Clara's Last Christmas (Clara Andrews Series - Book 9)

by Lacey London

  ‘You prefer Dad to me?’ Gina sticks out her bottom lip and leans back on the pillows. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because Dad gives us sweets for breakfast!’ MJ yells, swinging his near empty bag of candy in the air.

  ‘And lunch and dinner!’ Madison adds, pointing to the empty packets and laughing.

  Gina’s eyes widen in shock as she casts her gaze to the discarded litter, which Marc is desperately trying to kick beneath the sofa.

  ‘You’re kidding, right?’ Shaking her head at Marc, she hits Oliver on the arm. ‘I’d expect that of him, but you should know better!’

  ‘They all said no artificial colours or flavourings! That’s a good thing, right?’ Marc hides beneath the duvet as Gina attacks him with a pillow.

  Taking this as the green light to start a full-on pillow fight, the kids grab cushions and join in with the fray. Screams of delight fill the room as war breaks out on the sofa and I can’t resist giving Oliver a quick donk with a pillow. Letting out a giggle, I run into the kitchen and watch the scene unfold from the safety of a bar stool. It just goes to show that no matter what life throws at you, laughter is the best therapy money can’t buy…

  Snowflakes are one of life’s most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together…

  Chapter 15

  ‘Can you see her yet?’ Oliver asks, carrying Noah on his shoulders as we make our way through the crowds of people. ‘She should be around here somewhere.’

  Due to Janie’s flight being delayed no less than three times, we have been in the airport for two hours already. After a lot of sitting around, we have finally had word that her plane has arrived.

  Letting out yet another yawn, I dodge a couple of elderly women who are talking animatedly about their grandchildren. Their faces light up as they discuss their plans for the holidays. Smiling as we pass them by, I reach out and take Oliver’s hand in mine. I’ve always loved airports, but at Christmas they are even more special. I could stand at arrivals for hours on end watching people embrace one another warmly as they are reunited for the festive period. I can only hope that our own reunion goes as smoothly.

  ‘Have you managed to get through to her yet?’ Watching a young couple kiss under mistletoe as they walk, I take a seat on a cold bench and curse myself for not bringing my gloves. ‘The information board shows that her flight disembarked thirty minutes ago.’

  Rubbing my hands together for warmth, I suddenly spot a leopard print suitcase being wheeled towards the exit.

  ‘There she is!’ I yell, waving my arms around in a bid to catch her attention. ‘Janie! Over here!’

  Stopping in her tracks, she turns on her heels and starts to make her way over to us.

  ‘Gee-Gee!’ Noah screams, fighting Oliver furiously to get down.

  Flying through the busy airport, Noah launches himself at Janie like a bullet.

  ‘Hey, you little gremlin!’ Janie throws back her head and cackles loudly. ‘How’s it going?’

  ‘It’s Christmas, Gee Gee!’ Noah chatters, clinging to her spindly legs. ‘Santa is coming to bring us presents!’

  ‘He is?’ Attempting to raise her Botox-frozen eyebrows, she takes Noah by the hand and lets him lead her over to us. ‘You sure he ain’t gonna bring you a lump of coal?’

  ‘Coal?’ Noah frowns and looks up at his grandma in confusion. ‘What’s coal?’

  ‘Hey, Mom!’ Oliver’s face breaks into a smile as he hugs his mother warmly. ‘It’s great to see you.’

  Watching the two of them squeeze each other tightly, I pull Noah towards me. In true Janie style, she is rocking a pair of sparkly knee boots with PVC leggings and a fluffy aviator hat. To anyone else she probably looks like an aging popstar on her way to rehab, but if you know Janie like we do, you will be aware that this is actually quite a mundane outfit choice for her.

  ‘Clara!’ She growls, taking off her sunglasses and giving me a quick once over. ‘So, you decided to go for baby number two after all?’

  Immediately sucking in my stomach, I fire daggers at Oliver.

  ‘I’m kidding!’ She yells, throwing a wrinkly arm around my neck and pulling me towards her. ‘Get over here!’

  Not being able to resist her infectious laugh, I allow her kiss me with her filler-filled lips.

  ‘What the hell are you wearing?’ She scoffs, motioning to my new reindeer jumper. ‘You been raiding Noah’s closet?’

  Biting my lip, I decide not to tell her that the jumper she is referring to actually cost a hundred pounds. Over the years, I have learnt that it’s impossible to try and discuss fashion with someone who wears PVC leggings on a long-haul flight.

  ‘It’s lovely to have you back with us.’ I manage through gritted teeth, forcing myself to smile sweetly.

  ‘You know, Clara. You really shouldn’t lie at this time of year. That elf on the shelf is watching you. Ain’t that right, Noah?’ Holding out her hand for his, she leans down and tickles him with her talon-like nails.

  ‘He watches everyone!’ Noah confirms seriously, wagging his finger at me.

  I roll my eyes and heave my handbag onto my shoulder.

  ‘We’re going to see Santa today!’ Noah informs Janie. ‘I’m going to give him my Christmas list.’

  ‘Only if Gee-Gee feels up to it.’ Oliver takes Janie’s suitcase and starts to walk towards the exit. ‘We can always go straight home if you prefer?’

  I glance down at Noah, who looks completely horrified at the prospect of missing out on a trip to see Father Christmas and shoot him a wink. After flying straight through the night, it would be understandable if she wants to head back to the apartment and get her head down for a little while.

  ‘I think I can just about handle a trip to see Mr Claus.’ Following behind Oliver, she lets out a squawk as we step outside into the cold. ‘Jesus Christ! What is it with this damn country?’ She curses under her breath and tries to shield herself from the sleet that is tumbling from the sky.

  ‘It’s called winter…’ I whisper, pulling up my hood and trying not to laugh as she continues to swear like a trucker.

  ‘Can we make snow angels?’ Noah asks, jumping into a mound of snow with his wellies.

  ‘Maybe later.’ Taking him by the hand, I join the line of tanned people who are dragging suitcases into the carpark. ‘First we need to get Gee-Gee something to eat.’

  ‘I thought we could go to the Christmas markets.’ Oliver mumbles, beeping open the car and motioning for us to get in. ‘Grab some food, do a little a shopping… Plus, they have some awesome whiskies.’

  ‘Whiskey?’ Janie repeats hesitantly, struggling to open the car door with her claws. ‘I think I’ll pass. I’ve actually given up.’

  I spin around and stare at her. Did I just hear that right?

  ‘Really? Oliver gasps, pausing halfway into the driver’s seat.

  Janie looks between the two of us solemnly before cracking up. ‘No! ‘Don’t you know me at all? Come on, let’s go and get that drink…’

  * * *

  ‘Did you feel his beard?’ Noah asks, holding up his arms for me to pull on his pyjamas. ‘It was so long and fuzzy.’

  ‘Fuzzy?’ I raise an eyebrow and throw his dirty clothes into the laundry basket.

  ‘Yes, fuzzy. Like Pumpkin’s tail.’ Pointing to Pumpkin, who is snoring away on her back, he leans over and kisses her head. ‘Do you think Santa will bring Pumpkin presents too?’

  ‘That depends if she has been a good girl or not…’ I pull the covers back and wait until he jumps underneath before tugging them back down.

  ‘She’s always a good girl!’ Reaching for his dinosaur, Noah buries his face into his pillow.

  ‘Hmm, I don’t know about that. She has been known to chew my handbag on more than one occasion…’

  ‘That wasn’t Pumpkin. That was the monster.’ Noah pulls his little brow into a frown and nods seriously. ‘I saw him do it.’

  Pursing my lips, I tuck in the sheets and flic
k off the main light. ‘Noah, you know that it’s bad to tell lies, don’t you?’

  Refusing to look me in the eyes, he fumbles with the edge of his bedding and says nothing. As his mother, I want to tell him off for lying, but the fact that he’s trying to protect Pumpkin is pretty damn cute.

  ‘Remember what I told you about that elf?’ I look over my shoulder and point to the elf, who is watching our conversation from the comfort of Noah’s bookshelf.

  ‘That he is watching me all the time?’ Noah widens his eyes and gives the elf a quick glance.

  ‘That’s right.’ Kissing him on the nose, I turn on his bedside lamp and fluff up his pillow. ‘And if you keep telling tales about monsters that don’t exist, he might have to tell Father Christmas and you don’t want that, do you?’

  Noah shakes his head angrily and clings on to his dinosaur. ‘They do exist, but only at night.’

  I exhale slowly and try not to lose my temper. ‘They don’t, sweetheart.’

  ‘They do!’ He insists, suddenly looking rather red in the face. ‘Why don’t you believe me?’

  How am I ever going to stop this? I have tried absolutely everything. What kind of mother can’t convince her three-year-old that a hairy monster isn’t hiding beneath his bed? Feeling like a complete failure, I look out of the window lost for words.

  ‘Listen…’ Taking Noah’s little hands in mine, I rest my forehead on his. ‘Do you really think I would let you sleep in here if there was a monster?’ He shakes his head and wraps his arms around my neck. ‘Mummy wouldn’t let anything scary come near you. Besides, they would have to get past Pumpkin first.’

  Stretching out her legs, Pumpkin yawns loudly and collapses in a heap on the floor. Despite his efforts to stop it, his face breaks into a smile. Praying that I have finally got the message across, I kiss him one last time and slip out into the living room.

  Whilst I was putting Noah to bed, Oliver and Janie stayed sprawled out in the living room, reminiscing about the good old days. Right now, they are falling about laughing as they recall the time that Janie forgot to wrap Oliver’s gifts and resorted to using tinfoil at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning.

  ‘I thought it was pretty cool! If you wouldn’t have told me, I still wouldn’t know.’ Oliver takes off his cap and tosses it onto the coffee table. ‘Man, that was a fun year.’

  ‘It certainly was...’ Janie sighs, staring at the Christmas tree in a mesmerised silence. ‘Who would have thought that things would have ended up this way?’

  ‘Do you mean with Dad?’ Oliver asks, obviously choosing his words carefully.

  Janie looks down at her bare ring finger, responding with nothing more than a gentle nod.

  Grabbing a bottle from the kitchen, I lean over the couch and top up her glass. ‘Do you regret the way things ended with Randy?’

  ‘No.’ Janie says decidedly. ‘I really don’t, but that doesn’t mean that I regret my marriage. We had forty wonderful years together and I wouldn’t change that for the world.’

  Oliver nods knowingly and the three of us sit in a comfortable silence. Allowing my eyes to close, I rest my chin in my hand and enjoy the rare moment of peace.

  ‘Why the hell does it keep looking at me like that?’ Janie hisses, making me physically jump in my seat.

  Looking down at Pumpkin, who is bizarrely sat at Janie’s feet and staring at her intently, I let out a giggle. Trying to move her, I laugh even harder as she grips her paws into the carpet and refuses to move.

  I am about to bribe her away with a dog biscuit when Oliver’s phone bleeps loudly. Digging his handset out of his pocket, he taps at the screen and smiles.

  ‘Don’t let your wife see you smirking at your phone like that!’ Janie whispers, making sure that I can hear her.

  ‘It’s only Owen.’ Oliver leans over and shows me the email. ‘We should have a decision very soon.’

  ‘A decision about what?’ Janie asks, prising her PVC leggings off the leather couch.

  Suddenly aware that we haven’t told her about our huge business venture, I look over at Oliver and wonder if we should keep it to ourselves.

  Clearly deciding to let her in on the secret, Oliver puts down his glass and clears his throat. ‘The thing is, I was recently made redundant…’

  ‘What?’ Janie screeches, so loudly that I worry she might wake Noah. ‘What the hell are you talking about?’

  ‘It’s OK!’ I whisper, jumping onto the sofa next to her. ‘We didn’t want to say anything until it was definite, but Oliver losing his job might actually turn out to be a good thing.’

  ‘What the hell do you mean?’ She fires back. ‘How can losing your damn job ever be good?’

  Letting Oliver take over the conversation, I take a back seat and play fetch with Pumpkin. My stomach flips as I listen to Oliver fill Janie in on Operation Save Suave. Hearing it back, I am reminded of just how much I want this. If we manage to pull this off, it will be an actual miracle.

  Noticing that he has stopped talking, I look at Janie for her reaction.

  ‘That is freakin’ awesome!’ She hoots, swirling her whiskey around the glass. ‘Hey, if you make this work, you could give me a job! How about, Client Relations Manager? I’d make sure you got a good deal alright…’

  ‘Yeah, I bet you would…’ Playfully pushing her shoulder, I dive for cover as Pumpkin jumps onto the sofa.

  ‘Oh come on, Clara! I could move back here and earn a living, what do you say?’

  ‘I say hell no!’ The three of us burst into hysterics and I push myself to my feet. ‘On that note, I am going to go to bed. It’s Dawn’s wedding tomorrow and I want to have a clear head.’

  ‘We’ll be up after this one.’ Oliver points to his glass and flashes me a wink.

  ‘Hmm, I’ll believe that when I see it…’

  Knowing very well that once the two of them start drinking they will keep going until sunrise, I shake my head and blow each of them a kiss. Although the idea of them being hungover tomorrow makes my blood boil, I decide to leave them to it. It’s nice to see the pair of them enjoying the festivities and reminiscing, even if Janie’s Christmas spirit is only found in the drinks cabinet…

  Marry the one who keeps you warm, even when the snow is falling…

  Chapter 16

  ‘I told you this was a stupid idea!’ Stepping over a slushy puddle in her ridiculously high heels, Janie curses through gritted teeth as we make our way down the aisle.

  Only my mother-in-law could deem it appropriate to wear the world’s smallest bodycon dress and a pair of stripper-esque sandals to an outdoor wedding in December. There’s a good three inches of snow on the ground and the temperature is barely above freezing, but in true Janie style she refused to wear anything that wasn’t ultra revealing, a size too small and highly inappropriate.

  I steal a glance at her as we take our seats by the holly dressed archway and shake my head. Totally oblivious to the funny looks she’s getting from the other wedding guests, Janie pulls out a tiny compact mirror and adds yet another layer of gloss to her already neon lips.

  ‘You’re going to freeze to death.’ I whisper, lifting Noah onto his seat and flipping through the wedding pamphlet. ‘Are you sure you don’t want me to fetch a jacket from the car?’

  ‘You really think I would hide this body beneath one of your hideous jackets?’ Pointing at her excruciatingly tight dress, she adjusts her cleavage and smacks her lips together.

  I am about to tell her that my jackets are anything but hideous when I spot Lianna and Vernon heading our way, followed swiftly by the Strokers. As Li and Vernon stop to pose for selfies by the snow dusted conifers, Marc raises his hand in acknowledgment as the rest of the group make their way towards us.

  ‘You guys look adorable!’ I gush, moving down a seat to make room for them. ‘Look at MJ’s little suit!’

  Clearly not liking being the centre of attention, MJ runs for cover behind Marc’s legs.

  ‘Don’t menti
on the bloody suit!’ Gina hisses, dusting snow from Melrose’s ballerina dress. ‘It took us two hours to convince him to wear the damn thing.’

  Nodding in response, I decide to keep quiet. I’ve been there with Noah so many times before. Just last week he screamed the house down because he wanted to wear his swimming trunks to the supermarket. Yes, you heard me. Swimming trunks in December.

  ‘You girls look beautiful too!’ I smile at Madison and Melrose as they twirl around in their matching dresses.

  ‘We’re bridesmaids!’ Madison declares, as though I should know this already.

  ‘You are?’ I frown, shooting Gina a questioning look. ‘I thought Dawn wasn’t having bridesmaids?’ I whisper, making sure that Madison can’t hear me.

  ‘Don’t ask…’ Gina motions for Madison to get back onto her chair. ‘The girls thought that their dresses were bridesmaid dresses. Madison cried like crazy when I told her they weren’t, so as far as they’re concerned, they’re bridesmaids.’

  ‘Bridesmaids who sit quietly and don’t move from their seats.’ Marc adds sternly as Lianna and Vernon come to a stop at our row.

  ‘Hey!’ Lianna beams, tucking her silver curls behind her ears. ‘Doesn’t this place look incredible?’

  ‘It’s fantastic.’ Vernon looks around and snaps a couple more pictures on his phone.

  ‘I wouldn’t go that far!’ Janie scoffs, grabbing a terrified Vernon and planting a pink kiss on his cheek. ‘It’s still a damn field.’

  Wearing a slick suit, with a tailored coat and a pair of pristine Converse, Vernon looks like he’s just stepped out of a music video.

  ‘For the last time, it is not a bloody field.’ Rolling my eyes, I shoot Li daggers as she intentionally goads Janie.

  ‘You look stunning!’ She gushes, running her fingers over Janie’s scantily clad outfit. ‘Where’s this dress from?’

  Giving her a discreet dig in the ribs, I wrap my arm around Noah’s shoulders as Vernon and Oliver discuss Operation Save Suave. Too busy reading the wedding pamphlet, I fail to notice that the seats have slowly filled up and gentle music is starting to flood out of the speakers that have been delicately hidden in the conifers. My eyes land on the sheet of soft snow that is being shovelled from the aisle and a silly smile springs to my face. The one thing that Dawn wanted for her big day was snow and it looks like she got it in buckets.