Chapter 46
46
C ally stood by the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the estate's front lawn, mesmerised by its blanket of twinkling white. She chuckled to herself as she remembered how, half an hour before, she’d plodded over to the main house in her fancy outfit, complete with welly boots, stomping through the snow hand in hand with Logan.
And, oh, how fancy her outfit was indeed. An update to her usual shirt, skirt, and tights uniform: this skirt was A-line and velvet, the tights were opaque and had a sheen, and the ballet flats were covered in thousands of tiny little sparkly jewels. A slash-neck velvet long-sleeved top with a dropped cowl back and a long row of small white pearl buttons completed her look. It had to be said by one and all; our Cally stunned and then some.
The room around her was just as good. The Christmas tree was one of those affairs Cally had only ever seen in a movie or slap bang in the middle of an overlit shopping centre; a tree that could only be decorated by way of a ladder. As Cally stood alongside it, she wondered how a Christmas tree could ooze elegance, but just like everything else at the estate, it most definitely did. A tree with a combination of old money charm and over-the-top opulence worked for her. It shimmered with thousands of warm white cluster lights and twinkled from the corner. Doused liberally in an eclectic mix of vintage baubles and little tartan bows every now and then, it somehow managed to do just about everything right.
Turning from the snow-covered scene, Cally looked over at the smattering of guests with their cocktails in hand and watched as Birdie chatted with Logan’s uncle Reg. Birdie had scrubbed up well. In a black sparkly midi dress with a slight heel, her hair in a fancy updo, and diamonds in her ears, she was a long way from the back of the chemist's and her white dispensary coat. The Shipping Forecast was nowhere to be seen or heard.
Eloise, in an elegant black silk number, with a slit up one side, and her hair swept up in an intricate chignon, strolled over, looking nearly as good as the tree.
'There you are. I was beginning to think you'd got lost in this labyrinth of a house.'
‘It’s a bit like that, isn’t it?’ Eloise chuckled.
Cally smiled and gestured to the scene outside the window. 'I was just admiring the view.’
‘I know, it’s so pretty out there. Cold, though.’ Eloise raised her glass. 'Have you tried the cocktails?’ She took a sip and widened her eyes. ‘Mmm, yes, delicious.’
Cally shook her head and gestured with her glass. 'I've been nursing this glass of champagne. It’s a tough life.'
Eloise took another sip. 'This has got your name written all over it. Have a taste.’
Cally took a sip. 'Oh my. That's dangerous! I might leave that to you.'
'I know. Any more, and I might start thinking I belong here.’
Cally shook her head and looked around. ‘I’ll need more than a few cocktails for that. I don’t think I’ll ever really belong here.’
Eloise raised an eyebrow. 'Says the girl who's about to marry into all this.'
Cally frowned and narrowed her eyes. ‘Sorry. What?’
Eloise spluttered and coughed. ‘Just a turn of phrase. You know what I mean. There will be wedding bells next.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous! That’s not even on the cards. Why would you say that?’
‘Nothing. What would you say if it was?’
Cally pondered for a second. ‘None of your business!’
Eloise giggled. ‘It’s weird. Here we are, in this ridiculous mansion, sipping cocktails that probably cost more than my house. What a few years, eh?’
Cally’s brain flicked back to the events of the previous year. 'It's been quite a ride, hasn't it?'
'That's putting it mildly.’
‘I’ll be glad to see the back of it if I’m honest.’
‘How are you really doing with all of it? The new job and everything with Alastair...'
‘Still processing it. The job with Birdie is amazing, but it's been a lot to take on. And then there's Logan. Alastair's death hit him hard. There are still moments when I catch him staring off into space, and I know he's thinking about it. Overall, though, everything’s good. This place helps… I used to think places like this only existed in books or films.'
'Now you're part of it. A modern-day Cinderella.’ Eloise cracked up
Cally snorted. 'Hardly. I don't think Cinderella ever had to deal with inventory management or chatbots.'
‘I guess she didn’t. Speaking of which, how are you getting on at work? Last time we talked, you were still getting to grips with it.'
'It's going well, actually. I mean, it's challenging, and there are days when I feel completely out of my depth. But Birdie's been amazing, and I'm learning so much.'
'I still can't believe you uncovered that whole thing with Estrella,' Eloise shook her head back and forth in quick little movements. 'You're like a regular Sherlock Holmes.'
'Hardly. Anyone could have done it.'
Eloise rolled her eyes. ‘Here we go. No, they couldn’t.’
Cally chuckled. ‘It’s not hard…’
Their conversation was interrupted by a staff member who put a fresh tray of canapés on a side table beside Cally. She picked up one of the little works of art that looked almost too pretty to eat and popped it in her mouth. ‘Ooh, yes, yum.’
‘What are they?’
'Some kind of smoked salmon thing with caviar. Absolutely sinful.'
Eloise took one, bit into it, and closed her eyes in bliss. 'Oh my.'
Cally took another one and lowered her voice. 'It’s probably not ladylike to stuff these in your face, but I don't even care. When in Rome, and all that.'
Eloise laughed. 'It would be rude not to, really.'
Cally noticed Logan glancing over at them. She felt a flutter at the sight of him.
'He looks good,' Eloise observed, following Cally's gaze. 'Better than the last time I saw him.'
Cally nodded. 'He's doing better. This trip has been good for him, I think. It's helping him process everything.'
As they sipped their drinks, Cally looked back out the window where the snow had started to fall in big fat flakes swirling past the window pane. As she stood there, she felt as if she was looking directly into a snow globe that someone had just picked up and given a gentle shake.
Eloise put her finger on the glass. 'I can see why Logan's family loves it here so much.'
‘Yep.’
‘Though I have to say, I'm glad we're in here and not out there. I'm not built for the cold.'
'Says the woman in the backless dress,' Cally teased and nudged Eloise on the arm.
As they both stood looking at the snowflakes feathering past the window, Cally could hardly keep a beam from her face. Here she was, standing next to her best friend beside a vast Christmas tree in a beautiful setting with a glass of bubbles in her hand, a roaring fire, and heavy snow outside. She’d had worse festive occasions. Life was good. Would it ever really get any better? Oh indeed, it would.