“Is everyone ready?” Marcy called out from the sitting room. “We’re going to be late and I don’t know about you two but I’m hungry.”
First thing this morning they’d all piled into Claudia’s bed to open presents from each other—Marcy couldn’t actually remember what they all were now but was certain it would come back to her—before pulling on tracksuits and trainers to jog over to the shelter to serve turkey specials to the homeless. Andee’s ex-husband, Martin, and his partner, Angie, had been there (everyone seeming to be the best of friends), and thanks to them Claudia now had an invitation for New Year’s Eve. Whether she’d actually go to the black-tie charity ball at the Royal Hotel had yet to be seen, however Marcy was determined to stay hopeful, especially now that she knew that Dan had also been invited.
As Claudia came through from her bedroom wearing a red sequined dress that she’d bought at Glory Days especially for today, smiley Santas in her ears and a garland of silver tinsel around her neck, Marcy exclaimed, with joyous approval, “My God, you’re going as a Christmas tree!” Being so fancily dressed was a truly big step forward for Claudia, for she and Joel had always embraced the season with the most outrageous costumes. Nothing like it had happened after she’d married Marcus, and this time last year she’d been so afraid of upsetting him in some way that she simply hadn’t known what to do with the house, or herself, or even for Jasmine. Marcy still didn’t know the full details of how Claudia had apparently ended up getting it wrong, but she would never forget the phone call she’d received from her granddaughter begging her to come and get them.
Well, she didn’t have to go anywhere to get them today. They were right here under her watch, and since the triumph of last night’s concert they’d all been in such frivolous, festive moods that it had been difficult to sleep. Jasmine’s violin solo had received so much praise that she’d glowed brighter than Rudolph’s nose all the way home. And Claudia had surprised herself by actually giving Dan a quick embrace before they’d left.
“Oh, wow, Mum, you look amazing,” Jasmine declared, coming out of her room in a cream flared mini dress, thick black tights, and bright red lipstick. “I told you as soon as we saw it that it was made for you. And look at you, Nana the banana.”
Marcy winced. “Really not how I wanted to be described,” she protested.
“Then you shouldn’t wear yellow, but you give jumpsuits a good rep, I’m telling you that. I bet Henry’s wild about them.”
“He’s never said.”
“Wait till he has to get you out of one . . .”
“OK, time to go!” Claudia declared, picking up the bag of gifts they’d prepared for the Secret Santa at Andee’s.
“Before we leave,” Jasmine cried, holding up her hands, “I have an announcement to make.”
Intrigued, her mother and grandmother turned back.
“I’ve decided,” she told them, eyes bright with excitement, “that for the opening night of the spring concert I’m going to play Dad’s violin.”
As Claudia’s heart melted, she pulled her daughter into a loving embrace. “That’s wonderful, wonderful,” she murmured, holding her close. “Oh God, after last night . . . I thought, I hoped you might feel ready . . .”
“I think I am.” Jasmine smiled as Marcy joined the hug. “I’ll take it to Anton after Christmas so he can make sure it’s properly tuned and we can start using it during rehearsals.”
“It’s going to be very special.” Marcy’s voice shook a little, knowing already that many tears would be shed that night and a lot of them hers.
“This is the best Christmas present I’ve ever had,” Claudia said softly, cupping Jasmine’s face in her hands.
“You’ve made us very happy,” Marcy added. “We’re both so proud of you. I know I’ve already told you this, but the way you played last night will stay with me forever. Everyone was so moved, and opening the spring concert on your dad’s special gift to you . . . That’s going to be even more memorable.”
Laughing, Jasmine said, “I hope you’ll be one of those out there dancing, because it’s not going to be a wholly classical performance. Plenty of pop and jazz.”
“You can count on it,” Marcy assured her.
“And now we really should go,” Claudia told them. “Are you sure you’re happy to drive?” she asked Jasmine.
“Totally,” Jasmine insisted, and held up the key to the bright blue Mini with a painted daisy on top that her mother and grandmother had bought for her two weeks ago when she’d passed her driving test. An early Christmas present, they’d told her. She went everywhere in it now, and it had already been decided that she would leave them to get a taxi home later while she went to spend the evening with Abby at Ash Morley.
By the time they arrived at Andee and Graeme’s, Andee’s mother Maureen was already there and welcomed them at the door. She and Marcy were like old friends these days, given all the time they spent together at the community center, but this morning at the shelter was the first time Claudia and Jasmine had met her. She was as gracious and good-natured as her daughter, and eager to break out the champagne, they discovered, as they entered the kitchen. The smell of roasting turkey, potatoes, and stuffing was so delicious that they could almost feast on the air.
Graeme immediately popped a cork, and as the glasses were filled and everyone joined in a toast Claudia didn’t like to ask where Dan was; no doubt he’d turn up any minute. However, as the smoked salmon canapés and Brie and cranberry twists were passed around, and crackers were pulled for silly gifts and paper hats, he still didn’t show.
Maybe he was going somewhere else for lunch and coming later. Or he could be unwell and had called to say he couldn’t make it.
“Oh my, look at this,” she heard her mother gasp, and turning she saw that Graeme had opened the set of double doors into the dining room, where the table was laid for a banquet and a giant Christmas tree glittered silver and gold in front of a tall sash window. The candles, ornaments, and place settings were silver and gold too, and seeing there were seven people expected to sit down, Claudia found herself relaxing without having realized she was tense. Right now they were only six, so it seemed Dan was coming, and she really had to stop fixating on it, because even if he did, what was she going to do? Tell him she’d changed her mind and would like to meet him for a coffee or lunch? She wouldn’t do it, she knew that already, so why was she giving herself such a hard time over where he was?
As everyone took a seat, sitting where they liked, Graeme seemed aware of her thoughts, as he said, “By the way, Dan is definitely joining us, but he’s been held up so he’s insisting we carry on until he gets here.”
“What’s happened?” Maureen asked, pulling up next to Marcy. “Is he all right?”
“He’s fine. He had a call from his in-laws after the concert last night, apparently one of them had had a fall, so he drove to Dorchester to check that they’re OK.”
“And are they?” Marcy asked.
“I believe so. Their son and daughter-in-law have arrived from Manchester now, so when Dan rang earlier he was just setting off to come back to Kesterly. My guess is he’ll arrive in about half an hour.”
Leaning in to her mother, Jasmine murmured, “You thought he wasn’t coming, didn’t you?”
Claudia kept her head turned away as though she hadn’t heard, while under the table she gave Jasmine a pinch.
He turned up just as the sizzling, bacon-strapped turkey was being carved, and as he was ushered into place at the table opposite Claudia—and given wine, a cracker, and a napkin—she was aware of how pleased everyone was to see him. He, too, was evidently thrilled to see them. The party seemed complete now, slightly more balanced even, given that Graeme was no longer the only man.
Much of the talk over the meal was of Christmases past, hilarious anecdotes of disasters and surprises, long-forgotten memories retrieved and retold with shameless exaggeration. Marcy joined in unabashedly, describing incidents from both Jasmine’s and Claudia’s childhoods as though Christmas with them had always been a joyous and close-family affair. Claudia said little, but found herself laughing along with everyone else, and loved the way that Jasmine did too. Today, with such good friends as these, was no time to remember the terrible recent years with Marcus.
When the table was finally cleared, they moved over to the drawing room, where Graeme had already rekindled the fire and lit up another Christmas tree. After relaxing in front of the Queen’s speech and some dozing during It’s a Wonderful Life, coffee and liqueurs were served, along with a flaming Christmas pudding and brandy-flavored cream.
It was almost six by the time Jasmine left to drive to Ash Morley, far more flushed by the boisterous rounds of Taboo they’d played than by alcohol, as she’d had none since the glass of champagne on arrival.
As the door closed behind her daughter Claudia felt a strange mix of pride and loss, as if this was the best and worst part of the day. It was wonderful to see her claiming her independence, as she would more and more now that she had a car, but Claudia was already missing her little girl. She wondered fleetingly where they all might be this time next year, and experienced a wave of emotion as she realized that a year ago she’d never have imagined herself to be somewhere like this today. It would have been beyond her wildest dreams.
Feeling Dan’s eyes on her, she smiled as she looked at him, and gave a laugh at the comical way he arched his eyebrows.
“So, Claudia,” Maureen said from the comfort of a cream leather fireside chair, “can I ask how the renovations are going at the coach house? I’ve been hearing great things about it. Is it true it’ll soon be ready for you to move into?”
Thrilled to be asked, Claudia said, “We’re hoping it’ll be sometime in the next couple of months. The builders are doing an amazing job of bringing the place back to life.”
“The builders are?” Andee cried in protest. “You mean you are. You should see some of the things she’s done! All the original features have been restored or replaced, cornices, fireplaces, windows and doors, even the kitchen has a centuries-old feel about it in spite of it being brand-new—and I can’t wait to see it when the refectory table is in. The whole place is already feeling so much like a home that I could hardly tear myself away when I went in the day before yesterday. Don’t you love it?” She turned to Marcy.
“Completely,” Marcy assured her. “To borrow one of Jasmine’s words, it’s awesomazing. I don’t suppose anyone but my daughter would have thought to have purple walls with blue and yellow globe lamps hanging from stainless-steel rods over the kitchen table, but amazingly, I can see it working.”
“Andee would have thought of it,” Claudia put in with a laugh, “because it was her idea.”
“We came up with it together,” Andee insisted, “but the saffron drapes are all yours and they’re a stroke of genius, in the way they’re going to be there, but not there, so they take nothing away from the windows. Frankly, it’s going to give a whole new meaning to Georgian chic. We’re still searching for art, but Claudia has some wonderful ideas for the spaces she wants to fill.”
Claudia grimaced. “It’ll be a matter of finding the right shapes and sizes, colors, styles . . . Some art nouveau, others more classical. It’s going to be a big job, that’s for sure.”
“I might know someone who can help with that,” Dan informed her. “An artist who’s making a name for herself by creating bespoke works for clients.”
“You’re talking about Julie Forrest,” Andee came in excitedly. “Why on earth didn’t I think of her? She lives out in Mulgrove village? Yes, you guys should definitely meet,” she told Claudia. “She has the kind of vision that sets your head spinning, but in a good way. I didn’t realize you knew her, Dan.”
“We only met a couple of months ago,” he said. “She needed some help with a studio she’s buying, so the firm’s acting for her.” To Claudia, he said, “You’ll meet her at the ball on New Year’s Eve, if you’re going to be there. I’ll be happy to introduce you.”
Claudia’s smile didn’t falter in spite of the way her heart did. “That would be lovely. I’ll look forward to it,” she said, feeling the heat of her mother’s eyes on her.
They were both thinking the same thing, that it sounded as though Dan already had a partner for New Year’s Eve.