Christmas at the Log Fire Cabin

by Catherine Ferguson

  She trails off and we look at each other gloomily. We both know the chances of finding him after all this time are very slim.

  We sit in silence for a while, staring at the cabin. Then Erin heaves a sigh and says, ‘It must be the day for shocks. I’m now fairly certain Mark is cheating on me.’

  I swing round. ‘Really? Why? What’s happened?’ Perhaps she’s seen him with that red-haired girl?

  She shrugs. ‘This morning he said he was going in to work to tie up a few loose ends, which I thought was a bit strange because it’s a bank holiday. I phoned the office but there was no reply, so I went down to the office in person but the whole building was dark and locked up. When I asked him about it, he told me some nonsense about not having been able to get in so he went for a walk and bumped into an old mate of his.’ She rolls her eyes at me. ‘They went for a drink, apparently.’

  I frown, thinking about this. ‘Maybe he did. Go for a drink?’

  She shakes her head. ‘He looked really awkward. I could tell he was lying.’

  ‘Shit.’

  ‘I know.

  ‘What are you going to do?’

  She heaves a despairing sigh. ‘What can I do? Accuse him of seeing someone else when I haven’t actually got any proof?’

  ‘But you can’t carry on like this, just hoping against hope that you’re wrong. You’ll go round the bend.’

  She frowns but says nothing.

  And right then, I decide it’s time I put my plan into action. I’m going to tackle Mark myself. I’ve been putting off doing it because, like Erin, I can’t bear to imagine Mark has fallen for someone else. But I can’t avoid it any longer. If he’s cheating, he’s cheating. And it will be terrible. But Erin needs to know.

  I’m going to find out once and for all.

  *

  It’s a relief to be cooking at the cabin tonight. It means I don’t have to be around Mum.

  I’m feeling surprisingly calm, all things considered. Until Clemmy comes in to ask about Mum and happens to mention that Jed is out tonight for a meal with Katerina, and won’t be having dinner here.

  I’m weirdly relieved yet achingly disappointed all at once, and I feel annoyed with myself that it should matter at all.

  Just before we serve up, I manage to snatch some time to phone Harrison. He’s just leaving for the flamenco-dance competition and he seems a bit distracted.

  ‘Your dad?’ he asks, when I tell him about the letter I found. ‘You mean, Martin?’

  ‘No. My real dad. You know, the one who came to see me when I was twelve.’

  I told Harrison all about Alessandro when we first met, so I’m a little irritated that he seems quite vague on the subject.

  ‘But didn’t he forget all about you after he went back to Italy?’ he points out. ‘Do you really want someone like that in your life? I think not.’ There’s a crackling noise as he presumably covers the phone. ‘Coming, Mother.’

  ‘But that’s the point, Harrison. Harrison? Are you still there?’

  ‘Yes, sorry. Mum’s anxious to leave.’

  And I’m anxious for him to share in this amazing news about my dad! ‘The thing is, Harrison, he didn’t turn his back on me. He wrote me lots of letters but Mum intercepted them so I never saw them. He wanted me in his life! Isn’t that amazing? I always thought he didn’t care. But he did! And I’m determined I’m going to find him.’

  ‘Good. Great! Listen, I’m going to have to dash, Puss. We can talk about this another time, okay?’

  My heart sinks. I’ve recently started to realise that ‘talking about it another time’ generally means we never do – unless I bring it up again. It’s Harrison’s code for I’m bored with this. How can I wriggle out of the conversation without seeming rude?

  ‘Okay. Good luck tonight.’

  ‘Thanks, Puss. Toodlepip!’ he says cheerfully, totally missing the sharpness of my tone.

  He sounds as if he can’t wait to get off the phone. And he seems in a very upbeat mood. In fact, I’m beginning to wonder if Harrison protests too much – if all the talk about being a rubbish dancer and only doing it for his mother is actually a cover for the fact that he’s developed a bit of a passion for it!

  I’m still annoyed, though.

  Surely good news about my dad is far more important than his stupid contest. It’s not as if he’s competing in Strictly Come Dancing, for goodness’ sake.

  Later, at home, I lie in bed, our conversation going round and round in my head, wishing Harrison could be a little more interested in what’s going on in my life. Because, so often, our life revolves around what he’s doing. The talk is always about his promotion and never about what I’d like to do in my career. I’m always really supportive of his hobbies, even though drain covers quite frankly bore me to tears. But I’ve made an effort to be interested because they’re his passion. Sometimes I feel that our relationship is rather one-sided.

  I’d been keen to tell him all about the letter and Alessandro. I’d thought he’d be happy for me and might even help me work out a way I could start looking for my dad. But he didn’t seem to realise what a big deal it was for me. He was off the phone in a jiffy.

  If I’d told Jed about the letter, he’d want to know more. He’d ask me questions and want to talk about it. He’d be interested because it was affecting me.

  Harrison was more interested in the dance contest.

  But then, I suppose I’ve always known that the thing Harrison is actually most interested in is – Harrison. And I don’t mean that in a nasty way. Not really. It’s just he gets so wrapped up in the things that are happening in his life, he often forgets to be interested in mine.

  I shuffle around in bed, trying to find a comfortable position but failing. There are too many jarring thoughts tumbling around inside my head for me to relax. I’m still deeply angry with Mum and now Harrison has also let me down. And on top of everything else, I keep thinking about Jed and wondering if he’s back at the cabin yet. What if he’s staying at Katerina’s tonight?

  I punch the pillow and collapse back down with a sigh. Jed’s relationship with his ex is actually none of my business and I’m annoyed at myself for stewing over it. It really doesn’t matter to me who Jed is romantically involved with, because I’m going to marry Harrison.

  Harrison is my rock; my safe harbour in a storm. Okay, he can be a bit self-obssessed at times, but we all have our little foibles. Harrison will always be there for me and, in an often harsh and uncertain world, that means everything.

  Chapter 26

  Wednesday 28 December

  Dinner menu

  Hors d’oeuvres

  (with mulled wine and fruit punch)

  ***

  Chilli con carne and jasmine rice

  ***

  Chocolate bombe

  Things are still uneasy between Mum and me.

  She’s given up trying to apologise and now seems to be in a major huff with me, which is a bit rich, really, considering that, technically, she’s an arsonist and I could probably have her arrested for tampering with my post. We step around each other all morning, being coldly polite. The idea of her having to stay here until her own house is sorted and redecorated is a total nightmare.

  Then, just before midday, Clemmy phones me in a panic. ‘Ruby’s gone missing and poor Gloria is absolutely demented with worry.’

  ‘Oh, God, that’s awful. And she hasn’t got a phone. Where on earth would she go?’

  ‘Well, Tom said she’d probably got the bus into Easingwold to look at phones. And when Jed said there are no buses from here, Tom mentioned the word ‘hitching’, which obviously sent Gloria into a state of hyper-frenzy.’ She sighs. ‘We wondered if Ruby had said anything to you about her plans?’

  ‘I’m afraid not. When did she leave?’

  ‘Some time this morning. We were all planning to go to Bob’s opening ceremony but the plan has changed. We need to look for Ruby.’

  Bob’s latest architectu
ral project, a stylish office building on the outskirts of Easingwold, was completed back in November, and I knew all about his plans to invite his associates and the local press to an opening ceremony.

  ‘Can I come with you to search for her?’ I ask, feeling Gloria’s pain and hoping Ruby is all right. (Also, Mum just passed through the hall and gave me a sly ‘daggers’ look.)

  ‘Great!’ Clemmy sounds pleased. ‘The more the merrier, Poppy. Pick you up in twenty minutes.’

  The search party arrives in Jed’s car. Calling to Mum that I won’t be too long, I hurry out to the car and peer surreptitiously inside to check who’s in there. Gloria’s sitting in the front, next to Jed, and Clemmy is in the back.

  There’s no sign of Katerina.

  My relief is instant – perhaps I won’t have to alter the quantities for tonight’s dinner after all!

  I slip into the back seat next to Clemmy and she beams at me. ‘Great news. Bob’s just phoned. Ruby’s with him at the opening ceremony, sort of as his right hand woman. Well, girl …’

  Gloria turns round in her seat. ‘She didn’t bother to tell her mother, of course. Cheeky mare just waltzes off without a single thought of how I might think she’d been murdered or something even worse!’

  ‘It’s nice she’s making an effort to get to know Bob, though,’ says Clemmy cheerfully.

  Gloria grunts. ‘True. It’s been full-scale bloody hostilities up until now. Although I can’t for the life of me think what’s softened her attitude towards Bob.’

  It does seem a little odd. Ruby has been so anti-Bob, it’s felt more than a little awkward at the cabin. Especially, I imagine, for poor Bob himself.

  ‘At least we know where she is now,’ remarks Jed who, up till now, has been silent, staring straight ahead, concentrating on the driving. He’s so tall, his hair brushes the roof of the car. I stare miserably at his big, solid shoulders. He didn’t even turn round to say hello when I got in the car. I can only assume he’s regretting our passionate clinch the day before yesterday.

  Gloria groans. ‘I just hope she isn’t planning to derail Bob’s event.’

  Jed turns. ‘It’s just a ribbon-cutting ceremony. There’s not much Ruby could do to sabotage it.’

  ‘You don’t know my daughter,’ mutters Gloria darkly.

  Clemmy raises her eyebrows at me and I grin.

  When we get to Easingwold, Jed finds the building and parks on the other side of the road. We all stare up at the stylishly modern structure with its impressive glass frontage.

  ‘Very posh.’ Gloria sounds proud of her man. ‘Wait a minute!’ She leans right across Jed to stare out of the window. ‘What’s going on? Are there people hanging off that building?’

  ‘Oh my God, you’re right,’ says Clemmy.

  We get out of the car and walk over the road towards the small crowd gathered near the entrance. Several representatives of the local press are there, training their cameras skywards.

  I screw up my eyes. ‘Looks like they’re abseiling down the building.’

  Two figures, looking like ants from this distance, are about level with the fifth floor and are moving slowly, bit by bit, down the side of the new office block.

  ‘Abseiling?’ shrieks Gloria. ‘Oh my God. Is that Bob? And Ruby?’

  She runs the last few yards, yelling, ‘Ruby? Come down this minute! You might fall!’

  ‘She’ll be fine. Don’t worry,’ Jed reassures her. ‘Bob wouldn’t cut corners when it comes to safety. There’ll be a professional crew in charge.’

  Gloria’s panic subsides a little. ‘Now I know why she didn’t tell me. She knew I’d say no if I thought she was doing something like this. But I can’t believe Bob didn’t let me know what was happening. The two of them must have been in cahoots!’ She covers her mouth. ‘Christ, she’s coming down way too fast. Slow down, Ruby!’

  Jed grins. ‘I don’t think she can hear you.’

  ‘She’s such a daredevil,’ says Clemmy admiringly. ‘You wouldn’t catch me signing up for that.’

  Gloria sighs. ‘Bob’s exactly the same. A thrill-seeker, I think you’d—’ She stops. Then her mouth curves slowly up into a smile. ‘The clever bugger! He’d have known Ruby couldn’t say no to an extreme sport. I think he might just have played a blinder there.’

  *

  The gang at the Log Fire Cabin have decided to have a hot-tub party tonight.

  When we get back from Easingwold, I call Erin to ask if she wants to come food shopping with me. I’m going to serve lots of little savoury nibbles to soak up the mulled wine and, specially for Ruby, a non-alcoholic hot spiced punch.

  ‘Yeah, great,’ she says, sounding totally lacklustre. ‘A party at the cabin sounds way more exciting than anything happening in my flat.’

  We end up buying quite a lot of booze for the drinks and I put Erin in charge of making the mulled wine and the punch to try and cheer her up.

  ‘Do you think we’ve bought enough alcohol?’ Erin asks, on the drive over to the cabin. ‘These party drinks need to pack a punch.’

  ‘Hey, you won’t be drinking them, so don’t even think about it! They’re for the client and his dinner guests!’

  She frowns. ‘I know. I’m just saying. You want this party to be memorable, don’t you?’

  I laugh. ‘It will hopefully be memorable because of the delicious food, not because they all have massive hangovers the next day. Anyway, if we run short, there’s always the alcohol left over from the vodka lemon chicken we made the other night.’

  ‘Oh, yes. You lost the lid, didn’t you?’

  I nod. ‘Decanted it into another bottle. It’s in one of the cupboards.’

  ‘Righto, boss.’ She grins. ‘By the way, can you manage a night at the cabin on your own? I don’t mean tonight. It’s the day after tomorrow. Mark and I are having a special meal.’

  ‘Oh. What’s the occasion?’

  ‘No occasion,’ she says gruffly. ‘I think we both just feel we need to talk. Spend some quality time together …’

  I wince inwardly. Sounds ominous. ‘Your idea?’

  ‘No. His, amazingly.’ She frowns. ‘Maybe he’s feeling guilty for working late so often.’

  I decide to broach the subject of their relationship with her later – to find out how Erin’s feeling about everything – because talking things out can often work wonders. But as it happens, we barely have time to draw breath, we’re so busy in the kitchen. We’re making four different types of hors d’oeuvres to serve with Erin’s mulled wine and punch, before everyone sits down for the big pot of chilli con carne I’ve made for the main course, and the chocolate bombe for dessert.

  I cast a last eye over the two big platters of nibbles before we take them out. ‘They look so tempting,’ says Erin. ‘Let’s hope they eat loads to soak up the alcohol. When I went out there with more of the punch, they were all quite merry already, and it’s not even eight o’clock yet. Gloria seems to be on the Baileys, drinking it by the half pint!’

  ‘Bloody hell. Let’s get these eats out. Then we can serve the chilli in half an hour.’

  Everything seems to be going down well, and when Erin returns with the main-course plates, she has a special request from Gloria.

  ‘She wants dessert in the hot tub.’

  I eye the ultra-squidgy chocolate bombe and shake my head. ‘I can’t see it mixing with the steam, can you? It would be a disaster.’

  The door opens and Jed comes in.

  Our eyes meet and my heart does a giant lurch.

  ‘Ignore Gloria.’ He runs a hand through his hair and grins. ‘She’s halfway down a bottle of Baileys and has lost all sense. We’ll have dessert at the table, I think. Then Gloria and Ruby can dive into the hot tub afterwards.’

  ‘Ooh, lovely!’ says Erin.

  ‘You’re welcome to use it yourselves, if you like,’ offers Jed, smiling at Erin. He flicks his eyes across at me and I glance down at my feet. I presume I’m included in the invitation, even th
ough he was pointedly talking to Erin. ‘The hot tub’s all ready. I’ve even put candles around it,’ he adds, to no one in particular.

  ‘Well, I’d have been up for it,’ says Erin after he’s gone. ‘If I’d brought a swimming costume. The cooks definitely deserve some fun.’

  ‘It wouldn’t be very professional, though, would it?’ And I’m not sure I want to stick around, only to be ignored by Jed.

  ‘Spoilsport!’

  Erin takes in dessert then we start clearing up the kitchen, humming along to Christmas songs on the radio. When the door bursts open, my heart leaps, thinking it’s Jed. But when I turn, it’s only Clemmy. ‘Oh God, that chocolate bombe was absolute heaven,’ she says. ‘You really are a genius, Poppy! Well, both of you!’

  Erin grins. ‘Thanks, Clemmy. But she’s the genius. I’m the dogsbody.’

  ‘You make a mean mulled wine, though. I don’t suppose there’s any more?’ Clemmy’s eyes are extra-sparkling and her cheeks are flushed. I think she might have drunk quite a lot of it herself.

  ‘Erin?’ I glance across.

  Erin salutes. ‘On it, boss.’ She smiles at Clemmy. ‘I’ll make it a good ’un.’

  ‘Brilliant! Oh, by the way, we’re playing Truth or Dare and we need more people. Will you come and join in?’

  She sees my hesitation. ‘Please, Poppy. It’ll be great fun.’

  I think about the frosty atmosphere back at home. I’ve no real desire to get back until Mum’s safely out of the way, in bed. So, I give in and smile my agreement.

  Clemmy whoops and rushes out of the kitchen. ‘I’ll drag Gloria and Ruby out of the hot tub!’

  In the living room, everyone is lying about on the sofas or the floor. Clemmy and Ryan shuffle along their sofa to make space for Erin, and I sit on the floor, leaning against the arm.

  Jed, who’s lounging directly opposite me in one of the armchairs, rubs his hands together. ‘Right, who’s going to start?’

  Eventually, it’s decided that Tom will go first. He opts for a dare.

  ‘Ooh, I’ve got a brilliant one,’ smirks Ruby. ‘Tom, you have to phone Charlotte up and ask her out.’

  Tom turns as white as the baby grand piano. ‘No way.’