Page 119 of Make You Mine This Christmas

All Haf can do is play catch-up with her. ‘Yes, that’s right. They said they won’t be able to use their phones, as they’ll probably be—’

‘In the ayahuasca ceremony, right?’ Kit says with a sharp smile. Haf was going to say they were busy, but sure. Let’s go for imbibing psychedelics.

‘Yes, exactly. It’s a very... long ceremony, and they don’t like to be interrupted.’

It is slightly alarming how smoothly Kit can lie. And it is painfully obvious that she’s enjoying this far, far too much.

‘A pair of old hippies, are your lot?’ Otto laughs. ‘Or is it a bit more like a mid-life crisis, maybe?’

‘There’s definitely a crisis,’ mutters Christopher, who is slightly green and looks like he’s about to pass out from the stress of it all.

Visibly uncomfortable as she searches for the correct response, Esther says, ‘I didn’t realise Madeira was such a hub for... woo-woo.’

‘Oh yes, they’ve been looking forward to it for ages.’ Haf takes a big sip of Champagne.

‘Why didn’t you tell us before?’ Otto asks.

‘Yes, why not?’ Kit adds sweetly.

‘We didn’t want to make a fuss,’ Christopher says.

‘You sneaky pair,’ says Esther. ‘It’s a lovely surprise.’

‘Yes, lovely!’ Kit cries, a little too excitedly.

Esther looks at the neat little gold watch on her wrist, her Christmas present from Otto this year. ‘Come on, time to get some air in our lungs. Walkies!’

Upon hearing the word, the dogs run straight to the front door, whining excitedly.

As Esther goes to leave, she leans over to Kit and says, with a gentle pat on the arm, ‘Dear, do you maybe want to have a drink of water?’

Unsure what else to do, Haf finishes making tea for the three of them.

In the time it takes for Esther and Otto to dress and leave, the three of them say nothing. They stand clutching their mugs and awkwardly avoid looking at each other. When the front door slams, unable to hold back any more, Kit bursts into such large peals of laughter that she has to hold herself up against the wall.

‘Are they really into all that?’ Christopher asks Haf.

‘Obviously not,’ she huffs. ‘Kit decided to go off-script.’

‘Jesus Christ on a bike,’ says Christopher, sagging against the counter. ‘What a mess.’

‘I can’t believe you gave hera ringand didn’t think that they would assume that’s what was going on!’ Kit says between wracks of laughter.

‘It’s a promise ring!’

‘That’s not a thing!’

‘It doesn’t even look like an engagement ring? It’s got antlers.’

‘They probably think you’re being alluntraditionalbecause Haf is a weirdo.’

‘Oi!’ Haf says, breaking up the sibling bickering. ‘I probably should have left it in the bedroom.’

‘You think?!’ Kit laughs, wiping her eyes.

‘And what exactly did you think you were doing with that backstory?’ Christopher huffs. ‘You’ve made everything more complicated.’

‘It was the first thing I could think of!’ Kit protests, though Haf doesn’t buy that.