Meet Me Under the Mistletoe

by Carla Burgess

  I rolled my eyes at him and offered him my cracker to pull. Taking great delight in the fact he’d won, he placed the purple paper crown on top of his head and proceeded to read out his joke, which actually turned out to be a fact and confused everybody. Dad laughed the most, despite being the only one bar Tom not drinking alcohol. Even Tom smiled, and over dinner thawed out so much that he actually took his coat off halfway through. By the time pudding was served, he was wearing his paper hat from his cracker and had unfurled his tiny paper ‘joke’, declaring it too crap to read out.

  ‘So, what happened, Anthony? Did you all get sent home early or something?’

  ‘Yes, more heavy snow’s been forecast and they have officers who live closer, so they sent us home. The roads are really bad.’

  ‘Bobbi’s boiler’s not working,’ I said. ‘Is it all right if she and Tom stay here tonight?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘No, it’s okay,’ Bobbi said. ‘It will probably be working again later. It does this sometimes.’

  ‘I’ll have a look at it when I take you to the hospital.’ Dad smiled across the table at her.

  Mum brought out the Christmas pudding and Dad set fire to it. Tom looked on in amazement, as though he couldn’t believe it was real.

  ‘Have you never seen that before, Tom?’ Mum asked him, laughing. He shook his head.

  ‘No. I don’t like Christmas pudding,’ he said, looking shifty.

  ‘You can have a chocolate muffin if you like,’ I said, getting up to get the tin. ‘I made Rudolph muffins.’

  ‘We’ve got Christmas cake to eat, too,’ Mum said.

  ‘And about a ton of chocolate.’

  ‘Aw, thank you,’ Bobbi said. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t brought anything with me. I didn’t think.’

  ‘Don’t be silly,’ Mum said. ‘We’ve got loads of food here. We’re pleased you came to help us eat it. If you want to thank someone, you can thank Anthony for letting us have Christmas here. Otherwise, Christmas would have been a total disaster.’ She raised her glass in a toast. ‘To Anthony, Saviour of Christmas’

  I laughed as we all raised our glasses with her. ‘To Anthony!’

  Anthony went red and laughed in embarrassment. ‘It’s my pleasure.’

  ‘Not many men would have let Rachel stay!’ Mum pointed out. ‘You’ve really been an amazing friend to us all.’

  This time, Anthony ducked his head. ‘Oh no, now that is my absolute pleasure.’

  I blushed at the innuendo but Mum didn’t seem to read anything into it.

  After dinner, Bobbi and I stacked the dishwasher and washed the pans while Mum and Dad sat down to watch the Queen’s speech. Anthony fetched his laptop and invited Tom to play on it. Tom’s face lit up and the two of them sat side by side at the table, playing some sort of game together.

  ‘Thank you so much for this,’ Bobbi murmured, looking over at her brother’s face. ‘It means so much to us, it really does.’

  ‘You don’t have to thank us all the time, Bobbi,’ I said, giving her a hug. ‘You know you’re like family to us. You’re welcome any time, honestly. And you, Tom.’

  Bobbi hugged me back, tightly.

  The snow had started again. Dad got up and put his coat on, ready to take Bobbi and Tom to the hospital to see their mum. Tom groaned but put his coat back on. He looked miserable as he zipped it up and slipped on his trainers. They were still soaked from the snow.

  ‘Do you want me to come?’ I said, folding the tea towel and placing it on the side.

  ‘No, you’d better stay here. Elena and Daniel said they’d drop in this afternoon.’

  ‘I doubt they will in this snow.’ I crossed to the window and looked out. It was getting dark already and the snow slanted sideways in the orange glow of the lamppost. A black pick-up truck moved silently up the street and parked behind my dad’s Land Rover. ‘Oh! They’re here!’ I said, as Daniel opened his door and slid out of the cab. He came round the side and opened Elena’s door, helping her out so she didn’t fall. I smiled, pleased to see he was looking after my best friend so well, and went down to the door to open it for them.

  There was a brief crossover in the hall when my dad, Bobbi and Tom went off to the hospital and Daniel and Elena entered. Elena kissed everyone, including a red-faced Tom, and followed me upstairs into the flat, chatting brightly about how well her and Daniel’s parents were getting on and how they’d snuck out while they were all asleep in front of the television. Mum was overjoyed to see them both and insisted on kissing Daniel beneath a sprig of mistletoe she’d brought with her. I made coffee and put mince pies on the coffee table. I was slightly worried Anthony would resent this further intrusion into his flat, but he didn’t seem bothered. He got up to kiss Elena and shake Daniel’s hand, and then they started chatting by the breakfast bar. Elena sat on the sofa and started to unload her bag of presents.

  ‘Oh, Elena, you know you shouldn’t have bought anything for me!’ Mum said, accepting a large gift-wrapped box from Elena.

  ‘Don’t be daft, Birdie. You’re my second mum. Of course I’m going to buy for you. Besides, it’s only small.’

  ‘Oh, you!’ Mum’s eyes got moist and she unwrapped her present slowly and carefully to reveal a box of bubble bath and body moisturiser. I crossed to the tree and found Elena’s present to give to her and then crossed the room to give Daniel his.

  ‘For me?’ Daniel broke into a happy grin and kissed me on the cheek before ripping off the wrapping paper to reveal a pair of knee protectors. He burst out laughing. ‘Excellent! Did Elena tell you I’ve been having problems with my knees?’ He turned to Anthony. ‘It’s all the kneeling while doing up the house. These are great. Thanks, Rachel.’

  ‘You’re welcome.’

  I went back to the sofa to watch Elena open up her perfume and she handed me my present, which was a necklace and a framed photograph of us as teenagers. I almost cried when I saw it. Me with my big blonde hair and bright make-up, staring down the camera. Elena, smaller, thinner, darker, with her head on my shoulder, looking up at me goofily.

  ‘Oh, this is so sweet!’ I squeaked, a lump forming in my throat. ‘I love this photo.’

  Elena laughed. ‘It’s my favourite. I have it next to my bed.’

  I hugged her fiercely and wiped my damp eyes. ‘Thank you so much. I’ll treasure it.’

  ‘You better had! Thank you for my perfume. I love it.’

  ‘My pleasure.’

  Mum passed Elena another present from her and dad, and Anthony and Daniel came and sat down with us. Daniel reached for a mince pie and chewed with his eyes closed, looking ecstatic. Anthony looked at the photo and laughed.

  ‘We should have a game of Monopoly or something,’ Daniel said. ‘It’s not Christmas without a board game.’

  ‘I don’t think I’ve got any,’ Anthony said. ‘Sorry. I don’t suppose it’s the same on the computer.’

  ‘We could play charades,’ Mum said brightly.

  Anthony groaned. ‘I’m too sober for charades.’

  ‘We’ve already played Trivial Pursuit at your mum’s, Daniel.’ Elena shook her head at him. ‘We can play Monopoly later.’

  We chatted for a little while and then they got up to go. Daniel suddenly spied the mistletoe that Mum had left in the kitchen and went around kissing everyone with it, even Anthony, before wrestling Elena backwards onto the sofa, scattering kisses on her face while she squealed and laughed. Mum chuckled as he finally let her up, red-faced and giggling, and we said goodbye at the door with more kisses and hugs.

  ‘They’re such a lovely couple,’ Mum said, sighing. ‘I can’t wait for them to get married. Are you being a bridesmaid, Rachel?’

  ‘Yes. The year after next, apparently.’

  ‘Ooh, lovely! I love a good wedding. I’m just going to the loo.’

  Mum went into the bathroom and Anthony and I walked slowly up the stairs together. ‘Thank you for letting
us have Christmas here,’ I said.

  ‘Will you stop thanking me. It’s fine. Honestly.’ He sat down in the armchair and smiled at me. ‘It’s lovely to see everyone having a nice time.’

  ‘You’re not finding it too difficult?’

  He shook his head. ‘Not really. It’s nothing like the Christmases I had as a kid.’

  Sitting down on the arm of the chair next to him, I ran my hand around the back of his neck and he stretched against me. ‘Have you spoken to your mum today?’

  He shook his head. ‘I phone Boxing Day.’

  ‘Oh.’ I frowned slightly.

  ‘What’s wrong, Jones? Don’t you approve?’ He pulled me down onto his lap.

  ‘Not really.’ I kissed him to soften my words. ‘I think she’d like to hear from her eldest son on Christmas Day.’

  He wrinkled his nose. ‘Ah, she’s fine. She’ll be snoring in front of the TV now while Grace and Charlie use her tummy as a trampoline.’

  ‘Anthony!’

  He laughed. ‘I’m only kidding. But she’ll be quite happy playing with her grandchildren, I’d say. She won’t be worrying about me.’

  The doorbell rang and we heard Mum come out of the bathroom and open the door. Extracting myself from Anthony’s lap, I stood up as Dad came into the room. ‘This snow’s getting worse and worse,’ he grumbled. He still had snow on his coat. ‘I had a look at Bobbi’s boiler while they were at the hospital, but I can’t get the thing to light so she’s got no heating still. I’ve brought them back here. Is it all right if they stay tonight and I’ll see if I can sort them out tomorrow?’

  ‘Of course it is,’ Anthony said without hesitation.

  ‘Are you sure?’ Bobbi appeared behind my dad, looking distraught.

  ‘Absolutely. How’s your mum?’

  Bobbi brightened a little. ‘She was sitting up in bed eating. She looked better than she had in ages, strangely enough. She even smiled. They’re keeping her in a little longer and she’s having a mental health assessment in the next few days.’

  ‘Oh, that’s excellent news,’ Mum said. ‘Right, well we’d better get off if the snow’s that bad. We don’t want to be stranded.’

  We said goodbye to Mum and Dad and then Anthony disappeared into his bedroom, coming out a few minutes later with an Xbox.

  ‘Hey, Tom. Do you want to play this with me? Let’s leave the girls to play their crappy charades or whatever, and you and me can play racing games.’

  ‘Yesss!’ Tom punched the air as Anthony started connecting his Xbox up to the TV.

  ‘Great.’ Bobbi pulled a face, but she looked pleased her brother was looking so happy. ‘I suppose there’s no chance of watching the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special then?’

  ‘None, I’m afraid,’ Anthony called, his voice muffled as he fiddled about behind the TV.

  ‘I’m recording it, don’t worry,’ I told her. ‘We can watch it in the morning. Do you want a sandwich, or anything?’

  ‘Oh no, I’m still stuffed from dinner.’

  ‘What about you Anthony? Tom?’

  ‘Yes, please,’ they both said together.

  Anthony came into the kitchen while I was making the sandwiches. ‘Looks like you’re bunking in with me tonight, Jones,’ he said, kissing my neck and sending delicious shivers through me.

  ‘I always was, anyway,’ I murmured.

  ‘Glad to hear it. And no sneaking off to get into bed with Bobbi halfway through the night. I want to wake up with you beside me in the morning.’ He wrapped his arms around me from behind. ‘You know, I hate to admit it, but this has been a really lovely Christmas Day. It feels like how Christmas is supposed to be.’

  I turned to face him. ‘Well, that’s all down to you, you know. Not just because you let us use your flat, but because you told me about Bobbi. I don’t know if I’d ever have realised what she was going through if you hadn’t told me, and you’ve given us the chance to help her. I feel so guilty that I never noticed what was right under my nose. Thank you.’

  ‘Careful now…’ Anthony smiled down at me and kissed my nose. ‘You’ll be making me feel all sentimental and teary in a minute.’

  ‘Ha ha, good.’ I kissed him and he picked up the plate of sandwiches to go back into the lounge. My heart was beating fast as I watched him pick up the controller and sit down on the floor next to Tom. I went to sit next to Bobbi and we chatted for a while until she started to look really tired.

  ‘Sorry,’ she yawned. ‘I didn’t get much sleep last night.’

  ‘Well, go to bed then. Come on, I’ll sort you out with some pyjamas.’

  We went into my bedroom and I closed the curtains. Snow was still falling, thick and fast. ‘We’ll all be snowed in at this rate. Sorry about all the bags. It’s the stuff from my house. Make yourself at home and help yourself to any moisturiser and stuff.’

  I took my pyjamas and toothbrush and went into Anthony’s room to change. Opening the wardrobe, I checked if there really was space inside for my clothes and found there was. It made sense to use it, although for some reason it felt like a big step. Taking a blanket from the top shelf, I took it upstairs for Tom to use when he slept on the sofa.

  He and Anthony were laughing uproariously as Tom’s car won while Anthony’s span uselessly on the grass verge.

  ‘You’re going the wrong way!’ Tom yelled, pointing at the screen. ‘Turn around!’

  ‘I’m trying!’ Anthony was laughing as he wrestled with his remote control. I sat on the sofa and watched them for a little while, thinking how lovely it was to see both of them laughing so hard.

  ‘Right, I’m going to bed. Goodnight, Tom.’

  ‘Goodnight, Rachel.’

  I stroked a hand across Anthony’s neck as I passed. ‘Goodnight.’

  I kept the bedroom curtains open so I could watch the snow drift past the window. It had been the nicest Christmas I could ever remember, made all the more special by being able to give Bobbi and Tom a better time than they might otherwise have had. I hoped their mum would be all right and that more help was on the way for Bobbi. Just as I felt my eyes close, the noise from the Xbox stopped and I heard Anthony say goodnight to Tom. My blood rushed as his footsteps drew nearer and the door opened.

  ‘Miss Jones?’ he said, crawling on the bed and nuzzling my face like a puppy. ‘You’d better not have fallen asleep on me.’

  ‘Mmm?’ I rolled over and looked at him. ‘I’m watching the snow fall.’

  ‘Ah, good. That’s more like it.’ He pressed his lips to mine and got off the bed to brush his teeth in the bathroom.

  ‘Is Tom all right?’

  ‘Yes, he’s fine.’ Anthony snuggled up behind me and wrapped his arms around my body. ‘I have a feeling he’ll just play on the Xbox all night, though.’

  I closed my eyes, savouring the moment. I couldn’t quite believe it was happening, but it felt so good to be held. I wanted to hold on to this moment for ever. ‘Are we closing the curtains or are we watching the snow all night?’

  ‘We’re watching the snow all night.’

  Snuggling closer, he squeezed me tighter.

  ‘Do you really think you’ll want to see me still when you move to Scotland?’ I whispered.

  He kissed the back of my neck. ‘Didn’t we talk about this this morning? Along with the fact I might not even go? Right now, at this moment in time, I don’t like the thought of leaving you at all, so if I did have to move away, then I’d love to keep seeing you.’

  I sighed. ‘What if you don’t get the job? Would you go somewhere else?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ He sighed, and rolled me over to look at him. ‘Like I said, I don’t want to go anywhere right now.’

  ‘But if you felt it getting more serious? For instance, if you thought I was falling in love with you, then you’d run?’

  He raised his head slightly and looked at me through narrowed eyes. ‘What are you saying, Miss Jones?�
��

  ‘Nothing. I’m not declaring my love for you or anything like that. I’m just wondering what will happen if I move my stuff into your wardrobe and bathroom and you start waking up with me every day. Because I’m assuming that’s the kind of relationship stuff you’re trying to avoid. The everyday stuff that becomes part of the normality of life.’

  ‘Are you saying you shouldn’t put your dresses in my wardrobe because I’ll miss them when I leave?’

  ‘No. I’m saying they’ll make you leave sooner.’

  Anthony laughed.

  ‘Oh, I don’t know what I’m saying.’ I slapped his chest, lightly. ‘You’re the one with the relationship issues. I’m just along for the ride.’

  ‘Are you now?’ He pulled me on top of him and bucked me up and down. ‘Ride me now, cowgirl.’

  ‘Stop it.’ I laughed softly. ‘We’re talking.’

  ‘You’re talking nonsense, more like.’ He gripped my hips and shifted beneath me as his expression changed to something more serious. ‘Look, neither of us knows what’s going to happen here. We don’t know how we’ll feel in a couple of months’ time. And it’s true, I’m not great at relationships. But usually, I’m long gone by now. The moment I see a girl getting that gooey look in her eye…’ He pointed up at me. ‘…Like the one in your eye now as you look down at me, I end it and move on.’

  I blinked and looked away, embarrassed that I should be so obvious and give myself away so easily.

  ‘But this time…’ He bucked me up again, and caught my hands to steady me. ‘…I feel like that about you too.’

  ‘You do?’ I looked at him in surprise.

  ‘Yes.’ He rubbed his hands up my arms and smiled. ‘There’s something about you, Rachel, that makes me want to hold on to you and not let go. I don’t know what it is, but you’re different. I knew it the first time I saw you, standing in your shop surrounded by flowers and fairy lights.’