One More for Christmas(40)

Samantha gave up. She’d never known her mother admit to feeling weak or vulnerable and didn’t expect her to start now.

She unwrapped her scarf from her neck and stepped inside her mother’s apartment after her sister.

She felt so tense her spine ached.

It was impossible to be here and not remember their last disastrous family gathering. How soon could they leave without seeming rude?

She was removing her shoes and taking her time over it, when she heard Tab gasp and clap her hands.

“A tree! You said there wouldn’t be one, but there is! Look, Mommy.”

“I see it.” Ella sounded a little faint, and Samantha walked into the living room and felt a little faint herself.

Her mother’s stark, austere apartment—the scene of harsh words and so many bitter memories—had been transformed into a winter wonderland. If it hadn’t been for the fact that her mother had answered the door, Samantha would have turned and walked out again, assuming she was on the wrong floor.

The centerpiece was the large snowy tree that glittered with silver lights, but it didn’t end there. There were lights strung around the bookcases and gifts piled high under a tree adorned with decorations and candy. Her mother’s minimalist white designer sofa had been accessorized with a luxurious fur throw and cheered up with a scattering of festive cushions.

If it hadn’t been for the threat to her mascara, Samantha would have rubbed her eyes. Was she dreaming, or did one of them have the word joy picked out in flashing lights?

If there was one word she would never have associated with a trip to her mother’s home in the holidays it was joy. And the surprises just kept coming, because leaning against those cushions was an oversize furry reindeer with an elaborate red bow tied around its neck. With its long droopy face and uneven, padded antlers, it was the most adorable thing Samantha had seen in a while.

Tab obviously thought so too because she sprinted to the sofa and hugged the reindeer so tightly Samantha expected the stuffing to pop out through its eyes.

She exchanged glances with her sister, who gave a bemused shrug.

Neither of them quite believed what they were seeing.

Tab was still squeezing the reindeer. “I love him!”

“You do?” Gayle stood stiffly in the center of the room, and Samantha glanced from her niece to her mother.

Was it her imagination or did her mother actually look nervous?

“He’s the best thing ever. Is he yours, Nanna?” The word slid naturally from Tab’s mouth.

“He’s yours. If you’d like him.”

“Mine?” Tab turned to Ella, her face glowing. “He’s mine!”

“Yes.” Ella’s voice was faint. “He’s—This is wonderful, Mom. I wasn’t expecting—I thought—why did you—”

“It’s not every day a woman entertains her granddaughter to tea. I wanted it to be special.”

Why was her granddaughter more special than her own daughters?

Samantha shifted on the spot, ashamed of her own thoughts. This was about Tab, not her. She’d been afraid that Tab would be somehow hurt by the encounter, so the fact that her mother had made such a big effort should delight her, not cause pain.

The past was the past. All that mattered was that her mother had made an effort.

She watched as Tab wriggled from the sofa, still clutching the reindeer that was almost as big as her, and ran across to Gayle.

“Thank you, Nanna.” Tab wrapped her arms round Gayle’s legs and hugged.

Gayle stood stiff and unsure, then lowered her hand to Tab’s head and gave her hair a tentative stroke.

Samantha saw tears in Ella’s eyes, and her stomach dropped.

Yes, their mother had surprised them all, but Samantha didn’t trust it; she just didn’t trust it.

Was this another high before a massive low?

This wasn’t her mother’s normal behavior. They both knew that.

“I have a surprise waiting for you in the kitchen,” Gayle said to Tab. “Would you like to see?”

“Yes. But I’m bringing Rudolph.” Tab followed her grandmother to the kitchen, leaving the three remaining adults standing awkwardly in the living room staring at each other.

Ella shook her head. “I don’t get it,” she said. “Look at this—” She swept her hand around the room.

“I’m looking.”

“I mean—did you have the faintest clue she was capable of this?”

“No. Why would I?” Their mother had never done anything like this for them.

“I didn’t realize she even knew what a Christmas tree was.”

“Mmm. And that reindeer. Did you ever see a more frivolous, useless, extravagant—”

“—gorgeous gift,” Ella said. “Adorable. And no, I didn’t.” She turned to Michael. “This is not our mother. She gave us useful gifts. Gifts with purpose, designed to promote advancement in some way.”

“Well, she’s clearly doing better in that direction.” Michael tried to be tactful.

Ella was looking at Michael. “But why? Why now?”

“Because she wants us to spend Christmas together.” Samantha touched the decoration nearest to her, noticing that it still had a tiny price tag on it. “And she knows that the only way to make that happen is through her granddaughter. That’s why she’s making an effort.” Her mother had done all this for Tab.