Butterfly Barn by Karen Power

Author:Karen Power
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kazoo Independent Publishing Services

Chapter Eleven

Jess, the major red alert is over. Kate managed to make Richard smile. Maybe it won’t be so bad after all,” said Grace, sitting down to a cup of tea with Jessie by the kitchen counter in Rose Cottage.

“I always knew I’d be useful for something.” Kate laughed.

“Great, so your mother is coming. I met Lauren and she’s delighted about the kids going pony trekking after the Christmas dinner,” said Jessie. “It’s going to be a great day after all. I’ll hardly have anything left to do at this stage. Everybody has offered to cook something.”

Grace heard a car crunch along the gravel. “It must be Sophia and Richard, they went to the market in Bayrush.”

Sophia came in with Richard carrying some shopping bags.

“Hi guys we’re just discussing who’s doing what for Christmas Day. Let’s make a list.”

“I’m making a tiramisu for desert. It’s a recipe from my cookery course in Cliff Manor,” said Sophia proudly.

“Whoooh!” said the girls in chorus.

“All downhill from that!” laughed Grace. “Mam is doing the Brussels sprouts. She fries them with garlic and bacon. They’re delicious.”

“Yuck, I can’t be convinced. Moving on,” said Jessie.

“I’m making garlic gratin potatoes and Kate is cooking the ham, which is a small miracle!” said Grace.

“Nigella says all I have to do is place it in a pot and add a bottle of Coke and boil. Ye’ll all lick your fingers after it.”

They all laughed.

“So that leaves the turkey and I’ll boil and roast potatoes. Nora always makes the Christmas cake and pudding,” said Jessie.

“Oh great. I didn’t know Nora was going to be there too,” said Sophia, delighted.

“Of course, Monique and Nora celebrate Christmas with us every year.”

“So how many do we have in total, nine adults and Sam?” asked Sophia.

“No, ten, Eoghan is coming,” said Grace. Grace noticed Richard, who was reading the newspaper in the living room, look up and smile over at his mother. Sophia had confided in Grace that she had spent last Christmas with just the two of them alone in a house in the Hamptons. She had made Grace promise not to tell the others about her wealth. Grace had previously told Kate about the limo experience, but had gone back on her story and said it was a friend’s one. It didn’t matter to her one way or the other, and she couldn’t really understand why Sophia was so secretive about it. Who cared what she had?

Grace woke to the smell of sausages cooking. She felt a sharp pang of memory. Dirk had always cooked sausages on Christmas morning before they had gone to their respective homes for Christmas dinner. On Richard’s first morning here she had cooked sausages and every morning since he began his day with them. She smiled through what could so easily have been tears. She pulled up a pair of leggings and slipped her feet into furry slippers and went downstairs. Ever since their lunch at Kilowen the atmosphere in the house had lifted. She was looking forward to the day, surrounded by all the people she loved.

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