Chapter 43
Walter had insisted on carving the turkey, reminding everyone that his collarbone was well and truly fixed. Everyone was still grateful that Faye supervised his use of the electric carving knife though.
After a delicious and extremely large Christmas lunch, the family agreed that they needed a walk around the lake to walk off the big meal.
‘It’s tradition,’ Lily told Beth, as they watched Tiny the dog lead the way ahead of them all on the path.
‘Yes, we eat far too much every single year,’ added Frankie, wrapping her scarf around her neck.
‘So we basically learn nothing from one year to the next,’ said Hannah, with a giggle.
Beth slipped on her new pink gloves and bobble hat, smiling as she thought of Noah wrapping them and placing them in her first ever Christmas stocking.
‘That’s a great colour on you,’ said Lily, nodding her approval.
‘Thanks,’ replied Beth.
She hadn’t told anyone about Noah’s Christmas stocking. He was a private person and she didn’t want to upset him by revealing too much. And yet his presents had touched her more than any gift she had ever received.
He walked ahead of her around the lake, talking quietly with Walter and Dotty.
Meanwhile Beth joined in half-heartedly with the conversation with her friends and yet she couldn’t put Noah’s kiss out of her mind.
She felt that the wooden stars, a very special present, had to mean something, didn’t they?
At least it was a lovely walk in the winter sunshine, she thought. The clouds occasionally drifted across the sun but the air stayed crisp and refreshing, the perfect tonic after a long and hearty meal.
Everyone was eager to see Noah’s new home and so they all crowded around the first lodge as he put the key in the lock.
Beth could see that he was embarrassed at the attention but thought that he was dealing with it well with good humour. But as he opened the front door, Noah gasped in shock and the family pushed forward to see what had stunned him.
As they all crammed inside the space, Beth instantly understood his surprise. At some point since completion a week ago, the lodge had been furnished. It was no longer just an empty shell, it was a warm and comfortable home.
On one wall was a log burner in front of which had been placed a leather sofa, draped with soft blankets in shades of blue.
Beyond that was the kitchenette along the back, which although small had everything needed such as a stove, fridge and coffee maker.
Then there was a door through which was the bathroom which had a shower slotted neatly into the corner.
Finally, on the other side of the main room was a double bed, already dressed in matching shades of blue. A small bedside cabinet of oak had been placed next to the bed, as well as a sheepskin rug for fluffy warmth over the wooden floorboards.
It was a perfect hideaway from normal life, thought Beth. But a comfortable as well as romantic one as well.
There was only one person that could have decorated it so well.
Beth spun around to face Lily. ‘Oh, it’s amazing,’ she told her.
However, Lily was looking straight at Noah. ‘I hope I didn’t overstep but we figured that you would want to move in straight away so I ordered a few bits for you to help settle in,’ she said.
‘It’s incredible,’ replied Noah, sounding a little stunned as he continued to stare around in disbelief. He blinked back to life and looked at Lily. ‘It’s perfect, thank you.’
Lily instantly relaxed and smiled tearily at him. ‘You’re welcome,’ she replied.
‘Right, get the kettle on,’ said Dotty. ‘Let’s get the place christened, shall we?’
‘There’s mugs and teabags already in the cupboard,’ Lily told her.
‘And milk in the fridge,’ added Faye.
With everyone squeezed inside, it was a cosy tea break from their walk, with Noah getting the log stove going to bring some warmth into the place and everyone taking turns to look around.
Beth thought that it already felt very much like a family home, especially once Tiny had sprawled on the floor in between them all.
As the sun began to sink below the trees, the family headed back to the hotel to get everything ready for a few board games and yet more food.
Noah told them that he would be along in a while and Beth opted to stay behind with him.
‘So do you really like it?’ she asked, as soon as they were alone.
‘How could I not?’ he replied, staring around and shaking his head in wonder. ‘I’ve never lived anywhere this nice. I can’t believe it’s all mine.’
‘Maybe you deserve it,’ she told him.
He turned to look at her. ‘You always believe the best in people, don’t you?’ he asked.
‘I try,’ she replied.
‘You amaze me,’ he told her.
‘That makes a change,’ she said. ‘Most of the time I think I just annoy people by wittering on about stars and other stuff.’
‘Talking of stars,’ he said, pointing upwards.
She followed his gaze up to the ceiling and gasped. There in the roof, placed above the bed, was a large skylight through which she could see the rapidly darkening sky.
‘How could I have not spotted that earlier? Oh, it’s wonderful!’ she told him, clapping her hands. ‘I would never get any sleep if I were in bed here!’ She groaned as she heard the double entendre out loud. ‘Sorry. That’s not what I meant.’
She looked at Noah to give him a sheepish grin and found that he wasn’t smiling, merely looking at her with a look she couldn’t fathom.
‘I shouldn’t have kissed you this morning,’ he said.
Her heart went into her throat. ‘It was just a kiss between friends,’ she stammered, reminding him of his own words.
‘This is no good,’ he carried on, shaking his head. ‘Not for you. I’m cynical and you’re the most carefree person I’ve ever met.’
‘Opposites can attract,’ she replied quickly. ‘Just look at magnets. The polarity causes…’
‘Beth.’
He interrupted her rambling and she gulped. She knew what he was about to say and couldn’t stand to hear it. Not on Christmas Day. Maybe later in the new year but for now, she didn’t want to have him reject her. It had been the most perfect day and she wouldn’t let it be ruined in her memory.
So, upon hearing the honk of geese outside as they skidded their landings onto the lake, she walked over to the open front door and looked out.
‘Did you know that geese navigate by the means of stars and magnetic fields through the nerve endings in their upper bills?’ she said, in a bright voice. ‘Nature’s incredible, isn’t it?’
‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘It is.’
Beth gave an overly dramatic shudder. ‘Gosh, it’s getting cold, isn’t it? Time to head back, I reckon. Are you coming? I play a mean game of Scrabble so prepare yourself.’
He looked at her for a long moment before nodding. ‘Yeah. I’ll come back with you.’
They walked back to Maple Tree Lodge in silence, both lost in their own thoughts.
For once, Beth could think of nothing to say, wishing it was Christmas morning again and that her heart hadn’t been broken yet.