Mix-Up under the Mistletoe (Glenbriar #11)

Chapter Nine

Rafe

R afe closed the door on Tilly. He clung to the handle for a moment, his chest feeling a little bruised. She looked so alone and desolate, like a fish out of water. A far cry from the woman with the beautiful smile. But all of it added up to a person who sparked something inside him. Curiosity, perhaps, maybe concern. This was a weird situation to be caught in, but she seemed almost panicky about seeing his family again. She needn’t be, but if she really didn’t want to see them, he could protect her.

He entered the living room to soft easy listening Christmas carols. His mum loved to play tunes like these in every room at this time of year. The buzz of happy chat alongside the music made him feel like he’d strolled into a festive café. The Christmas tree twinkled in front of the glass wall. Come summer, those doors opened onto a huge patio, bringing the outside in, but at this time of year, they were safely closed, keeping the wintery weather firmly outside.

The family sat around on the large corner group of sofas. His mum was beside Cressida, and his grandma beside Tina. Little Alexander stood at the coffee table, banging his fist on it, and Genevieve leaned forward, shaking a little teddy at him. Rafe’s dad, Geoff, sat next to Genevieve’s husband, Finlay, and without hearing what the two men were saying, Rafe guessed they were chatting about golf or rugby. Rafe closed the door behind him.

‘There you are.’ His mum looked up and spotted him. Two black labradors and a French bulldog jumped up from the fireside and bolted towards him, their tails wagging like mad.

‘Hello, hello.’ Rafe patted them all. Horace and Dax were his parents’ labs and Mitzi was Genevieve’s French bulldog. ‘Go back to your beds, you mad dogs, go on.’ He laughed as they ignored him.

‘Thank goodness you’re back,’ Hilary said. ‘I was just about to phone you.’

‘Yeah. It’s pretty treacherous out there now. A guy was stuck on the steep section near the turn off to Dalarvin.’

‘Thank goodness, you’re all safely here for the weekend.’ Geoff got to his feet and hustled the dogs back to their beds. ‘It’s great to see you, son. I hear you’ve had a bit of drama this afternoon.’ His dad embraced him, clapping him on the back.

‘Yeah, just a bit. Hey.’ He leaned over and hugged Cressida, then Tina. ‘Good to see you both, and you.’ He bent down and ruffled Alexander’s curly hair.

‘Car,’ Alexander said.

‘If you say so.’ Rafe grinned at him.

‘I think he’s trying to say your name,’ Tina said, ‘though most people seem to be called “car” at the moment.’

Rafe sat on the arm of the sofa next to his grandma.

‘So, what happened to Tilly? Did she get on a train?’ Hilary asked.

‘No, she didn’t.’

‘Where is she then?’ Genevieve lifted Mitzi onto her knee and cuddled her.

‘The poor girl.’ Grandma shook her head.

‘She’s ok, she’s in the book room.’ Rafe gave Grandma a gentle pat on the shoulder.

‘She’s here?’ Geoff gaped at him.

‘Yeah, she is.’

‘Oh, thank goodness.’ Hilary splayed her hand on her chest and let out a sigh. ‘But why is she in the book room? Bring her in here.’

‘No, she doesn’t want to come in. All of this has been a bit strange. For both of us. Neither of us has acted in a way we’re proud of.’

Genevieve pulled a face. ‘I can’t believe you made up a story about her and then she turned up here. It’s mental.’

‘It seems very odd to me,’ Geoff said. ‘I’ve been in business a long time and I’m only too aware of the ridiculous tactics some businesspeople will use, but to turn up unannounced like that was completely below the belt.’

‘She must have had her reasons,’ Hilary said. ‘She looked like a poor little lost soul.’

‘We’ve discussed it all and come to an understanding.’ Rafe focused on his dad as he spoke, knowing he’d be the hardest to convince.

‘She could be a skilled actress,’ Geoff said.

‘That wasn’t an act.’ Grandma shook her head.

‘I agree,’ Genevieve said.

‘If she works for a rival company with no ethics, then I wouldn’t trust her,’ Geoff continued. ‘Even her being back here is suspicious. How did she wangle that?’

‘I invited her,’ Rafe said. ‘She didn’t want to come back with me. She wanted to get a bus to Perth, but they won’t be running in this weather. It was this or let her spend a freezing night alone in Glenbriar.’

‘You did the right thing,’ Hilary said.

‘You did.’ Geoff nodded, then flattened his lips and frowned. ‘We couldn’t have her freezing, but we have to be very careful about what we say around her.’

‘Oh, really, Geoff,’ Grandma huffed. ‘She seems a sweet little one to me.’

‘It could all be an elaborate ploy.’ Geoff’s eyebrows knitted together. ‘We don’t know anything about her except where she works, and that speaks for itself.’

‘Normally, I’d agree with you,’ Rafe said. ‘But not this time. She talked to me on the way here and I believe her. She’s sorry for coming here. It was an unwise decision, but her bosses sound like a right bunch of tossers. Sorry.’ He pulled a face at Alexander, then leaned over and gave him a wee tickle. Alexander screamed and giggled.

‘Thankfully, he doesn’t understand that word yet,’ Cressida said.

‘Just as well,’ Rafe muttered, sitting back on the sofa arm. ‘So, anyway, I feel bad for Tilly. She’s upset about what she did. She’s loyal to the company and no matter how misguided that may be, she undertook this trip with good intentions.’

‘I hope it doesn’t backfire or come back to bite,’ Geoff said.

‘Rafe’s right,’ Genevieve said. ‘Tilly seemed really worried about something. I thought she was tired from the travelling, but she was probably nervous because she wasn’t one hundred per cent in on what she was doing.’

‘Bring her in,’ Hilary said. ‘She can join us for some food and drinks.’

Rafe shook his head. ‘She wants to be left alone, so we should respect that.’

‘As long as she’s not running off with anything,’ Geoff said.

‘Like the family jewels?’ Cressida sat up straight with a mischievous grin on her face. ‘I didn’t know we had any. Where are they?’

‘I meant information more than physical items.’

‘She won’t,’ Rafe said; despite everything that had gone on that day, he trusted her. ‘Can we make up a room for her?’

‘Of course.’ Hilary got to her feet. ‘I can do that right now.’

‘I’ll help you.’

‘No, you sit and relax. I’m happy to do it. I’d love to see Tilly.’

‘Please, leave her just now. I said she could be alone.’

‘Ok. I will.’ Hilary patted his arm. ‘I’ll go and sort a room for her.’

Rafe shifted into his mum’s vacated seat next to Cressida and put his arm around her. ‘I never had a proper chance to say hello. How are you?’

‘All good.’

‘And you, Tina?’

‘Yeah, I’m good. Relieved to be here in one piece. That was quite a drive.’

‘Driving in the snow isn’t much fun,’ Rafe agreed. ‘And look.’ He leaned down to where Alexander was now sitting on the floor, banging a toy car on the carpet. ‘You’ve found the car.’

‘Car.’ Alexander looked up and giggled, big dimples pressing into his chubby cheeks. ‘Car, car.’ He banged it on Rafe’s hand.

‘Is that a car for me? Thank you. I hope you’re still on the nice list.’

‘ You’re the only one in the house who isn’t,’ Genevieve said. ‘As usual.’

‘What? I’ve been good this year.’

She raised an eyebrow and stroked Mitzi, who was now curled in her lap. ‘You think fibbing to your little sister about your relationship status is good? And inventing a girlfriend from a picture of someone with a nice smile?’

‘She does have a nice smile, doesn’t she?’

Both Cressida and Genevieve looked at him with wide eyes.

‘Do you actually fancy her?’ Genevieve asked.

‘No.’ The word came out a little too fast. This situation was bad enough without any more complications, but he couldn’t deny there was something intriguing about her. ‘Maybe just a tiny bit,’ he whispered so his dad wouldn’t hear, and winked like he might be joking. A strange urge was growing deep within him, gnawing at his insides and tugging at his heart. An urge to discover why that beautiful smile didn’t reach her eyes and what he could do to make that happen.

‘Ooh, the intrigue,’ Genevieve said.

Hilary returned to the living room and leaned on the back of the sofa behind Rafe. ‘I’ve made up a room for her. It was already made up, in fact. I just added towels and some snacks. I wasn’t sure if Aunty Lil would make it over, so it was on standby, but she’s not able to come, so it’s all ready for Tilly. Should I go and tell her?’

‘I should do that,’ Rafe said.

‘At least let me come with you. I feel like it’s my duty to welcome her into the house. It’s sad thinking of her sitting in there all alone and I’m neglecting her.’

‘We’re just respecting her wishes, Mum. She won’t think badly of you for doing that.’

‘I suppose not. She just looked like she needed a good hug.’

Was it wrong that he wanted to be the person administering that hug? The thought of taking her in his arms and holding her close set off little fires inside him. What in hell’s name was that all about?

He flexed his fingers and got to his feet. ‘I’ll go and speak to her.’

His mum looked at him with pleading eyes.

‘Ok, Mum. You can come too.’