Christmas for Beginners - Carole Matthews Page 0,31

seeing you again. Maybe Lucas will invite you to our open day.’

‘I’d love that,’ she says. ‘He’s told me all about it. I can’t wait to meet the animals.’

That has to be a good thing? He knows his father is likely to be there and yet he’s still asked her to come.

Just as Lucas is opening the door to the caravan, I hear a car pull up at the gate. And not just any car. Lucas and I exchange a glance.

‘Damn,’ Lucas mutters.

The quiet purring sound of Shelby’s Bentley is quite distinctive. It can only be him.

I feel guilty, as if I’m caught in a clandestine act. Which I am, in some ways. Lucas’s face changes too.

‘What?’ Aurora says, as well she might.

‘You have to go now,’ Lucas says and tries to hurry her into her coat.

But it’s too late, Shelby has let himself through and is already parking in the yard outside the caravan, right next to Aurora’s more modest car. There’s no way that Lucas can get his girlfriend out without her meeting his father.

While Aurora looks puzzled and Lucas and I behave as guiltily as we possibly can, the door opens and Shelby steps inside. ‘Hello, there,’ he says and then stops in his tracks when he sees Aurora. ‘I didn’t know you had company.’

‘This is Aurora,’ I say when Lucas fails to speak.

‘She’s just leaving.’ Lucas pushes the poor, bewildered girl towards the door.

‘Don’t hurry away on my account.’ Shelby turns on the full force of his charm. Which is exactly what Lucas will hate.

‘Are you . . .’ she stammers.

‘I am.’ Shelby beams at her. Not just a normal beam, his mega-watt, starry beam. Lucas’s face grows dark. Oh, dear.

Aurora turns to Lucas. ‘You didn’t say.’

‘It’s no big deal.’ Lucas has reverted to angry teenager, which is sad to see.

I step between Shelby and Lucas. ‘Aurora has things to do,’ I say. ‘We shouldn’t keep her.’

‘I don’t,’ she says. ‘I can stay longer.’

‘Lucas, you see your friend to her car and I’ll put the kettle on.’

Lucas takes Aurora’s elbow and steers her out.

‘Thank you again for dinner,’ she shouts as she leaves rather unceremoniously.

I turn to Shelby. ‘Tea?’

‘I think I need a double brandy,’ he says. ‘Is that what I think it was?’

‘She’s a friend,’ I tell him.

‘My eye,’ is Shelby’s verdict. ‘My son has a cracker of a girlfriend and I’m the last to know, as always.’

His tone is crisper than it needs to be.

‘It was a last-minute arrangement,’ I offer placatingly. ‘I wasn’t expecting Aurora and I wasn’t expecting you.’

‘Evidently.’

Lucas comes back in, rubbing his hands nipped by the cold. His face is like thunder.

‘Well,’ Shelby says. ‘Are you going to let your old dad in on this?’

‘There’s nothing to tell. She’s a friend.’

‘A very pretty one.’

Lucas’s eyes narrow and, if I’m honest with you, I wish Shelby hadn’t turned up. Lucas is obviously feeling very sensitive and sometimes Shelby needs his mouth taping up. Why does he have to say all the wrong things when it comes to Lucas?

‘Come on then, spill the beans. Why are you keeping her hidden?’

‘Shelby,’ I say. ‘Let it drop. We’ll have a nice cuppa and you can tell us all about how your filming went today.’

‘Yeah, let’s turn the subject back to you, Daddy,’ Lucas snarls. ‘We wouldn’t want anyone else having any attention.’

Shelby’s face tightens and I feel resignation wash over me. Here we go again.

‘I know you and Molly like your little secrets, but I’m the one who pays all the bills round here. I think I’m entitled to know what’s going on.’

Now it’s my turn to look shocked. ‘I don’t think there’s any need to play that card.’ I turn to Lucas. ‘I’m sorry, Lucas, but would you mind going to your room. I’d like to speak to your father privately.’

He goes to speak, but I hold up a hand and so he turns on his heels and marches towards his room. As he does, the dogs start to bark and Lucas opens the door to my bedroom, letting them out. Thanks for that, Lucas. Sensing that Shelby’s here, they bound into the living room and try to jump all over him and lick him to death.

‘Down,’ I say. ‘No jumping!’ The dogs, too pleased to see Shelby, bounce with joy and ignore every word I utter. Much jumping is involved. They love him. What can I say?

‘Can’t you control these hounds?’ he snaps. ‘I’ve spent all day on set with bloody animals.