Carole Singer's Christmas (24 page)

Carole had to grudgingly admit Nick was probably right. ‘I suppose so. Just be careful,’ she added as they reached Mitsy’s cottage.

‘Should I wait for him to make the first move then, Nick?’ Josie asked. ‘Or should I make a move on him? Some men don’t like forward women, do they?’

Nick chuckled. ‘I never thought I’d be giving relationship advice to you, Josie. If it’s taken him this long to get this far, I’d say you may need to move things forward. He’s probably worried you may not feel the same and then it’d be embarrassing for you both given that you teach his son. Don’t throw yourself at him exactly but make it obvious you’re interested. Then let him take the lead.’

‘What lead? I’m not a dog, you know. Seriously though, I’m not sure what you mean. You mean by flirting and stuff and then waiting to see if he reacts?’

‘Well yes, but more direct. Tell him there’s a meteor shower you were going to watch and if he’s not busy, would he like to stay for a glass of wine and watch it with you. If he says no, there’s no real harm done. You can say some friends are popping round and you thought he might like to join in rather than be at a loose end on a Friday night. That’s just being friendly. If he says yes … well.’ Nick grinned broadly.

‘Ooh! Thanks Nick. I like that.’

‘What if he says no and then when Josie mentions other friends he says, “Oh. Okay”? What will she say when no one else turns up?’ Carole asked.

Nick gave her a questioning look. ‘Do you always think things through to such an extent?’

Carole nodded. ‘Always.’

‘Okay. Then Josie can call us and we’ll go round. But I really don’t think he will. Good luck, Josie,’ Nick said.

‘Yes. Good luck. And call me and let me know what happens,’ Carole said.

‘I will,’ Josie replied as she turned and headed home, ‘but hopefully that won’t be until tomorrow ... or if things go really well and I’m very lucky, not until Sunday night. Hey!’ She stopped and turned back to look at Carole and Nick. ‘I just saw a shooting star! I’m sure I did. One of those meteors.’

Carole and Nick both stared up into the sky but saw nothing.

‘Knowing my luck it was a flying pig. One that glows in the dark! See you.’

Carole let out a long meaningful sigh. ‘At least someone has the possibility of having sex this weekend,’ she remarked, not realising she’d actually said it out loud.

‘You could always call Sebastian,’ Nick suggested just as Sarah opened the door.

‘Come in you two. We’re waiting to decorate the trees. Mum’s opened the Baileys, I’ve made mince pies. Jamie’s given Arkenarten the ‘Cats Don’t Climb Christmas trees’ speech, but I’m not sure that’s done much good. Anyway, I think we’re all set, so don’t stand out here on the doorstep.’

‘We were looking for shooting stars,’ Carole explained, ‘and saying goodbye to Josie.’

‘Oh,’ Sarah said. ‘Is this the meteor shower you told Jamie about today, Nick? He’s decided we need to go for a walk at some ungodly hour to go and look at it.’ She smiled fondly at Nick. ‘Thanks for that.’

Nick chuckled. ‘Sorry Sarah. It is worth seeing though, if you like such things of course.’

‘I’ll forgive you, but Carole may not. The two of you are coming with us.’

Carole and Nick exchanged glances.

‘Why?’ Carole asked.

‘Because if I’m going stargazing at four o’clock in the morning, then so are you. And don’t even think of saying no, Nick!’ Sarah gave him a mock threatening look.

‘I had no intention of doing so,’ he said sheepishly.

‘Good. We’ve got both trees in the sitting room because there’s more space, and either you or Jamie can carry the smaller one to the study when it’s done, Nick.’

Nick and Carole followed Sarah in and as Carole took off her coat, she stopped in her tracks. Something caught in her throat, bringing tears to her eyes.

‘What’s wrong, cherub?’ Sarah asked, turning round and noticing the look on Carole’s face.

Carole shook her head. ‘Nothing. It’s ... it’s just so ... Christmassy in here. It reminded me of ... well, you know.’

‘I know, cherub.’ Sarah handed her a large glass of Baileys. ‘And I hope this is okay, please tell me if it’s not. I asked Jamie to go into the loft and bring the old decorations down. The ones we had in our old house. The ones ... you and your father used to decorate the tree with. I think it’s time they saw the light of day again, don’t you?’ She slipped her arm through Carole’s and led her to a large box with the words, ‘Xmas Decs’ written on it.

Carole stared at the box and a hundred memories came flooding back. It was her dad’s handwriting and she ran one hand over the words as if caressing them. She bit her lip and tried to stem the tears but she couldn’t.

‘I’m so sorry, darling.’ Sarah’s voice was breaking with emotion. ‘I was wrong. Jamie? Take them–’

‘No!’ Carole said in a strangled sob. ‘You were right. It is time and ... Dad would want this. He ... he would want to see us all together like this. A family decorating the tree as we used to. I ... I just need a few minutes, that’s all.’

She turned and left the room. She threw her coat around her shoulders and opening the front door, stepped outside. The air was still and the waxing moon sat like a single bauble in a bed of black tissue paper sprinkled with little silver stars.

Her dad had loved nights like this and he’d taught her the famous nursery rhyme, Star Light, Star Bright and told her she should recite it on seeing the first star of the night, or on seeing a shooting star.

She stared up at the sky for several minutes. It was too late to wish on the first star of the night as she’d seen several already but she stood looking upwards, hoping, wondering. She smiled a little sadly and was about to look away and go inside when she saw it. There, right before her eyes was a shooting star. Quickly, she recited the words she remembered so well:

Star light, star bright,

Shooting star I see tonight,

I wish I may, I wish I might,

Have the wish I wish tonight.

Then she closed her eyes and made a wish.

Seconds later the front door opened and Nick stood in the doorway.

‘Oh!’ He was clearly surprised to see her there. ‘I thought you’d ... actually, I’m not sure what I thought but I didn’t expect you to be out here. It’s freezing!’

‘I just saw a shooting star, Nick,’ she said, feeling like a little girl again.

‘One of many, I should think,’ he replied.

‘Yes, but it’s the first that counts. It’s the first you have to wish on.’

‘And did you? Wish on it.’

‘Of course!’

‘What did you wish for?’

‘I can’t tell you that! Wishes don’t come true if you tell people.’

‘No.’ He sighed deeply. ‘I don’t suppose they do.’

‘Where are you off to anyway?’

‘Home.’

‘Why? I thought you were helping with the trees.’

He shook his head. ‘I shouldn’t be here. I know Mitsy says that’s silly but I’m not part of the family and you said it yourself, this is a family thing. Your dad would want it to be.’

‘Oh! But ... No. No, you’re coming back inside. If I’ve got to go and watch stars at four o’clock in the morning, then you’ve got to stay and help decorate the trees. So don’t argue.’

She put her hands on his arms and pushed him back in through the doorway. She removed her coat, rubbed her hands together, took a deep breath, pulled her shoulders back and marched into the sitting room with Nick following behind.

‘Right,’ she announced. ‘Let’s get started. And don’t we need some Christmas music in the background? Where’s Arkenarten? I think he needs a little red Christmas bow.’

‘That’ll please him!’ Mitsy teased.

‘Rather you than me,’ Jamie added, chuckling. ‘I heard in the village that he’s really a puma, a wee dwarf-sized one but a puma nonetheless.’

‘He definitely gives Nicodemus what for,’ Nick added, ‘although Arten does usually keep out of Nicodemus’ way, discretion being the better part of valour in Arten’s mind.’

‘It’s always better to avoid a fight if possible,’ Carole said.

‘Not always,’ Mitsy said, looking directly at Nick. ‘Sometimes we have to fight for what we want. Feint heart never won fair maid. Now where did I put my sherry glass? Get me a refill would you please, Nick? The bottle’s on the sideboard. None of this Baileys stuff for me.’

Carole found the Christmas CDs and picked one by Michael Bublé. He was one of her mum’s and her gran’s favourite singers, not to mention she was rather partial to him herself. Jamie and Nick sang along and Carole was surprised to hear that Nick had a very melodious voice.

‘Why aren’t you singing in the Christmas musical?’ she asked. ‘You’ve got a lovely voice.’

He raised his eyebrows in surprise. ‘I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.’

Carole grinned. ‘It’s possibly the only nice thing I’ve ever said to you. Don’t get used to it.’

‘I won’t. I’m sure you’ll be trying to kill me again before too long. Why aren’t you singing?’

‘Believe me, Nick you don’t want to hear me sing. You’d actually want me to kill you.’

But within the time it took to decorate two trees, Carole was singing, albeit very quietly. She saw Nick smile at her and stopped but he prodded her in the ribcage and called her a coward so she hummed along to the music instead.

Without realising it, she was singing again as Nick and Jamie hung several metres of both indoor and outdoor coloured lights, and attached rows of silver bells around the doorframes both indoors and out. Every so often, they nipped back into the warmth of the sitting room and stretched out on one of the wing chairs either side of the fireplace with a mince pie and a glass of whisky.

Once or twice, Carole found herself wishing she could decide which one of three men she really loved. She could have this every year, and the possibility of a family Christmas with either Dom or Seb. She couldn’t have it with Nick but she could have a wonderful friendship with him – until he fell in love with someone and wanted to be with her instead.

No. She wouldn’t think about that. She wouldn’t ruin tonight. She stepped over Nick’s outstretched legs and stood in front of the fire with its glowing coals and crackling logs to dress the mantelpiece with pine twigs, snow-covered cones, red candles in little robin-shaped candle holders, and sprigs of holly. Another CD started playing, telling them all It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.

Stepping back to admire her handiwork she forgot about Nick’s legs and stumbled, landing half on his lap, half on the arm of the chair. He reached out to catch her and his arms wrapped awkwardly around her. For a few seconds they just stared at one another before she jumped to her feet, blushing.

‘I’m not sure who was trying to kill whom there,’ she joked. ‘Well, I think we’re done, don’t you, Mum? Mum?’

Sarah came in shivering with cold. ‘Sorry cherub, I just popped out to see if there are any more shooting stars yet. It’s really cold out there but I did see one and yes, I made a wish.’

‘Well,’ Nick said, getting to his feet. ‘I’d better go and take Nicodemus for a walk before he thinks I’ve deserted him for good. Are you really planning on going to see the meteors later?’

‘Yes,’ Jamie said, grinning.

‘Okay. I’ll pop back around four-ish then. Make sure you wrap up warm. It’s going to be a very cold night.’

‘We’ll come to the door with you,’ Sarah said, grabbing Carole’s hand.

Jamie was wheeling Mitsy towards the study in the wheelchair Matilda had lent them on a semi-permanent basis, and Carole and Sarah stood in the hall.

‘Are you all making sure I leave?’ Nick joked as he put on his coat.

Sarah smiled. ‘We’ve just come to admire the view.’

He turned and stepped outside and the cold night air hit him like a wall of ice.

‘Goodnight then,’ he said, standing on the doorstep as if he were reluctant to leave.

‘Er ... Nick?’ Sarah said, shoving Carole forwards so that both she and Nick stood face to face on the doorstep.

Sarah pointed her finger upwards and Carole and Nick looked up to see a large bunch of mistletoe hanging above their heads. They seemed as shocked as each other.

‘Mum!’ Carole snapped, feeling furious and embarrassed as she looked everywhere but at Nick’s face.

‘Kiss her, Nick,’ Jamie insisted, grinning broadly.

‘This is ridiculous,’ Carole said, stepping back.

Sarah stood in her way. ‘It’s bad luck not to,’ she said, ‘and what with it being Friday the 13th too, are you sure you want to risk any more bad luck?’

Nick sighed as if all the cares of the world had landed squarely on his shoulders.

‘We may as well get it over with,’ he said.

Carole’s head shot up and she frowned. ‘I apologise for my mother forcing you to do this.’

He leant forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek and even she was surprised. She thought he’d at least give her a quick kiss on the lips if only to conform to tradition.

‘Auch man!’ Jamie chided. ‘That’s ne’er a kiss!’

Carole tutted. ‘That was good enough for me. ‘I’ve got a boyfriend, don’t forget.’

‘That didn’t stop Sebastian,’ Mitsy chipped in.

‘You’ve got two at the last count,’ Nick mumbled.

Sarah held Carole’s shoulders, pinning her to the spot. ‘It’s got to be a real kiss or you’ll still get bad luck.’

‘I don’t want a real–’

‘Oh for heaven’s sake!’ Nick interjected.

He grabbed Carol’s wrist and pulled her, a little roughly she thought, into his arms. Her head fell back in surprise and her mouth fell open. She saw a sudden grin appear on his lips and then his mouth was on hers in a kiss that was nothing like she’d been expecting. From the way he’d grabbed her, she’d expected the sort of kiss Sebastian had given her. A possessive, passionate kiss.

This kiss was gentle, slow and teasingly tender. Carole completely forgot they were on the doorstep being watched by her mum, her gran and Jamie. All she saw was him. She closed her eyes and kissed him back.

Without even realising she was doing so, her hands which had been pushing against his arms, slid around him and his arms tightened about her waist. He eased her towards him and she went, willingly.