Page 31 of A Not So Quiet Christmas
Chapter 21
With Frank laid in front of the fire and me having settled on the sofa ready for video contact with Jules, I clicked the call button and waited for her to answer. With just over a week to go, Christmas was fast approaching. A time when Jules would normally be high on adrenalin getting everything ready for the big day, I wanted to make sure she wasn’t going stir-crazy for being stuck in her chair.
“Hi,” she said, as her face appeared on the screen. She smiled and just like during all our previous calls, looked surprisingly happy to say she was still housebound. “Hang on a second. I just need to…” Her voice trailed off as her concentration increased.
“What are you doing?” I asked, taking in the sight before me.
She paused in her actions. “Knitting,” she replied. Her forearms contorted as her hands wrangled with two long needles and a tangle of bright red yarn.
“I can see that,” I said. “But why?”
She paused again. “Because I enjoyed making my own Christmas cards, I’ve decided to have a go at handmade gifts as well.” Pride emanated from her as she held up her efforts for me to admire. “This is for Harry.”
I stared at the woollen mass, unable to tell what I was looking at.
“It’s a scarf,” she said. “What do you think?”
Even with the clarification, I still couldn’t make it out. However, I could see her face through its numerous holes. Wondering if they were part of the design, I thought better of asking – just in case. “Very thoughtful,” I replied, instead.
“Of course, because I’m having to give your kind of Christmas a go… You know? Low-key and minimalist.” Finally, she put her handiwork down. “I thought it would be fun for you to try mine.”
“Excuse me?” I stared at my friend, realising I’d been right to check in on her. She might look fine on the surface, but underneath the woman had clearly lost the plot. No way was I playing hostess. On any day, let alone Christmas Day.
“Come on, Antonia. You might surprise yourself and quite enjoy having company for once. You could invite Oliver. And the woman from the shop. From what you were saying, she could do with getting back into the real world.”
“Someone kill me now,” I said.
“At least think about it. Call it a Christmas swap.”
I closed my eyes, unable to believe what she was asking of me. “Okay,” I said.
“You mean you’ll do it?” Her face lit up.
“No! I mean I’ll think about it.”
“At least that’s something,” Jules replied, her frustration apparent. “So tell me, how are things in Little Leatherington?”
A picture of Clarabelle popped into my head and despite my better judgement, before I knew it, I was relaying the whole sorry tale. The rustling in the garden, the coughing, me stood there with a poker in hand ready to defend myself against a cow… Yet another Little Leatherington experience of mine that Jules found highly amusing. It wasn’t long before she rolled with laughter. My friend’s hilarity was contagious and although I struggled to completely rid myself of any bovine-related embarrassment, I couldn’t help but giggle. Thanks to my friend, I’d at least begun to see the funny side.
Jules wiped her eyes with the edge of Harry’s half a scarf, and finally, her merriment abated. “Oh, Antonia, you do make me laugh.”
“It’s not intentional,” I replied.
“It was kind of Oliver to come to the rescue, though, wasn’t it?” Jules said, not quite ready to fully move the conversation on.
The woman’s tone and accompanying expression were loaded with unwarranted suggestion and I shook my head in response. “He wasn’t there to helpmeas such,” I said. “He was there to help Barrowboy recapture his cow.”
“Please don’t set me off again,” Jules said with a snigger. She reached down for her flask and poured herself a drink. “Have you invited Mr Chase out on that date yet?” The hope on her face was undeniable.
“No. And I’m not going to.”
Jules’s hope turned to disappointment.
I could have thrown her a breadcrumb and mentioned the rain check Oliver had talked about, but I decided not to. Especially when days after requesting it, he hadn’t called or messaged to renew my invitation. If the man had no interest in sitting down for a cup of coffee, he certainly wasn’t up for what Jules had in mind for us.
“I could ask him out for you?” Jules said.
Horror swept across my face. “Don’t you dare,” I replied, aware that the woman was serious. “How old are we? Twelve? Anyway, you know me. I’m only here for a couple of weeks and I don’t do casual.”
