Page 6 of The Merry Christmas Project

She wiped a hand across her brow. ‘Found out what, that he’s an arsehole ?’

I laughed despite myself. ‘No, that a wife, kids, the whole shebang is not for him.’

‘He doesn’t have the brains he was born with. I mean who in their right mind would not want to marry you ?’

‘Exactly,’ I said staunchly. ‘He’ll probably never get a better offer.’

‘Unless,’ she added with a glint in her eye, ‘do you think deep down he might be gay, and he hasn’t come to terms with it ?’

‘Nell ! No !’ I gasped, laughing despite myself. Between us we lifted the mattress onto the bed base and both collapsed onto it with relief. ‘He might be scared of commitment, but he is definitely not gay.’

His brother Tom, who was gay, had come round for supper at the beginning of term, with his partner Chris, full of admiration for the new head teacher, Miss Sandean. What a breath of fresh air she was, and how popular she was with the parents and children etcetera, and Daniel had hung on his every word. It had been quite annoying, actually.

‘Well, I wouldn’t have let you go that easily, if I was him.’

‘Ah, bless you,’ I said. ‘For that, I’ll make you some coffee.’

‘Finally,’ Nell groaned, stretching her arms above her head. ‘I’ll just lie here while you find the kettle.’

‘No, you don’t,’ I said, pulling her to her feet.

I tasked her with the easy job of hanging my clothes in the wardrobe and headed downstairs in search of refreshments. I found the box which Daniel had labelled ‘kettle etc.’ and unpacked it.

As much as he assured me that he was sad to see me go, I couldn’t help noticing how much he had enjoyed clearing the surfaces of all my framed photographs, plants and the vast collection of scented candles I’d had all over the house. He had offered to help me today, but I’d declined. Instead, Nell had come round once Daniel had left for work and we’d done it between us. It was less awkward this way and I knew Nell would like to be involved.

I filled the kettle and switched it on to boil while gazing through the large window to an overgrown cottage garden and beyond that a thicket of trees.

So, this was it, I was officially single and living on my own again. Money was going to be tight for a while, but thankfully orders were coming in from my new website and Nell had started selling my candles on her market stall too. As long as I was careful, I should just about manage. The rent here was low, due to the fact it was only a short-term lease. Apparently this had put other potential tenants off, but it didn’t bother me. Six months in Holly Cottage was a far happier prospect than committing to a lengthy stay somewhere I didn’t like as much. And I’d have my own space to spread out and make as much mess as I wanted without Daniel tidying up after me.

‘Coffee’s ready !’ I yelled up the stairs to Nell.

While I waited for her to come down, I found a packet of biscuits, then I pushed open the door into the garden and took our refreshments outside into the bright October sunshine.

The garden was a wilderness, but the autumn colours were glorious. The long grass was scattered with leaves in every shade of orange, red and brown. Rampant honeysuckle covered the old shed at the bottom of the garden and delicate cyclamen flowers bloomed in terracotta pots beside a wooden bench. The garden was surrounded by woodland which shielded it from the new housing development that I knew was beyond the trees. It probably wouldn’t be long before the cottage had pristine new neighbours with en-suites and utility rooms and integral garages ; I was lucky to have been able to rent it and enjoy the natural setting while it lasted. There were no neighbours at this end of the lane and all I could hear was the trickle of the stream which ran through the woods, the rustle of wind in the leaves and in the distance, a woodpecker hammering industriously at a tree. These sounds hadn’t changed for hundreds of years, I thought, closing my eyes.

‘Ooh, caffeine, come to Mama.’ Nell’s voice brought me back to the twenty-first century and I turned to see her step into the garden, following the scent of the coffee.

We headed to the bottom of the garden and sat down on the old bench.

‘Thanks for helping today,’ I said, handing her a mug. ‘It would have taken ages without you.’

‘What are best friends for ?’ she replied, nudging me affectionately. ‘Besides, I couldn’t wait to have a nose around.’

Nell and I had bonded on our first day at college aged sixteen and we had been each other’s cheerleaders ever since. I’d been sitting at a table in the cafeteria on my own and, having eaten my homemade sandwich, I was slicing a banana when Nell, without asking, plonked her tray next to me and sat down.

I remember being totally in thrall ; her wavy copper hair and freckles, her confidence that I’d want her to sit with me.

‘Oh wow. Look at the way you’ve arranged that banana – so pretty.’

‘Thanks.’ I’d looked down at my sad banana pennies, spread along the inside of the banana peel to save using a plate.

‘My mother would love you.’ Nell squirted ketchup all over her chips and managed to get it down her T-shirt. ‘Oh rats. You’re a neat eater. Not like me.’

I laughed ; I’d never met anyone who used rats as a swear word before. It was obvious that she was posh and rich. ‘I’m not neat, I’m always getting in trouble for making a mess.’

She just smiled and pushed her tray towards me and offered me some of her pizza. ‘Please help me out with some of this, or I’ll be late back to the next class.’

‘OK,’ I’d said after a nanosecond of deliberation, ‘but only if you share my banana.’