Fiction Serial: Coming Home For Christmas (Part 2)
WRITTEN BY DELLA GALTON
Enjoy the concluding part of this festive serial! Click here to catch up on Part 1.
PART 2: Tess’s wounded feelings are starting to heal in the warmth of her family. But now there’s an old flame to deal with too…
Tess woke to the smell of frying bacon wafting up from the kitchen and the excited shrieks of children. For a moment she felt disorientated as she scanned the little room and saw a sewing machine in the corner.
Then she remembered she was at her parents’ and that it was Christmas Day. It was also nearly 8am. How had she slept so late? She must have been exhausted.
She grabbed her backpack, hijacked the family bathroom for a shower and then, feeling more human, she headed downstairs into the fray.
Seven-year-old Matt was on the stairs, immersed in some noisy game on a device.
“Happy Christmas,” Tess said when she could get his attention. “Is that a present?”
“No, but Mum told me to calm down and be quiet.” He gave her a cheeky grin as something exploded noisily onscreen.
Tess edged past him to the kitchen and found her father frying bacon and her mother and sister standing at the worktop peeling sprouts.
“Happy Christmas, Auntie Tess.” Ella beamed at her from the floor. She was also playing on a device but not so loudly.
Tom, Tess’s brother-in-law, had his phone in front of him but was also chatting to Dad. A full-on electronic Christmas.
“What can I do to help?” she asked.
“Make some bacon sandwiches,” said her father, pushing a loaf and the butter dish towards her. “We’re having
breakfast on the fly – don’t want to ruin our appetite for dinner.”
“After you’ve done that, Frost would love a walk,” her mother added.
Tess made sandwiches and dished them out. It was impossible to feel sad in the bustle of the family kitchen. As she
grabbed the lead, the greyhound wagged his body almost as much as his tail.
“Darling, there are some cards for the neighbours on the hall table – would you mind delivering them while you’re out?”
“No problem, Mum,” Tess called over her shoulder, grabbing them as she passed.
It was only when she was outside in the crisp, cold morning that Tess flicked through and saw one for Linda and Bill
Buckingham, 54 Beech Drive, two streets away. Of course – there was a card for Rupert’s parents.
She wondered whether Rupert was home for Christmas. She hoped she wouldn’t bump into him. Although actually it was Charlotte she didn’t want to bump into. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to see Rupert with his new girlfriend – not after what had so nearly happened between them.
Tess left their card until last. She didn’t ring the bell, just slipped it through the letterbox and escaped but she hadn’t reached the front gate before she heard a shout behind her.
“Hey! Happy Christmas, Tess. Don’t dash away.”
It was Rupert’s mother, Linda. They had always got on well and Tess hesitated.
“I’ve got a card here for you guys,” Linda called. “Come in a sec and you’ll save me a journey.”
To refuse would have seemed churlish, so Tess retraced her steps and followed Linda reluctantly into the porch. Deeper in the house she could hear someone playing Silent Night on the piano.
Rupert was home, then. He was the only one of his family who played.
He had never been as obsessed with music as she had, but he was a half decent pianist.
She listened to the beautiful carol and felt the sting of nostalgia. When they were kids they had planned to set up a band. They would write hit songs and make their fortune…
But the reality of it was that Tess had always been far more passionate about music than Rupert.
By some strange synchronicity Rupert hit a wrong note at that exact moment and then the piano stopped. A few seconds
later, Rupert himself appeared in the porch.
He clearly hadn’t been expecting to see her. His brown hair was tousled, he was dressed in old jeans and he was barefoot.
He looked amazed.
“Tess! Mum just told me you were here. It’s so great to see you. Are you stopping for coffee? Come in. Don’t stand in the
porch. It’s freezing.”
Quite suddenly all she wanted to do was stop for coffee. To stay in the comfortable familiarity of his company. Charlotte or no Charlotte.
“Yes please,” she said quietly. After all, she would have to get used to seeing him with his girlfriend sooner or later.
Rupert bent to stroke Frost, who was delighted to see his old friend. A few moments later, man, woman and dog were
installed in the piano room with a tray of coffee brought by Linda. There were mince pies too.
“Home made,” Linda explained. “But don’t feel you have to eat them. I known how much food there is around at this time
of year.” She went out and closed the door pointedly behind her.
“Are you home for long?” Rupert asked.
“Um yes, I think I might be.” Tess hesitated and then because he looked so concerned, she went on slowly. “Things didn’t work out in London.”
She told him the whole sorry story. How Jack had promised her the world, but how it had all been conditional on her
leaping into bed with him. Then when she hadn’t, how the whole house of cards had come tumbling down.
“I’ve been so naïve,” Tess said, shaking her head. “I don’t know why I didn’t realise. A few people did try to warn me.”
“You had stars in your eyes. They probably blinded you to everything else. Stars have a habit of doing that.”
“I think you’re right. Sorry, this is all about me, me, me. Tell me about you. I hear you’ve been seeing Charlotte.”
“Who told you that?” His brow wrinkled.
“Evie. She wasn’t talking out of turn, was she? I thought it was common knowledge.”
Rupert sighed. “Not at all. Your sister’s correct. I was seeing Charlotte.” He hesitated. “Was being the operative word. We split up about a week ago.”
“Oh, my goodness. I didn’t know that. I’m so sorry…”
“Don’t be. No one else knows, except my mother. I’m not particularly sorry. Apart from the ignominy of being dumped just before Christmas.” He gave a rueful grin. “I’d bought her quite a nice present too.”
“Can you get a refund?” They both laughed lightly and she went on. “Seriously, though. What happened, Rupe? Was there someone else?”
“I don’t think so. Not on her side anyway…”
He broke off and Tess looked at him keenly. She was about to ask what he meant, but at that moment the door opened again and Linda popped her head around it.
“Would you two like more coffee?”
“No thanks.” Tess looked at her Fitbit and stood up. “I’d better get back before Mum sends out a search party.”
At the front door once more, Rupert held out his arms.
“Christmas hug?”
“Of course.”
She stepped towards him, feeling the familiar warmth, smelling the familiar mix of Rupert and citrus cologne, and just for a second her senses reeled and she wished she hadn’t said no to him eighteen months earlier.
She wished she was settling down for Christmas dinner with him beside her – either at her parents or his – just as long as he was there.
But that was totally crazy. Too much water had gone under the bridge. Besides, she thought as she left him standing in his porch barefoot and let herself out of the front gate, he’d just said it was only his pride that had been hurt by Charlotte’s defection because he had his eye on someone else.
He’d moved on. That much was crystal clear.
Tess was still feeling mixed emotions as she sat down for Christmas dinner. It was lovely to be surrounded by her family, listening to the excited chatter of the children, breathing in the scents of roast turkey and gravy, cranberry sauce, even
sprouts – not that she was a fan – and hearing Dad and Tom discussing cars.
Mum and Evie were currently talking about a series they’d watched. It took her back to all the years they’d celebrated Christmas before.
Yet she’d felt curiously stirred up, seeing Rupert.
Her emotions had swung between relief that he and Charlotte were no longer an item and then the shock of hearing that he already had his eye on someone else. That had thrown her far more than she’d thought.
“You’re quiet, love,” Mum said, leaning over the table and offering her a cracker to pull. “What’s on your mind? Did you see Rupert at the Buckinghams?”
“Yes, we had coffee.” She paused, realising her mother looked a bit guilty. “Hang on a minute. How come you knew he was back?”
“Linda told me this morning.” Mum had her best ultra-casual voice on too, which meant she was up to something.
“You knew that he’d split up with Charlotte too, didn’t you?”
“Oh, has he?” her mother said in faux surprise.
“Don’t pretend you didn’t know.” Tess tutted. “You two might think you’re matchmaking but you’re not – because he’s got his eye on someone else.”
Now her mother’s surprise was genuine.
“I’m sorry, love. I had no idea.” Two spots of colour appeared on her cheeks.
“It’s OK, Mum. Really.” Tess made a performance of clearing the empty plates and escaped to the kitchen.
No one followed her out, which was a relief. She knew her mother was only trying to be kind. But right now, she wished she’d stayed in London. Anonymous and alone.
As she stacked the dishwasher and turned to make a start on the pots, a tear ran down her cheek and plopped into the greasy water.
Maybe she should cut short her visit. Perhaps she could visit Siobhan – she and her best friend had wished each other
happy Christmas on the phone earlier andSiobhan had said she’d love to see her.
Tess was halfway through planning the trip – Siobhan lived only ten miles away – when suddenly she realised how selfish she was being. Her whole family loved her and were just trying to do what was best for her – and she’d been moping about since she’d got here last night.
It was Christmas Day and they were probably all treading on eggshells around her.
Making a supreme effort, she fixed on a smile and went back into the lounge.
She stopped dead in her tracks. Rupert was sitting at the table beside her father. Where on earth had he sprung from?
She was about to bolt for the door again, her newfound courage deserting her, but she knew there was nowhere to
run. Rupert had looked up as the door opened and now their eyes met and the whole room seemed to spin a little.
He stood up and came to meet her.
“You left this at ours,” he said, holding out a red and black scarf. “I thought I’d pop round and return it.”
“Thanks.” She took it uncertainly, wrong-footed yet again. She was sure she hadn’t been wearing a scarf when she’d visited his, let alone left it there. But it was definitely one she recognised. He spoke softly.
“Tess, I’d really like to talk to you. Could we maybe go for a walk?”
They retreated into the kitchen and a few minutes later they were walking along the familiar, frost-spangled streets in the
Illustration: Lauren Rebbeck
chilly afternoon.
“I should have worn that scarf,” she quipped, pulling her coat tighter. “I was a muppet earlier.”
“How were you a muppet?” She glanced at him.
“Tess, I know we’ve been here before, but I’m going to revisit it one more time. When I told you I was interested in someone else, I should also have told you that it’s you.”
“But…”
He put up a hand.
“Hear me out. Please. Then I promise you I’ll never mention it again.”
She shut up.
“My relationship with Charlotte didn’t work out because I’m in love with you. I think I always have been, but I didn’t know it for sure until just before you left. I was going to tell you.”
“Mmm. I know.”
“All I wanted to do when you’d gone was charge up to London and challenge Jack to a duel.”
“Jack was never my boyfriend. I never saw him like that.”
“I know that now, but I didn’t then. I thought if I went out with Charlotte, I’d forget you. But it didn’t happen. And I know you don’t feel the same but I – well, I just wanted to get it off my chest once and for all.”
“But I do feel the same.”
He stopped walking and looked at her.
“Say that again.”
“I’m in love with you too,” she said, meeting his eyes. “I think I’ve been in love with you for a long time.” She slipped her
hand into his. “But I didn’t truly know it until I went to London. It’s true that things didn’t work out as I’d hoped. But I see now, part of that was because I was missing you.
“And I wanted to come home… and I was just too darn proud.”
“Wow!”
“Did you know our mothers were matchmaking this morning?” she asked.
“I had no idea. Although thinking about it I did wonder why she wanted me to bring that scarf round in such a hurry.”
“I wasn’t even wearing that scarf when I came round. I’m pretty sure it’s been hanging in Mum’s hall for years.”
“The so and sos.” He burst out laughing. “They were pretty determined, then. Shall we go and put them out of their misery and tell them we’re finally singing from the same hymn sheet?”
“A very appropriate metaphor.” She smiled. “No, I think we should make them wait. Manipulating people at Christmas.”
She squeezed his hand. “It’s shocking behaviour, don’t you think?”
Consequently, it was a long time later that they finally headed back to Tess’s parents and found them embroiled in
Charades. Everyone was replete with mince pies and bonhomie.
Evie gave Tess a knowing smile and came across the room towards her.
“I’ve been waiting for you two to come back so we can share our special news,” she whispered. “It looks like you might have some too.”
“I think we might,” Tess said, as she and Rupert joined the festivities.
A few seconds later Tom picked up a glass and tapped it with a spoon.
“Evie and I have some news for you all. And we thought, what better day to share it than today?” He cleared his throat. “We’re having another baby.”
There were shouts of congratulations and everyone was talking at once. Then when it had died down, Tess said into the
lull, “We have some news too.”
Everyone hushed.
“We are –” She glanced at Rupert. He caught her hand, touched it to his lips and finished her sentence.
“Stepping out,” he said. “To put it the old-fashioned way.”
There was a rousing cheer at this news and Tess and Rupert smiled at each other.
“Speech,” Tom called. He’d clearly been knocking back too much red wine.
Tess looked at him.
“All right,” she said. “I would like to say thank you to my amazing family for putting up with me. I’ve been miserable since I got back. And I’m sorry. And I’m sorry I kept it a secret that things hadn’t worked out.
“But Christmas wouldn’t be the same without a few family secrets, would it?” She winked at Evie. “And news of a new
baby. And…” She put up a hand before anyone could speak. “Not to mention a couple of devious match-making mothers.
“By the way, Mum, you do know that scarf you took round to Rupert’s wasn’t even mine? It was Evie’s.”
Her mother gasped, clapped a hand over her mouth and then burst into peals of slightly tipsy laughter.
“But most of all,” Tess continued. “I’d like to say thanks for being so lovely – all of you. Happy Christmas one and all. There really is no place like home.”
