Christmas at Bay Tree Cottage

She stares at me without blinking, what did I say?

‘You mean, we have money?’

She’s six, well, six and a half, and I can’t believe my own daughter just said those words. What has she overheard me saying – does she worry about our future, too?

‘Yes, darling, we have money, of course we do. We simply have to use it wisely. Mummy has just been so busy that I haven’t had time to decide what to do next. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a lovely clean floor, one where we could walk about without raising dust clouds?’ I force out a laugh, trying to lighten the moment.

‘You mean like in Amelie’s cottage?’

Was I being very naive thinking that, at that tender age, kids didn’t take much notice of their surroundings?

‘Well, maybe not quite as stylish as Hillside View, as I don’t think cream carpet would be practical for us. But some rather nice wood flooring would make things a lot cosier, don’t you think?’

Maya gazes down at the assortment of rugs covering about eighty per cent of the floor.

‘I like the colours, I just don’t like the dust.’

‘Me too, darling. Hopefully Luke will come up with a plan so we can get the work started very soon.’

Maya comes close, putting her arms around my waist and hugging me with great force.

‘I’ll write that note to Santa, Mum, before it’s too late.’ She sounds subdued and I can only assume that this has, unwittingly, raked up some old memories of Niall and me working upstairs together. On several occasions Maya, too, wielded a paintbrush, usually preferring to paint in circular sweeps rather than going for coverage. And, more often than not, getting more paint on herself and the floor than the walls. But those were fun times, for the most part. Times I didn’t realise she would readily remember.

I head off to check the slow cooker. Luke usually finishes work for the day at about five-thirty, so he could be knocking on the door shortly. As I set the table, it seems strange putting out three place settings again. I purposely set a place for Luke in the chair opposite the one Niall always occupied. I hope it’s not going to upset Maya as she’s usually quite bouncy. Sadness comes in fleeting moments, until I can distract her. I won’t know until we all sit down together how she’s going to react.

As the big hand on the clock hits the six, there’s a tap on the front door. I wonder why he didn’t ring the doorbell.

‘Hi, thanks for coming, Luke.’

He looks hesitantly at me and doesn’t appear to be making any attempt to take a step forward and come inside.

‘I realised afterwards that I kinda invited myself along this evening and that might have been out of order. I can come back another time just to take a look, if it’s inconvenient.’

‘Hey, you are doing me a huge favour and I would have suggested the same thing if you hadn’t. Come in, please.’

‘Maya, when will you be finished?’ I call out, leaving Luke to wrestle with the laces on his boots. Silence reigns.

‘Do you mind if I wash my face and hands? I have a towel, so I’m not going to leave mortar everywhere, promise.’ He indicates a backpack slung from one shoulder.

‘That’s fine, of course. There’s a cloakroom leading off the utility room. Help yourself.’

Maya still hasn’t answered me.

‘Maya, are you on your iPad?’

I’m expecting her to shout down, but she’s in her bedroom and from the dull thumping, she probably has her Disney CD playing. When I go up to check, popping my head around the door discreetly, she’s at her desk writing. I back out slowly, not wanting to disturb her, and creep back downstairs.

Luke has changed his trousers and shirt, which surprises me, and I look at him with a smile.

‘I always carry something a bit tidy in the van, just in case. I’ve also had the odd occasion when I’ve worked until late on an empty property and ended up sleeping on the floor. A change of clothes is essential in this business.’ As he smiles his eyes twinkle and I hadn’t noticed that before. He seems more relaxed this evening, maybe enjoying the fact that the working day is over at last.

‘It can’t be easy working up so high all the time, in all weathers. Please, take a seat. What would you like to drink? Hot, cold or something alcoholic? I have wine and beer.’

Instead of pulling out a chair he stands there looking at the table and clears his throat.

‘Um, where would you prefer me to sit?’

At that precise moment Maya appears, letter in hand. It’s one of those split seconds where everything and nothing happens all at once. No one moves but I glance at Maya, who glances across at Luke, whose eyes nervously seek out my own, before we both return our gaze to Maya.

‘You can sit in my chair if you like and I’ll sit in Daddy’s chair. Mum, I have my letter.’

She walks past us both, placing the hand-written envelope on the table. Then she slides one of the place settings around in front of Niall’s seat and hoists herself up onto the chair.

‘Is it nearly ready, because I’m starving?’ she states, quite casually, unaware of the way Luke and I are watching in amazement.

With that, I give Luke an encouraging nod and he walks across to sit down next to Maya.

‘What are you hoping Santa will bring you this year, then, Maya?’

It’s not a straightforward question and, with a lot of seriousness, Maya begins to explain that she’s between toys; too old for dolls and too young for her own real computer. The look on Luke’s face is priceless. I’m sure he was just being polite, but what follows is a critique of the most popular toys and why Maya wouldn’t be pleased to find them under the tree on Christmas Day.

Out of Maya’s line of sight I hold up a beer in one hand and a bottle of white wine in the other. Luke nods in the direction of the beer and I carry two across to the table, together with an apple juice for Maya.

‘It’s serious stuff, then,’ Luke says in earnest to Maya. ‘What if he gets it wrong?’

‘Oh, he won’t. He brought me my iPad last year and I didn’t make up my mind about that until Christmas Eve. I nearly had a bike, but Mummy said it was a bit difficult to have one here because of the hill.’

‘Sensible decision. Anyway, what’s the final verdict, then, for this year?’

‘A piano.’

I look at Maya, stunned. A piano? Where on earth did that come from? She doesn’t know how to play the piano and, unless they’ve been doing it at school, I wasn’t aware she’d ever seen one up close. Luke can see I’m speechless and begins to laugh.

‘Well, I’m sure whatever Santa brings you will be the right thing. Don’t you agree, Elana?’

I nod enthusiastically, wondering how on earth I’m going to talk her out of this idea. Besides, I have other plans for her Christmas present.

It’s funny how with children you worry about the things that you perceive are likely to upset them. Then they totally surprise you. Maya chattered away quite easily, as did Luke, and the meal passed very pleasantly. It was actually nice having some company. Usually we only get that when we’re away from home, as I still shy away from inviting people here. Who wants to eat surrounded by a hollow room with bare floors and a thin layer of powdery dust covering everything you touch?

Fortunately, Luke takes it all in his stride and he even distracts Maya when I slip Santa’s envelope off the table and onto my lap.

Chapter 10 (#ulink_905168f3-8c72-5d86-a2e5-8aab117deb1c)

Luke (#ulink_905168f3-8c72-5d86-a2e5-8aab117deb1c)

A Working Arrangement

Kids are funny at times, and I don’t mean in a humorous way. Clearly, Elana and Maya don’t have many dinner guests and I’m sure there are several reasons for that. But Maya was so relaxed over dinner earlier on, as if it was the most natural thing in the world for me to be here. In truth, I’d spent most of the day on the roof being mad at myself for making such a stupid suggestion. I only said it because it’s easier to help Elana out if I do it in my own time – not that Dad would mind, I’m sure, but I’d feel better about it. There didn’t seem any point in driving all the way back to the flat, only to return later, but even I was surprised when I casually invited myself for dinner.