23. On the Kitchen Table
Chapter 23
On the Kitchen Table
‘ O n the kitchen table? We might make a mess. Diane wouldn’t like that.’
‘Then I’ll clean up afterwards,’ said Matt. They spoke in hushed tones to avoid disturbing Diane who was in the bedroom right above them. The movement in her room had stopped about twenty minutes ago, and Amy assumed she was asleep but with Diane it was never safe to assume anything.
The stockings were filled, and hung at the foot of the boys’ beds, all ready for the morning. The house was silent, other than the creaks of the floorboards as they settled for the night, the faint ticking of the clock in the hallway and the odd rattle from the AGA.
They were alone.
‘Are you sure we should even be doing this?’ she asked, tentatively.
‘I don’t care about whether we should or shouldn’t. All I know is that I want some time to be with you tonight.’
‘Me too.’
‘I’ve missed you so much today. ’
‘Ssh, quietly. You don’t want to wake anyone up.’ Amy glanced over her shoulder towards the kitchen door which she had firmly closed behind them.
‘I’ll be very, very quiet, I promise,’ he murmured.
‘We don’t want Diane to come downstairs and catch us.’
‘I must admit I’m a bit out of practice. I haven’t done this for a while. It’s harder than I expected.’
‘It does look hard.’ Amy watched him closely. ‘Can I help?’
‘Just a minute … oof, it’s stiff … there!’
‘Gently,’ Amy warned him. ‘You don’t want it to come out unexpectedly and spurt all over the kitchen.’
‘I’m being as gentle as I can. But get ready, just in case.’
With a satisfying pop, Matt managed to ease the cork out of the bottle. Thankfully the Prosecco didn’t spill, and Amy had the glasses ready.
‘Trust Diane to bring expensive sparkling wine,’ he said as he poured them each a glass.
‘I feel awful drinking her Prosecco.’ Amy took a large mouthful nonetheless and the bubbles tickled her nose.
‘She’s already drunk most of our wine, and the sherry and the port.’ He sat down at the table and she took a seat opposite him, back to the door.
‘Imagine if we’d tried to make love.’
‘I couldn’t do it. Not with the thought of Diane upstairs, listening to our every move.’ He raised his glass and took a drink.
‘So, when are we going to tell her? We didn’t find the right time today, and I guess tomorrow’ll be worse. I don’t want her to start thinking all kinds of awful things about me.’
‘I know. And I promise I’ll tell her as soon as Christmas Day’s over. If we can’t find the right time after Christmas, we’ll just have to settle for one of the wrong ones. Let’s just try and have the best Christmas we can for now.’ The strained, pained expression that had fleetingly disappeared was back on his face.
‘Yes. But, Matt, if there’s anything you want to talk about – anything at all – you know I’m here.’
His voice was heavy when he replied. ‘It’s just all …’ He looked around as if he could find the word he sought hidden somewhere amongst the beams of the kitchen ceiling. ‘… So complicated. I need you to trust me and bear with me.’
‘Of course I trust you.’ She toyed with the cork from the bottle of Prosecco which lay on the table in front of her.
‘I had so many plans for this week, and they’ve all gone wrong. Our perfect family Christmas.’ Even before he could finish speaking the clock on the wall in the hallway began to chime midnight.
It was Christmas Day.
‘I think that’s our cue to go to bed.’ She pushed her chair back with a scrape and stood.
‘It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.’ Matt got to his feet.
‘Shall I help you sort your bed on the sofa?’ she offered as he opened the kitchen door and she stepped into the dark hallway.
‘Better not.’ He loitered with his hand on the living room doorknob. ‘You head up to bed.’
‘Fair enough. I hope you’re comfortable on that sofa. At least it’s warmer in the living room than upstairs.’
‘We’ll keep each other warm, once Diane’s gone,’ he whispered, stepping towards her.
‘If she ever goes,’ Amy whispered back.
‘One more day, and then we’ve got the cottage to ourselves again. ’
‘True.’ She moved towards the stairs.
‘Amy?’
She turned back.
‘Happy Christmas,’ he said.
‘Happy Christmas, Matt.’