Love, Probably.

“Your family has not been here since six years, Marlene.” The wisened housekeeper Bathilda said as she opened the front door to the McKinnon’s holiday home. Or former holiday home. It had passed to her after her mother had died, almost six years ago, and she hadn’t had the heart to come back.

Unnervingly, it smelt the same. Pine and cinnamon. And everything was as they left it. Bathilda had clearly given the place a good clean once she’d heard of Marlene’s plans as everything was spotless.

“Yes, after my mother died, it felt too soon to come back, then the pandemic happened…”

“And what brings you back to Pöcking now?”

“You remember my older sister? Emmeline? Or, half-sister…” Marlene hated even speaking her name.

“I do. Very tall, if I remember. Tall and skinny! Far too skinny. Needs some cake.”

“Well, yes, I suppose... well, she and my partner have been having an affair so… London feels like the wrong place to be right now.” Marlene watched the pity rise in the old lady’s face. “I’ll be ok, I just need some space. I always wanted to come here and write a book, so… that’s my plan.”

“Well, I hope it works out for you.” She nodded. “I have hired a housekeeper for your stay in this month. She will come by every day to keep on top of things. I remember how you are.”

“Hired?”

“Marlene I am eighty-five, I cannot move as I used to. Her name is Dorcas. She does not speak English and I have pre-warned her about your…” She gestured vaguely at Marlene “Your personality.”

“My personality?!”

“Yes, you are… spirited.” Bathilda pulled a sour face “You have never been particularly personable.”

“Well… even so… that’s… You warned her about my personality? Jesus, Tilda.”

“Yes. She is a nice girl. Close to your age. You are to be nothing but polite to her. I will not be hiring a replacement!”

Marlene opened and closed her mouth several times. “Of course, I’ll be polite to her! I’m not a complete twat!”

“Hmmm,” Bathilda said Noncommittally. “She will be here in the morning at ten. Be awake.”

“Yes, of course.” Marlene nodded, a little put out that Bathilda had felt the need to warn this Dorcas about her. “Thank you, Tilda. For all of this. I know it was short notice, I just needed to get away.”

Bathilda nodded, “I hope that your stay here will be so pleasant.”

🌙✨🎄✨🌙

The following morning, at 9:56, Marlene dragged herself out of bed and hastily got dressed, brushed her teeth, and was in the process of making coffee when the front door opened. She froze, like a deer in the headlights. In the doorway of her home was the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen—and she’d seen a lot of beautiful women. She was tall, her long braids swished over her shoulder as she entered, and she looked surprised to see Marlene.

“Ah, hallo!” Dorcas said, smiling. “Haushälterin?”

“Uh… yes?” Marlene said. She really should have brushed up on her German. She told herself that if she’d had more preparation and planning then she would have, but deep down she knew that she would have put it off until it was too late and struggled anyway. “Ich… heiße… Marlene.”

“Ja. Das weiß ich schon.” Dorcas chuckled. “Um… I clean?” She said, pointing at the kitchen.

Marlene nodded, although as just one person, she really didn’t need a housekeeper, she didn’t want to turn someone away from a job, especially not this someone.

“Coffee?” Marlene asked, pointing at the machine. Dorcas shook her head with a smile. “Alright. I’ll be in the study. Uh, in there.” She gestured to the large room that overlooked Lake Starnberg before disappearing through the door, closing it behind her and sitting in the desk chair with a sigh. She realised too late that she had left her coffee in the kitchen.

After a few minutes she begrudgingly opened the door to the kitchen and saw Dorcas standing there, holding out the coffee with a smile on her face.

“Oh, thank you.” Marlene accepted the coffee as a blush rose up her cheeks. “I need it clearly.”

“Sie brauchen eindeutig den Kaffee.” Dorcas laughed softly. “Und wie schafft es jemand, an einem Tag so viele Tassen zu trinken?”

Marlene just shrugged awkwardly. “I… I should get to work.”

🌙✨🎄✨🌙

“Daddyyyy.”

“Teddyyyy.” Remus teased in the same tone as Teddy clambered into the car.

“I got a part in the school play for the big concert thing.” Teddy clipped himself in and Remus double-checked it was secure before slipping into the front seat.

“You did? What are you going to be, cyw?”

“A lobster!” Teddy laughed excitedly.

“A… lobster?” Remus’ eyes widened as he looked at Teddy in the rearview mirror. "Like... a lobster? A crustacean? A lobster?"

“Yep. First Lobster.” Teddy said, smugly.

“There was more than one lobster present at the first of Jesus Christ?” Remus asked.

“Duh!”

“Oh, right, yes of course. It’s been a while since I’ve read…uh, the bible.” Remus mumbled. “Were there any zebras present in Bethlehem that night?”

“Don’t be silly, daddy.” Teddy laughed, “Lobsters, sheep, donkeys, octopuses and a camel, called Callum.”

“Ah, yes Callum the camel is a big part of the story. Many nativity plays miss him out entirely and it's a crying shame!” Remus huffed out a laugh, “Also, fun fact Teddy, the plural of octopus isn’t octopuses, it’s octopi.”

“No, it isn't!”

“Yes, it is.” Remus laughed, “Like the plural of sheep is just sheep, some words are weird like that.”

“An octopus pie?” Teddy asked incredulously. “Sounds icky.”

“It does, doesn’t it? When I was little, your Mam-gu let me eat calamari, a squid ring. I thought it was an onion ring and I was very surprised when I bit into it and it was chewy like rubber. Not my favourite!”

Teddy laughed and then was silent for a while.

“You ok there, Teddy bach?”

“Will mummy come to the show?” He asked in a small voice. “I want her to see me be a lobster.”

“Oh, love, I can’t give you an answer to that right now. She’s so busy at the moment. She’s… helping Santa out with all the presents. So I don’t know if she’ll make it or not. But I will let her know, and maybe Santa will let her have the day off.” Remus immediately kicked himself for the lie.

“But she’s not an elf.” Teddy frowned. "Why does Santa need her?"

“No, but sometimes Santa needs humans to oversee things. And he saw how special your mummy is and knew he needed her to help out.” Remus was screaming at himself inside his head as the lie got deeper. “Maybe, Teddy, but I don’t want you to get your hopes up. Remember, just because she’s not here, it doesn’t mean that she doesn’t love you very much.”

“I miss her…” Teddy sniffled.

Remus looked at him in the rearview mirror and sighed softly before pulling over into a lay-by, getting out of the car and opening the back door. He unclipped Teddy from his booster seat and wrapped him up in his arms as he sniffled again.

“I know you do. I miss her too.” Well that was a lie. “She’s still your mummy, and she still loves you.” Although not enough to call or write to her son, Remus thought. Let alone show up to his show.

“Do you think if I write another letter to Santa, he’ll give her the day off?” Teddy asked, eyes watery. “Maybe if I tell him I don’t need anything else…”

Remus had no idea how to navigate this situation he’d gotten himself into, so he just hummed noncommittally. “Maybe, let’s see when we get home. But first. What about… McDonalds?”

Teddy nodded enthusiastically, sat back in his seat and let Remus fasten him back in.

“Whether or not mummy is there. I’ll be there, and Mam-gu is coming too, and you’re going to be the best bloody lobster there ever was, ok?”

Teddy nodded with a small sigh that broke Remus’ heart.