Page 73 of All We Want for Christmas
‘But your mum will have to know about him. She has a right to.’
She pulled her hand out of Brenda’s. ‘Yeah, but she – and you – didn’t think he had a right to know about me!’
Flynn had now decided that he was spectator at a gladiatorial battle. Actually, no, he’d been thrown into the arena with the lions.
‘Hold on!’ he said, standing up. ‘I think this is a decision we all need to make together and it should be in Molly’s best interests. What’s best for her and Esme?’
Molly sniffed loudly and Brenda stayed silent for a few seconds before nodding. ‘He – Flynn – is right. It’s all about you two now.’
‘Why don’t you take a little while?’ Flynn offered, taking Brenda’s agreement to his proposal as a huge step forward.‘At least sleep on it. Things might seem clearer in the morning.’ He didn’t really believe they would for a second but he needed to defuse the tension somehow and carve out some time to take it in himself.
Molly nodded. ‘Yeah. Maybe. I know we have to tell Mum, but I’d rather do it face to face.’
‘That’s not going to happen. You’ll have to do it over the phone.’
Please don’t ask me to join this particular call,Flynn pleaded silently.
‘I know.’ Molly looked at Esme, who was playing with Penguin, and her lip quivered. Flynn knew why. Everything they did now must be in the little one’s best interests and arguing wasn’t going to help. His own heart lurched with an emotion that he’d never felt before. Still, he knew instantly it was the most terrifying emotion of all: unconditional love. With it came the fear of the unthinkable: losing his daughter and granddaughter.
He hadn’t asked to be in this situation and every day brought a fresh challenge that he had no idea how to deal with. He had a family he never knew existed and had the joy of holding his granddaughter and being called ‘Dad’ – yet, in some ways, he’d never felt more alone in his entire life.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
The medieval Christmas evening at Ravendale – another of Lara’s ideas – was fully booked. Eighty guests were packed into the banqueting hall to enjoy a concert of traditional seasonal music against a backdrop of flickering candlelight.
The sound was so pure and lilting and just soChristmassythat Lara had to fight back tears as the choir’s voices seemed to lift the ceiling. Combined with the tang of evergreen from the tree and the lingering scent of woodsmoke, she didn’t think she’d ever experienced such a perfect seasonal combination. People were dabbing their eyes with tissues as the singers and musicians performed versions of the ‘Coventry Carol’, ‘In dulci jubilo’ and ‘Gaudete’.
The ancient hymns reminded her that the season was about the birth of a baby and Esme came into her mind – followed by the one she’d lost at such an early stage. Her eyes stung, though she tried to tell herself it was probably the smoke from the flickering candles.
The previous Christmas had been emotional enough – for all the wrong reasons – and she’d been looking forward to this one being at least calmer and less draining. Then Flynn had roared into her life and she’d begun to think her Christmas would be joyful …
Now, their paths had diverged again.
The choir finished with a rendition of ‘Deck the Halls’, which the presenter explained was based on an old Welsh song. The guests joined in and the applause raised the roof. The moment the concert ended, waiting staff moved in with mulled wine and festive canapés. Lara forced herself to smile and chat with the guests and, soon, Fiona found her way over to Lara. Her eyes sparkled with happiness. ‘My dear, this is a triumph. What a superb idea.’
‘Thank you,’ Lara said, genuinely delighted with her boss’s warm approval. ‘I hoped it would be a hit. The singers are amazing.’
‘They’re brilliant.’ Fiona looked around her. ‘It really reminds you that Christmas is around the corner.’
‘It’s easy to become jaded and cynical and forget to celebrate when you’re so caught up in the day-to-day business of the season,’ Lara said.
‘Hmm. Everyone’s starting to get a bit weary and look frazzled by this stage. We’re like the proverbial swans paddling away for all we’re worth tonight, making it seem that an event like this goes on serenely and seemingly with no effort. However, I know how much work has gone into it by you and Jazz and the whole team.’
Lara agreed. Amid her own problems, there was still a job to be done. Tempers had been fraying. Jazz had had a set-to with her head chef over some curdled brandy butter, of all things. The housekeeping manager, Rebecca, had what Henry had called a ‘ding dong’ with Fiona and threatened to walk out. Lara had tried to pour oil on troubled waters andfound herself patiently listening to Jazz moaning about the chef ‘making a drama over trivia’.
‘Thank you for speaking to Rebecca on my behalf,’ Fiona said to Lara. ‘It was all a misunderstanding. I really do appreciate all she does and I know she’ll always go the extra mile for us.’
‘I’m just glad that things are back on track,’ said Lara.
‘Talking of irreplaceable people, how is Flynn? I’ve barely had a chance to speak with him. He always seems to be flying here and there.’
‘I think the poor man looks completely frazzled,’ Henry remarked. ‘I hope we’re not working him too hard. Lara, you must remind him to take some time for himself.’
‘I don’t think he’d listen to me,’ Lara said.
‘Oh, I think he would,’ Henry said, with a knowing smile.
Fiona piped up. ‘Oh, I almost forgot! Tessa’s bringing your ball costume round tomorrow. And she’s altered Flynn’s outfit too. I’m sure he’ll look terribly dashing in it.’
