl,’ said Jessie emphatically, as she slid from the sofa and walked to the door with Dave at her heels. Lottie put down her mug, tapped Zach on the arm and indicated with her thumb that he needed to follow them. With exaggerated eye rolls he followed them out of the room and upstairs.
‘What’s the matter?’ asked Zach, with a yawn.
‘Jessie might just have solved one of your problems,’ said Lottie.
