Page 34 of Stuck With My Christmas Crush

She indicates the circle of little pretty tea things that surround her where she sits cross-legged on the floor. Maddie picks up one of the teacups with gold handles and pretends to drink from it. Then she eats a slice of pretend cake from a matching dainty plate decorated with roses. A teapot,empty milk jug, and sugar bowl are in the middle of the circle with a grand three-tiered cake stand.

“She had to go, Maddie,” I explain. “But she’ll come back and have tea with you… and the Duke and Duchess from Scotland, another time.”

“Mmmm. Too late. They’re only here to have tea with me today and then they have to go back to their castle.”

“That’s too bad.”

“Yes. Fairy Charlie missed out on something very special.”

Maddie’s words ring around my head.Missed out on something very special. That is exactly the feeling I have just now. That I have missed out on something very special and rare and beautiful.

The jolt I felt as Charlie reached for my hand. The warmth of her fingers as they curled around mine. The incredible feeling that I never wanted to let her go as we walked together to the garage. And then something I said upset her and now she’s gone. I clench my jaw and rub the back of my neck in disbelief. I’m experiencing a sense of loss for something I never had, which is ridiculous. I shake off my undue mushy emotions.

This big old house is getting to me. I’ve been here too long. I turn my attention back to Maddie who gallantlycontinues her pretend tea party despite her disappointment.

“Could you give me an ETD of the Duke and Duchess? We need to get moving soon. Okay?”

“They left already.” Maddie shrugs and sighs. “I’m good to go now, Jason.” She stands up and wipes pretend crumbs from her dress.

I scoop Maddie up and give her a hug and she wraps her arms around me. Then I put her down and she holds my hand as I switch off the lights and lock up the hotel. Then I turn on the security system I had installed, with cameras and an alarm that alerts a twenty-four-hour service. It’s pricey but necessary for peace of mind. And it means that I’m not so tied to the place.

Rocko lopes on ahead as I walk with Maddie back to the gatehouse. He knows it’s dinnertime.

“Hey, Rocko has a new collar,” says Maddie with a bright smile which lifts my mood. “I like it. It can be his Sunday best collar; his Christmas collar; the collar he wears to go to a party.”

I open the gatehouse door, but Maddie points to the bag and package stowed carefully on the shelf beside the tools.

“Charlie left them,” I say by way of explanation.

“Aren’t you going to open your present, Jason?”

I stop, hesitantly. “Yeah. Maybe later, huh? We’ve got to get going.”

“How about now? It’ll only take a couple of minutes. Unless it’s a Christmas present and you want to bring it home and put it under our tree and open it with us on Christmas Day?”

I sigh, trying to ignore the Christmas comment. I don’t tell Maddie that I’m planning to hide myself away again until the whole shebang is over. But Meredith still buys me a gift and will corner me when I turn up eventually, with what they call an un-Christmas. Just for me.

“No. I think it’s a thank-you present, Maddie.”

“Great, then you’re totally allowed to open it right now.”

I don’t move. I stare at the package. Then I look at Maddie and say, “How about you open it for me?”

“How come you don’t want to open your present? If it was my present I’d open it straight away. And I definitely wouldn’t let anyone else open it for me.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll open it now.” I take the package from the shelf. An envelope falls on the ground. I pick it up then push the door open and we all go inside. Maddie sits on the couch. Rocko jumps up beside her and I sit on the chair. I open the envelope and read the message which makes me smile.

“What does it say, Jason?”

“It says, Merry Christmas. I hope all your dreams come true. Then, Charlie says, if I ever want juggling lessons, to call her.”

“Oh, how wonderful,” squeals Maddie clapping her hands. “Open the present,” she demands.

I peel off the ribbon and tear away the festive wrapping to reveal a box of three brightly colored soft balls. Rocko pricks up his ears and looks interested.

“No, Rocko. They’re not for you.”

“I think you should call Charlie and tell her how much you love your present and say yes to juggling lessons. What’s in the bag?”

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