Page 88 of The Winter We Met
Gran’s eyes filled.
I rummaged in my coat pocket for a tissue and wiped her cheek. ‘I’m sure you’ll meet Mum one day again.’
‘It’s not that. Gordon Bennett, I’ve become a soppy old sod recently.’ She blew her nose. ‘It’s been fun, as it always is, making the decorations and seeing the tree go up. I can’t wait to see snow falling – the fake stuff is much better, as we won’t slip on it tomorrow. And I’m looking forward to hearing the choir and Lynn’s brother play. Cocktails and festive food – my mouth is watering just thinking about it. But…’ Gran’s stiff fingers covered her face. The hunched shoulders moved up and down. Drops of water fell onto the embroidered neckline of her new dress. ‘This party is the last and first,’ a stifled voice said. ‘The last time we’ll celebrate Christmas together and it’ll be the first of many farewells. I feel like this year is coming to an end and the next one is creepily waiting around the corner – an unfamiliar void.’
My eyes pricked and I took her hands away, I removed her glasses and wiped them with another tissue. She blew her nose and I put the glasses back on her face.
‘It is unfamiliar but not a void, Gran. We’re going to arrange regular meet-ups with Pan and Glenda, Fred and Nancy are moving with you. Who knows what new friends you will make? There might even be a dishy man.’
‘I don’t want to laugh,’ she muttered. ‘I want to sit here and wallow. None of this is fair.’
‘Life isn’t, Missy. Get used to it. Years are like oysters. Some have pearls in. Some don’t. The exciting thing is that we never know which is next. Who knows what the future holds?’
Gran raised her eyebrows. ‘I’d forgotten that used to be my stock phrase when you were younger and having a hard time at school.’
I needed the reminder as well and felt a little bit braver. I’d had several great years with Oliver. Things were never going to stay the same forever.
‘That’s karma,’ I said, hoping my eyes didn’t look as wet as they felt. ‘You’ve got new responsibilities now, Gran. Silver’s waiting over in Darkthorn House – you promised him a fancy new tank and Buddy’s expecting you to introduce him to a whole new stack of friends.’ I’d checked and, like Willow Court, they didn’t mind well-behaved dogs visiting. ‘Then there’s that book club to organise.’
‘I suppose,’ she said and we looked at each other. ‘And the first step to making my new room homely will be to put up that lovely little cuckoo clock you bought me in Germany.’
I smiled. Roles were changing but, as ever, we were there for each other. That was one constant I was sure of. I kissed her and hurried along the corridor. She said she’d join me in a few moments. The caterers were just walking through the doors, laden with bags. The canteen was empty now and staff were cleaning tables and setting out the bright foil crackers. I headed into the lounge. Fairy lights twinkled on the tree, and across the curtain tops, even though it wasn’t dark outside.
I couldn’t see Nik, perhaps he’d gone up to see Glenda, but Oliver was behind the hatch and I heard a woman’s laugh. Hopefully that was Lynn. I didn’t know how she’d coped with her workload these last weeks, continuing to supervise the care of thirty residents whilst fighting to keep the owners of Willow Court from starting to dismantle what they could, and also helping to organise this party. I stood for a moment, near to the entrance to the room. Glenda’s twig photo frame had been balanced on top of table and leant against the wall.
‘Moonlight Serenade’ came on at that moment. It reminded me of Jimmy Stewart starring in the film of Glenn Miller.
James Stewart. Nik was like him. Tall. A perfect gentleman. Much loved. That would be just as likely a theory – that he was the reincarnation of that Hollywood actor and not Father Christmas.
I went over to the hatch, looking for Oliver there. It had a banner across the top saying Misty’s Minibar in dusky pink, like the neon sign outside the bar. He’d set up drinks and a few of Misty’s exclusive crisps and popcorn, and had made a professional looking menu describing the drinks available, all written in matching pink too. I was just about to go behind to the sink area when an unfamiliar woman’s voice cut through the air.
‘Oh Oliver, it’s going to be so exciting. The date of the move is the 28thof December – you’re sure that suits you?’
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. That must have been Krish.
‘That’s fine. I can’t wait,’ he said in a happy voice.
My throat ached.
She laughed. ‘Then don’t look so nervous. You’re going to love my brother, his friends are fun and the flat’s got lots of room for all your stuff.’
I backed away and stood staring at the drinks and snacks. So it was really happening. Oliver was leaving our home and, by the sounds of it, as speedily as he could.
His face loomed into view as he came out from behind the hatch accompanied by a tall woman with lush dark hair and wearing jeans. She held Buddy’s lead. He was making puppy dog eyes at her, clearly as smitten as my flatmate. He barked when he saw me and wagged his tail. A big cartoonish reindeer covered the front of her jumper with a silly red bobble nose, right in the middle. Suddenly I felt stupid trying to look sophisticated.
‘You must be Jess,’ she said and strode over. She held out her hand and on automatic I slipped mine into hers. What a firm shake. White teeth gleamed as she gave me a broad smile. ‘Oliver has told me so much about you.’ Posh London tones. ‘It’s great to finally meet.’
‘Krish, I presume?’ I said, sounding a bit too Sherlock Holmes.
‘I’m so grateful to have been invited. My family and I couldn’t be more worried about Gramps. From what Oliver says you’re really close to your gran too. It must be such a weight off your mind to have found her a new home she is happy with.’
We chatted and I listened to her concerns about her grandad. She asked about Gran. Krish seemed nice. Oliver deserved that. I hoped the move would work out well for him.
I just had to get on with it now.
Lynn’s brother, Geoff, arrived and set up in the far corner, before any of the guests arrived. Pro Snow did too and a member of staff showed them around outside. The party organisers turned up and began to transform the room with their snowflakes and icicle shapes. Gran appeared with her clipboard. Krish went over to her immediately, introduced herself and asked if she could help in any way. She offered to make the coffees later, seeing as she worked in the business. Gran patted her arm and said what a kind person she was. Slowly the lounge started to fill up as residents waited for their guests. Alf and Fred looked very dapper in jackets and ties and I’d never seen Nancy in a skirt before. Pan floated into the room, a suitable vision of green and red, in a kimono and scarf.
Oliver started handing out cocktails as two o’clock approached. Nancy put on one of her records. Duke Ellington crooned about jingle bells. I stole into the canteen just before the first guests arrived. Wow. What a buffet, colourful and bright with dishes of cherry tomatoes and clementine tarts. There were bowls of easy-to-manage finger foods made from light flaky pastry, the contents filling the room with smells of turkey, sage and onion and chestnut. The residents’ vol-au-vents looked as professional as anything else on offer, next to pigs in blankets and mini slices of nut roast. As my stomach rumbled, I recalled the menu I’d been sent and looked for the mushroom and cranberry quiches and stuffed Brussel sprouts. Fresh batches of the cookies Nancy and the others baked had been set on plates, and I took them through to the lounge, putting them on the hatch. Nik appeared with Glenda. He’d taken off his coat and waved before disappearing into the throng. I caught Oliver’s eye as he came over to me, wiping his hands on a tea towel. I tried not to look at Alf because Nik was wearing a jumper with a big Father Christmas on the front.
