by Carol Wyer
‘Oh, hun, that’s utter rubbish. William may have given you a seed of an idea but you grew it and turned it into something magnificent. You wrote most of that novel from imagination. You have a powerful ability to get inside people’s heads, write about what is happening in people’s lives even if you don’t physically socialise with them. You can do it again. Now, we’d settled on a title, didn’t we, before all this shit with William happened.’
Chloe nodded. ‘Oh, Ambassador!’
‘And where was the inspiration for that going to come from?’
‘William knew an ambassador who had outrageous parties and told me a couple of stories about him.’
‘Can you remember them?’
Chloe nodded.
‘Then start with those and make the rest up. Easy.’
‘Not really. I feel… dried up. I can’t come up with anything funny or light-hearted, Faith.’
‘Hun, that’s why you need to chill out, have some fun and stop fighting your inner self. Why don’t you go along to another singleton event? It wasn’t as bad as you feared and now you know a couple of the people who attend so it won’t feel so threatening.’
Chloe blew her nose again and shrugged.
‘My offer’s still there. You can come with me to Barbados tomorrow. I can book you on my flight and we’ll go drink cocktails together in the sun.’
‘I can’t leave Ronnie and besides, I don’t think I can get off the hill.’
‘Oh shit. I forgot about the snow. So, you’ll be stuck there for Christmas Day?’
‘Probably. Unless we get a sudden heatwave and it all melts. I wasn’t planning on doing much anyway.’ She offered a small smile that was reciprocated.
‘I know all about being lonely at Christmas, hence my trip away, but don’t let it eat you up. This time next year, you’ll be a new person; one that’s full of confidence and one who’s written another best-seller. Don’t let this time of year get to you. I understand how daunting it can seem to spend Christmas alone.’
‘I won’t. I have plans. Ronnie and I are going for a long walk to bark at ducks on the reservoir and then we’ll build a snowman in the garden.’
Faith laughed. ‘I can actually imagine that happening. Do it and send me a photo of you both with the snowman. I’ll Skype you first thing on Christmas Day. Nine o’clock your time.’
‘That’d be really nice.’
‘Feel better?’
‘Sort of. I still have no idea how to begin the book but I’ll get there.’
‘That’s my girl. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. I’ll try and wheedle some more time out of the publisher. It’s office party season so I’ll try and get them when they’ve been at the wine and are feeling more generous. Maybe you could come up with something for when I return, so I can keep them off your back a little longer.’
‘Thanks.’
‘I have to go. Must pack my bikini. I’m taking my Christmas pressie from you with me. It looks very exciting. Can’t wait to open it.’
‘I’ve got yours under my tree. We’ll open them together on Christmas Day when we Skype.’
‘I’ll speak to you in two days. Bye, babes.’ Faith blew her a kiss.
‘Bye, Faith. Have a good flight.’
‘First Class comfort, endless champagne, an eye mask, noise cancelling headphones and then seven hours of sleep. I think it’ll be good enough.’ She smiled.
Faith disappeared and Chloe deleted the document on her laptop. Faith was spot on. The book wasn’t right for her. She recalled the first time William had mentioned the ambassador he’d met on the golf course and shut her eyes. She’d start with that story as Faith had suggested.
She thought briefly of William, head back, his white teeth on display, laughing like mad…
‘So, nobody knows anything about this mysterious woman who’s moved to the massive house at the end of the village and won’t answer the door to anyone. The villagers all come up with wild assumptions about who she is and what she does and someone says they saw a man – her partner – go into the house a few days earlier, but he hasn’t been seen since. And then, late Friday night, one of the local farmers spots her, dressed completely in black, tugging a large bag out into her garden and depositing it into a ready-prepared hole. He bounds down to the pub and tells everyone there and somebody decides she’s murdered and buried her partner, and they want to call the police. Well, you can imagine the discussion. Another local says they can’t do that without evidence and he and his mate creep back up to the house and retrieve the rubbish bag from the hole. It’s really heavy and they drag it out and discover it’s filled with rubbish. Nothing more than that. It’s just rubbish.’ He laughs again. Chloe can smell the alcohol on his breath but doesn’t move from his side as they sit on the settee. She likes it when he’s in a good mood like this. She isn’t bothered about not going to the pub. It’s mostly full of men and William enjoys some time out on his own. She waits to hear what else he has to tell her. Some of the stories are so far-fetched she wonders if they are fabricated, but William seems to think they’re true. He wipes his eyes, damp from laughing, and continues.
‘And then they find out who she is. It’s only Helena Marshall-Thomas.’
‘The socialite?’ She asks. Helena Marshall-Thomas is well known for her parties and looks amazing for fifty-three. She looks younger than Chloe.
‘That’s her and she’s been laying low because she’s had extensive plastic surgery and doesn’t want anyone to see her until she’s fully recovered. Apparently, she has it done regularly!’
‘No! I saw her interviewed on television and she denied having any surgical intervention.’
‘Well, that’s a big fat fib, I can tell you. She and her husband Richard, who’s an ex-ambassador, threw a massive party for all the villagers in return for their discretion. There was no expense spared and they opened up their house to everyone, including the indoor pool, and even had an unlimited champagne fountain set up in the entrance. There’s also a rumour she paid off the guy who found out about the surgery and he’s now bought a cottage in Wales.’
‘It can’t be true,’ says Chloe.
‘It is. Every single word of it and I’ve been sworn to secrecy. Anyway, Richard and Helena have stopped going out in their village and started using the pub in Appletree as their regular haunt, so I should bump into them. I wonder if I should hint that I know about the surgery. I’m itching to get an invite to their next party.’ He yawns suddenly. ‘I’m pooped. Might head off to bed.’
‘It’s not ten o’clock yet.’
‘Busy day tomorrow. I need some beauty sleep.’ He stands suddenly and heads off. Chloe is disappointed. She’s changed into her best dress and done her hair especially and had hoped he’d notice her efforts, but once again he isn’t interested in her. It’s been happening more and more often. She makes every effort to look her best, prepare a tasty meal and wait for him to share it with her, but he heads straight down the pub from work and when he returns, he only wants to go to bed. She heads to the fridge and pours a glass of wine then wanders into her small office where she fires up the laptop and starts on the edits of her debut novel, Spank Me Harder, Vicar. At least within its pages she can lead the fantasy life she craves.
‘Okay, Ronnie, let’s write down something Faith will like. I can do this. I’ll start with what I know and work with it.’ Chloe opened up a new document, named it Oh, Ambassador! and began typing.
Chapter Nine
Sunday, 24th December
Chloe lifted the box of cereal and rattled it. Ronnie’s ears pricked up at the sound. ‘Shit! Christmas Eve and we’re already down to the last of our food. And there’s no milk to go with it. I hate dry cereal. Oh well, there’s no choice but to improvise,’ She ripped open the packet of granola and dried berries into a bowl, throwing a piece high in the air for Ronnie to catch. “Ha! You just ate one of your five-a-day without realising it.’ She bent to kiss his nose. He smelt of strawb
erries. She pulled out a half-opened bottle of wine from the fridge and poured it over the cereal and spooned it into her mouth, wrinkling her nose, before nodding approvingly. It tasted rather nice.
She carried both the bowl and wine bottle to the table and sat down to look at the view. Snow had built up along the window ledges and frosted against the glass. Outside the landscape was pure white. There was no doubt she was living in a winter wonderland. She took another mouthful and chewed thoughtfully. She could possibly make her supplies last a further two days. At least she had plenty of blubber to live off and Ronnie had enough biscuits to see him through as long as the snow melted soon. She wondered if she could walk to the nearest village and buy some basic provisions. It’d be heavy going in this weather. A rap on the back door set Ronnie off and barking he loped to greet the visitor.
Eleanor wearing jeggings, furry ski boots and a parka with a large furry hood that covered most of her head, stood on the doorstep. Chloe could only see a nose and painted blue lips.
‘Hey! Came to see how you were getting on and to ask you a favour.’
‘Come in,’ said Chloe, not wishing to leave the woman outside in the cold. Eleanor pulled off her boots and fussed over Ronnie, then followed Chloe into the kitchen. ‘Brr! Cold or what? Thank goodness we have log fires.’ Ronnie dropped his favourite ball at her feet, eyes trained on his new friend.
‘Ronnie, don’t drool on Eleanor. Take your ball away.’
‘Oh, bless him. He’s lovely.’ She fussed over the animal some more.
Chloe watched her pet roll over to have his stomach rubbed. He didn’t do that for many people, only those he truly liked. ‘What can I help you with?’
‘We were expecting fourteen guests for Christmas lunch and now nobody can reach us. The snow’s disrupted all travel arrangements so we’re stuffed… well, actually the goose is stuffed and nobody to eat it but Fairfax and I. Honestly, we have a mountain of food. I know you will have too but I wondered if you’d come over tomorrow for Christmas Day and help us out. You can bring Ronnie.’
Chloe shifted from one foot to the other. She liked Eleanor and Fairfax but she’d genuinely been looking forward to having time alone with Ronnie and to chatting to Faith to run through some of the ideas she’d been having for Oh, Ambassador!
Eleanor caught the look on her face and said dismissively, ‘I know it’s a crazy idea. I don’t know what I was thinking of. You’ll be just like us and everyone else at this time of year with stacks of food that’ll go off if you don’t eat it. I wish I hadn’t gone so overboard. Why do we do it? A goose, a duck, a chicken, sausages, gammon joints, enough cheese to feed the entire population of France and booze galore!’
Ronnie’s stomach growled ominously, and as Eleanor turned towards him to comment her eyes lighted on the wine bottle and cereal bowl on the table. Chloe squirmed in embarrassment. ‘I ran out of milk,’ she said before Eleanor could speak.
‘You should have asked us for some. We’ve plenty of milk. Mind you, I think that looks a far more appealing combination. What does it taste like?’ Eleanor edged towards the table with a smile.
‘Pretty good. Want to try it?’
‘Go on. Why not?’
Chloe shook some granola into a fresh bowl and passed it together with a spoon to Eleanor, who sat down, added her own wine and tasted the combination. ‘Yummy! It would make a fab dessert. Although, I’ve already got mince pies, chocolate logs and a monstrously large organic plum pudding with enough brandy butter and cream to last for several weeks.’
‘Yes, please. We’d like to come to Christmas lunch,’ said Chloe in a rush, the thought of eating properly overcoming her shyness. ‘I’m not just out of milk. I actually don’t have any provisions at all unless you count Ronnie’s dog biscuits and half a bag of chocolates. I ordered everything for Christmas online, and then the snow arrived and my delivery couldn’t get through.’
‘You must have been starving for a few days! That’s nuts. You ought to have come around to us.’
‘I didn’t think of it.’
‘We’re neighbours. It’s only natural to ask us if you need anything. That decides it. Can’t have you living on this, as tasty as it is. Come back with me and help yourself to some goodies to see you through until the snow melts sufficiently for us to be able to drive again, and then tomorrow you’re both officially invited for Buck’s Fizz and canapés at eleven. How does that suit you?’
‘Perfect.’
Eleanor threw her a warm smile and then, finishing the last of her cereal asked, ‘I don’t suppose I could have another bowl of that, could I?’
* * *
‘Merry Christmas!’ said Chloe, shoving into Fairfax’s hands her last bottle of wine, which she’d wrapped especially.
‘You shouldn’t have,’ he replied.
‘My mother always told my father it was impolite to turn up at a house empty-handed.’
‘A wise woman. Come in.’
He opened the door wider, standing back to allow them both to enter. ‘Come in. Our other guest is here, Eleanor,’ he called out.
‘Take her through. I’ll be there in a minute,’ shouted Eleanor.
Chloe followed Fairfax into the sitting room, where a fire roared through the grate, fairy lights twinkled on the large pine tree and Alex stood with a flute of orange juice in his hand.
‘Hi,’ he said, an easy smile on his face. Ronnie strained to reach him. ‘Happy Christmas.’
‘Happy Christmas,’ she replied. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Same as you. Accepting Eleanor and Fairfax’s hospitality.’ He raised his glass.
‘Would you like a Buck’s Fizz, Chloe?’
‘Yes, please,’ she replied.
‘You can release Ronnie. I’m sure he won’t be any trouble.’
She detached his lead and he headed immediately over to Alex to be stroked, sitting beside him without any prompting.
‘He knows you’re a dog person,’ she said as he rubbed the animal’s head with his free hand.
‘He’s a lovely dog. Got a nice temperament.’
‘Don’t praise him too much, he’ll get big headed. Are you alone?’
‘Yes. I was supposed to go around to Dad’s today and join him, my sister and her son, but obviously we can’t get out and even if we could, I doubt I’d manage to climb the reservoir road to his farm.’
‘I didn’t know you had a sister,’ she said absent-mindedly as she accepted the chilled glass of orange juice and champagne from Fairfax. Tiny bubbles rose gently to the top of the glass as she lifted it and toasted everyone. She took a sip. The cool orange mixed with the fizz of the champagne was a perfect combination. Alex picked up the conversation again.
‘Yeah, Ashleigh. You saw her the day you moved in. She was here with her lad, Charlie. She normally lives in Bristol but she’s up here for Christmas.’
‘That was your sister?’
‘She was the last time I checked.’
‘I thought…’ A familiar heat warmed her cheeks. ‘Nothing.’
His eyes twinkled merrily. ‘You thought she was my wife or partner, didn’t you? No. She’s definitely my sister. She’s staying with Mum and Dad at the moment. I’m not married or engaged or anything.’
‘Good, then you can join our group of singletons,’ said Eleanor, appearing from nowhere and looking resplendent in an embroidered kaftan and headband. ‘Chloe’s signed up, haven’t you? It’s in its infancy and we only have a few members at the moment, but interest in it is growing at a fast rate and we’ll soon be offering events all over the country. It’s a monthly fee and for it you can go to all the events, so it’s excellent value. There, that’s the spiel over. Chloe came ice skating with us on our last outing and as I recall, she almost won our little contest. She’d never even been skating before that day.’
‘Did you?’ Once more his eyes sparkled. Chloe mumbled an incomprehensible reply. She hadn’t exactly planned on going to any more events.
‘So, will you come along to the next event, Alex? To be honest, we’re short of men. Not that I’m trying to play matchmaker. The whole event would be better if we had equal numbers of men and women. I can’t say any more for the moment but you’ll be bowled over.’
Alex looked across at Chloe. ‘You’re going, are you?’
Put on the spot like that, she didn’t know what to say.
‘Of course she is. Right. That’s it. You’re both in. Now, who would like some pigs in blankets. Ronnie. You would, wouldn’t you?’
* * *
The meal and afternoon drifted into the evening as the quartet ate, drank and spent the afternoon playing Monopoly. Fairfax looked over his stack of playing cards and twirled an imaginary moustache and in a voice that reminded Chloe of Fagin from Oliver Twist said, ‘Now then, m’dear. You’ve landed on Mayfair, a magnificent area with not one but three five-star hotels. I believe you owe me some rental income or I shall have to throw you and your furry chum out onto the streets.’ He gave a villainous cackle. Chloe snorted. She couldn’t keep the happy grin off her face: her stomach was full and content, and she felt light-headed. The fire crackled and roared. Ronnie had fallen asleep full-length in front of it and Chloe was the most relaxed she’d been in months. She waved a twenty-pound note at Fairfax.
‘Oh please, landlord, don’t throw me out. I’ll be forced to shelter on the streets under cardboard boxes and my faithful hound will catch pneumonia. Take everything I have and my savings too. She lifted her three property cards and held them out. ‘I’ll even throw in the family jewels.’ She removed the plastic ring she’d won from one of the crackers pulled earlier and placed it on the board. ‘This is a family heirloom and priceless. Take it to pay my dues. Spare me the snow-filled streets and alleyways. My poor doggie will perish from the cold.’