Underneath the Christmas Tree
: Chapter 19

By then, a cloying drizzly rain had started to fall, the light was fading and Wynter’s Trees was deserted. No one from the huts had come to give me an update on Wren and so I assumed they still hadn’t heard anything.

I waved Joe off then followed Ned, David and Maya into the office knowing I had some explaining to do. I only hoped that when I told Ned that Wren had been taken ill and I had been distracted and worried about her, he would be a little more understanding about the mix-up I’d accidentally made.

‘Bloody hell,’ he said, running his hands through his hair before I had a chance to say a word. ‘This is a right royal balls up, isn’t it?’

I had seen Joe talking to him before he left and guessed he’d mentioned how busy we’d been, but Ned was clearly unwilling to accept the influx of extra customers which, I remembered, I had also been partly responsible for, as contributing to my mistake.

‘If you would only let me explain, Ned…’ I tried.

‘I know none of this actually matters to you, Liza,’ he cut in. ‘Especially not anymore, but we take pride in our reputation here at Wynter’s Trees and we would like to get through the season with it still intact.’

‘Of course it matters to me,’ I snapped.

‘Why wouldn’t it?’ frowned Maya.

No one answered her.

‘I’ll cover the lost rental costs for the trees out of my own pocket,’ I inadequately insisted. ‘And whatever you think is right for the delivery.’

‘Damn right you will,’ grumbled Ned.

‘Edward!’ David warningly said.

‘And how exactly are you going to make this miraculous swap?’ Ned stormed on. ‘You can’t take the truck, because I need it. There are still trees to go out tomorrow. There simply isn’t the time for me to go chasing all over the county clearing up the mess you’ve made today.’

Even though I had hoped I was wrong, I’d had the feeling that might be the case, right from the moment I’d rashly offered to make the swap.

‘Oh,’ was all I could muster.

I took in Ned’s glowering expression and began to wonder if he was using my mistake over the trees to have another dig about my decision to sell up. It wasn’t as if I’d fed either the Stotts’ or the Scotts’ trees through the shredder, and even though there were transport issues to resolve, the depth of his temper and his out of character reaction did feel a little over the top.

‘Edward,’ David said again. ‘You’re being too harsh. It was a mistake which could have happened to anyone.’

‘A mistake!’ Ned laughed, but it was obvious that he didn’t replace any humour in the situation. ‘Dad, if I had a pound for every time you told me that mistakes like this could ruin the Wynter’s Trees reputation and that we had to check, check and check again before we let a tree go, then I’d be retiring with you.’

‘Of course, you wouldn’t,’ Maya mildly said. ‘You’re as melded to this place as Liza’s dad was, Ned, and that’s why you’re getting your boxers in such a knot. You have to admit, Liza’s already done as much as she can to sort it out.’

‘But the trees are still in the wrong place and with the wrong families,’ he said, this time through gritted teeth. ‘And we have no way of moving them.’

‘Well,’ Maya continued, sounding completely unruffled, ‘we’re shut tomorrow and I know there’s stuff to be getting on with, but I can easily borrow a truck from the farm and take Liza to switch the trees. It shouldn’t take too long.’

David and I looked from her to Ned. If he accepted her offer, then she would have effectively saved me from a further tongue-lashing and two families’ Christmases from being ruined.

‘They’re big trees,’ Ned pointed out, thrusting his hands into his jacket pockets.

‘And we’re big girls,’ she shrugged, kissing his cheek. ‘Well, I am. Liza’s more of a pixie, but she’s plenty strong enough. Aren’t you?’ she said, winking at me.

‘Absolutely,’ I said, giving her a grateful smile.

‘You should have asked for identification,’ Ned further grumbled.

‘I did,’ I said, ‘but the guy collecting the Stott tree wasn’t a Stott so it made no difference because his last name wasn’t the same.’

‘The trees are only supposed to be released to family members or someone they’ve named on the release form,’ he persisted.

‘Well, no one told me that, did they?’ I pointed out.

‘And anyway,’ said David, looking briefly at me. ‘I signed the release form. I took care of them all today and I’ve just had another look at it and there was a note saying another family member was coming to collect the tree. I missed it earlier.’

I didn’t mention that, strictly speaking, the guy wasn’t yet a family member.

‘Yes,’ said Maya, looking thoughtful. ‘Now you mention it, David, I think I took that call sometime last week.’

‘Why didn’t you mention that before, Dad?’ Ned tutted.

‘Because you didn’t give me a chance,’ David fairly pointed out.

Ned let out a long breath. He looked exhausted and we still had days to go before the end of the delivery service. I had been going to mention that I had been distracted about Wren too, but then decided not to. There was no point going over it all again and, as I still hadn’t had word from Theo, I decided it was best left until I knew what had gone on.

True to her word, Maya arrived early the next morning in a huge truck and with a picnic basket tucked into the footwell.

‘I thought we’d make the most of the trip,’ she giggled as I scrabbled to climb into the cab after we’d manhandled the Stotts’ tree and secured it in the back. ‘Do you want a hand?’ she asked, thankfully with no derision.

‘No,’ I said, as I finally got a foothold and heaved myself up, ‘but thanks.’

I hadn’t slept particularly well and there was still no word from Theo or Sue. I really hoped everything was all right. Maya hadn’t mentioned anything about it either and I didn’t have the heart to fill her in on what had occurred the day before. I knew I could have messaged Sue to ask, but couldn’t bring myself to, for fear that she’d only have sad news to impart.

‘Right,’ Maya happily said. ‘Let’s go!’

The Stott residence was the perfect match for Mr Stott’s voice – upper class and imposing – and the switch was soon smoothly made. He hadn’t allowed the Scott tree to cross the Edwardian threshold, so Maya expertly manoeuvred Doris on to the sack wheels and between us we wheeled her back down the drive and then up the ramp and safely into the truck.

‘Thank goodness you had a vehicle with a ramp,’ I puffed. ‘We never would have lifted either of these.’

‘That’s what I thought,’ said Maya, grimacing as between us we dragged and loaded the Stotts’ much taller tree on to the wheels. ‘I’m going to need your eyes to guide me with this one, Liza,’ she added. ‘It’s a lot heavier than Doris and too dense to see through.’

I had no idea how Ned managed to do this. No wonder he was happy for customers to collect and return their trees, if they had a vehicle big enough. On the website I’d seen that he marketed that aspect as being all part of the Wynter’s tree gathering experience, but having tried it for myself, I realised it was actually more about saving his strength.

The cut trees for the Wynbridge auction must have felt as light as feathers after all the filled pots he’d been hauling about. Not only was there the weight of the tree but you had to take the damp earth it was growing in and the pot itself into consideration too.

‘Here we are then,’ I said to Mr Stott, conscious that he was watching our every move as we made our way up the path again.

‘He’s going in the bay window as usual,’ he said, walking around the tree and inspecting every branch and needle. ‘Put on a lot of growth,’ he thoughtfully said. ‘Might be the last year he makes it indoors. Next stop, the garden.’

I was pleased the family had plans to plant this one out. It was really too heavy to shift far and I could imagine the prospective son-in-law’s mortification when he was informed of the mistake because Doris was nowhere near as big as this brute. It must have caused quite a stir when he arrived back with her, and not a good one.

‘Would you like us to position him?’ Maya asked and I shot her a look.

‘No, no,’ said Mr Stott. ‘I’ll get the chaps who help my wife in the garden to do that and I think I’ll give Wynter’s a ring and see about keeping hold of the tree this year. It might be better to plant him out sooner rather than later.’

I was relieved about both the positioning and the fact that no one would have to try and return the tree to Wynter’s.

‘I know you probably don’t need this,’ I said, having rushed to the truck and back again, ‘but I forgot to pop one in Doris’s pot yesterday.’ I held out a care sheet for him to take.

‘Doris?’ he frowned.

‘That’s the name of the other tree.’

‘Oh, right,’ he smiled, taking the sheet. ‘I think we have already got one of these kicking about, but we know what we’re doing.’

‘I’ll leave it anyway,’ I said, erring on the side of caution, ‘if that’s all right with you.’

‘Don’t want to get in more trouble with the boss, eh?’ He astutely said, his bushy grey eyebrows twitching.

‘Quite,’ I agreed. ‘And there’s this one too.’

I handed him a second sheet which had planting out guidelines on.

‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘Right. I think that’s everything, isn’t it? We now have the right tree and that fool of a boy will be able to sleep tonight.’

‘It really wasn’t his fault about the mix-up,’ I quickly said. ‘I should have double checked the label.’

‘Yes, well,’ he said, looking at the tree again. ‘No harm done and it’s kept him on his toes. I daresay we’ll have an engagement announcement over Christmas, if his courage doesn’t fail him.’

After the phone call yesterday, I had thought the guy might have been a bit of a wimp, but having now met Mr Stott in person, I retracted that unfair assumption. He was the bravest of the brave to be taking on this man as a father-in-law.

I heard Maya clattering the sack wheels up the ramp behind me and beat a hasty retreat back up the drive.

‘We’ll leave you to your day then,’ I said to Mr Stott, ‘and again, I’m so sorry about the mix-up. Thank you for being so understanding.’

‘That’s all right,’ he said. ‘Ask David if there’s anything to pay for keeping the tree, would you? I want to settle the account ahead of picking out another next year.’

I would look forward to telling Ned he’d said that. If Mr Stott was willing to choose another tree then the Wynter’s reputation wasn’t in the total tatters he imagined.

‘Of course,’ I said. ‘Someone will be in touch. Goodbye.’

‘See you next year,’ Mr Stott called after me. ‘It will be fun to start again with a tiddler.’

Just for a moment, I rather wished I was going to be around to see that.

‘That’ll be interesting,’ said Maya, voicing my thoughts as I scrambled back into my seat and fired off a quick email asking David to update the Stott account and issue a final bill. ‘I bet Mr Stott’s idea of a tiddler won’t be a teeny two-foot effort, will it?’

‘Definitely not,’ I laughed, feeling better now that the first part of the plan was sorted and had gone smoothly.

‘You’ll have to let me know what they go for.’

Maya indicated and pulled on to the road, side-eyeing me as she did so.

‘Why, where are you going to be?’ she frowned.

I felt my face flush. ‘I mean, if I forget what he’s just said,’ I hastily said. ‘Or I’m off-site when he visits.’

‘I don’t think you’ll forget about this in a hurry,’ Maya laughed.

‘No,’ I said. ‘I don’t suppose I will.’

I keyed the Scott postcode into the satnav and settled back into my seat.

‘Are you missing your job, Liza?’ Maya asked, once she’d driven a mile or two.

I wondered if my slip of the tongue had got her thinking about my change in circumstances.

‘Yes,’ I truthfully said. At least I could be honest about that. ‘Although, at this time of year it’s hectic. Imagine, if you can, trying to manage a whole load of teens, who pretend they’re too cool to care about Christmas, from getting too excited about it.’

Maya gave a shudder. ‘I don’t know how you do it,’ she said. ‘I’ve got two younger brothers and a sister at home and negotiating my way through and between them is hard enough. The thought of a class of twenty.’ She dithered again.

That no doubt accounted for her ability to stay calm in a crisis. Growing up in a large family she would have seen and waded through her fair share of battles and rows.

‘Nearer a class of thirty more like,’ I corrected her. ‘In mainstream school that is.’

Maya whistled under her breath.

‘Would you consider going back to it?’ she interestedly asked, as the Australian accented chap narrating directions on her satnav told her to take the next left.

‘Not teaching in a mainstream school,’ I quickly said, shrinking from the thought of the weeks I’d misguidedly just covered. ‘But I would like to carry on in some way,’ I told her. It was the most revealing thing I could say without giving away too much. ‘I enjoy the nurturing role a lot more than regular teaching. Looking out for the kids who replace school tricky and don’t necessarily see Christmas as a good thing.’

‘Are there kids who don’t see Christmas as a good thing?’ she laughed.

‘Unfortunately, yes.’ I swallowed. ‘There are plenty of students who dread all the holidays. Not everyone is blessed with home being their safe and happy place, Maya.’

I could feel her eyes on me for a moment.

‘God,’ she said, her smile fading. ‘That’s a terrible thought.’

‘For some it’s a reality,’ I said, sadly.

‘So, do you use art in your counselling and therapy?’

‘Yes,’ I said, ‘and we get outdoors a lot too. In my experience, the students are more willing to open up and share things in a relaxed and open environment. Outdoors we can potter and gather, with no eye contact, and then use what we replace to make something or inspire a painting or a collage. You get the idea.’

‘I do,’ she smiled again. ‘It sounds great. Fresh air is free and you can’t beat time spent in nature when it comes to lifting your spirits and clearing your head.’

‘Exactly,’ I agreed.

‘But that could be a real issue for you if you want to carry on with it.’ She said, her eyebrows almost meeting as she frowned in concentration. ‘I don’t think there’s anywhere near Wynter’s Trees where you’ll replace a job like that.’

Unfortunately, she’d hit the nail on the head.

‘And besides,’ she carried on, ‘won’t you have your hands too full at the plantation to take on another job?’

We were heading into tricky territory again.

‘But then, maybe that’s what…’ she said thoughtfully, then hesitated.

‘Maybe that’s what, Maya?’ I prompted, when she didn’t carry on.

She threw me another look.

‘Well,’ she said, ‘I heard Ned talking to David about those outdoor schools.’

‘What outdoor schools?’ I frowned.

‘I don’t know really,’ she shrugged, a blush blooming. ‘Ignore me. I didn’t hear the whole thing and besides, I shouldn’t have been listening. Now, I don’t know this area very well so I’d better concentrate.’

‘Of course,’ I said, looking at the satnav. ‘I don’t think it’s too complicated from here though.’

Although intrigued about what she’d overheard, I let the subject drop. It was imperative that the trees were switched without incident and therefore, I turned my attention to the view and let Maya focus on the road and the Aussie accented directions.

It took over an hour to drive between the Stotts and the Scotts and I could well understand why Ned had been so hacked off. Had Maya not generously stepped in, he would have had to sort out my muddle and on top of all the other deliveries he had to make, it would have made for a very long day.

Both the Scott offspring were at school, so I didn’t have the pleasure of seeing their reaction to being reunited with Doris who, according to her paperwork, had been with the family since Jasper was ten. I knew he would have pretended he wasn’t fussed, but I bet he would have been fizzing inside and Daisy would have probably cried. She had come across as a lover of the waterworks.

‘Here she is!’ shouted Andrew who rushed from the house as Maya expertly reversed between two parked cars and up on to the drive.

‘One Doris as promised,’ I smiled, jumping out of the cab as Maya hopped into the back of the trailer and loaded the tree on to the wheels as competently as she had just completed the narrow reversing manoeuvre.

I was beginning to think there was nothing she couldn’t do.

‘Doris,’ Andrew sighed as we wheeled the tree down the ramp. ‘I’m afraid my wife couldn’t be here to welcome her, but she’s told me exactly where she wants her.’

‘I bet she has,’ Maya whispered and I had to stifle a giggle.

I wasn’t at all upset that I wouldn’t be seeing his wife, Kim, again and helped Maya guide the tree, which was nowhere near as large as the Stotts’, and relatively easy to carry, into the house.

‘You know,’ said Andrew, once we’d put Doris in place as per Kim’s most particular instructions, ‘I’m not sure that’s right.’

‘Me neither,’ said Maya, winking at me and playing devil’s advocate. ‘Surely she’d look better the other side of the fire.’

The fire in question was an electric wood burning stove, so Doris wouldn’t come to any harm if she were pulled a little closer to the faux flames.

‘I think you’re right,’ said Andrew scratching his head. ‘She usually fits there a treat but the bit extra she’s grown this year makes her look a bit cramped, don’t you think?’

‘I do,’ I agreed, because it had been a bit of a squeeze to get her in.

‘If we lift her up, could you,’ he said, nodding to me, ‘shift the tray across?’

I loved that Doris had her own bespoke tray to sit in and which collected any loose earth or water which would otherwise have ruined the carpet.

‘Absolutely,’ I said, suiting the action to the words.

‘There,’ said Maya, as they put her down again, ‘much better and I’m sure your wife will agree.’

‘That’s definitely a better spot,’ Andrew said, biting his lip, ‘but I’m not sure if Kim…’

‘Right,’ I briskly said, handing him a copy of the same care sheet I’d given Mr Stott, ‘we’d better get on. We’ve lots to do back at Wynter’s Trees.’

‘Of course,’ said Andrew, who was looking a little doubtful about not following his wife’s instructions to the letter. ‘Can I offer you a drink before you go? I’d just boiled the kettle when you arrived.’

‘Thank you, but no,’ I said, following Maya out. ‘We really must be going. Merry Christmas!’

‘Merry Christmas!’ he called after us.

As Maya carefully inched the truck back between the cars, we could see him through the window, striding about, looking at Doris from one angle and then another.

‘I feel a bit bad now,’ giggled Maya, as we drove off. ‘She’s going to give him hell for deviating from the plan.’

She didn’t sound particularly sorry and I couldn’t help but laugh along with her.

‘She will, won’t she?’ I smiled.

I was about to comment further, but my phone started to ring. I scrabbled in my pocket for it, hoping it wasn’t Mr Scott begging us to go back and return Doris to her original spot, but then felt guilty as I realised that for a few minutes, I’d forgotten all about Wren. I hoped, if this was the call I’d been waiting for, I was about to hear good news, rather than bad.

‘Please let her be all right,’ I whispered, fumbling to answer the call. ‘Hello?’

‘Hi, it’s me.’

It was Ned and for the first time ever, I felt my heart sink at the sound of his voice.

‘I thought I’d just give you a quick call to replace out how you’re getting on?’

It was a rubbish signal and I had a job to hear him.

‘Good,’ I shouted. ‘We’re all done.’

I felt relieved the switch had gone so smoothly, but Maya shook her head and rolled her eyes when I looked at her.

‘What?’ I mouthed.

‘Never mind,’ she muttered.

‘And both families were happy?’ Ned asked.

‘Both families were thrilled,’ I told him, but then they were getting their trees for free this year so, had I been in their shoes, I’d have been happy too. ‘I’ve emailed and asked David to get in touch with Mr Stott about keeping their tree,’ I added. ‘They want to plant it out in their garden now it’s had so many years in a pot.’

‘Mmm,’ Ned said ponderously. ‘I suppose they might have got another year out of it, but that would have been pushing it. I’ll make a note about sending a final bill.’

‘There’s no need,’ I said, feeling rankled, but trying not to get too annoyed because he might not have heard what I said about sorting that because of the dodgy signal. ‘I’ve already emailed your dad about it,’ I repeated.

‘Are you heading back now then?’ he asked, ignoring what I’d just said.

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘We’ve literally just left the Scotts.’

Maya tutted and I looked at her and shrugged.

‘Well, don’t rush,’ said Ned. ‘Given the time, you might as well stop and have some lunch on the way back.’

‘All right,’ I said, feeling crestfallen.

I got the distinct impression he didn’t want me back at the plantation too soon, even if it was shut and I couldn’t cause further mayhem. I supposed I should have felt pleased that we’d established a bit of distance as it would help make leaving again easier, but the truth was, his continued abruptness smarted a bit.

‘How are you getting on?’ I then asked him.

‘Good,’ he said. ‘I’ll see you later,’ and with that he hung up.

I told myself it was the less than satisfactory signal that had kept the call brief and stuffed the phone in my pocket.

‘What’s with the face?’ I asked Maya, who was still pouting.

‘You should have said the traffic was heavy or something,’ she admonished. ‘Or that there was a hold up. We could have had a bit more time playing hooky and found somewhere to stop and eat lunch then.’

‘It’s all right,’ I told her with a sigh. ‘Ned suggested we should stop and eat anyway.’

Maya swerved a little as she looked at me, causing the car behind to toot.

‘What?’ I said, my eyes fixed on the road.

‘Well, that’s a first,’ she gasped. ‘He’s always rush, rush, rush at this time of year.’

‘I thought as much,’ I sighed again.

‘I wonder what he’s up to?’ she frowned.

‘Nothing,’ I said. ‘He’s up to nothing. He’s just happy I’m going to be off-site for a bit longer and won’t be able to bugger anything else up.’

‘Oh, I’m sure that’s not it,’ she began, but the look I threw her silenced her.

As it wasn’t too chilly, and we were already wrapped in multiple layers, we found a wooded picnic site and tucked into the delicious soup from the pot Maya said her mum always had on the stove in winter. There were sausage rolls from the Wynmouth butcher too, apples, also from Maya’s kitchen and cookies which Hope had made. It was all delicious and we ate in companionable silence until our bellies were full.

‘So,’ I stole myself to ask once I’d thanked her for the tasty repast, ‘how are things going with you and Ned?’

Maya wrinkled her nose and chewed her final mouthful of cookie wearing a thoughtful expression.

‘Slowly,’ she said, once she’d swallowed. ‘Very slowly.’

She didn’t sound very impressed with the glacial pace.

‘Well, that’s something,’ I responded. ‘Given what you told me before, it’s far better than the not-moving-at-all that you’ve been stuck with in the past.’

‘Mmm,’ she said. ‘I suppose, but I can’t help thinking there’s something nagging away that’s stopping him from focusing on us.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘He’s distracted,’ she frowned. ‘All the time.’

‘Well, that’s hardly surprising given the time of year, is it?’ I pointed out. ‘Maybe you need to wait for the end of the season for things to speed up. Come the spring there’ll be less to do on the plantation and you can make the most of the beach.’

Sometimes I forgot that Wynter’s Trees was located so close to the coast. I’d barely visited the village since I’d been back and I’d only seen the sea once. But then, given it was the middle of December, it was hardly the cosiest place to hang out.

‘I don’t know,’ said Maya, fixing me with an intent stare.

I shifted in my seat, rather unsettled by her scrutiny. Given that Ned had my request to buy me out of the business preying on his mind, it was hardly surprising that he was distracted, but I wasn’t about to explain that.

‘Between you and me,’ Maya added, biting her lip, ‘I’m not sure his preoccupation is anything to do with work at all.’

I, of course, knew that it was everything to do with work and wondered how Ned would react if I suggested to him that he should talk to Maya about it. Given that I’d only fleetingly suggested the pair should start running together and as if by magic, Maya had instantly appeared in her figure enhancing running gear, he might consider it a wonderful proposal and embrace it with open arms.

‘It’s like his head is entirely somewhere else,’ Maya carried on, ‘and that’s not like him at all, especially at this time of year.’

‘But you have to remember how different this year has been,’ I reminded her.

‘What with you being back, you mean?’

‘Well,’ I said, ‘there is that, but I was thinking more about the changes to Wynter’s Trees that he’s instigated. Setting up the beach huts and having the site open longer, as well as the barn, has taken a lot of organising. The place has been transformed and even though it has all gone smoothly enough, it’s still a lot of responsibility for one person to carry.’

As my words flowed, I realised I’d hit the nail on the head. Ned really did have a lot on his plate this Christmas.

‘You know what,’ Maya said, brightening considerably. ‘You’re right. It’s no wonder he’s been a bit off, is it?’

My words had succeeded in lifting her mood again, but they’d made mine sink into my boots. My announcement to sell felt horribly mistimed. Poor Ned.

‘No,’ I said, ‘it isn’t, is it? And I’ve hardly helped, have I?’

‘Of course, you have,’ Maya insisted as she began tidying away the lunch things. ‘The grotto painting and the cart conversions have been an absolute hit.’

‘But the twisted ankle and the cock up with the trees,’ I countered. ‘They’ve hardly been my finest moments, have they?’

‘Hiccups in the grand scheme of things,’ Maya said, shrugging away my mistakes as easily as she swept the crumbs we’d made off the table.

She might have been able to forget about my recent blunders but they, alongside my big decision, became stuck fast in my head as we drove the rest of the journey back. I had previously told Ned that I would make an effort to make my last Christmas connected to Wynter’s Trees a good one, and it was about time I did exactly that.