by Karen King
He groaned as he walked into the bedroom and saw the unmade bed and clothes strewn about. He’d been running late and thought that taking Sweetie for a walk was more important than tidying his room. Thank God he hadn’t left his dirty underwear on the floor! Lexi must have walked in to a right mess but she had cleared up the feathers the only sign of Sweetie’s damage was that there was just one pillow on the bed.
He undressed and went straight into the shower, feeling himself relax as the warm water cascaded over his skin. Then he pulled on clean jeans and a sweatshirt and went back down the stairs, pausing as he noticed the lounge door was open. Had he left it like that, or had Lexi gone in there, maybe looking for Sweetie? She must have been in a panic when she couldn’t find her. He stepped inside, switched on the light and gasped in surprise as his eyes rested on the Christmas tree in the corner, its green branches shimmering with red and gold baubles. Lights were draped around the tree, too, although they hadn’t been switched on. Lexi must have done it when she came to check on Sweetie that afternoon. She seemed determined to thrust Christmas on him.
He walked over to the tree, and stared at the baubles hanging from the branches, his head a mix of emotions. This was the last thing he’d expected. And it was a bit of a liberty, to be honest. But he knew that Lexi had meant well, that it had come from a good place in her heart. Then he saw a white envelope on the table with his name written on the front. Had she left him a Christmas card as well?
He put the mug down and picked up the envelope, the blue handwriting was clear, the letters exquisitely formed. Curiosity got the better of him and he opened it up. The card had a robin on the front, with ‘Merry Christmas’ across the top, and inside she’d written:
I hope you don’t mind me giving you this Christmas tree. It seemed a shame for it to be unused and forgotten in our loft when it could brighten up your room. Lexi x
Joel put the card down and surveyed the tree. Then he bent down and switched the lights on, they twinkled on the branches like little silver stars, reflecting in the baubles. He remembered putting up the tree with his sister, he and Hazel always had the job of decorating the tree. They enjoyed doing it. They used to have a big tree, it stood in the hall, and was a magnificent sight when you walked in. But it was the little tree his grandparents had in the lounge that he had loved the most. It stood on a sheet of Christmas paper on the sideboard, twinkling away, the Christmas lights playing ‘Jingle Bells’ until either his gran or grandad had enough and switched it off. He and Hazel had loved those lights, and often begged to switch them back on again. Christmas Day had been fun, with presents to open, turkey, homemade Christmas pudding, cake and an evening of playing games. Now he was older, he realised what a wonderful job his parents did and how selfless it had been of them to give their Christmas Day up to keep other people alive, but also make sure that he and Hazel had a wonderful time by sending them to stay with their grandparents. Maybe he had become too cynical about Christmas. Yes, it wasn’t the be all and end all, and not worth drinking yourself stupid or getting into debt for, but he did have some fond memories of past Christmases, and it did bring a lot of happiness to people. Look how delighted Lloyd had been with his tree, and how much the traditional carol service meant a lot to the villagers. And he had to admit that this tree certainly brightened up his lounge.
His phone buzzed to announce an incoming message. He took it out of his pocket and looked at the screen. Lexi. He slid his finger across to open the message. I hope you don’t mind about the Christmas tree. I just wanted to cheer you up. Enjoy the cottage pie. And I can’t tell you how sorry I am about earlier. It was stupid of me.
‘Enjoy the cottage pie?’ Puzzled, Joel went into the kitchen and looked around. Then he saw the note on the fridge. I was making a cottage pie for our tea and thought you might appreciate one, too. Saves you cooking after your hard day. x
He opened the fridge and looked inside. On the bottom shelf was a silver-foil pie dish with a ready-cooked cottage pie. All he had to do was warm it up.
Now he felt even more of a heel. She’d done all this for him, and he’d repaid her by yelling at her and almost making her cry. He’d seen the tears in her eyes when she’d turned and walked away.
She could have been killed.
Joel took a deep breath and tapped out a reply. Thank you for everything. It’s very kind of you. I’m sorry for yelling at you, it was just the shock of what could have happened. He paused, then added ‘x’ on the end and pressed send.
Lexi bit her lip as she opened Joel’s reply. She hoped that she hadn’t annoyed him even further. She read and reread the message. He hadn’t specifically mentioned the tree, so she wasn’t sure if he was annoyed or not, but he had thanked her. And apologised for his rant.
‘He liked the tree, then?’ Granny Mabe asked.
Lexi nodded. ‘I’m not sure if “liked” is the word, but he’s thanked me for it and not blown his top. I did wonder if he would think I’d overstepped the mark.’
‘Nonsense, you were simply spreading the Christmas spirit,’ Granny Mabe told her. ‘Good on you, girl.’
‘I thought the message might be from Ben saying that he could come down after all,’ her mother said
Granny Mabe and Lexi exchanged a quick glance.
Her mother stiffened. ‘Okay, I know that look. What’s happened?’
Lexi guessed she would have to tell her parents at some point. And it didn’t feel so raw to talk about it now. ‘Actually, we’ve split up. Ben’s been having an affair. I only found out last week, that’s why I came down early.’
‘Some men, eh. Take notice of their loins instead of their heads.’ Granny Mabe shook her head.
‘I’m so sorry, love. That’s an awful thing to have happened. Is he serious about this other woman?’ Paula replied.
Lexi pushed a strand of hair from her eyes. ‘He said not. He keeps messaging asking me to forgive him.’
Now it was her mum’s turn to exchange a look with her gran.
‘And will you?’ Granny Mabe peered at Lexi over her glasses.
‘No,’ Lexi said firmly. ‘The thing is, although I’m really upset about it, I can see now that it was me who made all the effort. Ben, he just went along with everything because it made life easier. I thought that he loved me, but I can see now that he didn’t.’
‘And do you still think you love him?’ her mother asked.
‘I don’t know.’
‘Well, if you don’t know, take it from me, dear, you definitely don’t,’ Granny Mabe told her.
Chapter Twenty-one
Thinking about his family reminded Joel of what Lexi had said about Lloyd being estranged from his son and being on his own for Christmas. He knew that Lexi’s parents had invited Lloyd to their house for Christmas dinner, but the old man had refused, probably the idea of joining in a family gathering with people he didn’t know – apart from Lexi and her gran – was off-putting. It would be for him, too. Christmas was for families and he’d have felt an intruder, which is why he’d refused Andy’s invitation to join him and his family. He intended to cook the turkey crown Hazel had left him and was planning on having a lie-in, cooking a late dinner, then watching a movie. But that was before Lexi had sneaked in and put up a Christmas tree for him, decorated with glitzy baubles and twinkling lights. Just as she had for Lloyd. Now he felt bad about Lloyd being on his own. I’ll invite him around for dinner, he decided. It’s the least I can do, when he’s looking after Sweetie for me.
He pulled on his jacket and went around to pick up Sweetie.
Lloyd greeted Joel with a big smile when he opened the door. Sweetie came dashing to him and wagged her tail. ‘Come in, come in. The kettle’s just boiled. Will you have a cuppa with me?’
‘A cup of tea would be lovely, thank you,’ Joel said. Lexi was right, Lloyd was lonely. He hoped that he could persuade him to agree to share Christmas Day with him. As he followed Lloyd into the kitchen, with Sweetie trotting at his heels, he
realised that his ‘sharing Christmas dinner’ idea had now extended to sharing Christmas Day. Steady on, think about this, he warned himself.
Lloyd made a cup of tea for them both and they took it into the lounge. Joel paused at the doorway, thinking how festive it looked. Lexi had brightened up Lloyd’s home, as she had done his.
‘It looks pretty, doesn’t it? Really cheers me up,’ Lloyd said as he made his way over to his chair, while Joel put the two mugs down on the table. ‘I never usually bother with Christmas decorations, but now, well, I think I’ll put them up every year.’ He smiled at Joel. ‘Lexi’s so full of Christmas cheer and joy, it’s infectious.’
‘She certainly is. I gave her the key to my house so she could check on Sweetie today, then arrived home to discover that she’d put a Christmas tree up. And left me a cottage pie in the fridge to reheat.’
Lloyd shot him a look. ‘How did you feel about that?’
Joel sat down and took a sip of his hot drink. ‘If you’d have asked me beforehand how I’d feel if someone snuck into my house and put a Christmas tree and lights up, I’d have said fuming . . .’
‘And now?’
Joel shrugged. ‘After the initial shock . . . well, like you said, it brightens up the place. And the cottage pie is very welcome.’
‘She’s a kind lass.’
Joel was quiet for a moment, wondering how to phrase the words to ask Lloyd his question. He was out of his comfort zone here. He had never invited anyone to have Christmas dinner with him. He and Toni had always eaten out on Christmas Day, she was even less into cooking than he was, although, she was very much into a commercial Christmas. And Lloyd had already turned down Lexi’s invitation. Joel didn’t want it to sound like charity, as if he was feeling sorry for the old man.
‘She is. And I think a bit of her Christmas spirit is rubbing off on me. So, I was thinking . . . how do you fancy joining me on Christmas Day? We could have dinner together and watch a film?’ He tried to gauge Lloyd’s expression. ‘I know Lexi asked you, and you refused, but I figured that might be because she’d got all her family there. Whereas it’ll be just you and me and Sweetie. And you’ll be doing me a favour. It’ll be nice to have company,’ he added quickly.
Lloyd’s face broke into a big smile. ‘In that case, thank you. I’d love to.’
So, that was it, he was cooking Christmas dinner and had a guest. Lexi Forde had certainly changed his life.
Jay, Sonia and Toby arrived just after seven, Toby clinging sleepily to Jay. ‘He fell asleep in the car on the way from the airport,’ Jay said, as Paula ushered them into the lounge. ‘He’ll be okay in a minute, as soon as he wakes up properly.’
‘I think this might help,’ their dad said, switching on the little Christmas village he’d placed on the table by the window. Immediately, it started playing ‘Jingle Bells’ and a tiny train came out of the station and started puffing around the village. Toby’s eyes opened wide and he stared at it in wonder, then wriggled out of his father’s arms and ran over to the table.
‘Don’t touch it!’ Sonia warned.
‘He’s okay, love. Let him enjoy it,’ Craig said as an enraptured Toby knelt down to watch the train.
Sonia’s gaze went from the musical village to the huge, twinkling Christmas tree, then over to the lights sparkling around the window. ‘It’s like a grotto in here!’
‘I reckon it will be the same in our bedroom, won’t it, Dad?’ Jay said with a grin.
‘Every bedroom!’ Lexi replied.
They all laughed, then they were hugging, and everyone was introducing themselves, welcoming Sonia and talking over each other. Then Paula served dinner – Lexi’s cottage pie with steamed vegetables, followed by Granny Mabe’s apple crumble and custard. It was a noisy, happy affair.
It was a wonderful evening catching up with her family. Jay and Sonia regaled them with anecdotes of their life in Canada, where Jay was an engineer and Sonia a nurse, and little Toby was so sweet – they all adored him.
‘Well, this is lovely, and when Ryan and Nell come on Friday, I’ll have my whole family round me for the first time for years,’ Paula said with a smile of contentment as Craig went into the kitchen to heat up mulled wine on the stove.
‘I thought your boyfriend was going to be here, too, Lexi,’ Jay said. ‘It would be good to meet him.’
Lexi hesitated, wondering whether to tell everyone the truth. Seeing her brother happily coupled up made her own split seem raw again, and no way did she want to sound emotional and ruin everyone’s Christmas. Besides, she still hadn’t decided whether to get back together with Ben, so the fewer people who knew about the split, the better.
‘He’s working until tomorrow, so he’s decided to spend Christmas Day with his mum,’ she lied. ‘We’ll celebrate New Year together instead.’
Paula and Granny Mabe exchanged a glance, but said nothing.
Suddenly, a message pinged into her phone. I hope that’s not Ben again, she thought, taking her phone out of her pocket to look. To her surprise, it was Lloyd.
You’ve been working your magic on Joel. He loves the Christmas tree and has invited me to spend Christmas Day with him.
Lexi grinned. That’s marvellous. She’d been worrying about them both spending Christmas Day on their own, and now that was the perfect solution. She could hardly believe that people-make-too-much-fuss-of-Christmas Joel had invited Lloyd to Christmas dinner. Wow!
‘It’s from Lloyd. Joel has asked him to have Christmas dinner with him,’ she told her mother, as she texted back to Lloyd. That’s fantastic. Make him wear a Christmas hat and send me a photo!
‘Who are Lloyd and Joel?’ Jay asked. Lexi related the story of how they all met, and how she’d managed to persuade Joel to save the Christmas tree.
Jay whistled. ‘So, the carol service can still go ahead Christmas Eve?’
‘Hopefully. There was a lot more ivy twisted around it than Joel realised, but he and Andy are starting again early tomorrow, so it should be finished in time. If not, at least they’ve managed to persuade the council not to cut the tree down before Christmas.’
‘Fingers crossed, then. I really wanted Sonia and Toby to join in the carol service,’ Jay said.
‘It’s very good of Joel to try, and apparently he kept his costs really low to persuade the council to accept the quote.’ Paula turned to Lexi. ‘I know you asked Lloyd to Christmas dinner and he politely refused, but why don’t you ask him and Joel to come over on Boxing Day? It’s a lot more relaxed then, and if Joel was there too he might feel more at ease.
‘Yes, I agree. Joel’s tried his best to save the traditional Lystone carol service, we’d like to show our appreciation,’ Craig agreed.
‘What a lovely idea. I’ll ask them both tomorrow,’ Lexi replied. She’d been planning on going over to the green – keeping well behind the barriers this time – to see how Joel was getting on. She hoped both Lloyd and Joel would agree to spend Boxing Day with her and her family, it would be fun and she hated to think of them spending it alone. How she wished she’d been able to find Lloyd’s son in time for Christmas. You only had a few days, she reminded herself. And she’d be back home soon. Maybe his son would turn up at some point in the new year.
‘When will Ryan and Nell be here?’ Jay asked. ‘I can’t wait to see my little bro again.’
‘They won’t be here until Friday afternoon, they’re both working in the morning on Christmas Eve,’ Paula told him. ‘And they’re back at work on Tuesday, but at least we will be all together over Christmas.’
‘So, tell me about this Joel, who’s rescuing the fir tree,’ Sonia said, her eyes fixed on Lexi. ‘Is he single?’
‘Divorced,’ Lexi told her. ‘Why?’
Sonia smiled. ‘Because your face lights up when you talk about him, more than it does when you talk about Ben.’
Lexi flushed. ‘That’s because I’m grateful for him coming to our rescue. He’s not much of a Christmas person, so it’s a big th
ing for him to do this.’ She sighed. Why keep pretending? ‘Look, I didn’t want to tell you, because I didn’t want to put a dampener on everyone’s Christmas, but Ben and I, we’ve split up. He’s been cheating on me.’ As she said the words, tears sprang to her eyes, and she batted them back. She wasn’t going to get upset over this.
‘Oh, love, I’m so sorry.’ Her dad immediately pulled her into a big hug. ‘So, that’s why you came down early?’
Lexi nodded. ‘Ben’s moved out – I threw him out, actually.’ She was proud of herself for that. ‘And I’m fine, really, I am.’ She glanced around at her family’s anxious faces and gave them all a watery smile. ‘I don’t need you to all feel sorry for me. It was a shock, but I know I’m better off without him.’
‘You are that,’ Granny Mabe agreed.
Lexi picked up her glass of mulled wine. ‘Now, let’s forget about me and Ben and toast to us all having a wonderful, family Christmas.’
They all raised their glasses and chorused, ‘To a wonderful family Christmas.’
Lexi was determined that nothing was going to spoil this Christmas for her. Tomorrow, first thing, she would go and see how Joel was getting on with the tree and invite him to spend Boxing Day with them. Then she’d go and invite Lloyd, too. She hoped both men accepted; she was really looking forward to it. As she got into bed that night and settled down to sleep, she refused to think about why the idea of spending Boxing Day with Joel meant so much to her.
Chapter Twenty-two
Thursday, two days before Christmas
Jay, Sonia and Toby were suffering from jet lag, so were having a late morning, then going Christmas shopping in the afternoon. Her mum wasn’t working in the bakery that day, both Claire and Brad were coming in, but Brad couldn’t make it until midday, so Lexi had offered to work until then. As she drove up the hill, she could see Joel and Andy hard at work over on the green. I’ll take them a coffee and sandwich a bit later, she thought.