Chapter 54
FIFTY-FOUR
Lorna loved Christmas. It was her favourite time of the year.
And there was a day she always spent decorating the house while the children were at school.
She loved seeing their faces when they ran up the front path ahead of her, eyes lit up with excitement as they took in the wreath on the front door.
That was the signal that everything was different inside and they would rush in with impatience, squealing at the wooden nativity, the large Christmas elves at the fireplace, the gold stars strung from wall to wall and the musical model Christmas scenes, complete with snowy mountains and Swiss-style chalets.
The best part was of course the tree, and although Lorna dug it out of the loft (she didn’t go with the real ones, preferred instead to get something that required less hoovering), she let the kids decorate it themselves.
This year there was something new, something extra special that had delivered that morning.
She looked out of the living room window and smiled.
In the tiny front garden was a giant pop-up snowman, its LED lights currently unlit and unimpressive but come four thirty, when dark was setting in, it would come alive.
Lorna couldn’t wait – the kids were going to love it!
She was still admiring it when she saw Simon open the front gate.
She started – what was he doing home so early?
He stopped when he saw the snowman and frowned. Lorna braced herself and fixed on a smile. She waved to her husband from the window, but he pointed at the snowman and mouthed: What the fuck?
God, men could be such humbugs at times, thought Lorna. She went to the front door and opened it.
‘Hi, darling,’ she said.
‘What’s going on?’ asked Simon, looking back at the snowman.
Nice to see you too, thought Lorna. ‘It’s our new decoration,’ she said. ‘Like it?’
‘How much did it cost?’
‘Why does everything have to be about money?’
‘Er . . . because we haven’t got any?’
‘That’s not true and you know it.’ Lorna walked into the house, Simon following. He took off his jacket, put it on the kitchen table.
‘Lorna, I’m serious,’ said Simon, and he did actually look it. ‘We don’t have the spare cash to buy naff snowman decorations.’
Lorna bristled. It wasn’t naff, it was cheerful and festive. It put a smile on her face.
‘You do know how much I earn, don’t you?’ continued Simon. ‘And while we’re on the subject of money, we still haven’t had a proper conversation about schools. I know it’s great that Phoenix got a scholarship and all that, but there’s no way we can pay the rest.’
‘I’m going to contribute,’ said Lorna. ‘I’ve been applying for loads of jobs.’ She hadn’t really, not yet. Things were always so busy in the run-up to Christmas, she hadn’t had time to look. ‘And Mum is going to help too.’
‘Is she? Has she actually said that?’
‘Yes,’ lied Lorna. ‘She’s going to help a lot.
Who do you think bought the snowman?’ It was another outright lie but better that Simon thought Carol was putting her hand in her pocket than the actual truth.
And there would be more where that cash had come from – much more.
Lorna planned on staying class rep and chair of the PTA for a very long time.
‘I don’t feel comfortable relying on your mum,’ said Simon.
‘She wants to be a part of her grandchildren’s lives,’ said Lorna, switching on the kettle. ‘It would be unkind to stop her,’ and she turned away to get a couple of mugs to make them both tea. Conversation over.