Season's Meetings

by Amy Dunne

  “What about Kimmy?” Catherine asked, in a noticeably higher pitch than normal. Her arousal rocketed.

  “She’s had breakfast and been for a walk. I’m pretty certain if given one of her Christmas treats, she’ll happily settle in her crate.”

  “Shall I meet you in there?”

  “Sounds like a plan, sexy.” Holly planted a tap on Catherine’s bottom.

  “Ouch.” Catherine glared in accusation while rubbing her bruised buttock tenderly.

  “Shit!” Holly tried not to laugh. “I totally forgot about it. I’m sorry.”

  “Why am I always making an arse out of myself in front of you? I’m the butt of all your jokes.” Catherine flashed a cheesy smile and pulled Holly close.

  “I see what you did there.” Holly smiled. “Smooth.”

  “Honestly, I’m not usually so accident prone. I think there’s something about you that makes me lose concentration.”

  “And balance?” Holly shook her head. “Sorry, sweetheart. It’s all your own doing.”

  “I think you might be a bad influence.”

  “Oh, I’m a very bad influence,” Holly said, her tone low and seductive. “But it was only a gentle tap. You’re being a wimp.”

  “So I get no sympathy whatsoever?” Catherine pouted. “My backside is black and blue.”

  “I know it is. I’ve seen it up close and personal.” Holly leant in close and whispered in Catherine’s ear, “You weren’t complaining when I did the exact same thing last night. Were you?” She teasingly nibbled on Catherine’s earlobe.

  “That’s…beside the point,” Catherine said hoarsely.

  “As I recall, that was one of the points you particularly enjoyed.”

  Face burning, Catherine accepted defeat. “My bruised backside and I will be waiting in the bath.”

  *

  By the time they’d finally left the bath, Catherine’s skin had shrivelled like a prune. Holly left her to wait for the food delivery. She’d stuck her head back around the door and made Catherine promise she’d wear one of the Christmas jumpers. Apparently, they were going to take a Christmas portrait photo and email it to Holly’s family. Still weak-kneed and fuzzy, Catherine was in no fit state to consider arguing.

  The time had come to brave putting on the expensive earrings Holly had gotten her. After a bit of a struggle, she finally removed the plain studs. The silver earrings were undeniably pretty, but she wasn’t sure they’d suit her. They slipped in easily with no discomfort.

  Stepping back from the mirror, Catherine scrutinised her reflection carefully. After turning her head a few times and accepting it would take a while to get used to having something dangling from each lobe, she decided she liked the way they looked on her. They made her look more feminine, possibly a little bit more attractive. She doubted she’d be able to sleep in them, but she could always put the studs back in.

  Dressed in everything but a top, she ended up choosing the green woollen jumper with the freaky-looking Rudolph on the front. As she went to pull it over her head she spotted something white and puzzling. On closer inspection the label revealed a whole host of information. The jumper was to be washed on a woollen setting, no tumble drying, and most importantly it was made in China for a clothing company. After quickly pulling the jumper on, she searched another jumper and found an identical label. “Handmade my arse,” she said, bemused. She left in search of Holly and found her lighting the fire in the living room. After providing a few tummy tickles for Kimmy, Catherine sat on the sofa.

  “I chose the green jumper,” she said conversationally.

  Holly smiled, and gave a nod. “Good choice. Those earrings look great. They suit you. Do you like them?”

  “Yes, I really like them.”

  “Good.” Holly turned back to the fire to add some more logs.

  “How long did it take you to knit this jumper?”

  Holly shrugged. “I honestly couldn’t say.”

  “Do you know what I’m really impressed with?” Catherine asked and watched as Holly blew the embers. “Your dedication.” She waited for Holly to respond, but she didn’t. “I mean, going all the way to China to make it. That’s true dedication to a craft.”

  Holly spun around and had the decency to blush. “You looked like you were getting hypothermia, and I could tell by your expression you were going to be too pigheaded to wear them. My only option was to guilt-trip you. I did it for your own good.”

  Catherine folded her arms and tutted loudly. “You admit you lied and tricked me into wearing this monstrosity.”

  “I did,” Holly said. “But it was a tiny white lie for your own good.”

  “That’s not the point.”

  “Come on. You’ve lied to me, too.”

  “No, I haven’t.” Catherine puffed out her chest and folded her arms. Holly looked suitably smug and so she asked, “When have I lied to you?”

  “Yesterday at breakfast, I asked if you liked the mushrooms and you said yes.” Holly flicked her hair from her eyes.

  Shit! Okay, so she’d told a lie, but it was only so as not to insult Holly’s cooking or hurt her feelings.

  “You’re not denying it, then?” Holly asked in an infuriating cheery tone.

  How did Holly even know? She thought she’d masked her dislike of them pretty well. She’d even eaten the ones Holly had scraped onto her plate. “You knew and yet you deliberately gave me more of yours, too?” Catherine asked, both appalled and amused by the sly trickery.

  “Of course I knew. I can read you like an open book, Catherine. You were practically holding your breath with every forkful and then grimacing after each swallow.”

  “Then why give me more?”

  “Because you should’ve been honest with me.”

  “So you punished me?” Catherine asked.

  “No. Well, maybe,” Holly said, shrugging. “I honestly didn’t think you’d eat them. I tried to call your bluff. I figured as soon as I gave you mine, you’d tell me the truth. Only you didn’t.”

  Catherine pouted. “I didn’t want to be rude or hurt your feelings.”

  Holly came over and knelt in front of her. “That’s sweet, honey. But it’s more important to me you’re honest about things. You nearly ended up with them for breakfast today.”

  Catherine gasped. “You’re evil.”

  Holly chuckled. “I suppose I am. Look, I’m sorry for telling the tiny white lie about the jumpers. I did have your best interests in mind. I also apologise for feeding you some of my mushrooms, even when I suspected you weren’t keen.”

  “I detest them.” Catherine gave a dramatic shudder.

  “How about we make a pact to only tell the truth from now on?” Holly presented her hand to shake on the deal.

  “Okay.” Catherine shook her hand.

  A loud knocking sounded on the front door and Kimmy erupted into a rampage of aggressive barks and growls.

  “Do you forgive me, then?” Holly fluttered her eyelashes.

  “Only if I don’t have to wear this jumper.”

  “Nice try. That’s not going to happen,” Holly said. She got to her feet and smiled. “But I promise never to feed you mushrooms ever again.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  The meal was delicious and the portion sizes were overly generous. They only managed to eat the soup and main course. The pudding, cheese, and biscuits would make a perfect supper later on.

  Holly washed and Catherine dried the dishes in domesticated bliss. It seemed so normal, as if they’d been doing it forever. After they’d cleaned up, Catherine insisted Holly sit on the sofa and then she revealed the third and final surprise. She connected her tablet to the TV, and in no time at all, the opening credits to the film It’s a Wonderful Life rolled on the screen.

  “You’ve literally thought of everything,” Holly said in disbelief.

  “I even got us popcorn, too, if you fancy it?”

  “I’m filled to the brim, so I’ll have to pass.”

/>   “Phew. Me too.” Catherine dropped onto the sofa and wriggled around until she was comfortable. She ended up resting her head on Holly’s lap.

  “This has been the best Christmas ever.” Holly placed a kiss on Catherine’s forehead. “Thank you so much, darling.”

  Catherine forced a smile and kept her eyes on the screen. The entire day had been perfect, and she was already mourning its loss. The looming conversation with Beth and Katie in a little while filled her with dread. It was a reminder this little piece of heaven would soon be over.

  *

  The film was good, in a way that makes you cry loads and re-evaluate your pathetic existence. Unfortunately, it only added to Catherine’s growing melancholy. She didn’t want to go to Beth’s, and she didn’t want to go back to London. She wanted to stay with Holly and Kimmy in their little cabin forever.

  It took a few failed attempts to work out the camera’s timer setting, but eventually they got a few decent Christmas photos of them together holding Kimmy while standing by the tree and fireplace. Catherine insisted they use her phone, claiming the camera was better. It was better, but the main reason for her insistence was, she wanted to keep the photos. She continued taking pictures and videos of Holly and Kimmy up until the point where Holly teasingly complained she felt like she was being hounded by the paparazzi. They chose the nicest three and emailed them to Holly’s parents.

  At five o’clock, the time came to speak to Beth and Katie. Before their conversation began, Holly and she agreed not to mention their relationship was anything other than platonic. In its own right, it raised the issue of what their relationship actually was, but the call came through, saving them by the bell. It’d be a conversation they’d have to face at some point soon, and Catherine wasn’t sure how it would pan out.

  Catherine had a long catch-up with a super-chatty Florence, which cheered her spirits. She showed Catherine all—as in every single one—of the toys Santa had gotten her. Then showed the presents from everyone else. Although she garbled on about the pirate ship, her favourite gift by far was a pair of SpongeBob SquarePants wellies, which she refused to take off. Catherine showed her own Christmas wellies, and they spent five minutes talking about why wellies were so good.

  When Catherine pointed the camera at Kimmy, Florence became obsessed. It took seven attempts to get her to realise Kimmy was actually a girl dog and her name wasn’t Bob.

  “Is Kimmy coming to visit, Aunty Cat?” Florence asked.

  Catherine opened her mouth to reply, but fortunately, Beth interrupted.

  “Florence, go and help Mummy Katie in the kitchen.” After an initial bout of sulking, the promise of chocolate was enough to pacify Florence into leaving the room. “Right. How are you both getting on?” Beth asked, getting straight to the point as always.

  “Great,” Holly said.

  “Fine,” Catherine said.

  “Good. I’m glad to hear it. Catherine, do you mind if I talk to Holly for a bit?”

  “No.” Catherine minded a lot. Her paranoia increased tenfold. She moved away from the tablet, but hovered within earshot.

  “Holly, are you okay? Is there anything you want to tell us?” Beth asked, her tone serious.

  Catherine struggled to breathe. Why would Beth ask that? Did she suspect something? The only miniscule positive was that Holly was taking the brunt of the questioning, not her.

  Holly laughed easily. “Like what?”

  “Anything. How did you sleep?”

  Catherine gasped. That was a loaded question if ever she heard one. Beth was definitely up to something. She tried to gesture to Holly to warn her, but Holly paid no attention.

  “I slept fine. How about you guys?” Holly made herself comfortable on the sofa. She looked cool, calm, and collected.

  “Not great. It doesn’t help that Katie is so hyperactive. It’s like having two overly excited children on Christmas Eve. She barely slept, which meant I didn’t sleep. Out of all of us, I think Florence got nearly the full eight hours.”

  “Katie’s always been immature.” Holly blobbed her tongue out when Katie shouted something in the background.

  “Next year, I’m going to drug her—Katie I mean, not Florence. So, what have you been up to?” Beth asked, a little too casually for Catherine’s liking.

  “We’ve just taken the last few days easy. We had Christmas dinner here and then watched a film.”

  “How are you finding being alone with Cat?”

  Catherine folded her arms and shot an evil glare into the back of the tablet. What was that question supposed to mean?

  “I’m enjoying our time here. She’s very funny.”

  “Funny? We are talking about Cat, right?” Beth asked.

  “I heard that!” Catherine said, unable to refrain from responding.

  “We’re talking about you, not to you. Go away. I’ll get to you in a minute. Holly?”

  Holly shot Catherine an apologetic look before glancing back at the screen. “Yes, Beth.”

  “Ignore her for a minute. What I wanted to say is, if she comes across as rude or impersonal, she doesn’t mean anything by it. It’s just how she is.”

  “She’s been friendly and ni—” Holly said before Catherine snatched the tablet out of her hands.

  “I’m not impersonal or rude,” Catherine said hotly. “Why are you asking her all of these stupid questions?”

  Beth glared at her from the screen. “They’re not stupid. I want to check she’s okay. No offence, but you’re hardly the easiest person to get along with.”

  Catherine glared back. “Offence very much taken. If I’m such a difficult person, why did you insist I join you for Christmas in the first place? Huh?”

  Beth scowled. “Because you’re my best friend. I’m used to your unique ways. Hell, I lived with them for a year. But inflicting them on someone who—”

  Before Beth could finish or Catherine could verbally explode, Katie’s face filled the whole screen. Loud shuffling could be heard as she fought for control. “Whoa. It’s the season of good will and all that. Cat, what my darling wife is trying to say, but failing spectacularly at doing so because she has zero tact, is that we miss you. We wanted you to spend Christmas with us because we love you and your quirky ways. Please don’t get offended. She means well.”

  Beth appeared back on the screen and had the decency to look somewhat guilty. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I don’t say things in quite the right way. You of all people should appreciate that. Anyway, we do love you. You’re as much a member of our family as Holly is. We wanted to celebrate today with both of you. I’m just snarky because I’m tired and my plans went to sh—rubbish.”

  Catherine sighed. “Okay. Should I pass you back?”

  “No. I want to catch up with you. Have you explored the village?”

  “Yeah,” Catherine said. She sat on the sofa, wishing she’d never interrupted Beth and Holly’s conversation. “It’s nice. Everyone’s friendly.”

  “Any single lesbians?”

  Catherine’s cheeks burned. “Seriously? We nearly died in a car crash, and you’re only interested in whether there are single lesbians? Nice priorities.”

  “Methinks you doth protest too much.” Beth arched an eyebrow. “Has someone caught your fancy? They have. I know that expression, Cat. Who is it? What does she look like? She’s not ginger, is she? You know what happened with Paula.”

  “You’re ridiculous.” Catherine was dying a slow and painful death.

  “Holly?” Beth said loudly. “Holly, come back a minute.”

  Holly appeared behind the sofa and rested her hands near Catherine’s shoulders. The slightest touch from Holly’s fingertips made Catherine flinch and scoot forward.

  “Yes?” Holly asked.

  “For the love of all that’s good in the world, don’t, under any circumstances, let her fall for anyone. Seriously. She has the most horrendous taste in women. The last one was a psychopath and Cat had a lucky escape. I remain convinced
that if they’d stayed together, we’d have ended up finding Cat’s body buried beneath the patio. I know you don’t know her, but I expect you to keep her safe. Okay?”

  “Sure,” Holly said, her tone straining to remain light.

  “Good. The same goes for you, too. Family looks after one another. I’ll be relieved when you’re finally up here so I can keep my eye on you,” Beth said.

  Catherine felt nauseous. Quite clearly, Beth didn’t have a clue that anything was going on between Holly and her. The prying questions had been to uncover whether Catherine was being pleasant toward Holly, instead of her usual grumpy self. She got the distinct impression Beth felt sorry for Holly.

  It was obvious that Beth had never intended to set them up as an item. She considered them both family. Catherine had broken her promise and there would no doubt be hell to pay.

  After suffering another torturous twenty minutes of inquisition, they finally said good-bye, with the promise of seeing each other in two days’ time. Guilt and dread burrowed deep into Catherine’s heart. She had no idea what she was going to do.

  “I don’t think she tried to set us up after all,” Holly said while stroking Kimmy. “She also doesn’t think very highly of your taste in women. At least we’ll be able to prove her wrong on this occasion. I can’t wait to see their faces when we tell them. Do you want a cup of tea?”

  Catherine shook her head. She didn’t trust herself to speak.

  *

  During supper and the many card games they played, Holly seemed to sense something wasn’t quite right. She asked outright, twice, if Catherine was okay. Both times Catherine said yes and the awkwardness remained.

  “Right, I give up. Thank you for showing me how to play and then repeatedly kicking my arse. I appreciate that you didn’t feel the need to go gentle on me and let me win even once,” Holly said, stifling a yawn.

  “Granny Birch’s ruthlessness obviously rubbed off on me. You nearly had me on the last few games though.” Catherine fought back a yawn.

  “We agreed to tell the truth.” Holly smiled. “I was useless.” She stood and stretched her arms above her head. “I’ll sort Kimmy out. You may as well go ahead and get ready for bed.”