Page 68 of A Brambleberry Manor Christmas
She smiles. ‘The memorial service was nice, though.’
‘It was.’ I reach for her hand. ‘That reading you did was lovely.’I smile. ‘There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. You really did your dad proud.’
We exchange a sad smile.
‘I hate that he did that to you,’ she says. ‘I don’t knowhow he could.’
‘Well, never mind. It’s all forgotten.’ I paste on a brightsmile. ‘Now, can you eat some breakfast?’
She looks doubtful. ‘Maybe some toast?’
‘Okay. And maybe we could go out for pizza later. If you’refeeling up to it?’
‘Maybe.’ She smiles.
‘Toast, then.’ I go out onto the landing.
‘Jenny?’
‘Yes, love?’
‘I’m not going to stop loving Dad. No matter what horriblethings he did.’
‘No, of course not!’ I turn and stand in the doorway. ‘He’syour dad and he always will be, and you had such lovely times together.’
She nods, her face crumpling a little, and my heart goes outto her. She leans over and grabs a tissue from the box by her bed.
‘He loved you so much, Tavie. He was always so proud of you.You were the most precious thing in his life.’
She gives her nose a good blow, then she aims the balled-uptissue at the wastepaper basket. When she hits it first time, we both cheer.
‘Could I have a boiled egg with my toast, please?’
‘Of course you can. One or two?’
‘Two, please. And can you…can you do them like you used to?With toast soldiers?’
I smile at her, the warmth of the season spreading throughme. ‘Toast soldiers and boiled eggs coming up.’
*****
I’m in the kitchen, spooning the boiled eggs out of thepan, when Tavie appears in her dressing gown.
I glance at her in surprise. ‘You should have stayed in bed.I would have brought your breakfast up to you.’
She shakes her head. ‘As soon as I’ve eaten this, I’m goingto dive in the shower. We’ve got things to do.’
‘Have we?’
‘Yes! We haven’t decorated the tree yet.’ She smiles,excitement in her eyes, like the little girl who used to love nothing betterthan dressing the tree with me. ‘Bagsy I get to switch the fairy-lights on.’
I laugh. ‘While I get to sort out the tangle they’re in?’
She grins. ‘If you wouldn’t mind. You’re very good at it.’
‘Lots of practice.’
‘When do you want to do it?’
