Staying Away at Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page B

Having just sat down he got up again. ‘Talking of cold, I have some fizz. Glass of fizz, Miranda?’
    ‘Oh yes please,’ she said. This was getting better and better.
    ‘With or without orange juice?’
    ‘Without.’
    ‘Kids, you have to have it with. Lulu? Do you like Buck’s Fizz?’
    ‘Never had it,’ said Lulu, obviously impressed.
    ‘But you like orange juice?’
    ‘Oh yes,’ she said enthusiastically.
    Anthony was very skilful with the champagne and orange juice, Miranda realised. He adjusted the amount of each to suit each person. Amy, the youngest, had orange juice with just a splash of fizz, enough to be festive but not enough to make her drunk. Isa, she decided, had probably had a touch too much fizz when she clapped her hands. ‘Stockings!’
    ‘We don’t do stockings –’ said Anthony.
    ‘We do,’ said Isa, ‘but I’m afraid you haven’t got one.’
    ‘They are only for the children,’ Miranda hurriedly explained, and then found herself presented with the sparkly sock. ‘Oh.’
    ‘This year we did one for you,’ explained Lulu. ‘And for Amy and Dan.’
    ‘Cool,’ said Dan, looking at his, slightly perplexed.
    ‘Can we open them now?’ asked Amy.
    ‘ ’Course,’ said Lulu.
    ‘We should all open them together,’ said Isa. ‘Otherwise it’s embarrassing.’
    There was a short silence broken by the sound of rustling and paper ripping.
    ‘Thank you so much for this, girls,’ said Miranda, undoing a little packet. It had a box of false eyelashes . ‘Oh goodness. I have no idea how to put them on.’
    ‘Wait until after brekkie, Mum, I’ll show you,’ said Isa, undoing some heart-shaped Post-it notes.
    ‘These are lovely!’ said Amy, holding up a pair of earrings Miranda had bought for Lulu.
    ‘I have a toothbrush and some soap,’ said Dan, although he didn’t seem to mind.
    ‘Don’t forget to eat,’ said Anthony.
    ‘We usually open stockings in Mum’s bed,’ said Lulu.
    ‘It might have been a bit much, us all piling in,’ said Dan. ‘We haven’t known each other twenty-four hours, yet.’
    Maybe it was the champagne, or the unexpectedness about everything, but breakfast was extremely jolly. When she’d initiated clearing up afterwards, Miranda said, ‘Presents?’
    ‘Actually,’ said Dan, ‘if you don’t mind, I’d really like to crack on with lunch?’
    This was a bit a shock. ‘Aren’t I doing lunch?’ said Miranda.
    Dan shook his head. ‘Na-uh. You didn’t even buy a turkey. We’ve brought one from home that’s been in brine. I’ve had enough sawdust turkeys.’
    ‘Dan is very foodie,’ said Amy, apologetically.
    ‘I even brought my own knives.’ Seeing Miranda’s bemusement he went on, ‘I read that in Elizabeth David – always take your own knife on holiday.’ He grinned.
    Miranda stared at him for a few seconds thinking he was very strange but rather wonderful. ‘Oh, no, that’s fine!’ she said. ‘I don’t mind not cooking it, I’m just falling into my default position. But I’m very happy to be galley slave and do the potatoes and things.’
    She looked at Anthony for guidance.
    He shook his head. ‘I think the kids want to do it.’
    ‘It is quite boring hanging round waiting for dinner,’ said Isa.
    ‘Oh,’ said Miranda, not sure if she was offended or not. ‘But you’ve got your presents to play with?’
    ‘Mum!’ said Isa, as if her mother was just the stupidest person on earth and shouldn’t even attempt to make a joke.
    ‘I’m going to be sous chef,’ said Amy.
    ‘I’ll be in charge of sticking plasters,’ said Lulu.
    ‘And what shall I do?’ asked Miranda.
    ‘We’ll go for a walk, in the direction of a pub, and leave this lot to it,’ said Anthony. ‘It’s OK, Dan’s a very good cook and a tyrant in the kitchen. And Amy has promised faithfully not to leave home without telling us again. We’ll come back in a couple of hours.’
    While Miranda was getting dressed, including finding her thick