Page 27 of Christmas at the Home Farm Vets
‘Mum, why don’t you take the gravy and horseradish to the table?’ Erin had had enough of all this reminiscing. It made her uncomfortable, especially when she saw Oli glance into the sitting room and take in the cosy table set for two. Another wave of shame followed, and she opened her mouth. But Heather was ahead of her.
‘Oli, won’t you join us? Erin wasn’t very clear on your plans for lunch, but you don’t look as though you’re going out. Sit down, we’ll bring you a plate.’
‘That’s very kind, but I’m quite happy to sort myself out once you’re finished.’ He shrugged at the chaos in the small kitchen, trays and pans waiting to be washed up littering every surface. ‘I don’t want to be in the way.’
‘Of course you’re not in the way,’ Heather said briskly. ‘We have plenty, and there’s enough pudding to feed six.’
‘If Erin doesn’t mind?’ Oli’s gaze landed on her and she was relieved to hide from it as she retrieved another plate from the cupboard.
‘Of course not,’ she told him. It was absolutely the right thing to do, and she was glad her mum had stepped in after all. ‘You go on through with Mum.’
‘Can I help at all?’
‘You can help by doing the clearing up later,’ Heather said firmly. ‘I’m not stopping long, I’m off to the cinema with a friend and I don’t want to get caught in that rain they’ve forecast. It was the only afternoon she could do.’
She handed Oli an extra place setting as Erin loaded the plates, saving enough for Edmund. The rest went onto Oli’s plate; it was one way she could make up for her meanness for not inviting him in the first place.
‘Stick another potato on Oli’s plate.’ Heather pinched one from her own and waved away Erin’s protest. ‘I’ve got plenty and I should think it takes quite a bit to fill him up.’
‘Another reason why I’m not cooking for him,’ Erin muttered. ‘He’d cost me a fortune.’
‘Give him a chance, Erin,’ Heather said quietly as she was about to carry two plates through to the sitting room. ‘You’ve both got a bit of making up to do, wouldn’t you say? And I’d hate to see you go through life mistrusting everyone because of your dad and what he did to us. It’s different these days, I don’t see why you can’t have your independence and still love someone.’
‘There’s nothing going on, Mum,’ Erin told her exasperatedly. ‘We’re colleagues and that’s it.’
At the table conversation was easier than she expected, largely thanks to Oli asking Heather about becoming a freelance copywriter since leaving her floristry job. Heather was interested in his travels and life as a self-employed locum, and he had plenty of funny tales to share. When they’d eaten he thanked Erin for the meal, and she was happy to escape and clear the plates away. He also promised to reciprocate, adding a rueful caveat that it was unlikely to be anything quite so good given his lack of cooking experience.
‘Erin can teach you. She’s very good.’
Erin shot her mum a glare from the kitchen. The bread-and-butter pudding was perfect, golden brown with caramelised sugar crisp on top. She fetched a tub of custard and one of cream from the fridge, and returned to the table.
‘And how are your mum and dad, Oli? Are they still in Marlborough?’
‘My dad’s in London now.’ He glanced at Erin before continuing with something that wasn’t quite a smile hovering on his lips. ‘I’m afraid my mum passed away seven years ago. It was very sudden, and we weren’t expecting it.’
Seven years ago. The year they had graduated. His mum had died seven years ago, and Erin hadn’t known. Her stomach was in knots, sorrow clouding her mind with regret. She removed the lid from the custard and passed it to him with a trembling hand.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she whispered, her thoughts caught on what he and his family must have gone through, scorched with shame and sadness that she had blocked him from her life and hadn’t been there for him.
‘I’m very sorry for your loss.’ Heather reached across the table and patted his hand.
‘Thank you. It’s fine now, sort of.’ He found a smile, a cheerier note back in his voice. ‘You’re spoiling me with this meal, it’s very kind of you both.’
Oli refused another helping of pudding when Heather tried to press it on him, insisting she take it home or save it for Edmund instead. After tea for Erin and Heather, and coffee for Oli, which they had around the table as well, Heather got up and found her coat and scarf.
‘I’m off before that rain comes,’ she said. Erin and Oli had stood too, and Erin watched as she hugged him again and told him how wonderful it was to see him and that he’d better not leave it so long next time. At the door she hugged Erin too, who did her best to avoid Heather’s meaningful look and early exit. ‘Bye, love, mind how you go. Love you.’
‘I will, love you too. Text me when you’re home and I’m here if you need me.’
‘Will do.’ Heather was watching Oli in the kitchen, emptying the sink of its clutter. ‘You know, Erin, sometimes a person just strolls into your life, and even if it doesn’t make any sense, it’s still meant to be. You and him need to talk about what happened that summer.’
‘Mum, it was years ago, and we’ve moved on,’ Erin muttered. ‘We’re both busy with our own careers and he’s leaving at Christmas in two weeks. I don’t need that sort of complication in my life.’
‘And what about this chap you’re supposed to be seeing? Where does he fit into all this?’
‘He doesn’t,’ Erin told her frustratedly, trying to recall Jason’s features. Good body, man bun, that was it. Not dark auburn hair swept back from a face she knew almost as well as her own. ‘We’re just dating, we’re not together or anything.’
‘I’m glad to hear it.’ Heather was already walking down the lane to the bus stop. ‘Because your nan was at the bingo the other night and Margery showed her his Tinder profile. Her granddaughter’s on there and your nan said that he looked like a right…’
