Page 56 of A Not So Quiet Christmas
“Jules, my whole life’s in London. My flat, my job.”
“What job?”
“And in case you’ve forgotten.” I gestured to the window somewhere behind the Christmas tree. “This is the countryside. I hate the blooming countryside.”
Jules nearly spat out her coffee. “You seem to be coping all right to me.” She wiped her mouth. “Besides, these things are as hard or as easy as you want them to be.”
“Anyway,” I said, more than ready to move the conversation on. “I have more important things on my mind right now.”
“More important than Oliver Chase?”
“Yes.”
“Like what?” Jules clearly didn’t agree.
“Like the fact that I’m going to need that Christmas Day menu you talked about. And the shopping list.”
Jules scoffed. “Why? Don’t they do microwave meals up there in the north?”
I ignored her quip. “Because I’m organising a proper Christmas dinner.”
Not for the first time during our catch-up, Jules looked at me aghast.
“I have guests coming,” I said. “So my usual fare won’t cut it.”
With her cup halfway to her mouth, Jules froze. “You have what?”
“You heard me. Guests.”
“Does this mean…?”
I could see she hardly dare finish her sentence.
“I’m agreeing to your Christmas swap? Yes, it does.”
“Oh. My. Word.” Jules had gone into shock. She put her cup down altogether. “I’m not really on the phone, am I? This is some sort of dream?”
“Very funny,” I replied.
“So what changed your mind? Who have you invited?” She held up crossed fingers. “Please say Oliver.”
“The little boy I told you about. And his mum, Lizzie. Although to be honest, it was more a case of Seb telling me they were coming.”
Jules looked back at me, wearing the biggest of smiles. “It’s a start, I suppose.”
“So, do I get that menu or not?”
“Damn right, you do,” Jules said. She paused and put a clenched hand to her mouth as if needing a moment. “Oh, Antonia, thank you. This is the best Christmas present ever.”
“I’m not sure I’d go that far,” I said.
“Year after year I worry about you being stuck indoors on your own, wishing you’d come to us. That for once, you’d celebrate with people around you. I know spending the holidays alone has always been your choice, but it’s not healthy. Not really. And now I’m wittering.” She reached down the side of her chair again and produced a tissue. “Honestly. I’m so pleased for you, Antonia, I could cry.”
Watching her wipe her eyes, I suddenly felt guilty. I’d had no idea my keeping myself to myself over Christmas had caused Jules such concern. “Jules, I’m so sorry,” I said, thinking about all the times I’d turned down her invitations. “If I’d known that’s how you felt…”
Jules blew her nose into her tissue. “You can apologise later,” she said. “Time’s running out and we have work to do.”
