One Christmas Kiss in Notting Hill

by Mandy Baggot

  Yeah, Chase had said that and his perceptive assistant had straight off picked up on it. What should he do? Did he spin her something like he would ordinarily do to anyone asking him something personal? Or did he tell her the truth? She had been open when he’d inquired about Hannah’s accident. She’d been pretty open about everything …

  He started. ‘I … we …’

  Then his cell phone erupted into life and Leanna’s face flashed on to the screen for everyone to see.

  ‘It’s Mommy!’ Maddie exclaimed, sounding highly delighted.

  Chase’s gaze went to Brooke. ‘So, before I pick up, give me the heads up: is there anything inappropriate you’ve posted on Instagram?’

  ‘Oh, so right away you think I’ve done something!’ Brooke exclaimed.

  ‘Well, no, I—’

  ‘I’ve been with you all day hearing about the Traitors’ Gate and the Bloody Tower and having my photo taken with King Kong! When would I have time to post anything on Insta?’

  ‘Is everything okay with the food?’

  It was the sweet, tiny Asian woman who had served them their exquisite feast. And his phone was still ringing.

  ‘Yes, thank you, Geeta, it was delicious as always,’ Isla answered. ‘How is Iqbal? We never see him now he’s full-time in that kitchen.’

  ‘What can I say?’ the woman replied. ‘Times are tight. We cannot afford to employ any extra help on week days.’

  This could be an intriguing conversation. As lovely as this restaurant was, if the owners were struggling to make ends meet … Breekers planned to offer residents a not insignificant sum of money to leave their premises. Money was always welcome and he was sure they would see it as an opportunity. A chance to start again somewhere else in the city maybe? Perhaps the unusual, off-beat independents weren’t having it so good after all. Maybe, if he did manage to nail down this area as the final site for the village, it would come as somewhat of a relief to business owners who were struggling. As cosy and eclectic as it all was, perhaps everyone was missing the point, deluded by kitsch and not taking into account the real point of business: profitability. And if you weren’t profitable, couldn’t make a decent living, what was the point of clinging on? It was time for some of that new history. Just like they’d been talking about.

  ‘Are you not gonna answer Mommy?’ Maddie asked.

  ‘Yes,’ Chase answered. ‘Sure.’ He stood then, picking up the cell and moving away from the table before he answered. ‘Hey.’

  ‘Hey?’ came the reply. ‘I’ve called you six times today. We agreed you would check in, Chase. That was the basis of our arrangement. The reason I let you take the girls to London.’

  ‘I had no idea you’d called.’ He hadn’t really looked at his phone since … was it really since they had left Breekers’ offices? ‘We’ve been—’

  ‘You don’t have to tell me where you’ve been. I know where you’ve been.’ She drew in a breath. ‘This is from Brooke’s Twitter last night … So freakin’ bored. And yesterday Seen one office, seen them all #London.’

  Chase closed his eyes.

  ‘You’re working all day and all night again, aren’t you?’ Leanna yelled. ‘This isn’t a vacation for them, is it? There’s something going on over there that’s taking up all your time and you’re neglecting them.’ She huffed an irritated sigh. ‘You know what happens if you let work take over, Chase.’

  He pushed open the door to the outside. He needed the air, even if the temperature was in negative degrees and it was snowing a little heavier than when they were at the Tower. He knew what he had to do. He had had months of reprogramming and reading Men are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. That book had been a particular eye-opener. But even its insightful take on why men and women behave the way they do hadn’t been enough to save his marriage. And for that he didn’t blame himself or even Leanna … he blamed Colt. Because as much as Colt had been absent he had always been right there in the background, lingering like a bad smell.

  But, right now, swallowing his immediate emotional response that was the elephant in the conversation, he was going to listen to Leanna’s concerns, not criticise, not bite back, but validate her issues. Because, whether he liked it or not, she did have a point and he needed to reassure her.

  Jamaican music filled the air, the smell of jerk chicken emanating from a food truck with a line of people waiting for the wrapped spiced meat they were selling. To his left a brass band played, their Santa-hat wearing conductor flashing a baton and keeping them in time to ‘We Three Kings’. It was a crazy mix of sense stimuli but, somehow, it all worked.

  ‘Chase! Where are Brooke and Maddie right now?’ Leanna screamed.

  ‘Leanna, I hear what you’re saying and I understand,’ he began, bringing his mind back to that conference in New York that had helped shaped his new path. You are invincible. But you are human. And humans always have the capability to be better than they are. You can change. Anything is possible, you just have to manage it right. Own Your Future.

  ‘You do, do you?’ She didn’t sound convinced.

  ‘Of course,’ he answered. ‘You feel like you’re an ocean away …’

  ‘Because I am an ocean away!’

  ‘But the girls are right here at the end of a cell.’

  ‘If anybody ever answers them!’

  ‘Leanna, the girls are fine,’ Chase reassured. ‘I’m fine.’ He took a breath. ‘And we’ve been out today.’

  ‘Out?’

  ‘Yeah, we went to the Tower of London. They heard all about the murder and treachery against the monarchy, saw the Crown Jewels – God, they were these giant gemstones on crowns and sceptres, bigger than anything they’ve got on sale at Tiffany’s – and then we went to Madame Tussauds.’ He laughed. ‘Maddie stood next to Prince Harry and One Direction.’

  ‘She did?’ Leanna replied, her tone a little softer. ‘I’d really like to see that.’

  ‘I’ll send you some photos,’ Chase said. He scuffed his shoe in the snow on the pavement. ‘So, how’s your mom doing?’

  ‘She’s okay,’ she answered. ‘Healing as well as can be expected.’

  ‘And your dad?’

  ‘Dad’s … well, you know how he is. Down. Thinks life is pointless. No one can do anything right for him.’

  ‘Stick with him,’ Chase said. ‘He’ll come around.’

  ‘Well,’ Leanna sighed. ‘He’s been like it for almost forty years …’

  ‘People can change, Leanna,’ he reminded her. ‘No matter how long it might take.’

  ‘Like you?’ she queried.

  ‘Yeah,’ he answered. ‘Exactly like that.’

  ‘Maybe you had more in common with my dad than we ever realised,’ Leanna suggested.

  ‘Maybe,’ he answered. ‘Listen, I’ve gotta shoot. Maddie and Brooke are devouring Asian food like there’s gonna be Armageddon sometime soon.’

  ‘You’re having Asian?’ Leanna said. Was that a note of wistfulness in her voice?

  ‘Yeah, Isla took us to this cute little Indian restaurant with brightly coloured scarfs and miniature Taj Mahals everywhere and we ate this amazing lamb.’ His eyes went to the scene around him. ‘And I’m actually stood outside in the snow here smelling Jamaican chicken, sweet orange and the strongest, richest coffee … London is crazy. And it’s December. Everywhere is lit up. Lights on all the buildings, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus …’ He stopped himself. He was reacting emotionally. He didn’t do that. He was regressing.

  ‘Chase,’ Leanna broke in.

  ‘Yeah?’

  ‘Who’s Isla?’

  Thirty-Four

  Beaumont Square, Notting Hill

  ‘Are you sure you’re going to be okay?’ Isla had lost count of how many times she had asked that question of her sister and Hannah had started to get antsy after the first query and thrown a stuffed reindeer at her.

  ‘You know we watched that programme on Channel 5 called Women Who Kill?’

 
‘Yes.’

  ‘I’m thinking of auditioning for the next series if you dare to ask me if I’m going to be okay one more time.’ Hannah lifted up the black refuse sack that was sitting on her lap. ‘I have Christmas decorations to sort and put up and—’

  ‘But you won’t try and put them anywhere high, will you?’ Isla asked. ‘And don’t do any crawling, Hannah, promise me.’ She turned away from the mirror above the fireplace and looked at her sister.

  ‘Angel Gabrielle,’ Hannah said. She was addressing the girl angel with the lopsided blonde head that wobbled more each year in her hands. ‘Please pray for me.’ She looked at the model with sincerity. ‘And pray for my sister, who seems to think leaving a perfectly capable woman on her own on a week night is akin to abandonment.’

  ‘Should I call Poppy?’ Isla suggested.

  Hannah laughed. ‘You haven’t fired her yet then?’ She grinned. ‘I knew you couldn’t be that mean this close to Christmas.’

  ‘Shall I call her?’

  ‘She won’t come,’ Hannah stated. ‘She texted me earlier. She’s started watching the box set of Game of Thrones.’

  ‘Was that what she was doing this morning when she told me she was with the crew from This Morning?’

  ‘I have no idea,’ Hannah replied. ‘But she can’t walk me to work tomorrow because her gran has a hospital appointment.’

  ‘Another one!’

  ‘She’s a good granddaughter,’ Hannah answered.

  Isla let out a breath and turned to face her sister. ‘How do I look?’

  ‘Oh,’ Hannah said, her expression matching the tone of her voice.

  ‘That wasn’t really the reaction I was hoping for,’ Isla said. ‘This is Colin Matthews’ big Christmas extravaganza. It’s one of my favourite parties of the season. It’s at the Electric Cinema,’ Isla reminded her sister. She brushed her hands over her smart little black dress she’d been alternating between parties for at least the last five years. She really did need a little trip to H&M. Last time they went she had picked up some festive party gems.

  ‘I know, you said,’ Hannah said, wheeling forward a little. ‘And I’m jealous but …’

  ‘But?’

  ‘Well, I know Colin Matthews is a client of Breekers and everything, but the dress isn’t saying “Christmas extravaganza”.’

  ‘What is it saying?’ Isla asked.

  ‘It looks like you’re going to work,’ Hannah said. ‘No offence.’

  The ‘no offence’ comment couldn’t have been more tongue in cheek. Isla checked her watch. She had twenty minutes before Chase arrived to pick her up. She had insisted being collected wasn’t necessary, that she could walk, but while he was sweet-talking Denise to mind Brooke and Maddie for the evening, he had organised a company car and a driver.

  ‘Well,’ Isla began. ‘What should I wear? Bearing in mind I’ve done my hair and there isn’t a lot else in my wardrobe.’

  Hannah coughed and hitched her head towards the door of the living room. Isla’s attention was drawn to a navy-blue suit carrier hanging over the door. Her first thought was how come she hadn’t noticed it earlier and her second thought was what position had her sister had to get herself into to hang it on the top of the doorframe.

  ‘I know what you’re thinking,’ Hannah stated. ‘And I did not hang it up there. Claudia brought it round when you were in the bath.’

  ‘Well,’ Isla said, approaching the package with a degree of caution. ‘What is it?’

  ‘It’s something I was thinking of wearing to the Breekers’ Christmas party but, well, Claudia helped me try it on and it just didn’t look right.’ She sniffed. ‘Plus, I don’t know the theme yet and it might not be appropriate … Argh! Just open it already!’ Hannah ordered.

  Isla reached up and took the hanger from the doorframe before unzipping the carrier and looking at what was inside. She recognised it instantly.

  ‘Mum’s favourite dress,’ she breathed.

  ‘Remember when she wore it to watch The Phantom of the Opera and Dad even dressed up in a shirt and tie. I thought she looked like one of those beautiful actresses from the old movies; Deanna Durbin with the same auburn hair.’

  Isla touched the black diamantés forming tiny roses on the jade green dress. This was the only item of clothing of their mother’s they had kept. It hadn’t felt right to give it to charity with the rest, not when both women had such fond memories of the times their mother had worn it. Family meals. Parties. That one trip to the West End to celebrate a wedding anniversary.

  ‘I can’t wear this,’ Isla stated, emotion welling up. ‘It’s too special. What if I drop hog roast down it?’

  ‘Are you having hog roast? Now I really am jealous!’

  Isla’s eyes were still on the beautiful dress. She knew it wouldn’t have come from one of the very expensive boutiques, perhaps it had even belonged to someone else before their mother, but it was such a gorgeous reminder of the perfect person she had been. Loving, kind, a shoulder to cry on and a keen listening ear …

  ‘How do you think Mum would feel knowing we kept her favourite dress but that it never saw the light of day?’ Hannah’s question broke into Isla’s reverie. She made to answer but Hannah hadn’t finished.

  ‘I’ll tell you what she would think. She would think what a waste of sequins to be shut in a musty cupboard never to sparkle again. And so what if you spill hog roast down it? We’ll get it dry-cleaned. I don’t remember pig being high up on the list of stains that never come out … and Claudia is forever telling me what washing miracles you can perform with a squeeze of Fairy Liquid.’ Hannah sniffed. ‘And she has sons, remember? Sons who play rugby.’

  ‘Okay, okay,’ Isla conceded. ‘I’ll get changed.’ She made for the door, knowing time was pressing.

  ‘Wait!’ Hannah ordered.

  Isla stopped in her tracks, turning back to face her sister.

  ‘So, I’ve been thinking and …’ She sighed. ‘I know I said I had dibs on the hot New Yorker but … if you feel like you might want to pull his Christmas cracker then I won’t sit in your way.’

  Isla felt herself flush from the tips of her toes right up to the ends of her red hair – or that’s what it felt like. This is what happened after too much wine at lunchtime. She hadn’t dared tell her sister they had gone sightseeing and to her favourite Indian restaurant. She would make it up to her. They would go Diwali at the weekend and eat until they couldn’t move.

  ‘And I’m pretty sure he likes you,’ Hannah stated.

  ‘What?!’ Isla exclaimed. ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

  ‘What’s ridiculous about it? He’s single. You’re single. You’re both crazy obsessed with the architectural merits of homes, hospitals and hotels.’

  ‘He’s the head of the company,’ Isla pointed out.

  ‘Hot and powerful,’ Hannah said.

  And he was funny, Isla thought to herself. Funny and intelligent but equally frustrating and opinionated. She shivered and quickly tried to mentally balance out his eyes the colour of a rich, deep mocha with the fact he had dreamt up an ogre of a super-structure.

  ‘He has Maddie and Brooke to concentrate on and I’m not looking for a man,’ Isla said stiffly, the dress getting a little heavy balanced over her arm.

  ‘Please, Isla, now I know Ptolemy really was your last date I feel ridiculously guilty. You need to get back …’

  ‘Do not, under any circumstances, say the word “horse” right now,’ Isla begged.

  ‘I was going to say “in the dating arena”.’

  ‘Wait a second,’ Isla said. ‘Just last night you were shaping up to lunge at Chase in a bid to make him the star in your Notting Hill kiss scenario. What’s changed?’

  She eyed her sister who was now paying much more attention to the collection of Christmas items in her lap rather than her.

  ‘Hannah,’ Isla said softly.

  Hannah looked up, the hint of a smile of her face, her cheeks a little reddened. ‘Well,
’ she began. ‘I know I didn’t like you mentioning Goodfillers to Raj yesterday but …’

  Isla felt the beginnings of a smile lifting the corners of her mouth, waiting for what Hannah was about to say next.

  ‘He came in today,’ Hannah burst forth. ‘And he hadn’t even been to the deli. He said he was just passing … and he brought me a whole box of mince pies!’

  Her sister’s eyes were shining so brightly you would have thought Raj had presented her with rubies the size of something in the Crown Jewels.

  ‘He said they were going spare at the sorting office but … he knows how much I like them and … he brought them to me.’

  Isla smiled at Hannah’s excitement. This was good. This was not something to worry herself about. Despite his street talk, Raj was nice, kind, he had steady employment and he lived with his gran. You couldn’t have too many concerns about someone who lived with their gran.

  ‘And,’ Hannah said. ‘He said he might—’ She stopped a little abruptly. ‘Now, if I tell you, you have to promise not to be over-the-top or worried or in any way apprehensive.’

  Isla felt all of those immediately, her stomach churning in anticipation of what was to come.

  ‘Isla,’ Hannah said. ‘Promise!’

  Isla coughed. ‘Mmm.’

  ‘Was that a promise?’

  ‘It’s as good as you’re going to get right now.’ Her eyes went to the clock on the wall above the television. She had ten minutes to get changed!

  ‘Raj said he might pop over tonight,’ Hannah blurted out. ‘He has Logan on DVD.’

  Isla felt immediately sick. So much for leaving her sister to her own devices for the evening. She was now potentially about to leave her in the clutches of a suitor. They would be free to get up to who-knew-what? She took a breath, trying not to let her thoughts seep into her expression. She had to remember that Hannah was twenty. That her wheelchair didn’t make her different to any other twenty-year-old looking for love. And it could be worse. They were planning to watch Logan not Fifty Shades Darker.

  ‘Okay.’ Isla forced the letters from her lips.

  ‘Okay?’ Hannah checked.