The Christmas Collection

by Victoria Connelly

  *

  Down in the kitchen, Brody had helped himself to a cookie and Catriona hadn’t reprimanded him because her son had earned it.

  ‘Pass the tin,’ she told him and her hand dived in.

  ‘That was close,’ Fee said, shaking her head when Catriona offered her a cookie.

  ‘Toooooo damned close!’ Brody said.

  ‘Language!’ Catriona said.

  ‘Yeah, but the situation calls for it, Mom!’

  She shook her head in despair. She really was going to have to ban all of those American TV box sets.

  ‘I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in my life as that,’ Fee said. ‘But I had to pretend I wasn’t scared for Chrissa.’

  ‘You did a brilliant job,’ Catriona said. ‘You both did.’

  ‘I discovered the key was missing,’ Brody reminded them.

  ‘You did indeed,’ Catriona said, pushing Bagpipe away as his nose tried to make contact with her cookie.

  ‘Is Lexi going to be okay?’ Fee asked.

  ‘I think we got to her just in time,’ Catriona said, ‘but I also think she’s got a long way to go to come to terms with how things are now.’

  ‘She told me her mum’s living in America,’ Fee said. ‘She seemed sad about that.’

  ‘That must be difficult for her,’ Catriona said.

  ‘But at least she can still visit her mum,’ Brody said. ‘We can’t visit Dad, can we?’

  Catriona felt her throat constrict at her son’s words but, then smiled as his hand dived into the cookie tin again and took out two more.

  ‘Phew!’ he said as he polished the first one off. ‘It’s been quite a day hasn’t it?’

  ‘Yes,’ Catriona agreed. ‘It has indeed.’

  ‘Girls are much harder work than boys, aren’t they, Mum?’

  CHAPTER 9

  After the drama of the day before, Christmas Eve was a quiet day by comparison.

  The MacNeices slept late, breakfasted late and then left the castle, the three of them walking around the grounds together, finding an old walled garden which lay under a light blanket of snow.

  ‘There’s not enough to build the world’s biggest snowman,’ Chrissa said with a little pout.

  ‘But there might be tomorrow,’ Iain said. ‘I think there’s more snow forecast. It’s definitely a better option than that hail, isn’t it?’

  ‘I hope there’s more snow,’ she said, her tiny gloved hand swinging in his. ‘But just walking’s fun too.’

  ‘It is, isn’t it?’ he said with a laugh and then he instantly felt sad because he simply couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a walk with his daughters. Well, other than the disastrous one around the loch which he wasn’t going to count. How crazy was it that he didn’t have time for such things in his life? What had he been doing for the past few weeks, months, years?

  Working too damned hard, a little voice inside him said. That’s what he’d been doing but that was going to change. He was going to make sure of that.

  ‘Lexi,’ he called as his eldest daughter strode out in front of them, her boots making pretty footprints in the snow, ‘have you got that camera of yours?’

  She nodded. ‘Sure,’ she said, taking it out of her pocket.

  ‘Shall we take a selfie? Next to that tree there with the red berries.’

  They all ran towards the tree and huddled together under its snowy branches. Iain was in the middle, his arms around his girls and Lexi was to his right, stretching her arm out to take the photo.

  ‘Everybody smile,’ Iain said.

  And they did.

  They walked around the loch after lunch and nobody complained that it was too far or too cold and Iain didn’t make any unsuitable comments about Lexi’s hair and she didn’t moan that she wanted to be in California. Somehow he didn’t think he’d ever hear her mention California again, or not in such glowing terms as she once had and, although that made him intensely sad, he couldn’t help feeling relieved that his daughters understood what was really going on. They could move forward. They’d always have a relationship with their mother, he knew that, but it would be different now.

  *

  ‘Daddy,’ Lexi said that evening. They were sitting by the fire in the living room. Chrissa was sprawled out on the floor with her colouring pens and paper, Iain had been trying to read a Walter Scott novel but was finding it pretty hard going, and Lexi had been staring into the fire for some time now, her ereader forgotten on the sofa beside her.

  ‘What is it?’ Iain asked, glad to have an excuse to put Sir Walter Scott down.

  ‘Do you think we can come here again?’

  Iain blinked in surprise. In fact, he couldn’t have felt more surprised if Father Christmas had plopped down the chimney and danced the Postie’s Jig right in front of them.

  ‘You want to come back?’

  She nodded. ‘Yep.’

  ‘I want to come back too,’ Chrissa said, not looking up from her drawing, which was looking suspiciously like Caldoon Castle only a pink and purple version of it.

  ‘Okay,’ Iain said, ‘I think we can arrange that.’

  ‘Good,’ Lexi said and resumed staring at the fire.

  Iain picked up the Walter Scott novel again, a little smile tickling the corners of his mouth.

  *

  It was strange waking up on Christmas morning in a castle, Iain thought as he got out of bed and drew back the heavy curtains. He gasped as he saw that a fresh layer of snow had fallen in the night. Chrissa would be thrilled and he couldn’t wait to see the expression on her face when she saw it. In fact, he was quite surprised that the girls hadn’t woken him up already and, after washing and dressing quickly, he went in search of them.

  ‘Chrissa?’ he said, knocking lightly on her bedroom door. There was no answer so he opened it a crack. ‘Darling?’ The room was empty. Maybe she’d nipped into Lexi’s.

  ‘Girls?’ he called, knocking on Lexi’s door and entering but, once again, the room was empty. He looked in the ensuite and the separate bathroom next door and then checked Chrissa’s room again. Had they gone downstairs already? They weren’t meant to be in the Great Hall yet but maybe curiosity had got the better of them.

  He made his way down the stairs, passing the suit of armour and crossing the enormous hallway before checking the living room, dining room and the billiards room. But the girls weren’t there.

  Panic took hold. Where were they?

  He sprinted back up the stairs and made his way down the passageway which led to the Frasers’ rooms. He didn’t want to disturb them so early on Christmas morning – it wasn’t even eight o’clock yet – but he was beginning to feel desperate.

  ‘Hello?’ he shouted down the hallway, hoping someone would hear him and that he wouldn’t have to knock on any doors.

  It was then that he heard voices coming from one of the rooms and he stopped outside a bedroom door which had been left slightly ajar.

  ‘Girls?’ he said. ‘Are you in there?’ He popped his head into the room and saw Lexi, Chrissa, Fee and Brody all gathered around a computer screen.

  ‘Dad!’ Lexi said, leaping up from a chair. ‘Don’t look. Don’t look!’

  ‘What is it?’ he asked.

  ‘None of your business!’ she said, pushing him back out of the room.

  ‘I was worried. I couldn’t find you.’

  ‘We were here,’ she said calmly.

  ‘Well, I know that now,’ he said, scratching his head. ‘What are you up to?’

  ‘What do you want, Dad?’ Lexi asked.

  ‘Merry Christmas to you too!’ he said with a laugh and Lexi smiled at him.

  ‘Merry Christmas, Dad.’ She stood up on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. ‘Now off you go. We’ll see you downstairs in a minute, okay?’

  Iain shook his head and headed back to his room. Kids, he thought. They really knew how to put you in your place.

  *

  Catriona had laid out a scrumptious br
eakfast of drop scones and maple syrup followed by bacon and eggs and hot chocolate. It was filling but left just enough room to get really hungry for that special meal on Christmas Day, particularly after a walk around the walled garden.

  As Iain had predicted, Chrissa was delighted with the snow that had fallen in the night and made several snow angels, had started a snowball fight with him and Lexi and had persuaded them to help her build a snowman. By the time they came in for lunch, they were cold, famished and utterly happy.

  After changing their clothes and warming up by the fire in the living room, Iain went in search of the Frasers. He hadn’t seen Catriona since breakfast and he hadn’t seen Fee or Brody since the strange computer gathering earlier that morning and was missing their company. So, leaving the girls in the living room by the fire, he went to look for them all, finding them in the kitchen.

  ‘Hi,’ he said shyly as he entered. ‘I didn’t mean to disturb you–’ he stopped, looking around the kitchen, noticing the sofa strewn with books and games. ‘You’re living in here?’

  Catriona nodded. ‘More or less. It’s the warmest part of the house,’ she said, pointing to the range.

  ‘I had no idea we’d put you out so.’

  ‘But you haven’t,’ Catriona said. ‘We’ve got the east wing too.’

  ‘But you have a bit,’ Brody said. ‘We usually use the Great Hall at Christmas.’

  ‘Brody!’ Catriona snapped.

  ‘Why then you must join us,’ Iain asked.

  ‘Oh, can we, Mum?’ Fee said.

  ‘I wouldn’t dream of it,’ Catriona said. ‘We wouldn’t want to intrude on your Christmas.’

  ‘But you wouldn’t be,’ Iain assured her. ‘The girls would love to have your company.’

  ‘Muuuuum!’ Fee cried. ‘Come on!’

  ‘Well, if you’re absolutely sure?’

  ‘I absolutely am,’ he said.

  ‘Great Hall, Great Hall, Great Hall,’ Brody began to chant.

  ‘Okay, okay!’ Catriona said. ‘Let’s go.’

  CHAPTER 10

  Brody tore out of the room followed by Bagpipe who raced through the house with tremendous speed.

  ‘Don’t let him near the tree!’ Catriona called after them. ‘Bagpipe once managed to knock the whole tree down,’ she explained to the Iain. ‘Lights, baubles, everything. We’ve got him more under control these days but that enthusiastic tail of his is like an oar of a boat and can do untold damage if left unchecked.’

  Collecting Lexi and Chrissa from the living room, the two families made their way through the house until they were standing at the door to the Great Hall.

  ‘This is a special room,’ Catriona said as she opened the door and walked inside. ‘It used to be the venue for many a grand party where Highland flings would be flung and kilts would swirl around the room.’

  ‘But not anymore?’ Iain asked, looking up at the impressive ceiling which, with its numerous beams, looked like an upside down hull of a ship.

  ‘There isn’t really much call for that sort of thing now.’

  ‘Have you tried advertising?’

  ‘I’ve thought about it but I wouldn’t know where to begin.’

  Iain gave her an enigmatic smile. ‘I would,’ he said, his glance taking in the fine display of ancient swords above the enormous fireplace in which roared the kind of fire which made you want to settle in for the night and tell stories.

  His gaze journeyed around the room, marvelling at the collection of old flags and tapestries which hung down from the massive stone walls and the longest dining table he had ever seen, a small corner of which had been set for his family.

  Suddenly, the children were shrieking in delight at the sight of the Christmas tree and there was no chance of having any sort of sensible conversation with that distraction.

  Standing in front of an enormous window at the far end of the Great Hall, the tree was over ten feet tall and had been decorated in traditional red, green and gold, with lots of huge tartan bows and ribbons and strings of tiny tin angels and home-made gingerbread biscuits, iced in every colour imaginable, as well as candy canes and foiled-wrapped toffees. It was a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach.

  Heaps of presents lay underneath. Catriona had collected the MacNeice’s presents the night before from Iain and had placed them under the tree to join her own family’s and the result was nothing short of breathtaking.

  ‘Presents after dinner!’ Catriona warned. ‘And keep Bagpipe away!’

  She watched as Brody held on to the deerhound’s collar before he managed to find the massive bone that had been wrapped up for him and placed under the tree

  The deep stone windowsills around the hall were decorated with great bunches of evergreen and pine cones, which had been sprayed in gold and silver, and three enormous Christmas stockings had been hung to the right of the fireplace. But nothing could rival the tree.

  ‘Wow!’ Iain said, giving a long low whistle. ‘That tree is something else.’

  ‘It’s huuuuuuge!’ Chrissa said. Even Lexi looked impressed.

  ‘The Christmas tree is from our own land,’ Catriona said. ‘Each year we go up the mountain and choose one, don’t we?’ she said, smiling at Fee and Brody. ‘Our neighbour cuts it down for us and brings it in. His fee’s a tree for his own family.’

  ‘Nice arrangement,’ Iain said. ‘It makes our tree at home look like a matchstick.’

  ‘I always say we’ll go smaller next year,’ Catriona said. ‘It takes an age to decorate.’

  ‘Tell me about it!’ Fee said. ‘We were up on ladders all day and night!’

  ‘And I got spiked about a hundred times putting all the gingerbread men on it,’ Brody said.

  ‘Well, it looks fantastic,’ Iain said.

  The two families stood together, gazing up into the tree’s deep green depths and sparkling lights, its jewel-bright baubles and glistening tinsel. It was, without a doubt, the most beautiful tree in the world.

  ‘Right!’ Catriona said at last, breaking the spell with a clap of her hands. ‘Let’s get dinner ready.’

  ‘Can we do anything to help?’ Lexi asked.

  Catriona beamed her a smile. ‘I’m sure I can find you all something to do.’

  *

  Iain had never enjoyed a Christmas dinner more than the one he shared at Caldoon Castle with his daughters and the Fraser family. The food, which included roast turkey, roast potatoes and parsnips, sprouts, carrots and peas, was all served with tasty gravy and succulent cranberry sauce. The fire behind them roared, Christmas crackers were pulled and stories of Christmases past were exchanged.

  ‘Mom,’ Brody began some time after the Christmas pudding had been demolished. ‘Mom!’

  She didn’t reply.

  ‘MUM!’

  ‘Yes? I’m your “Mum”,’ Catriona said, pronouncing the word correctly. ‘Not your Mom!’

  Brody tutted. ‘Can I tell them my ghost story?’

  ‘I don’t think you should,’ Catriona said.

  ‘Oh, but ghost stories at Christmas are traditional, aren’t they?’ Iain said.

  ‘See?’ Brody said. ‘Go on – let me tell them.’

  Catriona sighed. ‘As long as it isn’t too scary.’

  Brody nodded, his eyes shining in glee, and then he began. ‘It was a dark–’

  ‘And stormy night,’ Lexi interrupted.

  Brody glared at her. ‘No, actually, it wasn’t,’ he told her. ‘It was dark, yes, but it wasn’t stormy. It was calm. Deadly calm. The waters of the loch were still like a mirror.’

  ‘He’s good,’ Iain said, nodding to Catriona.

  ‘Oh, aye,’ she said.

  ‘Stop interrupting!’ Brody said, an exaggerated sigh leaving his little body.

  ‘Sorry,’ Iain said.

  ‘Sorry,’ Catriona echoed.

  ‘The waters of the loch were still like a mirror and the dark red sunset that had come before had looked like blood.’

&nb
sp; ‘I don’t like this,’ Chrissa said. ‘It’s too scary.’

  Without warning, Brody started screaming. ‘Aaarrrghhh!’ he cried. ‘Aaarrrghhhh! Aaaarrghhh!’

  ‘It isn’t that scary!’ Fee said, watching in amazement as her little brother leapt out of his chair and ran to the far end of the Great Hall.

  ‘What’s wrong with him?’ Lexi asked. ‘Is there a ghost?’

  It was then that Iain saw the source of the scream. It was Goliath – the castle’s resident spider. But he wasn’t just any old spider. He was to the spider world what Bagpipe the deerhound was to the dog world: ginormous. His big dark body looked menacing on eight stilt-like legs. This was a spider that meant business.

  Lexi screamed as she saw what both Brody and Iain had spotted and Chrissa and Fee were soon joining in.

  Even Iain was on his feet.

  ‘Sheesh, that thing’s big!’ he cried.

  The Great Hall was filled with screams and shrieks as three girls and a boy leapt around, hands flapping in the air as Catriona tried to calm everybody down.

  ‘Get rid of it, Mum!’ Fee yelled.

  ‘You know I can’t. I’ve tried before, but he just runs back behind the wood pile. He’s a permanent resident, I’m afraid. Look, why don’t we all move to the Christmas tree and open the presents? Goliath won’t follow us there,’ she said.

  Everybody moved – fast – to the other side of the room. There weren’t many arachnophobes who had the luxury of owning so huge a room as the Great Hall which enabled them to live quite happily in the same space as a massive spider and not notice it.

  ‘Presents!’ Brody cried, the spider soon forgotten. There then followed all the fun and frenzy of opening the gifts, with paper and ribbon cascading down to the stone floor as jumpers, scarves, and electronic gadgets and games were revealed to “Oohhs” and “Aahhs”.

  Catriona watched over the proceedings feeling horribly inadequate as she saw the expensive presents which Lexi and Chrissa were opening compared to the bargain basement items she had bought Fee and Brody. But she need not have worried. Her two seemed absolutely delighted with their gifts and Fee’s jumper, which had been lovingly knitted by a friend of Catriona’s in Strathcorrie, got some admiring comments from Lexi.