Finding Elizabeth (11 page)

“A few months ago we were having a bitch about you not wanting a relationship because all the men you ever liked—or loved—leave! Yes, even your dad. It’s about time you forgave him for dying, don’t you think?”

“You’re so blunt sometimes—but I love you for it. I’m still not going. Besides, I have Bubbles to look after.”

“I’ll sacrifice my night out and look after the dog; I’ll be in town anyway. We can swap stories, and I’ll tell you all about Claude. What time do you want to go visit your dad tomorrow? I’ve got a better idea, I’m coming for breakfast. Be there around eight with croissants, unless you want to make the lumpy porridge you’re so famous for?”

“No thanks. Anyway, what makes you think I’ll be up?”

“I don’t care. I still have a key to the cabin. The dance is this Friday so all you need think about for the next couple of days is what to wear. You’re going dancing, up close with a guy who, I assume, knows nothing about ballet. No excuses. His name’s not
Chance Bastard
or
Claude Phoney Fournier
.”

“Tell me now, what happened with Claude?”

But Leandra didn’t stop; she followed it with some of her typical logic. “You have put your life on hold for such a long time because of your career, and that was your choice, and I might say a good one, because your dates, so far, have been total crap. God knows what you would’ve ended up with had you not had ballet, so yeah, in that respect you made the right choice.”

“Are you done? Cut back on the adrenalin
and
coffee.”

“I’m fine; you get me wound up, that’s all. This guy, right—do you like his company or would you call him knuckles?”

“He’s not a Neanderthal, if that’s what you mean,” Katherine sighed, trying to keep her curiosity about Jack low-key.

“Well, that’s good then,” Leandra said. “Life’s too short. Sometimes you have to believe in fate. Now promise me, if he asks again you’ll go. Promise you won’t panic and pass up a fun night out surrounded by people you know! And if you can’t do it for yourself, do it for me, a woman on the edge.” Leandra’s raucous belly laugh made Katherine pull the phone away. from her ear.

“On the edge of what?”

“If I don’t get out of here soon, I’m going to shove my ski stock right up … and then I’ll thump his friend. They know I’m on the phone so they act like teenage boys. Go dancing!” she yelled.

“All right, keep your panties on, I
will
think about it.”

“Good, I’m glad you’re going, Kate! I’ll be at your place tomorrow, we’ll go visit Henry. Love you! Gotta go! Where are my stocks?”

“I love you too,” Katherine murmured, closing off, suddenly aware of a presence behind her.
Great
.

Jack might have been busy toeing off his boots, that didn’t mean he’d missed her last remark. He walked through to the kitchen with a stupid grin, carrying an armful of cut wood, and his coat.

“Alas,” he said, dropping the logs in the basket near the stove and hanging his coat over the back of a chair, “such shattered dreams. It was in deepest hope thou loved me for toiling with axe and wood in winter’s icy cold. A toil given freely to keep my lady warm.” With an exaggerated bow, he whisked the rainbow hat off his head. And for his trouble, Bubbles dropped something at his feet and licked his face.

“I bet you were a big hit in your school’s drama classes,” Katherine said, unable to stop herself from smiling. Her anger had evaporated with the loving contact of Leandra, and the joking way in which Jack had played with her last remark.

“Um. Not very. Would this be yours?” A bra dangled from his index finger.

In a flash, Katherine grabbed the bra and stuffed it in her sweat pants pocket. “Er, yes, thanks. I think Bubbles has taken a liking to my underwear.”

Grabbing a potholder, she took the bubbling percolator off the combustion stove and poured them both a coffee. Steam rose and she breathed in the aroma, telling herself to relax, be calm.

“Is something burning?” Jack asked, nose wrinkling as he sniffed the air. “Smells like scorched plastic and—”

“Cellophane,” Katherine told him, coming back to earth with a thud.

“Okay,” he said, eyebrows drawn together, looking confused. “C’mon, give me the poop, the dirt. What were you doing out there?” Jack asked, settling himself in front of the living room fire. Flames crackled and licked around the logs as he watched her over the rim of his cup.

The whole crappy episode weighed heavily on Katherine. She didn’t relish having to explain about Eric, the snowman, the card and the roses. Resting her arm on the sofa, she took a deep breath to ease her anxiety and told him the whole story.

“So,” Jack said thoughtfully, “you were letting off steam. The man’s an idiot if he thinks that’s going to work to get you back.”

“
Back?!
I never went out with that ass!” Katherine, outraged, chomped into a cookie. “He sent flowers after performances,” she mumbled around cookie crumbs. “Became a patron, and the company needs to keep our sponsors happy. And he seemed like a nice guy, lonely and anxious to please. His type doesn’t attract me at all, but that doesn’t mean they should be excluded. So a few of us would have coffee and he’d turn up.” Tension rising, she fisted her hands. “God only knows how he knew where we were. My biggest mistake was to ask him to dinner at my apartment.” She thumped her forehead with the heel of her hand. “What an idiot.”

Jack gave her a bewildered yet surprised look, his mixed expressions comical.

Katherine shook her head. “We weren’t alone. There were six of us, all single, all too busy with performances to worry about
dating
.”

“You’re letting him get under your skin. He craves any attention from you.”

“Damn. Why didn’t I think of that,” Katherine said, dripping with sarcasm.

“
And
he’s made you defensive,” Jack smiled.

She cringed. “Sorry, you didn’t deserve that.”

He shook his head. “Nah, it’s okay. It’s scary having someone invade your privacy. Have you told the police?”

“Yes, but I need to tell them about today.” A thought occurred; she hunched over, face in her hands. “And stupid, stupid me, destroyed all the evidence.”

“
Oops
. You want me to go outside, take some photos?”

“What of—two pieces of charcoal and a broken carrot?”

“Hmm. Never mind, shi–stuff happens.”

Katherine wasn’t fooled by his flippant remark. His eyes sparked anger.

“I almost forgot—” Jack pushed himself off the sofa and took Katherine’s hand. Her breath caught. His strong fingers, wrapped around hers, felt good, comfortable. “I left a surprise outside.”

“Good lord. Not sure I like surprises,” Katherine said nervously.

“It’s from Ted and Millie’s store. Relax, it won’t hurt.”

“Millie didn’t persuade you to buy a puppy or something like a—a pet, did she? Someone to keep Bubbles company?” She glanced over her shoulder at the dog, twitching and running in her sleep. “Millie’s cute and has a heart of gold, but sometimes she doesn’t think about the consequences.”

“Stop panicking.” He swung open the door. Bubbles woke with a start and groaning, clambered to her feet.

“A Christmas tree!” Katherine exclaimed, hand on her chest.

“According to Millie, the Bell cabin without a tree is unheard of.” Jack reached for a package. “I bought a stand, just in case.” Bubbles took it and trotted inside. “Are you sure she’s not a retriever?”

“I think she might be.” Katherine hurried down the snowy steps and gathered the top of the tree, while Jack grabbed the trunk. They carted it to a corner of the living room and grappled it into an upright position. Jack held the tree while Katherine told Bubbles to drop the new toy. She unwrapped the stand and slid it into place.

“I’ll get the scissors.” Katherine went to her mother’s sewing basket and hurried back. She cut the twine holding the branches together and with a
whoosh
they spread to a lovely conical shape.

Jack turned the tree until its best side faced the living room. “How’s that?”

“Great.” Gazing at him, Katherine inclined her head. “You bought me a tree!” She ran her fingers through her hair and left her hand sitting on top of her head, not knowing what to think about this. Take a leaf out of Leandra’s book, her mind nudged.

Jack looked bemused and worried. “Er, I don’t want you to feel that I’m imposing. I happened to be at Millie’s store when the trees arrived. I helped her out and she offered me one, but what would I do with a naked tree in the chalet; that just looks wrong. Millie suggested I bring it here and …” he trailed off.

“It’s beautiful, thank you. And considerate too, lugging it all the way here.” She stood on tiptoes and, reaching up, gave him an impulsive peck on the cheek. Oh no! Maybe she shouldn’t have done that. He smelled of warm soap and sunshine. Katherine suddenly wanted more, wanted to open the neck of his sweater and nuzzle his skin.

Jack touched his cheek where she’d kissed him and gave her a lopsided grin. She stepped back and could see that Jack took the cue that this was not going any further.

He gave the tree a gentle push, testing its stability. “I don’t think it’ll fall over. I’ll leave you to it.” He scooped his coat off the chair. “Thanks for the coffee.”

Katherine followed him into the hallway. He was shrugging into his coat, and something inside her screamed,
Twit
—
don’t let him go!

“Please don’t go,” came out like a yelp. Pained at her lack of self-control, she screwed her eyes shut. She needed to give him some sort of excuse.

Come on, tell him why.

She glanced over her shoulder at the bare tree, and then turned to Jack. “Would you help me trim the tree?” God, that was pathetic; he had more important things to do than play with tinsel. “If you’re not too busy, of course, Mum and … Dad, we always trimmed the tree together, and it’s just me at the moment. Mum’s trying to get back, but volcanic ash cancelled all flights. The tree’s here and I just can’t see myself doing it alone.” Good grief, she was babbling.

Eagerly slipping his coat off, Jack hung it on the hallstand. “Sure, I’ll give it a shot,” he said, grinning.

“It—it’s not difficult.” Oh man, now she was stammering. “I’ll get the decorations.”

She rushed down the hall to the pull-down ladder leading to the attic. She muttered about rash decisions and hasty invitations, blaming them on Leandra. Opening the hatch, she climbed through, and all the familiar attic smells wafted over her. It had been years since she’d ventured up here. She scanned the boxes for a label that said
Christmas decorations
, and found it on top of an old wardrobe. An old crate, standing to one side, made it easier to reach. She clambered up, grabbed the box and caught sight of an old biscuit tin she’d never seen before. It was strange to see it hidden at the back.

Reaching forward, Katherine managed to get her fingertips on the tin caked with dust and pulled it towards her. She blew the top layer of dust off and sneezed. “Bless you!” echoed up the stairs. “Thanks!” She prised open the colourful lid and found bundles of letters neatly tied with coloured ribbons. Assuming they were old love letters from her dad to her mum, she shut the tin and sat it on the box of decorations to take downstairs. If her mum had forgotten about them, they’d make a lovely Christmas present.

“Do you need any help?” Jack called from the bottom of the stairs.

“Yes please,” she said, and handed him the tin and box through the hatch.

When Katherine climbed down, Jack had set everything on the coffee table. She put the tin under the tree and opened the box of decorations. Memories flooded back with every piece of tinsel and shiny bauble.

“What a mess,” Katherine mumbled, trying to untangle the lights. She remembered how visitors had arrived unexpectedly when they were taking down the tree the previous Christmas, how her mum had hurriedly gathered the wiring and pushed the bundle into the box saying, “I’ll worry about that later.” But there had never been a later. Katherine’s dad had always looked after packing away the lights, and she gathered her mum couldn’t deal with having to do it without him.

Blinded by her tears, Katherine sniffed and wiped her face with the hem of her sweater. A wad of tissues appeared under her nose.

“Thanks,” she murmured, and dabbed her eyes. She straightened and blinked at him. “I’m okay now—where’d you get these tissues?”

“I carry a stack around with me—the cold air makes my eyes water and my nose run.”

She smiled. “Happens to all of us.”

Jack gathered the twisted lights. “It’s sick, I know, but I get great satisfaction out of untying knots. Sit back and watch a master at work.” He stretched the wire from chair to chair and over the sofa. “Hold this,” he said and continued roaming the living room trailing the cord, weaving it through and under loops. “Um, wait, that bit goes there, and this bit goes through here and …”

An hour later, the tree looked stunning. Katherine laughed until her face hurt when Jack threw tinsel at the tree and spread it out. It looked like a giant, glistening octopus clutching the branches.

She poured another cup of coffee and, on her way back, saw that Jack had switched on the lights and was standing back to admire their handiwork.

The lights twinkled, decorations sparkled, and a fire crackled softly in the hearth. The old cabin finally looked festive. And she owed it all to Jack.

“To Christmas!” she said, clinking her cup against his. “And our magnificent tree. It’s beautiful.”

“To us.” He smiled down at her, a glint of bemused wonder in his eyes. Before the tension got out of hand he added, “And Christmas!”

She tried to ignore both the ‘to us’ toast and the look, but part of her wanted to know what he meant. “Now,” she said nervously, changing the subject, “it’s time for the angel.”

“Angel? You won’t fit.” He laughed and Katherine gave him a look. “Yeah, that was cheesy, but I’m not apologising.”

“Uh huh. Yep, okay.”

A smile eased into her face. Quickly, she turned to the angel. The tired gossamer wings and frayed frock needed repairs, but that didn’t matter; it was Katherine’s angel. Her mother had made it when she was a little girl. It had been part of their Christmas decorating ritual every year.