Page 65 of Will You Stay Another Day?
‘Thank God,’ she said. ‘And Mum rang me at work. She’s well enough to blame Dad for the Covid as he chose the pub they went to.’ She grinned. ‘It was good to hear. A bit of realism in their new relationship – it was starting to sound a little too perfect. He’s still invited around to hers but better prepare himself for a guilt trip.’ She took off her coat and Dylan made the hot chocolates. They took them through to the lounge, turned on the Christmas tree lights. They sat on the sofa and he put an arm around her shoulders.
‘It’s weird. Us. It doesn’t seem new. It’s as if we’ve been together for ages. Or is that just me?’ she said shyly.
‘No,’ he replied softly. A smile crept across his mouth. ‘Does that mean I can leave the toilet seat up and my dirty laundry on the floor?’
His smile widened as she pretended to glare and said, ‘Bario won’t last long if that ever happens.’
44
Lili stood back in the dining room and admired the table, set with six places, each with a cracker, Santa napkin and wine glass. She’d put out the condiments, and a box of mints to have after dessert with coffee. A clementine and clove candle was lit on the sideboard and Christmas jazz played in the background. Darkness was falling as she went to the French patio doors and bit on her fist. Silly really, but she felt excited, joyous, grateful… This cottage hadn’t known much positivity in the last twelve months and it was almost too much. A teacher at high school had taken Lili aside once. She’d spotted that Lili had been crying in the toilets about her parents’ divorce.
‘Difficult things happen in life, Lydia,’ she’d said gently. ‘My boyfriend broke up with me the day before our engagement party. Not only that, but shortly after – only five years ago – I got diagnosed with cancer.’
Young Lili’s eyes had widened.
‘I’m telling you this because the way I coped was to follow a piece of advice my granddad gave me when I was little, which I’m passing on to you now. He said that however bad things get, imagine yourself one year ahead, looking back on that difficult time. It won’t seem as bad. I did that and it got me through. And as fate would have it, that boyfriend turned out to be fiddling the tax office and went to prison – and my cancer was caught early. I’m completely cured now.’ She’d patted Lili’s shoulder. ‘Time might not make you forget, but it will teach you how to get through and you’ll be stronger as a result.’
The front door rang and Lili shook herself out of the past. She hoped Miss Brown was doing well now. She hurried into the hallway, secretly pleased Dylan loved cooking so much and was happy for her just to help with the washing-up and arrange the table. She smoothed down her Christmas jumper that had a reindeer with a lit-up nose on the front, a present from Dad last year. She’d worn it on a video call with her parents, a couple of hours ago. Not that either noticed; they were too busy looking at Dylan and quizzing him about his job, Italy, cooking… He already had an invite up to Manchester in the New Year.
Lili opened the door. Tommo saluted and did a jig over the doorstep. She took his biker jacket. Glenda came in next and slipped out of her anorak immediately to reveal a red blazer with gold buttons and green velvet trousers. A necklace made of flashing fairy lights completed the festive combo. She was talking to Meg’s gran, Elaine, about Meg’s vintage clothes business. Elaine was saying that Glenda clearly had an eye for fashion and suggested the three of them got together to brainstorm further about Meg focusing on 1940s fashion. Once inside, Elaine passed Lili a bottle of bubbly and a box of truffles.
‘They are from all of us,’ said Meg. ‘A big thank you.’
‘Thank you for coming over to Truro,’ said Lili.
Glasses of champagne accompanied chicken, beef, Yorkshire puddings, sprouts, parsnips, and roast potatoes. And groans of contentment went around the table after the main. Meg and Elaine had been served mini plates but had both gone back for seconds. Gasps then sounded as everyone dug into the Tiramisu, creamy and decadent with a rum kick. They toasted the chef with Bailey’s and mints, chatting about 2025, now it was coming to an end, the world events, personal ones. Glenda went to fetch a glass of water, but the others could hear her starting to tidy up. The guests went to get to their feet and help, but Lili gestured for them to sit down again and called Glenda in. Lili topped up their Bailey’s glasses and raised hers in the air.
‘Here’s to the absent friends,’ she said.
‘My Alf. I miss him so much,’ said Elaine.
Meg raised her glass. ‘My parents. Especially at Christmas. I miss what could have been.’
Glenda nodded. ‘I’ve been thinking a lot about my parents lately too. They always put out a glass of sherry and a carrot on Christmas Eve.’
Tommo lifted his drink. ‘Joe, my sweetheart, Happy Christmas, hope you’ve found your favourite trifle where you are now. You always were the fruit to my custard.’
‘To Harry, the best brother a man could ever want. I should have said that more often.’
Lili gazed at the ceiling. ‘Em, I’ll always miss my sister from another mister.’ Her throat caught. ‘Love you.’
Tommo and Dylan cleared the table whilst Elaine and Meg volunteered to help Glenda with the dishes. However, Lili tapped Meg’s shoulder and said to follow her upstairs. She led her to Em’s room, barren and cold, the radiator switched off, the wardrobe and drawers empty, the bed stripped back to the mattress.
‘Em filled every room she walked into with so much colour,’ said Lili.
‘And jokes. Or a friendly punch if she thought you were being an idiot.’ Meg gave a sad smile. ‘What do you want to do with this room? Do you need a hand? I know you like recycling objects. You could move out the bed and…’
‘It’s yours if you want it.’
‘What?’ Meg stepped back.
‘I’ve spoken to the property owner. She’s happy for you to live here as long as your references are good and the rent gets paid.’
‘But I couldn’t afford?—’
‘We can travel into work together, and you’re learning to drive – until you pass you’ll have to catch the train on the days I’m off. But that should be doable, right?’
‘Lili, it would be a dream come true, thank you. But there’s no way I could afford the rent for a cottage like this. It’s in such a nice street.’
