Page 97 of A Christmas Celebration
There was less than a fortnight now until everyone arrived back and there were others who would rally around in the interim. My heart would ache for the Connelly clan, the town and even Alice who I was looking forward to getting to know better and it would doubtless take time to recover from my surprising feelings for Brodie, but so be it.
But what about Albert? Remembering the change that had come over him during his visit to the hall I took comfort in the knowledge that he would now be able to cope with my earlier than planned departure and might even be willing to let Kathleen help him, too. That said, I dreaded the thought of leaving him so soon and hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
With a heavy heart and trying not to think of either our foot-perfect dance or the blissful pressure of Brodie’s mouth on mine, I slipped into bed, with Bran welded to my side. How was it conceivable that the most wonderful day had dawned, full of excitement for the celebrations to come and within a few hours I was contemplating the possibility of calling premature time on my stay at Wynthorpe Hall?
There was plenty to do the next day and after I had exchanged messages with Mum admiring the many photos she had sent via WhatsApp and making all the right noises to reassure her and Dad that all was well, I tidied and cleaned, using the time to try and come up with an idea that would get Angus, Brodie and I together in a location which wouldn’t rouse suspicion.
I felt jittery all day, and every time the phone rang, I wondered if it might be Brodie, but he didn’t call. Not for me anyway and I tried not to dwell on why I felt more disappointed than relieved about that. I did receive one call, however, from Albert, telling me he was going to be in the studio all day so I didn’t need to worry about going to see him again.
‘That’s wonderful.’ I smiled. ‘I hope you have a productive day.’
‘Thank you,’ he responded. ‘And I’ve been thinking over what you said about getting a tree from the auction tomorrow,’ he added.
‘Oh, yes?’ I said, crossing the fingers on my free hand.
‘I’d like to do that,’ he delighted me by saying. ‘It would be good to get the decorations out of the loft again, but only if you can spare the time. I don’t think I could manage the ladder like I used to.’
The thought of us decorating a tree and enjoying some mince pies and mulled wine by his fireside caused a lump to form in my throat. Seeing the cottage further transformed would be a wonderful and, if I did end up leaving before Christmas, very precious memory.
‘Of course, I can spare the time,’ I keenly told him. ‘I’ll come over early in the morning to get the decs down and then we’ll head to Wynbridge. We could even have lunch out.’
‘I think I’d like that,’ he said, making my eyes prickle.
What an incredible turnaround. It was only a few weeks ago that I was trying to coax him to open his front door and now he was willing to stride out of it.
‘See you tomorrow then,’ I finished up, blinking back the tears.
‘I’ll be waiting,’ he chuckled, completely unaware of my emotion.
Saturday was one of those unforgettable winter days, gifted with bright blue sky, endless sunshine and a dip in the temperature capable of turning your nose red almost before you’d set out.
‘Shall we go to town together this morning?’ Molly asked, when she bounded into the kitchen looking and sounding every bit as excited as everyone else.
Angus had already been crashing about for hours. He was planning to buy trees at the auction but was also taking delivery of a couple directly from a supplier called Wynter’s Trees, which was situated just inland of the north Norfolk coast.
‘Sorry,’ I told her. ‘I can’t. I have a date.’
‘Oh,’ she said, clapping her hands. ‘You and Brodie have got it together at last.’
‘About time.’ Archie, who was close behind her, grinned.
‘Don’t be absurd,’ I tutted, willing my face not to flame. ‘I’m talking about Albert. I’m going to buy him a tree and then help him decorate it.’
‘Oh,’ Molly said again, only this time with rather less enthusiasm.
‘I have no idea what Brodie’s doing,’ I said, shrugging, ‘but his plans have absolutely nothing to do with me.’
After a hurried breakfast, I defrosted the Land Rover and set off.
‘I hope you’ve got a thermal vest on under that sweater,’ I said to Albert, the second he let me in. ‘How did you get on yesterday? Is it chilly in the studio?’
‘Are you all right?’ He frowned after my bombardment of questions.
‘Of course,’ I said, avoiding his eye. It was hard trying to pretend nothing was wrong, when potentially, everything could be. ‘I’m just excited about our trip to town.’
‘Too much sugar on your Coco Pops, I reckon,’ he laughed. ‘Yes, I’ve got my thermals on. Yes, I got on well in the studio yesterday and no, it isn’t chilly in there because I keep the wood burner going.’
‘Have you got enough wood down there to keep it well stoked?’ I further asked.
