The Christmas Spirit Page 11

  Sophie was taken aback to hear from Meredith. She knew Amelia had given her strict instructions not to work. So she was pleasantly surprised when she ascertained what Meredith wanted and agreed immediately to help. Meredith asked her to call around to Amelia’s under the pretext of seeing how she was and she would provide her with the list then.

  Meredith began to makes notes in her indecipherable, loopy scrawl.

  Jasper - an e-reader. He’d mentioned that he’d broken the screen on his and that was why he was reading a paperback. Although personally Meredith preferred to read paper books, she could see the attraction, particularly for the younger generation, and if it got them reading, that could only be a good thing.

  Edward - Nintendo 2DS and some games.

  Alannah - had expressed an interest in listening to music like they did ‘in the olden days’, so Meredith chose a turntable and indicated she wanted a selection of albums of hit artists through the decades.

  Max - since she had arrived at Amelia’s, she had noticed that Max was absolutely nuts about Peppa Pig, so much so that his parents acted out the parts of Mummy and Daddy Pig, much to Meredith’s amusement and Alannah and Jasper’s horror. Edward was still young enough to find it funny. So for Max, something Peppa Pig related. Sophie would know better than her what to get - difficult to choose without being able to physically see the toys on offer.

  Amelia - Amelia had everything she could ever want, but Meredith thought perhaps a weekend at Gleneagles for her and Gareth, as well as a dress for her sister, similar to one worn by a model on a TV show they’d watched together the other night and which Amelia had said was gorgeous.

  Gareth - a ‘swimming with sharks’ experience. He’d always said he’d fancied it. Now he’d have to man up and prove if he’d been kidding them on all along. Personally Meredith thought he was serious about it. Now was his chance.

  Even Sheba the golden retriever would get a present, a spa day for dogs. Jasper would probably thank her for that most, since he seemed to take care of her almost exclusively.

  Meredith knew that Amelia had twenty-one people coming for Christmas dinner, including their parents, her in-laws, and cousins on Gareth’s side, so she added a few little presents to the list: Belgian chocolates, a couple of bottles of champagne, two silk ties, as well as a Barbie doll and a wooden train set. Well before Sophie arrived to take charge of the list, Meredith was able to sit back and admire it as a job well done.

  ‘Which garden centre did you buy the tree at?’ Jacob asked Natalie just before closing that day.

  ‘Oh, it was the one on Loch Road,’ said Natalie. ‘Not got your tree up yet?’

  ‘No,’ Jacob started to explain, then changed what he was going to say to, ‘You know, with Tabitha arriving and her news, I haven’t had time yet.’

  ‘Well, you don’t want to wait much longer, or you won’t get the best out of it.’

  ‘I know, I’m going to call in on the way home, see if they can deliver it tonight or tomorrow night.’

  Once Jacob and she had parted ways, heading for opposite ends of town, Natalie smiled. She knew why Jacob hadn’t seen fit to put his tree up yet, but was glad to see he now felt the time had arrived.

  Chapter Twenty

  18th December

  The phone rang just as Stanley was coming in the front door. He didn’t even have time to pick up the mail lying behind it. Even with his stick to aid him, he couldn’t move particularly quickly at the best of times, with his arthritis, but he always tried to reach a ringing phone. You never knew, it could be important. The climb up the four flights of stairs had worn him out, too. He’d been on the housing list to get a house on the level for the past eight years, but still nothing. He reached the phone and said a breathless, ‘Hello?’

  ‘Grandpa, it’s me.’

  ‘Thomas, my boy, how are you?’ Stanley’s breathlessness and tiredness were long forgotten, as he revelled in the rare phone call from his only grandson.

  ‘I’m good, Grandpa, how are you?’

  ‘Oh, you know, not bad, son. So what have you been up to?’

  ‘I have something to tell you. I’m getting married.’

  ‘Aw, congratulations, son, that’s great news. When’s the big day?’

  ‘Christmas Eve,’ Thomas informed him.

  ‘That’s next week!’

  ‘I know. It’s been a bit hectic getting everything organised.’

  Stanley sat down on his chair with the cordless phone and said, ‘I would have loved to be there, son, but you know how things are.’

  ‘I do, Grandpa, and I really wanted you there,’ his grandson admitted.

  Stanley was touched.

  ‘That’s why we decided to get married in Scotland.’

  ‘What?’ Stanley almost fell off his chair. ‘You’re coming here?’

  ‘Yep. Catherine and I decided we wanted to get married on Loch Lomond, even though it will be freezing,’ he said.

  ‘Oh son, I can’t believe it. That’s fantastic news! When are you coming?’

  ‘Our flight’s the day after tomorrow. We’re going to see the New Year in in Scotland, too.’

  ‘You don’t know how happy you’ve just made me,’ Stanley said, openly weeping now.

  ‘Grandpa, don’t cry. I think Mum and Dad would have wanted this, too. We hoped we could spend Christmas Day with you, before we spend a bit of time on our Scottish honeymoon.’

  ‘That would be wonderful.’ Stanley could barely get the words out, tears flowing openly down his face.

  Once the details had been discussed, Stanley hung up and cast his eyes skywards. ‘Thank you, Edie.’

  He knew his angel had looked after him - now he wouldn’t be alone this Christmas.

  ‘I managed to get everything on the list.’ Sophie handed a bunch of receipts and invoices to Meredith, as well as a bundle of gifts. As per Meredith’s instructions she’d also bought masses of fancy silver and gold wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, and more gift wrapping paraphernalia than she had thought one person could ever need. Personalised cards had also been created and only needed Meredith to include her special message inside each one.

  ‘I didn’t doubt it,’ Meredith smiled at her and Sophie almost passed out from the shock.

  Meredith knew how to smile? She must really be ill.

  ‘Thanks for this,’ Meredith gestured to the bundles beside her.

  It took all of Sophie’s resolve for her legs not to give way beneath her.

  ‘No problem,’ she said, returning Meredith’s smile. It felt a bit weird, smiling at Cruella, but for some reason also kind of right. She was a diminished Cruella right now; almost human.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  19th December

  ‘This arrived for you.’ Amelia placed a box on Meredith’s bedside table.

  ‘What is it?’ Meredith asked, furrowing her brow. She wasn’t expecting anything. Sophie had bought everything she’d requested and nothing was being delivered directly here, just in case it was intercepted by nosy children.

  ‘No idea. Courier just dropped it off.’

  Meredith undid the voluminous transparent wrapping paper which housed a pale pink box. Peering closely at it, she saw the box was emblazoned with the logo, Sugar and Spice. Opening it, she saw a selection of miniature cakes. An envelope lay on top. Meredith opened the envelope, took out the note it contained, read it and smiled.

  Since you can’t come to us, we didn’t want you to miss out on our Christmas cakes. Here are miniature versions of those you’ve missed. Get well soon, Natalie and Jacob.

  Meredith reread the note and then noticed it was wet. Confused, she suddenly realised it was from tears that had fallen from her. People can be very good, she thought. She dried her eyes, picked up the box and headed downstairs to share the cakes with her family.

  Stanley admired himself in the mirror. He had been all for wearing his kilt, but had spoken to George the night before, who had advised him that might make him a tad
overdressed, particularly as their party was during the day. Stanley had conceded that was true and had chosen instead a navy blazer and teamed that with a pair of smart navy trousers. His tie was gold and navy, and he combed his hair until he deemed himself presentable. For some reason it felt of paramount importance that he make an effort. Edie would be watching.

  Another manic day at Sugar and Spice. Tabitha had been in to sample some of the Christmas cakes, moaning Jacob never brought her any home, but in reality to get her out of the house and mixing with people. She had registered with the medical practice and the midwife in the town, as a first crucial step to moving in permanently with her brother. Neither Tabitha nor Jacob felt the need to inform their parents. It wasn’t as if they were in regular contact and the last e-mail had indicated they would spend Christmas in Dubai, courtesy of Sheik Rashid bin Khalifa. Tabitha hadn’t even seen fit to tell her parents they were to become grandparents. She couldn’t bear the thought of the lecture, and she didn’t exactly expect them to be ecstatic, so she felt it was fair enough to let them wait.

  As Meredith observed Amelia with her youngest son, the obvious bond between them melted her usually icy heart. She really does have it all figured out, doesn’t she?

  As the three of them munched on some of the miniature cakes, the adults exclaiming how divine they were and Max voicing Yum! occasionally, Meredith began to realise she didn’t want to go back to the way things had been before. It was time to make some changes, drastic ones.

  At Crilly’s Hotel, the pensioners’ Christmas party was in full swing. The caterers had excelled themselves and Cathy and her team had arrived earlier that day to decorate the function suite with Christmas banners, balloons, baubles and even a piñata - old people were just like children - they enjoyed party games, although musical chairs was obviously out, as some would have issues getting out of the chairs at all, and the game would last an exceedingly long time. They did, however, manage Pass the Parcel. The strains of forties and fifties music could be heard coming from the hotel’s sound system. Cathy and Betty had made it their business to get it right, by asking the pensioners over the course of the past ten days who their favourite musicians were.

  Lunch was grander than their usual affair at the club, even though the quality there was also pretty good - Cathy and her gang made sure of that. But the caterers really had done a first class job. Quails eggs on toast; chicken liver paté with oatcakes, or smoked salmon, made up the starters. Turkey with all the trimmings, roast lamb with winter vegetables and roast potatoes, or ham with the same accompaniments constituted the main event. The dessert menu consisted of homemade apple pie, for those with a less adventurous palate; white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake, or sticky toffee and date pudding with lashings of creamy custard.

  After lunch Stanley and his friends sang along and those who were able to, danced, to their heroes and heroines. Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Bing Crosby’s White Christmas, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee and Perry Como were some of those who brought back happy memories. For Stanley’s part, the song which reminded him most of Edie was Frank Sinatra’s I’ve Got You Under My Skin, and as he watched men and women dance to it, he smiled and remembered how she had looked then. Beautiful - with her poodle cut she’d reminded him of Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. He preferred to think of her now as she had been as a young woman and not the older one who had been ravaged by the disease that had ultimately taken her. They had shared so many good times and Stanley knew he was a lucky man. He hoped with all his heart that his grandson and his bride-to-be could have even half the happiness he had experience with his beloved wife.

  At Amelia’s, Meredith was scribbling away in a small notebook she carried in her bag. A picture was forming in her mind of how the future could be, if she let go of the reins even a little. Some time for herself would be a good start. Maybe eventually she’d entertain the idea of someone special in her life again. Witnessing the harmony amid the bedlam of her sister’s home, Meredith had come to realise that she wasn’t quite so against disorder as she had first thought. It had its place. Although she couldn’t quite reconcile herself to the idea of having children, and quite frankly she was probably too old now, she could still have a family life; she could be a more hands-on aunt and what better time to start than Christmas? Amelia had already made it clear Meredith wouldn’t be going back to her own flat until the New Year, and if she tried, Amelia would put in a call to her doctor, who would recommend she go back into hospital.

  Suddenly Meredith was looking forward to Christmas, imagining what it would be like watching the children open their presents, their little excited faces when they asked if Santa had been. Of course, the older two knew that Santa didn’t exist, but Edward and Max were still little enough to believe.

  Meredith sketched out some ideas for the company - nothing to stress her out. If anything, she was sure the doctor would approve. Even putting pen to paper in this way seemed to make any remaining stress flow out of her; the exercise in itself was cathartic.

  You were never too old to receive a present from Santa, it appeared. Not all of the money raised for the party had been spent, so Cathy had decided they should buy each of the members a small gift, nothing fancy, just a wee minding. Stanley was delighted with his book about Scottish birds. It had been a long time since he’d done any serious bird-watching, but perhaps next year. With free bus travel throughout Scotland, he could take a day trip somewhere and see if he could spot some of the rarer birds in his book. Receiving his present reminded Stanley he still had to wrap the gifts he had bought for his grandson and Catherine.

  They were arriving later that night, but they would meet up with him only the next day, Thomas had explained on the phone, as their flight landed at eleven. That would give Stanley plenty of time to wrap their presents and have some nice things in for lunch when they called round. He hadn’t been to Sugar and Spice for a while. He’d pick up some nice bread and some cakes there in the morning, but right now, it was time for his brain to re-join the party.

  Cathy was walking around with a box and everyone was taking a piece of paper from it. Intrigued, Stanley reached his hand in when the box came to him. He opened his piece of paper and saw the phrase ‘doon the water’.

  ‘What I’d like you all to do is tell us a story from your life, or an event that has happened to you, related to the word or phrase on your piece of paper. I’ll give you a few minutes to have a think about it,’ Cathy beamed at them all.

  Some of the pensioners looked puzzled until Cathy said, ‘C’mon you lot, you’ve all been around for a long time. There must be at least one story that fits!’

  At this the old folk began to laugh. Stanley studied the piece of paper again and cast his mind back to 1947. The Waverley paddle steamer; a splendid vessel - the last of its kind, as it turned out. They’d caught it from Craigendoran in Helensburgh across to Arrochar on Loch Long. Such a glorious day - not a cloud in the sky. The sun made the ripples in the water flash like jewels, but not quite as much as the diamond before him - his Edie. He had joked with her over her choice of clothing, a dress to go on the Waverley - she’d be soaked. She didn’t care. She had got drenched but had laughed it off. So it was that Stanley, to an incredibly damp Edie, had got down on one knee and produced a small navy velvet box. Edie’s hand had flown to her throat in shock, then she had gazed into Stanley’s eyes, as she waited for him to ask her the question.

  ‘Will you marry me, Edie?’

  ‘Yes, yes and three times, yes!’ They had clung to each other and had kissed passionately as onlookers cheered. They’d left the Waverley with their arms around each other’s waists.

  Over the years they’d been on The Waverley many times and had traversed on all its routes. But none of the occasions had ever been as special as that day. The last time they had sailed on her had been the year before, a round trip from Glasgow to Tighnabruaich. Edie had known that would be her last trip, but instead of being sorrowful abo
ut it, she embraced it, almost becoming for a second that girl from 1947.

  As Stanley told his story, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  20th December

  ‘Grandpa!’ Thomas hugged his grandfather, who clung on a little tighter than was necessary.

  Stanley took Thomas’s face in his hands and kissed him on both cheeks. ‘You look just like your father.’

  ‘I know, everyone’s always telling me so.’

  ‘He was a fine-looking man.’

  ‘Yeah, he was.’

  ‘Catherine, my dear. You look wonderful, even better than in the photographs.’

  ‘Thanks, lovely to meet you, Mr Winters.’

  ‘Oh, please call me Stanley. We don’t stand on ceremony around here. Talking of which, tell me about this wedding of yours whilst I make us a wee bite to eat. Sandwiches OK?’

  ‘You don’t need to bother, Grandpa. We can grab something later.’ Thomas didn’t want his grandfather to go to any trouble.

  ‘Nonsense, it’s not every day your only grandson comes to visit you, and better still arranges to get married on your doorstep. Roast beef, cheese or ham?’

  Thomas and Catherine both plumped for roast beef and Stanley whistled as he prepared the sandwiches and put the kettle on to boil. The cakes from Sugar and Spice he presented on a little silver cake rack Edie had always loved.

  As they ate lunch in Stanley’s tiny dining room, the happy couple told him all about the plans for their wedding on Loch Lomond and informed him that they would be staying at Aberlomond House Hotel. Stanley thought he might get the use of his kilt this year after all.

  Rebecca had been glad she was only working a half day, as it meant she could have a lie-in. The postman woke her around ten and she lay under the covers basking in the fact she didn’t need to get up just yet. Eventually, her needing the loo overcame her desire to stay in bed and she ventured out, picking up her letters from the mat in the hall onto which they had fallen. Electricity bill, mobile phone bill, credit card bill, wait a minute, The Melbourne Gallery. Her heart racing, Rebecca held the envelope to her, almost scrunching it up in the process. This was it - yes or no. A major change in her life, or the usual humdrum job for the foreseeable future. Rebecca opened the envelope. Nestling inside on The Melbourne Gallery headed paper, complete with navy embossed logo, was a single sheet of A4, followed by a thick document.