Page 103 of It Always Snows on Mistletoe Square
‘Looks like she’s leaving everything to you,’ Ben says.
‘I doubt that. Why would she? I’m just a stranger, whereas you are Angela’s grandson.’
‘That is yet to be proven. Anyway, carry on with the letter.’
‘Er, where had I got to … ah, yes. “I knew of you of course from your lovely parents. But when I found out you were a writer, I also knew you would be the perfect person to tell both the story of my family and the story of Christmas House, since you were born here. This is something I still wish you to do, if you are happy to continue after what you learn today.”’
I nod. ‘I’m still going to do it,’ I tell Ben. ‘Everything Estelle has told me will make a fabulous book when I write it all up.’
‘Good,’ Ben says. ‘I’m pleased to hear it.’
I continue reading from the letter. ‘“Elle, you’ve shown so much courage. Not only in coming here to Christmas House and starting a new life, but in listening to and believing in my stories. If you think back, many of my own family and Angela’s showed courage in dealing with the problems of their time. And that is how I look on you now, dear Elle, as a part of our courageous family. That is why I think you are the perfect person to inherit half of our estate. I would very much like you to have Holly House,”’ I raise my eyebrows at Ben, ‘“and also my collection of Christmas decorations, which, after meeting you, I am certain you will look after and cherish just like I have over the years. I know Christmas and you have not always been on the best of terms, Elle. But I hope what you have learnt in the short time we have spent together will mean you can go on to enjoy everything it represents – Peace, Love, Joy and Togetherness, not only at Christmas, but for the rest of your life too. Yours eternally, Estelle x.”’
I stare at the letter for a moment, and read the last part again. Yours eternally, Estelle x.It was so final. Am I never going to see her again? It seems impossible to think she will never sit opposite me in her favourite armchair. Looking over her glasses at me, stroking Alvie on her lap.
Alvie, of course, disappeared when Estelle and Angela did. Did he ever exist at all? Just like Estelle and Angela, he seemed so real.
I look over at Ben now. ‘Has that made things any clearer for you?’
Ben shakes his head. ‘Not really. Only that you seem to have inherited the house next door and some Christmas decorations.’
‘They’re not just any Christmas decorations, are they?’ I say, looking up at the Christmas tree. ‘They tell the story of this house and those who lived here.’
Just like I’m going to, I tell myself.Over and over again, to anyone who will listen. Estelle and Angela might not be here any more, but their stories won’t disappear with them. I’ll make sure of it.
‘I guess they do,’ Ben says. ‘But what I don’t understand is when Estelle wrote that letter? Henry said she died over ten years ago, and the document was drawn up and sealed shortly after that. So how can Estelle have dictated the letter to Angela if it was written just after she died?’
‘I really don’t know … everything is still very confusing.’
‘I thought the letters were supposed to make things clearer, but instead they’re throwing up even more questions.’
‘Ben, I can’t explain any of this any more than you can. But all we know is, it happened. We can’t both be going crazy, can we? And even if we were, we can’t both have imagined exactly the same thing. I think it’s time you read your letter – maybe it will help?’
‘All right.’ Ben sighs and begins prising open the seal on his envelope. Then he does the same as me and checks the last page to see who it’s from.
‘This one is from Angela,’ he says. ‘It’s in the same handwriting as your letter.’
‘“Darling Ben,”’ he begins. ‘“It has been such a privilege getting to know you over the last few days. Even though you were not aware when you came to Mistletoe Square who I was, I was very much aware of who you were, and it broke my heart not being able to tell you.”’
Ben glances up at me with a questioning look, but I gesture for him to continue.
‘“For all the bad luck you consider you had when you were born, you have turned out to be a wonderful, caring, bright and clever young man, and one I would have been proud to call my grandson, if we had been given that chance together. But as you now know, sadly I will pass away before we have a proper chance of getting to know each other.”’ Ben looks confused once more. ‘How can she have written this in the past if we … before we … ’
‘Just read the letter, Ben,’ I tell him. ‘I’m exhausted from trying to figure all this out.’
‘Sure,’ Ben says, looking at me with concern. ‘It’s been a long night for both of us. Right, where was I? Okay, got it. Ready?’
I nod.
‘“However, I am so pleased that my last wish will be granted, just as Estelle’s was to her, so we were able to plan all this together.”’ Ben frowns. ‘Last wish? When did they get a last wish? You don’t think … ?’ He looks up.
‘I don’t know, do I?’ I say hurriedly.
Ben looks down at the letter again. ‘“Estelle’s letter explains why she wants Elle to have Holly House and her prized collection of Christmas decorations. She knows Elle will do right by them both in the future. Just as I know you will do the right thing with the information I’m about to tell you, Ben. Why you should be the person to inherit Christmas House.”’ He looks up from reading again. ‘Me?’ he says, looking aghast. ‘Why me?’
‘Keep reading!’ I encourage him. ‘We’ll never get to the bottom of this if you don’t finish reading your letter.’
‘“By now,”’ Ben continues, ‘“Estelle and I will have told you and Elle all the stories of Christmas House, and you will know so much about Estelle’s family. But what you do not know, Ben, is much about your own family. Although you think we were only meeting Estelle’s family in her stories, what you were unaware of is we were actually meeting yours as well.”’ Ben looks up again. ‘What on earth does she mean?’
