Underneath the Christmas Tree

After our meeting and following few words, Ned made it painfully obvious that he didn’t want to be in my company and barely looked in my direction for the next couple of days. He had made a stunning job of decorating the veranda, but whenever I walked into a room, he walked out of it, so there was no chance to either tell him how much I liked it or thank him for doing it.

The atmosphere inside the lodge was frostier than outside and given the confused looks Bandit was giving us, I could tell it was taking a toll on our four-legged friend. I was just starting to seriously consider leaving, when Maya came to find me.

‘Are you busy?’ she asked, when I answered the lodge door.

Before she used to just walk in, but after Ned had bitten her head off, she had taken to knocking and waiting.

‘Not really,’ I told her. ‘Come in.’

‘Thanks.’

‘I was actually hoping I would get the chance to talk to you alone,’ I said, taking the opportunity as it was just the two of us.

‘Oh?’ she frowned.

‘I wanted to say sorry for what happened on Monday. It was my fault that Ned snapped at you,’ I explained.

Maya shook her head and slipped off her mud encrusted boots, before accepting a coffee and a seat on the sofa.

‘In that case,’ she said, looking far happier than I currently felt to be on the receiving end of his persistent bad mood, ‘I should be thanking you.’

‘Thanking me?’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘He’s been a changed man since that meeting. I don’t know what you said to him, Liza,’ she laughed, ‘but he’s totally transformed, especially where I’m concerned.’

‘Is he?’ I swallowed.

Around me, he was all brooding and Heathcliff, but given the dreamy expression on Maya’s face, I fathomed he was the ultimate Hallmark hero in her company.

‘He is,’ she grinned. ‘He took me to the pub to apologise and he’s been so sweet and attentive ever since. I was beginning to think he was a lost cause, but since Monday he’s completely changed.’

The smile lighting up her pretty face suggested that he’d done considerably more than apologise. Had I realised that simply upsetting him would have thrown him into Maya’s waiting arms, then I would have done it far sooner.

‘He’ll be dragging you under the mistletoe in no time,’ I said, the words sticking in my throat, ‘rather than the other way around.’

Her playful wink told me all I needed to know.

I should have been happy that he’d finally realised that Maya was the girl for him, but now I’d got them across the finishing line, the victory felt rather hollow. At least, if I left early, I wouldn’t have to endure watching their relationship blossom. I might have convinced myself Ned wasn’t the man for me, but now it turned out, I didn’t want him to be the man for anyone else either.

‘Now all we have to do,’ Maya thoughtfully said, drumming her fingers against the side of her mug, ‘is find a match for you. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all spend Christmas together? Me and Ned,’ she dreamily added, just to make sure I knew what she was getting at, ‘and you and Mr Still to be Revealed.’

Personally, I couldn’t think of anything worse.

‘But before we do that,’ she said, biting her lip, ‘I don’t suppose you can tell me what that meeting on Monday was about, can you?’

Her request gave me the perfect opportunity to spread the word that I was selling my shares in the business. I knew Maya wasn’t the gossiping type, but armed with such gargantuan news she wouldn’t be able to resist telling someone and, depending on who’s ear her words poured into, then that would be enough.

‘Sorry,’ she said, shaking her head when I didn’t immediately answer. ‘Forget I asked. It’s none of my business.’

‘No,’ I said, ‘it’s fine. I can completely understand that you’d want to know. Given Ned’s reaction to you walking in, you’re probably thinking it was something pretty important.’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I am.’

‘Well, it was.’ I told her, gearing up to share, ‘but don’t worry. It was nothing to do with your job or Liam’s, if that’s what’s playing on your mind.’

I don’t know why, but I couldn’t bring myself to say anything further. It was the ideal time and should have been, given the set-up and how much I wanted it to happen, the easiest thing in the world to explain, but I just couldn’t do it.

‘Thank goodness for that,’ said Maya, wilting with relief. ‘Now Ned and I are finally getting somewhere, I’d hate it if I couldn’t work with him.’

‘You’ve no worries there,’ I told her. ‘With David about to retire, you’re needed more than ever.’

‘Phew,’ she grinned, wiping imaginary sweat from her smooth brow.

‘And thanks for the thought,’ I quickly added, ‘but you needn’t worry about finding someone for me to spend Christmas with either. I’m very happily single right now.’

‘How about a winter warmer?’ she giggled. ‘A festive fling?’

‘No thanks,’ I breezily said. ‘I’m good.’

‘Sure?’ she wheedled.

She sounded disappointed and I hoped she hadn’t already got someone in mind.

‘One hundred and ten per cent.’

‘Oh well,’ she shrugged, ‘in that case, I’d better get back to work.’

She handed me her mug and stood up.

‘Oh, but before I go, I have a favour to ask,’ she said, sitting back down again. ‘I can’t believe I almost forgot.’

‘What is it?’

‘Well,’ she said, ‘I really wanted to go with Ned to Wynbridge tomorrow.’

‘To Wynbridge?’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘You know, that place in the Fens. It’s their Christmas tree auction this weekend and we supply a lot of the trees. Ned usually goes on his own to deliver them, but a couple of weeks ago he said that this year we could make the trip together.’

‘Well, that’s all right then, isn’t it?’ I shrugged. ‘If he’s already suggested it…’

‘It was all right,’ she cut in, ‘but now he’s changed his mind. He says he needs someone here he can rely on and who knows the rental system.’

‘I’m sure David’s au fait with it all, isn’t he?’

‘He is,’ she agreed, ‘but ideally there should be more than one person working on site. There’ll be the cut trees to sell as well as some potted ones to book out and I was wondering if you might be able to help out. If you worked with David for the day, then Ned couldn’t have any objection to me going with him.’

I was cross with Ned. I’d made it more than clear that if he and David needed help, then they only had to ask. I had been planning to leave, but I wouldn’t even consider it now. I wasn’t going to let Ned’s mood drive me away. I would stick it out, whatever the cost.

‘Don’t you worry,’ I told Maya, thinking that a day away from Wynter’s Trees could only serve to push her and Ned closer together. ‘I’ll sort it. I’m more than happy to help out.’

‘Really?’ she squeaked. ‘You’re sure you don’t mind?’

‘Of course not,’ I insisted. ‘Ned only had to ask.’

‘Really?’

‘Really. You’ll get your trip out. Even if it is going to be a bit of a busman’s holiday.’

‘Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!’ she beamed.

‘In fact,’ I said, standing up, ‘I’ll go and sort it out right now.’

Maya was keen for me to tell Ned what we’d decided and we left the lodge together. She peeled off into the barn, having bestowed more heartfelt thanks, and I, following the sound of the chainsaw, carried on to the plantation. My ankle barely protested, which was a relief because if I was going to ensure Maya got her day away with Ned, then I was going to be standing on it all of the next day.

‘Hello Liza,’ said David, as I approached the line of trees that he and Ned were working their way through.

Every day Ned was felling a few, in a variety of sizes, to cater for those visitors who wanted a cut tree without the walk through the plantation or who simply didn’t have time to browse. The felled selection was displayed in the yard and once a tree was chosen, it was then netted, paid for and driven away.

In spite of Dad’s efforts to educate me, I hadn’t given it much thought before, but since returning I had and I vastly preferred the fate of those trees growing in pots. Playing a part in the seasonal celebrations with the same family, potentially for years, was very special indeed. It turned out Dad did have a point and an important one. Not only did his vision make sense for the environment, it created a much-loved tradition too.

‘Hi, David,’ I called back. ‘I need to talk to Ned. Has he nearly finished? I don’t want to disturb him, if he’s on a roll.’

Given his recent mood, I wouldn’t dare.

‘He’s got a few more to do, but his arms could probably do with a break,’ David told me. ‘He’s felled a quite a lot this morning, ready to take to Wynbridge tomorrow.’

‘Yes,’ I nodded. ‘I know all about that now. Maya’s just been telling me.’

‘We aren’t the only supplier for the auction,’ said David, his voice lowering as Ned turned off the chainsaw and peace was restored, ‘but a lot come from us.’

‘What’s up?’ called Ned, first lifting the chainsaw visor, then one ear defender and then the other.

I couldn’t help thinking he looked rather good in all the gear. The Kevlar reinforced trousers, jacket and gloves bulked out his already sizeable frame, and the steel toe-capped boots made him look even taller. Rugged, rough and ready was the description that sprang to mind before I had the chance to fend it off.

‘What is it?’ he asked, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.

‘I want to ask you something.’ I said, fending the fantasy image off.

He opened his mouth to say something, most likely, ‘You’ll have to wait,’ but David stepped in.

‘Your timing couldn’t be better, Liza,’ he smiled. ‘I was just about to take the truck back to the yard and start offloading these trees, wasn’t I, Ned?’

Ned glowered at his father, who jumped into the cab with an agility that in no way matched his advancing years, and set off.

‘What is it?’ Ned fired at me again.

‘Your trip to Wynbridge tomorrow,’ I shot back, coming straight to the point.

‘What about it?’

‘Maya was under the impression that she was going with you,’ I told him, ‘but now she thinks you’ve changed your mind and you’re going to leave her behind.’

‘I have,’ he shrugged. ‘I am.’

‘But she’d really like to go and I think it would be good for her to see how that side of the business works.’

Ned shook his head.

‘Given what’s in the offing, don’t you think it’s important that she has as much knowledge and experience as possible?’

‘And I suppose you told her what’s in the offing,’ he snapped.

‘No,’ I said, lifting my chin. ‘I didn’t actually.’

He looked as surprised as I had been when I let the opportunity to tell her pass.

‘Why not?’ he frowned.

‘It doesn’t matter,’ I said.

Truth be told, I didn’t know why.

‘Let’s just focus on tomorrow,’ I carried on. ‘Surely, it would be useful for another member of staff to have some first-hand experience of how the run to Wynbridge works, wouldn’t it?’

I didn’t add that Maya was looking forward to spending the day with him off-site. Surely, he couldn’t be so dense that he hadn’t worked that out for himself.

‘Yes,’ he said, ‘it would be great, but taking her would leave us too short staffed here.’

‘But I think…’

‘For fuck’s sake, Liza,’ he bit back, roughly pulling the helmet off and dumping it on the ground along with the chainsaw. ‘What you think is irrelevant. How Wynter’s Trees works and who knows what about it, is no concern of yours now, is it?’

Tears stung my eyes as his words hit their mark, but I refused to let them fall.

‘Perhaps not,’ I snapped back, ‘but you know full well that I’ve offered to assist wherever and whenever I can. I don’t understand why you’re carrying on as if I won’t help.’

‘Because I can’t allow myself to start relying on you!’ he yelled.

‘Not just for one day?’ I shouted back.

‘Not for a single hour.’

‘But that’s absurd.’

‘It is what it is,’ he shrugged.

‘I don’t understand…’

‘I know you don’t,’ he cut in. ‘But I’m not going to spell it out for you.’

He snatched the helmet back up and shoved it on his head, snapping both ear defenders and the visor into place, before firing the chainsaw up again.

‘Maya stays here tomorrow!’ he shouted over the din. ‘End of.’

I threw up my hands and walked away.

I don’t know what happened between me walking out of the plantation and six o’clock the following morning, but I awoke to the sound of the truck and trailer rattling down the drive, Bandit’s distant bark and the tinkle of Maya’s melodious laugh as she locked the gate. There was a note on the kitchen counter when I went downstairs.

Dad said I had to take Maya.

He’s coming in early. We’ll be back by 8pm.

I screwed it up and threw it in the bin, refusing to let its succinctness further rattle me, before pummelling my skin under the shower and heading out into the crisp, frosty air.

The morning got off to a slow start, which gave me the chance to catch up with everyone in the beach huts. I found Sue replenishing her stock of festive bunting.

‘I’m selling it as fast as I can sew it,’ she happily told me. ‘Not that I’m complaining. But what’s up with you? You’ve got a face like a smacked…’

‘Nothing,’ I brightly said. ‘I’m all right.’

She eyed me beadily. ‘What time did the dynamic duo set off?’ she asked, with a nod to the drive.

I wondered if it was a coincidence that she’d leapt straight from asking if anything was wrong with me to Ned and Maya’s big day out. I hoped it was a coincidence.

‘Six,’ I told her. ‘I heard them leaving at six.’

‘He’s another one with a puss on this week,’ she observed. ‘That wouldn’t be anything to do with you, would it?’

Since I’d passed up the opportunity to tell Maya what was afoot, I hadn’t felt further inclined to tell anyone. However, I hadn’t dissected my change of heart in too minute detail. The only obvious reason I could think of, which was quite something considering we weren’t really talking, was that I was keeping quiet for Ned’s benefit. There couldn’t be any other explanation.

‘Hey, hey,’ came an excited voice behind me. ‘Check me out.’

‘Abbie!’ I gasped, watching her nimbly negotiate the path on crutches.

‘Oh, good grief,’ winced Sue. ‘Please be careful,’

I knew David had gritted the paths, but I didn’t think the conditions were the best for Abbie to try out her relearned walking skills, even though it was a thrill to see her out of her wheelchair for the first time.

‘That’s exactly what I said,’ said Noah, bustling up behind her. ‘But she wouldn’t be told.’

With a frown knitting his brows and his hair all over the place, he looked totally stressed. Not at all his usual carefree and charismatic self.

‘Don’t worry,’ Abbie puffed, as she stepped into Sue’s hut. ‘I’m done.’

‘Here,’ said Sue, shoving her chair under Abbie’s bottom. ‘Park yourself in this.’

Abbie sank gratefully into the seat, her face a picture.

‘Twelve steps,’ she beamed. ‘Progress.’

‘On thinly covered ice,’ tutted Noah. ‘I call it a death wish.’

‘Hey Usain,’ shouted Theo, from the yard. ‘I couldn’t keep up with you.’

Abbie rolled her eyes, but still looked every bit as happy.

‘Next stop, the ten metres in a hundred minutes,’ she quipped. ‘What have you got there?’ she then asked Theo who was carrying a large cardboard box.

‘More jugs,’ he told her. ‘The Christmas ones, with the hand-painted holly and berries.’

‘Oh good,’ said Abbie. ‘I saw you’d sold out again and I wanted one for my mum and another for my sister.’

‘Great,’ laughed Theo. ‘Two sales before I’ve even opened.’

‘Is Wren with you?’ I asked, looking over his shoulder.

‘Er, no,’ he said. ‘Not today. She was feeling a bit off colour, so she thought she’d leave running the hut to me today.’

‘Again?’ frowned Sue. ‘That’s the second time she’s felt off in a week.’

‘I know,’ said Theo, with a shrug, ‘something obviously hasn’t agreed with her.’

The morning had started off quietly enough, but during the afternoon, the car park began to fill and I was surprised by the number of visitors.

‘Is it usually like this on a Thursday?’ I asked David, who was helping me until I got the hang of netting the trees.

I was quite a dab hand already, but nowhere near as fast as Liam. He clearly had the knack and could already feed the trees through far faster than I ever would.

‘From now until Christmas it is,’ David puffed, as we slid a huge tree through the machine, then balanced it back in the sleigh that the couple buying it had called into action.

‘Thanks,’ grinned the man, while the woman next to him wrestled extremely excited toddler twins back into their buggy. ‘We can manage from here.’

The woman, his partner I guessed, didn’t look at all inclined to agree and I smiled.

‘Our grandchildren,’ she explained. ‘We look after them while my daughter works.’

The snowsuit-padded pair were clutching Wynter’s Trees stockings, so I knew they’d already paid a visit to Santa and were now in raptures over the tree, although, given their age, I wasn’t sure they appreciated its significance.

‘How lovely,’ I said, but I bet it wasn’t. Not all of the time anyway. ‘Merry Christmas,’ I added as they walked away. ‘It isn’t too early to say that, is it?’ I asked David.

‘It’s never too early here,’ he beamed. ‘Now here’s a couple who have come to collect their potted tree. Come on,’ he nudged, ‘put the barrier around the netting machine and I’ll show you how the system works. Cass! Tony!’ he called. ‘How wonderful to see you.’

As I watched him greet them, I realised that this was exactly what Wynter’s Trees was all about – the personal touch. Adult customers were remembered, their growing offspring admired and their beloved trees cosseted and kept safe.

It was all part of the special service Dad had strived to provide and I felt an unusual swell of pride in my chest as I realised that he might not have had the opportunity to enjoy it for long, but he had achieved exactly what he had set out to all those years ago. It turned out that following his heart had worked out pretty well, for him at least.

David and I were still in the office when Ned and Maya arrived back, tidying up after a brisk afternoon’s trading. Chelsea had kindly dropped off and driven back out to pick up Liam after his first ever after-school stint. He’d proved to be as indispensable as ever and had been brimming with more than his usual level of excitement because of some secret presents he’d come up with for everyone.

Ned and Maya were animatedly chatting when they walked in, but their voices quickly trailed off. I calculated they’d just about made it as far as the suspended ball of mistletoe before silence reigned; however, their goodbye must have been brief, because Ned appeared in the office doorway ruddy-cheeked and windswept almost before I had worked the equation out.

‘You’re back!’ said David, even though I knew he had heard them come in when I did. ‘How did it go? Where’s Maya?’

‘She’s gone home,’ said Ned, looking happier than he had been all week. ‘She’s pretty tired, having driven all the way back. The whole day was wonderful though. They took the lot. It’s going to be a bumper auction for Wynbridge this weekend and the chap from the council was thrilled with the tree for the market square.’

As well as donating a tree for the green in Wynmouth, I knew that another had been given to Wynbridge and a third to a winter garden in Norwich. It was good to know that Dad’s philanthropic spirit lived on.

‘And what about the Wynthorpe Hall trees?’ David asked. ‘You dropped those off too, didn’t you?’

‘Yes,’ said Ned, picking up the day’s bundle of receipts, before glancing at the computer screen his father was updating. ‘All good there too. I reckon Angus’s festive spirit could have given Nicholas Wynter’s a run for its money.’

No matter how keen this Angus was on Christmas, I’d have still put my money on Dad winning the race.

‘And what about here?’ Ned asked, throwing a look in my direction. ‘No hiccups?’

‘Everything ran like clockwork,’ I told him. ‘Like I said before, it’s a great system you’ve got set up.’

Ned inclined his head, but carried on flicking through the receipts and when I remembered the terse note he’d left, I wished I hadn’t praised his failproof planning.

‘I got Liza working on the netting machine,’ David enthusiastically said. ‘She’s quite the expert now.’

‘A skill that will no doubt come in handy when she has absolutely no connection to Wynter’s Trees in the future,’ Ned muttered under his breath.

‘Ned,’ David warningly said.

I felt my face turn red.

‘Sorry,’ said Ned, but he didn’t sound particularly contrite.

‘We thought it might be handy for me to know, in case Liam needed a hand at the weekend, didn’t we?’ I smiled for David’s benefit, rather than Ned’s. ‘I think I’ll head back to the lodge now. Night, David. Thanks for today, I really enjoyed it.’

It came as a surprise, but I really had. The day had flown by and it had been both fun and informative.

‘You were a great help,’ David kindly said.

‘Before you go,’ said Ned. ‘I want to tell you both something I heard about this place from the owner of Wynthorpe Hall.’

‘That’s Catherine Connelly, isn’t it?’ David asked.

Why did that name ring a bell?

‘Yes,’ said Ned, ‘that’s her. She said she and her son had visited a few days ago and she’d lost her wallet.’

‘A Chanel one,’ I said, suddenly remembering.

‘That’s right,’ said Ned. ‘She was relieved to get it back and most impressed with Liam. She said the lad was a credit to the place.’

‘He’s a credit to himself,’ I said, feeling proud on Liam’s behalf. ‘I bet you’re pleased I offered him a job now, aren’t you?’

I slipped out before he had time to reply.