Chapter 9
Christmas Day
Queenstown, NZ
Will
The snow-white tablecloth is adorned with intricate red and green patterns. My parents outdid themselves again. Plates overflowing with golden roasted turkey and glazed ham take center stage, surrounded by bowls filled with creamy mashed potatoes, buttered carrots, and steaming stuffing. A platter of colorful vegetables and a sparkling bowl of cranberry sauce complete the spread.
Daryl takes the final croissant morsel from the platter and scoops some jam. “Delicious. Though I can definitely tell it's not Featherstone flour.”
My dad's expression turns thunderous.
“I was just joking!” Daryl takes a bite and speaks while chewing. “Can't tell the difference. It's a croissant. Anyway, what a great Christmas we've had. I'm stuffed.”
John kisses Daryl’s hand, and I roll my eyes.
“Don’t roll your eyes, Will.” Daryl looks ready to throw the last bite of his croissant at me. “You know if Kat was here you'd have your hands on her in a flash.”
My mum clears her throat. “Daryl! Anyway, thank you so much for the presents, Will. Once again it's too much.”
I shrug. I like spoiling them. “Glad you like them.”
Daryl checks his bag. “What's not to like about flight vouchers, spa experiences, designer gift cards? I won't even know how to spend this.”
John raises his eyebrows. “Oh, you will, you just told me…”
Daryl interrupts him. “Hush.”
My dad is uncharacteristically quiet.
“Anyway…” I’m scared that if the conversation continues, Dad will say something I don’t want to hear. “I'd really like it for you all to come and see me race at least one race. You choose which one. Singapore, Malaysia or Japan are the closest to New Zealand, if you don't like long flights. Even though you can fly first class.”
My dad looks downcast. “We can't promise. The lodge. You know.”
I nod. “I know. But you have that option.”
They nod. Daryl pats my back. “We're coming. Want to see the others whoop yo’ ass.”
I raise an eyebrow.
Daryl winks. “What about Kat? What did you get her?”
“My lips are sealed. As a matter of fact, I need to head out for a bit to give her the present. I’ll see you later for dinner.”
I hug my family, and go to the car in a fantastic mood, swirling the keychain on my fingers.
I'm going to see Kat after two days. A realisation strikes me, as I glide around the lake towards Sunshine Bay. How am I going to do this long distance thing when I'm so full of need after 48 hours? Can I really go for weeks without seeing her?
Before last week you hadn't seen her in years. And now look at you.
I park up, do a once over to make sure the’ house is tidy enough for guests and put her present on the kitchen counter.
Do I have time for a game of FIFA? Or perhaps the news? I check my watch. Nope, she'll be here any minute. I check myself in the mirror. I look decent. The dark circles under my eyes have gone. The jetlag is fully gone. The only thing that's left is need.
The gate buzzer goes. I check the camera, see Kat's car, and let her in. I should probably give her a key pass. I make a mental note to see if there are any spares. I want to make myself as accessible as possible to her.
I open the door and stand in the doorframe. Something's wrong. I can feel the ice from a few metres away.
She shuts the car door and carries a small bag. She must have got me something as well.
“Come on in”, I extend my arm towards the living room and invite her through.
Reluctantly, like a lamb to slaughter, she crosses the threshold. “I'm not staying long. Just came to?—”
I put my hands on her tense shoulders. “Hey, hey. What's the matter? Is this still about your parents? Because if it is…”
Her shoulders sag for a moment then tense again. “Someone told me you were in town yesterday with another girl.”
Worry gnaws at me. “What? No, no way. I was in town to do some shopping. I signed autographs, took a million selfies, but I guarantee I wasn't with anyone.”
She swallows. “They also told me you have models lined up in Italy and Monaco.”
I laugh. “Absolutely not. And who is this well-meaning person telling you all these things?”
She looks down. “How can I believe you?”
I sigh. “You know me, Kat. You've known me since I was thirteen and you were ten. I made you that twig headband. You never made fun of me.”
She looks up at me, her blue eyes boring into mine, searching for the truth. She surrenders and rests her head against my chest. I exhale and envelope her in a fierce embrace. I stroke her hair. “There is nobody else, Kat. No one else I think about, dream of.”
She sighs against my chest, and I vow to hunt down whoever hurt her. “I brought you a present.” She leaves my arms and leaves me bereft.
Kat hands me a small green pouch. The velvet is so soft, just like her hair. I smile and tip the contents of the pouch in my palm. A thin pleated leather bracelet stares back at me. It's gorgeous. Breathtaking.
“Did you make it?” I pick it up with my thumb and index finger. She nods, with a smile. “It's exquisite. You should start a business with this.” I hold it out to her.
Her smile becomes even wider. “I'm glad you like it. I made it for you to bring you good luck while you're racing… and I have been thinking. I know what I want to do. I want to start my own ethical fashion and accessories label.”
“Amazing idea!” I lift her up and twirl her. She squeals with joy. I put her down. “Now it's my turn.” I grab the package from the kitchen counter and hand it to her.
She shakes it and taps it. “Feels like a book.”
I chuckle. “I forgot you like to guess what's inside. Hope you like it.”
She starts tearing the paper, careful not to damage the contents. The book shows itself to her. Her eyes widen. She looks at me, then back at the book, her mouth slightly open.
“What does it say?” I ask, fully knowing what it is.
She swallows, looks at me again, then back at the book, and clears her throat before reading the title. “100 ways to say I love you in different languages.”
I wrap my arms around her again. “I love you, Kat. Ik hou van je. ” When she doesn’t reply, I try to fill the silence. “That's the extent of my languages, I'm afraid. But I can learn some more.”
Kat runs into my arms and starts sobbing quietly. She lifts her head up. “I love you too, Will.”
We kiss again and I lift her up and place her on the sofa. She wraps her arms and legs around me, like she never wants to let go.
I continue kissing her, urgency overtaking us. She starts tugging at my shirt and sends it flying across the room. I quickly dispatch her dress and the rest of our clothes.
“I need you, Will.” Her eyes call out to me, and I sink inside her. She feels amazing.
She soon shatters around me, and the sound and feel of her pleasure pushes me over the edge. I bury my face in her neck.
Kat runs her fingers through my hair. “Merry Christmas, Will!”
I laugh, my face still in her hair. “Merry Christmas. I can't move.”
“I can't move either. Maybe we should stay like this forever.”
I nuzzle her neck. “We should.”
She sighs. “I need to go back home for dinner. But tomorrow I'm definitely spending the night, no matter what everyone says.”
I nibble on her neck. “Uh-uh.” I exhale and free myself from her embrace. “My legs are jelly. I feel like I ran a marathon.”
She winks, gets up and goes to the bathroom to freshen up, while collecting her clothes scattered around the lounge.
“You can join me in the shower. Saves time.” Another wink. She'll be the death of me. But I can't resist it, and I sprint after her.
Kat
Will opens my car door for me, but before I can get in, he cups my face and kisses me again.
“Would you like to move here with me until I leave for Europe at least?”
His question takes me by surprise. Yet I know what my heart tells me. I cup his face in my hands. “Yes, of course. Give me a couple of days to sort stuff out at home.”
“They won't talk you out of it, I hope.”
They, my parents. The obstacle still to overcome. I swallow. “I'll talk them round. Bye. Love you.”
“Love you too. Merry Christmas.” Will blows me a kiss.
“Merry Christmas.” I wave and start the engine, and my journey around the lake. I’m not so sure how to bring my parents round, no matter how confident I was with Will. They’re already set against the relationship, and I’m going to have to tell them I won’t work at the flour company, too. Way to ruin a Christmas, Kat. I don't think a belligerent approach will go down well. It's Christmas day after all.
My dad carves the Roast Ham in thick slices. I dish out some roast vegetables onto my plate and drizzle some gravy.
“Delicious, mum!”
“I bet England doesn't have roasts as good as your mum's Kat.” My dad winks and loads his plate.
I sigh. Why do they have to make everything about me staying? It's Christmas Day, for goodness sake. I take a bite out of a roast potato and stay quiet.
My dad places his napkin on the table. “Were you with Will this afternoon?”
Maybe this might be a good time to mention that I'm moving in with Will. For a brief while anyway.
“Yes, I was. What's more, I?—”
The landline rings its cheerful tune, interrupting the conversation. My dad frowns but he gets up to answer.
“You know we don't approve, Katarina. I told you already,” my mum says.
I shake my head. “But I love him, mum. And he loves me.”
“When, now? I'm coming straight away.” My dad’s panicked words steal our attention from the growing argument.
He puts the phone down and looks at us. “There's a pest control inspection at the flour mill. Someone phoned pest control to say there are mice.”
I drop my fork, and we all huddle together in my car.
I try to lighten the atmosphere. “The factory is spotless. I'm sure they aren't going to find anything.”
I glance in the mirror. My parents look ashen.
“It must be those De Jongs. Who else would do such a slanderous thing?!”
I nearly laugh but think better of it. “Mum, be reasonable. It's a storm in a teacup.”
My mum mumbles something. I speed through town, taking all the shortcuts I remember from a few years back when I was living here.
We arrive at the flour mill in ten minutes max, and the inspectors’ car is already there.
A man with a clipboard is furiously scribbling some notes, and another one who is wearing something close to a white hazmat suit is exiting the building with a small cage.
“Mr Featherstone, we have located and managed to trap the rodent. Since this has occurred, we require you to stop production, do a deep clean of the premises, and go on a managed plan of inspections.”
My dad covers his face with his hands.His life’s work, ruined by a single rodent. This is a disaster. From the darkness of his palms, Dad wails, and the only words I can make out with any clarity are “those damn de Jongs.”
But it can’t be them. Why would they do something like that?
My dad opens his phone to call his staff, and I take the opportunity to speak with the inspector alone.
“Hey there, just out of curiosity, but I understand if you can't tell me. Who called you in on Christmas Day? That's rather odd isn't it?”
The inspector stares me down. “These details are confidential Miss Featherstone.”
“Okay, maybe a little clue. Was it someone from abroad? Or New Zealand?”
He lets slip. “As a matter of fact, it was someone right here in Queenstown. Known to the family.”
I gasp. “Thank you.”
My mum strides over. “I heard that. It's the De Jongs, Stan. I knew it. “
I struggle with this knowledge, but the evidence seems damning. There could be so many people in the area “known to the family”. But what if he meant… I just can't believe Will's parents would have done such a thing.
Mum lifts a finger. “This must not go to the press. Do you understand this, Kat?”
I nod.
Dad barks an order. “That means you cannot see Will de Jong anymore. We'll be ruined.”
I open my mouth to protest.
“Not a word.” My dad picks up the paper from the inspector and shuts up the gates of the factory, who knows how long for. “If you care even a shred for us, you'll do this.”
I run towards the side of the gate, my heart in my throat, and text Will before anyone can see me.
Kat: The flour mill is shut down. My family thinks yours is responsible. It’s best if we don't talk for a while.