Charis

by Francis, Mary

  They were due to arrive at Willow Bend before lunch on Christmas Eve so they gave their presents to each other the evening before. Ben arrived home from the hospital, they ate dinner, cleaned up the kitchen, and then opened their gifts and were both delighted with the other's thoughtfulness. Of course, Charis had to wear her new negligee and nightie when she got ready for bed, and of course, she looked very beautiful in it. But Ben had been right – it spent the night on the floor.

  *****

  Christmas Eve in London was cold, grey and cloudy, promising rain, if not snow, so Ben and Charis were not sorry to be leaving and heading for the country. After a quick breakfast they put their suitcases in the boot and headed for Hampshire and Willow Bend, the clouds disappearing and the sun shining again as they drove further south and west.

  Once more Emily must have been watching for them because as they climbed from the car she had opened the front door and was running down the steps, arms outstretched. Charis received the first hug, as Ben was retrieving their luggage from the boot. Charis carried their beautifully wrapped gifts, the children's names prominently displayed, but, as instructed, not the name of the donor. Giles was waiting in the doorway and gave Charis a warm hug, slapped his son affectionately on his shoulder, and took one of the cases from him to carry upstairs.

  They were the first to arrive, and as Jennifer had gone into Winchester to do some last minute shopping, as soon as they had their belongings settled in Ben's old room they went downstairs to give their present to Emily and Giles. Sitting around the table in the big, welcoming kitchen, with a steaming cup of coffee for Giles and Emily and hot chocolate for Charis and Ben, Ben took the envelope that contained the cruise tickets out of his pocket to give to his parents.

  “Mum, Dad,” he began. “You have spent your whole married lives caring for all of us…never thinking of yourselves…spending all your time, effort and money on us children…giving us all not only an idyllic childhood, but good manners, ethics and education as well, and never asked for anything in return. We’ll never be able to repay you or thank you enough, but Charis and I want you to have this,” and he handed the packet to his mother.

  She immediately began to protest.

  “No!” Ben said. “Not part of our family gift giving. Just something you deserve for being the best parents any child could ever have.”

  Emily opened the envelope and out fell the tickets. Her eyes filled with tears as she passed them over to Giles. “You really shouldn't have,” she began.

  “Yes, we should,” Ben interrupted. “Nothing is too good for you…for either of you. We want you to go and have the kind of holiday you've needed for years; just the two of you to get away from everything, relax and refresh yourselves. It's really not much you know, only two weeks, but we hope you enjoy yourselves. Have a second honeymoon.”

  Emily laughed through her tears. “We never had a first you know – we already had four children between us when we got married – it will be the first holiday we’ve ever had, with just the two of us.”

  “Well, good,” said Ben, smiling at her. “Go and have your first honeymoon then.” And he added, “It's not for another ten weeks though.”

  “That should be just enough time for your mother to organise herself,” said Giles, teasing his wife, but he looked very emotional, as though he couldn't really trust himself to speak.

  Charis knew that the memory of that Christmas would stay in her mind and her heart forever.

  By the evening, not only was Jennifer home from her shopping expedition, but Simon and Lorraine, and Amelia and Charles had arrived, too. Elizabeth and Adrian and their families would join them on Christmas Day, as the children had to be at home for Father Christmas to come and fill their stockings. Jennifer was disappointed that David couldn't be with them, but he was working and had to visit his parents. He’d be joining them on Boxing Day.

  After dinner they all went down to their little village church for an evening carol service and sang all the wonderful traditional Christmas carols and listened to the Christmas story read from the King James Bible, then returned home to have warm mince pies and listen to their favourite Christmas CDs.

  Breakfast on Christmas Day was at nine. The family sat around the big kitchen table and had ham and cheese omelettes with toast and juice. Just after ten o’clock the rest of the family joined them; Elizabeth and Hugh arriving first with their three boys, closely followed by Adrian and Felicity and their little girls. And at eleven o'clock they gathered in the living room by the Christmas tree in the big bay window and Emily handed out all the gifts. Soon the children were running around playing, making a noise and getting into all sorts of mischief, so Giles suggested that some of them might like to go outside for a short walk before dinner. It was cold but the sun was shining, so they bundled up the children in their warm winter clothes and Jennifer, Adrian, Simon, Charles, Giles and Ben got ready to go with them when Ben noticed that Lorraine wasn't with them.

  “Where's Lorraine?” he asked Simon quietly.

  “She's gone to lie down,” Simon answered. “She's not feeling too chipper today.”

  “When is she due?”

  “About six weeks.”

  “So she's at 34 weeks.” It was more of a statement than a question.

  Simon nodded.

  “Would you like me to take a look at her?” Ben asked.

  “I think she's just tired, but it would relieve my mind, if you don’t mind.”

  Simon and Ben decided not to join the group going for a walk but went up to see Lorraine instead. Emily, Elizabeth, Felicity, Amelia and Charis made their way to the kitchen to help finish preparing dinner and setting the dining room table.

  Everyone was hungry by the time dinner was served. The table was decorated with miniature Christmas trees and candles and there was so much food Charis thought it would take the entire week to eat it all. The children were calmer since their stint in the fresh air and sat eating quietly. Lorraine had joined them, feeling a little better after her rest. Ben had given her a simple examination and talked to her, and was able to reassure Simon that everything seemed to be fine but if he was still worried after Christmas, she should most definitely check with her midwife or obstetrician.

  Once everyone had eaten their fill of turkey, roast pork, bread sauce, stuffing and a large assortment of vegetables, Emily and Elizabeth carried in the Christmas pudding, brandy poured over the top, lit and burning brightly. The children sat in awe as they watched the flames. Jugs of custard and cream were placed on the table to accompany it, or for those who felt too full to eat the pudding, a trifle instead.

  It was the custom in the Covington household that since the women did all the preparation and the cooking, the men cleared away and washed the dishes, or at least got them ready for the dishwasher. Once Giles thought they'd sat around the table long enough, he shooed the women and children out and organised the clean up among the menfolk. By three o'clock it was all finished and everyone was sitting in front of the television to watch the Queen's Christmas message.

  It was late afternoon before Elizabeth and Hugh left. They had the furthest to travel and their boys were getting tired and quarrelsome. Hugh was a dentist and had a practice in Bournemouth but they lived near Lyndhurst in the New Forest, so as soon as everyone had their fill of sandwiches and Christmas cake they decided it was time to get their cranky children home and to bed. Adrian and Felicity left soon afterwards, Lucy having already fallen asleep. It had been a long but happy day for the little ones.

  The family party now well depleted, the remaining family sat around the big log fire in the living room and watched a favourite DVD - A Christmas Carol. By the time the film had finished Simon said he was taking his wife up to bed, as she was tired. Ben thought she was looking strained so he told Simon that he'd like to come and take a proper look at her as soon as she was in bed.

  “I don't think you need to be worried,” he told Simon. “But it’s best to make sure.” He we
nt up to his own room to collect his medical bag, which he always had with him. He re-appeared half an hour later and told them all that the baby seemed fine but Lorraine was extremely tired. He thought a good night's sleep was all she needed.

  *****

  Boxing Day arrived and Jennifer was glued to the window…waiting…watching for David to pull up. It was nearly eleven before his car appeared in the driveway and by then she had driven them all mad with her constant comments, “I wish he was here,” “I hope he's not been in an accident,” and “He should be here by now,” or “I wish he'd hurry up and get here,” “I hope he hasn't changed his mind about coming,” and on and on until Giles said, “Jennifer! Calm down or go to your room or for a walk or something. You're giving us all a headache.” Naturally, everyone was highly relieved when they heard the sound of a car arriving and Jennifer ran out to meet David.

  Ben put his arm around Charis and whispered to her, “I think we were really lucky that our courtship, if you can call it that, was so short and sweet. We didn't have time for all this messing around.”

  She looked up at him and smiled. “Yes,” she said. “It was just perfect for us – I wouldn't have had it any other way. Well, after the first few hours anyway. I was so…so very afraid before you came.”

  He held her close and kissed her. “But I came and I will never let you be afraid again.”

  Should I tell him? Is there anything that he could do? she thought. There haven’t been any messages lately…and I haven’t seen him since…maybe it's stopped. Maybe? Please, God, please let it be stopped. But she never said anything out loud.

  Jennifer and David came in together, Jennifer beaming. “Everybody,” she said. “We have an announcement to make. David and I are going to get married.”

  David quickly added, looking at Giles, “I'm sorry, sir. She kind of jumped the gun. I told her I needed to ask your permission but she wouldn't have it.”

  Giles smiled and said, “You have my permission young man, and my blessing. Her mother and I have seen this coming and we heartily approve. Congratulations, both of you.”

  There were smiles and hugs and kisses all around until Emily asked, “Do you have any wedding plans yet?”

  “Not really,” said Jennifer. “But we're thinking Easter.”

  Emily and Giles looked at each other. “When is Easter this year?” asked Emily.

  No one seemed too sure until David said, “I think it’s early April.”

  “Well, that's a relief,” said Emily.

  “Why?” Jennifer wanted to know.

  “Well, your father and I are going away,” and she glanced at Ben who shook his head, so she changed what she had been going to say and said instead, “We have this opportunity to go on a cruise in March…we have the tickets already. It'll be the first holiday we've ever had…just the two of us.”

  “Oh, how wonderful for you! I'm so pleased,” exclaimed Jennifer. “And we can decide on the exact date later. We can have all the arrangements made before you go. We don't want a big fancy wedding anyway. Not like Elizabeth or Amelia.”

  Lunch turned into a celebration and then Jennifer had to phone her sisters to tell them her news, as Amelia and Charles had left earlier in the day to spend some time with his parents in Winchester.

  *****

  Christmas was over and everyone returned home. Life quickly returned to normal for Charis and Ben. He had to work over the New Year holiday and the weekend either side, although he was only on call then, but several times an emergency came up and subsequently, Charis didn't see as much of him as she would like. As the Music Academy's new term had not yet started, she had time on her hands, so she was glad when Jennifer came up to London to spend some time with David and stayed with Charis and Ben as usual. It gave the two girls time together.

  It had been a long time since they'd had any ‘girlie’ chats and now that Jennifer and David were getting married there was much to discuss. They laughed and planned and talked until finally Jennifer asked about Cairo. Charis had been hoping that the subject wouldn't come up because she didn't know what to tell her. Jennifer had been her best friend for years and her only confidant. Charis wouldn't be able to lie to her, or even tell half-truths as Ben had managed to do when he explained away their quick courtship and marriage.

  So, reluctantly at first, she told Jennifer about Henry's e-mail and the plane ticket and how she'd arrived in Cairo and was taken to Ravi's house.

  “And that's where I met Ben again,” she said. “He was visiting his cousin and I was waiting for Henry,” hoping that would be the end of it.

  But then Jennifer asked, “And you met up again and decided to get married just like that?”

  “Well no, not exactly,” Charis admitted, her hands fidgeting in her lap.

  “What then?”

  “Oh, Jen! It was so complicated. It would take far too long to go into all the ramifications.”

  “We've got all afternoon,” Jennifer replied with a smile. “The men are both working and won't be back for ages yet. And besides, you've got me really curious now.”

  There was a long pause while Charis tried to gather her thoughts and decide what to say. It seemed to her the truth was best course…the whole truth.

  “Well, it was actually all very sordid. I shouldn't have trusted Henry. I knew I shouldn't but I went anyway and it was horrible.” The memories were still so fresh. All the feelings and emotions came flooding back…like a dam had broken. “When I got to Ravi's house I found out that Henry had sold me. Sold me! Ravi had purchased me for his friends to use for sex. So I decided to kill myself and then Ben was there and he...” She felt the tears…she was beginning to cry, so she had to stop talking for a minute, bite her lip and get control of herself again.

  Jennifer's eyes were wide with a mixture of horror and disbelief. “You're making this up!” she exclaimed.

  Charis wiped her eyes. “I wish I was,” she whispered. “I was so lucky that Ben was supposed to be the first to have me. He was so kind and promised to bring me home no matter what Ravi said or did. I always did love him, you know. He wanted to leave and get another room, but I begged him to stay. I was so terrified about what would happen to me. So he stayed and he was wonderful.”

  “Charis, I don't know what to say. No wonder you don't talk about it.”

  “No, you're the only one I've told. I think Ben told some of this to your mother, but no one else knows, so please don't repeat it to anyone.”

  “Of course not,” she promised. “But Charis, you were always so afraid of sex. And you slept with Ben anyway?”

  Charis nodded. “Yes, and he was like the handsome Prince Charming in all the fairy tales. He was so kind and thoughtful. I knew I was safe with him and he made me feel very special…like I was someone very precious,” she managed a smile. “We spent the most wonderful two days together and we fell completely in love with each other. And when I found out who he really was, I couldn't believe how lucky I was.”

  “You didn't know it was Ben?”

  “No, how could I? I didn't know your brother was only a half-brother and the other half was an Arab prince, did I? He spoke Arabic to me and introduced himself as Prince Ali Ben Yousef el Hussein. I knew he looked just like your brother, my Ben, but I thought that was a coincidence. And he didn't know me. He hadn’t known me as Charis and I'd changed quite a lot over the past few years. After all, I was only sixteen the last time he saw me.”

  “So when did you find out who he was?”

  “When he asked me to marry him. I turned him down because I said I couldn't marry a prince and live in the Middle East. That's when I found out he was Dr. Ben Sinclair, which still didn't help much because I'd always thought of him as Ben Covington!”

  Jennifer was quiet for a few minutes, trying to digest everything that she’d just heard. Then she asked, “When did he know who you were?”

  “On the very first day! I told him some things about me and mentioned my friend from school, you
, so he knew then, but he didn't tell me.”

  “Well, that wasn't very fair of him!”

  “That's what I thought,” Charis smiled at the memory. “But when I asked him why he said it was because he was already in love with me by then and he wanted me to love him for who he was now, not for my memories of him.”

  “It really is a very romantic story,” sighed Jennifer. “Started off horrible and ended up 'happily ever after'.”

  “I like to think so.”

  “What a bastard Henry was. I bet you're glad he's out of your life now.”

  “Umm, yes,” Charis all but stuttered. Only the day before had another note been pushed through the door. This one had really upset her. No, not upset her. It had terrified her. I will get you again. I will have you, it said. She was almost hysterical for some time before reason took over and she was able to get herself back to almost normal again. Now she looked at Jennifer and said, “I really hope he is, out of my life for good, that is.”

  When Ben came home he thought Jennifer was looking at him rather strangely. “Is something wrong with me?” he asked her.

  “No, nothing. I've just never thought of you as a romantic figure before.”

  Ben laughed. “You're joking,” he said. “One thing I'm definitely not is romantic.”

  “Well, I think what you did for Charis in Cairo is very romantic,” she retorted.