Page 31 of Christmas Spirits at Honeywell House (Ghosts of Rowan Vale #3)
I was on the verge of falling asleep when Callie and Brodie knocked on the door.
I’d eaten some yummy fish and chips, washed down with a big mug of tea, then I’d stacked the dishwasher, tidied up, and made sure the boys had their baths and brushed their teeth, while Jack took Toby for his regular evening walk.
Upon his return we were immediately called upon to referee a mighty row between our errant offspring when Ashton – who had arrived home just in time for dinner – produced a bag of fudge, purchased at the market, which he refused to share with Declan and Freddie.
‘I bought it with my own money,’ he protested, as they clamoured round him. ‘Don’t tell me Mum and Dad didn’t buy you stuff while you were at the market cos I don’t believe you.’
‘Only a hot chocolate and a Father Christmas cookie,’ Declan whined.
‘And Christmas cards,’ I said, feeling terrible all over again. We’d shuffled them past so many stalls selling delicious treats. Were we terrible parents?
‘You all said you wanted fish and chips for dinner,’ Jack reminded them. ‘Do you know how expensive they are? You can’t have everything.’
‘I suppose you need all your money to buy baby clothes now,’ Declan said sulkily.
‘Oh, shut up moaning,’ Ashton told him smugly, as he dipped into the bag of fudge. ‘Hope you enjoyed your Father Christmas cookie .’
His smirk was wiped off his face as Jack reached over and took the bag from his hands.
‘You needn’t think you’re eating all that tonight,’ he said. ‘Think of your teeth which, by the way, you’ll now have to brush again. I’m sure you’ve had enough to eat at the market before you even came home for dinner.’
‘Please tell me you didn’t spend all that money on sweets and snacks,’ I pleaded.
‘It’s my money. I can spend it on what I like,’ Ashton said.
‘Lucky you.’ Jack rubbed the back of his neck wearily. ‘If only your mother and I had the same luxury.’
Ashton informed us that we were the worst parents in the world and never treated him fairly, while Declan moaned that he hadn’t even wanted a Father Christmas cookie and would have much preferred a bag of fudge if we’d only given him the option, and Freddie wailed, ‘ I want fudge,’ on a loop until I wanted to scream.
‘Right,’ Jack said. ‘Bedtime.’
‘But it’s not school tomorrow!’ Declan gasped.
‘You can’t mean me,’ Ashton said. ‘I’m twelve!’
‘And you’re behaving like a spoilt six-year-old,’ Jack told him crossly. ‘No offence, Freddie.’
‘You can read in bed for an hour, Ash,’ I offered.
‘ Read? ’ Ashton’s lip curled in scorn.
‘Can I have my Switch?’ Declan asked.
Jack nodded. ‘Yes, until nine. I’ll come up then and take it off you, so make the most of it. Now bed.’
His voice brooked no further arguments, and he’d ushered them all upstairs, settled Freddie into bed, then made me a mug of cocoa.
‘This is the worst thing I could have really,’ I said, even as I accepted it gratefully. ‘Honestly, I’m ready for bed as it is.’
‘Do you want me to call Callie and Brodie? Tell them to make it another night?’
‘No. We may as well get it over with. Unless you want to cancel?’
Jack hesitated. ‘No. Let’s hear what they have to say.’
Luckily, Callie and Brodie arrived at ten to nine, just as I was on the verge of nodding off, and apologised for being a bit early.
‘No worries,’ Jack said politely. ‘Come in. Would you like something to drink?’
‘We’ve brought this,’ Brodie said, handing him a bottle of wine. ‘It’s non-alcoholic,’ he added, smiling at me.
‘And I’ve brought you these,’ Callie said, passing a carrier bag to me. I opened it, surprised and touched to find a box of the handmade chocolates she’d been talking about earlier.
‘Oh wow, that’s so kind of you. Thanks. What have I done to deserve them?’
‘It just seemed a shame you’d missed them, that’s all,’ she said with a shrug. ‘It’s no big deal.’
No big deal to her maybe, but I knew how expensive they were.
‘We saw the tree outside,’ Brodie said, giving Jack his coat. ‘Looks good.’
‘Yes, we were pleased with it. It wasn’t too pricey either.’ Jack took Callie’s coat from her. ‘Did you buy one for the Hall?’
‘Four,’ she said, rolling her eyes. ‘One for the main sitting room, one for the living room in mine and Immi’s suite, one for Lawrie’s sitting room, and one for the drawing room in the Wyndhams’ suite.
They were delighted. Immi’s going to decorate it for them tomorrow following their instructions – after Brodie’s put the lights on it. ’
I felt uncomfortable immediately at the mention of the Wyndhams, convinced that guilt showed on my face, but Brodie and Callie gave nothing away and Jack remained oblivious.
He hung up their coats in the hallway then hurried upstairs to take Declan’s Switch away before he forgot, while I poured the non-alcoholic wine into four glasses and our guests made a big fuss of Toby, who seemed delighted to see them again.
‘Right, that’s the boys all sorted,’ Jack said, returning to the living room. ‘Freddie’s already fast asleep,’ he assured me, ‘and despite their protests, the other two look as if they won’t be awake much longer.’
‘Immi fell asleep half an hour ago,’ Callie told us, stroking a blissful Toby’s neck. ‘Fresh air and excitement, I expect. She loved the market, and was thrilled to visit the pub. So was Florrie.’
‘It’s odd that they’re such good friends,’ Jack mused. ‘But it’s nice, too.’
‘Nice now,’ Callie said with a sigh. ‘I do worry what will happen in a couple of years’ time, though.’
‘What do you mean?’ Jack asked.
‘Well, Immi will be a teenager, and she’ll hopefully make friends at school.
Will she still want to hang around with a perpetual ten-year-old?
I can’t see it, can you? And what will Florrie do then?
It’s a bit worrying. I have a feeling Florrie’s going to be really hurt.
I’m just hoping she doesn’t go back to her old ways when it happens. ’
‘I hope so, too,’ Brodie said. ‘For John’s and Robert’s sakes as much as anyone else’s.’
‘John and Robert?’ Jack frowned. ‘Are they the ragamuffin children from the eighteenth century?’
‘That’s right,’ Callie said. ‘Florrie used to boss them around terribly until they all started having lessons with Walter Tasker. Having a routine, making friends with Immi, and finding she’s related to Mia – all those things have really changed her.
I’m hoping she’s come on far enough that she won’t go back to her naughty ways. Time will tell, I guess.’
She took a sip of the wine. ‘Hmm. That’s actually quite nice. Much better than I expected.’
‘You could have brought real wine for yourself,’ I told her. ‘I wouldn’t have minded.’
‘Certainly not!’ She grinned. ‘I’d never do that to my pal.’
I smiled back. Callie really was a friend in a million. How she’d seen past all the hormonal rages and sniping and tears of the last few months, I’d never know.
‘So, what is it you wanted to talk to us about?’ Jack asked.
‘Well…’ Brodie glanced at Callie, who nodded. ‘It’s about the model village. We wanted to put something to you.’
I saw Jack tense. ‘Go on.’
‘We’ve been talking it over with Lawrie and Mia – and the Wyndhams,’ he added, not looking at me, ‘because this would affect them, too, and we had to be sure it was okay with them before we said anything.’
‘And they’re all fine with it,’ Callie said quickly.
‘I’m intrigued.’ Jack swirled the wine in his glass and watched them through narrowed eyes. ‘What are you thinking?’
‘Well,’ Brodie said, ‘we know how disappointed you both were not to find a solution to opening the model village here, and we still think it’s a good idea.
We’re pretty sure it would be a great tourist attraction, but probably not one that would pull in huge crowds all year round.
Even so, it would potentially make quite a bit of money during the holiday season, so we were thinking about opening it from Easter until the end of September only. ’
‘Okay,’ Jack said slowly. ‘Makes sense. But it doesn’t solve the problems we came up against, does it?’
‘Not if we keep the village at Honeywell House,’ Brodie said. ‘But how would you feel about moving it across to the grounds of Harling Hall?’
I glanced at Jack. I knew how much the model village meant to him. He’d grown up helping to maintain it and associated it with his much-loved grandad who had taught him how to care for it. Moving it away from the paddock at Honeywell House to someone else’s home might be a step too far.
‘What do you think, Clara?’ Jack asked.
‘Me? Well…’ I considered the matter. ‘It would solve a lot of our problems. We wouldn’t have to worry about access and privacy. Are you sure no one would mind it being situated in the grounds of the Hall?’
‘No,’ Callie said. ‘There’s acres of space and it wouldn’t be difficult to create a pathway to wherever we situate it. We’ve been considering opening the gardens to the public during the main season anyway, so this would be another attraction to draw them in.’
‘But wouldn’t you then have the same problem?’ Jack asked. ‘Lack of privacy. Especially with having Immi to consider.’
‘No, because the family lawn at the back of the house is walled off and the gate would remain locked during opening times. It’s a huge space – plenty of room for Immi and Florrie and John and Robert to play, not to mention Brian.’
Callie smiled at the thought of the kitten. ‘If I’d thought there was any threat to Immi’s privacy there’s no way I’d go ahead, but there isn’t. The family lawn runs the full length of the house, and you know how big that is!’
‘Are you sure there were no objections?’ I asked, giving her a meaningful look. ‘From anyone ?’
‘None,’ she said firmly. ‘Agnes was a bit dubious at first, but she came round to my way of thinking eventually.’
It sounded like a good solution to me, except for one thing. ‘Would I still be able to work at the ticket office?’