Underneath the Christmas Tree

‘Are you all right?’ Ned asked over breakfast the next morning. ‘You look a bit pale. Your ankle isn’t still hurting, is it?’

Having decided to talk to him and David again I had opted for an early night to ensure I would be rested, refreshed and ready for the conversation. I didn’t know how David was going to react when I restated my position or if Ned had even tried to raise the money to buy me out, but I wanted to be ready for whatever their responses were to what I had to say. Unfortunately, however, my plan to catch eight hours had failed and I’d spent much of the night tossing, turning and watching the clock. My pasty pallor was no doubt the result.

‘No, it’s fine.’ I said, dredging up a smile as I helped myself to coffee. ‘Not one hundred per cent obviously, but it’s much better than it was.’

‘That’s good,’ said Ned. ‘You must be healthy for it to have recovered so quickly.’

‘Healthy, but not especially fit,’ I admitted.

‘You should start running with me and Bandit,’ Ned suggested.

‘My legs are half the length of yours,’ I pointed out, ‘and I can’t risk my recovery. I’ll stick to walking.’

Ned didn’t look convinced, but there was no way I was going to go puffing and pounding my way around the plantation.

‘You never know,’ he said, ‘you might enjoy it.’

‘Is this your way of saying I need to lose a few pounds ahead of the festive feasting?’

‘Absolutely not,’ he choked, sounding mortified. ‘I was thinking more of myself. I wouldn’t mind a bit of company out there every now and again, that’s all.’

‘In that case,’ I swiftly said, ‘ask Maya. I bet she could keep pace with you. She’s a far better match for you than I am.’

Ned didn’t comment and I waited to let the words settle. He’d see the sense in them in the end.

‘Are you going to be busy this morning?’ I asked, once a minute had passed.

‘I’m going to be busy every morning between now and the twenty-fourth,’ he beamed, his embarrassment forgotten.

He looked ecstatic at the prospect and was clearly keen to embrace another hectic Christmas.

‘Of course,’ I said. ‘The collection service starts this week, doesn’t it?’

‘It does,’ he gushed, ‘and thanks to the upgraded online booking system we have a good idea of who will be coming for their trees, rather than having them delivered, and when, so there shouldn’t be too many surprises. The trees are all good to go. They’re looking fit, healthy and ready to fulfil their festive destinies.’

I wasn’t at all surprised to hear it and admired how he’d got the whole season so competently in hand. I knew it was all part of his job, but it was an impressive feat nonetheless.

‘You’ve certainly got everything efficiently organised,’ I said admiringly.

‘It has to be,’ he told me. ‘With the business going from strength to strength every year, and more trees being rented out, we need to have proficient systems in place. Can you imagine the upset if we gave the wrong tree to the wrong family?’

‘I don’t suppose that would go down particularly well when everyone’s so invested in their own tree, would it?’

‘No,’ he shuddered. ‘It wouldn’t. It’s the sort of fiasco that keeps me awake at night.’

My thoughts returned to my own disturbed night.

‘Well,’ I said, ‘if there’s anything I can help with, just ask and if there’s any chance you and your dad have a spare minute today, then I’d really like to talk to you both. With it being Monday and the place being closed, I thought it might be the best opportunity to get the pair of you in the office at the same time.’

‘Is it about the business?’ he frowned.

‘I’d rather wait until the three of us are together, if that’s okay?’

‘All right,’ he agreed. ‘And don’t forget we’re decorating the veranda today,’ he reminded me, his smile back in place. ‘It’s a little late, but you did say you didn’t want to spoil the magic by doing it in front of the visitors and this is the first chance we’ve had.’

‘Oh yes,’ I said, as I carefully slipped off the stool I was perched on. ‘I did say something like that, didn’t I?’

‘You did,’ he grinned. ‘So much for being immune to the enchantment of Wynter’s Trees, hey?’

‘I’m not enchanted,’ I told him. ‘I’m simply encouraging you to stick to Dad’s traditions.’

‘Yeah, right,’ he laughed.

I hoped he hadn’t fallen in the same trap as his dad and was thinking I’d had a change of heart now I’d decorated the lodge and planted out the tree.

‘You’d best come over at nine,’ he said, as I headed for the stairs. ‘Getting the three of us together will be a super start to the week.’

If my gut reaction was right, he’d most likely be feeling the exact opposite by half past.

No one was at the huts that morning but I had seen Maya’s car arriving as early as usual. I made sure I gave her plenty of time to bestow upon Ned her daily greeting and only went over when I caught sight of her walking out of the barn.

Ned had been less than willing to answer her seductive call the day before, but I bet when the moment came, he had risen to the occasion and given it his all. Not that it was anything to do with me. My head was focused on our imminent conversation and I had no intention of scrutinising his face for further traces of lipstick.

‘Good morning, my dear,’ smiled David. ‘Ned tells me you want to talk.’

He looked delighted at the prospect.

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I do. And as I know you’re both busy, I’m not going to keep you long.’

I was surprised to feel my stomach roll in reaction to what I was about to say. It wasn’t as if I was uttering the words for the first time. I had made my intentions clear weeks ago, but the look on David’s face and his chipper tone gave the impression that he hadn’t heard them, let alone taken them onboard. It finally dawned on me that agreeing to do things his and Ned’s way had been a mistake. By staying on at Wynter’s Trees, I had given them hope. False hope as it turned out.

‘Sorry,’ said Ned, as he rushed in with Bandit close behind. ‘I lost track of time.’

I half hoped, half hated the idea that that was because Maya had got him in a spin.

‘You’re not late,’ I nodded to the clock. ‘I’m a few minutes early.’

‘I was getting the veranda boxes out of storage,’ he elaborated, as he hung a ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door before closing it. ‘I found the stag easily enough on account of the massive antlers, but the doe and fawn twins were harder to track down.’

‘Not a sentence you’d generally hear in everyday conversation,’ David chuckled, ‘but a fairly run of the mill one for Wynter’s.’

I nodded in agreement.

‘Did you find them?’ he then asked Ned.

‘Find who?’

‘The doe and fawn twins.’

‘Oh yes,’ Ned said. ‘They were tucked behind the snowman Liam insisted on inflating before he left on Saturday. Apparently, that was one of his favourite things to look at when he used to visit when he was little.’

David laughed again and I began to think we’d never get down to business if they kept talking about woodland creatures and seven-foot snowmen.

‘So,’ I said, pulling their attention back to me, ‘as I’ve already said, I know you’re both busy, so I won’t keep you.’

Ned lifted his office chair around to the front of his desk and I pulled out the one next to David’s. They both looked expectant and I felt my nerves hitch up another notch.

‘Right,’ I said, clearing my throat. ‘I know it’s not quite Christmas yet, but I wanted to have a quick chat following on from what was discussed during our last meeting.’

‘It’s been a busy time, that’s for sure,’ said Ned, ‘so it would be good to have an update on how things stand.’

I was rather hoping he was going to be the one to update me because my stance hadn’t changed in the slightest. All I wanted to know was, had he raised the money and could I tell everyone what my plans were?

‘We’ve really enjoyed seeing you throwing yourself into everything,’ David carried merrily on. ‘Quite literally,’ he added, with a nod to my ankle.

I knew he’d got completely the wrong end of the stick. I’d thrown myself into everything to pass the time, not because I was trying to learn the ropes.

‘Right,’ I said, biting my lip as my palms began to sweat.

‘Go on,’ said Ned.

His tone was suddenly the polar opposite of David’s. It was resigned now, bordering on hard, and I realised he’d sussed why I’d called the meeting, even though his dad hadn’t.

‘Well,’ I said, rubbing my hands down my jeans and forcing myself to look at him, ‘what I wanted to ask, is whether you’ve had any opportunity to raise the money to buy me out yet? And I also wanted,’ I carried on, before I chickened out, ‘to say to you that we need to share the news about my new business. It feels deceitful having kept everyone in the dark for so long. We’ve let them come to the wrong conclusion about why I’m here.’

There, I’d said it. I’d said it all and the sky hadn’t caved in and no one had keeled over. So far so good.

‘I see,’ Ned brusquely said.

Or not.

‘You mean,’ David stammered, looking crestfallen, ‘that you still want to go ahead and sell? You still want to leave Wynter’s Trees?’

‘Of course, she does,’ Ned rumbled.

‘Yes, David,’ I answered, trying to stay strong, even though the look in his eyes was squeezing my heart. ‘I do. I told you right from the start that I wouldn’t change my mind, didn’t I?’

‘She did,’ said Ned, running his hands through his hair. ‘You were sitting in that chair when she said it, Dad. Are you going to leave before Christmas?’ he then abruptly asked me.

‘No,’ I said, ‘I’ll still stay, if that’s all right? I haven’t made a start on sorting anything out in the lodge yet.’

I knew that was because I’d been preoccupied with my crafting, painting and generally helping out, so I supposed it wasn’t entirely David’s fault that he’d misread the signs.

‘I’ve got loads to do and thanks to you, Ned, I can face doing it now.’ I looked at the top of his bent head. ‘I want to say thank you for helping me get my head straight. You’ve made such a difference.’

His head bobbed up and down, but he didn’t say anything.

‘Goodness me,’ David sighed, just before the silence began to feel awkward. ‘I really thought you’d change your mind, Liza.’

‘I realise that now,’ I softly said. ‘I’m sorry, David.’

I knew I didn’t have anything to say sorry for. I’d been straight with them both practically from the day I moved back and, as Ned himself had previously pointed out, I couldn’t be responsible for other people’s actions and decisions. But none the more for that, the apology had still slipped out.

Ned cleared his throat and sat back up again.

‘To answer your first question,’ he said, sounding all business, ‘I’m no further forward with the funding issue yet. And not because I was so deluded that I thought you’d change your mind, but because there’s a lot going on here and it’s a tricky time to sort anything other than trees.’

‘I appreciate that,’ I began.

‘And with regard to your request,’ he continued, a steelier edge creeping into his tone, ‘I’d still rather wait to tell everyone.’

I was about to ask why, when Maya opened the door and stuck her head round the frame.

‘I’m sorry to interrupt…’ she said.

‘Then don’t!’ Ned shouted, making us all jump. ‘Can’t you see the bloody sign?’

Red-faced and bright-eyed she backed out and quietly closed the door again.

‘No,’ I said, adamant that I wouldn’t back down about telling everyone. ‘I can’t agree to that Ned, and there’s no need to take your annoyance out on Maya.’

His flash of temper told me he was every bit as upset as David, even if he hadn’t been as deluded as he had insinuated his father had been. I heard David get up and pour himself a cup of water from the cooler behind his desk.

‘Are you all right, Dad?’

‘Yes, yes,’ he said, turning back around. He did look a bit peaky. ‘I feel a bit of a fool, to be honest. I should have realised you wouldn’t change your mind, Liza, but I never really believed it would come to this. I suppose I’ve just blocked it all out, until now.’

‘I’m sorry,’ I said again, ‘but I did say…’

Ned put up a hand.

‘We know,’ he curtly said.

He stood up, and without another word, strode out. He didn’t quite slam the door behind him, but it was a close-run thing.

‘Oh dear,’ David sighed.

‘That didn’t go how I hoped it would,’ I swallowed, blinking hard as I stood up and returned the chair to its space under the desk.

‘It’s my fault,’ said David. ‘I should have taken your wishes onboard when you first expressed them.’

‘Yes,’ I nodded, as I gently laid a hand on his shoulder, ‘you should, but I can understand why you didn’t.’

I left him, finally absorbing the information I’d given him weeks ago and went to find Ned. I hoped he’d apologised to Maya in the interim, but when I caught up with him and saw how he was throwing boxes about on the veranda, I knew he hadn’t.

‘So, you’re still not happy that I’m going to tell everyone then?’

‘No,’ he snapped. ‘I’m not, but I know you’ll go ahead anyway.’

‘That’s hardly fair, Ned.’

He stopped what he was doing and let out a long breath.

‘I know,’ he said, raising his arms and letting them fall again. ‘I know it’s not fair. I know that you were only restating what you’d already said and I know that you’ve never done anything deceitful to make either Dad or me think that you’d change your mind and I know that you want to move on, but there was still a part of me…’

‘Still a part of you what?’

‘That was deluded,’ he shrugged, his bottom lip trembling a little.

I didn’t know what to say. It was a shock to see him so upset.

‘I’ll sort this later,’ he said, nudging the boxes into a row with his foot.

‘Ned…’

‘I need to apologise to Maya.’

I watched him stride away and found myself wishing I’d never come back.