Chapter 9
‘Dinner is served,’ William announced. It sounded like he was practising for a new career in service at a posh stately home. He walked into the dining room and proudly presented the enormous platter carrying the turkey and roast potatoes, setting it down in the centre of the table. Jake followed with a large hot plate of assorted vegetables.
Everyone took their seats. Jake sat opposite Marcus and Eleanor, and William took his usual place at the head of the table. Grace walked in from the lounge across the hall to take the seat opposite her husband, her back to the long Georgian window that looked out over the front lawn. A light dusting of snow covered the garden. With the flowers and evergreen shrubs delicately frosted, the winter scene outside added a quiet magic and resembled the Christmas cards adorning the fireplace.
William took a moment to savour the presence of his family, looking around the table and smiling fondly at each one in turn. Then he set to work carving the turkey. Plates with succulent turkey slices were passed around, and everyone helped themselves to the vegetable platter, cranberry sauce and rich gravy. With that done, a glass of wine was poured for each of them. They waited.
‘To family,’ William raised his glass. ‘Past,’ he nodded in Jake’s direction. ‘And present.’ He nodded at each one of them in turn, then raised the glass to his lips.
‘And future,’ Jake added, staring intently at his wife. There had been no chance beforehand to discuss when she wanted to announce the news. Wasn’t now as good a time as any? Apparently not. Eleanor shot Jake a look which said so in no uncertain terms.
There followed an awkward silence; everyone at the table was aware of the problems they’d been having conceiving a child and knew that because of that, the subject was normally avoided.
‘And future,’ William echoed, not all that convincingly.
Throughout dinner, Jake tried to make eye contact with Eleanor. Several times, she glanced his way, but too briefly for him to have time to try some sort of covert signal.
Yes, Jake decided, she was definitely avoiding him. How long was this going to go on? Jake shifted his attention to Marcus, who was whispering in Eleanor’s ear, his dark eyes settling on Jake. Jake wondered what he was up to and scowled across the table at him. Marcus flashed his pearly white teeth back in a sly grin.
Jake guessed that Marcus was on the subject of the after-dinner ski trip, but he couldn’t hear what he was saying because the ancient black-and-white portable television in the corner of the room was drowning them out with an old 1940s film that Grace had insisted on finishing over dinner. In the end, they were all concentrating avidly on the movie while eating their dinner, and despite their missing the first half, it really was quite good.
Music came on as the credits rolled.
‘Anyone for pudding?’ said William, slapping his ample stomach.
‘No, I’m full,’ said Eleanor.
‘Later,’ said Marcus.
Jake agreed.
‘Looks like it’s just you and me then, Gracie.’ William looked across the table at his wife, who was dreamily staring at the television set, watching the credits roll, lost in her own little make-believe world.
‘Mummy, do you want pudding or not?’ Eleanor said in a patronising tone of voice.
‘What did you say, darling?’ Grace replied, slowly turning her head in Eleanor’s direction.
William got up from the table and went into the kitchen to fetch the pudding.
Eleanor got up to dim the lights. Even if they weren’t staying for pudding, it was tradition for William to heat up some rum on the Aga in the kitchen and reappear with a flaming, rum-soaked Christmas pudding.
And, as was also tradition, everyone clapped when he entered the room, carefully carrying the pudding to the table.
While they sat at the table, waiting for the flames to go out, William fetched two dishes from the kitchen. He set one in front of his wife after serving her a generous slice of Christmas pudding. She picked up the dish and spoon, got up from the table, pecked her husband on the cheek and said, ‘The meal was divine, darling – simply divine.’ She left the room.
William switched off the portable television. Everyone knew he didn’t want it on during family get-togethers, most especially the Christmas meal, but unfortunately over the years it had become a tradition created by Grace, albeit one that William, and everyone else, just about tolerated. The unmistakable sound of another film drifted through from the lounge.
William sat down. ‘So, are you guys off on your afternoon ski?’ He plunged a spoon into the steaming Christmas pudding.
Marcus said yes and Eleanor said no simultaneously.
Jake looked at Marcus and smiled a big I told you so grin as William said, ‘It’s up to you, Jake – are you going to swing the vote?’
‘No voting this year. It’ll just be Marcus and me … if he says please nicely. Otherwise I won’t go either.’
Marcus grimaced.
Eleanor turned to her father. ‘Do you want some help with the clearing up, Daddy?’
‘No – why don’t you go and join your mother in the lounge. You look tired, Ellie.’
Eleanor got up from the table.
Jake rose from his chair, ‘Ellie, when …?’
She shook her head furiously at Jake and left the room.
Jake sighed. She was probably right. Now wasn’t the time; Grace had left the room and all Marcus had on his mind at this moment was the damn skiing.
‘Do you want us to give you a hand?’ asked Jake, glancing at Marcus, knowing he wouldn’t appreciate being drafted in to help.
‘No – you two kids go and have some fun.’
Marcus had bounced up from the table almost immediately the word no came out of his father’s mouth. ‘I’ll get the gear,’ he said excitedly and left the room.
Jake lingered behind, looking at the food-stained tablecloth and the piles of dirty crockery, aware that Grace wouldn’t touch a dish cloth with a ten-foot pole. ‘Are you quite sure you don’t want some help?’ If they’d had a dishwasher, it would have taken no time at all, but William wouldn’t have the old, dated eighties kitchen replaced.
‘Jake,’ William’s hand rested on his forearm. ‘Just go,’ he said patiently.
Jake got up slowly, still eyeing the mess on the table. He glanced at William, who was flicking his hand at Jake, telling him to get a move on. Admittedly, Jake wasn’t sorry to leave, as he was aware that the sooner he got going, the sooner he would be back. Then they could share their gift. He could feel the anticipation building in the pit of his stomach at the thought of everyone – especially William – receiving such unexpected news.
Jake left the room and stood in the hallway. The basement door was open, the light was on, and he could hear noises filtering up the stairwell. He headed over to the basement door and listened. Marcus’s voice could be heard, loud and clear. He was swearing profusely. He was obviously having trouble extracting the skis from their storage place amid the clutter of assorted family debris that had found its way down there over the years.
They only ever skied up there once a year, and that was weather-permitting. Jake loved Scotland. It was where he had been born, and where he had grown up, and where he had first learnt to ski with the Ross children. But the weather in the Cairngorms was unpredictable, the queues for the ski lifts could be maddeningly long, and poor snowfall would mean a wasted trip to Aviemore if the resort was closed.
He’d hoped that would be the case this year; Jake would have preferred to spend the afternoon with Eleanor. But they’d had some good snowfall in recent years, and it appeared that this year would be just as good. He’d seen the mountains covered in snow on his way to The Lake House. The ski trip was a family tradition and he wasn’t going to get out of it – not if Marcus had anything to do with it.
Jake sighed heavily and backed away from the basement door. If Marcus wanted to go that badly, he could extract the skis by himself. Jake had something else more pressing to do – speak to his wife. He went into the lounge to look for her. William was right; Eleanor had appeared quite pale and tired. He was immensely relieved that she wasn’t going skiing. She needed to rest, but unsurprisingly she had not joined Grace in the lounge. Grace was too engrossed in the afternoon movie for Jake to bother asking her where Eleanor was.
Walking back into the hall, Jake glanced at the tree. It was Grace’s contribution to the do-it-yourself holiday; she had decorated the tree herself. Every decoration was silver, from the large baubles down to the little fairy lights. It looked stunning, and it also looked completely at odds with the simple Christmas they were meant to be having. But it was obvious that she’d decided that if her job was to decorate the tree, she was going to have it the way she wanted it. And you couldn’t get a tree looking like it had just stepped out of a movie using only handmade decorations.
Jake stopped in front of it and bent down to pick up a piece of silver tinsel that had fallen among the presents. Each gift was similarly wrapped in old newspaper or simple brown paper with string – apart from Grace’s, of course, which were wrapped in bright Vogue magazine covers. On one of the presents, he caught sight of his name. He picked it up and turned it over. It was from Eleanor. He stood up to examine the little package, turning it over in his hands.
‘You’re not meant to touch those until teatime.’ Eleanor’s stern voice caught Jake unawares.
‘Sorry.’ Jake quickly knelt down and carefully placed the small package back where he had found it. ‘I was just on my way up to …’ he paused while he got off his knees, ‘see you.’ He turned around to look at Eleanor. ‘You’ve got your coat on,’ he said in surprise.
‘I need my coat if I’m going out,’ she said, the edge to her voice unmistakable.
Jake walked towards her. ‘I really don’t think it’s a good idea.’ He tried to remain calm.
‘What isn’t a good idea?’ Eleanor stared at him and then inexplicably started to laugh. ‘Oh, I get it,’ she pointed at Jake. ‘I’m not going skiing, if that’s what you think. Honestly, the lengths a girl has to go to, to get out of the Christmas ski.’ She patted her stomach.
Was she having a little joke with him? Was Eleanor back to her normal self? Jake visibly relaxed. ‘Then where are you off to? You should be resting.’ He touched her arm.
She flinched. ‘I’m not an invalid!’ Her light-hearted tone evaporated. ‘You’ve been watching too many of those stupid old movies.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Jake said, trying to placate her. ‘I’m just new at this, that’s all.’
‘Me too,’ she said, staring straight ahead into Jake’s chest.
They both stood in awkward silence.
‘So, what’s with the coat?’ Jake fingered her lapels, running his thumb and forefinger up and down the smooth suede leather.
‘I’m going into town.’ She stepped backwards.
Jake dropped his hands from her coat. ‘What are you doing in town?’ He tried to sound casual. He tried to sound as though he didn’t want to know her every move. Which wasn’t true; he did. It crossed his mind, not for the first time, that she was up to something.
‘Oh, just some last-minute shopping. You know the sort of thing.’ She backed away towards the front door.
Now she was the one trying to sound casual. And no, Jake didn’t know what sort of thing. And where was she going shopping? He didn’t think any shops were open on Christmas Day. Jake refrained from asking. Instead he said, ‘Want some company?’
She stopped and eyed Jake. She didn’t say no immediately, which Jake took as a good sign. ‘I’ll just go get my coat.’ He headed for the stairs before she changed her mind.
‘Wait!’
Jake stopped with his hand on the banister rail and his foot on the first stair.
‘You go skiing. I don’t want to spoil your fun just because I can’t go.’
‘No, no – you’re not spoiling anything,’ Jake couldn’t get the words out quick enough. ‘I’d much rather spend time with you.’ Was this another test to see who he would choose? Because if it was, then this time, he was going to get it right – oh boy, was he going to give the right answer.
She cocked her head to one side. ‘I must have been mistaken, because I thought you wanted to spend Christmas with my family – especially Marcus. That’s why we’re here, isn’t it? So you two can spend some buddy time together?’
Not this again . Jake opened his mouth then discovered he had nothing to say. They were there – and that said it all.
She stared at him a moment longer, waiting for a response. When she realised none would be forthcoming, she turned her back on him and walked to the front door.
Jake watched her take a woolly hat and scarf from the clogged coat rack. She stepped in front of the long mirror by the door and put the hat on, trying it first this way, then that, as though she couldn’t decide what looked best.
She buttoned up her coat.
Jake desperately tried to think of something to say – anything to break the ice before she left. But he couldn’t think of a single word. His mind was blank. If he called her name, what would he say next? He was afraid of making it worse. Maybe when she came back, and she’d had a chance to cool off and get things in perspective, then they would talk.
Eleanor took one last look in the mirror before she opened the front door and stepped outside.
To Jake’s surprise, she turned back to look at him. Her lips parted as though she had something to say.
Jake stepped forward in anticipation. He wanted this awkwardness to end right here, right now. He didn’t want her to leave like this, didn’t want them to part in this way, even if she was just going shopping. But it was not to be. Eleanor closed her mouth, shook her head and abruptly shut the door.
Go after her , said a voice in his head. He could picture himself running to the front door, pulling her into his arms and exclaiming, Darling, I love you! And Eleanor responding in mocking tones, Darling, you’ve been watching too many old movies with my mother. The spell was broken, the urge was gone.
Jake slumped down and sat on a stair, his hand still holding on to the banister. He couldn’t believe it was Christmas Day, they had the best news to give the family, and they’d had their first major row after five years of marriage. They’d not once parted on a cross word – until now.
He could hear the television set coming from the lounge, the sound of William washing up crockery and cutlery in the kitchen, and Marcus’s thudding footfalls growing louder as he climbed the basement steps.
‘You must have heard me down there,’ Marcus said impatiently.
Jake looked through the spindles at him. He was awkwardly carrying one ski. Jake turned his attention back to the front door.
‘You could give me a hand instead of just sitting there!’
‘I’m not coming.’
‘Oh, for god’s sake, what is with everyone this year?’ Marcus stood in front of Jake tapping the ski impatiently on the hardwood floor.
What indeed? thought Jake, staring past Marcus at the front door. He was trying to figure out what was really going on. There had to be more to Eleanor’s bad mood than his refusal to spend Christmas in London.
Marcus headed back into the basement. He returned with another ski.
‘I knew there was something going on with you two.’
‘Just leave me alone, will you?’ Jake said.
For a moment, Marcus didn’t move. When he did, he didn’t go away but put the skis to one side and sat beside Jake on the stairs. ‘What’s going on, Jake?’
Jake turned his head slowly to look into Marcus’s dark eyes. ‘We had an argument.’ He didn’t want to go into the details. He knew she was still angry with him for insisting they joined the family for Christmas, but if he’d known she was going to carry on like this, he wouldn’t have insisted on them going.
‘Oh, is that all? So you’ve had a marital tiff. It’s not the end of the world. You’ll get over it. She’ll get over it. When she comes back, she’ll have forgotten all about it. You’ll see,’ he said cheerfully.
Jake looked at him doubtfully.
‘Where did she go, anyway?’ Marcus looked towards the front door.
‘Out,’ Jake said sulkily. ‘Shopping.’
‘Shopping? On Christmas Day?’ Marcus looked towards the door. ‘That’s weird.’
‘That’s what I thought.’
‘On the other hand …’
Jake turned to Marcus. ‘What are you thinking?’
‘Perhaps she’s organised a surprise for you – like a making-up present.’
Jake studied Marcus and felt that his words made some sense. In fact, they made a lot of sense. Eleanor was out shopping for the baby – he was sure of it. She was buying something with which to surprise him and she was keeping him in suspense by pretending she was still mad at him. Jake wanted to believe it. He let a tentative smile flicker across his lips.
‘There. You see? You know it makes sense.’ Marcus patted him on the back. ‘Now, what say you and me go skiing? By the time we arrive home, she’ll be back.’
Jake narrowed his eyes. ‘You’re not just saying that to make me go skiing, are you?’
‘Hey!’ Marcus feigned surprise. ‘I’m hurt that you could even suggest that.’ But the twitch at the corner of his mouth said otherwise.
Jake reached out and grasped Marcus’s shoulder. ‘You’re a selfish bastard, do you know that?’ Jake shook his shoulder. ‘Get my damn skis before I change my mind.’
‘Great!’ He bounced off the stair and headed for the basement.
Jake looked back at the front door. He told himself Marcus was right; Eleanor had a surprise in store, and he couldn’t wait to find out what it was.