Page 14 of The Winter We Met
‘What has this got to do with our party?’ asked Pan. She took off her sunhat and then put it back on.
Nik sat upright and stretched his arms around me and Gran. His fingertips rested on Glenda’s shoulder. She leant in. ‘If us Aussies dare enjoy the festive period twice, with an extra Christmas six months before, what’s to stopping you guys have a festive celebration just a couple of weeks early?’
7
‘No one will be in the mood,’ said Glenda.
‘You’re only saying that because you’ve only ever tolerated our parties,’ said Pan. She still had her sunny tones. I’d never heard her say a single word that didn’t sound friendly, even when she disagreed with someone.
Glenda put down her plum tomato. ‘Yes, because in my opinion Christmas is commercialism gone mad… it’s about fake feelings and fake well wishes in cards to people you never even bother visiting. And like I’ve said – haven’t we got bigger things to worry about?’
‘Perhaps a distraction is exactly what you need,’ said Nik.
‘I spent my working life watching decisions being made to maximise chances and profits,’ said Glenda. ‘I took notes on sound plans being made to secure the future. So, like you Nik, I’ve got a business head. Surely you agree with me – we shouldn’t condone us all sticking our heads in the sand about what’s about to happen? We need to focus on moving forwards.’ She wiped her mouth, stood up before he could reply and rubbed her hip before slowly leaving, shaking her head.
My stomach twisted slightly. I didn’t like any sort of confrontation. It always reminded me of living with Mum.
‘Apologies,’ he said and looked around. ‘I didn’t mean to offend. I hope I haven’t upset her with my idea. She seems like a lovely lady.’
‘I think she does have a good heart underneath her… cool exterior. Glenda doesn’t much value our friendship,’ said Pan. ‘No one’s close to her here, so she’s likely the happiest out of all of us to start pushing forwards with plans to leave. Alice probably knows her best.’
Gran shrugged. ‘She’s not a bad sort. Just runs hot and cold. She always remembers my birthday and helps with my shopping but never talks to me about her past and she hates Christmas.’
‘HatesChristmas?’ said Nik.
‘Is that so hard to understand?’ said Alf. ‘When I was younger, some years I was damn lucky to get a satsuma, walnut and coin – and those things meant the world. Parents these days, you see them out gift and food shopping, buying pigs in duvets of all things – I saw them last year – and God knows what rubbish, looking more stressed than Alice if she’s late down to an episode ofNeighbours.’
He and Gran smiled at each other.
‘These folks have got more money than good sense,’ said Alf warming to his subject. ‘And others who can’t afford to spend end up with disastrous credit card bills or problems with loan sharks. If Santa existed he wouldn’t want that. Although…’Alf looked sheepish. ‘I don’t mind the festive season, myself.’
‘What do you meanifSanta existed?’ said Nik with a grin. He stared after Glenda as he drained his glass. I followed his gaze. She’d stopped to smooth down the collar of Betty’s raincoat before patting her shoulder and disappearing around the corner.
The residents asked Nik questions about Australia – was it really sunny all the time? Had he gone onto the Sydney Opera House? Their faces dropped when we announced it was time to go. As we left Nik made sure he said goodbye to Betty.
‘The atmosphere here is so welcoming and warm – it’s a real credit to you,’ he said to Lynn.
She looked as if Santa had just given her the biggest parcel ever. ‘I have a great core team – it’s not all down to me. I love my job and will have lots of personal notes to pass on to people looking after them, wherever they all go next. Take your gran, Jess – if her appetite’s off I know she’ll always at least fancy a bowl of cold baked beans. And if Betty has bad dreams, during the night, singing nursery rhymes calms her down. There’s no doubt the next few weeks are going to be a challenge, but I’m blown away by the loyalty of my long-term colleagues. They’ve all agreed to work right until the end. I’ve heard some horror stories over the years of care homes closing and staff leaving as soon as, to start new jobs. I’ll do everything in my power to keep things normal here for as long as possible.’
‘She’s a star, isn’t she?’ Nik said, on the way out.
‘It’s clearly her vocation, working in the care home industry. She’s always got a smile and buckets of patience.’
I took Nik on a tour of Springhaye, citing Buddy needing a good walk as a reason but really it was to build up an appetite for dinner, after the humungous bread and butter pudding. The cold air and brisk pace achieved my goal and an hour later we went into the pub, glad for the warm. Nik and I raised another glass of sherry to each other in the pub, after the barman had raised his eyebrows at our drinks order.
Nik carried the tiny glasses over to a circular mahogany table. They looked comically small in his large hands, as if we were actors in a movie calledHoney, I’ve Shrunk the Glassware. The pub was full of weekend drinkers enjoying pints and spritzers. I’d often treat Gran to lunch here on a Sunday. Oliver came too and was a big fan of the carvery. He’d always remember to bring a packet of cards and we’d play Gran’s favourite game of Rummy. When he was small his nanny had been a big fan of traditional games, even though his parents bought him all the latest technological gadgets. The shiny mirrored bar contrasted with the worn tables and scratched, dark laminate floor. A collection of gnomes sat on the rafters. You’d miss them unless you looked up. The landlady, Kath, used to have them outside but got tired of Saturday night revellers hiding them around the village.
‘You shouldn’t worry about Glenda,’ I said. ‘She’ll have something different to moan about tomorrow –the indigestion that doesn’t stop her eating cake or the pneumonia she thinks she’s caught. She’ll attend the meeting about the party… despite her reservations each year, for some reason she begrudgingly takes part. And I’m glad. I reckon she secretly gets a degree of enjoyment from it.’
He picked up his menu. ‘What can have happened for her to dislike Christmas so much?’
‘I… I haven’t always been a fan myself but as I’ve got older I’ve grown to love the festive season, even though I get a little bored of the music after listening to it all day, every day in the toy shop. Gran used to make these amazing fruitcakes with, literally, inches of royal icing on top. We’d stick on plastic snowmen and reindeer from the pound shop, and she made the marzipan herself.’
‘It’s the details of a childhood Christmas people remember, isn’t it?’ he said. ‘Running upstairs to read a new comic annual or watching the cat hide under piles of discarded wrapping; the smell of roasted meat sneaking into every room and talking of food…’ He studied the menu again. ‘Steak and kidney pudding? Perfect. It sounds like a main and dessert rolled into one.’ He grinned. ‘Never thought I’d order anything that stodgy ever again after our snack this afternoon.’
I had bangers and mash. Nik wanted to know if that dish was anything to do with fireworks. The barman overheard and explained that during World War One there was a meat shortage, so sausages were also filled with cereal and scraps and that made them explode whilst cooking. Afterwards Nik and I ordered a bowl of apple crumble between us. He was very polite and let me have the last mouthful. Unlike Oliver – we’d fight over the last chunk of brownie or scoop of ice cream if we ever shared. It was worth it to laugh at the wounded expression he’d pretend to wear afterwards if my spoon scooped quicker.
Nik gave a contented sigh as the barman appeared to remove our plates, and asked him to pass on to the chef that the meal had been second to none.
