Page 56 of Snowfall Over Halesmere House
‘And what about when I leave?’ Ella didn’t voice her other thought: her fear of falling completely in love with him, and with his children. How she’d feel if something withered away to nothing after she’d come to love them all, and she was lost all over again. And more importantly, how Lily and Arlo might feel after they had included her in the everyday moments of their lives and she snatched all that from them and took off after something different because Max didn’t love her.
‘That’s months away, Ella. And by then we’ll know if it’s more than a maybe.’ There was only now in his eyes, and she knew neither of them could promise tomorrow unless they were both certain. She felt her stomach drop at the glimpse of hope he was offering as another little piece of her heart slotted into place.
‘Budge up.’
‘I can’t.’ Max grinned as Ella settled on the seat next to him. They were pressed together, crammed like everyone else in the school hall on chairs made for children. He tilted his head towards hers. ‘If I move another inch I’ll be on my neighbour’s lap, and I’d rather not shower them with mulled wine. I already feel as though my knees are around my ears.’
‘Better not, then.’ She smiled as he leaned into her instead, his thigh warm against hers.
Judging by the number of people still trying to find space to sit, the nativity play looked like it might be one of the social events of the season. The school apparently liked to go all-out for the occasion; with mince pies and mulled wine for the adults, and a ticket to the New Year’s Eve black tie fundraising ball was included in the price. Max had seen the children into the classroom converted into a dressing room for the evening and Lily had been almost beside herself with excitement.
Arlo was a little quieter, and Max had made sure he’d had enough pain relief beforehand. His arm was bothering him less each day as he got used to his red cast and enjoyed showing it off. He’d made them laugh in the car as he asked again why they didn’t have tractors in Jesus’ day and if the shepherds who’d seen the angels had brought their sheepdogs to meet Jesus as well because they weren’t mentioned in the story he’d learned, and he was very sure they would have needed dogs. Max offered a smile or a nod to people he knew, and Ella was aware of curious glances directed towards her at his side. Ashley was chatting with a couple near the door. She’d kissed Max hello when they’d arrived and offered Ella a polite welcome.
An excited buzz swept through the crowd as a young teacher appeared and asked everyone to turn their phones to silent as the performance was about to begin. Moments later the children were shepherded into the hall, the littlest ones looking shyly for their grown-ups and waving while the elder ones walked in with a more nonchalant air and years of experience behind them. Teachers encouraged everyone into position on a low stage in front of a huge dark curtain adorned with gold stars. Phones were already being held aloft and the usual safety talk followed while the children fidgeted, impatient to begin.
Ella caught Lily’s eye and waved, and she waved back merrily, keeping her crown in place with one hand. Arlo was sitting safely to one side in his costume, with his arm in its sling and his sheep’s ears sticking up at strange angles. Another teacher hushed the children as the play was introduced and the crowd clapped a cheery welcome. Silence ensued, followed by some anxious whispers between the teachers and a growing sense of unease as the children shuffled nervously. There was a mild scuffle as one of the three wise men dropped his gift and bumped heads with another wise man, eliciting scowls and a squeal. Max chuckled and Ella gave him a nudge with her elbow, which only made him laugh again.
‘Sorry everyone.’ The head hurried out of the wings to stand at one side of the stage. ‘We’re having problems with the sound system; the speakers are refusing to play ball. So typical, everything worked perfectly when we did the dress rehearsal yesterday. We’ve got the words to the carols on the screen, so why don’t we all help the children sing “Jingle Bells” while we sort out the problem? I’m sure we all know the tune.’
The children seemed relieved to have something to do and they were louder than the adults as they all launched into the familiar Christmas song. At the end the head, looking even more flustered, was back on the stage.
‘I’m terribly sorry, it looks very much as though the problem with the speakers is not a temporary one. We’re going to have to ask the children to sing without the music. Please do help them out – we’d all appreciate the support and I know they’ll love the encouragement.’ She clapped and the audience joined in, adding a rousing cheer for good measure. ‘Oh, and if anyone has a sudden desire to accompany us on the piano – our usual teacher who plays is on maternity leave – then now’s your big moment to say so.’
There was a collective silence and a few shrugs as people waited, looking around for a response as if waiting for the doctor in the room to make themselves known.
‘My daddy can play.’ Lily’s voice from the stage was as clear as a bell and Ella felt Max stiffen beside her. He had his hands on his knees and his knuckles turned white as he gripped them. ‘He can play other instruments too, but the piano is his favourite. He’s really good,’ Lily went on.
‘Mr Bentley?’ The head’s voice rose as a hopeful expression replaced the tension in her face. ‘No pressure of course, but you’d be helping the children out immensely.’
Ella’s fingers covered his and she tilted her head to whisper into his ear, ‘You’re amazing and she’ll be so proud of you.’
She felt him squeeze back, then he slowly stood up and the room gave a cheer. He made his way to the front of the hall, relieved clapping accompanying him. He gave Lily a smile as he settled at the upright piano, adjusting the stool and removing his glasses from his shirt pocket. Someone gave him a sheet and spoke a few words. Ella couldn’t take her eyes off him as he quickly rolled his shoulders. He held out his arms, flexed his wrists and stretched his hands, then gave the head a nod.
There was a palpable sense of relief as the three narrators took it in turns to recite the beginning of the nativity story, sharing a microphone they passed between them. Ella was watching Lily and Arlo, but her glance kept sneaking back to Max, poised at the piano as the first song was introduced. She wasn’t expecting the blast of emotion that rushed into her heart again as he began.
This time she understood some of what it cost him to play with others watching and she knew in that second, with absolute clarity, that she loved him. The knowledge hit her like a punch to her chest. It had been sneaking up on her for weeks: the hours they’d spent together with his children, the kiss they’d shared, the support and understanding they’d each offered the other. How could it be like this for her so soon when she was always so careful? And how was she going to make herself leave them if he didn’t feel the same?
Max made the very ordinary piano sound as though it were soaring as the children sang their first carol, relaxed now they had someone to follow. He gave them enough volume to lead without letting the music eclipse their little voices, and at the end another cheer rose. Ella was trembling as the nativity moved on and nearly missed the moments when the manger was upended and Mary dropped the doll playing baby Jesus.
Lily was a brilliant wise man, making sure to offer her gift carefully and say her lines clearly. Arlo’s sheep had had enough, and refused to get up for any more singing, despite some words from his teacher that Ella assumed were encouraging.
‘Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree’ was a fun and very lively part of the finale, another reminder of dancing with Max in the cottage and Lily challenging them to a dance-off. The last song was a resounding ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’, and Max played it again as an encore. Then the performance was over and the children bowed as they accepted the loud clapping and cheers from their audience. There was another roar as the head thanked Max for stepping in and he was surrounded by parents wanting to shake his hand as the children were shepherded offstage. Ella lingered at the back of the crowd, still trying to organise her feelings into order and wondering anxiously how she had managed to fall in love with her employer.
‘Daddy, you were brilliant.’ Lily rushed across. She was out of her costume and back in leggings with a skirt and boots, a Christmas top beneath her coat. People were leaving and the crowd surrounding Max had finally thinned enough for Ella to catch him up. Arlo was with Max too, still in the sheep costume, which he was refusing to take off.
‘Everyone said so,’ Lily went on. ‘And Mrs Graham said if you ever wanted to play at school again, she’d invite you like a shot. She also said something about your glasses, but I didn’t hear all of it. I think she likes them.’
‘Oh, does she?’ Max was still wearing his glasses, and he took them off with a wry smile. ‘How you hear half the stuff you do, I’ve no idea, Lily Isabelle Bentley.’
She clutched Ella’s hand, tugging her towards the exit. ‘Can we have snacks at home? I’m hungry and you said we could have hot chocolate and brownies afterwards, Daddy.’
‘I also said you had to go to bed without any messing about, so I’ll keep my part of the bargain if you two keep yours.’
‘Oui, Papa,ça va.’
They were home in ten minutes, Arlo too tired for hot chocolate, so Max lifted him carefully from the car to take him straight upstairs. It made sense for Ella to offer to make Lily’s drink, to avoid delaying her bedtime any more than necessary.
‘You sure?’ Max paused in the hall, Arlo’s head on his shoulder. ‘Lily will probably have you counting how many sleeps there are until Christmas and asking whether Santa’s bringing a hutch for the guinea pigs or if Stan will make her one.’
