Chapter Twelve
What Janet promised, Janet delivered and so that Sunday lunchtime it was a much bigger group than usual gathered around the farmhouse table in the kitchen at the inn. Besides Matt, Robyn and Dennis, Janet and Brin, there were also Janet’s grown children Josh and Jenna with their respective families. Josh was dating Meg from Brush Stroaks, of art class fame, and had his young daughter, Betsie, with them too. Jenna, Robyn’s singing sister as they called themselves, was there with Nick, her high school boyfriend with whom she had recently rekindled a romance, along with her Great Dane, Greta, who hated being far from Jenna’s side.
All in all, it was a lively group to say the least and Robyn could see that both Matt and Dennis were becoming tired of the loud company by the time the homemade trifle was served. On top of a full roast beef with Yorkshire puddings and all the veg, Robyn wasn’t sure she could squeeze more in, but made a valiant effort as Janet’s cooking was too good to be wasted.
“So, how are things going?” Jenna wiggled her eyebrows suggestively in the direction of Matt, who was pretending to be interested in a discussion about Formula One.
Robyn regretted now that, before it had all come to a heated head, she had mentioned in passing to her friend that she might be developing feelings for Matt that went beyond the platonic.
“Oh, er, slowly, but you know, making progress,” she was as ambiguous as possible, but Janet’s daughter was astute like her mother and Jenna had known Robyn for long enough to read between the lines.
“What is it? No chemistry there in the end? Regretting not taking that offer to go on tour? It’s normal to feel torn, but if it’s turning into resentment…”
“What? No!” Heads turned at her loud stage whisper and Robyn shook her head and lowered the volume, “No, I don’t feel resentful at all, haven’t given that a second thought actually, and the spark is definitely there, positively combustible to tell you the truth, it’s just…”
Robyn caught Matt looking at her from down the table and flashed an overly enthusiastic smile, “I’ll text you later.”
Jenna looked puzzled but nodded, turning her attention to her four year old niece who had given up colouring and now wanted to go out to play in the snow. Apparently the huge hound was in favour of that idea too as she wedged herself between Jenna and the table, spreading slobber everywhere.
“Get that beast away from the food!” Janet scolded.
“We’ve finished eating, Mam, and yes I’ll take Greta and Betsie outside.”
“I’ll put the kettle on,” Brin stood as Matt began clearing the dessert bowls.
It was a beautiful family scene, one born as much of finding as of blood relation, and Robyn felt the warmth of it in her chest as she too helped to clear up. Not wanting to attract attention and unwanted comments she and Matt had sat several seats apart at the table and they were performing a silent dance around each other now, careful not to even brush against one another. Ridiculous really, since they’d always been tactile as friends, and distancing themselves now was probably more likely to attract comment. As it was, Meg was chatting with Janet as they made the hot drinks, Josh and Nick had accompanied Jenna and Betsie outside, and Dennis was in a quiet discussion with Brin, so there was no one to notice their unusual ways.
“All okay?” Matt whispered as they loaded the dishwasher.
“Yep, gorgeous meal,” she knew that wasn’t really what he meant.
“Fancy watching a film later?”
“Could do,” Robyn regretted being aloof as it really wasn’t her at all, and Matt had done nothing to deserve a cold reception so quickly added, “that would be nice.”
The smile Matt rewarded her with made her face heat and her fingers tingle where he deliberately brushed against them as they reached for the next plates.
“Popcorn or chocolate?”
“Both. Always.” It was their usual repertoire and the comfort of it brought peace to her muddled mind.
For now, at least.
Apparently Dennis had plans for the late afternoon that didn’t involve cosy blankets and a cheesy film. After waving off their guests – a certain little girl asleep in her car seat before they’d even driven off, and the Great Dane not far behind her, its huge head lolling against the car window in drowsiness, both drooling contentedly – Dennis asked if Matt and Robyn would help him decorate the ancient oak the way Noelle had loved to see it, all dressed in multi-coloured fairy lights, shiny bells and sparkling glass baubles.
The snow had finally stopped, but a good few inches lay on every surface and Matt really didn’t want his dad out in the cold.
“Now, Dad? Maybe it could wait for a warmer day?”
“Warmer? In this corner of Northumberland? Planning on decorating for Christmas in May are you lad?” To make his point Dennis disappeared into the pub and came back with the smaller of the boxes they’d retrieved from the loft, this one torn and rotting in the corners, barely able to hold its bright contents.
“Let me take that,” Matt sounded exasperated and Robyn wished she could pour oil on troubled waters the way Noelle had been so skilled at doing.
“Why don’t we dust off the picnic bench,” Robyn began by wiping the soft snow from Noelle’s plaque, “then we can sort through the decorations on the table while Matt fetches the ladder.”
“Aye, that’s a plan,” Dennis sighed as he took the weight off his feet, touching two fingers to his lips and then placing them reverently on his wife’s plaque.
“So, this party. Will you and the other lasses be able to sing a few of Noelle’s favourites? I don’t want you working all night, just a few to get the party started?”
“Of course, Jenna already agreed and I’ll put the details in the group chat later.”
“It’s strange,” Dennis said as he slowly unravelled a long string of outdoor lights in the shape of tiny snowmen, “wondering how you’ll be remembered. It never occurred to me before, how people’ll think of me when I’m gone. Like these silly lights here, I remember the day Noelle persuaded me they were just what was missing from the tree outside. As if decorating a tree inside the pub wasn’t enough. Now they remind me of her light and humour.”
Matt had arrived with the ladder in time to hear the tail end of the conversation. Tears welled in his eyes as he said, “You’re the roots of the family, Dad, just like the oak here. You’re not the showy part, don’t have the fancy leaves an’ all, but you’re right there, holding it all together and making sure it has what it needs.”
“Oh wow,” Robyn whispered past the huge lump in her own throat, “that’s a perfect way to put it.”
Dennis made a show of blowing his nose into a huge, white cotton handkerchief and his voice shook as he changed the subject to a less emotional one, “Well, that’ll teach a man for asking. Thanks Son, love you. Anyway, I’m thinking of a retro band. One that does ‘80s and ‘90s covers. Know any?”
“Love you, Dad,” Matt put his arm around the older man’s shoulders as they both looked at Robyn expectantly through eyes blurred by tears. The local music scene was her jam, after all.
Robyn did know a band, a perfect one in fact, but whether they’d be amenable after she’d shot down their offer to tour with them, well…
“Yep, yep leave it with me,” was all she said, focusing her attention on a chain of beautiful silver bells with Disney characters etched into them.
She would do anything to give Dennis the Christmas he wanted, even if it meant swallowing her pride, or worrying that the electricity bill from this lot was going to be extortionate.
“You’ll be able to see The Tree from miles around when it’s all lit up,” Matt said.
“Aye, just the way your mam liked it.”