Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
We’d finally reached the pudding course. My leftover Yule log and mince pies from the previous day came in useful. I had managed to make a bowl of Eton Mess and little chocolate mousses. Aunty Bev had also found a ready-made cheesecake and trifle in one of the fridges. The pudding queue was getting shorter, and I was looking forward to everyone going home. Every part of me ached and I was struggling to suppress a yawn. Once they all left, I would start the clean-up operation and then sink into a hot foam bath. Ben was helping Rosie lift a piece of Yule log onto her plate.
A hand tapped me on the shoulder. I whirled around to see Denise’s icy stare. ‘I see you’ve nicked my man.’
I stepped back in shock. ‘Your man?’
‘Everyone knows I have had a thing for Ben,’ she hissed. ‘I might have known a bloody Baxter would step in and take him away from me.’
‘He’s not your property, Denise.’
She looked away and muttered something under her breath.
‘Please eat your food and go, Denise,’ I said, cursing myself for feeling charitable.
She leaned in. ‘A mother at school has also been messaging him, plus there’s another woman he’s in contact with.’
‘Go away, Denise.’
She laughed. ‘See you around, Rachel.’
Ben looked up at me and I averted my eyes to the floor. In my head I could hear Sam’s voice. It was happening again. Why had I let my guard down? Hot and emotional I raced out of the kitchen
It was then I heard someone shout, ‘Frank Baxter is here.’
Blood drained from my face and my bowels loosened. Oh God, was this true? It couldn’t be true. Maybe there was someone in Harp Brook who was a convincing lookalike?
‘Frank Baxter,’ said someone else. ‘He looks angry.’
I felt sick. The room began to sway. Was Frank back from Malibu? His house was full of people, the west wing was open, his bedroom stunk of dog wee and the trouser leg on one of his suits was ripped, plus one pair of his expensive leather shoes had not survived being submerged in cola.
The urge to run and throw up was strong. ‘It can’t be true,’ I said and raced through throngs of people.
In the reception hallway I came face to face with Frank. ‘Oh God,’ I muttered as he stared at me with cold, narrowing eyes. Behind him was his chauffeur who had a sweaty pink face.
‘We had to ditch the Merc because of the snow and walk up the driveway,’ puffed the chauffeur. ‘I had to carry the bags through all the snow.’
Frank turned to his chauffeur. ‘Have you quite finished?’ He turned back to me. ‘Why is my house full of locals, Rachel?’
I looked behind him and the chauffeur. ‘Where’s Maddie?’
He let out an angry snort. ‘Why are you asking a stupid question when you know full well that she’s with you? Where is she?’
‘What?’
He let out a sarcastic laugh. ‘She came home two days ago. You know this.’
‘Two days ago?’
He ran a tanned hand through his grey hair. ‘We had some problems in the States. Where is she? And why has she agreed to this… circus?’
‘Frank, I haven’t seen Maddie,’ I cried. ‘Where the hell is she?’
He studied my face. ‘She called me saying she was home.’
‘You must believe me. Maddie is not here.’
He took out a phone from inside his ski jacket. He pressed it to his ear. There was no answer. ‘She’s not picking up.’
‘Look at what the cat has dragged in,’ said a familiar voice from behind me. I spun around to see Vanessa glaring at Frank.
‘What the hell is she doing here?’ he cried. ‘Have you lost your mind, Rachel?’
‘There was a power cut and I made everyone Christmas lunch,’ I said, quietly.
Vanessa barrelled past me. ‘Why are you here, Frank?’
‘Not now, Vanessa,’ he pleaded, scrolling through his phone. ‘I need to find my wife.’ He pushed past us, strode into the centre of the reception hall and began clapping his hands. Everyone’s attention turned to him and within a few seconds the sea of festive smiles was washed away by a tide of scowls and dirty looks. The atmosphere inside the manor house became charged. ‘Please can you all leave my house! Thank you.’
The young man who had complained about the wifi shouted, ‘I haven’t had my pudding yet, mate.’
Frank shook his head and pointed at the young man. ‘Get out. The party is over.’
People began filing out. As they passed me everyone said, ‘Lovely food, thanks,’ and, ‘You saved Christmas Day, Rachel.’ Some hugged and kissed me on the cheek.
An old lady in the west wing living room was struggling to stand as her walking stick had fallen by the side of the sofa. I expected Frank to rush and help her. Instead, he stood at the doorway and clapped his hands. ‘Get out or I am calling the police.’
Instinctively I barged past him and ran to help her. She gave me a warm smile and squeezed by hand. ‘Thank you, my dear.’ I guided her past Frank and to the door.
To my surprise Vanessa took hold of the lady’s other arm and smiled at me. ‘I’ll help Joan back through the snow.’
Frank scowled and looked away.
I smiled at Vanessa. ‘Thank you.’
On his way out Darren gave me a huge hug. ‘I can’t thank you enough, Rachel. I was struggling this morning. Did my two cause much havoc upstairs?’
I shook my head. ‘It was all sorted. Give my love to Abi.’
He nodded. ‘She called me to say she never got to taste your wonderful food.’
I steered Darren and his twins to one side. ‘Wait there.’
Racing over to the buffet food, I grabbed a plastic box and filled it up with sausage rolls, a few sandwiches, and some nibbles. Darren grinned as I returned. ‘You are too kind. I will give her these when she comes home tomorrow.’
Ben, Layla, and Aunty Bev were tidying up in the kitchen and were unaware of the drama unfolding with Frank. The kitchen was in a state. One side had the remnants of the buffet and the other side plus the island were covered in empty plates and glasses. If Frank saw the kitchen he would explode. I tried to beat him to the kitchen, but I was too late.
‘What a bloody mess. Time to go home,’ Frank shouted.
Layla cast me a worried look and I mouthed, ‘It will be okay.’
Grandpa turned around and saw Frank. ‘What the hell are you doing here?’
Frank shook his head. ‘Sorting out this circus, Eric.’
‘Where’s Maddie?’ Aunty Bev asked, sticking her head up from the dishwasher.
‘She came home two days ago,’ I said, beating Frank to it.
Aunty Bev shook her head. ‘Well, we’ve not seen her.’
Frank stared at Aunty Bev. ‘Who invited you, Beverly? I bet this was all your doing. You love chaos. If Maddie had told me you were coming I would have said no.’
Aunty Bev scowled at him. ‘Merry Christmas to you too, Frank. It was Janice’s idea if you must know. Why don’t you go crawl under the stone you came from.’
He muttered something under his breath and turned his attention to Layla. ‘You’re fired now I am back. I will be getting a new cleaner.’
She nodded and carried on clearing plates.
I turned to Frank. ‘Layla is staying here until she finds a new place to live.’
Frank turned to me, incredulous. ‘I am not a charity, Rachel. She leaves. Today.’
I could feel the anger rising inside of me. ‘You can’t throw a woman out with a child on Christmas Day, Frank.’
‘I can do what I want, Rachel. I hate to remind you, but this is my house you’ve–’
Humphrey began to bark and a voice from behind us made him stop. ‘Back off, Frank.’
We all turned to see Maddie and behind her was Josh.
‘Frank, we need to sort things out.’
I couldn’t help but notice Maddie was holding Josh’s hand. Aunty Bev, who is the most observant relative I have, must have seen the hand holding too. ‘Well, I’ll be damned…’ she muttered as Frank turned around to see Maddie.