Chapter 13
13
The next morning, Dylan woke to the sound of rain hammering against the window of his bedroom. Still groggy, he reached for his phone by the bed and squinted at the screen: 4.30a.m. He dropped his head back against his pillow with a groan and closed his eyes. Maybe if he was lucky he’d be able to drift back to sleep before his brain caught up with his body. He was focusing on his breathing, letting the rhythm of his inhale and exhale lull him closer to that blissful darkness, when his bladder decided to make its presence felt. With another groan, he fumbled for the beside lamp then tossed back the covers.
With the most urgent of his morning needs met, he washed his hands and poured himself a glass of water to take back to bed. He really wanted a coffee but the kettle in the sitting room was louder than a jumbo jet taking off and he didn’t want to disturb Theo and Avery. He did peek into their rooms to check on them and was pleased to see they were both fast asleep, though less pleased to see Theo’s room bathed in a blue glow from the wall-mounted TV. Theo’s game controller rested on the bed near his hand and Dylan wondered how late into the night he’d been messing around on the damn thing. Looked like some ground rules were in order. He retrieved the controller and turned off the TV before returning to his room. The controller went into the bottom drawer of his bedside cabinet, then he slid into the lingering cocoon of warmth beneath his covers. He fiddled with his phone to turn off the alarm he’d set out of habit for seven-thirty and then spotted a few new emails had come in overnight. Probably nothing but best to check… Fifteen minutes later, Dylan leaned over to yank the drawer back open and tossed his phone inside. Theo wasn’t the only one who needed screen-time rules setting.
The rain against the window had settled from a hard drum to a gentle patter and Dylan rolled on his side. Who needed sleep app sounds, when he had the real thing? Within moments he was fast asleep.
The next time he awoke it was to the fantastic smell of coffee and the less fantastic sound of his children bickering. The rain had stopped at some point and a pale sliver of sunshine cast a line across the room through a gap in the curtains. The sounds of arguing grew louder and Dylan hauled himself up to a seated position, fortified himself with a swig of coffee from the mug one of the kids had left beside his bed and went to head off whatever had upset them before World War Three broke out. ‘Just call me Mr United Nations,’ he muttered to himself.
‘I haven’t got it!’ Avery’s voice had reached a pitch normally only dogs could hear. ‘I haven’t even been in your room!’
‘Well, it was there last night and you were up before me. Who the hell else took it, a ghost?’ Theo snapped.
‘Enough.’ They both whipped around to face him, Avery rosy-cheeked with anger and not a little distress, Theo, dull-eyed and sullen.
‘Apologise to your sister,’ Dylan demanded, holding Theo’s glare with a hard stare of his own. He looked exhausted and Dylan’s anger roused anew at how long into the night he must’ve stayed up playing his games. ‘And don’t you ever let me catch you speaking to her with that tone again, or you and I are going to have a serious problem.’
‘But—’
‘I took your controller and I’m going to keep it because I’ve clearly shown too much trust in your ability to regulate yourself. What time were you up until?’
‘I couldn’t sleep,’ Theo mumbled, but there was a hint of a blush on his pale face as he turned towards his sister. ‘I’m sorry, Avie.’
‘I told you I didn’t have it,’ Avery said, shooting a final baleful glare at her brother before coming over to cuddle against Dylan. ‘He wouldn’t listen to me, Dad.’
Dylan hugged her before stepping back so he could look down at her. ‘Theo has apologised and you need to accept that with proper grace, okay?’
Her lips tightened in a brief signal of defiance before she sighed and nodded. ‘Apology accepted.’ She didn’t turn and face her brother to say it, but it was good enough. Dylan kissed her forehead. ‘That’s my girl, and do I have you to thank for my coffee?’
She beamed up at him and nodded. ‘I know how grumpy you are when you don’t get enough caffeine.’
‘Brat.’ Dylan kissed her again then moved over to where Theo was standing hunched in on himself. ‘Come here.’ It took a few seconds for Theo’s stiff frame to soften against him. ‘I just don’t want you spoiling your day by staying up so late. I know it’s hard being away from all your mates, but I want us to make the most of our time together. I’m not saying you can’t play your games or chat online, but we need to set some screen-time ground rules. For me as well as you guys because I’m as guilty of having my phone glued to my hand. What do you say?’
Theo nodded. ‘Okay. But I really couldn’t sleep, well, at first, anyway.’
‘It’ll take a couple of days for the jet lag to settle down. Now let’s get ourselves sorted out so we can get some breakfast. We’ll chill out after lunch, maybe grab a nap if needed.’ He raised his eyebrows at Theo in a meaningful look. ‘We’ve got the murder-mystery dinner tonight and we’ll all want to be fresh for that, won’t we?’
The detente remained in place through breakfast and Dylan was pleased that neither of them were inclined to hold a grudge. It was a big change for them to be away from home at this time of year – even if it had been their choice. Perhaps he could do something nice for them? Their rooms were beautiful but a touch formal. A few decorations might make it more homely, and really help them get into the Christmas spirit. The presents he and Jen had ordered were still lurking in the bottom of his closet. Resolving to have a chat with Stevie about it, he escorted the kids to the orangery and got them settled. ‘You changed your mind about the crochet, then?’ Sadie asked him when he didn’t sit down.
He laughed. ‘Not a chance! I just need to track my sister down and sort something out and then I’ll be back.’
The girl on Reception directed Dylan towards the ballroom. He walked through the door and stopped at the sight of the kind of organised chaos that spoke of a big event. A group of staff were busy dressing the tables for dinner, laying out fine china plates, silver cutlery and sparkling-clean wine glasses. A pair of florists were lifting centrepieces out of boxes, another of their team directing staff in estate-branded polo-shirts who were carrying a pair of larger floral displays to be placed on the elegant sideboards that also displayed some of the family’s antique Chinese vases. Tasha and Lydia stood in front of one of the large windows, the latter holding a tablet, which they were both consulting. Behind them, a beautiful vista of rolling parkland with the dramatic stark winter branches of the woods beyond showed off the grounds at their very best. A pile of large cardboard boxes stood next to them. There was no sign of Stevie and, deciding it was best not to interrupt, Dylan took a step backwards and almost bumped into someone.
He turned with a start to find his niece smiling at him. ‘Everything okay, Dylan?’
‘Yes, all good, thanks. I was looking for your mum but I can see everyone is really busy at the moment so I’ll catch up with her later.’
‘She’s around here somewhere – well, she was a minute ago.’ Hope glanced around the room as though expecting Stevie to pop up from underneath one of the tables.
‘It’s fine, really. I need to talk to her about sorting out some decorations for the sitting room in our suite, but it can wait.’
‘Decorations?’
Dylan nodded. ‘A bit of tinsel and a few fairy lights. Something to make it feel a bit less like a hotel room and more homely for the kids.’
Hope frowned. ‘A bit of tinsel? I’m sure we can do better than that. Wait here a minute.’
Before he could stop her, Hope was across the room and talking to Tasha. The other woman glanced across at Dylan, a smile breaking out on her face as she raised her hand to wave. He returned the greeting, feeling guilty for interrupting when they clearly had their hands full.
He felt even worse when they both approached him a few moments later. ‘It really can wait until I catch up with Stevie.’
‘She’s with the actors who are helping out tonight,’ Tasha said by way of greeting. ‘They’re staying overnight so she’s just getting them settled in, but she won’t be long.’
‘Like I said to Hope just now, I can see you’re all busy and it’s nothing important.’
Tasha looked as unmoved by his protests as Hope. ‘Nonsense. If it’s about making Theo and Avery feel more at home then it’s a priority. Things are quiet for me with the campsite closed for the winter so I’m seconded to the hotel team. I’m not familiar with all the rooms so let’s nip upstairs so I can check out your suite.’
‘I’ll leave you both to it, then,’ Hope said with a smile just as her phone began to ring. ‘Excuse me, I need to get this.’
Dylan had no choice but to follow Tasha. ‘How long have you been at Juniper Meadows?’ he asked her as they climbed the winding staircase to the first floor.
‘Since February. I came here to help sort out the campsite and then I met Rhys, and, well, one thing led to another.’ The faint colour on her cheeks clashed prettily with the lovely red curls piled on top of her head in a messy ponytail. She paused at the top of the stairs. ‘You haven’t met him yet, have you?’
Dylan shook his head. ‘No. I saw Ben and Amelia briefly when I collected the kids after the craft session yesterday, but Rhys and I haven’t managed to cross paths yet. Hopefully I can remedy that tomorrow when we come for dinner at the farmhouse.’
‘Ah, a legendary Travers family meal,’ Tasha said with a grin. ‘I hope you know what you’ve let yourself in for.’
Dylan thought about the chilly, formal dinners he’d had to endure as a child with his grandparents seated at either end of the long table and the four of them huddled together in the middle. No talking unless asked a direct question, no elbows on the table, no leaving until your plate was empty even when it was something he’d hated like liver sitting in a thick, congealing gravy. It was one rule he’d refused to implement with the children. They’d been asked to taste everything but if something was rejected then it didn’t make a reappearance. It had led to a few arguments with Jen until he’d explained why and then she’d been onside.
Both the kids had been through phases of fussy eating, including a three-month period when Avery had refused to eat anything other than peanut-butter sandwiches and salted crackers, which had tested Dylan’s vow not to pressure them over food to the limit. But they’d got through it, just as they’d got through everything else, and now, other than a handful of things that were definite dislikes, both of his children had a healthy relationship with food.
‘I’m looking forward to it, especially since Ziggy said he’s doing the cooking. I don’t think he knew how to do much more than boil an egg before I left home.’
Tasha grinned. ‘I can assure you his skills have vastly improved. One of the things I love about it here is that everyone pitches in and takes a turn. Plus it’s always a lovely, relaxed atmosphere.’
There was something in the way she said it that made him guess perhaps that hadn’t always been the case for her in the past and he wondered what her story was. ‘Will you be here all over the Christmas period?’
‘Yes. My family is coming to stay for a few days over the new year. Mum wanted to stay here at the hall, but my sister’s kids are only small so it’s not really suitable for them. With some delicate negotiations, my dad and I have persuaded her to try one of the eco-lodges, with Danni, Stu and the children in one next door.’
They were almost at the door to his suite and Dylan fumbled in his pocket for the key. ‘I looked at booking one of them, but Stevie was adamant we stay here and make the most of the festivities.’
‘I can take you over to check them out if you like – maybe next time you visit you can try one then.’ Tasha’s face fell. ‘Sorry, I know things are… umm, a bit delicate.’ Her face flamed as bright as her hair when she realised what she’d said. ‘Oh God, I’ll just shut up and let’s look at what we can sort out for your room.’
Dylan unlocked the door but didn’t open it as he met Tasha’s embarrassed gaze. ‘Please don’t feel bad. I’m the one who made things awkward by staying away for so long but I’m here to build bridges. I don’t intend this to be my last visit home.’
Tasha heaved a sigh of relief. ‘Oh, that is good news. Rhys has been so stressed out about you coming back, what with everything that happened with Rowena…’ She wrinkled her nose as her words trailed off. ‘I really need to shut up now.’
Dylan shoved the door open with a laugh. ‘That is all water under the bridge, I promise. I’m not embarrassed about it so there’s no reason for anyone else to be, even less reason to keep old secrets rattling around.’
Tasha nodded. ‘In the spirit of openness I should let you know that I don’t get on well with your father.’
Dylan put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a brief, comforting pat. ‘Well, that only makes me like you more.’
After a quick tour of the suite and with Tasha promising she’d be able to sort something out before lunchtime, Dylan left his key with her and headed back to the orangery. He paused at the table where Theo, Jon and a blonde woman who introduced herself as Carrie-Ann were working on what looked like a tangle of old chicken wire to Dylan’s untrained eye. They seemed to know what they were doing and, after a brief assurance from Theo that he was happy, Dylan made a beeline for the sofas in the corner where he and Sadie had enjoyed their early morning talk.
She was sitting in the corner, with Avery sitting cross-legged at a ninety-degree angle facing her, their heads bent so close together as to be almost touching. Not wanting to interrupt, Dylan smiled at Tara, who was sitting opposite them, working away with a long hooked needle, and sank down in a free chair that made up the group of seats. Sadie was speaking softly, her tone one of encouragement as she guided Avery’s hands with her own. The pair of them were totally absorbed in what they were doing, and Dylan felt his heart swell at the obvious care and attention Sadie was giving to Avery. He’d noticed it about her the evening before, the way she was conscious of other people feeling included, the natural warmth that had drawn so many people into her orbit in a short space of time. She might have said it had been a while since she’d made new friends, but she seemed a natural at it as far as Dylan was concerned.
‘That’s it, yes. You’re really getting the hang of it,’ Sadie said. ‘Do you want to try on your own now?’
Dylan watched as his daughter nodded shyly while Sadie sat back and let her have a go. She glanced up only long enough to notice him and acknowledge the finger he raised swiftly to his lips, not wanting to disturb Avery’s concentration when she was intently focused. Sadie gave him the ghost of a wink before she turned her attention back to his daughter. Only once she’d completed the line of stitches she was working on did Avery lift her head with a satisfied laugh. ‘I did it!’
‘You certainly did. Let me see.’ Sadie took the yarn and ran a finger over it. ‘That’s really good work. You’ve kept the tension even with pretty much every stitch. See how nicely they lie together. Do you want to carry on chaining or are you ready to try something new?’
‘Can you show me another stitch?’ As though finally becoming aware of her surroundings again, Avery turned her head. ‘Dad! How long have you been sitting there?’
‘Long enough to see you’re doing a grand job. Are you having fun?’
She grinned. ‘Sadie is the best teacher!’ The look she turned on the older woman was little shy of hero worship. ‘You’ll have to show Dad next.’
Dylan held his hands up in protest. ‘I was only joking about that yesterday. I’m happy to watch.’ He hadn’t thought about it before now, but faced with the reality he realised he didn’t want to look a fool in front of Sadie.
Avery’s face fell. ‘You promised, though.’
Damn, now he had the choice of looking like a fool or looking like the kind of man who let his children down. Neither was a tempting prospect, but Avery’s feelings mattered much more than the prick of foolish pride. Dylan leaned forward to pat her leg. ‘If it means that much to you then I’ll give it a go, but don’t be expecting much from my clumsy fingers. Don’t worry about me, just focus on what you were doing. I’ll wait until you’ve properly got the hang of it, and then I’ll try, okay?’
She cast him a sceptical look. ‘You’d better not wriggle out of it.’
Dylan set his features in a solemn expression and drew an exaggeratedly slow cross over his heart. ‘I promise I’ll give it a try.’
As he’d hoped, Avery let out a peal of laughter as she shook her head at his foolishness. With that mini crisis averted, he rose to his feet. ‘Let me sort out some refreshments to keep us all going first.’
Dylan made his way over to the table laid out with drinks, treats and snacks. He returned shortly afterwards with a large jug of lemonade, four glasses and a plate of miniature mince pies, little squares of icing-topped Christmas cake and Battenberg bites balanced on a tray. ‘Here we are.’ He set the tray down.
‘Sit here, Dad,’ Avery said, jumping up from the sofa and pointing at her vacant seat. ‘I’m ready to work on my own and you’ll need Sadie to show you what to do. First I’m going to go and show Theo what I’ve done so far.’ She headed off, her tiny patch of crochet work clutched in her hands as if it were the finest treasure.
Dylan glanced at Sadie for permission and only sat beside her when she nodded. ‘Thank you for doing this,’ he said as she reached for a ball of pale green yarn and a shiny metallic hook. ‘I’m not sure I’ll be much good, though.’
‘You won’t know until you try,’ she said with a smile before lowering her voice to murmur. ‘The important thing is that you are willing to give it a go for Avery’s sake.’
They both looked over to where Avery was laughing as Theo held her little scrap of crochet up to the light and made a show of examining it. ‘I thought I’d get you both making simple blanket squares,’ Sadie said in her normal tone, drawing his attention back. ‘They’re a great beginner’s practice tool and if it’s something Avery wants to continue with after you go home it’ll be a nice project she can expand into a throw for the end of her bed, or even a full size blanket if she really catches the bug.’
‘I’m in your capable hands,’ Dylan said with a smile. ‘And the easier the better for me.’ For the next few minutes he gave Sadie his full attention as she showed him how to get started. The terminology was a little confusing at first, but she made it look easy. Too easy, he discovered when she persuaded him to have a go for himself. The hook felt too small for his hands, the chain of stitches too narrow for him to feed the yarn through. Delicate fingers enclosed his own as Sadie stopped him from poking the hook through the wrong bit.
‘Here,’ she said in that same gently encouraging voice she’d used on Avery. ‘Now turn the hook so it’s facing away and loop the yarn like I showed you. That’s it, now guide it back through. Lovely.’ Her fingers brushed over the backs of his hands. ‘Try not to grip so tight and you’ll find it easier. Much better.’
Her tone was so soothing he felt some of the tension in his arms release and, as she’d said it would, it made his movements less stiff and awkward. ‘You have such a great voice, I could listen to you talk for hours.’