Page 26 of Christmas at the Home Farm Vets
‘Nice.’ Erin cringed as she adjusted the timer on the steamer and put the lid over a layer of kale, a gift from Edmund’s garden.
‘Nice? That’s it?’
‘Yes, I expect you’ll meet them eventually. Please would you do the table, lunch isn’t far off being ready.’
‘Right.’ Heather opened a drawer, gathering place mats and cutlery. ‘How many are we, love? Three or four? I take it Edmund’s coming?’
‘Just two. Edmund’s nephew is taking him out and I said I’d save him a meal for tomorrow.’
It wasn’t unusual for her neighbour to join them for Sunday lunch. When Erin was on call, Edmund accepted parcels for her and she often came home to find a note through her door and a meal in the little outhouse in the garden, so sharing Sunday lunch was one way she could thank him for his kindness. As a local historian of considerable expertise and long retired from the security services in London, Edmund was brilliant company, and she loved listening to the stories he was able to share.
‘Has your lodger gone out, then?’ Heather called from the sitting room. ‘Remind me again, what’s her name? Melissa, wasn’t it?’
‘Melanie.’ Erin lifted a scalding tray of golden-brown roast potatoes from the oven and set it on the hob. The Yorkshire puddings were perfect, gravy was simmering in a pan, and she went to the fridge, about to remove a jar of horseradish sauce. ‘About Melanie, Mum, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.’
‘Go on then, spit it out.’ Heather was back and she removed two glasses from a cupboard. ‘You’re being very cagey all of a sudden, our Erin.’
‘There was a change of plan and I have a different lodger,’ Erin said hurriedly. ‘It was all very last minute, and I didn’t really have time to think it through. I just decided to go along with it and…’
‘You don’t need my permission to have someone staying in your own home, love.’
‘Mum, shush!’ Erin took a deep breath, the memories of that weekend when Oli had driven her back to Yorkshire still so fresh in her mind, as though it had been just a few months ago and not thirteen years. But her mum was bound to have forgotten anyway, so worrying what Heather might have to say about him being here was pointless. ‘His name is Oli.’
‘Oli? How funny your lodger should have the same name as that lovely boy who drove you home when I was poorly that time. He had the nicest manners of anyone I’ve ever met, and he was so good with your nan and grandad too, they thought he was marvellous. Do you remember him rushing off to Asda because we’d run out of… Erin, love, you’ve gone pale. What’s the matter?’
‘There aren’t two Olis,’ Erin muttered. ‘Just the one.’
‘You mean it’s him?’ Heather’s brows rose with her voice. ‘Your Oli, the one you were so keen on at university? The one that drove you home?’
‘I wasn’t that keen on him, Mum,’ Erin replied hastily, glancing at the ceiling lest he might overhear. Her face was scarlet, and she’d forgotten why she was at the fridge. ‘We were on the same course, that’s all. And he’s very definitely notmyOli.’
She turned her attention to the beef and began to carve, slowing down when she saw the thick slice she’d hacked off in her haste. ‘Melanie couldn’t come and Gil found Oli instead. I had nothing to do with his decision, and it would be great if you would remember that we’re just colleagues staying in the same house and treat him accordingly.’
‘Treat him accordingly,’ Heather said incredulously. ‘So you’ve forgotten, then, what he did for you?’
‘He drove me home, Mum. Once. That’s it.’ Erin always tried to diminish it because it still didn’t make any sense, that’d he put himself out for her. Back then the answer was too incredible to believe and now it was too late to do anything about.
‘You’re right, he did drive you home just the once, even though I always expected he’d turn up again. But he didn’t hire a car and drive you all the way from Cambridge to see if I was all right, love. Oh, I’m sure he wanted me to be fine, but every mile, every pound he spent, every minute on that old couch with his feet sticking over the end, he did for you, Erin. You might not think so but it’s true. So where is he, why isn’t he having lunch with us?’
‘Because I didn’t ask him and he’ll be going out!’ The plates she’d picked up hit the worktop more forcefully than Erin intended. ‘Cooking for him is not part of our arrangement and we don’t eat together.’
‘But don’t you think it would make sense, seeing as you’re both working long hours in all weathers?’ Heather said quietly, filling the glasses with water from a jug in the fridge. She’d never been someone who shouted and a calm word laden with disappointment had always been more effective than yelling where Erin was concerned.
Heather made it seem very simple, and Erin’s teeth were clenched together as she slid a knife into the carrot and swede to test them. This was all her own fault; she ought to have anticipated that her mum was like a dog with a bone once she got started on something, and having her over for lunch with Oli here was clearly a very bad idea.
‘Pooling your resources would probably save you money in the long term. It’s not going to cost much more to make a shepherd’s pie or a chilli for two than it is for just one. Your energy costs will go up if you cook separately.’
‘I’m not daft, I’ve factored that into his rent,’ Erin said impatiently, tilting her head to the sitting room. ‘Why don’t you go and sit down? I’ll bring it through.’
‘Erin, this isn’t you,’ Heather said quietly, resting a gentle hand on her arm. ‘We’ve always shared, even when we had next to nothing.’
Both their heads swivelled to the stairs as a door opened above them. Erin was cringing again, wondering if Oli had heard every word. The breath seemed to have left her body as he made his way downstairs, and a glance was enough to take in his casual lounging clothes. Their eyes met and then the familiar grin was back as he held out a hand to her mum.
‘Heather, how wonderful to see you again. It’s been years.’
‘It has, Oli, far too long.’ Heather grasped his hand and tugged him close. ‘Oh, give over with shaking hands, I can’t stand all that formality with friends. Come here and let me give you a proper hug, I’ve never forgotten what you did for me and our Erin that time.’
Oli’s laugh was a startled one as Heather wrapped both arms around him, and he bent down to hug her back. Erin just wanted the pair of them out of her kitchen; lunch was ready, and she didn’t want anything going cold. Right now she was very tempted to leave the house and let them have lunch on their own. She’d been counting on Heather’s practical common sense seeing straight through Oli’s dazzling smile and perfect manners, not staring up at him like he’d just rescued a kitten from certain peril.
