‘It’s not that bad,’ I laughed, ‘Rob’s exaggerating. He dropped me off the other week after the snow and he didn’t like it, so in his mind, it’s unlikeable. I can’t blame him though, it’s nothing like as nice as this place.’ Or the place I had to move out of when my fiancé dumped me for that matter.
‘I didn’t like it because you’re not comfortable there and you have a leering pothead for a neighbour.’ Rob had that calm but decisive tone back in his voice.
Like a tennis match, all eyes turned to me. I wasn’t about to spoil what, up until now, had been a very nice evening by getting into an argument with Rob about my living arrangements. Of course I’d love something as gorgeous as this flat but I couldn’t afford it. He seemed to have forgotten that minor detail. Unlike him, we weren’t all anal enough to start saving for a deposit at three years old, although with the way house prices were in London these days, that might not be a bad idea to start implementing.
‘He is a little odd,’ I laughed it off, ‘but it’s not like I’m there long-term. I’m looking for something else, so that I can move when my lease runs out.’
‘How long have you been there, Izzy?’ his dad asked. I’d noticed his face cloud a little when Rob had mentioned the ‘leering pothead’. Like father, like son.
‘Coming up to six months.’
‘And where did you live before, dear?’
From the corner of my eye, I saw Rob shift in his chair.
‘Down towards Canary Wharf.’
‘Didn’t you like it there?’
Ha! I bloody loved it there. And frankly, after I’d finished redesigning and redecorating it, it was perfect – not to mention being worth a whole bunch more than when my ex had bought it – but, because my name was never put on the paperwork, I was out of a home. Steven had always said it would be easier just to get it done once with my married name, rather than paying to have it done again once my name changed. And I trusted him. More fool me. Another mistake I wasn’t going to make twice.
‘Yes, it was very nice. It’s just that I was living there with someone else and to all intents and purposes, it was his flat. Things ended quite suddenly with him and I needed somewhere to live. Hence the current place. But, as I say, I’m looking around.’
Eleanor smiled, ‘I hope you find something you like soon.’
‘I’m sure I will.’ I replied, still not looking at Rob. I was a bit cross with him for bringing my living arrangements into the conversation. Of course, he’d had no idea which way the conversation would turn and I knew he’d never choose to make me feel awkward. But the fact was that, because of him, I now did. I needed to stew on that for a bit.
‘Shall I clear the plates?’ I ensured the subject was changed by doing it myself. Getting up from the table, I gathered all the dirty crockery. His mum started to help but I said I could manage and took the used plates into the kitchen and put them down carefully next to the dishwasher.
‘I’ll make some coffee.’ I heard Rob’s chair scrape and moments later felt him near me as I loaded up the machine.
‘Just leave them, Izzy, I’ll do it in a minute.’
‘I’m nearly done.’ I said without turning around. There was a pause before I heard him getting mugs out of the cupboard and the coffee machine burst into life. I stood up and closed the door to the dishwasher. Turning around to leave the kitchen, I came face to chest with Rob.
‘Whoops! ‘Scuse me.’ I said, making to step around him. He moved ever so slightly with me. Nothing so much as would attract attention from the others across the room. But enough for me to notice and get the point. I sighed and looked up.
‘I’m sorry about the questions. I didn’t realise Mum would ask for more intel.’
‘She was just making conversation. Don’t blame her. She doesn’t know about… what happened, does she?’
‘No.’
‘Right. Good. It’s just that when she said how you’d told her I worked late… I was just… Well. I didn’t know what else you’d told her about me.’
‘Nothing. As I said, she was giving me a bit of grief, in a worried-Mum way, about nights I’d been doing in the office. I explained that, one, a few of my clients are in the Asia Pacific region which means if I have to speak to them, it’s going to be a weird time here, and two, that I had various friends who were also often late at their jobs, especially when it was their own business. You were one of about four people I named.’
‘Fair enough.’ I nodded. Ok, so he hadn’t been talking to his mum about me, specifically. That was good. I mean, of course he hadn’t. And why would he? Oh dear, maybe I did work too much. My brain certainly felt extremely tired right at this moment. The line of cups on the counter caught my eye.
‘No coffee for me, thanks. I was just about to make a move.’
‘Now?’
‘Yeah. I know. Shocking, eh? I’m actually heading off to my horrid flat before ten p.m.’
‘Can’t you stay?’
‘No, I don’t think so.’
‘Are you mad at me because of what I said about your flat?’
I wasn’t about to lie. ‘Yes, a little. But I know that you mean well, so I’m getting over it.’ I gave him a little look to show he was pretty much forgiven. Lucky for him, he had that whole gorgeous thing going on which I’m sure got him pardoned for things a lot quicker by a lot of people.
‘At least stay for coffee.’ he countered.
Honestly, I was tired and really should have gone home but my brain just couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. And he was right. As much as I protested, I didn’t like my flat. The more I was out of it, the happier I was. And I’d enjoyed my time here today, with Rob’s family. It made me feel a part of something whilst my own parents were away.
‘Ok. You win.’
He gave me a grin that had I been so inclined, and/or wearing any, would have knocked my socks off.
I leant around him and took a couple of the drinks already prepared through to the living room, and placed them on the coffee table. Rob followed shortly after with the rest of them, and the condiments, on a tray.
‘I can hardly believe it will be Christmas in a week.’ Eleanor mused, glancing at the rain that was now throwing itself against the picture window.
‘It does seem to have gone fast this year.’ Her husband agreed.
‘What time do you think you’ll be able to get to us next week, Rob darling?’ his mum asked.
Rob raised his eyebrows in thought. ‘I’m not sure. Hopefully by about eight-ish, depending on traffic. I can get something to eat on the way down though, so don’t worry about waiting for me.’
‘Nonsense. I’ll have something for you. I can always warm it up if you get delayed.’
‘Ok. Thanks. I can just give you a call when I’m leaving and let you know during the journey if there’s any big hold-ups.’
‘Make sure you pull over if you’re going to call me.’
‘Mum, the car has hands free. I told you that. It’s fine. Stop worrying.’ Rob smiled and took a sip of his coffee.
I stood up. ‘I’m sorry. Would you excuse me a moment? I just have to make a quick call.’
Delving into my bag, I retrieved my phone and walked down the hallway. Unlocking the front door, I went out into the public corridor and pulled the door to behind me, taking care not to latch it so that I didn’t have to bother the others when I returned. I pressed ‘Search’ on my phone and Googled what the current time was in Sydney, where my parents were staying with friends for the week. Five a.m. Oh. Probably not the best idea to give them a Skype call right now then.
I leant back against the wall and let out a sigh. I was happy they were finally doing this trip but right now, I was really, really missing them. I clicked on another tile on my phone’s home screen and WhatsApp popped up. I pressed the thread I already had going with Mum and Dad and typed a message, saying that I hoped they’d had a good day and asking what they’d been up to. I mentioned that the rain was lashing down here and t
hat I’d just got a new commission. I didn’t mention it was for New Year’s Day. They already worried about the amount of hours I put in, so I knew that knowledge would only cause them to worry more. ‘Love and miss you lots.’ I typed at the end and sent it off, ready for them to collect when they got on the wi-fi the next day. Silly as it seemed, sending that message off made me feel that little bit closer to them so I composed myself and headed back towards the door to Rob’s apartment. Just as I got there, Rob stuck his head out.
‘Everything ok?’ he asked.
‘Of course!’ I gave him a bright smile.
He stepped out into the corridor and pulled the door to as I’d done a short time earlier. ‘You are such a fibber.’ he stated.
‘I am not! Everything is ok.’
‘Sure?’
‘Absolutely sure.’
He looked at me without saying anything more, but he made no move to go back into the apartment either. I held my nerve. I knew his tactics. Waiting for me to fill the space. Two could play at that game. I looked back at him evenly. I could do this too. See? Except, apparently not for very long.
‘Oh! God, you’re annoying!’
‘Thanks.’ he said.
‘Ok. Fine. I was really missing my parents, so I was going to ring them but as it turns out it’s five a.m. their time it’s not really an option. I sent them a message instead.’
‘Oh Izz!’ He moved a step closer to me. I moved back. I didn’t want comforting right now.
Sometimes when you’re low, and people are really sweet to you, it can be just enough of a tipping point. I had an awful feeling that if I let him in right now, I might just burst into tears. And having done that to him on one occasion already, I had no intention of doing it again. Especially not with his family in the next room!
‘I’m fine, really.’ I confirmed, ‘Come on, let’s go back in. I don’t think I’d quite finished my coffee anyway.’
We walked back in, Rob following me, and I dropped my phone into my bag as I passed it. I was never one for having it on me all of the time. So long as I could hear it if needs be, that was more than enough for me. Unlike Mags, who practically had the thing glued to her hand. I retook my seat and finished my coffee, tucking into a couple of delicious biscotti the men had picked up at a local Italian deli on their trip out earlier.
‘So, Izzy, what are you doing for Christmas? Are you going to family?’
‘No, not this year. My parents are actually travelling in Australia and New Zealand for six weeks at the moment. They won’t be back until mid-January.’
‘No brothers or sisters?’
‘Nope. Just me. They decided I was quite enough to deal with!’ I laughed. No need for strangers, even lovely ones like the Winchesters to know that my mum very nearly died having me and that the doctors had advised her not to try having any more children as it could well be fatal.
The others smiled at my joke but I could see my revelation about my parents jetting off wasn’t sitting well with them. I wasn’t about to have them thinking bad of my parents, even though explaining meant revealing a little more than I would have hoped to. But, to me, it was the lesser of two evils so I dived in.
‘Their trip was booked ages ago. I wasn’t supposed to be here for Christmas either, you see, so when they discussed going, I told them they should definitely go.’
‘Oh. I see.’ Eleanor smiled brightly, clearly not really seeing but being delightful about pretending to.
Rob smiled at her, then shook his head very gently at me. I knew he was telling me I didn’t have to do this, didn’t have to go on with the explanation but I was halfway there now and I had nothing to be ashamed of. It was humiliating at the time but I’d done nothing wrong and, as Rob, a week ago, had refused to take the blame for Steven’s actions, I didn’t see why I should either.
‘My fiancé and I had planned to go to Barbados for Christmas.’ I explained, looking at Eleanor. From the corner of my eye, I saw Rob tense and his expression cloud. In for a penny, in a pound I thought, and continued on, ‘Except he was actually supposed to be my husband by that point. We’d planned to get married in May but he backed out at the last minute.’
I realised that this was the first time I’d said this out loud to anyone since it happened. Normally I changed the subject if a conversation was veering towards me and marriage, which wasn’t uncommon in my line of work, but I felt that it was time to stand up and accept it, at last. And accept that it wasn’t my fault.
‘Oh dear. You poor thing! I am sorry. I hope he at least had the decency to give you a little notice!’
‘Mum.’ Rob cautioned.
‘What? I’m sorry Izzy, have I said something wrong?’ She looked worried.
‘No,’ I said, smiling in reassurance, ‘Not at all. It’s absolutely fine. But no, he didn’t. He waited until I was at the church. And then sent Rob here to give me the message that he wasn’t coming.’
Eleanor and John looked aghast, first at me, and then at Rob who was now staring at the coffee cup in front of him.
‘Really?’
‘Yes, afraid so.’ I said, when it was obvious that Rob wasn’t going to respond at all, ‘I don’t know if you remember, but Rob had a broken nose back in May.’
‘I do remember, some incident on the rugby field.’ Eleanor said, although her tone suggested she was beginning to wonder if she had all the facts.
‘Not exactly. More like an incident in a church. Actually me in a church.’
Two pairs of eyebrows shot up in surprise.
‘I can only apologise to you for doing that to your son. It was very much a case of me shooting the messenger, so to speak. I would like you to know that I’ve never ever hit anyone prior to that, or since.’
Nobody said anything. I wondered if, in retrospect, telling Rob’s parents that I’d punched out their firstborn was the best idea. But when I’d finally said it, I’d felt good. It felt right. Whatever the consequences, I was fed up with tiptoeing around everything to do with my nuptial non-event.
‘You must have a hell of a hook!’ His dad broke the silence, a grin that looked a lot like Rob’s spreading across his face.
‘You know she knocked him on his backside?’ Mike added, resulting in a sharp look from me, which he shrugged off, smiling.
‘Really? Good lord!’ John laughed.
I noticed that Eleanor wasn’t laughing. It was clear she didn’t find me being violent towards her son in the least bit amusing.
‘I am sorry, Mrs Winchester.’ I reverted back to her full name, ‘It all happened so fast, I couldn’t believe I’d done it.’
‘Oh my dear,’ she said, leaning over and taking my hands in her own, ‘I hope you don’t think I’m upset about that?’
My face confirmed that was exactly what I thought.
‘No, no no. Not at all! I’d likely have done the same thing.’
‘Wow. Thanks, Mum!’
Eleanor let go of my hands briefly to wave away Rob’s comment, ‘You know what I mean.’ She took my hands again and held them. ‘I obviously don’t know you very well, but from what I’ve heard from Rob, you’re hard-working and, from what I’ve seen today, you have a very kind heart. I know what it’s going to take for you to get this dress done for Jenny, and yet you offered to do it without hesitation, because you knew it would not only help her, but all of us. Whoever the man is that chose not to turn up at that church on that day made a very big mistake. He let a wonderful girl slip through his fingers. And I hope that the next man has the good sense to appreciate just what he has.’
I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t right at that moment. A lump had formed in my throat and was resolutely refusing to shift.
‘Thank you.’ I squeaked out, eventually.
Eleanor smiled and patted my hands. Suddenly she looked at Rob, then back at me. ‘You said this was all back in May?’
‘Yes. That’s right.’
She looked back at Rob. ‘Wasn’t that when you were su
pposed to be best man for Steven? You told us it got called off at the last moment.’
Rob didn’t answer and I looked between them.
‘You know Steven?’
‘Yes dear. Rob and he were quite close at university so we saw him a certain amount. They drifted apart a bit when their lives took different paths for a while, what with Rob joining the Army, but I was pleased to hear they had reconnected. I can’t believe that the Steven we knew would do something like that.’
I shrugged my shoulders and gave a resigned smile.
‘People change, Mum.’ Rob said.
‘And was this what you fell out over?’ Eleanor said, turning to him.
‘I never said I fell out with him.’
‘You didn’t need to say so. I’m your mother. I know these things. But you have, haven’t you?’
Rob took a deep breath. ‘Yes.’
‘Right. So, was this the reason?’
‘It’s not quite that black and white, but yes.’
‘I see.’
‘I’m sorry, Eleanor. I never realised you knew Steven, but of course you would. I’m so sorry if all this has made you feel awkward.’
‘Me? Oh Izzy. Not at all! I’m not one to take sides generally but I do know that my son is very laidback with people and whilst he won’t be made a fool of, he will give people the benefit of the doubt, if there’s any opportunity. So the fact that he hasn’t been able to rectify whatever happened between them leads me to believe that Steven really didn’t behave in a way that I would have expected him to. He left you waiting and Rob to break the news? Rob’s right. People do change, and clearly not always for the better. But I stand by my earlier comment. Steven made a very big mistake letting you go.’
‘Thank you, Eleanor. That’s very nice of you to say. Although, with some perspective, it might have been the best thing for both of us, if not the best way of doing it. But it’s all in the past now, and I’m ok.’
‘That’s very good to hear, Izzy. I’m so glad. And now I’d like to invite you to come and spend Christmas with us.’
Opposite, I saw Rob freeze, his coffee cup halfway to his mouth.
‘Oh no, Eleanor! I really couldn’t. Honestly, I’m over the whole thing now, I promise.’
Winter’s Fairytale Page 12