Page 47 of The Christmas Invitation
‘At the rate he’s growing, that’s not going to be long,’ Lex pointed out.
‘The house became so much brighter and warmer after you and Henry bought it,’ Tottie said. ‘And all those lovely bathrooms, too! Funny how you don’t notice the lack of things like that in a house where you’ve lived your whole life.’
‘I agree. The Farm is up in the Black Mountains and when I was a little girl it would often be quite chilly in winter,’ I said. ‘It was heated by only a range and a couple of wood-burning stoves back then, but it’s all changed now, especially since River embraced solar power and had loads of panels put in.’
‘I look forward to meeting your grandfather when he comes for the Solstice and hearing all about the Farm,’ said Henry.
‘Yes,I’mlooking forward to his arrival, too,’ said Lex enigmatically, with a look at me that I interpreted as meaning that he looked forward to it because it would mark the date of my imminent departure from the Red House and his life.
Teddy said he thought it was mean of River not to celebrate Christmas properly. ‘Uncle Henry says you’ve never had a real one!’
‘We celebrated the Solstice and then had a lovely Yule feast instead,’ I told him. ‘That was fun, too.’
‘But Father Christmas didn’t bring you presents, did he?’
‘No, but we always exchange gifts on the first night of the feasting, usually things we’ve made ourselves.’
‘I thinkrealChristmas sounds much more fun,’ he insisted.
Lex switched the ceiling lights on again and we blinked, back in the real world. The hall was richly redolent with the wonderful scent of pine.
A rattle heralded the arrival of Den with the inevitable tea trolley.
‘Time fer a bite to eat, ain’t it?’ he said, wheeling the trolley into the drawing room ahead of us, then putting more wood on the fire.
I sank down on to one of the sofas in a state of exhaustion, what with all this decorating business, the long walk that morning, and all the emotional turmoil that had stopped me sleeping the previous night.
‘Madeira cake,’ Henry said. ‘You have been busy, Den!’
‘Nah, Madeira cake don’t take no time at all.’
‘I think you’re a magician in the kitchen,’ said Clara, and Den looked gratified.
Teddy began to tell Lex what was on the Christmas list he’d sent to Santa. It seemed both extensive and varied.
Then his mother, Zelda, rang and after a word with Clara, she put him on the phone. Zelda must have asked him what he wanted for Christmas, because he began reciting down from the top of the list all over again, but he was less than halfway down when Lex removed the phone from his grasp.
‘Hi, Zelda,’ he said. ‘We’ve just finished decorating the trees, so Teddy’s a bit over-excited.’
Teddy pulled a gremlin face at him, but having crammed another slice of cake into his mouth, he couldn’t protest.
Lex listened for a few minutes and then said he’d relay that to everyone and see her soon.
‘Is Mummy comingnow?’ asked Teddy, having eaten his cake. ‘Will she bring me a pony?’
‘No and no,’ said Lex. ‘She’s shooting an advert next week and then has an audition, but she’ll be here right after that.’
‘As long as she really does come,’ said Teddy, ‘because when she’s in a pantomime, she doesn’t.’
‘She’ll be here, but I hope the roads stay clear for her,’ said Clara. ‘Fingers crossed.’
‘Oh, I’m sure she’ll make it, one way or another,’ said Henry. ‘She’s very resourceful.’
I suspected she wouldn’t have Teddy’s pony under her arm, though.
‘Her call reminds me, Meg,’ Clara said suddenly. ‘Your young man rang while you were all out walking this morning.’
‘What?’ I said, surprised. ‘I haven’tgota young man!Oran old one,’ I added, as a horrible suspicion dawned.
