Izzy melted into the embrace, still consumed by the crazy fireworks that went off every time his lips touched hers. It was crazy, the fizz of attraction, but at the same time the sense of calm that being with him brought. He was the safe harbour despite the storm.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Izzy smiled as she reread the WhatsApp message with advice on the best way to ice her Christmas cake. When all this was over, she was going to have to send a large bunch of flowers to Fliss and something liquid to Jason. They’d both been lifesavers over the last few weeks. She arranged the fir trees in one corner of the square Christmas cake among the snowy peaks of thick white icing that now covered the cake. Simple but effective, exactly as Fliss had suggested.
‘You’re just in time to lick the bowl,’ she said as Jeanette burst into the kitchen, knowing the younger woman had a very sweet tooth.
‘Ace.’ Jeanette swooshed her finger around the bowl, scooping up a great dollop of icing. ‘Yum! And that looks fantastic, much nicer than a boring shop-bought one.’ She circled the cake, her arms behind her back, just about holding back a grin.
‘What?’ asked Izzy, carrying the icing-covered utensils over to the sink.
‘I spoke to my mum.’ The words tumbled out. ‘And it was fine. She cried.’
‘Oh, Jeanette, that is brilliant.’ Izzy dropped everything and threw her arms around Jeanette. ‘Well, not that she cried, obviously, but that you’ve spoken.’
‘It was your mum that finally convinced me to do it. Said how sad she’d be if the two of you weren’t talking and she couldn’t imagine not spending Christmas with you.’
Izzy paused, a little surprised. ‘Xanthe said that?’
‘Yeah, she said since your gran died, it had always been the two of you, that you’re the two musketeers, and it wouldn’t be Christmas without you. It got me thinking. I’ve never had Christmas away from Mum before.’ Jeanette scrunched up her face. ‘After that I couldn’t stop thinking about her and then Jim said I should ring her as well. So I did.’
‘And I take it, it went well,’ said Izzy, studying Jeanette’s flushed but happy face.
‘I did get it in the neck for running away but I think she was so pleased that I called, she’s forgiven me. Anyway, I hope it’s okay – your mum said it was – but she’s driving up the day after Christmas to spend New Year with us. She’ll be no trouble and she can stay up in our little sitting room.’
‘Don’t be daft,’ said Izzy immediately – because what else could she say? Jeanette and Jim were part of her family now. ‘She can’t stay up there.’ Izzy laughed with mild hysteria because after all, seriously, what was one more? The numbers were already totally out of hand. ‘But you’re going to have to up your game on the potato peeling. We’re already up to eighteen as it is.’
‘No. Mrs Carter-Jones hasn’t added more, has she?’
‘No, Ross’s parents turned up this morning.’
Jeanette’s eyes performed dinner plate impressions. ‘His parents? Here? Did he ask you?’
Izzy laughed again, telling herself she needed to get a grip, she was starting to lose it.
‘No. He knew nothing about it. Xanthe invited them. Wait until you meet Alicia, his mum. I think her and Xanthe are actually secretly related.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You’ll see, soon enough. But it means preparing another room. We’re going to have to do some room re-allocation and emergency cleaning.’ Izzy cast a despairing look around the kitchen.
‘Don’t worry. I’ll do the cleaning. Jim can help me when him and Ross have finished wallpapering the Salmon room. By the time the Carter-Joneses get here, everything will be ship-shape.’
‘Thanks, Jeanette. Although if any more people turn up, I’m going to need another turkey.’
‘Hey, it’s okay, we’ve got this. Honest, Izzy. You know me and Jim will do anything for you. You saved us. We would have had to go home and even though Mum’s come round, it’s on our terms.’
Jeanette’s phone beeped and she took it out of her back pocket. ‘Oh God. What does Mrs Carter-J want now?’
She cackled in delight as she read the message. ‘What sort of candles do you provide? They must be organic.’ She held up a hand which Izzy obligingly high-fived. ‘Told you.’
‘You did. Well done. You can put them out now. I’ve been hiding them from Xanthe. I wouldn’t put it past her to light all of them in one go if she got hold of them.’
‘You’re so mean about her. She’s wonderful.’
‘She is wonderful but a bit unreliable sometimes.’
‘Wait ’til you meet my mum, she’sveryreliable. Not like yours at all. Xanthe is so much fun.’
