Page 78 of A Christmas Celebration
‘There,’ said Daisy. ‘I’ve been looking for these for months. I even had a new set fitted when I resigned myself to the fact that they were lost for good.’
I opened my hand and found a set of dentures in my palm. A top set, not that it mattered.
‘I must have left them in my cardigan pocket,’ Daisy tutted, scooping them up and rinsing them at the sink. ‘These new ones have never fitted the same.’
She deftly swapped the new for the old and having refitted the pipe and washed my hands, I beat a hasty retreat, just about managing to stave off my laughter until I had driven off. Thankfully, the rest of the drop-offs were without the same level of drama. Last call of the day was to Alice who was looking forward to her imminent move to town.
‘I don’t think I’ll need half of these,’ she said, as she shifted her youngest a little higher on her hip and I carried the boxes in. ‘I haven’t got much because I left my last place in such a rush; I could only take what I could carry and with the kids, that wasn’t a lot.’
‘But you’ve been given things since then, haven’t you?’ I reminded her as I looked around. ‘You might have more than you think.’
‘That’s true,’ she said. ‘Everyone has been so kind.’ It upset me that she sounded so surprised and gave me a further insight into her previous life. ‘I can’t wait to get into town now.’
‘Kathleen said the flat is perfect.’ I smiled. ‘And I’m looking forward to seeing it. Although you probably won’t need me to deliver there, will you?’
‘It is perfect,’ she confirmed happily, then added with a blush, ‘And no, I most likely won’t, but I’m hoping we’ll keep in touch.’
‘Me too,’ I said, thinking how nice it was that the suggestion had come from her. ‘I’d really like that.’
‘And Saffron hasn’t stopped going on about Molly andher magic cloak,’ Alice laughed, ‘so I’m hoping we’ll see her again too.’
‘Oh, I’m sure you will,’ I told her. ‘Molly is always popping up where you least expect her.’
‘I’m not used to having friends,’ she then blurted out, confirming what I’d pretty much guessed. ‘I’m probably going be crap at it.’
‘You won’t be,’ I insisted. ‘But I’m someone prone to keeping myself to myself, so I’m out of practice too. I’ve only really got Molly and now you.’ I nudged her and she smiled. ‘So, are you all sorted for the day of the move?’ I asked, not wanting to make too much of the heart to heart.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Chris and Marie Dempster and their son have offered to help me because they’ve got a van.’
‘That’s great,’ I said, thinking how much stress that would eliminate and how kind it was given how busy the family were with their own businesses. ‘And you know you can ring me if you get stuck with anything, don’t you?’
‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘Everyone’s been so helpful.’
‘It’s that sort of place.’ I nodded, pulling out my phone. ‘Now, you have got my number, haven’t you?’
When I glanced at the screen, I noticed I had a missed call from Albert.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘You gave it to me when I said I sometimes get a bit jittery at night.’
‘I’m sure that will change when you’re living in town.’
‘I think you’re right,’ she said. ‘In fact,’ she added, ‘I’m feeling less worried and a little more confident every day.’
‘Oh, Alice,’ I said, as the little one she was holding called Tansy, wriggled to be put down. ‘You’re an inspiration. Do you know that?’
‘Me?’ Alice laughed, turning red.
‘Yes, you,’ I insisted. ‘Wynbridge is full of strong women and your moving to town will mean the place has gained another one. I think you’re amazing.’
I left her looking pensive and I hoped she could see the value of the choices she’d made and the brave action she’d taken which was already benefitting her children’s lives as well as her own.
I sat in the Land Rover outside her gate and took a deep breath before listening to the message Albert had left for me. It was a huge relief to hear that I wasn’t banished and that he wanted to see me.
‘Perfect timing,’ he said, as he opened the door when I arrived. ‘The kettle has just boiled so you can make us a brew. No Bran?’ he added, looking around me.
‘No,’ I said, feeling relieved that we seemed to have slipped back into our former way of talking with no awkwardness or ill feeling. ‘Not today. I couldn’t fit him in with all the deliveries and to be honest, he doesn’t seem quite so desperate to stick to my side these days.’
I hadn’t really noticed it before, but he was definitely shadowing me less. If he thought I was making progress, then I must have been moving on.
