Page 86 of Just Do It
The next morning Finn, me and his parents left at an absurdly early hour and drove the relatively short distance toAlice’s house. She’d already alerted her parents to the fact the children were awake and raring to go.
‘She’s calling in back up,’ Finn had said, laughing as he’d led the way down the stairs, me following in a rather bleary eyed manner behind. However, within a short time, I had discovered that Christmas with Finn’s family truly was as loud, exuberant and ‘extra’ as he had promised and then some. And I relished every moment.
‘Just keep stirring,’ Finn’s dad had said as he showed me how to make gravy in the roasting pan as the turkey rested. ‘That’s it. Perfect! You’re a natural.’
‘I’m not sure about that,’ I said.
‘Here.’ He handed me a spoon. ‘Try that and tell me if you notice a difference to the instant stuff. Mind, it’s piping hot.’
I tested the gravy as he suggested. ‘Oh my God.’
His dad smiled. ‘My work here is done.’
‘What’s going on?’ Finn appeared at the door, his face relaxed, one shoulder leaning against the door jamb. ‘I can’t believe you’ve got Elizabeth working in here, Dad.’
‘I wanted to!’ I said, throwing him a smile. ‘Come and taste this. I just made my first proper gravy! Seriously,’ I said as he took the spoon and dipped it in. ‘How did I not know this was a thing?’
‘Yum. You’re a natural.’
‘That’s what I said,’ his dad called over as he turned from the oven, his glasses completely steamed up. ‘Where did everybody go?’
‘I love it!’ Alice signed as she placed the small box in her lap. ‘You shouldn’t have.’She leant across from where both of us were sat on the floor with the children and hugged me.
‘I wanted to,’I signed back at the same time as speaking the words.
I’d been determined to learn as much BSL as I could before the big day and although I’d made a few mistakes, I was coming along. I’d accidentally called Finn’s brother a potato instead of asking him to pass the potatoes but everyone, including myself, had laughed, but kindly, and helped me correct it. That was also a new experience.I didn’t know if it was the relaxed atmosphere of this family home with close and extended members all crammed in together, or the result of my parents’ visit and change in attitude to life. Either way, not getting everything right first time was no longer a failing in my eyes. It was part of the learning process. I’d always been on the ball about instilling this into the interns we had at the museum but somehow I’d omitted to take the same lesson into my own heart. But things were changing now. I was changing now. And, so far as I was concerned, it was all for the better.
‘Are you coming into the treehouse?’ Finn’s niece, Lucy, asked once we were all as thoroughly stuffed as the delicious turkey had been.
‘You have a treehouse?’ I replied, my voice full of wonder as I crouched down to her level.
‘Uncle Finn built it for us.’ Her twin brother, Luke, joined in the conversation, taking my hand and leading me towards the back door.
‘Luke, Lucy. Elizabeth hasn’t got any shoes or coat on. And neither have you.’
They looked back to where their uncle, somehow still totally lust-inducing despite wearing a novelty Christmas jumper, was standing with his hands on his hips. Alice had now joined our little group.
‘You built them a treehouse?’
‘He’s done loads for us in this house,’ she signed as she spoke. ‘Saved us a fortune. Mark’s brilliant at lots of stuff but not practical at all. He’s the first to admit it.’
‘I know the feeling.’
‘Finn can create anything. He’s always been good with his hands.’
I was rather proud of myself for keeping a straight face and didn’t dare look at Finn.
‘Come on!’ Luke tugged at my hand.
‘Elizabeth might not want to see it. Did you actually ask?’
Lucy chewed the inside of her cheek. Luke shrugged.
Finn nodded at him and Luke, with a dramatic sigh, turned to look up at me. I did my best to keep a straight face. From the corner of my eye I could see Finn had a hand across his jaw and I knew he was also doing his best to smother his laughter.
‘Elizabeth, would you like to see our treehouse?’ The little boy looked back at his uncle.
Finn merely gave a brief raise of his eyebrows.
