Staying Away at Christmas by Katie Fforde Read Free Book Online

‘Miranda.’
    Anthony cast an anxious glance at his family. ‘Sweetheart, we could do stockings, if you like. I’m sure I’d manage.’
    ‘Oh Dad!’ Amy became distressed. ‘You don’t understand! I just want us all to be together.’
    ‘Like a family?’ suggested Lulu, taking Amy’s hand.
    ‘Yes!’
    ‘Well, unless you guys live in the north of Scotland,’ said Isa, ‘I’m sure we could arrange something.’
    ‘Bristol,’ said Dan.
    ‘Bath,’ said Isa.
    Miranda caught them exchange glances.
    ‘Well, I’m with Amy,’ said Miranda, ‘I think I’d like it a lot if we could spend Christmas together again, too. And not just because I didn’t have to cook and Dan is so good at it.’ And she meant it. It was the least stressful Christmas she’d spent as an adult.
    ‘But does it just have to be at Christmas?’ asked Anthony. ‘Maybe we could meet up at other times?’
    ‘Sunday lunch,’ said Isa. ‘Mum does a great roast.’
    ‘Which you will sample tomorrow, probably,’ said Miranda, ‘unless you want to go on eating turkey. We were going to have roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.’
    ‘Cool,’ said Dan. ‘I make great Yorkshires. You could come to ours, too.’
    It had been a very different Christmas. As they hadn’t cooked, Miranda and Anthony cleared up together, chatting randomly, their inhibitions weakened by Anthony’s very good wine – and perhaps by their shared kisses. She couldn’t help smiling to herself at the memory.
    And afterwards, instead of watching television they had got out the many different games the house provided and, as Dan insisted, played them all. Eventually, at about six o’clock, they felt able to face the mince pies that Dan had made (rough puff pastry, just perfect) and they opened their presents. But as they’d agreed only to open presents from people who were there, that didn’t take long.
    Then Anthony produced the port and a bottle of Madeira and they went back to Monopoly.
    Boxing Day had been largely similar – walks, games, food and jollity.
    Miranda was thrilled to see Isa having a nice time with Dan. She couldn’t quite work out if they were just friends or if Dan fancied Isa – there seemed to be a fair amount of teasing. But whatever it was, Isa was laughing a lot. And Lulu seemed to get on really well with Amy, who, in spite of being younger, was mature for her age and treated Lulu like a loved older sister.
    ‘OK, Isa. Remind me if it’s left or right at the top?’ Miranda said, as they set off home, leaving the final look-round and rubbish disposal to Anthony, at his insistence. ‘I know both ways will get us to the main road eventually, but which one is best?’
    ‘Honestly, Mum! What are you like? It’s right!’
    As she had suspected, the helpful, supportive Isa had been left at the house. The old, combative, challenging Isa had returned. She couldn’t help smiling.
    A little later, Lulu said, ‘Dan says his dad definitely fancies you.’
    Miranda was a bit surprised. ‘What on earth makes him think that?’ It wasn’t that they hadn’t got on – they had, and he had kissed her – twice – but that was because she was there and it was Christmas, and he’d had a couple of drinks. Miranda knew better than to make anything of it.
    ‘Because he wants to meet up and actually got your contact details,’ said Isa.
    ‘That’s only because he very kindly offered to come to my works do with me. And our families got on,’ said Miranda. ‘It won’t be anything to do with me personally.’
    ‘No,’ Lulu went on. ‘Amy says there are loads of women who drool over her and Dan just to impress him and their dad never does anything about it. She said there are always women offering to cook meals and he won’t have anything to do with them.’
    ‘Dan said he’s interested, and he should know his dad,’ put in Isa.
    ‘Oh,’ said Miranda.
    ‘And we’re going to theirs for Sunday lunch next week,’ said Isa. ‘That’s