Chapter Twenty-Five
December 2014, London, England
Molly was the first to wake up the following morning. Saskia was sprawled out next to her, snoring loudly and taking up most of the bed. She got up and pulled on one of the thick bathrobes from the wardrobe, tucking her phone into the pocket, before tiptoeing out of the bedroom. She could hear loud snoring coming from the room opposite, meaning that her dad was still asleep too.
Pulling back the heavy curtains and opening one of the French doors, she crept out onto the balcony. It was a crisp, clear Christmas morning. The street below was empty, and a light dusting of snow covered the ground. She breathed in the cold air and exhaled, watching her breath swirl up into the sky. It had been a chaotic, rollercoaster of a year, but she suddenly felt a wave of contentment wash over her. She was here in London with her family, who loved her, and when she got back to Canterbury, she was going to tell Chris that she loved him. She had no idea what his response would be, but she knew that she couldn’t go on pretending any longer. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and typed out a message to him.
Molly: Merry Christmas! I hope you guys have the BEST day today!
She smiled, wondering what he and Scott were doing. His reply came quickly.
Chris: Same to you! What was it like sleeping in that suite? Do you feel like the Queen?
Molly: Pretty much. It”s a world away from my bedroom!
He sent back a photo of a haphazardly decorated Christmas tree, in the middle of his living room, where Scott was lying, face down on the sofa.
Chris: This was Scott”s bed last night! So much for having a quiet one. I bet your evening was much more civilised. Say hi to your dad for me and I’ll see you when you get back.
She stared at her phone and smiled. She couldn’t wait to see him either.
Molly: I will! We’ll catch up when I get back
Her reply was way more relaxed than she actually felt. When she got back to Canterbury she was going to tell him that she loved him and that thought provoked a mixture of nerves and excitement. Did he feel the same? Would he have to politely tell her that he didn’t?
‘Merry Christmas my darling.’ A voice came from behind her.
‘Merry Christmas, Papa,’ Molly said, turning around and kissing him on the cheek. ‘Isn’t it a beautiful day?’
‘It is,’ Gaspard replied and walked over to the table at the end of the balcony. ‘Clear and still. Just like it was on your first Christmas. And Saskia’s too.’
‘I’ll go and get dressed,’ she said, ‘and get Saskia up.’
‘No hurry,’ Gaspard replied, standing up and following her into the room. ‘I’ve ordered room service breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, toast, and fruit. How does that sound?’
‘Delicious,’ she replied. ‘That will definitely get Saskia out of bed.’
When Molly went back into her bedroom, Saskia was just waking up.
‘Morning, Mole,’ she said, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. ‘I slept so well.’ She smoothed her hands over the duvet. ‘This place is so fancy they probably fill the duvets with swan feathers.’
Molly laughed. ‘How are you this funny the minute you wake up?’
‘Just talented, I guess,’ Saskia replied, shrugging.
‘Can we do presents now?’ Saskia asked, once they’d finished their breakfast. ‘I’m so impressed with myself for actually remembering to bring them with me.’
Molly laughed. ‘Of course we can.’ She picked up her bag of gifts and handed them out to her dad and Saskia.
Gaspard tore off the paper from his strangely shaped present, and ran his hands over the shoes, nodding approvingly. ‘My last pair are getting a little battered. Thank you darling.’
Saskia handed her present to her dad and sat back down on the sofa.
‘Oh, this is wonderful.’ He smiled and held up the forest green cashmere sweater. ‘Thank you, cherie.’ He leant over and kissed her on the cheek.
Molly handed Saskia a lumpy present, bursting out laughing as Saskia pulled off the paper.
‘Oh my God! This is brilliant, I love it,’ Saskia said, holding up the pink leopard print top. ‘This is way better than the one you pinched from me.’ She pulled Molly in for a hug, then let her go, handing her the last brightly wrapped present on the sofa.
Molly cautiously took the paper off, revealing several bars of expensive, high cocoa solids chocolate. ‘Oh Saskia, thank you, I’ve wanted to try this for ages.’
‘I won’t be offended if you want to chop it up to make brownies,’ Saskia replied. ‘But I know you love anything chocolatey.’
‘I do,’ Molly said, smiling and putting the bars of chocolate onto the coffee table.
‘I do have another present for you, well for both of us,’ Saskia said. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and scrolled through her emails, before handing it to Molly, laughing. ‘We”re going to Paris next month, and I’ve ordered us matching berets. What do you think?’
‘Are you serious? That”s amazing! ’ Molly beamed at Saskia.
‘I wanted to thank you for being such an awesome sister, so we”re spending a weekend in Paris, eating croissants and sightseeing.’ Saskia smiled.
‘Thank you. You are the best.’ Molly smiled at the cerise pink berets. ‘We sure as hell won’t be blending in.’
‘Who wants to blend in?’ Saskia said, shrugging.
Molly remembered how confident she’d felt when she was in the black Morticia Addams dress. and a smile spread across her face. ‘Not me!’ she said defiantly.
‘Well, I hope you will have a wonderful time,’ Gaspard said. ‘Perhaps I will join you for dinner?’
‘It would have to be L’Esapdon, though, wouldn’t it?’ Molly asked, giggling.
The last time she’d been in Paris with her dad, he’d insisted on taking her and Saskia to the chandelier draped dining room of the Ritz Hotel.
He scoffed. ‘I would be just as happy with steak frites in Montmartre, you know.’
Saskia laughed. ‘I’d love to see it.’ Her phone started ringing and she picked it up, mouthing her apologies to Molly and Gaspard. ‘It’s Scott,’ she whispered before leaving the room.
‘Ah, young love,’ he said. ‘Do you need to call Mark?’
Molly shook her head. ‘We broke up.’
He nodded, and Molly was sure he was biting back a smile. ‘I’m sorry to hear that. I suspected that was the case. Are you alright?’
‘I am,’ Molly said. ‘I knew you’d know what was going on.’ She smiled at him. ‘I… had an epiphany when one of Chris’s friends got engaged. It made me realise that Mark wasn’t the one I wanted, and that I was holding onto a fantasy of what I thought we were to each other. I loved Mark’s mum, and the dates that we went on, but you were right. It wasn’t a relationship. And he showed me his true colours when I broke up with him.’
‘Did he hurt you?’ He frowned.
Molly shook her head. ‘No more than he had been for the last four years. I was just too blind to see it.’
‘He was not right for you, but you needed to make that decision in your own time,’ he said. ‘Are you happier now?’
‘I am,’ she said. ‘Again, you were right. I love Chris. I’ve probably been in love with him for a long time. And when I go back to Canterbury, I’m going to tell him.’
His eyes lit up. ‘Now this is a match I approve of. He has character, warmth, depth. He’s also given me some very insightful feedback on my novel. He suggested that I…’ He stopped. ‘Sorry. We’re talking about you right now, aren’t we? I’m almost certain that he feels the same way.’
‘I won’t let myself believe that he does,’ Molly said quietly. ‘The butterflies in my stomach go into full flight every time I think about telling him.’
Saskia walked back into the room with a huge grin on her face and gave Molly a hug. ‘That’s from Chris and Scott,’ she said.
Molly laughed. ‘How are they?’
‘Slightly hungover,’ Saskia said, laughing. ‘They went out with Alex and some of his friends last night. It was supposed to be a quiet one, but Scott persuaded them to go to see a band and it got a bit messy.’
‘I bet you can’t wait to see him,’ Molly said.
‘Yeah, but I’m not the only one desperate to get back to Canterbury,’ Saskia said, waggling her eyebrows. ‘Chris even looks hot when he’s hungover in his PJ’s.’ Molly frowned and Saskia continued. ‘Scott Face Timed me, and Chris wanted to say hi.’
Molly”s heart skipped a beat, imagining his rumpled hair. He would look good in anything. Or nothing. She stood up. ‘I guess we should get dressed.’
‘Nice subject change, Mole,’ Saskia replied, giving her a slow clap. ‘You’re so into him.’ She paused and looked atGaspard.‘Did you tell Papa about Mark?’
Molly nodded.
Saskia smiled. ‘Oh good, now I can tell you both about the little acting job that Caro and I did the other day. ’
Molly cringed. She had no idea what was going to come out of her sister”s mouth.
Saskia started giggling before she even started talking. ‘So. I was telling Caro about Mark, and how you”d said not to do anything stupid. And we didn”t. We had a good think and we both put on one of her fancy power suits and we went over to his office We pretended to be potential clients so we could see him. He was not pleased to see me.’
Molly”s jaw dropped. ‘What did you do?’
‘We only went to make sure that he would never contact you again. Scott’s friends with the owner of Riad, so we got hold of the CCTV footage from the night you two were there. Caro strongly implied that we would be keeping an eye on him. Instead of being a good boy and admitting that he was very much in the wrong, he laid into me in the reception area. It was very unprofessional.’ Saskia shook her head. ‘It was such a shame that his boss overhead. I think he can kiss that promotion goodbye. Caro and I told his boss that we had decided to take our business elsewhere. Then we made a dramatic exit. It was so good. So satisfying. I told you he”d crossed a line.’
Gaspard clapped his hands. ‘That”s my girl.’
Molly wasn”t surprised that Saskia had gone to see Mark, she had expected it. Her fury towards him had been building steadily over the last few years. Secretly she was impressed with Saskia”s utter fearlessness, but she feared that encouraging her too much might not be the best idea.
She put her arms around her sister. ‘Oh, Saskia. I told you not to get involved. But thank you. I”ve been on edge the last few weeks, wondering if he would contact me. Now I can actually relax.’
‘You are so welcome.’ Saskia squeezed Molly tightly.‘Now let”s go and get dressed. I”m hungry and I can”t go to lunch looking like this.’
Wearing a lace edged scarlet dress, Molly followed Gaspard and Saskia to the restaurant, hidden behind ornate doors in the lobby. She ran her eyes over the high ceilings and the hand painted murals. Everything she could see was edged with gold. She suddenly felt self-conscious.
The waiter approached them. ‘Good afternoon, do you have a reservation?’ he asked, smiling politely.
‘Yes. The name is Blanc, party of three,’ Gaspard replied.
‘Very good sir, please follow me,’ he said, waving a white gloved hand to the restaurant behind him.
Once they were seated, the waiters attended to their every need. Gaspard and Saskia got their oysters, while Molly stuck to soup. Unlike the rest of her family, she didn’t like the salty, slimy taste.
When they’d finished their starters, the waiters served turkey with every imaginable trimming and Molly wished she had chosen a dress with a looser waistband.
As their plates were taken away, Gaspard ordered a bottle of Champagne and raised a toast to his daughters. ‘I have not seen enough of you this year, but what I have seen makes me so proud to be your father. You are wonderful and I love you both. Molly, you are sharp, kind, and strong, and Saskia, you are eternally positive, creative, and passionate. May you both have a wonderful year and be successful in whatever you choose to do.’
‘Lovely speech, Papa,’ Molly said, ‘We think you’re wonderful too. When it warms up a bit we’ll be out to France.’
‘Yes Papa, can we come out at Easter?’ Saskia asked.
‘You don’t have to ask,’ Gaspard scoffed. ‘It is your house as much as it is mine. You are always welcome.’
‘You’re always welcome in Canterbury as well, Papa.’ Saskia said.
‘I will definitely be paying you a visit,’ Gaspard said. ‘I can’t wait to see the house again. Canterbury holds a special place in my heart.’
‘Me too,’ Saskia replied. ‘Wherever this rollercoaster of a career takes me, I know where my roots are.’
***
Chris’s headache finally cleared just before eleven am. He should have known better than to listen to Scott, but by the time he’d had a few beers, he’d gone along with Scott’s suggestion to go for more drinks. He hadn’t drunk that much, not as much as Scott, but getting in at two am had meant he’d woken up feeling rough.
‘Come on mate, we need to get dressed,’ he said, prodding Scott, who was draped over the sofa. ‘Sarah will be furious if we turn up at her place looking like shit.’ His aunt would have no sympathy for them, he knew that much.
‘I’m up,’ Scott said, pulling himself to his feet. ‘Let’s do this.’
Chris shook his head. ‘I’m not listening to you again. Next year we’re staying home on Christmas Eve.’
‘Who knows where we’ll be next year,’ Scott said. ‘I might be in LA with Saskia. She might be a famous movie star by then.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘And you might be with Molly.’
Chris ran a hand through his hair. Her message had been the highlight of his morning. ‘She’s just broken up with Mark. I’m not pouncing on her.’
‘I’m pretty certain she’s into you,’ Scott said. ‘When I suggested bringing her to our place after the whole thing with Mark, her face lit up. You’re what she wants.’
‘Well then, I’ll let her tell me that,’ Chris replied and checked his watch. ‘I’m going for a shower.’
Unless it came from her mouth, he couldn’t let himself believe that she actually had feelings for him.
After a shower, Chris felt more human, and he ushered Scott out of the flat, and into his car. He drove them to his aunt’s hotel, arriving at the same time as his parents. Sarah welcomed them all with glasses of Champagne.
‘Merry Christmas, boys,’ Sarah said, kissing him and Scott on the cheek, before moving to Anne. ‘Merry Christmas sis,’ she said, pulling her in for a hug. ‘And Bill, hello darling. Stefan’s in the kitchen if you want to go and say hello to him. He’s wrestling with the turkey.’
Anne smiled. ‘It’s your first Christmas as a married couple, and you’ve invited all of us lot over.’
‘I wouldn’t have it any other way. You’re all my family,’ Sarah replied.
Chris and Scott left their parents talking to Sarah, and wandered into the restaurant, where Kate was laying the table with silver cutlery and starched napkins.
‘Merry Christmas, guys.’ She walked over and planted kisses on their cheeks.
‘Merry Christmas, Kate,’ Chris said. ‘Do you want a hand?’
‘No, I’m good. See if Alex needs a hand with the drinks. He’s in the cellar somewhere.’
‘Sure,’ Chris nodded to Scott. ‘Come on, this sounds like your kind of job.’
They found Alex choosing wine in the cold, musty cellar underneath the bar. He and Scott began a lengthy discussion about wine, while Chis slowly froze. He was grateful when they returned to the restaurant, where the long table had been filled with trays of roast potatoes, vegetables, and a turkey draped in slices of pancetta. His parents were taking their seats at the long table. He slid into the seat next to Scott, opposite Kate and Alex.
‘Did you tell them yet?’ Kate asked Alex, nodding to Chris and Scott.
‘You’re so impatient,’ Alex said, laughing. ‘We’ve decided on a date for our wedding. We’re going to get married here on Valentine’s Day.’
‘Not next year though, the year after,’ Kate said. ‘We need time to plan.’
Alex smiled. ‘Yeah, that and the fact that you’ve already booked about four holidays next year.
‘I like to travel,’ she said, shrugging. ‘And our trips will give us some inspiration for the wedding. Do you think your friend Molly would make our cake? Her brownies are divine.’
‘I’ll ask her,’ Chris said, his heart pounding at the mention of her. ‘She loves weddings, so you might be in luck.’
‘Does she know that you love her?’ Kate whispered.
‘Kate!’ Alex shook his head. ‘It’s none of our business.’
‘Maybe, but I’m not blind, Alex,’ Kate said, laughing. ‘I saw the way that they were gazing at each other at Chris’s birthday party.’
‘She has a boyfriend,’ Alex replied. ‘They’re just friends.’
‘Actually, she doesn’t have a boyfriend. She broke up with him,’ Chris said. ‘Kate’s right. I do love her. But she needs a friend right now, and I’m trying to be that for her.’
Alex’s brow furrowed with concern. ‘I don’t want you getting hurt, mate.’
‘Me neither,’ Chris said, ‘but I’m in too deep. I have to tell her how I feel, and hope she feels the same way too.’
***
The following evening, Molly collapsed onto the sofa in the living room of the suite. Gaspard sat in the armchair next to her. ‘Have you enjoyed your day?’ he asked.
‘Very much so,’ she replied. ‘It’s been incroyable, non? I had forgotten how goodyou were at ice skating.’ They’d gone to Somerset House that afternoon, and with her hand clutched in his, he’d led her around the rink.
‘It has been a long time, but I still have it.’ He smiled. ‘I very much enjoyed the Tate.’
‘And I enjoyed the bookstore next to it,’ Molly said.
Her feet ached from all of the walking, and her cheeks were tingling from the cold air, but she felt warm and contented. Despite having spent the entire day in the city, surrounded by crowds of people, the crippling anxiety she had once felt had dissipated.
The door opened, and Saskia, walked in, peeling off her leopard print coat, and flopping onto the sofa next to Molly. ‘Hello, my darlings, how are we? Good day?’
‘It was the best,’ Molly said. ‘How about you?’
‘Same,’ she replied, and a smile crept across her face. ‘Both performances were sold out again today and you know the gin commercial I told you about? I got it!’
‘Congratulations!’ Molly exclaimed. ‘That’s brilliant.’
Saskia nodded. ‘I fly out to LA mid-January to shoot it, and my agent is trying to line a few other things up for me while I’m out there.’
‘My little girl is going to be a Hollywood star,’ Gaspard said. ‘I knew it. After your first nativity play, I said to Nancy, that girl is meant to be on the stage. This is wonderful news, cherie!’
‘Ah well, one step at a time, Papa,’ Saskia said, and turned to Molly. ‘That does mean I won’t be staying in Canterbury for very long once I’ve finished the show here. I know you were looking forward to me coming home.’
Molly nodded. ‘I was, but I’m so happy for you! You don’t need to worry about me. I’m not the scared little person I was when you left.’
‘Damn straight!’ Saskia exclaimed. ‘You’ve got so ballsy since I’ve been here. I’m so proud of you.’
‘We need to celebrate,’ Gaspard said. ‘Is it too late for Champagne?’
‘Afraid so,’ Saskia said. ‘Look at me being all responsible! I have to be at my best tomorrow and I won’t be if I’m necking Champagne all night with you two.’
‘You are right,’ he said. ‘It is our last night together. Tomorrow we will all go our separate ways.’
‘Well, maybe not.’ Saskia turned to Molly. ‘Come and stay with me for a few days. You don’t have to work and Liz is coming up with Martha and Jacob tomorrow.’
‘I’d love to,’ Molly said, beaming. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Of course! I won’t be there a lot, but we can squeeze in a few hours together,’ Saskia replied.
‘Sounds perfect, Molly replied.
It would give her some time to think, to process everything that had happened over the last few weeks. If she went back to Canterbury tomorrow, she would want to throw herself at Chris, and she still didn’t feel ready to hear whatever it was he wanted to talk to her about.