Duncan groaned and muttered but Izzy noticed he put on his purple paper crown along with everyone else.
After two hours of joy, during which everyone chatted, ate, laughed and celebrated with good food, good wine and wonderful company, Izzy was touched that Alicia insisted that she, Xanthe and Graham did the tidying, leaving the others to stay at the table and enjoy a glass of port.
‘Your mother’s actually very practical, you know,’ Izzy observed to Ross, as she watched Alicia carrying several plates in true silver service style.
‘So I’m realising. I had a good long heart-to-heart with her while you were cooking up a storm this morning. Dad told me a few home truths the other day and I realised that I’ve maybe not been very fair to her.’ He leaned forward and kissed her before saying, ‘Falling in love changes your perspective on things.’
Izzy simply smiled, deciding not to tell him she’d overheard his conversation with his dad.
‘Shall I be Father Christmas?’ Xanthe asked, her voice brimming with excitement and the indigo feather on today’s fascinator quivering in support. Dressed in a matching figure-hugging, indigo blue velvet dress, she looked resplendent. There was no other word for it.
Having finished the washing up, she’d marched into the dining room complete with flamingo pink, feather-trimmed rubber gloves to invite everyone into the drawing room and they were now assembled on the sofas and chairs while a fire burned in the hearth and the fairy lights winked and flashed on the Christmas tree.
Overnight a number of wrapped parcels had appeared under the tree as well as the stockings.
‘This one is for you, Izzy,’ said Xanthe, her eyes sparkling. ‘Go on, open it. I can’t wait for you to see it.’
Feeling a little self-conscious with all eyes on her, Izzy took the present. ‘Let me give you one.’
‘I’ve already seen it,’ Xanthe said, reaching for Izzy’s parcel.
‘I hope you haven’t been peeking,’ said Izzy, who had put the present under the tree at the very last minute because her mother couldn’t be trusted with surprises.
‘Who, me?’ Xanthe grinned as she portrayed dramatic indignation, putting her hand on her heart. ‘Jeanette, you can come and be parcel elf. This one is for Alicia.’ Jeanette duly distributed the presents as Xanthe pulled them out from underneath the tree. ‘This one’s for Ross. This one’s for Graham.’ Xanthe had bought everyone a little gift to go along with the Scottish tablet that Izzy had made. The tablet was all beautifully wrapped in pockets of cellophane tied up with coils of gold, silver and green ribbon.
Once everyone had a gift, Xanthe declared they could be opened. With great enthusiasm she ripped into the neat square parcel from Izzy, removing the box. ‘Oooh,’ she squealed. ‘It’s a hat box.’ She lifted the lid and pulled out a raspberry colour felt hat with an asymmetric brim and a feather pin on the front. ‘Izzy!’ She gulped and then promptly burst into tears. ‘This is beautiful. You darling. I love it. Look, isn’t it beautiful?’ She ran over to Izzy and scooped her into a big hug. ‘Thank you, sweetheart.’
‘That’s okay, Mum.’
‘You know me so well.’ Xanthe, wiggling her bottom and nestling like a broody hen into the small space between Izzy and Duncan, looped her arm around Izzy’s shoulder, sniffing as she said, ‘Thanks for putting up with me. I love you.’
‘I love you too, Mum,’ said Izzy before adding with a grin, ‘I knew you’d like it.’
‘Now open yours. You’re going to love it.’
Izzy had no doubt she would. Xanthe had impeccable taste and always managed to find just the thing you never thought you needed.
She lifted the heavy parcel onto her knee and teased the paper off slowly as Xanthe complained the whole time about how slow she was being. Inside the parcel was a clothbound box set of Diana Gabaldon’s completeOutlanderseries.
‘Mum, these are gorgeous.’ She stroked the spines. ‘Where ever did you find them? Thank you.’
‘My pleasure, darling. I ordered them from America. I know how much you love Jamie Fraser.’
Izzy smiled and glanced quickly at Ross, who smirked at her. She might have told him about her Jamie Fraser fantasies the night before.
‘Now, Graham,’ said Xanthe, bossy as always. ‘Let’s see what you got.’
‘Thanks, Xanthe,’ said Jeanette, a fake bright smile on her face as she held up an enormous Christmas jumper complete with furry reindeer antlers and a flashing red nose.
‘Oh blast!’ spat Xanthe crossly. ‘That one’s for Jim. He must have yours.’
‘Do you think?’ asked Jim, who had squeezed himself into the tiny matching jumper and thrust his left hip out in a classic model pose. Everyone burst out laughing.
‘I’ve got one more present for people,’ said Xanthe, handing out book-shaped parcels. ‘Here you go. This is for you and Jeanette, this is for you, Hattie – sorry, Izzy, I gave her yours but I know you’ve read them all – one for Alicia and Graham and one for Duncan.’
As they unwrapped their parcels, Izzy’s eyes shot to Ross’s in disbelief. Xanthe had given them all a Ross Adair book.
‘Thank you, I’ve no read any o’ these,’ said Duncan. ‘I like a good crime thriller.’
