She shook her head. ‘No, I found it in the cupboard when I was looking for the star box.’ She held it aloft.
‘You mean it’s not actually from the star?’ asked Jessie, full of disappointment.
‘Sorry,’ said Lottie, pulling an apologetic face at Zach; he may have some explaining to do later. She read the tag. ‘To the Collins family, with love from the Star. I guess that’s really appropriate, given Nana was the real star in our family.’
‘And now she’s gone to be one,’ chipped in Jessie, making a lump form in Lottie’s throat.
Lottie fixed her gaze on the present. ‘Right,’ she said, concentrating on not getting sentimental. She put the box on the floor and lifted the lid. Jessie shot forward and grabbed the first thing. ‘It’s a bicycle pump.’
‘No, it’s a balloon pump,’ said Zach, taking a large pack of modelling balloons out and handing Lottie a small instruction book.
As usual, Nana had struck gold. The modelling balloons were a huge hit with everyone. It was something everybody could get involved in, and infectious laughter ensued, caused mainly by failed modelling attempts and the fact that everybody jumped each time a balloon popped. Joe was concentrating hard as he wrestled with a long pink balloon protruding from between his legs.
‘Oh my,’ said Angie, going all coy. ‘What are you pumping up there?’
Joe quickly moved the balloon to under his arm. ‘It’s meant to be a flamingo,’ he said, with the briefest of looks in Lottie’s direction. It was still enough to make her heart leap. Flamingos were her absolute favourite. She loved their rich, unusual colour. It was sweet that he’d remembered. It took some effort to drag her eyes away from him.
‘There you go,’ said Scott, proudly handing Angie his creation.
‘Ooh, it’s a monkey,’ she said, taking it from him and looking genuinely pleased.
‘Is it a vegan monkey?’ asked Zach under his breath. Lottie gave him a playful punch.
‘You’re up,’ said Lottie, pointing at Dave who had trotted over to the door.
‘Bloody hell,’ said Zach, getting to his feet. Lottie followed him as far as the kitchen.
‘You need to say something to Emily soon. She’s really upset.’
‘I know. I have tried. But once I’ve got the ring back from this constipated canine everything will be sorted.’ He picked up a trowel from the utility and took it, along with his disgusted expression, into the garden.
By the time Zach returned, Lottie was busy making cups of tea and arranging mince pies on one of Nana’s best plates. He simply shook his head as Dave raced past him into the house. ‘Here,’ said Lottie, passing him a laden tray. He took it dutifully. ‘Christmas film time,’ she added, but it didn’t seem to lift his mood.
Zach followed her through to the drawing room. He put down the tray and people perked up. Lottie stepped over Joe, who was still tying up balloons, and offered around the mince pies. Bernard took two. Lottie drew the curtains, put on the television and sat down near the fire at a safe distance from Joe.
After a family squabble that was worthy of their own reality show, they finally all settled down to watch Jessie’s choice ofHome Alone. Lottie looked around the room at her family wearing paper hats at varying degrees of wonkiness. Dayea had a dining room chair pulled up close to Great Uncle Bernard’s armchair and they were holding hands. It was a very different sight to Aunt Nicola and Uncle Daniel, who were sitting as far away from each other as possible: him setting up his new phone and herstaring intently at the instructions for her robovac. Angie and Scott were at least on the same sofa, but with Jessie and Dave squeezed in between them. Emily was looking forlorn and Rhys was looking bored.
Lottie couldn’t imagine Christmas without them all. It didn’t seem right that next year they would all be scattered. Families were meant to be together, even if they wanted to murder each other – surely that was the spirit of Christmas?
She snuck a glance at Joe, who was sitting on the floor fiddling with his flamingo, and he looked up sharply as though he’d felt her watching him. She quickly turned her gaze back to the TV. She was still drawn to him – however hard she tried to fight it.
Bernard startled to shuffle forward in his seat. ‘You okay?’ asked Lottie.
‘Just need my inhaler,’ he said, rubbing his chest.
‘I will get it,’ said Dayea, and she dashed from the room.
‘No, I’m going to the loo as well,’ he called after her, followed by a huff when she didn’t come back.
‘I’ll get the wheelchair,’ said Lottie, getting up.
‘I don’t need the blessed wheelchair – I can make it that far,’ he said, hauling himself to his feet as his knees creaked in protest. His bony hand gripped the chair tightly.
‘Please let me help,’ said Lottie, but he waved her away.
‘No, I’m no invalid.’ Lottie wished Dayea would hurry up and come back because he listened to her. He started to make slow progress, and Lottie sat down again. All eyes returned to the film.
Bernard gasped as he fell crashing into the coffee table, shattering it and a number of cups. Everyone leaped up. He was fighting for breath. Zach lifted Jessie into his arms and exited the room while Joe took charge. Lottie couldsee Bernard’s leg was bleeding. Dayea came in, dropped Bernard’s inhaler to the floor and began speaking very fast in her native language and holding her face in her hands.
