Page 14 of A Scottish Love Story
‘My mother obviously thinks you are worth every penny. So long as you’re happy here, you shouldn’t worry about it. She has money of her own. She isn’t taking anything out of the farm since my father died. My uncle, her brother, inherited their family farm. Grandfather thought she had had her education, so she didn’t get much of a share. Uncle Dan improved the farm over the years and he remained a bachelor so he left it all to Mum when he died. She had been very good to him over the years. He came every week for his Sunday dinner, and at Christmas and other special times. She regularly took baking and stocked up his freezer, so I suppose he felt she deserved it.’
‘I don’t know anything about all that, but it is not my business anyway. Your mother knows this year is giving me time to sort out my life and decide what I want to do with my future. Tommy will necessarily find his own way with the farm. He will have to get his head around the milking parlour and whether he wishes to change it as he always told Dad he should and...’
‘Wait a minute. Did you say milking parlour? So! Was it a dairy farm where you were brought up, then?’
‘Of course it was. I think it was probably one of the things your mother felt we would have in common — that, and the fact that I am used to living in the country, and it is what I enjoy.’
‘I see...’ He whistled softly and pushed his hands through his hair roughly, and it had been so tidy after being at church. He looked at her intently, almost incredulously. ‘No wonder you get on so well together.’
Chapter 6
The month of November had passed more quickly than Roxie had dared to hope when she had set out for her new employment with a heavy heart. It was already the first week in December when Amy approached her with unusual diffidence.
‘It will soon be Christmas, Roxie. I know this will be the first year without your father so I do understand if you wish to spend a few days with your own family over the festive season. I don’t want you to feel I am a burden. I could go to stay with Ciaran while you are away.’ Roxie gasped and shook her head. She was unprepared for the unexpected tears that sprang to her eyes. She blinked them away.
‘I don’t think you would ever be a burden to anyone. It is kind of you to think of me, though, and you’re right — this would be the first Christmas without my father and things can never be the same,’ she said huskily. ‘It is also the first Christmas my brother and his wife have been married, and for both those reasons I would rather stay here with you, but only if it is convenient?’
‘It is more than convenient, my dear.’ Amy smiled widely in relief. ‘It is what I hoped you would say.’
‘What do you usually do at Christmas?’
‘After Jenny’s mother died, Jenny always joined us at the farm. Last year, when my leg was so painful, Jenny made Christmas dinner at her own home for Ciaran and me. I’m not sure what we shall do this year. Jenny’s house is not so convenient in her present condition and with so many stairs between the kitchen and dining room. I don’t know whether they will want to spend it with Ciaran.’
‘Couldn’t we make the Christmas dinner here, for everybody? I don’t mind doing the cooking. In fact, I would enjoy doing it. We could have it in the dining room for once.I would set the table the day before as we used t-to d-do at home...?’ Her voice quavered.
‘That’s a very generous offer, Roxie, my dear. I am sure Jenny would appreciate it ? this year especially. Ciaran will be glad to get a Christmas dinner anywhere so long as he doesn’t need to cook his own. It would certainly make me happy to have it here.’
‘All right, that’s what we shall do, if you help me arrange things. What do you usually have? Turkey? Goose?’
‘We have a free-range turkey. I will phone and order one from the butcher, unless Ciaran has already ordered one in the hope someone will cook it.’ She chuckled. ‘He loves a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. I don’t usually make soup, but maybe a light starter? I still enjoy a Christmas pudding, with rum sauce or brandy butter, but I will leave the menu entirely in your hands, Roxie. I will help prepare the vegetables, though. I can sit at the kitchen table to do them.’
‘I could make something with smoked salmon for a starter or a melon cocktail, which is very light and might be more refreshing?’
‘Either sounds delicious. I shall leave it to you, my dear, and thank you for being so considerate and willing to take so much trouble.’
‘It will be my pleasure to do it, so long as it doesn’t tire you too much.’
‘I shall enjoy having young company. I will phone Ciaran and ask him if he has ordered a turkey, then I will let Jenny and Don know what we are planning. It is up to them whether they stay overnight with Ciaran or go home. It is only about eleven miles away, but it may depend on the weather.’
Roxanne felt much happier after their discussion. She had not been looking forward to Christmas. Nothing could be the same without her father. At least she had something to plan fornow and her efforts would be appreciated. She would always miss her dad and being away from him and Willowbrook and everything familiar, but she felt more settled than she had believed possible.
Amy was eager to go shopping in spite of the cold weather. She used the shopping trolley as her support, although she always kept her walking stick in it. Roxanne couldn’t help but smile when Amy found the greatest pleasure reading the contents on the boxes of crackers and choosing the ones she considered most suitable for their small party, irrespective of the price.
‘You will enjoy Christmas even more next year,’ Roxie said with a grin. ‘Jenny and Donald will have their baby by then and Christmas is such a lovely time for children with all the lights and surprises.’ For a fleeting moment, her thoughts went to the baby boy who had survived the car crash. She hoped he was in loving hands somewhere and his dad had survived and recovered well.
‘I would enjoy it even more if Ciaran was planning to have a family.’ Amy’s comment brought Roxie’s mind back to her surroundings. ‘I wish he would meet a suitable girl who would make him happy and be a good wife.’
‘Jenny told me he had lost the girl he loved in a skiing accident,’ Roxie said. ‘I suppose something like that must take a lot of getting over.’
‘I was sorry about the accident because Amanda was such a fun-loving girl. She didn’t deserve to die so young. I’m not sure they were ever really in love, though. When I look back, I can’t visualise them ever settling down to marriage. They had been friends for some time and the rest of their friends were gradually getting married. They drifted towards being a couple, rather than finding each other irresistible. There was no spark between them and the Baxter men are a passionate breed — bothin anger and in love. Ciaran is very like his father, including the red hair. Neither of us felt Amanda would make an ideal wife for a working farmer. She had no love for animals, even a pet cat or dog, and no interest at all in Ciaran’s work.’
‘I see,’ Roxie said quietly, and tactfully enquired what drinks they should buy.
‘I must ask Ciaran to bring us a Christmas tree, one which will fit in the hall,’ Amy said on the way home. ‘Maybe he should take you with him because he always chooses one that is far too large once he gets it home, even for the hall at the farm, and it is far bigger than ours. The decorations are all in the top cupboards in the utility room. Perhaps I should ask him to get them down for us. Do you mind me expecting you to do so much, Roxie?’ she asked hesitantly.
‘Of course I don’t mind. I am pleased. I was dreading Christmas without my father. Now it doesn’t seem quite so awful when I have things I can do. I feel I am so lucky that you selected me for your companion.’ In answer Amy gently patted her hand.
‘I have counted my own blessings several times since you came, my dear, even though I understand how badly you must miss your father, especially when you had been so close and worked together too. Er, there is one more thing I would like you to help me do, Roxie,’ her voice was gruff with emotion. ‘Ciaran told me you know about my little girls and I know you understand. We never forget those we have loved. I always take a wreath for them, and one for their grandfather. They are buried side by side.’ She drew out her handkerchief to wipe away a tear, and Roxie gave her a few moments to steady herself.
