Underneath the Christmas Tree

As I lay in bed that night my mind was awash with a million thoughts, many of which would never have existed had I not given in to David’s pleading and made my way back to Wynter’s Trees. Along with the turmoil I still felt every time I relived Ned’s goodnight kiss, I was also perturbed to find there were also stirrings of what could only be described as softening feelings for my former home. It was all very disconcerting.

I tossed and turned, thumping the pillows into a hopefully more sleep-inducing shape and felt grateful that I’d had the sense to announce my desire to sell up so soon after my arrival. Had I delayed, my memories of stargazing, the presence of the family tree, my work on the mural and creative sign making, could have led me down a very different path, in spite of what I’d told Ned earlier. I squeezed my eyes shut and eventually drifted into an uneasy sleep and a night of unsettling dreams which all involved me, him and a reindeer skin rug.

Neither Ned nor Bandit were in the lodge when I went down to breakfast, feeling both groggy and guilty about the steamy dream. Ned’s barely warm mug and damp towel and Bandit’s empty food bowl, suggested they’d already had a run and headed over to the office. I was grateful for the peace and quiet and lingered over my breakfast, reliving certain moments from my sexy slumber, even though they really should have been banned before the watershed.

Finally ready to face the day, I switched Dad’s coat for my better fitting and cleaner Barbour, which I had previously left behind. There was a 4×4 I didn’t recognise parked in the yard, but I soon worked out it belonged to the person laughing in the barn.

‘If you want them back, then you’ll just have to come and get them, won’t you?’ crooned a seductive female voice.

The words were followed by a mischievous giggle. There was a brief silence and then Ned answered. To my ears, he sounded every bit as amused as his as yet unidentified companion.

‘I’m hardly going to do that if you only keep letting me catch you when you’re positioned under the mistletoe, am I?’ he said.

I could tell me was smiling and my heart gave a slow and heavy thud in response.

‘I don’t see why not,’ the woman purred. ‘It didn’t stop you last year, did it?’

‘That was a one-off,’ said Ned. ‘And you took advantage. You knew I’d had too much to drink.’

My heart beat faster and I wondered if Ned only made a habit of kissing women when he’d had a skinful. If that was the case, then I’d really made too much of his inebriated embrace and determinedly pushed the now tainted memory of it away.

‘If you say so,’ came the woman’s voice again and I rushed to rattle the barn door before walking in.

Bandit gave a gruff bark then, realising it was me, bounded over. I bent to fuss him, putting the moment of looking at the owner of the flirtatious voice briefly off. I might not have seen her yet, but I couldn’t miss the huge ball of mistletoe which had been lashed to the office ceiling and which definitely hadn’t been there the day before.

‘Liza,’ said Ned. ‘I didn’t realise you were about.’

‘I’ve just come over from the lodge,’ I told him, noticing his face was flushed.

‘Come and meet Maya,’ he said, stepping aside to reveal the woman standing next to him.

She was incredibly pretty and in her early twenties. Her dark blonde hair was swept into a high ponytail and her face, free of make-up, had a healthy outdoor glow. She was much taller than me and, as so often when faced with tall and attractive women, I felt immediately inadequate.

‘Liza,’ she beamed, tossing a bunch of keys at Ned before reaching for my hand and pumping it up and down. ‘I’m so pleased to meet you at last!’

I was totally taken aback. Her welcome was both warm and genuine and not at all what I would have expected, given that I’d just interrupted her sultry seduction.

‘I’m here to help with the trees,’ she beamed, looking thrilled at the prospect. ‘And I’m totally in love with this place. Always have been! Aren’t the beach huts amazing?’

She let go of my hand and stared down at me.

‘Um… yes,’ I stammered. ‘They are.’

‘Sorry,’ she laughed, when she realised I was feeling dazed. ‘I tend to talk too much.’

‘You certainly do,’ said Ned, earning himself a playful thump on the arm.

‘Are you here to work?’ I asked. ‘It’s rather early.’

‘Oh, I’m used to dark starts,’ she told me, with a wave of her hand. ‘My family own a farm up the road, so this is more mid-morning to me.’

‘Right,’ I nodded. ‘I see.’

‘We’re going through the order book today,’ said Ned, ‘and looking over the biggest potted trees. Maya’s become quite an expert in tree health over the last couple of years.’

‘Ah, thanks Ned,’ she said, giving him a gentler nudge. ‘There’s not much for me to do on the family farm at this time of year,’ she then told me. ‘So, I work here instead and I absolutely love it.’

‘You’ve already said that,’ teased Ned.

‘Have I?’ she frowned. ‘Sorry, I’m a bit starstruck.’

‘Starstruck?’ Ned frowned.

‘Yes,’ she said, gazing at me. ‘I’ve told you a million times how much this place meant to me was when I was growing up, Ned, and now I get to work alongside Liza Wynter herself.’

Ned rolled his eyes. ‘That’s me out of favour then,’ he sighed.

‘Please don’t say that,’ I told Maya, turning warm under her scrutiny. I was bound to be found wanting. ‘There’s really nothing special about me.’

Maya shook her head in disbelief. She wouldn’t hear a word of it and I couldn’t help but smile. In the few minutes since I’d met her, she’d made me feel far less inadequate than I had when I walked in. I appreciated that, even when her next words took me by surprise.

‘You told me she was pretty, Ned,’ she said in a very loud whisper, ‘but you never mentioned that she was self-effacing, too.’

‘Oh Maya,’ Ned groaned, turning crimson, which made me feel even better. ‘You’re incorrigible. Go and do some bloody work.’

‘But what about the…’ she said, her eyes flicking to the ceiling and the big ball of mistletoe. ‘I had to wrestle that into my truck this morning, don’t I even get a peck on the cheek as reward?’

Maya was bold as well as incorrigible and she had the ability to make Ned’s smile stretch far wider than I had ever seen it. As good as she had made me feel about myself, I realised I was a little jealous of her. She was beautiful, totally in love with Wynter’s, an expert in the business and, judging by the look on her face, rather smitten with Ned. Looking at the pair of them standing side by side, I could see they would make the perfect couple.

‘No, you don’t,’ tutted Ned, taking a step away from the mistletoe. ‘Bugger off and make yourself useful in the yard for a bit while I get the books out.’

‘There!’ she grinned at me. ‘Listen to the way he talks to your employees, Liza. I see a disciplinary in your future, if you’re not careful, Edward.’

Ned shook his head.

‘I can help with the trees too, if you like,’ I piped up, even though I had no desire to head out into the chilly plantation. ‘Many hands and all that.’

‘No, it’s all right,’ said Ned, opening the filing cabinet. ‘We’ve got a system in place and the job won’t take long once we get going. I’m sure you’ve got other things to do to keep you occupied.’

I should have been grateful that Ned had someone so competent to work alongside him, especially as after Christmas he was potentially going to be in sole charge, but I would have much preferred it if his colleague was someone less attractive. I had absolutely no right to think it, but that was how I felt.

In spite of my twinge of unjustified jealousy, Maya’s constant and cheery presence, combined with the overheard conversation about Ned kissing her when he was drunk, did have one positive benefit. It very effectively put the lid on me mooning over memories of our kiss and the explicit reindeer rug fantasies.

Her timely arrival turned my thoughts back to my travel and business plans, but there was an unsettling feeling in the back of my mind, that neither felt quite as all-consuming as they had before. I still had every intention of pushing ahead with both, but while I was at Wynter’s Trees, and with Ned still to make a formal offer for my shares, they felt further out of reach than they had before.

‘You all right, my love?’ Sue asked towards the end of the week, when I was doing the tea round in the huts. ‘You’ve been looking a bit glum the last few days.’

There had been a consistently steady flow of shoppers to the beach huts and it was obvious that Ned’s offer to set them up at Wynter’s Trees had been the right one. Many of the people I spoke to had travelled further than before and with the added benefit of Hope and Sophie serving food and drink, they were staying longer and consequently spending more too.

With this in mind, I knew I should have been on cloud nine, but I felt as though I’d come up against a brick wall. My creative mojo had taken flight again, I couldn’t bring myself to start sorting out the lodge and Maya’s laughter seemed to follow me everywhere. I should have been grateful that she had an uncanny knack of stepping between Ned and me, and maintaining the distance between us that I had been aiming to achieve, but even that was beginning to bring me down.

‘I’m just feeling a bit flat,’ I told Sue, with a shrug.

I wished I could have explained what was really going on in my world and talked it all out with her, but Ned had told me he still wasn’t ready. Consequently, I was beginning to feel weighed down by the battle of conflicting feelings which were building within me and which I had to keep to myself.

Sue eyed me over the top of the cushion she was sewing. ‘Why’s that then?’ she asked. ‘I thought you were finally feeling excited to be here. You positively threw yourself into repainting the grotto, so I assumed you were settled and enjoying getting stuck in.’

‘I was,’ I said, my voice thick in my throat, because it wasn’t the whole truth. ‘I am.’

‘I know you weren’t happy when you were growing up here,’ she said, ‘but you’ve seemed quite content these last couple of weeks.’

It felt so devious, stringing everyone along. My apparent contentment had grown from me feeling safe in the knowledge that I would soon be leaving for good, and that was deceptive enough in itself, but now, on top of that, lots of other things felt like they were getting muddled too. I would have to talk to Ned again and insist we set the record straight.

‘Or you did,’ Sue carried on, when I didn’t say anything, ‘until a certain someone came back to work.’

I followed her gaze into the yard where Maya was striding out, her long slender legs carrying her along and her glossy ponytail jauntily swinging.

‘It’s not Maya,’ I hastily said.

‘Hmm,’ Sue sniffed.

‘I’m thrilled she’s here,’ I insisted. ‘She’s a great help to Ned.’

I watched as she disappeared into the barn. I knew Ned was working in the office and wondered if she was about to succeed in cornering him under the mistletoe.

‘He’s going to need all the help he can get now David’s retiring,’ I inadvertently said.

‘He’s got you, hasn’t he?’ Sue frowned.

‘Well, yes,’ I swallowed. ‘But you know what I mean. Maya’s proper help, isn’t she?’

I backed out of the door before she could answer.

‘I better go and give Bandit his lunch,’ I said. ‘I promised Ned I would as he’s so busy.’

I eagerly accepted Wren’s invitation to go to the pub on Saturday night and as she had already arranged to meet Abbie, I didn’t feel obliged to ask Ned. A girl’s night out, was just what I needed, even if it was only for a quiet drink in the local.

‘If you want to have a drink,’ Wren kindly offered, when I arrived, ‘you can leave your car in the village and I’ll drive you home. I’m sticking to Coke tonight.’

‘Whereas I look as though I need of shot a rum with mine, do I?’ I laughed.

‘No,’ said Wren.

‘Yes,’ said Abbie and we all laughed.

‘Thanks for the offer,’ I said to Wren, ‘but I’m not fussed.’

Given what had happened to Dad, I never touched a drop of alcohol before getting behind the wheel.

‘So,’ I said, ‘where are Theo and Noah tonight? You mentioned they had plans, Abbie.’

‘They’re at a stag do in Norwich,’ she told me, rolling her eyes. ‘Noah’s brother is getting married and he insisted Noah went to the party. He’s taken his partner, Michael, with him, but as neither were keen, they roped Theo in on the assumption that he would have more experience.’

I didn’t know about his partner, but from what I knew of Noah I could guess that a stag night in the city wasn’t his cup of tea.

‘Which he hasn’t,’ Wren laughed. ‘But he’s tagged along to lend some moral support.’

‘It’s really not Noah’s sort of thing, is it?’ I asked.

‘Really, really not,’ said Abbie. ‘He and Michael have been dreading it for weeks.’

‘Bless them,’ I sympathised. ‘It’s not a good feeling getting cajoled into doing something you’d rather not, is it?’

I was thinking of David talking me into coming back to Wynmouth, but obviously couldn’t say as much.

‘I used to get roped into doing all sorts of crazy things at school,’ I said instead. ‘The sponsored Go Ape Treetop Challenge was the worst.’

‘Oh god,’ Wren shuddered. ‘I’m rubbish with heights.’

‘So am I!’ I told her. ‘That’s why it was the worst.’

They couldn’t help but giggle as I told them about how much fun the students had had at my terrified expense.

‘My legs were trembling for weeks,’ I finished up, which was no exaggeration.

‘You should set something like that up at Wynter’s,’ Abbie mused.

‘Not possible,’ I told her, feeling relieved even though it wouldn’t have impacted on me. ‘Wrong sort of trees and anyway, Ned’s got enough on his plate without worrying about the health and safety aspect of a venture like that.’

‘That’s true,’ Abbie agreed.

‘But at least he’s got you to share the load now David’s retiring, Liza.’ Wren pointed out.

‘Oh,’ I said. ‘He doesn’t need me. He’s more than capable of managing on his own.’

‘And he’s gorgeous to boot,’ Wren giggled.

I had no idea what that had to do with his business skills.

‘Wren!’ said Abbie, shaking her head. ‘You’re practically a married woman.’

‘With twenty twenty vision,’ she laughed. ‘I might be head over heels for Theo, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t got eyes in my head. Ned’s a hunk and a half.’

‘He is a dreamboat,’ smiled Abbie, staring off into the middle distance. ‘And us three aren’t the only ones who think so, are we?’

I didn’t think it was worth pointing out that I hadn’t offered an opinion.

‘Are you talking about Maya?’ I asked.

‘Who else?’ smiled Abbie.

‘I’m not so sure,’ frowned Wren. ‘You know what she’s like. She flirts with everyone!’

‘They would make the perfect couple though, wouldn’t they?’ I sighed. ‘I bet tree sales go through the roof when Maya’s front of house.’

‘No way,’ said Abbie. ‘Not this year anyway. Folk round here are more excited about seeing a Wynter front and centre than Maya’s pretty face. You might not be aware of it, Liza, but your return to Wynter’s Trees has caused quite a stir.’

I hadn’t heard that myself, but it made me feel even worse about keeping my secret. Not only was I going to upset the beach hut crew, I was going to let down the entire population of Wynmouth too.

‘Well, I don’t know about that,’ I said, ‘but you can’t tell me that having someone around who looks as good as Maya isn’t good for business.’

‘No,’ conceded Wren. ‘Perhaps not.’

‘And she’s such a lovely person too,’ Abbie added. ‘She stepped straight in after I’d had my accident, offering to help with my horse. She exercises him and has him stabled on her family farm. I probably wouldn’t have been able to keep him had she not been around.’

‘She’s the whole package all right,’ I said, as a lightbulb moment landed.

Ever since I’d overheard Ned telling David that he was scared he wouldn’t be up to the task of running Wynter’s Trees on his own, I’d been looking for ways to boost Ned’s confidence. Momentarily blinded by my misplaced jealousy of Maya, I hadn’t been able to see the solution which was literally towering over me.

‘And I don’t know about you two,’ I said, ‘but I think we should help Maya get Ned under the mistletoe before Christmas.’

My new friends didn’t look so sure.

‘Come on,’ I encouraged. ‘They’re made for each other. All they need is a bit of coaxing.’

‘I think it’ll take more than that,’ said Wren.

‘On Ned’s side anyway,’ added Abbie.

‘Rubbish,’ I loudly said, banging my glass on the table. ‘Ned and Little Miss Perfect, are a match made in heaven!’

‘Pipe down,’ said Wren, tugging at my sleeve as out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Maya striding across the bar and out the door.

‘Bugger,’ I said as Abbie and Wren shook their heads. ‘Do you think she heard me?’

‘Call her Little Miss Perfect?’ frowned Abbie. ‘Er, yeah, I think she might have done.’

‘But I wasn’t being mean,’ I hastily pointed out.

‘We know that,’ said Wren, ‘but I daresay she didn’t catch the whole conversation, did she?’

‘Damn,’ I sighed.

We were still in the pub when Sam called time and Tess began clearing the tables. I had put off driving back to the lodge in case Maya had already told Ned her version of what she thought she’d heard. The fact that he was still up and looking grumpy when I slipped through the door warned me that that was exactly what had happened.

‘I’ve had Maya on the phone,’ he gruffly said before I’d even got my coat off.

‘Look, Ned,’ I said. ‘I can explain…’

‘She seemed to think that you, Wren and Abbie were talking about her in the pub,’ he interrupted. ‘You weren’t bitching about her, were you?’

‘No,’ I hotly said. ‘Of course not.’

‘That’s what I told her…’

‘Although,’ I cut in.

‘Although what?’

‘Although, I did say something that she might have taken the wrong way.’

‘Oh?’

‘I called her Little Miss Perfect,’ I said, feeling a total fool. ‘But not in a mean way,’ I quickly added. ‘Just because she is.’

Ned looked at me and quirked an eyebrow. ‘You think Maya’s perfect?’

‘Well, duh. Don’t you?’

‘Perfect for Wynter’s Trees, you mean?’

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘She’s total employee of the month material.’

‘Well, yes,’ he said. ‘I suppose she is.’

I let out a long breath. I was off the hook.

‘But she heard my name mentioned too,’ said Ned, immediately catching me again.

‘I just said that the pair of you work well together,’ I told him.

There was no way I was going to explain my matchmaking mission. Given that Ned had, albeit drunkenly, told me he fancied me, I didn’t think he’d appreciate my efforts to fix him up with someone else.

‘You didn’t happen to mention that you were hoping to sell up as well, did you?’

‘No,’ I said. ‘Of course not. I promised I wouldn’t and I haven’t told anyone.’

Ned ran his hands through his hair and I noticed how tired he looked. Even though he had broached the subject, I knew it wasn’t the moment to tell him how difficult I was finding it to not say anything and how guilty I was feeling about misleading everyone.

‘I’ll explain to Maya,’ I said. ‘I should have gone after her when she left the pub.’

‘It would be good to clear the air.’ Ned sighed. ‘I want to make your last few weeks connected to Wynter’s Trees good ones, so the last thing we need are misunderstandings among the team.’

I appreciated that he could acknowledge that this Christmas was to be my last, but his insistence that we keep my plans quiet was going to be the cause of the biggest misunderstanding of all.

‘I know it must be hard for you,’ he then kindly said, ‘being back here properly for the first time since you lost your dad, but I want to give you a Christmas he would be proud of, Liza.’

‘That means a lot,’ I whispered, emotion suddenly outweighing annoyance, as I turned towards the stairs and away from that look in his eye. ‘Dad would appreciate that,’ I swallowed, ‘and so do I.’