‘Aye.’ He came and gave her a hug too.
Izzy wiped at her mascara. ‘I’m not going to have any make-up left at this rate.’
Everyone laughed and they settled into small groups, chatting as Jason, Fliss and Graham tried the bench out, admiring the workmanship and patting the seat.
After a breakfast of smoked salmon, bagels and cream cheese – although Duncan refused to eschew his usual porridge, even if it was Christmas Day, and Jason opted for a bacon bagel butty, which he claimed was a guaranteed hangover cure – Izzy hurried back to the kitchen to begin the day’s work and the castle’s inhabitants dispersed to get ready for the main event, Christmas lunch.
With Jason and Fliss helping her, the preparations all went smoothly and for the first time in what felt like months, Izzy was finally able to relax.
‘I think we deserve another glass of champers,’ said Fliss, as she checked her watch. The turkey was out of the oven, resting under a coat of tin foil and a pile of tea towels, the meat juices had been added to the gravy bubbling on the hob and the vegetables both in the oven and on the top were a few minutes away from being done. ‘We’re almost there.’
‘I’m getting used to this stuff,’ said Jason, as he poured glasses for the three of them. ‘Although I’ll always like my lager.’
‘You’re such a pleb,’ teased Fliss.
‘Better than being a stuck-up madam,’ Jason teased back.
‘I was going to say how glad I am that you’re here,’ said Izzy with a laugh. ‘You’ve made today go so much easier. To the three musketeers. Thank you for rescuing me.’
‘It’s just practice, you’ll be fine by next Christmas,’ said Fliss with a comforting smile.
‘If it weren’t for you two, I might not have made it through this Christmas, let alone next,’ Izzy replied with feeling.
Izzy carried the turkey through to the dining room as if she were leading a triumphant procession, the crisp golden skin glistening on the big antique platter. Around the meat were kilted soldiers, little bacon-wrapped chipolatas, along with balls of her home-made haggis stuffing and a second of sausage meat, which smelled of orange and chestnut. Behind her, Fliss carried two tureens of amber-edged roast potatoes, steaming slightly. Following her, Jeanette held a tray bearing three large jugs of gravy. Bringing up the rear was Jason carrying honey-roasted parsnips with chilli, carrots cooked in star anise and butter, and peas and asparagus in herbs.
Xanthe had lit all the candles in the room and the fire glowed with a welcome orange warmth. The table wasDownton Abbeyimmaculate, the glow of the candles reflected by the polished silver cutlery. In vast Champagne buckets, burnished with age, bottles of wine were waiting on ice while sets of crystal glasses had been placed at each setting for water, red and white wine. Ross, as promised, performed his wine waiter duties diligently and had already filled the glasses.
Izzy took her place at the head of the table, Ross on her left and Jeanette on her right with Fliss and Jason next to them. At the opposite end of the table her mother waved at her and gave her a double thumbs-up.
Jason began to carve the turkey and Fliss handed out the plates with Izzy urging everyone to fill them. ‘Don’t forget there’s bread sauce, cranberry sauce, stuffing, sage and onion, haggis and sausage meat.’
‘Mmm, yum,’ said Jeanette and then looked at her husband. ‘If you want a decent Christmas lunch ever again we might have to stay here for ever.’
He laughed.
The minute everyone’s plates were full, Xanthe jumped to her feet and lifted her wine glass.
‘A toast to Izzy, my darling daughter. Thank you for making my dreams come true. This is officially The Best Christmas Ever. Happy Christmas, Izzy.’ Everyone around the table rose to their feet and lifted their glasses chorusing, ‘Happy Christmas.’
Duncan’s voice was the loudest of all as he wiped his eyes, Graham sitting next to Alicia caught his wife’s hand and they exchanged a touching look, Jeanette gave Jim a smacking kiss on the cheek and Jason and Fliss grinned at each other. Hattie looked on with a gentle smile and Izzy smiled back at her, conscious the girl was on her own. To her delight, Hattie grinned back and nodded, saying, ‘It might be the best Christmas ever.’
Izzy swallowed back a lump in her throat and beamed at everyone, tears blooming in her own eyes. This was what Christmas was about. The company of good friends and family. Sharing food and love around a table. Ross laid his hand over hers and gave it a little squeeze. Something warm blossomed in her chest. This was home and these people were family.
‘You’re amazing, do you know that?’ said Ross to her in a quiet undertone.
‘I had a little help from my friends,’ she replied, grinning at him, happiness radiating from every pore.
‘Yes, but you get the friends you deserve.’
Overhearing, Fliss smiled at them. ‘That’s a very good saying and very apt.’
Izzy waved a hand over her face. ‘Shh, I’m getting emotional.’
‘Nothing wrong with that,’ said Ross with a wink.
She widened her eyes at him and laughed.
‘Crackers!’ yelled Xanthe. ‘Everyone needs to pull their crackers and you have to wear your hats.’
