Page 48 of Every Christmas Eve
Cordelia fills me in on the plans at her end. Ava, who has proven a dab hand on a design app, has created menus which have already gone to print, while Ben is on a wild goose chase this morning for their mother’s Christmas present, according to his sister.
‘He won’t tell any of us what it is,’ she says. ‘I’ve guessed a thousand things, but he says I’m not even close. Did he tell you?’
‘Why would he tell me?’ I ask her.
‘Because he used to tell you everything,’ she says, her voice animated. ‘I imagine that’s the case again, no matter how much water has gone under the bridge between you two. Are you getting on well? Not that it’s any of my business … but when I mentioned your name to Ben, he seemed a bit coy.’
‘Coy?’ I repeat.
‘Yes, coy,’ she says, laughing. ‘My big brother is a prettycool, strong and confident guy, but I swear he went a little bit quiet.’
‘He has a lot on his mind,’ I remind Cordelia. She gathers her coffee, keys and hat from the counter, pays for her coffee and bids us farewell for now.
‘I’ve a lot to be getting on with too,’ she says excitedly. ‘I’ll see you later, yeah?’
‘Absolutely,’ I tell her with a smile as I watch her skip out of the shop into Uncle Eric’s car, leaving me to daydream about the evening before, when we’d switched on the festive lights.
It was breathtaking. It was the perfect distraction after our fumble by the stepladder when I thought Ben was going to make a move. Thank goodness Uncle Eric came in when he did.
‘It’s like a castle,’ young Ava said when Uncle Eric had flicked all of the switches, lighting up the gardens and the front of the house. ‘It’s like a real winter wonderland. This is already the best Christmas ever, Dad.’
I watched as she cuddled into her father’s side, his arm around her shoulder. He leaned down and kissed the top of her woolly hat, then we all clapped and cheered before Ben declared a movie night, where everyone would snuggle down to watchHome Alonein front of a blazing fire.
‘Please stay, Lou,’ Ava begged when I said I’d leave them to it. ‘We have saltandsweet popcorn, and Uncle Eric is going to make nachos. You should try them. They’re so good.’
I felt all eyes on me as I contemplated her kind offer, but I didn’t want to overstay my welcome.
‘I’ve a big day tomorrow,’ I said, much to her disappointment. ‘And I believe there’s a very special young lady coming to help us in Buds and Beans in the afternoon?’
Ava brightened up immediately. ‘Yes! Nana Molly said she never breaks a promise, so I’ll be there by lunchtime if that’s OK?’ she replied. ‘She expects it will be busy with everyone wanting flowers at the last minute for their Christmas celebrations. She said I could help with the hot chocolates too.’
Ben nodded along with Ava’s plans, smiling.
‘You do know that Buds and Beans is Lou’s place, not her Nana Molly’s,’ he joked to her. ‘Are you sure Ava won’t get in the way?’ he said to me. ‘Tomorrow will be crazy for you, I’d imagine.’
‘I think an extra pair of hands will come in very handy,’ I replied.
‘That’s very kind of you all. It will be good for Ava too,’ Tilda said. ‘It will be nice for her to be around that strong female energy. I’m sure that you, Liz and Molly will look after her very well.’
Ben walked me to the door while the rest of his family prepared their snacks in the kitchen. Well, apart from Uncle Eric, who was already snoring in his armchair with the dog at his feet. I don’t think the poor man had seen such activity around Ballyheaney House in a very long time.
‘I honestly can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for us already, Lou,’ Ben said as we stood on the doorstep. ‘Even Mum is like a different person. Uncle Eric too.’
I was hoping he wouldn’t mention the moment at the stepladder. My heart raced at the thought of it.
‘I’m enjoying it all,’ I replied. ‘It’s given me a new lease of life too. Hopefully I’ll hear good news from Gracie tomorrow and that will be the icing on the cake.’
Ben tilted his head.
‘And if it isn’t the news you’re hoping for, we’ll all get you through it,’ he said. ‘Every step of the way. I know it won’t be the same, but I’ll have your back. Whatever I can do to make it easier, I will.’
It had been a happy evening, a productive evening, and despite that heart-stopping moment in the hallway by the stepladder, I smiled all the way home, then after a long, hot shower I fell into the most satisfying sleep I’ve had in a very long time.
‘Liz, can you help with some coffees while I tackle a few dishes? They’re piling high.’ Nana says to my mum during a much-predicted mid-morning rush in Buds and Beans. ‘Where is everyone coming from this morning? A lot of strangers too, taking photos of their coffee and the chalkboards. As long as they don’t photograph me this morning! We don’t close until Tuesday, yet it’s like the apocalypse is on its way.’
‘I’m sure our Lou isn’t complaining,’ says Mum, who is stocking up our festive traybake selection. ‘A bit of social media won’t do this place any harm.’
‘And did you see how many bags of shopping that blonde lady had?’ Nana cries. ‘The one who wanted a chai latte? I thought a chai latte was a place in the Far East, for crying out loud.’
