Chapter 22 MIA
Mia
‘Halllooo? Where are you all?’ Charlie’s voice echoes through the house, and Mia spins away from the counter in excitement.
Clattering out of the kitchen, she follows the sound of her brother’s voice. He’s in the front room, by the tree, speaking animatedly to their mum and dad and Aunt Gertie about how terrible the roads were after this latest snow. His arm is wrapped around the person beside him, a petite redhead.
‘Hey, there you are!’ Charlie squeezes his arm around the girl at his side and turns her to face Mia. ‘This is my sister Mia.’
‘Pleased to meet you,’ the redhead says. ‘I’m Molly.’
Mia’s thoughts race as she tries to orient herself to what’s going on. ‘Molly? Oh, Molly! You’re real?’ Mia says, laughing, and her family joins in.
‘See?’ Charlie says to his girlfriend. ‘I told you they all thought I made you up.’ He swaps a conspiratorial look with Molly, who giggles.
‘You’re telling me they couldn’t believe someone as wonderful as you hadn’t been snatched up in a heartbeat?’ Molly wrinkles her nose. ‘That can’t be.’
‘Aww.’ Charlie reddens, and beams down at Molly, who is looking up at him with pure adoration in her striking blue eyes.
Something tugs at Mia’s heartstrings as she watches her brother interact with Molly.
The gentle touches, the shared smile. The obvious attraction that underscores every interaction.
Understanding blooms over her as Charlie leans down to give Molly a quick kiss.
The way they’re looking at each other just feels right.
It feels wholesome and pure and … full of love.
Mia wants that more than she can say and she has to wonder if this is why she’s been so tied up in knots about Sam.
Charlie releases Molly from his embrace and she laughs again, her nose wrinkling adorably.
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t make it up before now.
My mum was quite unwell for a few days so I was looking after her, then it was my brother’s birthday and then, wouldn’t you know it, my dad’s car broke down on the ride to the station!
’ She shakes her head, her smooth hair floating around her face.
‘It’s just been one thing after another. ’
Mia gapes at Charlie. ‘It was all true? We thought you were just making up excuses.’
They all share another laugh before Mia excuses herself – she’s only halfway through Christmas lunch prep, and can’t let her meticulous schedule be thrown off by more than a few minutes.
The turkey is coming along splendidly, and Mia tosses the potatoes into the boiling water before returning to her spot at the counter where she was peeling vegetables.
Her hands fly as she works to bring all the components together on time and her mood continues to pick up as she preps the roast potatoes, tipping them into the roasting dish before adding salt and rosemary and brushes them with more butter.
A small tingle of excitement flutters in her at the thought of Sam joining them for lunch – maybe he’ll even be impressed with the feast she’s pulling off.
While the turkey rests, Mia whisks together a rich gravy using the juices left in the pan. The Robinsons aren’t fans of Christmas pudding, so yesterday she’d made an orange zest and olive oil cake, and she pulls that out as well to serve after lunch.
Half an hour or so later, all the components of lunch are nearly ready when Penny breezes into the kitchen, still on a high from the fun of Christmas morning.
‘Mmm, smells amazing, as always, darling! We’re so lucky to have you cooking for us.
Do you think there will be enough for some leftover plates later?
Dot and Earl are going to stop by at some point this afternoon to say goodbye one more time before their flight tomorrow.
’ Penny leans in with a sly grin. ‘If you ask me, Dot’s feeling a bit anxious about the move. ’
‘I’m sure we’ll have more than enough for leftovers, but I can always do some more veg if needs be. And surely Dot knows that they can always move back home if it doesn’t work out?’
‘That’s the thing,’ Penny continues. ‘Dot’s son and daughter-in-law are taking over their house.
They’ve told Dot and Earl they’ll always have a place with them, but living with your children is entirely different from having your own home.
I’m sure it will all work out, though. Dot has always been a worrywart.
‘How are you, dear? You seem better than this morning. You were really out of sorts.’
‘My feet were pinching,’ Mia jokes, wiggling her slippers to catch her mother’s attention. ‘Put me in a bad mood. I’m better now.’
Penny snorts in disbelief. ‘I’m sure that’s all it was.’ She leans on the counter, staring pointedly at Mia. ‘And things will be easier now.’
‘I hope so.’ Mia carefully slices the turkey and sets the meat on a platter. ‘Everything is just about ready, Mum. Shall I call everyone, or will you?’
‘I’ve got it.’ Penny goes to the stairs and calls out that lunch is ready, then returns. ‘I’m so excited to eat in the sunroom. It will be so lovely with all the plants and natural light. Let me help you bring everything out there.’
Mia loads up her arms with Mum’s juniper Christmas plates, some red cloth napkins and cutlery. Sam enters the room with a smile, which falters slightly when he sees Mia.
‘How can I help?’
Seeing Sam so wary of her tugs at something on her insides.
She knows she was hard on him this morning, and it’s not like it wasn’t deserved.
But seeing him so uncertain and dejected doesn’t feel good either.
Why can’t things just be simple between them?
It’s so frustrating for Mia and she can’t seem to make head or tail of it all.
She takes a moment to collect herself and then says, ‘Mum wants to do lunch in the sunroom. You can carry that dish of potatoes for me.’
‘Sure thing,’ Sam replies, scooping up the dish. Mia is tempted to tease him about dropping it like he dropped the ornaments, but she refrains for Penny’s sake.
They walk together in silence, but Mia can feel the weight of Sam’s furtive looks.
She feels the pressure to say something, but everything she thinks of could come across as trite or – worse – mean.
So, she opts for silence, and they reach the sunroom in the nick of time, before she caves under the pressure and spouts off something ridiculously sarcastic.
Once they reach the sunroom, Sam sets the dish on the table with a sigh of relief. ‘These smell so amazing.’ He takes a step back. ‘I’m worried I’m going to lose all sense of self-control and just snarf them all up before anyone else gets here.’
Mia can’t hold back the laughter that bubbles up at the mental image of Sam ‘snarfing’ the entire dish of roast potatoes. Sam looks relieved when she laughs, some of the tension easing from his posture. Penny walks in behind them and gives them both a delighted smile.
‘Well, isn’t this nice. See? I knew the two of you could get along.’
‘Mum.’ Mia shakes her head, and Penny lifts her hands, the picture of innocence.
‘I’m just saying.’
‘Oh wow, Mia,’ Molly gushes as she and Charlie enter the room. ‘Charlie told me you were a good cook but he significantly undersold your abilities. This looks incredible.’
‘Thanks,’ Mia says, ducking her head.
‘I’m starved. Are we ready to eat?’ Martin calls out as he guides Aunt Gertie to a spot at the festively decorated table.
The dishes Mia has prepared fill the table, the shimmering Christmas crackers are tucked into every nook and cranny, and the flowers Molly brought for Penny are sitting in a place of honour in the middle.
‘Yes, absolutely,’ Penny says, flicking on the string lights and waving everyone to sit down.
They pile succulent turkey, potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, a variety of vegetables, stuffing and cranberry sauce on to their plates, with a generous pour of gravy on top, and then dive in.
Everyone is hungry, so the first few minutes are quiet, with only the occasional clatter of knives and forks hitting the dishes.
Then Martin lets out a long sigh and leans back in his chair, wiping his lips with the crimson linen napkin.
‘Mia, you’ve outdone yourself. Absolutely splendid. ’
‘Agreed,’ Penny chimes in. ‘Mia, if you ever decide to open up a restaurant, I have to insist that those honey-roasted carrots are on the menu.’
‘I’ve always loved a good potato dish,’ Aunt Gertie agrees. ‘And the crisp vegetables are so wonderful too. Except for the sprouts, they’ve never been for me. I always thought they taste like my father’s socks used to smell.’
This sets off a round of laughter, until Martin finally flutters his napkin like a white flag and coughs a few times to clear his throat. ‘Do we think it’s time for dessert yet?’
‘I don’t know how you’ve still got room, Martin!’ Penny chides, before exclaiming, ‘Oh no! We were all so excited to eat Mia’s veritable feast that we forgot to do the crackers!’
‘That’s OK, Mum, we can do them now before I go and get the cake,’ Mia says cheerfully.
‘I’m not wearing the silly hat,’ Charlie declares. ‘Especially if it’s yellow. It’s not my colour.’
‘Aw, you have to!’ Mia frowns at her brother, who just folds his arms resolutely.
‘Martin, pull with me,’ Aunt Gertie says, holding up one of the crackers. Mia’s dad grabs the opposite end, and they pull together. Aunt Gertie crows in triumph when she wins.
‘Read the joke to us!’ Penny exclaims, while holding up a cracker towards Mia. Mia deliberately pulls gently enough to ensure her mum wins, and Penny’s delighted giggle makes her smile. Penny has always been the sorest loser when it comes to crackers.
‘Why are Christmas trees bad at sewing?’ Aunt Gertie reads, squinting at the tiny paper in front of her.
‘Oh, let me take a crack at it,’ Sam pipes up. ‘Because they put pins in the presents.’
Molly shakes her head. ‘I don’t think that’s it. It needs to be punnier.’