Page 43 of A Brambleberry Manor Christmas
Tavie is standing in the doorway. And it’s clear by herdefiant posture and the look on her face, drained of all colour, that she musthave heard every word Vivian said…
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I spring to my feet and take the mug from her hands.‘Tavie, love, come and sit down.’
Vivian gets up, a look of guilt mixed with panic on herface. ‘I’m so sorry, my love. We were going to invite you along but then wethought you’d probably prefer to spend Christmas at home, with Jenny and yourfriends.’
Tavie’s blue eyes flash with despair. ‘So you assumed Iwouldn’t want to spend Christmas with myreal family? That’s great, Mum.Thanks so much for nothing!’
‘I can go online now and see if we can get you a seat on theplane,’ says Vivian, all in a rush. ‘Or even on a different flight. You’d beokay flying on your own and we’d meet you at the other end…’ She takes herdaughter’s arm, but Tavie pulls away.
‘Don’t bother, Mum. I know when I’m not wanted.’ I catch theglisten of tears in her eyes. Then she flees from the room, runs upstairs andslams the door.
I stand back and let Vivian go after her. My heart is achingfor Tavie and I’m trying hard to brush off her comment about spending Christmaswith herrealfamily.
Danny and Megan look upset, so I take them through to thekitchen and start making them hot chocolate with marshmallows, always with oneear on what’s going on upstairs. Tavie isn’t letting Vivian in, and part of mefeels glad she’s taking a stand.
They should have invited her…they should have thoughtabout how she’d be feeling…yes, Vivian is obviously feeling terrible about it…butwhy didn’t she think about Tavie before she went ahead and booked the holiday?
I sigh, glad that at least the children are smiling again.Having got used to the idea of spending Christmas alone, it will now be Tavieand me.
Tavie will probably spend the festive season feeling upsetand resentful, wishing she could be on holiday, having fun in the sun with herbrother and sister. And I really can’t blame her.
My insides shift uneasily. Dread is not too strong a wordfor the way I’m now feeling about the forthcoming Christmas ‘celebrations’…
*****
Next morning, I try to coax Tavie out of her room, but sherefuses to come out. And in the end, I decide to head to the shops to catch upon Christmas shopping. I can’t really face it, but I reason that if I’m gone,Tavie might come out and at least have some breakfast…
And then…the car won’t start.
Great! Now what?
Fen phones while I’m staring cluelessly under the bonnet.‘Hi, Jenny, how are you? How’s your hand?’
‘Oh, I’m fine now, thanks, Fen. It looked worse than itactually was.’
Last night’s bombshell with Vivian has almost wiped thewhole Constance drama from my mind – at least for now…
‘That’s good. Listen, I’m meeting some of the girls forlunch at The Swan Hotel – from the Little Duck Pond Café, you know? – and Iwondered if you’d like to come along and meet them.’
‘Oh. Well, maybe.’
‘It’s just it’s been so nice being back in touch with you again.’
I smile. ‘I know. It has. My only problem is the car won’tstart, so I’m going to have to get Flo to give me a lift along to the manorlater.’
‘Flo could come for lunch as well. We’re meeting at twelveso you’d be over at Brambleberry Manor by two-ish? Would that give you enoughtime to get dinner ready?’
‘Oh, easily.’
‘Great. Well, I’ll see you later, shall I?’
I hesitate for a second. Tavie’s not likely to want to speakto me any time soon, and she knows I’m on the end of the phone if she needs me…
So I smile and say, ‘That would be lovely, Fen.’
*****
