Winter’s Fairytale

by Maxine Morrey

  I couldn’t say no now, could I?

  ‘This is the same sister who introduced you to the wonderful world of the rom-com?’

  ‘The one and only.’

  ‘Then I’ll be honoured to meet her.’

  Rob didn’t say anything but the smile he gave me said it all. I was definitely staying for Sunday lunch. If any awkward questions came up, I’d deal with them. Or he would. I was pretty sure about that. I turned back to the counter, picked up the knife and finished preparing the strawberries, ready for Eton Mess.

  ***

  The doorbell chimed and I looked at Rob in surprise.

  ‘I thought people had to be buzzed up to these swanky heights?’ I was teasing but it did make me wonder about just how strict their security levels were.

  ‘Jenny lived here for a while. They know her down at the desk.’ He smiled at me as he passed to go to the door, ‘Don’t worry. No need to raise the Threat Level.’

  I mentally stamped my foot. Was it really that clear for him to read on my face? Every single thought I had? I sincerely hoped not.

  ‘Hi Jen. Hello mate,’ I heard Rob greeting his guests, as I stood in the kitchen, desperately trying to find something to do to in order to look useful. Nope. Nothing. He had everything under control. Typical.

  ‘Izzy?’ I turned to find Rob standing there holding his hand out towards me, ‘Let me introduce you.’

  I took hold of his hand and let him lead me gently towards his guests. A woman – whose eyes and jet black hair were too much like Rob’s not to be related – watched me with interest, and a smile, from the wheelchair she sat in. The man with her was a similar build to Rob, but not quite as tall. His hair was short, tidy and fair and his blue eyes crinkled at the edges, ever poised for the possibility of laughter.

  ‘Izzy. I’d like you to meet Jenny, my sister, and this is her fiancé, Mike. Mike, Jenny, this is my friend Isabel. She got stuck in town with the snow. I thought it would be nice if she joined us for lunch before I take her home later.’

  ‘Hi,’ Jenny said, holding out her hand, ‘Very pleased to meet you! What a gorgeous dress.’

  ‘Lovely to meet you too,’ I shook her hand, and thanked her for the compliment, smoothing the skirt a couple of times a little nervously as I did so.

  ‘Hello!’ Mike shook my hand enthusiastically.

  ‘Hello.’ I replied.

  ‘Mike’s the doctor round the corner I mentioned the other day. We served together in Iraq.’ Rob filled in.

  ‘Oh, right.’

  ‘You’ve been stuck here a few days then?’ Jenny asked, casually, looking up at her brother with the most innocent of expressions. I’d already guessed that the question was far more loaded than it first seemed and from the warning look he gave her, at the same time as trying to hide it from me, he’d also known she was fishing. I smiled. It was entirely understandable. If I’d had a brother I was pretty sure I’d have been inclined to be just as nosy.

  ‘I’m afraid he’s been stuck with me since Friday night.’ I laughed, and gently touched the hand he had resting on the back of the chair behind him to let him know it was ok. I could handle this. Out of sight of his guests, he turned his hand and held mine briefly.

  ‘You’re not the Isabel that punched our Rob here and broke his nose, are you?’ Mike laughed, clearly not expecting an answer in the positive. Almost immediately, Mike made an ‘Oof’ sound, then began rubbing his ribs, a slightly confused expression now clouding his features. Jenny was smiling, and behind our backs, I’d quickly slipped my hand out of Rob’s as he once again tried to take it.

  I gave them all a little glance and nervously smoothed my skirt again. The elephant was already in the room, trumpeting merrily, so we may as well address it. Jenny clearly knew who I was and poor Mike was now obviously feeling awkward at having apparently put his foot in something – but quite what, he wasn’t sure. Rob just looked pained.

  ‘I’m afraid I am that woman, yes. And I would like to take the opportunity to apologise for what was a very unprovoked attack on your poor brother, which he really didn’t deserve. I can’t tell you how mortified I was immediately after I’d done it. He’s never been anything but kind to me! So I can completely understand any animosity you might feel towards me.’

  ‘Me?’

  ‘Yes. I mean, he’s your brother–’

  ‘Izzy – can I call you Izzy?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Please don’t give it another thought. Rob’s clearly forgiven you, and he’s the only one that matters. Besides, there are plenty of times I’d have liked to punch him myself so I can completely understand how it might have happened.’ Jenny reached out and squeezed my hands, just as her brother had done all those months ago. She smiled up at me in reassurance.

  I nodded back, unable to form any words for the moment. Suddenly, stupidly, I felt overly emotional and had the horrible feeling I was about to cry!

  ‘Izz, can you give me a hand to check on the chicken?’ Rob steered me out and we headed back into the kitchen area. From the corner of my eye, I could see Mike helping Jenny from her chair onto the sofa, which also involved in a whispered conversation. I had a feeling he was getting his ear bent for stepping in it, but I was also sort of glad it had happened. At least it got it all out of the way.

  ‘Sorry about all that.’ Rob turned to me, shutting the oven door on the delicious smelling roast chicken, ‘Are you ok?’ He brought his hand up to my face where my eyes were still welling.

  I stepped back and nodded, which dislodged a tear. Quickly I brushed it away with the back of my hand and took a few deep breaths to help regain my composure. Rob was still looking at me, his hand now resting on the counter top.

  ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me this weekend! Sorry. I suppose I still feel bad about what happened and I just didn’t want to spoil things by having your sister angry at me, even though it’s absolutely understandable if she is.’

  ‘She’s not.’ Rob shook his head slowly, smiling softly at me, ‘And I’m not. It’s long forgotten.’ He prodded his nose, ‘Ok, not necessarily forgotten but most definitely forgiven. The only person you’re awaiting forgiveness from, now, is yourself.’

  ‘But you’re all so nice to me.’

  ‘Because you make people want to be nice to you.’

  I pulled a face at him, showing that I appreciated the sentiment, even if I didn’t quite believe it.

  ‘Right.’ He took hold of my waist, turned me around and pointed me towards the cabinets. ‘Now, moving on as we are, if you can grab some glasses, I have a very nice bottle of wine and some Shloer chilling in the fridge.’

  It was absolutely the best Sunday lunch I’d had in years, I could happily have eaten it all over again. Once the ice had been broken by Mike’s hammer-like conversation blooper, we all relaxed and I laughed more than I had in what seemed like a very long time. Of course, I laughed with Mags and at funny stuff on the TV, but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d relaxed and laughed like this. Most of the time, half my mind was always on what I needed to get done next in the studio, what the next part of my business plan was, how I should perhaps just take another look at that email. But right now, I was completely comfortable, full to the brim with delicious food and happy in the company I was surrounded with. Rob was in the middle of a story, which Mike kept interrupting and correcting, until Rob eventually made a rude gesture at his friend showing him exactly what he thought of his corrections, which set everyone laughing again. And Rob had been right about Jenny. I did like her very much. We’d had a lovely time chatting all about her upcoming wedding and her plans to start her own beauty business whilst the boys got stuck into sports talk.

  ‘Who’s for coffee?’ Rob asked.

  I followed him into the kitchen, bringing the last of the plates with me as Mike and Jenny got settled back on the sofa.

  ‘Thanks.’ He nodded, as he worked on the coffees.

  Smiling, I picked up the plates
and began rinsing them ready to put in the dishwasher.

  ‘You don’t have to do that. Just leave it. It’ll give me something to do when you’ve left.’ As he said it, I glanced up at him and for the briefest of moments, I thought I saw something in his eyes, a question, maybe.

  ‘I’m sure you have much more thrilling things to be doing later,’ I said, ignoring his instructions and stacking the dishwasher anyway.

  ‘Do I?’

  ‘Probably.’

  ‘Such as?’

  I stood up from the appliance and looked across at him. He was leaning back against the counter, his sock covered feet were crossed at the ankles and his arms were crossed loosely over the vast expanse of chest. Suddenly I had an urgent need to check that I’d stacked everything correctly and, after fiddling with the cutlery holder, I pushed the tray back in and shut the door. Standing up, I looked back over. He hadn’t moved and had an expression that I couldn’t quite make out on his face. I knew he wasn’t drunk as he’d only had the non-alcoholic stuff, due to the fact that he’d promised to drive me home later.

  ‘What?’ I asked, a little smile threatening my lips. I didn’t know what I was smiling at, but it felt good anyway.

  ‘I’m waiting to hear what thrilling things you think I have lined up for later. Because I’m thinking it’s going to be quite dull without you here after this weekend.’

  I didn’t take him seriously for one minute. ‘Oh I’m sure you’ll find some more briefs to look at.’ I threw back.

  Rob’s bark of laughter made his guests look round and I noticed the brief exchange that took place between them as they did.

  ‘As I said before,’ he stated, walking towards me until I had nowhere else to go and bumped back into the drawer, ‘Hilarious.’ Chuckling, he scooped his arm around me, moved me out of the way and fished some teaspoons out of the drawer.

  ‘Glad you think so.’ I forced out, hoping that the flush of heat I was feeling wasn’t showing on my chest and neck.

  What the heck was wrong with me? Perhaps I should I have hooked up with Italian Restaurant Man if just having a man pin me against a kitchen cabinet before wrapping his arm around me so that he could get silverware out of a drawer was sending me into hot flushes. But I knew I’d made the right decision with Italian Man. And that it wasn’t a basic lust I was feeling. I was seriously beginning to worry that I might actually be developing a crush on Rob. He turned his back and went over to the coffees, placing them on a tray with all the condiments. He really was unbelievably domesticated. The jeans he was wearing were well washed and getting threadbare on the knee, and they made his backside look really, really good. Oh God! I did have a crush! I had the hots for Rob! I stood up straight. Don’t be ridiculous, Izzy. You do not have a crush on Rob. You are just feeling warm, and enjoying good food, wine and company. For the first time in a long time. Even before everything ended with Steven, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this… Oh my God, happy. That’s what this was. I was just happy. For the first time in ages, I was actually happy! Oh thank goodness for that. Lusting after Rob would make things so complicated, and I really didn’t need complicated in my life right now. Not now that I’d found ‘happy’.

  ‘Uh oh, the cogs are whirring again.’ Rob nudged me as he picked up the tray.

  I rolled my eyes at him. ‘I am allowed to think, you know.’

  He chuckled, ‘Come on you.’

  We said goodbye to Jenny and Mike and waited as Jenny tucked her hat down over her ears.

  ‘So, are you heading off home now?’ she asked.

  ‘Shortly, I think.’ I replied, turning to Rob for some confirmation. He was leaning on the door frame and he straightened up as he saw his sister was ready to go.

  ‘Yep, in a little while. But apparently Izzy’s got some briefs she wants me to look at, so I guess it just depends how long that takes.’

  I felt my mouth fall open. ‘I do – what I said, I meant… that’s not what I meant.’ My skin felt glowing from my toes to my ears, and not in a good way.

  Jenny and Mike kissed us both goodbye, and left together smiling, heading for the lift. Rob shut the door and grinned at me.

  ‘I can’t believe you just said that in front of them!’ I started. ‘What will they think?’

  ‘It was a joke. Which they knew. It’s fine.’

  ‘Rob! I just met them and I’m staying at your house! They already think there’s something going on and now you’ve said I’m going to show you my knickers!’

  He began laughing harder.

  ‘Rob, it’s not funny–’

  ‘Oh it is! And for the record, I never said that you were planning to show me your knickers, although if you’re offering…’

  ‘Argh!’ I picked up a cushion from the sofa and threw it at him. Of course he caught it. ‘I’m going to get my stuff.’ I said and stalked off.

  ‘It doesn’t really matter, though. I already saw them in the washing machine anyway.’ he called after me.

  I returned to the living room, threw all of the cushions I could get my hands on, then spun on my heel and went to grab my stuff from the guest room. At least I knew for certain now though. I most certainly did not have a crush on Rob.

  I wasn’t really cross with him. I was just embarrassed. From what his sister and her fiancé could see, I was a woman prone to violent tendencies who chose to sleep with a man just because she couldn’t get a train. At least that’s how it felt to me. Explaining it to Rob on the way home, comfortable and cosy in the front seat of his Range Rover, it did have a slight ring of the ridiculous, which is what he accused me of being if that was what I thought his sister would think. When I made to protest again, he cut his eyes to me from the road momentarily and I let it go.

  Rob pulled the car into the parking space in front of the old house. It had probably once been a beautiful place but converting it into flats in the seventies had done it no favours, and now it sat looking sad and a little neglected, despite three out of the four flats being occupied. I saw Rob sweep his eyes over the place but there was nothing in his expression to read. I could only guess that it was much the same as mine had been when I came to look. Unimpressed. Fortunately for Rob, he wasn’t in the position of having to hurriedly find somewhere to live because his relationship had just gone badly down the tubes, thereby leaving him without a home. I’d stayed with Mags for a few weeks but my back could only take so much of a pull-out bed and although this place was far from perfect, it had been available to move into straightaway and was on the main line. Those were really the only two things going for it, but I’d been so sick of flat hunting by then, plus all the time it was sucking out of my day when I had work to do, I just took it. The lease was coming up soon and I really needed to find somewhere better to live. I hated it here, and tended to spend as much time as possible at the studio.

  ‘You don’t have to come in. All joking aside, I’m sure you do have better things to be getting on with.’

  ‘Not really. I’ll see you to your door.’ Rob replied, still looking around with that blank expression on his face.

  I fished a bunch of keys out of my bag, and plugged one in the main door. Jiggling it a little, I finally got it to turn. The door creaked like something out of bad film when I pushed it and then stuck partway, requiring me to give it a big heft in order to actually walk through.

  ‘Sorry.’ I apologised as Rob gave it another shove in order to make enough space to get his bulk through, ‘I’ve mentioned it to the landlord a few times but not a lot seems to happen.’

  Rob said nothing.

  ‘I’m just going to check my post. Hang on a tick,’ I said, and did a quick walk-run thing to the middle of the corridor where a rack stood, with four cubbyholes, one for each of the flats. A peeling sticker with a faded number denoted which space belonged to which flat. I peered at the gap for my number, and pulled out what was more than likely junk mail. I shoved it in my bag to read later, on the off chance that it wasn’t. As I
turned back towards the front, and the stairs up to my own flat, the door of the one below me opened and a man stepped out.

  ‘Hi Isabel.’

  Oh great. Pervy Peter. Just what I needed.

  ‘Hello Peter.’ I said, doing my best not to look at him too much and encourage a conversation. He’d positioned himself in front of the stairs which meant I had to go right past him in order to get to my own place. Another reason for getting out of here.

  ‘Haven’t seen you all weekend. I was a bit worried.’

  I doubt it, I thought. The waft of wacky baccy that floated out of that flat every time a door opened was intense. I doubt Peter and whoever he’d brought home this time would’ve even seen the weekend, let alone me if I’d been here.

  ‘All fine!’ I put on a bright smile, still not looking at him as I made to go past, doing my absolute best not to notice that one hand had been moving in Pervy Peter’s pocket the whole time he’d been watching me. Peter didn’t move.

  ‘I believe the lady would like to get by.’ Rob’s voice said close to Peter’s head. My neighbour jumped about three feet in the air. Until this point, he’d been completely unaware of the presence of another person – which gave an idea as to quite how spaced he was, given the fact that it was generally quite hard to miss anyone of Rob’s size. Peter turned around and found himself looking at the lapel of Rob’s charcoal wool coat. He tipped his head back until it met a face. The statement had been made in a voice that was quiet, calm and matter-of-fact but there was no mistaking the meaning in his eyes. Do Not Fuck With Me. Even in his stoned out state, recognition of that message flashed in Peter’s brain. Standing back from the stairs, he quickly returned to his own flat, stopping for a moment to glare at me, then slammed the door.

  ‘Excellent.’ I said, pretending I was irritated rather than a little freaked out by the glare I’d just received.

  Rob said nothing but followed me up the stairs to where I shoved another badly cut key into my own door and stepped inside.

  It wasn’t great. I admit that. But I’d done what I could with it when I’d moved in. I was pretty sure the young lad at the local DIY superstore had thought I was off to destroy evidence of a heinous crime as he looked at my trolley full of bleach, scrubbing brushes, gloves, overalls and protective eye wear. Admittedly I probably didn’t help myself by suggesting that it looked like I’d just committed a murder, and then laughing. His previous look of ‘slightly suspicious but still bored’ was immediately replaced by a more alert one, which apparently also included the mental instructions never to look me in the eye. Poor boy. I should have really explained that I’d just let a really manky flat. Although, to be honest, I think by that point, all my credibility had long since gone.