Page 107 of It Always Snows on Mistletoe Square
‘Yeah … maybe,’ she says, still looking at the card. ‘I’ll think about it.’
As I walk back to my taxi, I glance back to the bench to see a familiar figure walking towards the woman. He’s wearing the very formal outfit of a bowler hat and a smart three-piece suit, and he’s carrying a black umbrella, a newspaper and a bright red briefcase …
He sees me watching him and pauses for a moment. Then he lifts his bowler hat and smiles, before continuing on his way towards the bench.
‘You’ll be all right,’ I whisper, looking towards the bench one more time, before climbing back into the taxi. ‘If you have the courage to believe … ’
I get the taxi driver to drop me off on the edge of Mistletoe Square and then I walk back across the garden towards the house.
I pause, as I always do when I pass one of the benches.
The bench took a while to arrange and get permission for, but as I read the inscription that’s written on the brass plaque pinned to the back of the bench, I’m so glad we persevered.
Sarah
Here only briefly, but never forgotten.
In our hearts always and for ever.
After I’ve stood in silence and thought about Ben’s mother for a few moments, I turn my attention to two small fir trees, which stand either side of the bench.
We planted the trees at the beginning of 2019 when Henry presented us with both Estelle’s and Angela’s ashes, and the request that they be scattered in the Mistletoe Square gardens.
After the initial shock, we sorted permission to both scatter their ashes and then plant two Christmas trees in their memory – which seemed appropriate and something that they both would have liked.
‘Happy birthday, Estelle,’ I say to one of the trees, and I lay some flowers at the bottom of its trunk. ‘Don’t worry, I hadn’t forgotten. You didn’t need to send a reminder in the form of Alvie. I’ll never forget this day and the two of you. And I’m so glad you approve of everything I’ve done with the knowledge you shared with me.’
Again, I stand for a moment in silence, remembering everything that happened that Christmas of 2018, and the two people who were so very much involved, and were still so very much missed by both Ben and me, and as I do it begins to snow.
I smile up at the sky as the flakes fall lightly down onto my face. ‘Of course it’s snowing. It always snows in Mistletoe Square, doesn’t it?’
Eventually, I leave the bench and the trees and begin to walk back through the square to Christmas House, pausing again to look up at the house I’m lucky enough to call my home.
‘She’s back!’ I hear an excited voice call, and I see my daughter Stella’s face disappear from the sitting-room window as she rushes to the front door to greet me.
‘Hello, you two,’ I say, greeting both Ben and Stella in the open doorway as I climb to the top of the steps. ‘I’m sorry I’m a bit late. Have you been waiting long?’
‘Yes!’ Stella says impatiently. ‘Daddy won’t let me finish the tree until you get back, and now it’s snowing too!’
‘Patience, Stella,’ Ben says. ‘I promised you could go out in the snow once we’ve finished the tree. And you know Mummy always puts on the angel and the star.’ Ben leans over Stella to kiss me. ‘And she’s here now, so you don’t have to wait any longer.’
‘I think maybe the time has come for Stella to do it this year,’ I suggest, hanging my coat up on the stand in the hall. ‘I’m not sure I should be climbing ladders in my condition.’
‘You’re probably right,’ Ben says, putting his hand on my stomach. ‘How’s little one today?’
‘Kicking away as usual.’ I head into the sitting room where Ben has already made up a roaring fire. ‘He or she is going to be a feisty one, I think!’
‘A bit like their sister, then.’ Ben smiles at Stella as she grabs the angel and the star from the chair ready to put on the tree. ‘Your parents phoned earlier; they’re definitely coming for Christmas this year.’
‘Wonderful, I’m so pleased. It wouldn’t be the same without them now. I stopped by your mum’s bench when I walked across the square. Have you been polishing the brass plate again? It looked very shiny.’
‘I have, actually. And I’ve ordered the flowers for us to put there on Christmas Eve like always.’
‘Good. I thought you might have. I left some for Estelle’s birthday today too. Also, in case I forget, there might be a new resident next door tonight.’
‘Oh, really?’ Ben raises his eyebrows. ‘Have we been doing our guardian angel bit again?’
‘No, I think one angel in the family is plenty, don’t you? I may have passed someone our card, that’s all. She looked like she might need help.’
