Chapter 28
28
Lovestruck. It was a word Dylan had often heard and dismissed as nonsense. Until now. He spent the first part of the morning in a daze, and even the protests of the kids as he got them up and dressed barely registered through the fog in his brain. They seemed oblivious to how late, or rather early, he’d got back. All he could think about was Sadie. How was she feeling? Had she woken up as full of hope as he had or was she regretting things in the cold light of day? He shouldn’t have left her, but how could he have stayed? By the time he managed to calm the kids down and get the three of them downstairs for breakfast he was an absolute bag of nerves.
Sadie was waiting in the lounge, curled up in an armchair by the window. She looked as if she were miles away but, when they approached, she turned and the smile she gave him settled a lot of the butterflies in his stomach. Leaning down, he brushed a kiss on her cheek and managed to whisper, ‘Everything okay?’ low enough the kids didn’t hear him.
She gave him the briefest of nods then turned her attention to Theo and Avery, who had tumbled onto the sofa nearby as though just the effort of coming downstairs had been too much. ‘You’d think you two were the ones up dancing half the night, not us,’ Sadie said to them with a grin. ‘You look like you need to go back to bed.’
‘This is not a civilised time for anyone to be up on a Sunday morning,’ Theo grumbled.
‘Why are we even awake?’ Avery asked, yanking the hood of her sweatshirt over her head until it covered most of her face.
Dylan couldn’t exactly tell them he’d dragged them downstairs because he’d been desperate to see Sadie, so he settled for pointing out that they didn’t want to miss decorating the centrepiece for the entrance hall. ‘You both worked really hard on the things you made – don’t you want to see it all come together?’
A pair of grunts was their only response. With an apologetic shrug towards Sadie for their lack of manners, Dylan went to fetch himself a coffee. When he returned Sadie had pulled the empty chair closer to hers and he sank into it with a smile, taking it as a good sign that she wanted him to sit next to her. Her hand was resting on the arm of her chair and he couldn’t resist reaching out to cover it with his own. The urge to touch her was too strong to ignore and when she turned her hand palm up so they could link their fingers, the last of his nerves melted away. Everything between them was going to be okay.
The children perked up a bit once they’d eaten and their bad mood dissipated as everyone gathered in the entrance hall to decorate the tree. Dylan was happy to sit back and watch – his contribution had been minimal and too many hands would just lead to a mess. Rowena clearly had the same idea and quickly took charge, appointing a small team who would actually hang the decorations while others prepped each piece and handed them over. Sadie worked with Avery, carefully attaching hooks to the loops stitched into the top of the crochet leaves and the half-a-dozen smiley-faced pears Sadie had made. They were an incongruous sight amongst the pottery and silver leaves but Dylan loved the sweet silliness of them.
When it was time to add the partridge centrepiece, Carrie-Ann invited Theo to step forward, his nimble fingers working quickly to help her wire the bird securely into place. When they moved back there was a round of applause and lots of congratulations and praise shared. A couple of the serving staff appeared with trays of Buck’s fizz and straight orange juice and the party atmosphere that was never far from any of the events at the hall soon spread as everyone took turns to admire the tree.
Dylan was sitting with the children watching Sadie chat to one of the later guests who’d arrived after the long weekend and had missed the crafting sessions when Stevie approached them with a smile. ‘I’ve got a favour to ask the three of you about our plans for Midnight Mass later…’
They assembled back in the hall just before eleven-fifteen that night, everyone bundled up ready for the long walk through the estate and into the village. The kids had been excited since talking to Stevie earlier and it had taken some persuasion to have a decent sleep in the afternoon. Dylan had snuck away to Sadie’s room, and fallen fast asleep tangled in her arms. She was standing next to him now and he knew for certain he was completely smitten because he couldn’t help thinking how beautiful she looked in her ridiculous bobble hat. Rowena caught his eye from over by the door and nodded. ‘That’s our cue, guys, come on.’ He smiled at Sadie. ‘I’ll see you in a minute, okay?’
‘So mysterious,’ she said with a laugh.
‘Stevie swore us to secrecy and I’m not brave enough to go up against my big sister!’
The three of them slipped past Rowena, who was guarding the door. As they stepped outside he heard her saying, ‘Give us a couple of minutes, folks.’
Though Stevie had explained the plan, Dylan still found his breath catch as he saw it in the flesh. His family was lined up at the bottom of the steps in age order from Alice to Hope, each of them holding the illuminated figure of a leaping lord on a pole above their heads. Amelia, Tasha and Cam stood at the top of the steps, each holding a figure, which they handed over to Dylan, Theo and Avery before hurrying down to stand with Daisy. Pride filled Dylan to the depths of his soul as he led the kids down the steps to take their places in the line. This was where he belonged. No matter how many miles separated them, this was where his heart lived.
The doors opened and Rowena led everyone out. Gasps of delight greeted them and as the guests descended, Ziggy gave the instruction to turn and walk. Alice led the line around the fountain and across to the foot of the long drive, where they stopped and formed up across the width of it. ‘Ready?’ Ziggy asked and then they were moving again. As they walked along the drive, lights appeared off to the left, the glow of torches and mobile phones. It was the workers who lived on the estate and they joined the back of the group forming an unofficial escort to make sure none of the guests strayed from the path and got themselves lost. As they reached the top of the drive, the gates stood open ready for them to pass through and there were more lights beyond – villagers waiting to join the procession. A familiar figure in a patchwork cloak waited by the gate and Dylan felt a catch in his throat as their mother walked over to Monty and offered him the figure she was holding. He hesitated for a second before accepting it with a nod and taking her place in the line beside Ziggy. Alice slipped through between them to take her place in the second row with Daisy, Rowena, Cam and the others who were part of their family. Dylan’s heart soared when he spotted Sadie in amongst them. Where she belonged.
He didn’t have time to dwell on that because they were moving again, a slow steady walk towards the church. The road was lined with people and as they passed they moved to join the procession, swelling the numbers until it seemed like every member of their community was walking with them.
The vicar waited at the door of the church, the members of the choir lined up next to him. With a gesture from the choirmaster, the piercing clear notes of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ filled the air. The vicar turned and walked into the church, the choir following behind. There was a small delay as, under instruction of the churchwarden, they placed their illuminated lords against the wall of the church in a happy, leaping row before they mingled with everyone going inside. Dylan managed to catch up with Sadie in the jostle, taking her hand and leading her towards the front of the church where the family pews lined either side of the top of the aisle. When she realised where they were headed, she shook her head. ‘Oh no, those are for family.’
Avery hooked an arm through hers and smiled. ‘And you’re part of the family, at least for the next few days.’
‘Come and sit with us,’ Theo urged, leaving her with the choice of giving in or making a scene.
‘Did you put them up to that?’ she whispered at Dylan through a fixed smile as she took the seat beside him.
‘Nope, that was all their own work.’ He glanced across the church to where Hope was leading a surprised but smiling Marcus to sit with her and Stevie. It looked as though his niece had done a bit of detective work since their little chat the other morning. He nudged Sadie and nodded at them with a grin. ‘There’s no point in fighting it. Once the Travers family get hold of you, they don’t let go.’
Sadie laughed and took his hand. ‘I’ll play along for now, but come the 28th it’s back to the real world.’ Dylan squeezed her hand. He knew she was right, but he’d cross that bridge when they came to it.
The service was the traditional nine lessons and carols format. They were nearing the end and Ziggy was at the lectern, reading the final lesson. When he finished, Dylan waited for the organ to begin, but the vicar stepped forward and smiled. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, it’s been a very special year, not only for all the many times I’ve watched this community come together and support each other in both good times and bad, but because those long lost have found their way home.’ Dylan shifted uncomfortably in his seat and watched his father do the same. Sadie’s fingers closed around his and he held tight as he wondered where this was leading. Things were still very fragile between Monty and the rest of them; it was too soon for this. He caught Ziggy’s eye and his eldest brother shook his head, the very briefest movement but Dylan felt himself relax.
‘As many of you will know, Dr Cameron Ferguson has been leading an archaeological dig on the estate over the past eighteen months investigating the ruins uncovered there. As a part of their work a number of high-status graves were uncovered. We do not know who they are, but I have every faith that Cam and his team will get to the bottom of that mystery before too long.’ He smiled over at Cam, who grinned and held up his crossed fingers. Hushed laughter rippled around the church.
‘I find a prayer or two helps,’ the vicar said with a wink, earning more laughter. He shrugged. ‘Come on, it’s literally in my job description. Anyway, I am pleased to say that, with the permission of the bishop and with the help of many members of our community, we at Saint Saviour’s will be offering an appropriate shelter for our long-lost brethren until the research work has been completed and they can finally be laid to rest.’
He walked to the back of the church where a number of stone sarcophagi stood in front of the altar. It had been decades since Dylan had been in the church and he had assumed they’d always been there. The carved figures on the top were pitted and broken, but it was still possible to make out the shape of their heads and hands clasped in prayer. Six of the choir stood, each carrying a wreath of holly, which they placed gently at the foot of each stone coffin as the vicar moved amongst the tombs, placing a hand on each as he murmured a blessing. The members of the choir returned to their seats and the organ played the introductory notes for the final carol, ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’.
When they left the church, they collected the leaping lords and began the long walk back. They got only as far as the main pathway when Monty stopped and handed his figure to Alice. ‘Thank you for letting me be part of tonight,’ he said, tucking his hands in his pockets as he took a step back.
‘It was good to have you with us, Dad,’ Stevie said, always the kindest-hearted of them.
Ziggy nodded. ‘We’re having lunch tomorrow at the hall. I understand that might not be easy for you, but you’d be welcome to join us.’
‘Drinks are from noon onwards,’ Rowena added.
Monty was silent for long enough that Dylan clenched his fists. If he threw this back in their faces there’d be no going back. When the old man spoke, his voice was gravelly. ‘It would be my pleasure.’