‘Why? Who did you think would be coming out of my bedroom apart from me?’ The scream was still ringing in her ears.
Her mother bristled. ‘I don’t know.’ Lottie tilted her head, expecting a better answer. ‘A bear. Or bigfoot?’
‘In Henbourne?’ Lottie shook her head and plodded downstairs. She was tired and grumpy. She knew she had to get over that quickly or she’d spoil Christmas; probably not for everyone else, but certainly for herself.
She filled the kettle and fired up the coffee machine. Angie joined her in the kitchen.
‘Coffee?’ offered Lottie.
‘No bucks fizz?’ Angie pouted elaborately.
‘There’s buck but no fizz. You drank all the Prosecco yesterday. Remember?’ Lottie let out a giant yawn and didn’t cover her mouth.
‘Goodness. I saw all your fillings,’ said her mother, looking repulsed. ‘I thought you were joking about the fizz. Surely you can conjure some up from somewhere?’ Angie’s tone had changed to simpering.
‘I’m not bloody Harry Potter,’ said Lottie. She was kicking herself for not getting more Prosecco, but usually everyone stuck to wine. ‘We have wine and lots of sherry.’ There had been quite a bit of sherry in the order Nana had placed. Lottie suspected that maybe that was howNana had managed to get through all of Christmas with a smile on her face.
‘Sherry?’ Angie recoiled. ‘I’d rather drink bleach.’
‘We have plenty of that too.’ Lottie pointed to the utility. Angie marched over to it. ‘I was joking,’ said Lottie.
‘I’m seeing what wine you’ve got. Scott and I won’t drink anything cheap, we have … arghhh!’
Lottie stuck her fingers in her ears. ‘Will you please stop screaming? It’s like living in a horror movie, except nobody’s died a painful death. Yet.’ She gave her mother a pointed look.
Angie scurried out of the utility. ‘There’s a mouse!’
‘Ooh yes, there is – and now that the Duchess is tucked up asleep I’ll release it back into the wild.’
‘The wild?’ Angie recoiled as Lottie retrieved the bucket, swinging it under her mother’s upturned nose on purpose.
‘Yes. Have you seen the state of the back garden?’ Lottie opened the back door, took a few steps outside and gently tipped the mouse out in some long grass. She came back in wishing she could escape that easily too. Having Joe there all day was a daunting prospect and one she wasn’t sure she was equipped for.
Angie was giving her a sideways look. ‘Has it gone?’
‘Yes, he’s off to tell his friends what an ace sleepover he’s had and how much he enjoyed the non-vegan cheese.’And about the time he peed in the mulled wine, she thought.
Angie turned, her flowing nightie billowing theatrically as she stormed out. Lottie chuckled to herself; she was feeling less grumpy already.
After coffee and toast, both of which Angie complained about, they were ready to open the presents. Lottie sneaked into the drawing room ahead of everyone, sipped a glassof sherry to steel herself for the day ahead, and switched on all the fairy lights. She took a moment to savour the scene before the family descended. She wanted to remember this; capture it like a photo in her mind.My last Christmas morning at Henbourne Manor, she thought, and a sad sigh escaped.
‘Auntie Lottie, can we come in now?’ came Jessie’s eager voice from the hallway.
‘Ta-dah!’ said Lottie, swinging open the door. Jessie ran in and came to an abrupt stop in front of the tree. Balloons bobbed at her feet. She turned back to Lottie and beamed at her. No words were needed – Lottie felt exactly the same. This was the magic of Christmas.
Everyone gathered in the drawing room and the sound of excited chatter was warming to the soul. Lottie heard the back door open and close and within seconds they were joined by the scruffy little dog, although he now had a rather fetching yellow bow tied around his neck.
‘Dave!’ shouted Jessie as the little dog jumped all over her making her giggle wildly. Lottie stared at the door, preparing herself to see Joe.
She didn’t have to wait long. The door opened and Joe tentatively peered in. The sight of him made her stomach flip, though that could have been the sherry she’d gulped down. She hadn’t been expecting him quite this early.
‘I’m bearing gifts.’ He handed her two boxes of mince pies and a nice bottle of Prosecco.
‘Ooh, fizz,’ said Angie, but Lottie hugged the bottle protectively to her chest and glared at her mother.
‘Thank you,’ Lottie said to Joe. ‘You didn’t have to.’ He gave a weak smile and she returned it. His smile spread into a grin and she wondered why until she glanced down – she was still wearing her Chewbacca onesie. Sheshrugged and tried to act nonchalant. They never got dressed until after presents, and she wasn’t changing to impress Joe – those days were long gone.
‘Presents!’ shouted Jessie.
