Chapter Fifteen
I only have one pretty top in my whole wardrobe. Not that my wardrobe is that extensive. I don’t know why I even threw this top in my small suitcase, but now I am super thankful that I did. For tonight’s Christmas celebration, I decide I’ll wear my favourite comfy black trousers as I figure there might be lots of food on offer. Then I throw over the black and gold sparkly top.
As I look in the mirror, I am surprised to find my hair isn’t looking too haywire after using the hotel hairdryer, but then again, the hotel is quite posh, and it isn’t one of those usual bendy hairdryers that are stuck on the bathroom wall. I don’t look too shabby for someone who hasn’t taken any care of themselves for the past two years. With a little make-up, I can even see Aunt Grace’s legendary cheekbones under there somewhere.
When I get downstairs to reception, happy families are entering the hotel to celebrate Christmas Eve. They laugh and chat amongst themselves, completely oblivious to me walking out through the revolving doors alone. I feel like some kind of invisible ghost.
It makes me grateful to Tomas and Albert for being so hospitable. They could easily have left me on my own over Christmas. Until now, I didn’t think I wanted company at this time of year, but having been given this opportunity, I find myself relieved to be celebrating with somebody. It was so incredibly generous of them to include me in their plans, and I keep their Christmas gifts close to me as I jump into the taxi.
I bought a little glass robin that can hang from a Christmas tree for Tomas at the Christmas market. It reminded me of the robin from home. As soon as I saw it, I had to buy it for him. I will tell him that it means he should have faith in the future, even though he probably doesn’t need to be told this since he seems quite confident. But I thought it would be something to remind him of the strange Welsh woman who turned up unannounced one Christmas.
For Albert, I have bought some local honey. I thought he might enjoy it on his toast in the morning. I didn’t know what else to buy a man in his eighties who rarely leaves home. I do hope they will both like their gifts.
When the taxi pulls up outside the apartment block, I begin to feel nervous again. I tell myself not to be so silly. I have been here before. I just can’t help but think that if I see Thomas with Milena, I may feel awkward. I remind myself that he invited me, and if he didn’t want me there, surely he wouldn’t have just done it merely to seem polite. Perhaps he has explained to Milena who I am and that I am absolutely no threat.
I listen to the sound of Christmas carols as I knock on the door. I hope they can hear me over the music in there. Then I hear a woman’s voice near the door saying something in Czech. I brace myself to smile and be pleasant to her. I can smell the scent of her floral perfume clashing with the smell of cooking as the door swings open. I plaster a big smile on my face. She is every bit as sophisticated as I imagined in my head, but much older than Tomas.
I hold my hand out to greet her.
‘Hi,’ I smile. She returns my smile and calls for Tomas, who shoots out from the kitchen. I look around for other family members. I thought that Tomas might have children who might be here, but it is only Albert and, I assume, Milena.
‘Hi, so glad you could make it. I hope you enjoyed the ballet?’ says Tomas.
‘It was fantastic, thank you.’ I decide to keep the escapade with the hairy hand to myself.
The woman moves away from us and sits with Albert. She chats to him in Czech. They seem to get on well, considering what he has said about her.
Tomas points over to her. ‘I’m afraid she doesn’t speak much English. Only Czech.’
‘Oh, no problem. A smile is universal.’
‘So, I’ll get you a drink, and why don’t you take a seat while I finish off the Christmas tree?’
It surprises me that the tree is left until Christmas Eve, as I always used to have mine up by the end of November. But, as Tomas prepares a drink, he tells me this is their family tradition and that of many other Czech families. No wonder there hasn’t been a tree up before now.
‘Well, I’m quite happy to help you. I can’t sit here and watch you do it. In fact, one of my specialities is decorating Christmas trees.’
‘That’s a speciality?’ Tomas laughs.
‘Yup, it is.’ At least I used to be good at decorating our Christmas tree. I hope that I still have that magic touch.
I take a seat on the floor beside Tomas and pick out some ornaments from a box beside us that are wrapped in paper. I start to unwrap one of the baubles and think how they must have been passed down from Albert’s parents as they are beautiful antique-looking glass-blown snowdrops and birds. The robin will fit right in. I lean over to the bag I brought with me and pass Tomas’ gift to him.
‘Here, I think you should have this now. Do you want to open it with your partner?’ I look towards the lady I assume is Milena, but she is busy laughing with Albert.
‘My partner?’ Tomas laughs and says something in Czech, and then Albert and the woman laugh too. I am left out of the private joke, and my cheeks flush.
‘That’s not my partner. This is Zuzana, she lives next door. I’m sorry, I didn’t introduce you properly. How rude of me.’
‘Oh, okay. Sorry.’ In that case, Milena must be joining us later.
‘Nothing to be sorry for. She’s very close to Albert. You do know she is in her seventies?’
I thought she was older than Tomas, but I would never have thought that she was more Albert’s age than his. It must be all the good food in this country.
‘Wow, she looks amazing.’
‘So, you want me to open this now?’ says Tomas, looking back at the present.
‘Of course.’ I watch his expression carefully as he opens it up.
‘No way? Olivia, this is my favourite bird!’
I think about telling him about the robin back home but then decide I will probably start nervous rambling, so I stop myself and say no more.
He takes the robin and hangs it at the top of the tree in a prominent spot right at the front.
‘I will treasure it,’ says Tomas. His smile is so genuine that I believe him.
‘I’d better give this to Albert,’ I say, remembering his honey.
Albert seems pleased and clasps his hands together to thank me.
Zuzana says something in Czech to Tomas, and he blushes. My gosh, what did she say to the man? Then she looks at me and smiles. I have no idea what is going on here. That is the problem with language barriers. I wish I spoke Czech right now, but I ignore everything and carry on decorating the tree.
‘Zuzana said you’re a very pretty lady,’ says Tomas, as I hang a bauble up on a branch.
Zuzana grins at me, looking pleased, and nods her head.
‘Thank you.’ I can’t ever recall being called a pretty lady. Let alone since I turned fifty. That is so sweet of her. Aunt Grace used to call me pretty, but she was a relative, so she couldn’t exactly say anything derogatory. Relatives never count when it comes to compliments. The best Craig could manage was calling me a ‘fit bird’ when he’d had too many cherry brandies at Christmas. Maybe Zuzana is just a nice lady and being polite.
Tomas says something back to Zuzana, and then I notice he blushes. I am intrigued. Did he just agree with her? I feel another of those little tingles down my spine at the thought.
Tomas looks back at the Christmas tree.
‘Anyway, we’re all done. Thanks for your help, Olivia. It looks like the best tree we ever had here. You’re right. It’s your speciality.’
‘Oh, I’m sure I only put a couple of baubles on, it was all your own work,’ I say.
Tomas touches my arm as he walks away, and that tingle happens again. I try to focus. This must not happen.
‘Right, so who wants more drinks?’ says Tomas.
I agree to have another glass of wine but tell myself that under no circumstances can I get carried away. The next thing I will be telling him how lovely he is, and we can’t be having that when he has the mystical Milena.
Tomas gives us all refills and we clink our glasses together.
‘Merry Christmas,’ says Tomas.
‘Merry Christmas, everyone,’ I say. The image of that Christmas sign swinging back and forth as Craig slammed the door as he left flashes back into my mind. That was the last time I decorated. Now, this is a proper Merry Christmas, unlike back then.
When we finish our drinks, Tomas goes into the kitchen to serve up the food.
Then I hear his mobile ringing. He answers it, speaking in Czech. However, I can only understand the part where he uses the name Milena. As he cuts off the call, he throws his phone down on the worktop. His mood seems to have changed. Albert shouts something in Czech, also throwing in the name Milena.
‘I’ve told him, he needs to stop her,’ says Albert looking at me. It is as though he assumes I know what is going on. Does he think that Tomas has confided something to me? Because I certainly don’t know anything about her, except that I have heard her shouting down the phone.
I shrug my shoulders.
Tomas starts laying the table with the feast that he has prepared. I can see that he is trying to keep a brave face, but he looks upset.
‘Please, let me help you with the plates,’ I say.
‘No, it’s fine. You’re my guest. Please, you relax.’
I feel guilty sitting like a queen while Tomas does all the work. But I figure that perhaps he needs some space in the kitchen. I feel a bit awkward being a stranger brought into this. I hope nobody mentions the Milena word at dinner.
When Tomas puts down the final plate with a huge carp laid out on it, his mood has improved.
‘This looks amazing, Tomas, thank you,’ I say. I try to cheer him up as it looks like both of us have had a problem with someone of the opposite sex on Christmas Eve, although he is probably handling it much better than I did. At least he hasn’t thrown a remote-control car at anyone.
‘You’re welcome. I hope you enjoy your first Czech Christmas Eve and I promise you will have a special day tomorrow too. Cheers,’ says Tomas.
‘ Na zdrav! ’ says Albert.
Zuzana lifts her glass towards me and also chimes in with Na zdrav .
I lift my glass and attempt to say it, but it comes out nothing like the way they pronounced it. Instead, I stutter over the word. Thankfully, everyone smiles at my ridiculous attempt, and I get that warm feeling of being welcomed into the family yet again. Despite any language barriers, we laugh together all night, and, for the rest of the evening, the name Milena is not mentioned again.