Magic Under the Mistletoe

by Lucy Coleman

  Cary’s eyes are fixed on Laurence, who seems delighted to have him on the defensive.

  ‘There you go, Grandma. You knew that one day he’d bring home the right one.’

  I daren’t even glance in Cary’s direction after that comment.

  It’s like eye tennis and Robert, clearly feeling a little uncomfortable, rescues me.

  ‘Well, I’m seriously hungry and think we should stop talking and start eating.’

  I give him a grateful little smile, picking up my knife and fork to place the first sliver of scallop into my mouth. It’s meltingly divine and Cary was right. Marcel is an exquisite chef. He must feel very indebted to Cressida to be in her home, cooking for us all tonight. But then she’s a person with connections and I suspect she’s very good at putting the right people together to their mutual benefit.

  Robert doesn’t give Laurence and Cary a chance to pick up on their conversation after the first course is done. Instead he asks Sally whether Chloe is at nursery yet and it’s a relief to be able to sit and listen to her talk about each of her children in turn.

  Once the first course plates are cleared, the waitress returns and silence reigns for a while as we focus on the meltingly divine fillet steak with champagne sauce.

  It’s hard to believe that twenty-four hours ago I was sitting on a sofa with a policewoman next to me, taking a statement. Suddenly something occurs to me that I hadn’t quite grasped before. Maybe one’s personal life needs to be planned as carefully as you plan your career. I don’t simply take on any client, I take on clients whose products or services I believe in, and for whom I think I can deliver exactly what they need, and, in the process, exceed their expectations.

  Fate made my path collide with Nathan’s and look how that ended. Cary and I are growing very comfortable around each other and that’s not only unexpected, but increasingly welcomed after Jeff’s news. I know my acquaintance with Cary is temporary, but it feels like a lifeline at the moment. A way to turn around people’s sympathy for me and reassure them I’m okay. The reality might be a little different but I’m still standing, as they say. And who knows what the future might bring, anyway?

  16

  The Makings of a Plan

  I will admit that saying goodbye to everyone is hard as both Sally and Cressida are visibly upset, which is touching.

  Sally gives me a genuinely warm hug.

  ‘Oh, I so wish you didn’t have to go home today. But just knowing you are going to be around for the party next week is marvellous! For the first time ever, I have someone I can talk to who can empathise about being involved with an Anderson. It’s little short of a Christmas miracle!’

  Everyone begins laughing and it does help to ease an awkward moment. But it’s time for me to leave, as I promised Mum and Dad this morning that I’d call round to check on their place. They’ll be home the day after tomorrow and given the amount of snow we’ve had I don’t want them walking back into any surprises, like a burst pipe or a leak.

  Cary finally takes control and bundles me into the Range Rover after one more hug from Cressida.

  ‘This is the last trip for me in this,’ he adds as he starts the engine. ‘I think the thaw is sufficient to be able to use Grandma’s car for the rest of my stay.’

  ‘Will Laurence and Sally be here until the New Year?’

  Cary chuckles. ‘Yep. We’re all prisoners until after the big party.’

  ‘That’s mean, Cary. Cressida’s Christmas preparations represent hours of work.’

  His face drops a little. ‘I’m half-joking. Would I rather be somewhere hot, not surrounded by family? Well, before this little episode with Grandma about putting her affairs in order, I would have said most definitely. But you’re right and I’m starting to see that what I take for granted is actually rather special.’

  Oh. I didn’t mean to make him maudlin.

  ‘Your presence has made all the difference, though,’ he adds, glancing at me rather meaningfully for a brief second. ‘Grandma is like a totally different person around me suddenly. It’s a huge relief not having that constant pressure of teetering on the edge of a cutting retort because she’s pushing me too hard. I could get used to this easier existence. I rather like the thought of being in her good books when I’m here.’

  Wow. There’s my answer, right there and I didn’t even have to prompt him.

  ‘Well, I wasn’t going to say anything but seeing as you’ve more or less said what I was thinking, then maybe we’ve inadvertently hit on a brilliant solution. Being free and single can be a drawback sometimes. All that effort in getting to know someone new, only to discover you have very little in common. Or worse, they don’t even realise it’s a non-starter and it’s stressful letting them down easy. Then you begin all over again. In between these traumatic interludes, family and friends’ matchmaking unwittingly keeps the pressure on. You begin to feel as if something is broken that needs a quick fix to make it right.

  ‘I’m happy enough with my life as it is but there are times, I will admit, that it would be handy having someone supportive by my side. Like the holidays, for instance. But as for the rest of my time, well, I want to grow the business and reap the rewards. There’s no point in working hard unless you set yourself goals and from here on in mine are going to be increasingly ambitious.’

  Suddenly, Cary pulls the car into a layby, switches off the engine and turns to look at me with interest in his eyes.

  ‘I think we’re both on the same page here and I need to check that you’re serious. I mean, this would signal some sort of longer-term commitment. But you’re an attractive woman, Leesa, and are you prepared to settle for this—’

  ‘… mutual arrangement? Hell, yes! I’ve been through one awful divorce and I have no intention of getting myself into another situation like that. I’m not looking for marriage, Cary, I’m looking for a companion of convenience. A relationship that doesn’t come with all of the usual complications because, like yourself, it doesn’t suit my plans.’

  I can feel my cheeks beginning to glow a little. So, he thinks I’m attractive, does he? Well, he’s certainly someone I’m thrilled to take home to my parents because I know they will definitely approve of him. Who wouldn’t?

  ‘Snap. Where do we draw the line?’

  I gulp. Here we go – he’s a man who likes to thrash out the small print and so do I, but this is a potentially sensitive area.

  ‘As far as is necessary, on the proviso that we’re both comfortable with whatever happens. We’re consenting adults who know our own minds, and this is a mutually beneficial deal. I’m done with letting fate take control and now I’m taking back control of every aspect of my life.’

  That sounded a tad on the dismissive side; I mean, he is a client even if he also happens to be a very attractive and intelligent guy. I cast around for something suitable to add to acknowledge that fact, but he jumps straight in.

  ‘Amen to that! My sentiments, exactly. Okay, so you attend the big party at the house and let me know when and where with regards to meeting your parents and putting their minds at rest. After that we go our separate ways and reconvene at Easter?’

  I give him a wink.

  ‘Nailed it! I have a bit of an uphill climb once I’m back at work and this simply takes away so many annoying little ankle-biting problems for me.’

  Cary kicks the engine into life and we head back out onto the road.

  ‘It’s a deal, then. It sounds pretty damn perfect to me. It’s a wonder more people haven’t thought about a practical alternative to fill the gap between being single and being married. Maybe less marriages would fail if couples spent less time together and not more.’

  Oh, Cressida, I’m so glad you can’t hear this conversation. But your grandson is happy, and I think that’s really all you’re looking for, so you can be at peace. I need Cary, as much as he needs me and that’s a great basis on which to have an understanding. I know you wouldn’t want him to go through a rocky marri
age like I’ve had to because it makes life a total misery. I think that as an unmarried, part-time couple we have a real chance of making this work to our mutual advantage.

  ‘And how’s the video coming along? Jeff won’t get distracted and fall behind on those final changes, will he? It’s important he hits that February first deadline.’

  Cary is one cool character. His work hat is back on for a moment and he sounds exactly like the man who was driving me mad in Australia. I can see why Jeff was a little disbelieving of my news.

  ‘You have my word on it.’

  I know Jeff won’t let me down, but the worry over replacing him is a problem I don’t want to share with anyone right now. How ironic that one area of my life is now shaping up rather nicely and I’ve swapped that for another equally pressing one. All of my plans for expansion in the spring were based on the assumption that I would only have one new recruit to sort out, not two. I have a real challenge ahead of me now, so it’s going to be time to roll up my sleeves and attack it head-on.

  *

  Mum and Dad’s return sees them bursting with questions, not least because it’s obvious they now know about Jeff’s plans. Naturally, they are very happy for him, but anxious, too, about how it will impact upon me. However, it’s easy to allay their concerns because I have a plan and a potential new recruit. And after whizzing through a few photos of Cary on my phone, they are clearly delighted, which does prick my conscience a little. But I don’t want them to feel they have to constantly worry about me because it’s not fair on them.

  Although they’ve never interfered or passed comment on my decisions, I often see the concern reflected in their eyes. It makes me realise what a huge commitment it is to have a child and they chose to have two.

  Wouldn’t life be so much easier if you simply fell in love with someone and spent your life looking after each other? Huh! Even getting that bit right is difficult, I’ve found. And maybe my miscarriage was a sign that I’m not destined to be a mother at all. It ended up breaking my heart and I can’t ever put myself through that again. I’m thirty years old and I still feel I have so much to learn, and to prove. If I can’t sort myself out, how can I take responsibility for bringing another new life into this world, no matter who I’m with?

  ‘It seems this trip to Australia was a major turning point for both you and Jeff,’ Dad remarks quite casually.

  ‘Yes, and so unexpected. The new guy is starting on the eighteenth of January. Jeff will have finished off the Australian project and probably be several thousand miles away by then. But judging by his CV, Zack Ward is a good candidate. I do hope so, because I need him to settle in quickly.’

  Mum frowns at me. ‘You sound hesitant. It takes time to get to know someone and understand how they operate. I know it’s difficult when it’s such a small team, but every relationship requires work.’

  I wonder if Mum is only talking about Zack, or whether she has concerns about Cary suddenly coming into my life. Do they think I grabbed the first available guy in desperation because now that I’m single again and Jeff is leaving, suddenly I feel very alone? Because they couldn’t be more wrong.

  Dad nods in agreement and I look from one to the other of them.

  ‘Zack’s been working as a self-employed consultant for the last few years and I just wonder how he’ll cope as an employee working to someone else’s timetable. It’s going to be an adjustment all round and we’ll have to see how it goes.’

  I hate seeing that look on Mum’s face, the one where she crinkles her brow. I wonder what her gut instinct is telling her. She’s a great believer in that and it’s rubbed off on me.

  Employing Jeff when the previous incumbent left was a no-brainer. I clicked with Jeff immediately that day when we walked into our first lecture at university and happened to find ourselves sitting next to each other. He’s good at what he does but when I started up the business I couldn’t afford to employ anyone. So I drafted in help as and when I needed it. When the day came to expand, Jeff wasn’t available and I ended up taking on a guy who was okay, but eventually he moved on. Jeff was looking around for a new challenge and offered to take his place. We were a dream team but now the end is in sight.

  I wasn’t able to sit across a table to interview Zack, as he’s working in France at the moment. However, we’ve chatted several times via Skype. I’m hoping that when he arrives I can run through everything once and leave him to get on with it. The meetings I have diarised won’t affect his workload for probably six weeks, but it also means I won’t have much free time to do any handholding.

  ‘And you promise we’ll meet Cary in person on New Year’s Day?’

  ‘I promise, and he can’t wait to meet you both. We will only be able to stay a couple of hours because we’ll be tired from the party at Cressida’s. Plus, he’s heading off to London in the evening as he’s back to work the following day. And, of course, I’ll need to be at work bright and early, as Jeff will be back. We’re going to have a lot to cover before his official last day.’

  ‘Maybe we can all catch up at Easter for a more leisurely get together, Leesa. We can take you and Cary out for a special meal. You’ll be feeling more relaxed about work by then and hopefully the pressure will be off. What do you think?’

  Dad, no doubt, simply wants to have time to vet Cary and check that I’m not making another huge mistake. He never took to Nathan. Dad did make an effort to be sociable, but it was very obvious to me. Mum is trying to step back a little into her usual encouraging role, happy to trust that I’ve learnt a few lessons and Cary is different. Which he is, of course, given our arrangement. But Dad is going to need a little reassurance and I know Cary will deliver.

  ‘So, tell us all about the Cressida Anderson! What’s she like? The woman is an icon of her generation. Does Cary write?’

  I smile to myself, ‘No, Mum. He doesn’t write.’ I can see her interest is really piqued. As for Cary, well, I’m sure he would have said if he did. ‘She’s as glamorous and sophisticated as you probably imagine. And she dotes on Cary and his brother, Laurence.’

  My phone kicks into life and it’s a text.

  ‘Sorry, I have to respond to this. It’s from Jeff.’

  I walk out to the kitchen, leaning against the countertop as I scroll down.

  It’s only me. Slight change of plan. I’ve been working flat-out to process all those changes Cary wanted ahead of our session on the second of January. I’ve just downloaded the penultimate version of the ‘Solar Powered Solutions – The Future Starts Here’ video to the system. I know you will probably want me to tweak a couple of things but it’s polished and it presents well. I’ve emailed you about two things you told me to change but with the other amendments I think that would be a mistake now. Let me know what you think. Must go, we’re off to a party on the beach. Laters.

  Laters?

  Switching to my inbox I open Jeff’s email and my face falls. The reason he’s been working on finalising the video is that Tania has managed to find them a good deal on tickets. They fly out on the first leg of their journey on the tenth of January. Now I’m concerned that he’s been rushing it and I really need to get online and check it out for myself. I slip the phone back into my pocket with a sigh.

  ‘Sorry guys,’ I say as I walk back in, interrupting Mum and Dad. ‘I have to go. Work calls. Jeff wants me to review Cary’s video and time is running out for him to make any final changes.’

  They both look disappointed.

  ‘We feel like we’ve hardly seen you. And you’ll miss Beth’s news about Christmas with Will’s family. I bet you haven’t even spoken to her while we’ve been away.’

  I try not to hang my head. ‘We texted on Christmas morning. She said she was having a lovely time. Please tell her I’m sorry to have missed her. If she wants to ring for a chat I’ll try my best to listen patiently to the tedious details about colour plans, flowers and seating arrangements for the wedding. Seriously, I can’t be the only one avoiding
her right now.’

  Mum’s face looks a picture as she tries not to laugh and gives me a look of stern indignation instead.

  ‘That’s a little unkind. One day soon that could be you, Leesa. I will, of course, encourage her to ring you and you will, of course, politely listen.’

  Me it will most definitely not be – ever again. I did it once and that was enough. I don’t need a man in my life to complete me, all I need is a good team to help me realise my dreams. But I don’t have to point that out and I do love my baby sister, even though she was a nightmare to live with.

  ‘I must go, but it’s great just knowing you’re back safe and sound.’

  Mum throws her arms around me, giving me a grateful hug. ‘Love you, darling and we’re here if you need anything. Anything at all.’

  I escape as quickly as I can, mindful that Beth is on her way. But I’m really concerned because Jeff is usually a perfectionist and he never rushes anything. In fact, my concern is so consuming that I’m home before I know it. I pull up on the drive, a little shocked to realise that I can’t remember a significant chunk of the journey. I only hope I didn’t go through any red traffic lights while the whirling thoughts filling my head blocked everything else out.

  Climbing the stairs to my office two at a time, my stomach begins to flutter with nerves. It’s obviously important to get this right because Cary is a prestigious client. But now we have established this more personal arrangement, for some reason I’m even more on edge as I log in.

  As I sit watching the opening and middle scenes that are already etched on my brain, I have to admit it is pretty damn good but to my dismay, the last ninety seconds are off. It lacks impact after a pretty sharp, and concise, portrayal of Cary’s seminar.

  The tagline nails the marketing strategy, sending a clear message that people who own their own homes do have a choice and will make money from it day one. Comparing a house powered by the traditional means to one with the new system, Cary’s delivery of the overall message is persuasive. We can all choose to make a difference to the negative effects of modern living on the environment. Once the initial costs are paid off, the return will continue to grow. It’s a win-win situation.