Chapter Twenty

 

Now

Canberra, Australia

Silver baubles spun in the air-conditioning, dancing to ancient Yuletide tunes. It was mid-December, and Tanya was back from Mongolia for the holidays. Elizabeth had convinced her to take a break from bathing and sleeping to go shopping.

‘So, in the end, Juan will probably get off scot-free,’ Elizabeth explained as they picked through a stall of Christmas- themed socks. ‘Even though he won’t be able to finish his PhD here, I don’t think he cares.’

‘I heard he’s living with Lupita’s family now, and he’s already applied to do a doctorate at one of the Mexican universities.’

‘Can he do that?’

‘If he marries a local girl I guess he becomes Mexican, so then he probably can,’ Tanya replied.

‘It’s so wrong! I wish I could warn them, but knowing Juan, if the university questions why he left Australia just before his thesis was due, he’ll convince them it was all for love, or something.’

Elizabeth sighed. ‘I can’t believe people like him. They do whatever they want and nothing happens! And now no-one cares about the skeletal remains, because all anyone can talk about is the writing being fake.’

Tanya stopped and squeezed her arm. ‘I’m sorry, Liz.’

‘I know.’

Elizabeth paused to look around the shopping mall, or the Cathedral of Hyperconsumption, as Sam called it. Guilt and shame about her sister washed over her again. Maybe Juan hadn’t learnt anything this year, but she certainly had. Elizabeth usually bought or made a present for each of her loved ones for Christmas, but this year she had to be sure she found something special for both Sam and Matty.

‘Are you still worrying about Juan’s threat?’ Tanya asked.

‘No…well, I wasn’t, but I am now.’

‘Honestly, Liz, I think it was just more bluster. Don’t give it another thought.’

Tanya and Elizabeth continued wandering, chatting and shopping, amassing a rather large pile of purchases. Elizabeth found a beautiful scarf for Luke, a starter cookbook for Matty and a map-themed calendar for Nathan. She ummed and ahhed over what to get Sam, but in the end she settled on a selection of vegetarian recipe books. She hoped Sam would see it for the apology that it was.

‘Come on, stop moping,’ Tanya said, pointing along the gallery of shops. ‘We’re almost there!’

As they entered the Christmas Shoppe, Elizabeth’s worries faded into the background. Filled to bursting with every piece of Christmas-related paraphernalia imaginable, it was like an icy-cold air-conditioned fairyland.

Elizabeth and Tanya inched their way through the crowded aisles. After much deliberation they chose one decoration each and bought them for each other; it was their own little Christmas tradition. Elizabeth also picked out beautiful cards for each family member, close friend and work colleague. Her shopping was done! Thankfully it wouldn’t take her long to prepare presents for Grandmère Maddie, Taid and Nainai Cho.

Wandering towards the car park, Tanya nudged her. Luke’s mother and sister were coming out of a jeweller’s store two shops down the arcade.

‘Carla, Sophie, hello!’

Both women jumped.

‘Elizabeth, ahh, Tanya, hello,’ said Luke’s mother, glancing at Sophie.

Luke’s sister tucked a receipt from the jeweller’s into one of her shopping bags. ‘Hi, Lizzie. How’s everything?’

‘Good, good. Luke will be home in less than a month – can you believe it?’

‘I know,’ Sophie’s face split into a wide grin, ‘and I’m sure he can’t wait to be back.’

‘It was good to see you, Lizzie,’ Carla said, grabbing Sophie’s hand, ‘but I’m afraid we have to go. Sophie’s father is waiting for us in the car.’

‘Oh, all right, no worries. See you soon, once Luke is back?’

‘Yes, of course.’

‘Sure will!’ Sophie said. Carla nudged her and they hurried away.

‘That was weird,’ Tanya said. ‘Carla didn’t want to talk to you. What was that about?’

‘Only one way to find out,’ Elizabeth replied, walking into the jeweller’s.

‘Could we have the same thing as those ladies, the ones we were just talking to?’ she asked the girl behind the counter.

‘Oh, you have some old jewellery to be cleaned as well?’

‘Ahh, yes. Like theirs. They were telling us about it. How much does it cost?’

‘Really? Another engagement ring? If it’s in the same condition as that lady’s,’ the girl tipped a glorious white gold and diamond ring out of an envelope onto the counter, ‘then it should only be about ten dollars.’

Elizabeth stared at the ring, unable to speak.

‘Excellent,’ Tanya said grabbing Elizabeth’s arm, ‘she’ll bring it in next week.’

Tanya pulled Elizabeth back out into the corridor. ‘Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.’

‘Stop saying that!’ Elizabeth said, her cheeks hurting from how widely she was smiling.

‘Oh, bonesy girl, did you suspect?’

‘No! I mean, he’s been acting strangely the last few months, a bit distant. I thought it was just us being apart for so long…but he must have won the job! He told me he had to do one more interview before it was final, but…I know you and Luke have had your differences…’

‘I’m very happy to be proven wrong! Can I be maid of honour?’

‘Of course!’

They giggled like school children all the way back to Elizabeth’s car.

— — —

Despite having turned fourteen, Matty was unable to contain his excitement any longer. His enthusiasm infected the cats, who began tearing up and down the hallways, waking the entire household. So, that Christmas morning, the sun rose on a bleary-eyed family already gathered in their softly lit lounge room.

The sounds of champagne glasses clinking and the rustle of wrapping paper filled the air. Loki, Paris – and surprisingly, Seshet – circled the celebrants. Excited and pouncing, they shied away from Matty as he tried to photograph them in undignified pet antlers. Thoth kept an eye on proceedings from the safety of the couch.

Elizabeth curled into her favourite armchair and sank her teeth into a mince pie, crumbs spilling over her green top and candy-cane striped pants. She watched her family tear open their gifts, and sipped her sparkling rosé. She already had the best Christmas present she could ask for: Luke would be home in just three weeks.

Grandmère Maddie, looking gorgeous in a cream satin nightdress and gown, picked up Elizabeth’s gift to her. Pleasure spread across her face as she read it: gift vouchers for four Sundays’ worth of household chores.

‘Merci, Elizabeth, et Joyeux Noel, ma petite. That is very thoughtful, especially knowing how little time you have. I will choose the days wisely.’ Elizabeth beamed at her, pleased.

Sitting ever-so-properly by the heavily decorated tree, the gold threads of her silk wrap glistening in the soft light, Nainai opened Elizabeth’s gift envelope. She treated Elizabeth to one of her rare, heart-warming smiles: Elizabeth had made the same present for both grandmothers.

Elizabeth had kept an eye on Taid as Grandmère and Nainai opened their envelopes. Reclining in his Christmas-red and holly-green pyjamas, Taid caught her glance and winked. She gestured for him to open her present, and he chuckled at her impatience. She watched his face carefully as he read the vouchers for cleaning up four – and four only! – of his kitchen messes the following year. He burst out laughing at the cheeky gift. Elizabeth began to chuckle as well.

‘What are you laughing at?’ Matty asked.

‘Show them.’ Elizabeth pointed at the voucher in Taid’s hands.

‘Why aren’t you opening yours?’ Matty asked Elizabeth. ‘I’ve opened all mine. Do want me to help you?’

Matty looked a trifle warm sitting on the carpet in his Père Noël costume, complete with pillow tummy and long blue hooded cape. It was so good to see him happy. ‘No, it’s okay, I’ll get started now.’ She crawled off her chair onto the floor, ruffling his hair on her way to the base of the Christmas tree.

Elizabeth curled up next to her pile of presents and began opening them, savouring the discovery process. One book after another emerged; she would have to find room on her shelves! Matty had given her a first edition copy of Anne Rice’s The Mummy. Taid gave her a book on ancient libraries, Grandmère a book on early French archaeology, and Nainai a book on early Chinese antiquarians. Judy had followed suit with a book on famous librarians. Even Henry had sent her a book, a heavy tome on Olmec art from the American Museum of Natural History. She opened the card.

Dear Elizabeth

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

My thanks for including me in your fascinating journey this year. Ancient skulls, modern rogues, twists and turns: a story worthy of Mr Twain himself!

You are truly a Tom Sawyer, Detective, except that you solve mysteries from across time – an intermillennial sleuth, if you will.

I hope you involve me in your next great adventure.

Warm wishes for a happy holiday with your family,

Henry

What a fantastic card. Intermillennial sleuth…that had a nice ring to it.

Now, how many presents did she have left? Lynton had given her a beautiful Egyptian fresco card, and Nathan an adorable cat diary. Elizabeth carefully unwrapped the final present in her pile: it was a Buddhist wall-hanging from Sam. She looked at her sister.

‘It means harmony,’ said Sam, holding the vegetarian cookbooks Elizabeth had given her. They smiled tentatively at each other.

‘Thank you,’ Elizabeth said, trying to convey her regret.

‘Attention!’ It was Grandmère Maddie ‘It is six hours to dejeuner! Ensure you have the appetite!’

Gathering her new books for a good browse before lunch, Elizabeth checked she hadn’t left anything beneath the tree.No, nothing from Luke, but she already knew that. He said he was bringing her something special back from Mexico, and now she knew what it was – him! Her stomach flip-flopped at the thought of Luke proposing. Next year was going to be amazing!

— — —

At one o’clock, they gathered in the conservatory for the traditional Pimms Family Christmas Feast. Surveying the gleaming plates, platters, cutlery and foil bonbons, Elizabeth felt the same hint of magic as she did every year. Heaped piles of seafood floated on a sea of white linen: freshly shucked oysters, rolls of smoked salmon, and fresh tiger prawns sat next to bowls of smoked trout and crab dips, and steamer baskets filled with scallop hargau. Nainai had made mushroom and spinach dumplings for Sam, and the cats purred as they crunched on a pile of prawn heads.

Slurping on an oyster, Elizabeth heaved a deep sigh of relief. Between uncovering Juan’s machinations at Juluwik, working at the Library, and learning her mistake about Sam, it had been a difficult year. She liked to think Khaenweset would have been proud of her, though, working her way back into archaeology years ahead of schedule.

Playing with her cartouche so that it caught the light, Elizabeth sat back in her chair between bites as her family peeled, cracked, sucked and slurped their way through the seafood. The cats retired to their cane chairs to pass out, and the onslaught of the second course began. Piles of honey-baked ham, mounds of cold fried chicken and heaped bowls of salads vied for room with jugs of icy cold cordials and champagne cocktails. Attempting a Pimms Family Christmas Feast could certainly be a daunting undertaking. Elizabeth’s stomach baulked at the thought of the cakes, fruit salads and pavlovas lined up in the kitchen for dessert.

At the end of the meal, with bonbon carcasses and party hats strewn across the table, Grandmère Maddie announced the last item on the Pimms’ Christmas Day agenda. Each person had to say the things they were most grateful for from the year. The discomfort of sitting up straight caused a cascade of groans around the table. The cats barely stirred in their collective food coma.

‘I’ll go first,’ Matty volunteered.

Elizabeth tensed.

‘I’m grateful that everyone knows what happened now. I don’t have to keep hiding it. I can make a new start in life.’

‘That’s an unusual thing for a fourteen-year-old to say, Mathieu,’ Taid said.

‘Yes, but it’s how I feel. I know I’m going to be a chef, so that’s my new life.’

Thank the gods, Matty was more himself, cheeky and full of confidence. He had a long road ahead of him, but he would make it. ‘You’re a true Pan cocinarensis, Matty…a cooking chimpanzee,’ she said.

‘Yes,’ he nodded enthusiastically. ‘You should put that on a T-shirt for me.’

Elizabeth chortled. ‘I will.’

Taid raised his glass. ‘To Mathieu!’

‘To Mathieu!’ chorused the rest of the family.

‘Now you Sam!’ Matty said.

‘I, ah…’ Sam’s eyes flicked to Elizabeth, ‘I’m grateful that I’m being heard now. I’m glad we’re going to family counselling next year.’

Elizabeth held Sam’s eye, feeling her cheeks redden, then raised her glass. ‘To Samantha!’

‘To Samantha!’

Taid, Grandmère and Nainai followed, all expressing gratitude for their health, their grandchildren and each other.

It was Elizabeth’s turn.

‘I am grateful,’ she began, looking at Sam and Matty. She swallowed, and tried again. ‘I am grateful for my family, and for my friends, and for Luke. And I’m grateful that now I know I can do the right thing by my family and still be an archaeologist.’

Taid raised his glass. ‘Beth bach, thank you for your hard work this year, and for your sacrifices. I am proud of you for following in the footsteps of your ancestors. We appreciate it more than you can ever know. To Elizabeth, my Snowden lily!’

A radiant warmth spread through Elizabeth’s chest.

‘To Elizabeth!’

— — —

In the phrenic library, Billy mrowled his pleasure at Elizabeth’s happiness. He jumped onto a tapestried footstool beneath a window, intent on sunbathing.

His attention was diverted by a table that appeared beneath the window.

On it, centred in a shaft of light, lay a small chessboard.

A black pawn three squares from the left moved forward two spaces, opening the game.