Inside, the family appeared to be conducting at least three simultaneous arguments: Angie was trying to get Jessie’s robot off Zach, Daniel was pressing buttons on the robovac whilst Nicola shouted out the instructions, and Uncle Bernard was arguing with his wheelchair. Dave was bouncing up and down by the windowsill whilst the Duchess clung precariously to the curtain top with unsheathed claws. Lottie opened her mouth intending to yell ‘shut up’, but the woman was already shouting.
‘Dan!’ Her voice commanded instant and total attention; the noise dwindled away and everyone, including the animals, turned to look. Uncle Daniel’s habitual high colour drained to white and he rushed forward, bumping his shin on the antique coffee table in his attempt to intercept the woman as quickly as possible.
‘Daniel?’ Aunt Nicola’s voice sliced through the room. She twitched a smile at the young woman but directed her question at her husband who was now halfway across the room, vigorously rubbing his bruised shin. ‘Who is this?’
Daniel started to speak but there were no distinguishable words, only a jumble of incomprehensible burbles. His gaze pivoted from Nicola, to the young woman, and back to Nicola’s increasingly fierce face.
The woman pulled down her hood to reveal long, golden hair. She was exceptionally pretty.
‘I’m Rebecca,’ said the woman, before Daniel could answer.
Chapter Sixteen
‘I don’t think it was a good idea to come here, Rebecca,’ said Daniel, his voice barely a whisper, his expression one of stunned mortification.
Rebecca lifted her chin. ‘But you said you would spend this Christmas with me,’ she said.
‘Daniel?’ snapped Nicola. When he didn’t answer, she walked calmly over to Rebecca. The heads in the room swivelled like they were watching match point on centre court at Wimbledon.
Rebecca straightened her spine and the two women weighed each other up.
Lottie cleared her throat. Daggers were hurled in her direction for interrupting the floor show, but she continued anyway. ‘I think this might be a discussion you’d like to have in the snug?’ she suggested, opening the door and hoping the three key performers would exit. Nobody moved.
‘I’m leaving now, Dan. Are you coming?’ asked Rebecca. Lottie held the door open and watched the cool draught from the hallway waft the tinsel as everything else in the room stayed still. Duchess saw her opportunity, jumped down from the curtain and darted through the open door;Lottie shut it quickly to halt Dave’s chase. Rebecca looked momentarily startled. ‘Sorry,’ said Lottie. ‘They can’t be in the same room or they fight.’
‘Like some other people we could mention,’ said Bernard. ‘What?’ he said to the looks that were fired in his direction. ‘We’re all thinking it.’
‘Can we just talk about this?’ asked Daniel. Nicola and Rebecca both spun in his direction, making him jolt at his obvious mistake. ‘I mean …’ He looked from one to the other.
‘I’m done talking,’ said Rebecca. ‘No more empty promises.’ Her voice cracked and Lottie immediately wanted to comfort her.
‘I’ve certainly got some thingsI’dlike to say,’ said Nicola, eyeballing her husband, her voice laden with sarcasm.
Daniel cupped his chin; or perhaps he was protecting his throat, Lottie couldn’t be sure. Whichever, it seemed a guarded gesture. ‘Nicola, I didn’t mean for you to find out like this. I—’
Nicola let out a hollow tinkle of a laugh. ‘Oh, don’t for a moment assume this is a big surprise, Daniel. You’ve been acting strange for weeks. Always late home, constantly on your phone. You’re not exactly MI5 material.’
‘Nicola, don’t … it’s not what you think,’ said Daniel.
Nicola’s eyes locked onto her husband. ‘I think it’s exactly what I think. What’s it to be? Me or her?’ She turned slowly back to stare, unblinking, at Rebecca.
‘Dan. Aren’t you going to say something?’ Rebecca’s lips formed a hard line.
Uncle Daniel was running both his hands over his head where his hair used to be. ‘I … um …’ He blew out his cheeks and shook his head. ‘You see … the thing is …’
‘Fine. I’m leaving.’ Rebecca marched to the door. Lottie faltered as Dave was nearby. She muttered an apology for blocking Rebecca’s exit, scooped up Dave and stepped aside.
‘Goodbye. And sorry everyone for interrupting your Christmas.’ There were mumbles and coughs in response. Rebecca gave Lottie a tight smile as she opened the door for her, and the young woman strode out with her head high.
‘Well, that was tawdry,’ said Nicola, picking up a glass with a shaky hand and pouring herself a large brandy. ‘Can you believe her chutzpah?’
‘I bet you’re good at Scrabble,’ said Scott, and Angie gave him a nudge.
Daniel, who appeared to have been in a state of suspended animation, suddenly bolted for the door. ‘Rebecca. Wait!’
For a second Nicola looked like she was going to vomit. Instead she finished the brandy, returned the glass to the silver tray and followed her husband from the room. There was a brief moment where the others exchanged looks, and then Angie scurried out the door, keen not to miss the next act. The rest followed quick on her heels, with poor Bernard bringing up the rear after he got a wheel caught on the sofa.
Emily grabbed Zach’s arm and pulled him to one side as they exited the drawing room. His eyes followed the row in full swing at the open front door as she dragged his body towards the kitchen.
