Chapter 29
TWENTY-NINE
‘Kian, hi,’ I say, surprised and thrilled to be receiving a call from him on Christmas morning.
Mum, having got over the shock of seeing Dad this morning, is having breakfast with him in the kitchen.
‘Good morning and merry Christmas,’ he says, the sound of his voice delighting me.
‘Merry Christmas to you too and Bella, of course. Are you okay? You sound a little out of breath,’ I comment.
‘What? Oh yes, I’m just walking quickly to the corner shop. Would you believe I forgot the golden rule of checking that toys don’t need batteries, so Bella has a barking, walking dog that currently can’t do either of those things.’ He laughs.
‘Oh no. Thank goodness for the shop hey, it should be called Open All Hours. I don’t think that place ever closes, even on Christmas Day.’
‘And as you say, thank goodness for that,’ he says.
‘Is Bella with you?’ I ask, thinking I might wish her a merry Christmas.
‘No, she’s at home with a family member while I nipped out,’ he tells me.
‘Well wish her a happy Christmas from me,’ I say, hoping they have a lovely day together.
‘I will do. So how is your mum?’ he asks and I fill him in, also telling him about Dad pitching up here last night.
‘It’s a long story,’ I tell him.
‘Well I’d like to hear it sometime. That’s why I was calling actually,’ he says. ‘I know we are both busy at Christmas, but would you like to go out with me one evening when we are both free?’ he asks and my heart soars.
‘Yes, I think I would like that.’
‘You think?’ I can hear him laugh.
‘Sorry, yes, that would be really nice. Is that better?’ I ask, feeling thrilled. I can’t wait to see him again and wondered when that might be.
‘Much better. Okay, well, I’ll call you again soon. Have a wonderful Christmas Day.’
‘Thank you, you too.’
‘Something, or should I say someone, has put a smile on your face,’ Mum comments as she swallows down some painkillers with a glass of water.
‘It was Kian,’ I tell her.
‘I thought as much. Is he okay?’ she asks, smiling.
‘He is. He called to wish me a merry Christmas. Oh and he asked after you,’ I tell her as I pour myself a coffee from the cafetière.
‘Is Kian the bloke who shared the hall for his daughter’s party?’ asks Dad, Mum obviously already having filled him in about the events of yesterday.
‘That’s right. He only lives a couple of miles away, having moved into town from a place near Keswick.’
Victoria Apartments are quite upmarket overlooking the river and with glimpses of the forest beyond. I imagine his apartment to be stylish, yet relaxed, a bit like Kian himself.
‘Well you should get yourself out on a date with him. It’s been a while since you had a boyfriend,’ says Dad with his usual forthrightness.
‘I’m well aware of that, Dad, but where do you meet blokes these days? Besides, I am perfectly happy on my own,’ I tell him, which of course is true. But Dad’s right, it has been a while since I’ve been out with anyone and I rather like the feeling of anticipation, wondering where Kian might take me.
‘Although, in fact, he has just asked me out.’ I can’t help smiling as I tell my parents the news.
‘Oh lovely,’ says Mum. ‘Asking you out on Christmas Day, how romantic.’ She claps her hands together.
‘Do you remember when I asked you out?’ asks Dad, pouring himself another coffee.
‘Of course I do. Easter Saturday, when I was dancing at that club.’ She smiles. ‘We spent Easter Sunday going to Morecambe on the back of your motorbike.’ She smiles fondly at the memory.
‘You were quite the adventurous couple then, by the sound of things.’
‘We were. As anyone should be if they get the chance,’ advises Dad. ‘Life goes by so quickly.’
As we sit chatting, I know I am going to enjoy every minute of today, with unexpectedly both of my parents sharing it with me. I do think about Rose for a minute though, and hope she isn’t spending it all alone. I also have her Christmas gift here.
‘She’s gone to her sister’s for the day,’ Dad tells me when I ask about her. ‘To tell you the truth, we had both been invited, but she only mentioned that to me a few days ago, for some reason.’ He shrugs, painting a picture of how strained their relationship must have become. Maybe living with the tension wasn’t good for his heart either.
We have porridge and berries for breakfast, as later we will be enjoying a delicious roast with meat left over from yesterday. Mum may have a little Turkey, as she is, (when it suits her) a Flexitarian, although her diet is generally meat free. There will be extra vegetables and lean turkey for Dad too.
We have a little bit of a tradition of opening our gifts after breakfast, so first of all I open up Gemma’s gift in the silver paper. I think of her family receiving gifts wrapped in Grinch paper then and can’t help but laugh.
Inside is a pretty silver bracelet, dotted with pearls. There is also a gift card for afternoon tea for two people at a posh hotel in Grasmere.
Mum and Dad have bought me some beautiful silk pyjamas, and a bottle of my favourite perfume, and Dad is thrilled with some rare tomato seeds for his greenhouse and a new wristwatch.
‘Oh, it’s perfect,’ says Mum, trying on the beanie hat and scarf. ‘And handmade too.’ She also loves her earrings.
After the present opening, I call Gemma.
‘Merry Christmas! And thank you so much for the bracelet, I love it, it’s just so me,’ I say as I admire it on my wrist. ‘But afternoon tea as well. Haven’t you gone a little bit over the top?’ I ask as we never normally spend too much on each other at Christmas, saving the bigger gift for our birthdays.
‘Merry Christmas to you too! And I haven’t actually, it was a deal on one of those online sites. I thought you might like to take your mum. Maybe you both deserve a bit of a treat, especially after your mum having a fall.’
‘Oh, Gemma, that is so thoughtful, thank you.’
‘No problem. It might cheer her up, we can do something like that too, another time, if you fancy it?’
‘I’d love that.’
‘So how is your mum doing?’
‘Not too bad, thanks. A huge bruise on her side but I’m just so thankful that she has no broken bones. I don’t think she would be able to cope with being laid up for long.’
I quickly tell her about Dad being here too and that I will fill her in more when I see her.
We say our goodbyes, Gemma off to spend the day with her large family, me here with Mum and Dad and I couldn’t be happier to be with them both. And to look forward to my date with the delectable Kian.
‘You’ve done us proud, love,’ says Dad, pushing his plate away after Christmas lunch.
Mum said it still feels very strange having King Charles deliver the Christmas Day speech, rather than the queen but that she thought he did a good job all the same.
‘Those parsnips from the allotment tasted good, didn’t they? And the carrots. Was there something sweet in them?’ asks Dad.
‘I roasted them with thyme and honey,’ I tell him.
‘Really? Well, they were delicious.’
I roasted some potatoes in olive oil along with the veg, so Christmas lunch for Dad was quite healthy.
‘I don’t suppose you have any of that red velvet cake left, do you?’ asks Mum, having declined some Christmas pudding.
‘I do actually.’ I head to the fridge.
‘Maybe I could have a small slice.’ Dad joins his hands together in prayer pleadingly.
‘Well, alright, just a small slice as your lunch was pretty healthy.’ I smile. ‘I even have some vegan cream substitute to pour over it that tastes exactly like cream, but healthier,’ I say, except when I open the fridge I realise I forgot to buy some.
‘Right, I’m just nipping to Open All Hours for that cream. And don’t worry, Dad, it tastes really good,’ I say, before he can complain. ‘Back in two ticks. Keep your hands out of the Quality Street tin.’ I wink.
‘I hope you’re going to enjoy a Christmas dinner later,’ I say to Alf at the shop, placing my cream and a packet of playing cards down onto the counter. I remember how we all used to play a game of cards and thought it might be something we could enjoy later.
‘Very soon actually.’ He glances at his watch. ‘I am closing up in five minutes, so you have made it here in the nick of time.’
‘Thanks, Alf,’ I say, lifting my things from the counter. ‘And merry Christmas.’
‘And to you too.’
I’m about to get into my car, when I notice Kian at a zebra crossing further up the road, and I freeze. Because this time he isn’t holding Bella’s hand alone. A willowy blonde is holding her other hand and chatting to her. I watch the cars slow down at the zebra crossing as they make their way across the busy road, all three of them with a smile on their face.