upside down.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Exactly my point. You used to like complicated. Listen, why don't you go and see him, try to put him to rest one way or another. I know you’ve got unfinished business there.”
“You mean go and fuck his brains out and then move on.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time. But seriously, it’s not just about sex. He’s got under your skin, and you need to find out why. You should ask him outright what's going on. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“You have no idea, Max. No idea at all.”
Max stood upright. “That’s the door. Dan’s here, I need to get my case.”
She left the kitchen, calling, “Can you let him in,” as she went.
“Sure.” Robin went to the front door, and opened it to a very nervous looking Dan. “Come in. How does it feel to be about to spend Christmas with your in-laws to be?”
“Hello, to you too Robin.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas Dan. So, seriously, how are you feeling?”
“Don’t ask. My mom is having kittens about the whole thing. Mainly about the Christmas presents for the girls. By the way, Helen said you were welcome to spend Christmas with her if you're stuck.”
“That is sweet, but I’m going to be OK here on my own.” She raised her voice so Max could hear. “I’m not some lonely old spinster yet.”
“She only cares about you,” Dan said, placing his hand on Robin’s arm.
“I know, and I love her to death, so you look after her and protect her from that father of hers. He is such a snob, and I don’t want her upset on your first Christmas together.”
“I will do my best.”
“And don’t let her worry about me,” Robin said, dropping her voice. “I will be fine, just have a great time together.”
“We will. But remember, Helen would love to see you.”
“I don’t know if I’m quite up to playing dolls all day. Kids have this ability to be extra excited at Christmas, and I might be a downer. But I’ll call her. How is she?”
“Better. But she needs a break really to get her and the girls out of the rut they’re in.”
“Max was talking about getting her some temp work at the bank to boost her CV. Do you think Helen will do that?”
“Max has spoken to her about it. But it’s a step out of her comfort zone. She hasn’t done serious work since before she had the girls. I don’t know. She deserves so much more than she’s been handed.”
“Don’t we all? Brad Mitt in my stocking would be nice. I can guarantee I wouldn’t miss you both at all if that’s what Santa has in store for me this year.”
“I’m going to miss you Robin,” he said smiling at her. “Next year we are definitely going to spend Christmas here with you.”
“Only because you want me to cook.”
“You read my mind.” He looked past Robin and his eyes lit up. “Here she is. Packed for a month?”
“Oh. Does it look as if I’ve over done it?”
“No. Not at all,” he said quickly. “It’s just a good job I’m travelling very light.”
“You have packed a suit?”
Robin couldn’t resist winding him up. “Yes, Dan. A tuxedo would be better, you are going to be dining with the country elite.”
“Robin,” Max warned.
“Sorry. Look,” she said, holding one of their hands in each of hers, “You two are the blazing light of love. Do not let that change, no matter what happens while you're away.”
“We won’t,” Max answered, leaning forward and kissing Dan on the cheek. Over his shoulder she saw the time. “Damn, we’re going to be late. Come on, Dan. Are your mom and dad already on the way?”
“Yes,” Dan lifted her suitcases, and the two of them were ushered out of the door by Robin. With last goodbyes, and hugs, they finally went off to their family Christmas.
Robin stood watching the two most important people in her life disappearing. Only now, with the empty apartment behind her, did she realise how lonely she was beginning to
“It’s complicated.”
“Exactly my point. You used to like complicated. Listen, why don't you go and see him, try to put him to rest one way or another. I know you’ve got unfinished business there.”
“You mean go and fuck his brains out and then move on.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time. But seriously, it’s not just about sex. He’s got under your skin, and you need to find out why. You should ask him outright what's going on. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“You have no idea, Max. No idea at all.”
Max stood upright. “That’s the door. Dan’s here, I need to get my case.”
She left the kitchen, calling, “Can you let him in,” as she went.
“Sure.” Robin went to the front door, and opened it to a very nervous looking Dan. “Come in. How does it feel to be about to spend Christmas with your in-laws to be?”
“Hello, to you too Robin.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas Dan. So, seriously, how are you feeling?”
“Don’t ask. My mom is having kittens about the whole thing. Mainly about the Christmas presents for the girls. By the way, Helen said you were welcome to spend Christmas with her if you're stuck.”
“That is sweet, but I’m going to be OK here on my own.” She raised her voice so Max could hear. “I’m not some lonely old spinster yet.”
“She only cares about you,” Dan said, placing his hand on Robin’s arm.
“I know, and I love her to death, so you look after her and protect her from that father of hers. He is such a snob, and I don’t want her upset on your first Christmas together.”
“I will do my best.”
“And don’t let her worry about me,” Robin said, dropping her voice. “I will be fine, just have a great time together.”
“We will. But remember, Helen would love to see you.”
“I don’t know if I’m quite up to playing dolls all day. Kids have this ability to be extra excited at Christmas, and I might be a downer. But I’ll call her. How is she?”
“Better. But she needs a break really to get her and the girls out of the rut they’re in.”
“Max was talking about getting her some temp work at the bank to boost her CV. Do you think Helen will do that?”
“Max has spoken to her about it. But it’s a step out of her comfort zone. She hasn’t done serious work since before she had the girls. I don’t know. She deserves so much more than she’s been handed.”
“Don’t we all? Brad Mitt in my stocking would be nice. I can guarantee I wouldn’t miss you both at all if that’s what Santa has in store for me this year.”
“I’m going to miss you Robin,” he said smiling at her. “Next year we are definitely going to spend Christmas here with you.”
“Only because you want me to cook.”
“You read my mind.” He looked past Robin and his eyes lit up. “Here she is. Packed for a month?”
“Oh. Does it look as if I’ve over done it?”
“No. Not at all,” he said quickly. “It’s just a good job I’m travelling very light.”
“You have packed a suit?”
Robin couldn’t resist winding him up. “Yes, Dan. A tuxedo would be better, you are going to be dining with the country elite.”
“Robin,” Max warned.
“Sorry. Look,” she said, holding one of their hands in each of hers, “You two are the blazing light of love. Do not let that change, no matter what happens while you're away.”
“We won’t,” Max answered, leaning forward and kissing Dan on the cheek. Over his shoulder she saw the time. “Damn, we’re going to be late. Come on, Dan. Are your mom and dad already on the way?”
“Yes,” Dan lifted her suitcases, and the two of them were ushered out of the door by Robin. With last goodbyes, and hugs, they finally went off to their family Christmas.
Robin stood watching the two most important people in her life disappearing. Only now, with the empty apartment behind her, did she realise how lonely she was beginning to
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