Underneath the Christmas Tree

Wednesday was an exciting blur as last-minute shoppers descended in droves, the butcher delivered the goose, pies and other meat Ned had ordered, and then in the afternoon a huge grocery shop destined for the lodge arrived too.

I knew that Ned and David had planned to have Christmas lunch together, but the fridge and cupboards were fit to burst with enough supplies to see us through the whole of January and when Ned arrived back from the meeting to cancel his loan with the bank, I pointed that out and he explained that was the idea.

‘I’m going into hibernation,’ he told me, looking proudly at the vastly stocked kitchen. ‘After the rented trees are back in the plantation and checked, Wynter’s will be closed and I’m planning to do absolutely nothing from then until February the first.’

‘I see,’ I smiled.

‘You will be joining me, won’t you?’ he temptingly asked.

‘You know,’ I purred, ‘I think I will. I can sort out arrangements for my flat and book my training while you’re checking the trees and then we can hunker down. It will be the perfect time to get our plans for next season in place, won’t it?’

Ned rolled his eyes.

‘Crikey!’ he laughed. ‘You’ve changed your tune! You’ve gone from not wanting to think about the place at all, to not being able to stop going on about it.’

‘Well,’ I said, pretending to pout, ‘that’s your fault, isn’t it? And I thought it was what you wanted.’

‘Oh, it is,’ he said, pulling me close and lightly brushing his lips against mine. ‘It very definitely is.’

‘Stop complaining then,’ I told him, kissing him back. ‘And maybe during our hibernation we can start properly planning our holiday too.’

I’d broached the idea that Ned and I could travel to see the northern lights together and he was looking forward to it as much as I was. David had said that as long as we went before he left to meet his sister, he’d keep an eye on the place, and further told me that he knew it was a trip Dad had always wanted to make too. Knowing that made the prospective adventure feel even more special.

When Christmas Eve dawned, I was thrilled to discover it brought with it a formerly familiar feeling which coursed through my veins and made my heart thump. The old childlike excitement had landed in full force and I was delighted to embrace it. It was an emotion I recognised, but hadn’t experienced since Mum had died, and when I opened the curtains it was cranked up even further.

‘My goodness!’ I gasped, as my eyes took in the surprising scene.

‘What is it?’ Ned asked sleepily, turning over in the bed.

‘When you disappeared after your trip to the bank,’ I laughed.

‘Yes?’ he said, suddenly wide awake.

‘It wasn’t to order a snow machine, by any chance, was it?’

‘Funnily enough, no,’ he yawned, ‘but I have been wondering if it might be fun to have one next year for the late-night events. I’m going to try and find out if an eco-friendly model exists.’

I rolled my eyes. Trust festive loving Ned to take my question seriously.

‘In that case,’ I said, pushing the curtains further back along the pole, ‘I’m guessing this must be the real stuff!’

Ned, suddenly wide awake, jumped out of bed and joined me at the window.

‘No way,’ he breathed. ‘I don’t believe it. We hardly ever get snow here and certainly not this amount.’

‘I know,’ I laughed. ‘I used to live here, remember!’

Plump flakes were steadily falling and there was already enough of a covering to have transformed Wynter’s Trees into a winter wonderland. Ned threw open the window, which swept the snow from the sill. It landed with a soft thud on the veranda roof below. There wasn’t a breath of wind and everything was silent. Even the birds seemed to be in shock.

‘Come on,’ said Ned, pulling the window shut again. ‘Let’s get dressed and get outside before it’s all gone.’

He began haphazardly pulling on his clothes. His T-shirt, I noticed, was inside out.

‘It’s not going anywhere anytime soon,’ I told him, also dressing, but at a steadier pace. ‘There’s too much of it. There’s no need to panic.’

But he wasn’t listening. He rushed along the landing to his own room for the rest of his clothes and Bandit began to bark, catching his master’s excitement.

Seconds later, and suitably attired, we ventured out. Bandit hesitated for a moment and then was off. The pristine blanket wasn’t untouched for long. He leapt and rolled, buried his nose in it and came up snorting. He had an almost wild look in his eye and Ned wasn’t much better. I’d never seen him in such a playful mood and I couldn’t have wished for a more romantic lead into Christmas.

‘Do you wanna build a snowman?’ he sang out, making me laugh.

I did and so did he, but the snow was too soft to compact, so we settled for a walk through the plantation as it began to get light and a snowball fight instead.

‘Dad never saw it like this,’ I said, when we eventually reached the family tree. ‘He would have been in his element.’

Ned took my hand and gave it a squeeze and I refused to give in to sentimentality. At least there was one Wynter who could appreciate the snowy spectacle.

‘Come on,’ I said, ‘let’s go back. I wonder if everyone will be able to get here to open their huts today?’

‘I hope so,’ said Ned. ‘Sophie’s prepared a festive feast and I’d hate to see it go to waste.’

The plan was to close the huts and the plantation at lunchtime, and then we were all going to eat together in the barn. It was both a festive celebration and a farewell to David, but with minimal fuss. Just like he’d insisted he wanted.

When we arrived back at the lodge, hungry, with flushed cheeks and damp coats, Ned opened the gate and I refilled the feeders and replenished the water bowls at the bird feeding station. Our feathered friends must have been surprised to wake and find their world so transformed and would need some extra support to make it safely through the chilly snap.

‘Now you’ve fed the birds,’ said Ned, ‘how about I make you some breakfast?’

‘Those supplies of yours are coming into their own already!’ I laughed.

Thankfully, everyone made it to the huts, although Sue hadn’t felt comfortable about driving in and with her partner at work, Theo had kindly made a detour to pick her up. There weren’t many customers who ventured out, but it was still worth opening for the final few hours of the season and with the excitement of the unexpected snowfall, there was quite a party atmosphere even before we all descended on the barn.

Sophie and Hope arrived with a huge glazed ham, along with a vegan Wellington and a variety of pickles, chutneys and cheeses and Ned and I supplied multiple baked potatoes and warm baguettes, which we had cooked in the lodge oven. We’d also brewed a festive non-alcoholic punch and there were Christmas cookies, courtesy of Hope, for afters. My mouth was watering a good hour before we were ready to eat.

It was a very jolly party that gathered around the makeshift table in the barn. Michael had driven in with Noah at the start of the day and between them they’d been able to guide Abbie safely into her hut. Her wheelchair wasn’t great in the snow and she was grateful for the no fuss help they offered. Joe had come along with this brother, Charlie, and Liam had convinced Chelsea to drive out too. The roads had been worse than she expected and Michael offered to drive her car back, if she didn’t feel up to it.

‘Thanks, Michael,’ said Liam, immediately accepting on his mum’s behalf, ‘otherwise we would have been heading straight off again.’

Once I knew Chelsea wasn’t going to be driving home, I poured her a tot of brandy. She swallowed it down in one swift gulp.

‘Thanks,’ she said, a little colour returning to her cheeks. ‘I needed that. The roads beyond the village haven’t been gritted at all. I’ve never been a nervous driver, but I didn’t enjoy that trip one little bit.’

I willingly poured her another measure, to speed her recovery along.

Maya was last to arrive and she came with a very handsome plus one.

‘This is Harry,’ she said. ‘We met at the young farmers’ years ago, and bumped into each other again in the pub after the solstice celebration.’

She looked adoringly at the golden-haired guy next to her and he looked equally smitten with her, but then who wouldn’t? I still found it hard to believe that Maya had been single for so long.

‘Hey Harry,’ everyone chorused.

‘Hi,’ he grinned back.

He wasn’t at all fazed by the sea of faces, and I guessed he recognised a lot of them. Having acknowledged the group, he strode over to Ned and handed him a bag clinking with bottles.

‘He’s back visiting family for Christmas,’ Maya whispered to me, as Harry and Ned chatted. ‘But I’m doing my utmost to persuade him to stay.’

‘In that case,’ I grinned up at her, ‘I can’t imagine he’ll be going anywhere anytime soon.’

After we had eaten and drunk our fill, it was time for some toasts, announcements and speeches. Had my life not been so utterly changed by the father and son sitting either side of me, I would have been dreading that part, but as it was, it felt like a most appropriate way to end what had turned out to be a most exciting and transformative season at Wynter’s Trees.

Ned tapped a spoon against his glass and everyone fell silent.

‘I would just like to say,’ he began, reaching for my hand, ‘a huge thank you to you all for making these last few weeks at Wynter’s Trees so wonderful and for making the beach hut project such a huge success.’

We raised our glasses and toasted everyone around the table.

‘And in turn,’ Sue quickly chimed in, ‘we’d like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to move here, Ned. We all thought the plan was going to be shelved before you stepped in.’

‘Hear, hear!’ the rest agreed.

‘It’s worked well,’ Ned smiled, ‘so well in fact, that Liza and I are going to discuss the possibility of opening the huts on further occasions throughout the year, so if you’d be interested in selling here again, please let us know before you leave today. We haven’t thrashed out the details yet, but we will soon.’

An excited whisper wove its way around the table after that announcement.

‘I’d also like to take this moment to welcome a new member to the Wynter’s Trees team,’ Ned continued and everyone stopped talking.

Chelsea gave Liam a nudge and he turned bright red.

‘He’s part of the team already,’ Ned explained, ‘but from next year, when he leaves school, he’ll be joining us here on a permanent basis.’

Everyone’s gaze turned from Ned to Liam.

‘Welcome Liam,’ said Ned, raising his glass.

This time the reaction wasn’t confined to a whisper and Liam found himself the centre of attention and the recipient of kind words, well wishes and congratulations from everyone present.

‘Thank you,’ was all he could say, but the look on his face told us all how proud he was, and that went for Chelsea too.

Ned looked at me and smiled and I shifted a little in my seat, panicked that I was next on his list, but thankfully he let me off the hook.

‘And last,’ he said, ‘but by no means least, I’d like you all to raise a glass to my dad, David.’

David shook his head.

‘I know you don’t want a fuss, Dad,’ Ned carried on, sounding choked, ‘and I have no intention of making one, but I couldn’t possibly let this opportunity go by without saying thank you. Thank you for encouraging me to come here and join you in this incredible and much-loved business that Liza’s dad established. Thank you for giving me the chance to put my plans into action and of course, the biggest thank you of all, for somehow managing to get this wonderful woman sitting next to me to come back.’

I let out a long breath, aware that everyone’s eyes were on me. So much for getting off the hook.

‘Liza,’ he said, and I felt tears prick my eyes as I looked up at him. ‘I know we’ve had a few differences of opinion these last few weeks, but Dad was determined I shouldn’t give up trying to convince you that you belong here.’

I was aware of some muttering around the table. It was hardly surprising, given that no one beyond myself, Ned and David had known I’d felt otherwise. David had already told me he’d never stopped hoping I would change my mind about selling and now I realised that the many things that Ned had had me do – replanting the tree, decorating the lodge and so on – had been his way of trying to ignite the Wynter’s Trees flame in my heart too.

‘But of course,’ he carried on, ‘I was never going to stop trying to do that, because you captured my heart the moment you arrived and I would have done everything in my power to prove to you that your future was destined to be here.’

‘Even risk hypothermia,’ I laughed.

‘Even that,’ Ned joined in.

He leant down to kiss me on the lips and a cheer went up as I willingly reciprocated.

‘So,’ Ned then said, getting his toast back on track. ‘To Dad, with love and thanks. We hope you enjoy your travels and your retirement, but not so much that we can’t tempt you out of it again next Christmas, when we need a hand!’

We all stood and raised our glasses.

‘To David,’ we chorused. ‘Happy retirement.’

We were all a little teary eyed after that, so Ned set some music playing and refilled everyone’s glasses and the emotional atmosphere was soon replaced with something far more festive. I was able to briskly gloss over the questions which came my way about what Ned had meant and no one was still any the wiser that I had originally been planning to leave and never come back.

By three o’clock, the light was fading and everyone began pulling on their coats and saying their goodbyes. I positioned myself next to the door so I could hand out the puddings I’d made, along with the few other gifts I’d picked up, and was very touched to receive presents back. I hadn’t expected that at all. It was astounding to think that I could have been in my flat, ignoring the season and not feeling anything other than lonely and sad. Not that I would have admitted to that.

Liam, bringing with him a large cardboard box, had shyly come to stand next to me and he was handing out gifts too.

‘There’s a care label in with each one,’ he explained, as he gave everyone small bowls planted with bulbs which would flower soon after Christmas. ‘This was what my nan used to do,’ he quietly told me with a wobbly smile, ‘and I thought it would be nice to carry on.’

‘Family traditions are important,’ I agreed, kissing his cheek as he gave me a bowl filled with hyacinths, the scent of which I knew would fill the lodge in a week or two.

‘They really are,’ he said, turning slightly pink.

Standing in the barn, surrounded by my new friends and with the love of my life at my elbow, I could accept that now and embrace and enjoy my own family’s traditions. I felt incredibly grateful that David had never given up on me. His determination to make me come back to Wynter’s Trees had been a very definite blessing. A life changing one.

‘Right then,’ said David, who was last to leave, ‘I’ll leave you two lovebirds to it.’

The barn had been cleared and tidied and all that was left to do was lock up.

‘Are you sure you wouldn’t rather stay?’ I suggested again. ‘I’m worried that if there’s more snow tonight, you won’t be able to get here tomorrow.’

‘Thank you for the offer,’ he said, ‘but I prefer my own bed and there’s no more of the white stuff forecast, so don’t worry.’

‘Lunch at two.’ Ned reminded him.

‘I’ll be here,’ he firmly said. ‘I take it you won’t be coming to church tonight?’ he then asked.

‘No,’ said Ned, ‘I’m not going to risk it. It’s bound to be icy again later. Unless you’d like to go, Liza?’

‘No,’ I said. ‘I don’t mind staying here. There’ll be plenty more years to attend the midnight service after this one.’

‘That there will,’ said Ned, reaching for my hand.

Hearing him confirm that caused my heart to flutter. I really was home for good.

‘I don’t blame you,’ said David. ‘Right, I’d better head off.’

‘Just let me know when you’re back, Dad,’ said Ned.

David looked at me and rolled his eyes.

‘Three rings please,’ I said, siding with Ned, as I kissed David on the cheek.

We had planned to take a walk around the reserve, but it was already too dark so after locking up the barn and the gate we headed back to the lodge instead. It was an even more magical sight in the snow.

The lights on the veranda made the snow glisten and through the windows, I could see the fire glowing and the lights from the tree twinkling. It was picture perfect and as Ned and I walked hand in hand towards it I felt a deep rush of affection for the place.

I had felt it long ago, during that time before Chelsea’s teasing had made me loathe rather than love it, but now it was back in full force. I welcomed it, knowing I would never turn my back on it again.

‘Come on,’ I said squeezing Ned’s hand, ‘let’s get inside. We can catch Carols from King’s on catch-up in lieu of going to church later.’

‘That,’ said Ned, dropping a kiss on my head, ‘is a wonderful idea.’

I was fast beginning to learn that when one opportunity didn’t work out, there was always another waiting in the wings.

David was right about the snow. No more fell overnight, but there was a dramatic drop in temperature so the scene beyond the lodge windows on Christmas morning was frozen solid and sparkling. If anything, it was even more beautiful than the day before.

I woke early. Far earlier than I had expected to and crept down the stairs, remembering to step over the one from the bottom which had always been prone to creak. Bandit had followed me down, his claws skittering on the wooden floor.

‘Merry Christmas,’ I whispered to him.

Thankfully, he didn’t bark back.

Underneath the Christmas tree looked rather different to when Ned and I had gone to bed and I wondered how long he’d waited for me to fall asleep before he came down and arranged everything. Clearly, he knew about the trick step too. Unless of course, Santa himself had managed to squeeze in a trip to Wynter’s Lodge on his whistle-stop trip around the world.

‘Look Bandit,’ I whispered. ‘Who do you suppose did that?’

The carrot we had left for the reindeer was missing and where there had been a mince pie there were just a few crumbs. The tot of whisky had gone too. I hoped it had warmed Santa’s cockles on such a cold night.

I flicked on the tree lights, all the better to show off the gifts which had been set out beneath it.

‘Couldn’t you wait just a little longer?’ said a sleepy voice, making me jump.

Ned, at the bottom of the stairs, looked seductively tousled and I rushed into his arms. He was still warm from the bed.

‘Merry Christmas, Liza,’ he said, kissing me.

‘Happy Christmas, Ned.’ I smiled back.

‘You bypassed your stocking completely,’ he pointed out, as our second Christmas kiss came to a reluctant end.

‘I was coming back up,’ I told him. ‘I just wanted to let Bandit out and make us a drink and then I was coming back to bed.’

‘You wanted to sneak a look at the presents more like,’ Ned grinned, looking down at me.

‘Perhaps,’ I admitted, sweeping my hair over my shoulder in a gesture that I knew would give me away.

‘And has he been?’ asked Ned, playing the game.

I led him over to the tree.

‘He has,’ I said. ‘Look.’

‘Wow,’ he gasped. ‘That’s quite a selection. How on earth are you going to resist?’

I took a purposeful step back.

‘Presents underneath the tree were always left until after lunch when I was growing up,’ I told him, ‘so if I could do it when I was little, I can manage it now.’

Ned shook his head. Clearly, he didn’t have much faith in my resolve.

‘Are you sure?’ he teased.

‘Of course,’ I forthrightly said, but my gaze flicked back to the pile. ‘Well,’ I caved. ‘Perhaps a peek at just one wouldn’t hurt, would it?’

‘I don’t see why not,’ he said, kneeling down for a closer look. ‘But it has to be the right one.’

He reached towards the back of the pile and pulled out a small flat present. My guess was that it was a wrapped envelope. I was intrigued as to why he’d picked that one out of the stack surrounding it.

‘How about this one?’ he suggested, holding it out. ‘If you’re going to have an early one from under the tree, then I think it should be this one.’

My heart began to hammer as he took my hand, pulled me down next to him and handed the envelope over. It weighed practically nothing, but the smile on Ned’s face told me it contained something very special indeed and I was right.

‘We’re going on an adventure!’ he burst out as I tore through the paper to find very exclusive travel documents and a luxury itinerary to see the northern lights.

‘Oh Ned!’ I gasped, as I admired the image of a glass igloo, complete with a large bed covered in reindeer rugs. ‘This is perfect. Thank you!’

‘It will be,’ he said, pulling me onto his lap. ‘Everything will be perfect now we’re together.’

He kissed me deeply and for the longest time, and there, underneath the Christmas tree, I embraced my fate and my future and a lifetime dedicated to celebrating the most wonderful time of the year.