Page 53 of The Village Christmas Party

‘Much better. Okay, well, I’ll call you again soon. Have a wonderful Christmas Day.’

‘Thank you, you too.’

‘Something, or should I say someone, has put a smile on your face,’ Mum comments as she swallows down some painkillers with a glass of water.

‘It was Kian,’ I tell her.

‘I thought as much. Is he okay?’ she asks, smiling.

‘He is. He called to wish me a merry Christmas. Oh and he asked after you,’ I tell her as I pour myself a coffee from the cafetière.

‘Is Kian the bloke who shared the hall for his daughter’s party?’ asks Dad, Mum obviously already having filled him in about the events of yesterday.

‘That’s right. He only lives a couple of miles away, having moved into town from a place near Keswick.’

Victoria Apartments are quite upmarket overlooking the river and with glimpses of the forest beyond. I imagine his apartment to be stylish, yet relaxed, a bit like Kian himself.

‘Well you should get yourself out on a date with him. It’s been a while since you had a boyfriend,’ says Dad with his usual forthrightness.

‘I’m well aware of that, Dad, but where do you meet blokes these days? Besides, I am perfectly happy on my own,’ I tell him, which of course is true. But Dad’s right, it has been a while since I’ve been out with anyone and I rather like the feeling of anticipation, wondering where Kian might take me.

‘Although, in fact, he has just asked me out.’ I can’t help smiling as I tell my parents the news.

‘Oh lovely,’ says Mum. ‘Asking you out on Christmas Day, how romantic.’ She claps her hands together.

‘Do you remember when I asked you out?’ asks Dad, pouring himself another coffee.

‘Of course I do. Easter Saturday, when I was dancing at that club.’ She smiles. ‘We spent Easter Sunday going to Morecambe on the back of your motorbike.’ She smiles fondly at the memory.

‘You were quite the adventurous couple then, by the sound of things.’

‘We were. As anyone should be if they get the chance,’ advises Dad. ‘Life goes by so quickly.’

As we sit chatting, I know I am going to enjoy every minute of today, with unexpectedly both of my parents sharing it with me. I do think about Rose for a minute though, and hope she isn’t spending it all alone. I also have her Christmas gift here.

‘She’s gone to her sister’s for the day,’ Dad tells me when I ask about her. ‘To tell you the truth, we had both been invited, but she only mentioned that to me a few days ago, for some reason.’ He shrugs, painting a picture of how strained their relationshipmust have become. Maybe living with the tension wasn’t good for his heart either.

We have porridge and berries for breakfast, as later we will be enjoying a delicious roast with meat left over from yesterday. Mum may have a little Turkey, as she is, (when it suits her) a Flexitarian, although her diet is generally meat free. There will be extra vegetables and lean turkey for Dad too.

We have a little bit of a tradition of opening our gifts after breakfast, so first of all I open up Gemma’s gift in the silver paper. I think of her family receiving gifts wrapped in Grinch paper then and can’t help but laugh.

Inside is a pretty silver bracelet, dotted with pearls. There is also a gift card for afternoon tea for two people at a posh hotel in Grasmere.

Mum and Dad have bought me some beautiful silk pyjamas, and a bottle of my favourite perfume, and Dad is thrilled with some rare tomato seeds for his greenhouse and a new wristwatch.

‘Oh, it’s perfect,’ says Mum, trying on the beanie hat and scarf. ‘And handmade too.’ She also loves her earrings.

After the present opening, I call Gemma.

‘Merry Christmas! And thank you so much for the bracelet, I love it, it’s just so me,’ I say as I admire it on my wrist. ‘But afternoon tea as well. Haven’t you gone a little bit over the top?’ I ask as we never normally spend too much on each other at Christmas, saving the bigger gift for our birthdays.

‘Merry Christmas to you too! And I haven’t actually, it was a deal on one of those online sites. I thought you might like to take your mum. Maybe you both deserve a bit of a treat, especially after your mum having a fall.’

‘Oh, Gemma, that is so thoughtful, thank you.’

‘No problem. It might cheer her up, we can do something like that too, another time, if you fancy it?’

‘I’d love that.’

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