“Come in for a quick hello. My parents haven’t seen you for ages, Anna.”
They climbed the stairs to the house and Anna found herself enveloped in a warm embrace from Thea’s mother.
“Welcome home, sweetie, I’m glad you’re back home. Everyone missed you.”
For a moment Anna sank into the warm body of the rotund woman and drew in the strong, sweet smell of chocolate brownies surrounding her. Anna leaned back and let her gaze drift over Elizabeth Cartwright. She wore her chestnut brown hair, now splattered with flour, pulled back into a tight bun. “Liz, how wonderful to see you and Eugene again. I missed you both.” She smiled a greeting at both. “You look well, even though I’m afraid you might have more flour on your person than in the baking dish.” Anna sniffed the air. “Did you bake the brownies for me?”
“What else would I do? It’s Christmas time. There is no Christmas without cookies.”
“That’s true. Don’t worry; there are enough brownies to feed the girls, Santa, and his army of Elves. Liz must have thought you had nothing to eat over the months you were away. Please sit down and have a cup of coffee with us.” Thea’s father pulled out two chairs from under the dining table for Christine and Anna.
Liz had already set the table with her beautiful Wedgwood place settings, a big plate stacked with brownies, and a large bowl with whipped cream. “I know you kids have little time today. You must come back another time and tell us all about your Europe trip, Anna. For now, let me come straight to the point. Thea has told us about your pregnancy. How are you coping?” Thea’s father raked his hands through his gray hair.
Touched by his concern, Anna almost choked on a piece of brownie. Eugene’s unceremonious directness stunned her, even though over the years Eugene and Liz had filled the role of her parents much more than her actual parents ever did. They always wanted a house full of children, but after an illness, Liz could not have further children. It was only logical for them to take Thea’s friends under their wings.
She blushed and met his gaze. “Please, don’t worry about me. I have five months to figure out how to make it work. I’m using the summer break to prepare for papers and exams. It shouldn’t be too difficult to find a part-time job in a legal firm.”
Eugene smiled at her, pride shining out of his eyes. “That’s my girl. Looks like you’ve thought it through.”
“Come on, we have to go,” Christine called from the door. “We have so much last-minute shopping to do.”
“She’s right, off you go. And Merry Christmas!”
Eugene stood at the door and waved one last time when their car took off.
Chapter Fourteen
Christine put the finishing touches on the Christmas tree. It was their tradition to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve like the English Royal family. On Christmas Day everyone went to his or her families. Anna and she were the only ones without family and would stay at the villa over the holidays.
As always on Christmas Eve, they would have eggnog with friends and neighbors tonight. She looked around. The house was ready. Everyone was busy with last-minute preparations. Anna had been out cold last night and slept for over twelve hours, poor possum. She’d left with Thea first thing this morning to have her first baby scan.
Getting pregnant could have happened to any of the four friends. Christine was glad it wasn’t her. Not after wondering whether Stefan was only interested in sex. Since she’d refused to join him for Christmas with his dubious friend Jason, she assumed he would celebrate Christmas with his family. He’d left that night with an ominous “I have to sort stuff” and disappeared.
She didn’t mind. She didn’t. He was just a fling. It wouldn’t upset her. The tears that pooled in the corners of her eyes had to do with the tune of jingle bells coming from the radio and with pollen dust in the air, stirred up by the summer breeze.
Who was she kidding? Of course, losing Stefan upset her, and she hated it.
A loud knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts. She opened the door and stared at a tall woman in an elegant white summer ensemble. Even though a wide-brimmed black hat hid her face, she appeared confident and demanding. Christine took a step back to create distance between her and this woman’s challenging energy.
“I’m looking for Christine Kelleher. Is she in?”
“I’m Christine. And you are…?”
“I expected someone else.” The woman inspected her and shook her head as she tried to step past Christine into the hallway. “Where is my son?”
Did this woman accuse her of kidnapping? It might be the season of love where you break your bread with others and give away your last shirt to a needy person, but this woman evoked none of the compassionate impulses Christine was happy to bestow on others. She blocked the woman’s way.
“Will you please leave our home? We are hiding nobody’s son.”
As if someone let the air out of a tire, the woman deflated, and her erect posture dropped. “Stefan is not here? Where is he? I’m so worried.”
“You are Mrs. Barnard, Stefan’s mother?”
“Of course, I am. Who else would I be? If he isn’t here, where else could he be?”
“Please come in. Maybe I can help you.” She let the woman into the dining room. What she’d interpreted as arrogant and pushy at first had fallen away and left was a distraught mother.
“Take a seat. Can I get you a cup of tea or a glass of water?”
“I thought I would find him here.” Speaking more to herself Stefan’s mother looked around and studied the Christmas decorations the girls had put up.
Christine was about to say he wasn’t hiding under the Christmas tree but stopped herself. This was not a good time to be snarky. Who knows why the mother was so worked up?
“A glass of water, thank you.” She peered at Christine. “Do you expect him today?”
“No. The last time we spoke he was joining friends to go up north over Christmas.” She went into the kitchen and came back with the water. It was hard to make sense out of Stefan’s mother’s behavior.
Mrs. Barnard took a gulp and put the glass down. “Thank you.” She dabbed the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief. “That is not what he told us last night. Before he stormed out of the house.”
“I guess I can’t help you there. He left our barbecue two nights ago. I haven’t spoken to him since.”
“But you are his girlfriend, right?”
“I thought I was, but we argued. I’m not so sure anymore.”
“Oh, you can be sure. He stormed out after I insisted, he comes to Pauanui over Christmas to meet Maria, the girl I picked as his future wife. He shouted the only woman he’ll marry would be you.” Mrs. Barnard stopped and swallowed. “My husband and I had no idea you were seeing each other for over a year. If we had, we would never have invited his cousin.”
Christine stared at Stefan’s mother. He wanted to marry her. They’d been so careful not to burden their relationship with even the hint of shackles. They’d never talked about the future.
“This is news to you, I see.” His mother looked surprised.
“We… I don’t know what to say.”
“I was sure I’d find him here. He’s our only son. I want him to be happy. If that involves you, my husband and I would like to get to know you. If Stefan shows up, would you like you to spend the summer break at our weekend place in Pauanui?”
Surprised by this unexpected turn of events Christine didn’t know what to say. “I don’t even know whether he’ll come over. As I said, we argued.”
“I’m sure he will. It’s a pity we’ve met under these strange circumstances. Stefan needs a smack around the ears for not introducing you earlier.”
When Stefan’s mother left, Christine almost liked her.
Chapter Fifteen
“Where is everybody?” Anna closed the door and dropped her shopping bags on the dining table. She pushed her hands into her lower back and stretched, giving her sore back some reli
ef.
“I’m at the back.”
She followed the sound into Christine’s room. “What are you doing? Having a granny-nap?” Anna crashed next to Christine on the bed and grinned at her. “Ahh, feet up, how blissful.”
“Where is Thea? She was with you at the ultrasound. How did that go?”
“One question at a time. Thea is coming later and is bringing her parents. I invited them to spend Christmas Eve with us. I thought the more the merrier, isn’t that how the saying goes? Where’s Claudia?”
“Claudia popped over to Dairy Flat with Howard to look at the farm they had their eye one. They should be back in an hour at the latest. How was the ultrasound?”
Anna glanced sideways at her friend. How could she tell Christine something she hadn’t digested herself yet? She’d caused a riot at the clinic. She’d even accused the lab assistant of lying and insisted on a senior doctor explaining the ultrasound.
“So?”
“The scan was okay. Both babies are healthy and are growing as expected.” She peeked over to Christine, but her friend didn’t seem to have paid attention.
“That’s good. At least one less headache.”
Anna closed her eyes and sank into the pillow. Minutes passed until Christine suddenly sat up.
“Both? Did I hear right? Two?”
Anna opened her eyes and nodded. “Two. The doctor said, “Merry Christmas, I found two heartbeats. You’re having twins.”
“Two babies!” Christine fixed her gaze at Anna. After what seemed a long, long time, she exhaled with a loud whoosh. “You are sure? There couldn’t be a mistake or mix-up?”
“No. I can’t say I’ve digested it yet. It was a blessing that Thea was with me. I dropped her off at her parents’, but she drove to give me time to let the news sink in.”
“At least you can do the whole two-point-five-kids-thing in one fell swoop.”
“You are not helping.” Anna rolled her eyes. “By the way, Thea’s mother said she’d bring a plate with finger food.”
“Then we’d better get going. You can help me with decorating the front entrance. Stefan rang earlier. He’s bringing his Nana along tonight. His parents are at a concert and she was all by herself.” Christine got up and left the room.
Anna followed her. “The more the merrier. You are okay with him?”
“Yes, we had a long talk on the phone. He explained everything. It looks like I overreacted.”
Anna formed a megaphone with her hands around her mouth and shouted, “Attention, attention, Christine Kelleher just admitted she might have overreacted.”
“Don’t be silly.” Christine grinned and for the next two hours, both women jingle-belled through the house to Christmas songs on the radio. They dressed-up the window sills with sprigs of fir, candles, and mandarins, arranged pine branches in vases around the living room, and hung a large wreath at the front door, one of Claudia’s art pieces she’d made from cut-offs from their Christmas tree, pine cones, and, by the looks of it, miles of red ribbon.
When they’d finished, they smiled at each other, satisfied with their achievement. Anna pointed to the boxes with more ornaments and Christmas-themed mugs and plates they’d scored last Christmas at a garage sale. “Did we do enough? Shall I put the leftovers away?”
Christine didn’t take long to decide. She shook her head. “No, let’s go all out. It’s our last Christmas in this house. Who knows where we’ll be next year?”
Anna slipped into the kitchen and poured a glass of eggnog and another one with lemon water. She passed her friend the eggnog and lifted her glass.
“Merry Christmas and thank you for being my friend.”
Christine lifted her glass too. “Ditto. We’ve done a fine job getting here.
“We have. To us!”
Chapter Sixteen
When Claudia and Howard returned from their viewing of the farm, Christine and Anna had finished the preparations. The scent of baked Christmas cookies wafted through the house.
“Elizabeth is baking last-minute cookies?” Claudia sniffed and licked her lips in anticipation. She put a big bowl of fresh strawberries on the kitchen table. “Courtesy of the Millers. They insisted we take them.”
Thea hugged Claudia and Howard. “You know Mum. Nobody can stop her. Dad is with Stefan and his Nana in the garden. Merry Christmas.”
Claudia nudged Howard into the garden to join the others and marched into the kitchen. Christine and Anna were filling bowls and heaping wooden boards with slices of bread and crackers, cheese and cut meat, and a range of condiments.
“How are things here? Can I help? It looks like you’re almost done. How about I put food out onto the dining table?” Claudia carried the first plates into the living room. Christine and Anna had outdone themselves decorating the place. The Christmas tree—a real pine one, not a plastic monstrosity—glistened with ornaments they’d collected over the last years.
The fairy lights draped around it helped to spread the pungent pine aroma through the room. Glowing candles lightened every corner and surface and spread a mellow light throughout the room as the day faded and darkness set in. On a sideboard, they placed a hand-carved nativity scene Christine’s parents had brought back from a trip to the Peruvian Andes.
Claudia soaked up the festive mood. It would be their last Christmas together at the villa. She couldn’t wait to share their wonderful news. She didn’t have to wait long. Driven inside by the falling darkness, the young folk gathered around the bowl of eggnog and handed out the drinks for everyone.
When everyone had a drink, Claudia raised hers. “Merry Christmas everyone, and a Happy New Year for all of us. As this is our last Christmas together, we want to thank our lovely neighbors Thomas and Susan. It was great to live next to you and exchange the occasional cups of flour and eggs.” She took a sip and looked over at Howard who nodded. “As you know we’ve been to the Miller’s farm this afternoon and,” she smiled and pulled her shoulder up to her ears, “Howard and I agreed on a price with the Millers. After Christmas, we’ll complete the paperwork and from the first of March the farm will be ours.”
Caught by surprise, the friends bombarded Howard and her with congratulations and questions. She had to sit down, feeling lightheaded and a little tipsy both from the eggnog and the outpouring of love.
She looked at Howard who leaned against her and gazed at her with a loving smile. Forgotten were her doubts. It hadn’t taken her long to forgive him when she saw his excitement as the Millers showed them around.
“To our future. I can’t wait to start our life together.” Howard kissed her on the cheek.
“Me too. I’m amazed by how everything came together.” Her heart was dancing in her chest and she smiled, knowing her future with Howard would be filled with their friendship and love.
Chapter Seventeen
Anna watched Claudia and Howard and waited for a tinge of envy, but all she found in her heart was joy that her friends were taking the giant step toward a happily ever after. “I hope on your new farm you’ll have enough guest bedrooms for me and my kids.” She laughed when she saw the puzzled faces of her friends.
“Kids?” Claudia shook her head. “Don’t tell me you are planning to go back to Italy for a repeat performance? I’d suggest seeing how you’re getting on with this one first before you plan on more children.”
After Anna had passed a plate with sausage rolls around, she clapped until everyone was silent to hear what she had to say. “Thea went with me to the clinic for the ultrasound today. It’s my pleasure—I hope it’s a pleasure—to announce that I’m expecting twins. It makes it extra urgent to find a suitable house or flat for me to rent. So, after Christmas, it’s full-on house hunting. I hope I can count on your help?”
“Twins? I don’t believe it.” Claudia stared at Christine and Thea. “And nobody told me?”
Stefan’s grandmother took Anna’s hand and patted it. “How wonderful, my dear. Twins are always a blessing. Congratula
tions. If I can help in any way, feel free to turn to me.”
Anna didn’t think there would be many occasions where she would approach an octogenarian for help with her babies. Still, she choked at the friendly offer. “Thank you, Nana-Barnard. That’s very kind of you.”
“No, no, my child. It wasn’t just lip service. Stefan told me you have to leave your flat even though you might not want to. That’s like my situation. It’s becoming difficult for me to live by myself. However, the thought of going into a rest home is so abhorrent, I’ve been putting it off for a long time.”
“What are you saying, Nana? I thought we decided that you go to live in Seaview Village as soon as a unit becomes available. Mum and Dad will have a heart attack if you change your mind.” Stefan looked around for support. “Say something.”
Nana Barnard raised her head and squinted. “Like everyone else, I’m allowed to change my mind. I lived in my house since I married your grandfather. I had my children there. It’s my home. I plan to die in it.”
“It’s too large for you. You’ve had this discussion with Mum and Dad I don’t know how many times.”
“I know, and seeing you all here together, I’ve had this wonderful idea. If Anna will move in with an old woman, I would be happy to have her and her babies living with me. My villa is large enough. She would have a place to stay, and I would no longer be alone. Isn’t that what you young people call a win-win situation?”
“Me, moving in with you?” Anna hadn’t seen that coming and wasn’t sure what to think of it.
“Yes. You can stay for free, and in return, you help me around the house, shopping, and cooking. Is that such a terrible idea?” Nana Barnard looked pleased with her grand plan.
“No, not at all. It sounds like a wonderful idea. But wouldn’t two crying babies become too much for you in the long run?”
Falling in Love Page 7