‘That’s because I’ve just instigated it.’
She grinned, then began to laugh. ‘You forgot all about getting the tree in, didn’t you?’
‘No. Of course I didn’t. What a terrible thing to say.’ Then he grimaced. ‘Might have forgotten … Things have been a bit all over the place …’
‘Well, I think it’s a wonderful new tradition,’ Freya said, leaning in to kiss his cheek, then glancing at her children. ‘Although, if I’m honest, I don’t think they’re going to be able to wait for the morning.’
‘Better find the chainsaw, then,’ Sebastian said.
Chapter 27
With the entire family dressed for the late-afternoon chill and standing in the yard outside Robbie’s cottage, Sebastian hoisted the chainsaw onto his shoulder in an attempt to look rugged and mountain-man-like.
‘Are you safe with that thing?’ Olivia remarked.
‘Probably not,’ he said. ‘I’m just holding it out of the boys’ way until Robbie gets here. He’s going to take us out into the woods.’
‘He’d better hurry up, or it’ll be dark,’ Olivia added.
‘He has work to do, Olivia,’ Dee snapped.
‘Look, I think I see the truck coming. Look, boys – it’s Robbie.’ Freya pointed through the semi-darkness as Freddie and Karl bounced on the spot.
‘Hurry Robbie, hurry Robbie, hurry Robbie,’ they chanted.
‘Try saying that on a couple of tequilas,’ Candida said, earning herself a grin from Olivia.
Sebastian smiled, lowering the chainsaw carefully before he managed to lop off an ear. The boys were beside themselves with excitement and it was enough to raise even the most dismal of spirits. He’d wanted Jess to accompany them, too, but she’d cried off – told him she was busy in the kitchen. Freya had asked if the adults could have a spaghetti supper in front of a movie, something simple after all the travelling. He could easily have helped Jess with that and had told her as much. She’d still declined his invitation.
Jess probably wanted some time to herself, which she was completely entitled to. So why did it feel like a rejection?
Robbie took the chainsaw from him, loading it into the back of the truck, then dragged over a flat trailer with mesh sides and attached it to the tow-bar.
‘Shall I take you in two groups?’ he said, eying the ensemble. ‘I cannae fit you all in in one go.’
‘We’ll let you guys go and choose the tree. We thought we might go for a walk, instead,’ Candida said, gesturing to Olivia and herself. ‘We’ll see you back inside later to help with the decorating, though.’
With Sebastian sat up front with Robbie, and the boys squashed in between Freya and Dee in the back, they were ready to set off.
‘It’s like being a Freddie and Karl sandwich,’ Freddie said as Robbie threw the truck into gear and moved off.
‘Person sammich,’ Karl added, before bursting into peals of laughter.
Freddie thumped his brother. ‘I said that. Why do you always copy me?’
‘Which part of the plantation did you want to look in?’ Robbie said, raising his voice over the boys’ burgeoning wails of discontent.
‘The closest bit possible, please, Robbie,’ Freya said, her tone serene even as her two sons began to kick off.
To Sebastian’s eye, all the smaller fir trees looked much the same. As he stood there in the late-afternoon half-light and watched the sheer exuberant joy exhibited by Freya’s sons as they darted from tree to tree, trying to choose, it occurred to Sebastian that there might be a market for these trees. Perhaps there might be a role for them beyond providing cover for game birds. He was doing his best to make a mental list of money-making enterprises to be investigated – and maybe Christmas-tree farming should be added to the list. It was certainly worth consideration.
His mother remained quiet, almost withdrawn, as the boys chose the tree and Robbie cut it down, hoisting it onto his shoulder as though it were no weightier than a backpack. He headed for the truck and trailer, the two boys trotting along behind like well-behaved dogs.
‘What’s wrong with Mummy?’ Freya materialised at Sebastian’s arm, her tone muted.
‘I don’t know. She’s been up and down since … Well, you know.’
Freya shook her head. ‘No. It’s not that. She keeps staring at Robbie, then looking away. She looks really sad.’
