Chapter 40
FORTY
The house looks beautiful, strung with fairy lights across the windows and a thick holly wreath adorns the fireplace, dotted with chunky cream and red candles.
Bentham’s food hall provided the finest of nibbles which are laid out on the kitchen table, and I have a chilli simmering away in my giant slow cooker. I have also baked my popular red velvet cake, along with cupcakes, and stocked up on soft drinks for the children.
I am pouring some crisps into a bowl, when the doorbell rings and it’s Bella and Kian.
‘Oh wow. Just look at you. You look beautiful,’ I say to Bella, who is wearing a pretty silky blue dress, with a tutu-style skirt. ‘And you don’t scrub up too badly either.’ I turn to Kian, who looks gorgeous in a light-grey suit and dark shirt, without a tie.
‘Thanks,’ he says, handing me a bottle of champagne. ‘And it goes without saying that you look amazing.’ He kisses me on the cheek. ‘The scarf really suits you, I knew it would.’
I’m wearing a sleeveless black dress, the beautiful red scarf setting it off perfectly.
A couple of minutes later, Sue and Barry arrive with their granddaughter. When the little girl takes her coat off, she and Bella burst out laughing as they are wearing exactly the same dress.
‘Do you want to play Barbie?’ asks Chloe and Bella’s eyes light up when Barry, having nipped to the car, returns with an enormous Barbie house that he places in the corner of the room close to the Christmas tree.
‘They would be mortified about wearing the same dress to a party if they were ten years older,’ Sue says laughing as she accepts a glass of white wine from me, whilst Kian is in the kitchen, finding Barry a beer. ‘And thanks for asking us over.’ She smiles. ‘Much as we love having Chloe, I’m sure she would much rather be playing with someone her own age on New Year’s Eve, than us pretending to be interested in all things Barbie and Disney.’ She laughs again. ‘Although we have been building a snowman in the garden. Well, when I say we, I mean Barry mainly. I think he might have nodded off in the chair about nine o’clock if we had stayed home.’
An hour later, all of the guests have arrived, and introductions are made, although most people know each other, apart from a new couple who have not long moved in across the road, and were delighted to be asked over. We chat so easily to them that I think they could become good friends.
I’m delighted Audrey’s mum agreed to accompany her here tonight, and Audrey tells me she has been getting out and about a little more.
‘I think the Christmas party really gave her a confidence boost,’ she tells me when we are in the kitchen eating a bowl of chilli.
‘I’m pleased to hear it. Sometimes people just need that little bit of encouragement.’
Gemma and Mike arrive just after nine having been to the pub for an hour and Gemma immediately gets the party in full swing with some upbeat music. We laugh as Gemma and Sue start dancing in the lounge and are joined by Barry, who does some dad dancing, which mainly involves pointing at things, and has us all laughing.
‘I’m not sure the girls will make it to midnight,’ says Sue a little after ten thirty. She glances at Chloe, who has started yawning. ‘She’s done well to stay awake this long. Perhaps we ought to get going shortly,’ she tells Barry.
‘I could drop you off if you like,’ says Dad, who has only had a couple of alcohol-free beers. ‘We will be making a move soon ourselves. Sorry if we didn’t make it until midnight, love.’ He turns to me. ‘But you can do that with the young ones, if you don’t mind us leaving shortly.’
‘Of course I don’t mind. I’m just thrilled you came. Mum is only just getting on her feet after all. I’ll call you tomorrow.’
I wish them an early happy new year, as I escort them to the door.
With not long to go before midnight, Eileen knocks on the door, brandishing a bottle of rosé.
‘Eileen! You made it before midnight.’ I usher her inside.
‘I did.’ She waves the bottle. ‘But only because I had a long nap this afternoon.’ She winks. ‘Gerald took me out for an early dinner, but he’s home now and probably well away.’ She laughs.
It’s nice to see Eileen dating, although she tells me she will never give up her independence and live with anyone again.
Audrey’s mum looks delighted when she spots Eileen and quickly engages her in chat over a glass of something.
Bella is tucked up in bed in the guest room, as Kian will be staying over tonight. She pleaded to stay up until New Year, but after Chloe left, Kian found her on the sofa in the kitchen sleeping soundly, and gently carried her upstairs.
‘You have such a lovely home,’ says Eileen kindly. ‘And it’s wonderful to see it filled with so many people.’
‘Do you know, you are right,’ I tell her. ‘Maybe my New Year’s resolution ought to be to have more parties.’
Her comment makes me realise that you have to reach out to people if you want them in your life. And I am lucky enough to know a lot of wonderful people.
With several minutes until midnight, I tell everyone to make sure they have a glass as we make our way outside to the garden.
Kian had popped out earlier and got the fire pit started, and the fence is threaded with lights.
‘Ooh isn’t this lovely,’ exclaim our new neighbours, taking in the garden with its wooden pagoda and water feature and winter shrubs that are dotted about in glazed pots. They tell me they were thinking of doing something similar with theirs, and that they will invite us to a BBQ in the warmer weather.
‘That would be lovely,’ I say, thankful for the possibility of making new friends in the street who are around my age.
‘I’ve had a wonderful evening,’ says Audrey’s mum. ‘Thank you so much for inviting us, but we should probably try and get a taxi shortly.’
‘I don’t think there will be much chance of that, without having pre-booked one,’ Eileen says with a frown. ‘I tell you what, stay at mine if you like, we can have a good chat in the morning. And you, of course, Audrey.’
‘We couldn’t possibly impose,’ says Audrey, looking doubtful.
‘You wouldn’t be,’ says Eileen kindly. ‘I have the room. You will be waiting hours for a taxi, trust me.’
I make certain everyone’s drink is refreshed, as at almost midnight Kian leads a countdown.
On the dot of midnight, fountains of colour appear above, every whoosh turning the sky into a sea of pink, silver and green. Kian pops the cork on a bottle of champagne, and offers it around.
There is a chorus of ‘Happy New Year’, and soon enough everyone is hugging, and wishing each other well for the forthcoming year. Kian and I share a long kiss beneath the pergola and I feel happier than I have in a long time.
What a difference a year makes, I think to myself as I glance up into the sky, Kian standing beside me, his hand in mine. I know there are a few things to overcome in the new year, but with Kian by my side, I feel like I can face anything.
As we make our way inside, Gemma threads her arm through mine. ‘I’m glad things seem to be working out with Kian, you deserve to be happy,’ she whispers.
‘So do you, my friend. And Mike seems lovely.’
‘He is. A little too keen maybe, but we shall see. I’m heading to Wales next month, so maybe that will clarify things. I agree he is lovely though.’
‘Maybe tell him sooner rather than later then, if he isn’t the one,’ I advise her.
‘Of course.’ She nods. ‘I would never hurt him.’
‘I know you wouldn’t.’
A rocket shoots into the sky then, followed by a cascade of silver stars. I have come to realise that we don’t know in which direction life will take us, but we owe it to ourselves to explore every possibility. After all, life is a glorious gift.