Chapter 14
Rose returned to party planning in the library until around five o’clock when a car pulled up outside signalling the arrival of Alastair’s sister and her family. Rose waited a couple of minutes before going out into the entrance hall to say hello. There were people and dogs everywhere — and Houdini, who’d managed to somehow sneak in ― all greeting each other. Rose stood to the side, keeping a wary eye on the Christmas tree, intending to defend it from exuberantly wagging dog tails.
“This is Rose,” Alastair said, putting a hand gently on the small of her back and drawing her into the group. “She’s the reason the house looks so amazing.”
“It’s lovely to meet you, Rose,” said Alastair’s sister. “I’m Fiona, and this is my husband, Paul, and the twins are Sam and James.”
The boys looked shyly up at Rose who gave them a friendly smile.
Rose could definitely see the family resemblance between Alastair and Fiona, who was tall, dark-haired and striking. Her husband was also tall but had a much slighter build than Alastair. He wore glasses and a suit and seemed like he’d fit more in a city than the country. Rose couldn’t help but notice that his sons were two carbon copies of him.
Aunt Helena made her grand entrance down the staircase once the initial excitement was over. She glared at Houdini and gestured to Isla to take him outside. She did so immediately. The twins’ eyes widened at the sight of their great-aunt and Rose got the feeling that they were a little nervous of her. She couldn’t blame them. Aunt Helena would have terrified her at their age. Frankly, she still did a little.
Mrs Reed came out of the kitchen and was hugged by the new arrivals. “I’ll be going in a minute,” she said, “but I couldn’t leave without seeing you all! My, how you two have grown!” she exclaimed to Ben and James. “Come through to the kitchen, there’s a snack ready for you.”
The boys and Isla followed Mrs Reed, and Fiona and Paul began taking their luggage upstairs. Rose wasn’t quite sure what to do with herself and escaped back into the library to finish packing up work for the day.
It wasn’t long before Isla came in with a mince pie for her.
“Oh, thank you, Isla,” Rose said.
“I helped Mrs Reed make them earlier. But this is one of hers. Mine are a bit messy and I wanted you to have a good one.”
Rose laughed. “Thank you, but I’m sure yours taste just as good.”
Alastair poked his head around the door. “Hi there, trouble,” he said to Isla, before turning his attention to Rose. “Can I interest you in an alcoholic beverage? We’re all going to have a chat in the drawing room until dinner, maybe get some board games out to play with the boys.”
“Oh, um . . . I was just going to go up to my room . . .”
“Join us,” Alastair said, his gaze earnest. “Please.”
“I don’t know . . .”
“Please!” begged Isla. “You have got to see my cousins playing snakes and ladders. It’s so funny. They try to cheat all the time! You’ve got to watch them really carefully.”
Rose laughed. “Okay then, thank you.”
Isla led the way into the drawing room where Paul was opening up a large cocktail cabinet and a drinks fridge. Rose hadn’t even realised they were hidden inside the huge mahogany sideboard at the far end of the room.
“Paul is the designated bartender whenever we get together,” Fiona explained.
“Dirty martini, sweetheart?” Paul asked his wife.
“Absolutely. Rose, will you have one too?”
“That sounds amazing,” Rose said. “Thank you.”
“Uncle Paul, will you make me a Shirley Temple, please?” requested Isla.
“Of course, munchkin,” he replied.
“I think you’re going to need to stop calling me that soon, Uncle Paul,” she said. “I’m getting pretty big now.”
“You are.” Uncle Paul sighed. “But you were such a cute kid, why do you have to grow up?”
“I’m sorry.” Isla laughed. “I’m not doing it on purpose.”
Isla got down on the floor with her cousins to play some board games and the adults all took a seat. The dogs settled down in their baskets by the fire and the flickering flames cast a warm glow around the room.
Rose sat down at one end of a small sofa and when Alastair returned to the room with some juice for the twins, he took the space next to her. It was an action that made Rose feel hot all of a sudden.
“So, Rose,” said Fiona, handing Rose her drink. “How on earth did you end up here organising Christmas for my brother? I’m not even going to start on the fact that if he were a woman he would have sorted it all out himself without even considering hiring someone . . .” She tailed off, giving her brother a pointed look.
“Um . . . well . . . I was working in a Christmas shop and he came in and basically offered me this job within a couple of minutes . . .”
“And you accepted?” Fiona’s mouth fell open.
“Well, at the time, I didn’t know what a terrible boss he would be . . .” Rose joked.
“What are you saying about me?” Alastair asked, turning his attention from his conversation with his brother-in-law.
“You’ve started going up to random women in London and inviting them to your house,” teased Fiona.
Rose saw Alastair shoot a glance at Isla, but she was happily absorbed in playing with her cousins. He glared at Fiona.
“Actually,” said Rose, “it was perfect timing. I was looking for another job and I used to work in events management.”
Alastair gave her a grateful smile.
“It was lucky that you were able to drop everything and accept his offer then,” said Fiona. “And how do you like working here?”
“It’s great,” Rose replied, truthfully, and happy to be moving on from the subject of how she came to be employed and the fact that she had absolutely nothing to stay in London for. “This house is a dream to decorate and, obviously, Alastair is a brilliant boss.”
Fiona nodded. “Well, the house looks amazing. It’s so Christmassy! You’ve got a great eye. We’re all very glad you’re here.”
A victorious squeal indicated that one of the twins had won the tight-fought game of Ludo that had been going on in the corner, and Isla got up to join the grown-ups for a moment while her cousins chose the next game.
“Rose, let me take a picture of you and Dad together,” Isla said.
“Um . . . sure,” Rose said, not knowing what else to say.
“Can I borrow your phone, Dad?”
Alastair passed his phone to his daughter, somewhat reluctantly it seemed to Rose.
“Sit next to him,” Isla said. “A bit closer . . . Dad put your arm around her.”
Alastair caught Rose’s eyes, checking that was okay. She gave a little nod and felt his arm move around her shoulder and rest there gently. The weight was comfortable and the warmth and smell of him so close made her feel slightly dizzy. How strong did Paul make his drinks?
“Okay! Got it,” said Isla. She fiddled with the phone for a moment. “This is my favourite one,” she declared, turning it around to show everyone. “Oh my God, you look so good together,” she said, returning the phone to her dad.
Rose took a quick glance at the picture and couldn’t help giving a little smile which she then swiftly hid. Isla was right; she and Alastair did look good together. And she looked so much healthier than she did a few weeks ago. Her cheeks were pink ― probably just due to her proximity to the best-looking man she’d ever met ― but her skin also looked clearer and her eyes were bright. Scottish air and Mrs Reed’s cooking obviously agreed with her.
She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn’t realise Alastair had left her side.
* * *
They ate in the kitchen, squeezed around the kitchen table as nobody fancied laying up in the dining room. Alastair sat at the other end of the table to Rose and he was kept busy talking to Aunt Helena, while Rose chatted to Fiona, who, it turned out, was an art dealer and had worked for several big auction houses. She’d sold some amazing pieces over the years by artists Rose had admired and studied at university.
The twins were clearly exhausted from their busy day and Fiona and Paul took them for a bath, stories and bed once they’d finished eating. Aunt Helena was determined to see Isla’s latest artwork from school, so they went up to Isla’s room together. Alastair was left to tidy and Rose automatically started to help.
“You don’t have to do that,” Alastair said. He appeared very focused on scrapping food scraps into the compost bin.
“I’m happy to help,” said Rose. “I’ll unload the dishwasher.”
“Well . . . thanks, that’d be great.”
“Your family are wonderful,” Rose said, cheerfully.
“Thank you, I’m quite fond of them,” he said a little stiffly.
Rose realised he seemed to be making quite an effort not to meet her eye.
They were silent for a moment before Alastair said, “I need to speak with you about something.”
“That sounds serious,” Rose said, putting down the tea towel she was holding and turning to face him. “What is it?”
“I’m worried Isla’s getting a little too close to you,” Alastair said quietly.
“In what way?” asked Rose, carefully.
“Well, you’re spending a lot of time together . . .”
“Because we enjoy each other’s company and she’s been helping me,” Rose replied. Alastair took over unloading the dishwasher. He avoided eye contact.
“I’m concerned she’s seeing you as a surrogate mother,” Alastair explained. “And her photographing us together earlier . . .” He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “She’s never had a mother figure and then, you come along . . .”
“What about Mrs Reed? Or your sister? Surely both of them would count as mother figures, just off the top of my head. They both love her.”
“I suppose you’re right, but this feels different.”
“I can understand your concern,” Rose said. “But Isla knows that I’m only here for a few more days.”
“She really likes you.”
“And I really like her. She’s amazing.” Rose frowned. “You’re worried she’s getting too attached to me and will be upset when I leave?”
“Exactly,” said Alastair, looking relieved at being understood. “I just don’t want her to get hurt.”
“Of course not. So, you think it’s a better idea for me to keep my distance from this point? To not spend any time with her, even though we both enjoy it?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Not only was Alastair being ridiculous but it was hardly practical.
“I didn’t say you shouldn’t spend any time together . . .”
“Okay,” said Rose, warming to her topic. “How much time would be acceptable, do you think? Half an hour a day? Perhaps I could draw up a timesheet to ensure we don’t go over by mistake . . .”
“Now you’re just being ridiculous . . .”
“Am I? Isla and I have been having great fun hanging out with each other. Honestly, it’s been good for both of us. And it’s going to be difficult for us not to spend time together.” Rose had tried really hard to make the run up to Christmas special for Isla and now she felt she was being punished for doing so.
“I don’t want her to feel abandoned again,” Alastair said quietly. “She adores you. She talks about you all the time . . . It’s going to be hard for her.”
Rose’s annoyance vanished as she felt an ache in her heart for this man and his love for his daughter.
“I understand that,” Rose now said, gently. “But it seems a little extreme to stop us spending time together. It’s a completely different situation to Marie leaving her. First of all, she’s only known me such a short time. Plus, she’s always been aware that I’m leaving on Christmas Eve and there’s no chance of anything between you and I . . .”
“No chance at all.”
“Exactly.”
“She knows I don’t date,” Alastair said firmly.
“Neither do I,” retorted Rose.
They glared at each other.
Rose’s mouth twitched. Alastair looked so serious and she realised she was actually standing with her hands upon her hips. Alastair’s face relaxed and they both started to laugh.
“We seem to be arguing about who dates the least . . .” pointed out Rose.
“I’m sorry,” said Alastair, “I’m worrying too much.”
“I think so,” Rose said. “But thank you for making me aware. I’d hate to hurt Isla. She means the world to me. But she’ll be so busy the next few days that I doubt she’ll give me much thought, and then . . . well, I’ll be back in London.”
Rose knew she’d miss Isla terribly. She expected Isla would miss her too, but simply as fun company, nothing like as the mother figure Alastair mentioned. She had other women in her life for that.
Alastair nodded and before he could say anything else, Fiona and Paul came back into the kitchen.
“What were you two laughing about? We could hear you from upstairs!”
“Nothing,” said Alastair.
“We were just being silly,” added Rose. “Did the boys settle down okay?”
“They both passed out while I was reading to them,” said Paul. “They always sleep well when we stay here. Isla tires them out for us.”
“The house really does look wonderful, Rose,” Fiona said, filling the kettle while Paul took out some mugs. “I can’t believe that tree in the hallway. How did Mum and Dad never think of putting one there?”
Alastair shrugged.
“Paul and I fancied a cuppa. Would either of you like one?” Fiona asked.
“I’ll have one,” Alastair replied.
“I’m fine, thanks,” said Rose. “Where did they put the Christmas tree?”
“In the sitting room,” said Fiona. “It was just a plastic one but we loved it. We had a fancier one in the drawing room as well but the presents were always put under the one in the sitting room and that’s where we’d open our presents on Christmas morning.”
“To the sound of that awful Max Bygraves compilation that Mum always insisted on playing,” said Alastair with a smile.
“That thing was truly horrendous!” said Fiona.
“It was.” Alastair nodded.
“I bet there’s still some Christmas stuff up in the attic,” Fiona commented.
“I don’t think Rose needs any more decorations,” Alastair said. “I already feel like I’m living in a Narnian forest.”
“They would rather spoil the aesthetic.” Fiona chuckled.
“You’re more than welcome to have a look up there if you do think of anything you might want to use, though, Rose,” said Alastair. “I would have offered before but figured they wouldn’t fit the theme you were going for. Our mum never threw anything out.”
Isla and Aunt Helena came to join everyone.
“Can we play Monopoly?” Isla asked.
“You can all do what you like,” said Aunt Helena. “I’m going to sit by the fire in the sitting room and read my book, ideally with a dog at my feet and a glass of whisky in my hand. I noticed a rather nice one in that drinks cabinet of yours earlier.”
“We’ll play,” said Fiona on behalf of herself and her husband.
“I can take a couple of hours out of my evening to beat you at Monopoly,” said Alastair.
“What about you, Rose?” asked Isla. “Please say you’ll play too. We can gang up on Dad!”
Rose didn’t know what to say. She glanced at Alastair for help and he said, “Of course she will. But don’t be so sure that Rose and I won’t gang up against you, young lady.”
Isla ran off to set up the Monopoly board on the big table in the library. Alastair gave Rose a little smile.