Page 63 of Will You Stay Another Day?
‘Oh, Lili. Talk about bad luck.’
‘Dad’s asthmatic so I hope the cough doesn’t worsen. But get this… Mum’s insisted he goes around to hers anyway. Geoff’s ill too, so they may as well all convalesce together and try to make the most of it. I never thought I’d see the day…’
‘What are the odds of both of our Christmases being ruined?’ he said. They gave each other exasperated looks.
‘Wait… Is it too much of a stretch of the imagination to think this is Em and your brother up to no good, still manipulating our love life? Determined that we spend Christmas together?’
Dylan gave a chuckle. ‘Wouldn’t put it past Harry. So, is that what we’re doing? I mean, I have got another invitation,’ he said airily, ‘or maybe I was looking forward to Netflix and chilling.’
‘You do know that phrase has a double meaning?’
With a wicked glint in his eye, he nodded as the doorbell went.
‘Plans might change, people turn you down, but one thing you can always rely on in this life,’ said Lili with certainty as she walked into the hallway, ‘is a margherita stuffed-crust pizza, with garlic bread and cheesy fries on the side. And baked beans.’
It didn’t take long for them to devour the pizza. ‘Nonna and Nonno wouldn’t understand why anyone would get any sides. Italians consider pizza to be the whole meal.’
‘I order chicken wings too sometimes. Or mozzarella balls. Talking of food.’ Lili pulled a face. ‘What are we going to eat on Christmas Day? I bet all the turkeys are gone.’
Dylan spotted a notepad and pen on the windowsill. He fetched it and sat back down again. ‘I’ll go home tonight and pack the stuff I’ll need for the next few days. Then first thing tomorrow I’ll get to the supermarket. What are you thinking? Chicken? Beef?’
Lili popped a bit of garlic bread in her mouth. ‘I’m thinking of getting a whole lot actually. Because we might have to cook for more than two people, if you’re up for it?’
‘You’re that hungry?’
Lili threw her napkin at him, laughing. Then she told him about her idea. Dylan gave an enthusiastic punch into the air. He scribbled on the notepad, insisting he’d start the food preparation tomorrow afternoon, whilst Lil made some very important Christmas Eve visits.
43
Christmas Eve, and what a morning. Ware & Care had never been busier, filled with the people forced to do last-minute shopping due to work and other responsibilities, such as small children or elderly relatives. She had no time today, but a stroll along the harbour after work often grounded Lili and took her away from the twenty-first century buzz, letting her focus on the simple things – the red and white buoys riding waves, or seagulls strutting around puddles as if offended by the very element that provided them with so much food.
Instead, she hurried to the library, three streets away. It closed at two. She had only fifteen minutes, having stayed a bit longer at work to tidy so that they wouldn’t be greeted by a mess when they reopened after the festive break. The slate clouds looked bulbous and full, as if holding on to snowflakes for as long as they could, trying to time their release for Christmas Day. As Lili arrived, Glenda came outside. She tugged on her gloves and readjusted her thick bobble hat so that it covered her ears.
‘Glenda! Hold up!’ Lili hurried over, turning the air white with her heavy breaths.
‘Hello, love,’ she replied in a listless tone. ‘What are you doing here? The library is about to close.’
‘No matter, it’s you I’ve come to see. I hoped you’d be here.’
‘Shouldn’t you be heading off to Manchester?’ Her voice sounded flat.
Lili filled her in about her parents’ illness and told her about the flooding in Italy. ‘It’ll be a quiet one for both of us now, so we came up with an idea. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to invite friends over?’
‘Go for it, love. I hope you both have fun with your crowd. But why did you want to see me?’
Lili raised an eyebrow. ‘Glenda – I hope you consider me a friend, as I do you.’
‘Of course.’
‘Good. Because you’re part of my “crowd” and I’d be chuffed to bits if you came over tomorrow afternoon. I can’t promise it’ll be a traditional dinner. Dylan went shopping this morning. The turkeys had sold out, but he did get a large chicken and a joint of beef and?—’
‘You want me to come?’
‘I’m counting on you, Glenda, to bring a bit of glamour to the occasion.’ Lili smiled, but to her dismay, Glenda started crying. Lili pulled a clean tissue out of packet in her handbag and handed it over. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you. I… I’m sorry, don’t feel obliged to?—’
Glenda gave a big sniff. ‘You’re a good girl. I’d love to.’
She dried her eyes. They exchanged phone numbers and after a hug, Lili paid her next visit, a fifteen-minute drive away on the outskirts of Mevagissey, on the same estate as Callum. She stood outside the small terraced house, took a deep breath and rapped on the door. A light went off in the lounge. She waited for a couple of minutes and then knocked again. Still no reply. She bent down and opened the letterbox.
