Page 84 of The Winter We Met
‘Really Christmassy. Now I could just do with a slice of turkey,’ said Gran.
We all headed over to where Oliver was standing. The chairs around the painting table were empty now. He’d been helping residents with the trickier parts of their designs. My chest glowed as I observed his easy manner with the residents. Pan and Gran sat down and chose their stones and the acrylic pens they thought would suit their designs. I passed Buddy’s lead to Gran.
‘How was last night?’ I asked Oliver as we stood watching, feeling oddly shy at the proximity. The urge I sometimes had to run my hand across his broad shoulders, just for a second felt overpowering.
‘Good,’ he said. ‘We actually talked a lot about work and an idea Misty and I are considering, to bring in more income. I was going to ring but—’
‘It’s none of my business,’ I said and forced a laugh. That didn’t mean I wasn’t keen to hear every single detail. Like what had she worn? Did they laugh much? How was the sex?
I pushed away that last thought.
‘Are you seeing her again?’
‘I’ve kind of invited her to the party. Lynn said it was okay. I hope you don’t mind.’
‘Gosh. Things are moving quickly.’ I kept my tone jolly. ‘In fact, it’s quite inspired me to go on Tinder. It’s about time I tried it – with a little help from Seb. Perhaps we’ll soon be able to double date.’
‘Sure,’ he said, not sounding enthusiastic.
I couldn’t blame him. We’d only ever been on one double date before and our partners decided they liked each other more than me and Oliver.
‘It’ll be great to meet Krish,’ I said breezily.
‘I only asked her because her granddad is reaching the point where he needs to go into a care home and I suggested her coming as it would give her an inside view. She said the family’s really worried he’ll feel lonely – I reckon this place, and the strong friendships everyone has made, and the amazing staff… the spirit of Willow Court will make her and her family feel much better.’
‘Good idea. Right – I think I’ll go and help decorate that tree. I can spot one of the scouts about to sink his teeth into one of Gran’s decorative dough biscuits.’
Without looking at Oliver, I hurried away. I’d been so looking forward to the party with the good ole James Stewart vibe, the music and food, the fake snow outside and the residents forgetting their worries just for a few hours.
But now it would be an emotional event where Mum might turn up and where I’d be effectively saying goodbye to Nik – chuckle as I may about Alf’s theory, a tiny part of me considered that he could be right. True saint or not, Nik was a one-off. Call it the pixie dust factor. And then there was Krish turning up, and the possibility of Oliver moving in with her brother – at this rate the party might herald the beginning of me also having to say goodbye to my flatmate.
38
Gran stood at the front of the lounge by the hatch with Lynn. The room was packed. It was Wednesday, the 2ndof December. The final preparations had been done and Nik, Oliver and I were about to head up to Pebble Rock to drop off everyone’s painted stones. There wouldn’t be another chance before Sunday. None of us felt goodhearted Nik should do it on his own, as he offered, and Oliver and I were both working until the weekend. We had torches and would take photos to show everyone. We stood in our anoraks and each had a rucksack. The collection of stones was quite heavy as the staff had painted one each, as well, and Alf insisted on decorating an extra one representing Buddy. However, the main reason for dividing them up was because if they’d all been bundled into one bag the paint might have chipped off.
‘Right, everyone,’ said Gran. ‘Tell me if I’ve got any of this wrong.’ She coughed and leant against the hatch’s counter before squinting at her clipboard. ‘The crackers are now finished – enough for one between two.’
We’d all agreed making nearly one hundred, what with thirty residents and two guests each, would have taken its toll on poor eyesight and arthritic hands! Foil had been twisted and wrapped and then – the most fun part – jokes made and one of the carers typed them up at home and printed them out. The gifts inside were individually wrapped chocolate bonbons.
‘The decorations are done, too, and the scouts did a grand job of putting them on the tree. Glenda’s twig frame is finished. How are you getting on with putting the photos onto it?’
‘I’m doing a row every day,’ she said. ‘It’s quite tricky using the clips Nik ordered for me online but I’ll definitely be finished by Sunday.’
Gran wrote another tick on her list. ‘Excellent. Right, Lynn, has your brother got his playlist together? The party kicks off at two – what time will he arrive?’
‘Yes, everyone was really helpful on Sunday. Geoff will arrive before three and play for an hour – Nancy’s Duke Ellington records can play until he gets here, along with the Big Band Christmas CD I bought especially.’
‘Rose, Walter, Celia and… Nancy – you’re going to bake the cookies on Saturday? And those little vol-au-vents, along with peppermint creams to have with coffee?’
‘Yes,’ replied Nancy. ‘And at the end of this week the red and white candy canes we ordered should arrive.’
‘The Springhaye Snacking Company that offered us finger foods at a discount price – and they do sound delicious – will set up their buffet at around one o’clock in the dining room, that’s right, isn’t it, Lynn?’ Gran continued.
‘Yes. Partygoers eating in the dining room will mean there is plenty of space in there and here in the lounge, for people to chat. And, if Geoff’s playing gets too loud people can move. Oh, and the party organisers that offered to decorate the lounge with snowflake helium balloons and foil icicle chains will get here early too.’
‘What about those American desserts we were promised?’ asked Fred, rapping his walking stick on the floor. ‘Damned delicious they sounded.’
Gran smiled. ‘The American woman who emailed in? Cynthia will be dropping off her eggnog pie and spiced rum fruitcake on Saturday. Very generously she’s made several of each. I can’t wait to try them. I’m so glad she won the American cookie hamper that theAmblemarsh Gazetteoffered, for those emailing in with offers of help and tips.’
