The Butler

29

Chapter 29

Since that day, it felt like there was a wall between Richard and me. There was this quiet tension like we were tiptoeing around something neither of us wanted to address. I went back to my duties as the head butler, and with Richard working closely with his father, we hardly saw each other except during meals or when we crossed paths in the house.

I couldn't shake the feeling that Richard was observing me from a distance, like a predator studying its prey. There were times when it seemed like he was about to say something, but then he'd hold back, leaving me with this weird, uneasy feeling. As autumn faded into winter and the trees lost their leaves, and before I knew it, Christmas was upon us.

Mr. and Mrs. Preston were buzzing with excitement about their annual Christmas vacation—it was all they could talk about. As for me, with no family to go home to for the holidays, I decided to stay behind and watch the house. It's not like the Prestons didn't know about my situation. I used to tag along with them when I was a kid, and they even invited me to join them again this year, but I turned them down. It just felt awkward, especially with Richard going too.

Most of the staff had already left for the holidays. Evelyn had invited me to spend Christmas with her family, but I politely declined. That morning, I helped the Prestons load their luggage into the car, though I noticed Richard hadn't shown up yet. Probably still in bed, I figured.

"Thanks for your help, Carlton. Happy holidays!" Mr. Preston said.

"Are you sure you'll be alright? The invitation still stands if you change your mind," Mrs. Preston said, giving me a warm farewell hug.

"I'll be fine, thank you," I replied. "By the way, I noticed Richard isn't here yet. Is he aware of the travel time?"

"Oh, didn't he tell you?" Mrs. Preston asked, puzzled. "He said he had other plans and couldn't join us. I suppose the time has come when our child prefers to do his own thing."

"Are you two talking about me?" Richard's voice came from behind us. He looked effortlessly elegant, dressed casually in a white crew-neck sweater that hugged the broad lines of his shoulders. 

The Prestons exchanged one last round of cheerful goodbyes, completely missing the quiet tension hanging between Richard and I. Mrs. Preston gave his arm a gentle squeeze. "We'll only be gone a few days. Take care of yourself, darling."

Mr. Preston shot him a look and said, "Remember, son, you've got the house to yourself. Try not to drive Carlton mad with your late nights." He gave a small chuckle as he got into the car.

I stood back, keeping my posture steady as I watched the car pull away, the crunch of gravel slowly fading as they disappeared down the driveway.

"Well," Richard broke the silence. "looks like it's just the two of us."

"Yes, sir," I replied, keeping my tone as neutral as possible, "Just the two of us." I hope he plans on spending the holidays with his friends.

He chuckled softly, seemingly unbothered by my formal response. "So what are we doing later?" 

I turned toward him, narrowing my eyes slightly. "I'm sorry. What do you mean by that?"

"I'm staying to celebrate Christmas with you."

He what? I tried my best not to make a groan when I heard what he said. This guy really ditched an extravagant vacation to stay here... with me? He had to be joking. "I don't remember inviting you to anything."

"Ouch! Do you really hate me that much?"

"Richard," I said, keeping my voice even, "why didn't you go with your parents?"

"Because I didn't want you to be alone on Christmas Day." 

That hit differently. As much as I wanted to stay annoyed, there was something in his tone, something genuine, that made me feel... seen.

"Fine," I sighed, giving in. "Since you're here, let's have a proper dinner. But we'll need to go shopping first."

He grinned. "Sounds good."

After a long day of buying groceries, cooking, and baking, the table was finally set with a feast. There was pot roast, honey-baked ham, lasagna, and desserts like tiramisu and truffles. It was too much food for just the two of us, but it seemed right for the occasion.

Richard surveyed the table, nodding in approval. "You've really outdone yourself."

I shrugged. "You helped."

We sat down and Richard poured us each a glass of wine. "From the family stash," he said, holding up the bottle before pouring. "Might as well make the most of it."

The food was good and the awkwardness from the past few days  were fading. For the first time in days, we weren't trying to fill the silence with meaningless pleasantries. It was just... easy. Comfortable. 

Conversation came naturally as we shared memories and stories. Richard talked about how the house felt different at Christmas depending on who was around, especially when I left for college.

He recounted sneaking into the kitchen for extra cookies, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Aha! so you were the 'ghost' that Evelyn was talking about. It's just you sneaking out for some treats."

As the night wore on, the fire crackled softly in the background, and I realized how much time had passed. Our plates were nearly empty, but neither of us seemed ready to leave the table. For the first time in a while, I didn't feel so alone.

Richard leaned back in his chair, swirling the last bit of wine in his glass. "I'm glad I stayed this year," he said, his tone casual but sincere. "It's different, but in a good way."

I looked down at my empty plate, unsure how to respond, but there was no need to fill the silence. We were both comfortable in it, and that, more than anything, made this holiday feel different.

After a moment, Richard leaned forward slightly, sliding a small gift box across the table. "I've got something for you."

I blinked in surprise. "You didn't have to do that. I didn't get you anything."

"That's the point of a surprise," he teased. "Come on, open it."

I hesitantly took the gift and removed the wrapper. Even removing the delicate packaging is making me feel bad with how good it looked.

Inside was something I never expected—an advance copy of the final book in a trilogy I'd been waiting for. It wasn't due to be released until spring.

My mouth fell open. "How did you even—this isn't out yet! How did you get this?"

"I know someone at the publishing company," he said with a grin. "Thought you'd like it."

"I love it!" I exclaimed. I'm still gushing over the fact that the book I was waiting for for ages is finally in my hands. This is probably the best gift I have ever received in my entire life. "Thank you, Richard."

He smiled warmly, watching me with a soft expression. "I'm glad you liked it."

Just then, the grandfather clock chimed indicating that it's now midnight.

"Merry Christmas Carl." he said quietly, his voice softer, more intimate than before.

Our eyes met, and in that brief moment, I felt something stir inside me—something unfamiliar. A feeling I couldn't quite name. "Merry Christmas, Richard." I replied almost in a whisper.