A Year of Taking Chances

by Jennifer Bohnet

  As they passed the decorated entrance to the hotel Ben said, ‘I need to go in and book a table for our anniversary dinner tomorrow.’

  ‘Can we celebrate at home instead?’ Jodie said. ‘Cook a special meal together? Our first big celebration in our own home.’

  ‘I’d prefer that too,’ Ben said. ‘But as it’s our first anniversary I thought you might like to go out.’

  ‘Maybe next year. Can we have a look at the patisserie stall? I’m hoping they might have some ginger biscuits. The supermarché doesn’t seem to stock them and I really fancy a packet.’

  But Jodie was disappointed. The pale, large, pastry-type gingembre biscuits she was offered didn’t look anything like the ones she was craving – dark and spicy and lots of them.

  The next evening, as promised, the two of them cooked a celebratory dinner together. Well, Ben insisted on doing most of it, which left Jodie free to talk to Tina without feeling guilty when she Skyped to wish them Happy Anniversary.

  ‘I can’t believe how quickly the last year has gone,’ Tina said. ‘So much has happened. Glad to see you looking better – pregnancy suits you.’

  ‘It does now the morning sickness seems to have finished,’ Jodie said. ‘How’s things with you? You’re looking good too. Any news on the Luc front? And I don’t mean his book.’

  ‘Penny is adorable and his parents are lovely. They’ve invited me for Christmas but Maisie and I have made plans so I’m going…’

  ‘Hold it. Who is Penny?’ Jodie interrupted.

  ‘Luc’s daughter,’ Tina said. ‘Oh hell, I haven’t spoken to you for so long I haven’t told you about Penny. She’s the past problem that Fiona sort of half-warned me about, but really she’s not a problem at all. And there’s no wife to worry about either.’ Tina quickly gave Jodie an outline of what had happened between her and Luc, promising to fill her in on the details when she came for New Year.

  ‘I’m so pleased about you and Luc,’ Jodie said. ‘You deserve someone as lovely as he sounds.’

  ‘About New Year – can I bring him and Penny? I’m dying for you to meet them. Or would that be too much in your condition?’

  ‘Hey, I’m only three months pregnant,’ Jodie protested. ‘Yes to bringing both of them.’

  ‘I haven’t asked Luc yet but fingers crossed he’ll want to come. I’ll confirm what’s happening after Christmas. Right, I’d better go and let you get on with celebrating. Before I forget, is there anything I can bring you?’

  ‘Packets and packets of ginger biscuits, please,’ Jodie said without having to think. ‘I can’t find them over here and I keep craving them.’

  Tina laughed. ‘OK, will do. Happy Anniversary for today and Happy Christmas. Love to Ben. See you soon.’ And Tina was gone.

  The celebration meal Ben cooked – maigret of duck, caramelised onions and sauté potatoes – was delicious and Jodie put her cutlery down afterwards with a sigh. Ben looked at her.

  ‘What’s the matter?’

  Jodie shook her head. ‘There’s going to be so much food around for the next week, if I’m not careful I’m going to end up looking six months pregnant before I am. Christmas Day I’m doing Christmas lunch here for us all, English-style – turkey and all the trimmings, which will be followed by Christmas pudding and brandy butter. And that’s before we start on the cake, the chocolate log and the mince pies I’ve made.’

  ‘We’ll take Tess for some long walks over the next few days,’ Ben said, followed by, ‘Now what’s the matter?’ as Jodie suddenly swore and smacked her forehead with her hand in frustration.

  ‘I’ve heard about women suffering from “baby brain” but I didn’t realise it could strike this early. I’ve completely forgotten to buy a Christmas tree and it’s Christmas Eve tomorrow.’

  ‘No problem. I’ll pick one up in the village tomorrow,’ Ben said.

  ‘I hope it’s not too late,’ Jodie said, crossing her fingers.

  The next morning Ben drove down to the village and returned with a Christmas tree already in a pot, and while Jodie decorated it with the baubles she’d inherited from her mum, Ben disappeared first out into the garden and then into the garage, where Jodie could hear him banging away at something.

  When he came back in he was carrying a huge bundle of holly and ivy, and a wooden, box-like framework, which he set on the small table by the fireplace. ‘You’ve made us a crib for a nativity scene,’ Jodie said.

  ‘I’ll make a better one in time for next year,’ Ben said as he started to decorate it with lengths of ivy and holly. ‘One we can keep forever. I’ve also raided Mama’s collection of santons. I did ask her first, though,’ he added.

  An hour later and the crib was decorated and several figurines in place. Ben fixed a small length of fairy lights around the open front of the crib while Jodie picked up the greenery Ben hadn’t needed and pinned it around the doorframe.

  Jodie sighed contentedly as she stood next to Ben with her arm around him and studied the sitting room. ‘It feels a lot like Christmas now,’ she said.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Working from home, Tina had enjoyed the freedom it gave her to organise Christmas during the week, instead of rushing around like a demented idiot at weekends. Taking her time to search the internet for presents was a lot easier than crawling around crowded shops. Spending money was effortless. She’d just had to cross her fingers that everything would be delivered in time.

  She’d been thrilled to find a penguin onesie for Penny which she knew the little girl would adore. She’d also collected a pile of girly stocking fillers to give to Luc. He’d told her Penny hung a pair of his socks rather than a pillowcase at the bottom of her bed for Father Christmas to fill. Her proper presents were always under the tree. For Luc himself, Tina had found a leather weekend holdall – and had placed an invite inside for him and Penny to go to France with her for New Year.

  Food shopping, though, was a real nightmare. Every supermarket she ventured into was crowded, chaotic and playing Christmas ‘muzak’, which gave her a headache. She toyed briefly with the idea of setting up an account for a supermarket delivery but decided, for one delivery a year, it wasn’t worth it. Her normal weekly shop was too small to warrant it.

  When Maisie had let slip that Sean and his uncle were going to the pub for Christmas lunch as neither of them could face tackling cooking such a major meal, she’d immediately suggested inviting them to join them. An offer that had been gratefully accepted, with Tony insisting they bought the turkey as their contribution.

  By midday Christmas Eve, everything was ticked off her list and Tina was starting to relax. As a treat she poured herself a small cream liqueur and sat on the settee to congratulate herself on being so organised and to enjoy the Christmassy feel of the flat. Which was all down to Maisie as Tina had given her a free hand with the decorating, saying, ‘You’re the creative one.’

  Maisie, treating the sitting room like one of the window displays she was in charge of at the boutique now, had outdone herself with the decorations. There weren’t that many but everything, including the small Christmas tree standing in the corner by the window, was colour coordinated in hues of white and cream. Maisie had strategically arranged groups of large and small church candles around the room and Tina knew, when they were all lit, that the room would look even more like a film set or a photograph out of a posh magazine.

  When Maisie had first suggested a simple, single-colour theme, Tina, more used to a riot of colour on her tree and around the room, had agreed reluctantly, thinking it would turn out to be boring. Instead the overall effect was amazing

  A bit like Maisie herself really. In the few months she’d been living in the flat, Tina had seen her blossom. She was such a different girl to the crushed and cowed one who’d knocked on the door earlier in the year in desperate need of help. And now toxic John was out of the way, Tina had high hopes of Sean taking his place in Maisie’s life. She’d noticed the way Maisie coloured up whenever sh
e mentioned Sean, brushing off suggestions that she liked him. Sean had taken to meeting Maisie at work when she finished late in the evening because he didn’t think she should be walking home in the dark by herself. A sentiment that secretly Tina awarded him ten out of ten for and something Maisie didn’t protest about.

  Tina glanced across at the pile of presents under the tree. Luc and Penny were coming for tea tomorrow so she’d decided to keep their presents in the flat. She wanted to see their faces when they opened their gifts – particularly Luc’s when he saw the invitation. Since the afternoon at the zoo and mince pies with his parents they’d managed to meet up a couple of times, once with Penny, once on their own.

  Every evening now, Penny insisted on saying goodnight to her on Skype and blowing her lots of goodnight kisses before Luc carried her away, protesting, to bed. Later, after Penny was asleep, she and Luc had their own Skype conversations. But not tonight. Tonight she’d been invited for Christmas Eve tea with the whole Eldrich family, which Penny excitedly assured her would be ‘cool’.

  Two hours later, when she arrived at the Eldrich house, Luc opened the front door to let her in and an excited Penny literally threw herself at her from halfway up the stairs. Tina braced herself and managed not to fall or drop Penny. ‘Whoa, young lady. I know you’re pleased to see me but next time maybe not such a big jump?’

  ‘Are you OK?’ Luc asked. ‘Madam here is a bit hyper today. Too much sugar, I think.’ He turned to Penny.

  ‘If you don’t calm down and behave there’s a strong possibility Father Christmas won’t come. I’ve put the DVD you wanted on. Go and watch it. Tina will come and see you when she’s said hello to Nonna and Gramps and everyone else.’

  As Penny went to protest, he looked at her sternly. ‘Go.’ She gave an exaggerated sigh and disappeared into the sitting room.

  Luc looked at Penny. ‘I did warn you she’s not always the little angel she’s been around you.’

  Tina smiled. ‘She’s fine, just excited about Christmas.’

  ‘Come on through,’ Luc said. ‘Mum and Dad are holding court in the kitchen.’

  The large open-plan kitchen, always the social hub of the house, was crowded with family and neighbours as Tina followed Luc. Bruno, Luc’s father, greeted her with a smile. ‘Nice to see you here again. Glass of mulled wine?’ He handed her a glass without waiting for an answer. ‘Merry Christmas. Grab some food from the dresser before it all disappears.’

  Lizzie, Luc’s mum, busy icing a Christmas cake, called out, ‘Welcome to the madhouse again, Tina. Once I’ve finished this cake, I’m done. What we don’t have now we go without. Luc will introduce you to people and I’ll catch up with you later.’

  ‘We’ll say hello to a few people, grab a plate of food and escape to the sitting room,’ Luc said in her ear.

  ‘I didn’t realise it was a full-on party,’ Tina said. ‘Do your parents do this every year?’

  Luc nodded. ‘Every. Single. Year. They swear it’s always the last time, but it never is.’

  Tina was pleased to see Fiona in the sitting room when they pushed open the door, sitting on one of the settees flicking through an art magazine. Penny, sitting on a pouffe watching the Muppets on the large-screen TV, clambered onto Tina’s lap as soon as she sat down.

  ‘Hi, sis,’ Luc said. ‘You on your own?’

  Fiona nodded. ‘Rick had an emergency. Nice to see you again, Tina. Glad I didn’t scare you off,’ she added with a grin. ‘Found anyone to buy Luc’s book yet? He’s being very cloak and dagger about it. Refuses to tell us anything – which of course makes us want to know all the more!’

  Tina, wondering how much she should say, glanced at Luc, who discreetly shook his head, Not that much then. ‘Let’s just say Luc will have some good news to share with you all in the New Year.’

  ‘Exciting,’ Fiona said, standing up. ‘Seeing your plate of food has made me realise I’m hungry. I’d better go and get some before the hordes finish it all. Back in a mo.’

  Sharing a plate of food with Luc as Penny cuddled into her, thumb in mouth as she watched the Muppets, Tina felt a wave of happiness wash over her. She had the feeling that her life was finally on the up.

  Chapter Fifty

  Christmas Day dawned dry and bright in France. Ben surprised Jodie with breakfast in bed, a small package on the tray alongside the croissants.

  ‘Joyeux Noel,’ Ben said, handing it to her.

  Carefully she unwrapped and opened the small gift box. Nestling on a padded silk bed were a pair of amber earrings.

  ‘These were the ones I liked when we were in Cannes,’ she said. ‘You remembered. Thank you. Your present is under the tree. I’ll fetch it for you.’

  Ben was thrilled with his Mont Blanc fountain pen. ‘I’ve always wanted one of these. Perfect for book signings. Thank you.’

  Once the turkey was in the oven and the vegetables were prepared, Ben and Jodie took Tess for a walk. Annette and Thierry, due home from honeymoon late the previous evening, had said they’d see them for lunch around one o’clock.

  Back home after their walk, Jodie’s laptop was showing a missed Skype message from Travis. Hoping he would still be around at the other end, she pressed the button to return the call.

  Seconds later a woman’s voice answered. ‘Hi, Jodie. This is Travis’s mum, Caroline. I’m sorry he’s not here right now. He had to go out. He said to say Happy Christmas if you rang and he missed you.’ As she finished speaking, the video picture came to life and Jodie found herself looking at the woman who, technically, could be called her stepmother.

  From the little Jodie could see of Caroline, head and shoulders basically, she was an attractive woman, with dark curls framing a lightly tanned face, and deep-blue eyes, just like Travis.

  ‘Travis has your eyes,’ Jodie said.

  Caroline laughed. ‘I’ve heard that once or twice before. Did he tell you how thrilled he was to find he had a sister? He spent lots of years asking for siblings. Sadly, after him, I couldn’t have any more.’

  Jodie felt her involuntary ‘I’m sorry’ to be inadequate as sadness flitted across Caroline’s face.

  ‘Travis tells me you’re pregnant. Tommy would have been thrilled to hear that. He loved children. I expect your mum would have been excited too.’

  It took Jodie a few seconds to work out who Tommy was. Her father. She’d never heard him called that before.

  ‘Yes, Mum would have been over the moon,’ Jodie said.

  ‘Travis is making plans to visit again in the New Year,’ Caroline said. ‘He can’t wait to meet his nephew or niece.’

  ‘You’d be more than welcome to come with him,’ Jodie said.

  Caroline nodded. ‘Travis has already suggested it. But I need to sort out a new life direction for me first. Selling the ranch won’t be easy. Then I have to find somewhere to live down here.’ She sighed. ‘I suspect it will all take time, like these things do.’

  ‘Well, when you’re ready for a holiday, think of us in Europe,’ Jodie said. ‘I’m glad we’ve “met”. It’s nice to visualise people but I’m a slave to the kitchen today and have to go. I guess you’ve had a barbeque in the sun?’

  ‘Yes, we did.’

  ‘Say hi to Travis for me. Happy Christmas to you both,’ Jodie said. ‘And Happy New Year.’

  Thoughtfully, Jodie closed down the Skype connection. Caroline reminded her of someone she couldn’t quite put a name to.

  In the kitchen, stirring the gravy, it came to her. It was her mum. Not in physical looks or colouring because Jacqueline had been more of an English rose. No, it was the way Caroline looked at you steadily, held eye contact, and her smile was similar. Self-composed would be the word to describe both Jacqueline and Caroline.

  Was it a coincidence? They said men’s second wives often mirrored their first, that they tended to fall in love with the same type of woman. It would be interesting to eventually meet Caroline and see for herself if there really was any similarity. />
  Annette and Thierry arrived in a flurry of laughter and kisses, clutching gifts. Champagne was poured and presents were opened and exclaimed over before Jodie announced, ‘Lunch is served.’

  Sitting at the dining table with her new family alongside her, Jodie fingered her pendant on its chain and thought about her mum. It was the first Christmas since Jacqueline had died that Jodie truly felt she had a family. Last year it had been her and Ben alone on honeymoon in the Alps, and the Christmas before, the first one without her mum, was best forgotten. It had been survived rather than celebrated, that was for sure.

  It was as she placed the flaming Christmas pudding on the table that Ben said, ‘Mum, Thierry, we have a little bit of news for you.’

  Annette smiled and sighed happily. ‘Finally, I guess you’re officially going to tell me I’m going to be a grandmother. When’s the baby due?’

  Jodie looked at Annette. ‘How did you know that was our news?’

  Annette shrugged and laughed. ‘Intuition, I guess you’d call it. That bug, virus, whatever, didn’t fool me for a moment. Besides, you’ve not been drinking alcohol since before our wedding. Easy to put two and two together. I’ve been waiting weeks for you to tell us. Congratulations to both of you.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Ben and Jodie said together.

  ‘Now about names, are you going traditional or modern? There’s some lovely modern ones out there I particularly like,’ Annette said.

  Jodie interrupted her with a smile. ‘Sorry, names are non-negotiable. It’s going to be Jacqueline Annette for a girl. Ben Thomas for a boy.’

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Christmas Day for Tina was a happy time too. She and Maisie worked companionably in the kitchen in the morning getting the turkey in the oven, preparing the vegetables and drinking Bucks Fizz. They’d barely seen each other in the run-up to Christmas so used the time to catch up with each other.