by Lacey Legend
“It’s kind of irrelevant now anyway. She’s volunteered herself to be thrown into the lion’s den for Christmas. All I can do is my best to make sure she survives it in relatively sound tact.”
“Forget that awhile and let’s enjoy lunch,” suggested Samantha as she raised her large wine glass to meet with Freddie’s.
Chapter 17
An excess of alcohol had been ordered and drunk over lunch. Merrily leaving the OXO tower at 4 pm, Freddie thought it pointless rushing back to the office. Neither he nor Samantha was in a fit state to achieve anything productive in the evening. Had it not been for the fact they both had personal items in the office, he’d have cut his working day short and left home early. One of the perks of being a director was that both Samantha and Freddie had the luxury of a long business lunch and skipping out of work without a disciplinary warning.
Stepping onto the Southbank running along the Thames River, their noses were greeted with the scent of mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and traditional German Christmas fare.
“You know what we could do,” started Samantha.
“Christmas markets,” finished Freddie, winking at her.
The little log cabin stalls were inviting, as was the throng of families wandering through the specialist markets. A pang of remorse darted through Freddie’s heart. He should’ve taken Tabitha here – she’d have never seen traditional European Christmas markets before. It would be wonderful to see them through her eyes and witness Tabitha’s delight as her five senses were treated with a Christmas spectacular. He justified the mistake by reminding himself that he could still accompany Tabitha to the markets, but deep down he knew it was a paltry excuse. Walking arm in arm with an ex wasn’t fair on Tabitha or Samantha.
He knew Samantha continued having strong feelings for him. Not long after hooking up with Tabitha, he’d felt obligated to take Samantha to lunch. He’d needed to explain to her their relationship was well and truly over. It was imperative she understand they conduct themselves as nothing more than business colleagues. Samantha had been unable to control her emotions and wept openly; begging Freddie for a final chance, but by then he was smitten with Tabitha and wanted nothing to stand in his way of pursuing Tabitha’s love.
Now here he was strolling along the way old friends do - strolling along the way lovers do. He could pretend it was innocent and that a shared history was difficult to erase, but he knew it was unfair to both women. He was building up Samantha’s hopes when he had no intention of revisiting their relationship and he was disrespecting his relationship with Tabitha by keeping his past with Samantha a secret.
Stopping for a mulled wine and chocolate covered strawberries and marshmallows dipped in a chocolate fountain, Freddie decided to give himself over to the festivities. When Samantha identified a few choice presents for his younger sisters, he followed her advice and purchased them.
It got dark early in London and the twinkling lights only added to the atmosphere.
“Not often one sees stars in the London sky.”
“No. They’re hard to spot through the smog, but they do seem exceptional this evening,” chuckled Freddie.
“We probably aren’t in the company’s good books, but it has been a wonderful day.”
Freddie closed his eyes not sure how to respond to Samantha. He didn’t know what the right or wrong thing to say was and he couldn’t say for certain exactly how he felt in himself at that precise moment.
“Freddie?”
Freddie’s eyes flew open and he almost jumped out of his skin. Spinning round he saw his sister.
“Izzy!”
“Isabella, how wonderful to see you,” greeted Samantha smugly.
“I’d have thought your first choice for an excursion to the markets would’ve been Tabitha, dear brother.”
Freddie checked his watch. It was 7pm. He’d no idea where the time had gone (although the impressive Ice Bar, made only of ice, accounted for at least an hour and a half). He hadn’t even phoned Tabitha to let her know he was out for lunch, let alone that he’d yet to return to the office.
Freddie hated himself for smiling in response to his sister’s perceptive comment. She looked incredulous that he appeared to think it was amusing.
“It was a spontaneous trip,” explained Samantha.
“Of that I’m certain.”
The two women kept their fake smiles painted on their faces, but their eyes narrowed as they assessed one another’s characters.
“This will be a strange Christmas for you without Freddie,” said Isabella smoothly.
Samantha’s face dropped. Izzy felt genuinely bad. She’d no time for the self-absorbed woman, but she gained no pleasure from hurting another human being. That particular punch was below the belt. Freddie thought so too.
“We might not be together as a couple, but Samantha will still be joining us for Christmas.”
There was a deafening silence. Isabella and Samantha were waiting for each other to break the news. Isabella looked triumphant and raised her eyebrows at Samantha to communicate to her that Freddie would find out eventually.
“Actually, Freddie, I won’t be there this Christmas,” said Samantha softly.
“What? Why not? Are you traveling abroad or something?”
“Perhaps she’d prefer a quiet Christmas with just her father now she’s free of the domineering Hastings,” interjected Isabella, not wanting to humiliate Samantha any further.
“Or perhaps your father didn’t extend the invite this year,” snapped Samantha, keen as ever to drive a wedge between anyone Freddie was close to that wasn’t her.
“Roger didn’t invite you and your Dad for Christmas?” clarified Freddie.
“No.”
“Samantha, tread carefully,” warned Isabella.
“It’s a fact.”
“I don’t understand why. You’ve attended every Christmas with us since you were six years old. I remember mother and father saying after your mum died, that because you had no aunts, uncles or cousins it was important you have family around you at Christmas – that family being us,” blustered Freddie, flummoxed.
“And Dad and I loved those Christmases, but we can hardly impose ourselves on Roger.”
“But you kept coming after father and mother divorced. Your Dad, Cooper, is my father’s best friend. I can’t imagine why he’d do rescind the invitation.”
Izzy rolled her eyes. The rude movement didn’t go unnoticed by Freddie.
“You knew about this?”
“Yes,” huffed Isabella.
“And you thought that was acceptable?” grilled Freddie.
“Actually I did.”
“You love Christmas. I can’t imagine you relishing the idea of two people spending Christmas home alone.”
Isabella felt inclined to remind Freddie that Samantha and her father were not homeless paupers. If anything they were more than financially comfortable. She also wanted to refresh Freddie’s memory and remind him that Samantha had skipped parts of Christmas last year to go partying with an old school rival of Freddie’s. What actually happened had never been confirmed, but the sleazy man claimed Samantha had spent the night with him. Either way she stood Freddie up at the Boxing Day Gala dinner to party with a different man.
“Perhaps if you knew the reasons why the invitation was never posted then you’d appreciate the intent behind it.”
“There is absolutely no reason why my father should kill a family tradition that’s been going for over twenty-five years.”
“Maybe instead of always keeping Dad at arm’s length or being antagonistic toward him in conversation, you could sit down and discuss this with him.”
“No. If Samantha doesn’t go, than neither do I.”
“Do you hear yourself? Do you realize how ridiculous you’re being?”
“I mean it, Izzy. Sort it out with Roger or I promise you, Tabitha and I will be spending Christmas by ourselves.”
“Don’t emotionally blackmail me,
Frederick Ravensdale.”
“Freddie,” butted in Samantha, “it’s honestly no problem. Things run their natural course.”
“Yes they do,” concurred Isabella. “And when they have come to an end, it’s best to walk away rather than clinging on to something that can’t be.”
Samantha scowled at Isabella. She knew Freddie’s sister could see straight through her. Freddie on the other hand, was so blinded by disrespect for his father that he was unable to evaluate the situation with any objectivity.
“If you want Samantha there, you discuss it was Dad. Otherwise, celebrate Christmas in your love nest with Tabitha. I don’t think she’ll be fussed either way.”
Isabella was furious with herself. She’d stirred up a hornets’ nest. Being desperate to injure Samantha with a barbed comment, she hadn’t accounted for Freddie’s integrity and compassion. Frankly speaking she’d rather Freddie was alone with Tabitha for Christmas.
As much as she would miss Freddie, the more time he spent with the poisonous Samantha, the more likely she was to weave a magic spell on him again, where he’d become nothing more than a cash cow and attractive accessory on her arm for public functions. Izzy could think of nothing worse than Tabitha having to endure a Christmas with Samantha isolating her by making constant references to her shared past with Freddie and making a play for him at every opportunity that presented itself.
“You pushed for the family Christmas, so that ball’s in your court,” argued Freddie.
“I did, but I’m not going to-,” she stopped short.
Freddie was pig headed. By continually putting Samantha down, all she’d be doing is giving Freddie more reason to stand by his ex.
“If it’s that important to you, take it up with Dad. I don’t want to be involved. My focus is ensuring you and Tabitha are happy and preventing any splits in our family. Have a think about the repercussions carefully before you fly off the handle and act in anger,” she advised calmly.
Wriggling past Samantha, Isabella flung her arms around her brother and pulled him in close. Relief washed over her as she felt Freddie respond affectionately. Remembering as a teen it was always Freddie hugging and comforting her when she was confused and hurt about their family circumstances, she acknowledged it might be her turn to offer Freddie support during a period of his life that he was clearly struggling with some issues.
“Does Tabitha even know you’re here,” she whispered into Freddie’s ear.
“No.”
“Does she know you’ve spent the day with Samantha?”
“No.”
“Does she know you used to be engaged to Samantha?”
“No.”
“Freddie you have to tell her.”
“I know.”
He released his sister and smiled appreciatively at her. Isabella could see the struggle he was battling written over his face.
“I’ll leave the two of you to it,” she uttered.
“You should join us,” said Samantha breezily. “There’s a silly stimulation ride nearby where we can ride on Santa’s sleigh.”
Isabella couldn’t help herself laughing out loud. It was possibly one of the most ill-timed suggestions she’d ever witnessed. Samantha was completely unaware of Freddie’s complexities. She was self-centered and unable to see the torment her brother was going through. It angered her, but in the same instant she knew Freddie wasn’t a fool. If he was intent on wasting time with Samantha it wouldn’t take him long to recall why they went their separate ways in the first place. Samantha had no real interest in anyone but herself.
“I might give that one a miss.”
“Probably for the best. There’ll be children present and with you, that hair and being dressed in black, they’ll probably think the wicked witch of the west has come to turn them into toads.”
Izzy looked down at herself self-consciously.
“Actually, it’s probably time I went home and gave Tabitha a call,” stated Freddie.
“Why not stay awhile?” suggested Samantha.
“Because if you want this invitation for Christmas, Izzy’s right, I’m the one that needs to approach Roger. Besides it was thoughtless of me to not contact Tabitha.”
“Surely, she doesn’t begrudge you having friends and spending time with them free of her.”
“Of course she doesn’t and don’t make her sound like a jailer,” snapped Izzy.
“Girls, don’t degrade yourselves. Common courtesy dictates I at least let my better half know my whereabouts; hence I need to phone Tabitha. Besides, I suffer withdrawal if I’m away from her too long.”
Isabella glowed at the fact Freddie was referring to Tabitha as his other half in front of Samantha.
“You managed for six weeks,” bleated Samantha.
“No. I struggled for six weeks,” corrected Freddie, “and because of that I have no intention of being away from her side unless there is an absolute need.”
Satisfied she’d talked a little sense into Freddie, Izzy gave a friendly wave and began walking in the opposite direction of Samantha and Freddie.
“Hey Izzy,” shouted Freddie.
She spun round to hear what her brother had to say.
“I bet you’re catching the eyes of dozens of hormonally charged boys who are all hoping you’ll cast a spell on them and take them for a ride on your broomstick.”
Freddie’s heart lightened when he saw his sister grinning like a loon. It was one thing him teasing his sister, but he wouldn’t stand by and have anyone else mock her or put her down. Izzy suddenly felt much better about herself as she skipped off.
Chapter 18
“It's not quite as Downton Abbey as I was expecting,” confessed Tabitha, throwing herself on the sumptuous bed.
Freddie laughed.
“Did you have visions of staff lining up to greet you on your way in the entrance?” he teased.
Tabitha was glad her coffee colored skin hid her blushes.
“As a matter of fact I did.”
Freddie flung himself next to her on the mattress.
“Roger Hastings has disappointed the Queen of Brooklyn.”
“Not at all.”
Freddie looked so relaxed and friendly, Tabitha realized she was breathing easy and in the moment. The week leading up to Christmas had been hellish. In terms of moods, Freddie was all over the place. Having only dated a few months, the couple should've been in the honeymoon stage of their relationship, but other than his first twenty-four hours back he'd barely touched her. Their conversations had consisted mainly of surface talk. Up until now Tabitha thought her company at Christmas was nothing more than obligation on Freddie's part. Laughing about her idealized notions of a British Christmas they were able to appreciate one another's humor.
Impulsively Tabitha sprung up and straddled Freddie. Normally stylish and sophisticated, the cream woolen turtle neck sweater and faded blue jeans made him appear like a cheesy model from a winter catalog. He was cute and cozy. Bending down she let her lips brush his. Freddie's eyes closed dreamily and he looked serene and at peace.
“I've missed you,” she whispered.
“I've missed me.”
“I know you better than you think, Freddie Ravensdale.”
“I know,” he agreed, eyes remaining shut.
“Want to tell me what's been going on in that head of yours?”
“I think my head's been getting in the way of my heart of late.”
“Want to tell me what's going on in that big heart of yours, then?”
Freddie's eyelids flickered open and a devilish smile spread across his face. In one swift movement he'd pinned Tabitha to the bed.
“Might be more fun if I show you.”
A pair of similar sounding voices called for Freddie in the house. He groaned at the interruption.
“Sounds like your sisters are back from their last minute shopping.”
Freddie rolled off Tabitha and scowled.
“I love them to bits, bu
t their timing couldn't be worse.”
“We can pick up later,” winked Tabitha. “Come and introduce me.”
Freddie stood up and smoothed down his clothes. He reached for Tabitha's hand.
“Prepare to be smothered in love,” he warned.
Opening the door to the guest room, Freddie and Tabitha stepped out. As soon as he entered the twins' line of vision they sprinted down the corridor to him. Tabitha was bemused as they competitively raced to get a hug from Freddie first.
His hands slipped under the arm pits of the girl that made it to him first and he swung her around playfully. The twin that had been a fraction slower hugged his waist. Placing down one kid sister, he lifted the other to kiss her on the nose.
They didn't have the natural blonde hair and fair complexions of Freddie and Isabella (when Izzy wasn't having home hair dyeing disasters). They were tall and slim like their half-siblings, but both were brunettes with olive skin. The inherited blue eyes the twins shared with their older brother and sister made the young girls absolutely striking.
“We want to meet Tabitha,” announced one of the twins.
“And you can. This is Tabitha. Tabitha this is Lily and Poppy.”
“Poppy has the beauty mark above her lip?” observed Tabitha offering a hand for Poppy to shake.
“Only way to tell us apart,” declared Lily.
“I'm honored to meet you two and I'm thrilled to be spending Christmas with you guys. Thanks so much for agreeing to have me.”
“Izzy told us you were the best,” announced Poppy.
“I'd rather you'd have told me Freddie said that,” she giggled, “but I'm fortunate to have a good friend in your older sister.”
“Aren't you just?” said Izzy, having made her way up the stairs laden with shopping bags.
“Izzy's changed her hair,” said Freddie dryly.
“I liked it better black. She looked more like us,” said Poppy loyally.
“I think Izzy looked a bit scary,” growled Freddie.
“I think you'll start looking like a caveman if you don't get those blonde locks shorn soon,” jibed Izzy.