Page 100 of A Christmas Celebration
The Brambles stall was swamped and Jack was struggling on his own. I wondered where Tilly was.
‘I can see that,’ I said. ‘I really think you should go.’
‘Okay,’ he said, his shoulders dropping. ‘Bye, Albert. I’ll call you later, Paige.’
Albert and I watched him walk away.
‘I don’t understand you two,’ said Albert, shaking his head. ‘You’re clearly into each other. That’s what you youngsters say these days, isn’t it? And yet between you, you can’t get your act together.’
‘I do believe that is the youthful vernacular,’ I confirmed, but didn’t acknowledge the implication of what he had said. ‘Come on,’ I added, ‘let’s find you a wreath for the cottage door and a stand for the tree, unless you’ve already got one?’
‘That’s a point,’ said Albert, thankfully distracted. ‘I didn’t think of that.’
By the time we’d finished in town, having stayed longer than planned because Albert decided to do a little festive shopping, he was too tired to start decorating. I manhandled the tree indoors, set it up after some swearing and cajoling and promised to go back the next afternoon, once I’d helped decorate the hall in the morning.
‘Are you really sure you can spare the time?’ he asked. ‘It’s Sunday tomorrow.’
‘I know,’ I told him, ‘and I definitely can. I want you to enjoy getting the cottage ready for Christmas and you’ll do that far better after a decent night’s rest.’
‘I am going to sleep well tonight,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘What a day!’
‘Have you enjoyed it?’
I already knew the answer, but wanted to hear him say it.
‘I have.’ He nodded. ‘I was a bit overwhelmed when we first arrived. We couldn’t have picked a busier day to go shopping, could we?’
‘We couldn’t,’ I agreed. ‘I’m sorry about that.’
He put up a hand to stop me.
‘Don’t apologize,’ he insisted. ‘We needed to go today to get the tree and it was wonderful to be able to soak up theatmosphere. And what’s more, with you by my side, Paige, I knew I’d be able to cope.’
‘Oh, Albert,’ I choked.
‘It’s true,’ he said, looking a little misty eyed himself. ‘I know I’ve already said it, but you really have transformed my life and there’ll never be words enough to express my thanks for that.’
We had a warm hug and then I lit the fire and made sure he had everything he needed in time for his favourite Saturday night game show.
‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ I said, as I slipped out the door.
‘Tomorrow,’ he cheerfully said, holding his mug of tea aloft. ‘And perhaps you might want to think about ringing that young man before he rings you? That’s how you young independent women operate these days, isn’t it?’
I gave him a look and left him to it.
Chapter 24
By the time everyone at the hall fell into bed that evening, the multiple trees, some of which I was fascinated to see were growing in pots, were set in their final positions and we had spent what felt like endless hours ferrying the decorations down from the loft, ready for adorning everywhere the following day and, given the amount there was to do, even beyond that.
If I’d thought Albert had a lot of boxes, it was nothing compared to what Angus had been squirelling away over the years and he’d got the next week, which was how long he told me it would most likely take to embellish both the interior and exterior of the hall to his satisfaction, organized with military precision.
I was surprised to find everything so orderly as he generally favoured a more chaotic approach, but Christmas, I realized, was the one occasion which was not to be trifled with and I knew it would be picture perfect as a result.
It was Mick’s turn to receive a gift from Santa the nextmorning and once we’d admired the many packets of seeds he would be sowing in the spring with a view to creating cut flower beds in the walled garden, and filled up on breakfast, we began the pleasurable task of decorating the hall.
I threw myself into Angus’s operation with gusto and unboxed many fragile tissue wrapped treasures, some of which I remembered from Christmases past spent visiting the hall with my parents. Along with the beautiful glass baubles, there were worn and faded homemade angels crafted by the three Connelly boys too and more recent papier-mâché additions from the two grandsons.
With carols playing and everyone in such a buoyant mood the morning was a joy and by lunchtime great areas of the hall glistened, shone and sparkled. There was some special adornment or tableau in practically every spot and the glow of the warm white fairy lights softened everything and made it feel cosy, even in the middle of the bright day.
