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Salvaging Christmas

Brian Lancaster

 

Excerpt

 

Trevor McTavish loved traditions.

Or, more to the point, new traditions built on old ones. After all, wasn’t that what most of them were, a blend of old and new, built layer upon layer over time? They provided a foundation, something people could rely on, even when everything else around them broke down, or changed unexpectedly, or disappeared entirely from their lives—which seemed to happen to him all too often of late.

Traditions ensured continuity, and even with the few hiccups this year had brought, Trevor loved the Christmas tradition he and Cheryl had created for their friends.

As the sullen driver of the prepaid cab steered in silence through the early morning streets of London, Trevor rested his head against the ice-cold window. Gentle vibrations from the hybrid engine massaged his skull. Already the sky had begun transitioning from purest black as the night shift packed up and daylight took over. Fully alert despite the early hour, he looked for homes with their Christmas lights still burning and gardens or roofs decorated with seasonal figures. A part of him instinctively knew he would get along with the person who had gone to all the effort to put them up, most likely done to make other people smile.

Nothing could shake Trevor’s upbeat mood as the cab turned into the familiar road where the Madison family lived. Since he'd packed last night, the sense of anticipation and excitement at the promise of a road trip with best friends had kept him pumped up and grinning like an inflatable snowman.

Six in the morning on that pre-dawn Friday in December, he climbed out of the overheated car and crunched down onto a pavement of overnight frost. After collecting his luggage from the boot, he pulled out a five-pound note from his wallet and tapped a fingernail on the driver’s window. With a smile, he held up the banknote, ready to wish the man a heartfelt season’s greetings. After all, if the poor guy had to drive a cab at this early hour, he obviously needed the money.

Without even bothering to acknowledge Trevor, the driver pulled away.

Left standing alone in the road, Trevor shrugged and put the fiver back. Perhaps the man had somewhere better to be. Not everyone shared his passion for all things festive.

Humming to himself, he manoeuvred his wheelie luggage up the broken-tiled garden path and prodded the front doorbell. Bing-bongs chimed from somewhere inside. Cheryl Madison’s mother opened the door in her furry-hooded olive parka and mismatching navy Wellington boots. Further at odds with the ensemble, her pink floral nightie peeked out from beneath the jacket.

Trevor almost let out a giggle.

Until he saw the expression on her face.

After a furtive glance at the staircase behind her, Mrs M nodded sharply towards the Volvo out front while handing him a small but deceptively heavy cardboard box. Hauling a larger one from the floor, she strode past him and he trailed after her, the wheels of his luggage clunking arrhythmically on the broken pavement. Only as she unlocked the hatchback and placed her carton inside did she reveal the predicament.

“Hannah’s not coming. She broke up with Cheryl last night. Met someone at their Christmas office party on Tuesday night. Supposedly.”

The way she articulated that final word said everything. Trevor dropped onto the tailgate—causing the car to bounce—and placed his container next to hers. Mrs M stood there studying him, arms folded, appearing to wait for his response. Instinctively, he mirrored her body language and sighed. Of all their friends, he understood only too well the devastating effects of being dumped. Right before their long-anticipated Christmas trip, too. Hannah had always possessed a selfish streak, an immunity to the sensibilities of others. She had often manipulated Cheryl but he’d never thought she would stoop so low.

“Shit. Poor Cheryl. How’s she coping?”

“You’ll see in a minute. Putting on a brave front. I tried to sound surprised when she told me, but something’s not been right for months. The important thing, Trevor, is that we’re down by one more guest.”

“Double shit,” he said, staring down at the road between his legs.

“I’ll let you think about that before I bring out any more boxes, and while I go and put the kettle on,” she said, before heading back to the house.

So much for the Yuletide Gay Club.

They had started the group five years ago. Cheryl, his best friend since high school, could take credit for the idea and him for its successful implementation. Sick of hearing in January how many of their gay friends had spent the holiday season either alone or with families who barely tolerated them, they had created their own tradition.

Six couples shared the cost of renting a country cottage in rural Britain. Seven or eight days spent enjoying Christmas their own way, with their own people, in the countryside.

Far from the maddening crowds.

At first nobody had known whether bringing together couples who were occasional friends would work. That first time, the gathering in the six-bedroom farmhouse in Devon had turned out to be nothing short of a miracle. Everyone had gelled quickly and mucked in together, laughed and got drunk together, played games like Cards Against Humanity until sunrise and raved about the break well into the New Year. So good was the experience that Trevor had already had the next event booked up by February. The same thing had happened the following years, with the small group growing closer.

Except this year—the fifth—grim providence had made a personal appearance. Tragically, Mrs M’s seventy-two-year-old Scottish girlfriend, Monica, the only other person allowed in the kitchen at Christmas and the life and soul of the party, had succumbed unexpectedly to a brain aneurism and passed away in late January.

Next up, at the beginning of March, they had received a cryptic email from regulars Johnny and Frank. Both having quit their jobs, they’d decided to take a hiatus from the rat race, managed to rent out their home, and set off on their travels. Finally free, they’d also committed to a technology-free tour of the world and their last handwritten postcard had been sent from somewhere in the Middle East.

As the year progressed, the casualties had continued to fall like autumn leaves until the usual company of twelve had dropped to five.

Then in April, Trevor’s husband of two years, Karl, had not only announced his newly discovered heterosexuality, or bisexuality, or sexual fluidity—he had yet to settle on a label—but admitted that he had fallen in love with a woman. Four years together, and Trevor’s spouse had woken one morning and realised he had been wrestling for the wrong tag team.

Which left four of them. Initially, they had considered cancelling the event. But without consulting any of them, Hannah had tactlessly filled one space with a new girl from her office, twenty-year-old Jessica, who, in turn, decided that bringing along a male colleague would be perfectly acceptable.

Could things get any worse?

Apparently, they could. After Trevor had signed the online divorce papers, there had followed a doorstep altercation with Karl about which artwork, pillows, bed linen, dishes and cutlery he was entitled to take in the divorce. Not thinking straight, Trevor had succumbed to all his demands. In addition, for their Christmas excursion, Karl had seen no reason why he should be ostracised, why he should not still be invited with his new partner. Maybe because of dwindling numbers, or more likely the result of a temporary lapse in sanity, Trevor had capitulated.

Cheryl had refused to speak to him for three weeks after he’d told her.

By the beginning of December, the promise of a seasonal sanctuary, which used to be the epitome of a cosy, warm and cuddly Christmas Hallmark movie, had morphed into the awkward, dysfunctional cast of characters befitting a Woody Allen feature.

“The question remains,” came the voice of Mrs M. Lost in his thoughts, he jumped when she perched down beside him. “Is it too late to cancel?”

Trevor huffed out a steamy breath and searched for seasonal inspiration along the row of terraced houses. All year he had been looking forwards to their getaway. But this wasn’t only about him.

“Technically, it isn’t. But we won’t get a refund, so we’ll lose the full amount, deposit and all. I’ll also need to ring around and let everyone know pretty swiftly before people set off tomorrow. And I’ll try, but I’m not sure I can contact the owner. Apparently, she has her own family gathering abroad.”

Two nights ago, he had received an email from Mrs Mortimer-King telling him that she would not be in Scotland to meet them, but would arrange for someone to hand the keys over and settle them in. Even though he’d never met her, he liked dealing with her, enjoyed her clear instructions, efficiency and her friendly communications.

“I had a long talk with Cheryl last night,” said Mrs M. “She still wants to go. Doesn’t want to spend Christmas at home sitting around moping.”

“Understandable. How about you?”

Mrs M provided another smile before gazing wistfully to the heavens.

“No matter where I am, I’m going to miss having Mon by my side. She always made this time of the year special. Might as well be busy in Scotland as stuck here with too much time on my hands. Cheryl can help me in the kitchen. How about Karl?”

“Karl? What about him? He’s going to be there.”

“That’s my point. How do you feel about that?”

“It’s fine. I’ll deal.”

Total nonsense, of course. Privately, Trevor prayed his ex-husband would do the decent thing and not show up, or perhaps the new significant other would be better at talking him down from the ledge of his principles. Most of all, he dreaded the idea of seeing Karl fawning over a new partner. Over the years Trevor had grown to love the man, had looked to their life together. Karl suppressed his emotions well and had never been afraid to put on a front and fight for what he believed to be right. Trevor had never been a fighter. He had felt emotionally volatile during their doorstep argument. After Karl had gotten everything he came for, he’d promptly turned on his heel and headed back to the comfort of his newfound relationship. That evening, Trevor had curled up on his side of the double bed he had managed to keep, feeling so painfully alone and pathetic. All night he had lain awake, wondering why Karl had never fought for him the same way.

“In different ways, we’ve both lost someone this year, Trevor. But you know we’ll be there for you, Cheryl and me, don’t you?” said Mrs M, as though hearing his thoughts.

“And I really appreciate that, Mrs M. But if they do show up, promise me you won’t let the break turn into an us-and-them fiasco. You know what Karl’s like when he becomes militant.”

“Wouldn’t dream of doing so. But I’m also not standing quietly and letting him order anyone around. Like he usually does.” She pushed a lock of grey hair from her face before turning to him. “He’s still going to the SLAGO meetings. Turned up at the Christmas fundraiser. Did he tell you?”

Karl had said nothing, but Trevor was unsurprised. His ex might have woken up one day and realised he wasn’t gay anymore, but he still loved a cause, a fight to champion. Hence his unfailing loyalty to the Surrey and London Association of Gay Organisations. After the break-up, Cheryl had mused somewhat unkindly whether Karl had ever really been gay, whether he had decided to call himself queer because he needed to wear a badge of honour, to fight on the side of something subversive and radical, become a member of the Great British LGBTQ Cause Club. Trevor knew different, because their relationship had not been a sham even if Karl had shunned affection outside the bedroom. Trevor accepted those things because they meant having someone to care for, to love and share a life with. And more than anything, even after everything that had transpired, Trevor still respected Karl as a person.

“What he does now is his own business. Lots of straight people go to those meetings,” he offered. He didn’t want an argument about Karl. “Helping young gay kids who are chucked out on the streets by their families, kids with nowhere to go. Karl’s still supporting a worthy cause.”

Mrs M didn’t appear to want to listen. In some ways, she was just like her late partner.

“Lesbians that convert and cross over to the hetero side are labelled ‘hasbians’. What do you call men who denounce their homosexual status?”

“He’s not calling himself straight, if that’s what you’re asking. So I don’t think he’s entirely forfeited the title.”

“Mon would have called him a fecking wee Judas.”

Trevor let out an exasperated breath. Had she been alive, Monica would have probably gone round to see Karl and given him a piece of her mind, and would at the very least have withdrawn his invitation.

“Look, I know you’re supporting me, Mrs M. But if we’re going to get through this holiday, let’s keep our thoughts to ourselves and try to struggle through with the minimum of casualties.”

After a glance, she chuckled a steamy breath into the morning.

“You’re really selling this holiday, aren’t you? But I’m deadly serious, Trevor. If you want to back out now, we’re with you all the way.”

He stared into the distance and thought about something Cheryl had said recently to him. Quoting the five stages of grief, she believed Trevor should be going through the anger stage by now, showing signs of betrayal or issuing threats of revenge. But that was never going to be his style. Others had made their thoughts and feelings known about Karl, but Trevor wasn’t built that way. Yes, of course he had wallowed in self-pity at first, but he had also had nine months to use up those emotions and now felt wrung out, emotionally exhausted, and resigned to living out the rest of his days as a bachelor gay. And a holiday far away from the city smoke could be just what the therapist ordered—if he’d had one.

“Stuff it, no. Let’s do it, Mrs M. If not for us, for Monica. She loved this time of year. And we’re gathering in the land of her ancestors, the Caledonian Celts.”

“Oh, baby,” she said, putting her arm around his shoulders and hugging him tightly. “You have such a good heart. I promise never to mention this again for the duration of the holiday, but Karl was neither right nor good enough for you.”

“You’re obligated to say that. It’s written into the mother charter under the ‘Cheryl’s best friend’ subsection. So how many are we now?”

“You, me and Cheryl.”

“Three.”

“Karl and his new—is she his girlfriend?” asked Mrs M.

“Partner, I think.”

“What’s her name?”

“No idea. But that makes us five.”

“Jessica and this guy she’s bringing. From Hannah’s office.”

“Seven then. Are they a couple?”

“Not according to Hannah.”

“How are they travelling there?”

“Train, I think. Not our problem, is it? They have the address.”

“Are they even gay?”

“Don’t think so.”

“Heaven help us,” Trevor said, shaking his head. “This keeps getting better and better. Seven of us in a seven-bedroom converted lakeside lodge—sorry, lochside lodge—that sleeps up to eighteen. Obscene, really. Mind you, the place looks amazing, especially the kitchen. Did Cheryl show you the latest website photos? Modernised, but they’ve still maintained its vintage charm, especially with that huge Aga cooker.”

“Never trust photographs. Remember the Lake District? All mod cons, my foot. Just because they provided a four-slice toaster and a heated towel rack. And I’ve tried cooking on many an Aga, and recall what a temperamental pain in the backside they can be.”

“That’s your superpower, Mrs M. Wrestling temperamental pains in the backside. I suppose you’ve packed enough food to feed the whole village?”

“You might thank me if we’re snowed in.”

“The way the weather’s been playing up, we’re more likely to experience heat stroke.”

At that very moment, Cheryl emerged from the house, juggling three mugs of something hot and steaming. Decked out in her faux-Versace beige-and-burgundy silk dressing gown and pink slippers, she came to a stop before the garden gate. With a mimed roar, she issued a steamy yawn into the morning.

“Trevor Oswald McTavish,” came her familiar voice. She was the only person he would allow to use his full name. Sometimes his friends called him Mac, because nobody—nobody—ever referred to him as Trev. Not unless they wanted to be ghosted. Considering everything that had gone down over the past twenty-four hours, she did not look too bad. “Thought I heard your dulcet tones. Well, don’t sit there like pigeons on a pole. One of you open the gate for poor, lonesome old me. Can’t you see my hands are full?”

“Someone’s cheered up,” whispered her mother. “Must be hearing your voice, Trevor.” Standing up from the tailgate, she went over and unlatched the access. “I thought you were showering. You told me we needed to be on the road early, to beat the traffic.”

“I didn’t know if you and Trevor had decided to pull the plug. But judging by your smiling faces, I guess not. And anyway, there’s no rush now. I just checked the satnav app and listened to the latest traffic report.” Cheryl handed a mug of deep brown tea to her mother, and a milkier version to Trevor. “Looks as though people stayed home. So we may as well do the M25, M40 then hit the M6. If we leave by nine, with an hour’s stop for lunch, we’ll reach the lodge between eight and nine this evening.”

“Perfect,” said Mrs M, taking a sip from her mug and pulling a face. “Means we’ll arrive in time for a quick shower and a bite to eat before bedtime. Then a whole day getting things ready before the others arrive.”

Trevor studied Cheryl as Mrs M spoke. She seemed far too bright and perky considering everything. Either she was putting on a brave face or, more likely, the news had not been unexpected.

“So what’s gonna be the theme this time, Martha Stewart?” Cheryl asked him.

Each year, Trevor had been tasked with decorating the venue in readiness for the rest of the troupe’s arrival. If Cheryl’s mum excelled in the kitchen, his forte was in decorating spaces. On the first trip he’d created a freedom rainbow theme, conceptually tricky but accomplished without making the place seem too tacky, or like a set from My Little Pony. In subsequent years, other people had pushed their choices—Frozen’s pure white, and blue for Johnny and Frank, after their favourite Christmas song, Blue Christmas.

This season Trevor had consulted nobody. But he always remembered Monica’s reaction whenever he unveiled one of his creations, a simple, ‘Nice, Mac, but what’s wrong with normal decorations?’ This year, he had decided to go with a conventional Christmas theme, fresh and natural, incorporating whatever he could find around the lodge. Hopefully this would entail a visual and fragrant display of branches of fir, evergreen and pine cones, items he could fix together and finish off with the red or tartan ribbons he had brought from home. No gaudy colours, no artificial paints or glitter this year, just earth colours and raw materials.

“Trade secret. But let’s just say I’m not taking requests this year.”

“Whatever you do,” said Mrs M, patting him lightly on the shoulder, “I’m sure it will be lovely.”

“Not sure anyone will notice,” Trevor muttered to himself as she shuffled off, a move clearly meant to leave space for Cheryl and him to talk. As she managed the latch on the garden gate, Cheryl moved to take the place beside him. They sat for a few moments, each sipping their drinks, before either broke the silence—an honour given to Cheryl.

“Mum and I talked last night. As long as you were still on board, I’d be driving the first leg until Birmingham,” she said, the ordinary topic surprising him. “Mum’s insisting on doing her bit, but her eyesight’s getting worse. So I suggested she take the second leg for a couple of hours until mid-afternoon before the light starts to fade. After that, you can take over.”

“Fine by me.”

“Told her you’re the only one who’s been to Scotland and knows back roads.”

“I’ve been there once. To Edinburgh by train. When I was ten.”

“She doesn’t need to know that. Besides, we have my trusty satnav app.”

They sat in comfortable silence again until he peered at her.

“Why didn’t you call me last night? About Hannah?” he asked. Few of the people who knew Cheryl got to see the morning version—pale and makeup free and, quite honestly, looking like she needed a blood transfusion. She held her mug before her in both hands but refused to look at him as she took a big sigh and replied.

“She called at midnight. And I didn’t want to bother you. You’re still working through your own relationship aftermath.” Cheryl smoothed an errant lock of her long mousy brown hair over her right ear, a trademark habit. “I’m angry, Mac, of course I am. But the truth is we’ve been drifting apart for months. Last night wasn’t a knife to the heart so much as the final squeeze that stopped the heart from beating. Worst of all, everyone saw what was happening but me. Maybe because I’d hoped that if I didn’t say anything, things might eventually turn themselves around. But everything makes sense now. I wanted us to marry, she didn’t see the point. I wanted to move in together, she preferred her own space. Can’t tell you how many times she voiced her dislike of kids, as though letting me know not to even dare ask. All the signs were there. I was just deaf and blind to them.”

“Yeah, well, love can do that.”

“I’m not even sure what we had was love. More like comfortable familiarity. This was my wake-up call, my epiphany, telling me it’s time to grow up and move on.”

Trevor reached across to squeeze Cheryl’s hand.

“Must say, you’re taking this like a trooper.”

“Really? Right at this moment, I feel like standing up on the bonnet of this car, getting my Adele on and belting Make You Feel My Love into the morning at the top of my voice.”

“Please, no. Think of the sleeping neighbours. Besides, no karaoke before midday.”

Both chuckled, Cheryl bumping her shoulder with his, before she sighed deeply.

“I’ve no idea who she is,” she said. “This girl she’s supposed to have met at the work party. Not even sure there is anyone. If you want my guess, she needs time alone over Christmas, or at least the company of her own family.”

“Could have picked better timing,” said Trevor. “I’m not sure we’d have gotten a refund, though, if—”

“Doesn’t matter. I paid her share,” said Cheryl.

A heavy silence hung in the air between them.

“They say bad things come along in threes,” said Trevor.

“Threes?”

“Monica, Karl and now Hannah. Although your mum’s loss is hardly comparable to ours. How’s she doing?”

“You know Mum. She tries not to let anything get to her, puts on a brave front for everyone. But I know she’s hurting. I know she misses Monica terribly. A couple of times I’ve heard her talking to herself, in the bedroom or the bathroom. Until I realised she was actually talking to Monica.”

Trevor breathed out a sigh and let the sadness sink in.

“Poor Mrs M. Our worries pale by comparison, don’t they? I suppose things gets better, over time.”

“So they say. Do you still miss Karl?” asked Cheryl.

Trevor stared at his feet. Every day, he almost blurted. For five of their six years together, they had lived under the same rented roof, shared the same bed, watched the same television shows, cooked and cared for each other—in sickness and in health. On the other hand, each had stuck with their own set of friends outside of their home and the two camps had rarely mixed. He and Karl had only ever showed up as a couple on the rare occasion, such as family gatherings or meetings with their support group friends.

When Karl left, Trevor had holed himself up, and the flat had become a tomb. Apart from visiting Cheryl’s place on occasion, he hadn’t felt brave enough to step out on his own.

“Sometimes,” he lied. “But I’m finally comfortable with my own company. At least you didn’t get married then get dragged through the gutters of divorce.”

“True enough.”

“All those years the gay community spent chasing marriage equality. And once we finally won the right, we totally forgot that marriage comes with that evil and twisted twin lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to pounce. We forgot that once you get the main prize, there in the wings like a vicious predator, hungry to get its fangs into anything you have and stamp on anything you ever felt, lies good old-fashioned divorce.”

“And finally Trevor’s anger raises its ugly head—”

“You think you know somebody until you’re threatening to strangle each other over throw cushions, nylon quilt covers or placemats decorated with the heads of Lenin, Mao and Che Guevara. Even a novelty penis bottle opener. I’d love to know what my replacement has made of that little gem.”

“What’s her name, by the way? This new girlfriend.”

Cheryl’s mother had asked him the same thing.

“No idea. We’ll find out tomorrow. Unless the pair of them come to their senses and decide not to show.” Trevor stared at his mug and gently shook his head. “I’m twenty-eight, Cheryl. There’s this guy the same age as me who works for one of my clients. He’s married to another man and they have a kid he walks to school each morning.”

“And your point is?”

“When am I going to grow up?”

“We, you mean. And to be honest, I hope we never do. At least you get to cross marriage off your list.” Cheryl placed the mug against her cheek and sighed deeply. “Is this trip going to be a disaster?”

“Are you giving me permission to burst into My Heart Will Go On?”

Cheryl checked her wristwatch.

“Sorry, Mac, still morning. No karaoke. Your rule, not mine.”

Once again, they grinned at each other, and Trevor felt his bravado swell through their shared humour and adversity.

“You know what, Cheryl? Your mum asked the same thing, and I’ll tell you what I told her. We’re doing this. We may not have the usual crowd, but your mum’s still serving up her amazing Christmas fare, there are plenty of rooms for privacy, and we’ll be in walking country. So if anyone starts to get on our nerves, we can find each other and go for a long walk in the glen. Or a hike to a local pub. Or go for a swim in the bloody loch for all I care.”

“I am so not packing my swimwear,” she said, horrified.

“Wimp,” he said, nudging her shoulder.

“Bloody right. But I’ll happily cheer you on as you cut a hole in the ice and dive in. I may even help you out, if you can find the hole again,” she replied with a mischievous smile. “And I am going to eat and drink whatever I want, no calorie counting and no judgement.”

“And no disagreement from me. I am with you one hundred percent.”

“God,” she said, breathing out a long sigh. “Maybe we should just get married to each other. If celebrities are alleged to be able to make marriages work, I’m sure we can. Sex isn’t everything, is it?”

Trevor took the question to be rhetorical.

“Love you as I do, Cheryl, we would only ruin a perfect friendship. We’d end up killing each other over which TV programmes to watch, acceptable toilet seat etiquette, whose turn for the karaoke machine, duvet hogging—any number of things. Besides, not only am I never getting married again, I am never falling in love. And you can quote me on that.”

“Oh, trust me, I will.”

“Now, let’s get our arses into gear. We’ve got a long road ahead. But just so you know, I’m not booking anything next year. Takes too much effort. This is definitely going to be the last.”

“Last what?”

“Last Christmas. And no, that was not your cue for a song!”