26.
Dashing all the way …
A crisis at Cockle Shell Castle was never going to happen quietly. However much trouble the rest of us have with Cornish communications, Keef and his mates manage fine. Who knows what secret signalling system they use, but as I wave off Fliss, Libby, Willow and the kids not long later, the silver surfies are already rolling in, heading for toast in the kitchen.
Milo was totally determined to join Miranda and Ambie for a morning in the hot tub, but I saved him from himself and sent him off to Falmouth instead to buy chestnut supplies. Between us, we could have sourced them closer, but this way we’re spared the sight of him playing gooseberry between Ambie and Miranda in his (newly purchased) swimmers and Santa hat. Someone should tell him, forcing them apart is never going to work. The more he disapproves and tells them not to, the more determined they’ll be to stay together.
When I first suggested staying home I assumed I’d be personally throwing on logs and building huge versions of the fires we usually have. But after a second breakfast listening to reminiscences about big wave wipe outs and admiring the pineapple print on Keef’s new-to-him surfie joggers, Rip and Brian head off to man the fireplaces. Then while Bede, Taj and Slater ferry massive quantities of wood across from the wood store beyond the coach house, I go into the pantry room to sort out today’s first supermarket delivery.
Willow might be appalled by the gender politics, but for once it makes sense. She and Libby have a strict system and even if I mostly avoid cooking I know where they like things put away. Better still, it means that when the engineer arrives and Bill and Keef show him into the boiler room further along the corridor, I’m on hand to listen in. Not that it does me much good. He’s there for all of two seconds and three bangs, then he lets out a long whistle, marches off to his van, and drives away again. Then another two loads of shopping arrive and for the next couple of hours I keep warm stacking the fridges.
By the time I’m done, the heap of logs outside by the hot tub is huge. As I wander through to the main part of the castle I can see my breath in the hallway, but when I open the door to the family room I’m met by a wall of warmth and Miranda’s shrieks of laughter at some story Keef’s telling her.
Lighting the open fires really brought these rooms to life before, but now they’re so much bigger the fires are making the heart of the castle beat even more strongly. The firelight’s glow brings a warmth to the rooms that’s about more than just the heat. And with the rainbow Christmas trees, the fairy lights around the windows and in glass jars on the coffee tables, and Miranda’s huge pots of pine branches, it’s all so wonderfully sparkly and Christmassy. The leather and velvet chairs by the fireside look so inviting I have to stop myself sitting straight down in them.
‘Not in the hot tub, Miranda?’ I’m smiling, because laughing helplessly is so much more like the Miranda I know than the tetchy, argumentative one we’ve seen the last week.
She eases open her scarf, wiggles her eyebrows and waves her tobacco. ‘I popped out for a ciggy, bumped into Keef, and one thing led to another.’
Keef’s face cracks into a beam. ‘She’sbeen admiring my motor home, andI’vebeen extolling the virtues of a wild heart, the freedom of the open road, and being true to yourself.’ He breaks off to grin at me. ‘You can’t do that in two minutes you know.’
‘Obviously not.’ It’s taken these two all morning and then some. ‘Any news from the heating man?’
‘Who?’ It’s what everyone else is obsessing about, just not Keef. For a moment he looks bemused then it clicks. ‘Oh, that. Nothing concrete, he’s coming back tomorrow.’
‘Anyway, I’m just going to fill all the jam jars with tea lights ready for later.’ I’m holding up a big bag of candles, trying to justify why I’m here even though there’s no reason why I should feel like I’m intruding when Keef’s only standing around with a box.
There’s a rattle of the door handle, then Bill comes striding across to us. ‘Great, that’s brilliant, candles are just what we need.’ He’s carrying a box too and he’s turning to me. ‘You do realise your quick thinking saved me back there, Star-girl.’
‘You’re welcome, William.’ While I try to decide if I mind Star-girl less than Pom Pom I send him a wink across the fireplace where the flames are roaring through a truly enormous fire. ‘Who knew everyone would forget about the cold and embrace the filmfest?’ I certainly didn’t, but I’m pleased they have.
‘You totally sold it to them.’ He gives a grimace as he slides the wide box down on the coffee table. ‘Without you intervening I’d have been toast.’
I suspect he’s right, but I’m not going to rub it in. I’m thinking of the last time he came in with the boxes of decorations, how it seems more like a lifetime ago than five days. ‘You’ve been shopping, scouring the charity shops again for DVDs for later?’ Except the dull thud the box made as it hits the wood should have told me it isn’t right for them.
He shakes his head. ‘We’ve lost the heating, we had to have mistletoe, Libby’s already been chasing you on it.’ He whips off the lid of the box with a flourish.
‘Is that where you’ve been?’ He might have mistletoe, but he’s still looking stressed enough to make my heart squish for him.
He’s rubbing his hands. ‘My mate Rory, from Huntley and Handsome wine merchants and Roaring Waves brewery buys it by the lorry load to give away to his customers with their Christmas deliveries. And since we’re his most valued specialist local gin supplier, he was happy to help.’
As I lean in I get the size of the haul. ‘Wow! That’s a whole lot of Instagram mileage there.’ The box is brim full and I can’t help smiling as I finger the simple pale green leaves. As I see the clusters of pretty white berries a thought hits me. ‘I’m treading on Miranda’s toes making commercial suggestions here, but you really should make Cockle Shell CastleChristmasgin. I can already see the labels, a scattering of stars and sprigs of mistletoe …’
Miranda’s eyes are gleaming like topaz, but her naughty glint is back. ‘I can see your nudist well-being clients now, Bill, goosepimples on their bums, their heads full of motivational quotes, downing their frankincense gin cocktails on your private beach.’
Bill’s shaking his head. ‘Thanks, Ivy, your second must-do inspiration for today, I’ll definitely work on that …’
‘Anyway, back to the mistletoe.’ Before these two come to blows. ‘There’s enough to deck out an entire castle and then some.’
‘That’s a whole heap of kisses for someone.’ His lips twist as he looks down at Miranda. ‘Don’t say I never bring you anything, I hope you’re going to put it to good use.’
Miranda gives a haughty toss of her head and ignores him entirely.
Keef gives a cough and gives Miranda a hard stare. ‘Just be sure you choose the right prince to kiss, Mirry. The wrong one and you’ll be throwing your life away.’
Miranda closes her eyes and shakes her head. When she opens them again, she’s firing at me. ‘I hope you’re listening there, Ivy-leaf, whatever I once said about Bill I take it all back. Milo’s the catch around here.’ She picks up a sprig from the box and as she passes it to me she’s beaming. ‘Here, take this, run along and find him. There’s no time to lose, not now you’re looking so pretty with your lovely new hair on show.’
I’m rolling my eyes at Merwyn, but this time he just looks at me as if he’s seen it all before. ‘Sorry, Miranda, Milo’s gone out.’
