The Christmas Spirit (14 page)

‘So what’s going on between you two?’

‘Nothing.’ Sophie found the tassel on her handbag
scintillating, all of a sudden.

‘Don’t give me that,’ Meredith said, not unkindly, ‘There’s
definitely something going on between you.’

Knowing that Meredith was tenacious as hell, Sophie caved
in. ‘Nothing’s going on between us, seriously. Anyway, he has a girlfriend.’

‘Are you sure?’ Meredith’s eyes bored into Sophie’s.

‘She was in earlier. You must have seen her; beautiful, with
fiery red hair, a bit like a Renaissance Madonna.’

‘As opposed to the pop star with conical underwear?’
Meredith made an attempt at humour. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes,’ Sophie replied, her voice flat. ‘I saw her kissing
him earlier.’

‘Hmm, well that puts paid to that then. I’m guessing you’re
not the type to go after another girl’s man.’

‘Correct.’

‘Well, in that case, bad luck. Why don’t we drown your
sorrows with some alcohol-free
Gluhwein
?’ Meredith raised
her glass.

‘Oh what a beautiful tree,’ Catherine exclaimed when they
were barely in the door. They were lucky to get in the door; the bakery was
absolutely heaving.

Stanley oohed and aahed at the glittery and unusual baubles
on the tree. He, too, had ordered a tree once he knew Thomas and Catherine were
coming, as he didn’t want to greet them in a house devoid of festive
atmosphere, particularly as they had chosen this season to get married. But his
tree bore no resemblance to this vision before him, which looked truly magical.
He felt silly thinking this, but he could just feel the goodwill in the air, in
this room, with these people; he was starting to look forward to Christmas.

Natalie came forward to greet them and Stanley proudly
presented his grandson and granddaughter-to-be. What a mouthful that was, he
thought. Next time he would just say granddaughter. Natalie wanted all the
details of the wedding, and congratulated the happy couple on having chosen
such a fantastic venue, particularly with all the snow lying, their big day was
bound to be spectacular and their wedding photographs amazing.

Meredith saw her chance, whilst Natalie was otherwise
engaged. Gesturing with her empty glass she said, ‘Actually this
Gluhwein
without the wine in it is quite good, I’m going to
get another. Do you want one?’

‘Yes, please, it is pretty nice, isn’t it?’ Sophie said.

Meredith nodded, then made her way through the crowds of
people, who were now milling around, holding sausage rolls and glasses of
non-alcoholic punch, since there were no seats left.

‘Me again,’ she said to Jacob. ‘That
Gluhwein
really does make you feel Christmassy.’

Jacob agreed that it did and said, ‘And because it’s
non-alcoholic, Natalie and I can have some, too!’

‘Win win!’ Meredith declared. She was behaving slightly
drunk, although that wasn’t possible. Maybe it was the medication which had
sent her a bit loopy and which was making her have designs on being
Winstanton’s matchmaker. She’d never been one for letting opportunities pass
her by and she was damned if she was going to let Sophie. Now to find out for
sure.

‘So, are you doing anything nice for Christmas?’ It was
lame, but failsafe, Christmas being only a few days away.

‘I’m spending it with my sister, Tabitha,’ and he inclined
his head towards a girl sitting chatting to an elderly man and a young couple,
her interest in what they were saying clear, from the way she was leaning in to
listen to them. Meredith noticed she had a barely visible bump, but was
definitely pregnant. For one who had a sister with four children, she knew the
signs.

‘Oh that sounds nice. Are you cooking?’

‘God, no! I’m a terrible cook. Thankfully Tabitha’s
brilliant,’ and he outlined what they were having for Christmas dinner.

‘Mmm, you’re making my mouth water,’ Meredith told him, ‘So
your girlfriend isn’t joining you for Christmas dinner?’

Giving her a strange look, Jacob said, ‘No.’

‘Spending it with her own family, is she?’ Meredith wouldn’t
let it go.

Hesitating, Jacob finally mumbled, ‘Erm, I’m between girlfriends.’

‘Really?’

Feeling awkward, Jacob handed Meredith the two
Gluhweins
. She thanked him, wished him Merry Christmas and
returned to Sophie, oblivious to the confused expression on Jacob’s face.

‘She’s not his girlfriend. He doesn’t have one.’ Meredith
came right out and said it.

‘You didn’t ask him.’ Sophie’s eyes widened in horror.

‘What do you take me for? I was far more subtle than that,’
Meredith stretched the truth. ‘He’s spending Christmas with his sister.’

‘The pregnant one?’ Sophie glanced over at Tabitha, who was
happily munching away on cake, taking a much deserved rest from assisting
Natalie.

‘Yep.’

Sophie didn’t dare get her hopes up. Well, at least he was
unattached, but that didn’t mean anything. It was obvious that he had a thing
for the girl with the red hair and Botticelli curls.

Once drinks had been topped up again, cakes had been
distributed, and small talk had been made, Jacob paused to draw breath and wipe
his perspiring brow with a handkerchief. Natalie sidled up to him. ‘It’s going
well, isn’t it?’

‘Better than I thought. I was just thinking, we need to get
some business cards printed, so people who come in can pass them on to
friends.’

‘Good idea. Well, you’ll be the boss in a few days. That can
be one of your first tasks.’ Natalie saw that Jacob was only half-listening to
her and she turned to see what had captured his attention.

‘Ah, yes, it’s good to see Meredith back on her feet, glad
she’s well enough to enjoy Christmas.’

‘Hmm.’

‘What’s up?’ Natalie pressed him.

‘Nothing,’ he lied.

‘C’mon. We’ve been working almost on top of each other for
three weeks now. I know something’s up.’

‘Well,’ confided Jacob, uncomfortable at discussing it, ‘I
think Meredith was flirting with me earlier. She was asking me about my
girlfriend.’

Natalie stared at him, then said, ‘Jacob. Sometimes men can
be very dim. Look at Meredith now. What do you see?’

Reluctantly and hoping they didn’t make eye contact, as God
knows what she’d think then, Jacob glanced over to where Meredith was sitting.
‘She’s talking to Sophie,’ he said, unable to think of any other clue which the
tableau offered him.

‘Bingo.’

Jacob still didn’t get it.

‘Jacob, do you really think a woman in her forties is likely
to be interested in you, or do you think there’s a much more plausible
explanation?’

The cells in Jacob’s brain put in some overtime and
Eureka!
‘Sophie?’

Natalie clapped her hands together in applause, winked at
him, and then turned to speak to a customer who had approached the counter.

Jacob looked over at Meredith and Sophie. He liked Sophie.
She was nice, more than nice, funny, clearly clever, since she was almost
single-handedly running Meredith’s company at the moment, and, now he looked at
her properly, he saw she was very pretty, in a completely different way to
Rebecca. He’d been so busy obsessing over Rebecca, he hadn’t noticed what had
been right in front of him.

As the party drew to a close, Meredith and Sophie stood to
leave. Terrified, but determined not to let the opportunity pass him by, Jacob
approached them and said, ‘Sophie, have you got a minute?’

‘Sure.’ She stepped aside to let Stanley, Thomas, and
Catherine pass, as they waved goodbye to Natalie and promised they’d be in
again before New Year.

‘I know it’s short notice, but I was wondering if you had
anything on tonight.’

A wide smile radiated across Sophie’s face, as she said with
delight, ‘No, just some present wrapping in the company of a bottle of wine.’

‘Well, in that case, would you like to have a glass of wine,
or two, with me tonight?’

Sophie’s cheeks turned scarlet, then she said, ‘I’d like
that a lot,’ as she flushed with pleasure.

Jacob thought on his feet and proposed they meet in the
Crooked Dug pub at eight o’clock.

As Sophie returned to Meredith, who was clearly grilling her
on the way out, Tabitha and Natalie shared a complicit look. Love was in the
air.

Christmas Eve

These shoes are a nightmare to put on
,
Stanley thought, as he tried to lace up his dress kilt shoes. It was no good.
He’d have to ask someone to help him when he got to the church and just wear
his normal shoes on the way there. Surveying himself in the mirror, he was
surprised by what he saw. He looked quite handsome, if considerably older than
last time he’d worn his kilt. Since his family name had no tartan, many years
ago he’d shortlisted those he liked best, before selecting the Brodie modern
tartan; red and black with thin yellow stripes. It wasn’t as bold as the Leslie
tartan, but he preferred the understated look. He thought it suited him and
thankfully it still fitted him, although he needed to pull the belt in two more
notches than before.

Jacob arrived at the bakery ten minutes later than usual,
mumbling apologies to Natalie, as he divested his jacket, the huge grin on his
face indicative of how his date with Sophie had gone the night before.

‘Well, there’s no point asking how you got on last night!’
Natalie said to him, as she poured him a coffee.

‘Fantastic. She’s so...’ he searched for the correct word to
use...‘Right for me. We get each other. We talked until we got thrown out of
the pub, because it was closing time. And get this, Meredith has promoted her
and given her a massive Christmas bonus, too. Sophie was like a dog with two
tails.’ Jacob finally drew breath.

Natalie hid a smile. She knew quite well why Sophie had been
so overjoyed and it had nothing to do with work, delighted though she might be
about her improved career prospects and burgeoning bank balance. Very little
got past Natalie; it was her job to know about people and ever since day one,
when they had first met Sophie, she’d known that there was a spark between her
and Jacob. It had just taken Jacob a little while to notice. Men could be so
oblivious.

The bakery was just as busy today as it had been the day
before. Their marketing efforts had worked. Spreading Christmas cheer had the
till ringing nonstop, as anxious holidaymakers made their final purchases, then
relaxed with a hot chocolate and a slice of cake. Although a few tense-looking
husbands were being trailed along by purposeful wives, laden down with bags of
toys and other gifts, generally the atmosphere was one of excitement and
happiness. Christmas Eve - the most magical night of the year.

The door jangled once more and Rebecca blew in, a whirlwind
of energy, and bestowed her biggest smile on Jacob.

‘Thanks so much. I’ve just been to see Mrs Williams and I
can move into Rose Cottage after New Year. It’s beautiful, too, so quirky and
picturesque. It suits my artistic side.’

‘I’m really pleased it’s all working out for you.’ Jacob
patted her arm. Rebecca felt a tingle surge through her. Yet when she looked up
at him, his expression was different to how he’d been with her before. He
didn’t look sorrowful, as if he was wistful for what might have been. No, he
seemed...content, happy. Whatever had happened? She decided that she was happy
for him. He was a lovely guy and yes, perhaps they would have been good
together, but timing was everything and it hadn’t been right for them.

‘Right, I better get on. I have a train to catch,’ she said,
glancing at her watch.

‘Oh, where are you off to?’

‘Banbury.’

Seeing Jacob’s eyebrow shoot up, Rebecca explained, ‘My
parents moved there a few years ago. I’m spending Christmas with them.’

As the words left her mouth, Rebecca realised she was no
longer dreading the visit. She could cope with the grilling her mother would no
doubt make her endure, safe in the knowledge that in a few days’ time she would
be heading home again, soon to start her new job and move into Rose Cottage.

As Catherine and her uncle, taking the place of her long-dead
father, walked down the aisle towards the waiting groom, Stanley sat in the
front row reserved for relatives. Tears coursed down his face. He hadn’t
expected to see this moment and how he wished Edie was here beside him. He
could feel her presence now, scolding him, telling him that at least one of
them was able to witness it and that he should rejoice in the occasion.

Whilst the two young people exchanged the vows they had
written themselves, hands intertwined, Stanley cast his mind back to his own
wedding, in this very church, all those years before and he was thankful that
history was repeating itself. He only hoped that the newlyweds would experience
as much happiness as he and Edie had in the many years they had spent together.

At two o’clock on the banks of Loch Lomond, freezing to death
almost, but cheerful nonetheless, the wedding party posed for photographs. They
had been lucky with the weather. Although the temperature was below zero,
fluffy white clouds buzzed across a predominantly blue sky, and not a drop of
rain had fallen. Stanley was glad of his Bonnie Prince Charlie jacket, his
woollen kilt, and knee high kilt socks. The shoes, though, were almost
paper-thin and he could barely feel his toes. Judging that he had enough decent
shots now, the photographer deemed that they could all repair to the warmth of
the hotel, where the reception was soon to take place.

As Natalie closed the bakery for the final time, she
remembered the lovely comments customers had made to her, when they discovered
today would be her last. She had shed a silent tear, even though this was
always the way. Tabitha sat on a chair, rubbing her stomach, whether she had
overindulged, or if she was bonding with her unborn child, it was hard to tell.

‘Well, this is us,’ said Natalie.

‘I can’t believe we won’t see you again,’ said Jacob. ‘I
feel as if I’ve known you much longer than three weeks.’

‘I know. That’s the sign of good friends,’ said Natalie.
‘I’m glad I met you, Jacob.’

‘Me too.’ Jacob feeling a bit emotional, stuck his hands in
his pockets.

‘And you.’ Natalie turned her affectionate gaze on Tabitha.

‘Thanks, you too. And thanks for looking after my brother.’

‘Oh it was nothing. Just you take care of that baby. I’ll
keep in touch so I know how it all goes.’

‘I’d like that,’ said Tabitha, hugging her.

‘Before I forget, I have a little something for both of you
under the tree,’ Natalie said.

‘So do I,’ said Jacob. 

They both retrieved the presents from under the tree.

‘Oh, but what about your baubles and decorations?’ Jacob
asked, ‘How will we get them back to you?’

‘Oh don’t worry, Mrs Williams knows how to return them to
me,’ Natalie assured him.

Jacob sighed with relief. For a second he had envisaged them
dismantling the beautiful tree tonight, before the big day.

‘Here, Tabitha, why don’t you open yours first?’ Natalie
held out a foil wrapped package to her. The packaging shone as if illuminated
from the inside. Carefully Tabitha unwrapped the parcel.

‘Sorry, I know I’m slow, but I love the anticipation of
presents as much as I love the presents themselves,’ Tabitha apologised.

Natalie smiled at her and continued to do so as Tabitha
gasped at the antique silver and mother-of-pearl baby rattle which lay in a
navy velvet box.

‘Oh this is too much, Natalie. It’s beautiful. It looks so
old.’

‘It is,’ Natalie confirmed without elaborating further.

‘It’s beautiful,’ Tabitha repeated, mesmerised. ‘Look,
Jacob.’

Turning it over and over in his hand, Jacob agreed that it was
exquisite.

‘Now you, Natalie. This is from myself and Tabitha,’ said
Jacob, as he presented her with a small gold coloured gift bag. Natalie noticed
it was very light. Opening it, she saw that nestling within was a Christmas
bauble, in a blue and white mosaic style, depicting the Nativity.

‘This is amazing,’ Natalie was touched. ‘What a thoughtful
gift. I shall hang it every year with the others. Thank you so much,’ she
kissed them both on the cheeks.

Then, it was Jacob’s turn, as Natalie passed him a black
leather box. Inside lay a snow globe. Surprised, and unsure what to say,
although he was wondering why Natalie had bought him a snow globe, he examined
the unusually heavy snow globe; more akin in weight to a paperweight. As he
took in the tableau it featured, he discovered he was seeing High St, where the
bakery was situated. Yep, and there was the bakery, complete with the tip of
the Christmas tree visible through the window.

‘But how did you...this is...unbelievable.’ Jacob stared at
it. For a second he though he saw something move, but it must have been his
vision blurring. He could have sworn he saw movement outside the butcher shop
two doors up. As he glanced at Natalie, she was smiling at him. Just then he
saw Pat, the butcher, walk past the shop window. Jacob shook his head. What a
weird coincidence.

‘I love it,’ he told Natalie. ‘I still don’t know how you
got someone to make you one with our row of shops in it, but it’s brilliant.
Thank you.’ He wrapped her in a bear hug.

Natalie shone with pleasure. ‘I hope after I’ve gone, you’ll
occasionally look at it and remember me.’

‘Oh, you can count on it.’

After several more hugs and after wishing each other Merry
Christmas, they parted ways outside the shop, promising to keep in touch.

As Natalie returned to Rose Cottage, she thought,
Almost done
, and she couldn’t help feeling a little
wistful.

‘Mummy, I don’t want to go to bed yet,’ a sleepy Max said,
sucking his thumb and pulling on his beige floppy eared rabbit - well, one ear,
he’d chewed the other one off over time.

‘But Santa won’t come if you’re not asleep,’ Amelia reasoned
with him.

Eleven-year-old Alannah, fresh and rosy-cheeked from her
bath, sat between Meredith’s knees whilst her aunt combed her long blonde hair.
Seven-year-old Edward lay on his stomach, face in his hands, resting on his
elbows, as the whole family watched
The Grinch
. The
children all wore new pyjamas; Santa ones for Max, reindeer-covered Edward’s,
and a red onesie populated with snowmen and snowflakes for Alannah. Jasper was
the only one who didn’t participate in this ritual.

Curling up on his mum’s lap, Max said, ‘OK, but I want to
leave the milk for Santa.’

‘That’s fine.’ Amelia ruffled his hair.

‘And biscuits, too,’ Alannah said, jumping to her feet.
‘I’ll be back, Auntie Meredith, once we’ve sorted the biscuits for Santa,’ she
said, winking at her. As she walked off holding her little brother’s hand,
Meredith heard Edward say, ‘And we need carrots for the reindeer, Mummy, they
have such a long journey - they must get very tired.’

‘Shit,’ said Gareth, hoisting himself out of the armchair.
‘I was meant to fetch some carrots from the garden for the damned reindeer.
Jasper, do you know where the torch is?’ He knew Jasper sometimes used it if
Sheba was going out late at night into the garden.

‘In the utility room, Dad. I’ll get the carrots if you
want,’ he offered.

‘No, it’s all right. Can you just pause the TV for me,
please?’

‘Sure,’ and Jasper and Meredith sat in companionable silence
until Gareth returned a few minutes later.

Meredith was admiring her surroundings. This really was a
happy home. The scent of pine from the tree was powerful, heady, and welcoming.
No-one minded the occasional
Ouch
from standing on
the needles, although the living room had been vacuumed every day since the
tree’s arrival. There was barely room to move near the tree, in fact everyone
had to leave the living room by circumventing the tree, there were so many
presents under it and around it; and those were just the presents from each
other, not the big presents from Santa.

Although Meredith believed kids got too much these days, for
once she said nothing and sat back with a glass of red wine, which Gareth had
brought her on his return, saying,
‘I’m sure one won’t
hurt,’
and enjoyed the family scene. She’d never spent Christmas Eve
with children before and had been infected by their enthusiasm and excitement.
Edward had been the opposite to Max; he had wanted to go to bed at six thirty,
as he thought the earlier he went to bed, the sooner Santa would arrive. Since
his parents didn’t want him getting up at two o’clock, his mum had told him he
could go in a few hours, at the usual time.

After ensuring final preparations for the following day’s
dinner were taken care of, Amelia joined her family to watch
The Grinch
. They’d seen it so many times, but it had become
customary to watch it on Christmas Eve, whether it was on TV or not - they had
the DVD. Meredith watched her sister take in the scene in front of the fire -
Amelia’s house sported an original coal fire, not one of those pretend living
flame ones - children, dog, semi-snoozing husband, and then her gaze fell on
Meredith. Their eyes met and no words were needed between the sisters to convey
how glad they were to be spending Christmas together.

‘It’s so good to see you, darling,’ Rebecca’s father hugged
her, almost lifting her off her feet, as they stood together on the platform at
Banbury Station. He’d come to pick her up, even though she’d said she would
call a taxi.
Nonsense
, he’d said,
It’s
no trouble at all
. Plus, he said, he’d waited too long to see her
already. What he really meant was he wanted a chat with his daughter, a
friendly one, without her mother, and for that Rebecca was grateful. She’d
always been close to her father, less so her mum, who meant well, but was very
opinionated and as stubborn as they came. As she returned her father’s embrace,
Rebecca felt glad she’d made the effort. Christmas was for families, for better
or worse.