Page 92 of The Winter We Met
Alf put the notebook on the floor. ‘Nothing. It sounds stupid now.’
But all eyes were upon him.
‘If you must know… I thought… what with Nik drinking sherry, wearing red, coming from Lapland… what with him having the same name as Saint Niklaus and his charitable nature…’ He sighed. ‘I’m just a silly old fool, thinking Father Christmas might really exist. Maybe I’m wrong about everything else. Perhaps man did land on the moon.’
Lachlan and Nik exchanged looks. No one laughed, not even Glenda.
‘You’re not a fool, Alf,’ she said quietly. ‘As you know, I’ve been more sceptical than anyone, over the years, when it comes to Christmas but this year – watching Jess, Oliver, Nik, Alice and Lynn… seeing how everyone has pulled together – the local paper, the community, the choir here, the caterers… it’s made me believe that Father Christmas is a real thing, or at least his spirit. It’s inside people at this time of year and makes them full of goodwill and charitable to others. I’ve never really liked the festive season with no family or children of my own and even though you’ve all always tried to include me in Willow Court, I’ve always felt like I’ve been on the outside looking in.’
That explained it.
‘I don’t think you’re stupid at all, Alf,’ she continued. ‘Nik embodies the very best of that genuine Christmas spirit. He has a way of making people feel valuable, special, as if they are the only person on the planet and that their wish list, so to speak – their dreams – are just as important as anyone else’s…’
That’s exactly how he’d made me feel.
‘And he’s brought the Father Christmas out in everyone else,’ she continued. ‘Perhaps even me.’
‘What a compliment,’ said Nik and with a flushed face looked from left to right, across the sea of faces, smiling at every resident. ‘You’ve taken me into your hearts and there’s a place in mine for Willow Court. I think what Glenda says reflects the theme of this party. Every single one of you here will have made a difference to each other’s lives, including all you party guests. Like George Bailey, we may have regrets, we may think ourselves not worthy, but if we each had a guardian angel they’d show us how, over the decades, all of us have positively affected others. It’s a wonderful life even though, at times, it may not feel like it. I’ve been blown away about how strong you’ve all been at facing your recent challenge.’
I went behind the hatch and came out with a big bouquet of flowers and box of chocolates. ‘This seems like a good moment to give you these, Lynn – from all the residents, to put in the staff room. Day in, day out, you and your team carry that goodwill throughout the year.’
Pan started clapping and one by one everyone else joined in, several residents and guests wiping their eyes. I gave Gran a hug and went over to the window. Snow was falling, on cue, as the end of the party drew near.
I was going to miss this place. So would Buddy.
Buddy! I hadn’t taken him outside since we arrived. He was due for five minutes of fresh air.
I looked across the room, at Nik embracing Glenda. Lachlan was talking to Fred and Alf. Gran chatted with Pan’s son, Adam. And Oliver and Krish… things would never be the same again. Come the New Year Willow Court would be a hotel. Nik would be back in Oz. Oliver would have settled into his new flat. Yet Buddy would always be by my side and I had a lot to be grateful for. The expansion of Under the Tree was exciting and if the residents of Willow Court could face the closure with such stoicism then I had no excuse not to show some determination.
I slipped on my coat, took Buddy’s lead from Nancy who’d been fussing over him and slipped out to the front. Delicate snowflakes fell.
‘Fantastic job. Thanks so much,’ I said to the Pro Snow workers, before moving right, across the lawn, Buddy sniffing plants and happily stopping by a tree in front of the lounge window.
‘Jess?’ Oliver was heading my way, just in his shirt, sleeves rolled up. ‘Everything going okay? I saw you nip out and wondered if you’d gone home. You can’t leave without trying the trifle Nik made with that Spanish sherry he bought from the Birmingham markets… Hurry now and you’ll get the last morsel.’
‘I thought Buddy might be crossing his legs after all those treats Alf gave him.’ I turned away, not wanting to see the etch of concern on his face, that only reminded me what a caring, loyal part of my life he’d become. ‘You’d better not leave Krish too long.’
‘I think she’s taken a shine to that Lachlan, to be honest. Who could blame her with his surfer look?’
I turned around. ‘But I thought… you stayed over.’
‘On the couch. Why, did you think…? We’re just friends, Jess. She’s great but we’ve acknowledged there’s no chemistry there.’
‘Really? You seemed to hit it off – what with you and her both having experience of owning your own businesses, or, at least, her working with family.’
‘Yes, it’s been good to talk to her, really good, with that common ground. Birmingham – what happened – it had been too tough to talk about it with anyone on a personal level. If I could have done that it would have been with you. Clinically dissecting what happened, with Krish – it’s made me realise I’ve had trust issues.’
‘Was there a woman? Someone you worked with? Did you break up with her just before coming to London?’
‘It wasn’t a woman. It was Josh, the guy who swindled me. At the beginning he wasn’t just someone I met in a business capacity. We were best mates and did everything together, had done for years. That he could do that to me… it shook me to the core. It was all still so raw when I met you so I buried it and avoided getting close to anyone else – man or woman.’
‘Right. It’s just I thought… I sensed a spark between us, right at the start.’ Inwardly I cringed but I had to tackle this. It was now or never. Willow Court closing so suddenly proved you never knew what was around the corner.
‘You did? But all these years… the dates you’ve gone on… I mean, we’re just friends, right – always have been?’ He shivered and snowflakes rested on his shoulders.
‘This is like our first meeting in reverse,’ I mumbled. ‘This time you’re the one unsuitably dressed.’
‘That split second when our paths crossed – it… it changed my life.’ He stared at me for a moment and then started walking up and down. ‘Okay – I’m going to say it, here goes…’ He took a deep breath. ‘I’ve regretted that things haven’t gone further between us, that I never tried to tell you how I feel.’
