Page 41 of Every Christmas Eve
I watch him from across the room, wondering how he’s really feeling as he learns to manage without Agnes and with his only son on the far side of the world. I consider it a privilege that he likes to spend so much time here, even if I’d love to have a magic wand so I could zap that loneliness away for him.
So far this morning we’ve talked about the whereabouts of some of my more memorable classmates, the rise in fuel prices and, on a lighter note, the Christmas Eve party, which I haven’t told anyone that I’m involved in yet.
But Nana already smells a rat.
‘You look different,’ she says, staring at me as I busy myself with the coffee bar. She tilts her head from side to side, doing her best to read my face, which she’s always been so good at. ‘What is it, Lou? You haven’t had your hair done, have you? No, you still have that dreadful grown-out fringe. You haven’t changed your outfit. Still the uniform denim dungarees and green apron.’
I can’t help but giggle as she analyses me from head to toe.
‘Thank goodness I was born with a thick skin,’ I reply.
‘Your cheeks are rosy in a way they haven’t been in a long time, and you’re wearing a smile that would brighten a nation,’ she says to me. ‘Now, call me old-fashioned but to me that’s normally a sign of … Lou, have you met someone new?’
‘No,’ I tell her, confident in my truth.
‘Oh my goodness, that’s it, isn’t it!’ she says, clappingher hands. ‘You’ve been on one of those dating sites and you swiped left!’
‘It’s swipe right actually, but no, Detective Inspector Molly, I haven’t been on a dating site,’ I correct her. ‘Mum has been at me all morning wondering the same, so I’ve tasked her with a delivery to get her out of my hair.’
‘My Liz is a chip off the old block when it comes to intuition,’ says Nana proudly.
‘You two should work for the FBI,’ I say, raising an eyebrow. ‘Now, when you’re done dissecting every move I make, can you take these coffees across to table three, please? I really need five minutes to myself. Thanks, Nana. You’re the best.’
I can feel Nana’s eyes still on me as I make my way to the tiny kitchen area at the back of my workplace for a very short breather. It’s only just gone eleven but I feel like I’ve run a marathon already, even though I most definitely woke up this morning with a new spring in my step after an enjoyable evening catching up with Ben.
I lay awake for ages last night though, mulling over our conversations that evening, digesting and analysing all we had to say and all we must do going forward to get the party ready in less than two weeks.
‘Everything OK out there?’ I call out.
I hear a rattle from the coffee bar which shakes me back to the present, so I jump to get to Nana’s rescue. As fresh and astute as she very much still is, I don’t like to leave her on her own for too long, especially on a busy Saturday morning.
However, I don’t get far before my own mother meets me on the way.
‘I knew it, Lou!’ she says, putting her hand to her chest with a beaming smile. ‘I knew there was something you weren’t telling us this morning.’
‘What have you heard now?’ I ask, feeling my legs tremble and my face flush. I was going to tell my family later today about my new affiliation with Ben and Ballyheaney House, but I feared word would get out beforehand, as it often does in the village.
‘There’s a very, very handsome man asking for you at the coffee bar,’ Mum whispers, stopping me in my tracks. ‘Is this why you’re looking so upbeat and fresh this morning? I knew it! I’d just got in through the door from my delivery – very emotional moment, I have to say. Poor woman is so sick. Anyhow, I offered to help the man, but he insisted on speaking to you personally.’
My heart races. Has Ben popped in to say one last goodbye before he heads back to Dublin this evening, even though he’ll be back again Friday? No … and anyhow, Nana would recognise him instantly, having only chatted with him a day ago. My mother has the memory of an elephant, so she’d cop on too.
But still, just in case, I grab my lipstick, pat down my apron and take a deep breath before I walk out front, doing my best to disguise my inner glee at the thought of how Ben might have wanted to call by.
‘Oh, hello,’ he says with an air of confidence I didn’t notice so much on our first meeting yesterday. ‘I hope it isn’t too late to make my special order?’
Mum does her best not to bleat with excitement while Ido my best not to show my disappointment at the sight of the young man at the counter. He is indeed very handsome. He is indeed looking for me personally.
But he is not Ben Heaney.
‘You’re right on time,’ I reply, seeing my grandmother staring at us from the corner of my eye. ‘Let’s go this way, Danny. We’ll get some beautiful flowers and a very special message written for your beautiful wife, all in time for delivery on Monday.’
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ben
Five Days to Christmas Eve
The week stretches on and on as I count the days until it’s Friday at last, the day when Ava and I are back on the road north to Ballyheaney House. We’ll be there over Christmas, so I’ve packed up our presents for all the family and my ridiculously expensive decorations, much to both of our excitement.
