Chapter 7 #2
Later, Ciaran chuckled when he told Roxie Mr Jamieson was indeed a very nice man.
‘He is a widower now and there was a spell before Mum had her accident when he came visiting regularly. I expect he was lonely. That was before Mum had her accident, but he visited her several times while she was in hospital.’
‘Then he is a genuine sort of man,’ Roxie said. ‘They’re obviously still friends.’
They all made their way slowly into the annex where tea and coffee were being served, along with a selection of mince pies, shortbread and small savouries. Most people were standing around in groups, but Ciaran found a small table and three chairs so that his mother could sit down.
‘What would you like, Mum? I will bring it over. There’s too much of a crush for you to choose your own.’
‘I will have tea, please? Coffee at this time might keep me awake. I would like one of the mince pies with a star on top instead of a lot of pastry. Roxie made them this afternoon. You could bring me a finger of shortbread as well, please. There is always a surplus of food.’
‘I think I had better come with you to carry the drinks,’ Roxie said, glancing questioningly at Amy.
‘Aye, you do that, Roxie. Leave your scarf over one of the chairs and I will put my bag on this one to show they’re taken.
’ Roxie knew what she meant when she turned around and saw Joan Smith heading in Amy’s direction.
Amy need not have worried. Joan lingered only long enough to thank her for her contribution of mince pies for the teas.
‘They are Roxanne’s contribution,’ Amy told her.
‘But you are paying her to do such things.’ Joan didn’t bother to lower her voice so all those around could hear her.
‘No, I didn’t,’ Amy said. ‘She volunteered of her own accord. It is the sort of thing she was used to doing for her own church.’
‘You pay for the ingredients, so I am thanking you.’
Ciaran met Roxie’s amused glance and winked.
‘No wonder the younger members of the congregation don’t bother,’ he muttered, shaking his head. ‘I don’t know why some people need to be so pedantic.’
They all enjoyed the hot drink and refreshments, but it was very cold outside after the heat of the small meeting room.
‘If you two wait inside, I will bring the car to the gate,’ Ciaran said as he headed off.
Amy, of course, refused to wait. She pulled up her collar, so Roxie buttoned the top button of her own coat and took Amy’s arm, seeing the determined glint in her eye. ‘I’m quite capable,’ Amy said. ‘As you well know. We’ll walk to meet him.’
Roxie hoped Ciaran would not be too annoyed at her for ignoring his instructions, but Amy was a strong-minded woman and also her employer. As it turned out, they arrived at a convenient place as Ciaran brought the car round and he simply shook his head.
‘I should know better than to expect either of you to listen to me.’
‘Of course you should.’ Amy chuckled.
* * *
Roxie was up in good time on Christmas morning, even though she had little to do except prepare the turkey for roasting. After their late night she had offered to give Amy breakfast in bed, but she had refused, as Roxie suspected she would.
They were both surprised when Jenny arrived by mid-morning with her arms full of packages to put under the Christmas tree, including something resembling a giant-sized Christmas card in a black-and-gold envelope.
She was full of good cheer and gave them both a warm hug as she wished them happy Christmas.
‘I have dropped Don off at Ciaran’s. They will come together about twelve o’clock, or so Ciaran said, but he knows lunch is not until one so I expect the pair of them will get involved in some job, or preparing ahead for milking this afternoon.
Ciaran says it’s his turn to do it this year, so he will have to leave around four. ’
‘Yes, Ciaran was off at Christmas last year, so it’s Billy’s turn to be off this year,’ Amy said.
‘Billy doesn’t deserve to be off for Christmas after being off so long with a broken leg,’ Jenny said.
‘It’s custom to take turns. Somebody has to milk cows and feed animals, just as nurses and doctors have to work,’ Amy said. ‘Ciaran will be off at New Year so Billy will milk then.’
‘Oh, yes! That’s more important this year,’ Jenny said quickly. Roxanne learned later why Jenny considered the New Year so important this year.
* * *
The vegetables were almost cooked when Donald and Ciaran arrived, laughing together. Roxie happened to be crossing the hall from the dining room to the kitchen.
‘Dinner is almost ready,’ she told them. ‘Your mother and Jenny are in the living room, Ciaran. There’s a tray of drinks for you to help yourselves.’
‘Hey, not so fast, my fair Roxie!’ Donald chuckled, holding a sprig of mistletoe above her head.
He kissed her cheek wishing her happy Christmas.
Colour flooded Roxie’s cheeks as she escaped to the kitchen.
She heard Don giving Amy a hug and a kiss — under that mistletoe — and telling her she was his favourite lady.
She was putting the sprouts into a hot dish so she didn’t hear Ciaran follow her into the kitchen holding the piece of mistletoe.
He was close behind her when she turned.
She could feel herself blushing . . . And that was before she noticed the mistletoe he held above their heads.
‘Well?’ he said quietly, with a raised eyebrow.
Roxie didn’t know what to say. She intended to opt for a dodge and get on with the vegetables. But then he said, with a grin, ‘I dare you. Didn’t you always say you rise to a challenge . . .’
‘That’s not playing fair,’ she said.
‘It’s Christmas and it’s tradition and . . .’
‘Fine, fine, get it over with so I can get on with th—’
He pulled her into an embrace and his kiss . . . was longer than a sprig of mistletoe merited.
‘You blush so delightfully, I am tempted to do it again,’ he said gently. ‘You didn’t think I would let you get away without a Christmas kiss, did you?’
‘I-I d-didn’t think about mistletoe.’
‘You look so Christmassy in your red outfit, and far too lovely to escape when I have a good excuse.’ She saw the wicked glint in his blue eyes and lowered her own gaze to his broad, manly chest, remembering the beat of his heart and how good it had felt when he’d held her close the day they’d got the Christmas tree.
‘You and Donald haven’t been at the whisky before you came, have you?’ Roxie knew her cheeks were far too pink, even before Jenny burst in on them to enquire if she could help.
Once everything was ready, Roxie removed the large white apron she had been wearing to cook. She wore a red skirt and waistcoat, and a snow-white shirt.
When she and Jenny went through to the dining room, Amy said, ‘Ciaran has just been remarking how lovely you look in your outfit. He’s right, Roxie.
Now I see you without your white apron, you look beautiful and so Christmassy.
’ The white shirt had three-quarter sleeves with deep, turned-back cuffs.
‘Are they gold cufflinks I see sparkling in your sleeves?’ She drew Roxie closer to her chair to peer at them.
‘They are lovely, so dainty, and I see they have your initials engraved on them. What a splendid idea.’
‘They were a twenty-first birthday present from my friend with the twins,’ Roxie told her with a smile. ‘I wear them whenever I have a suitable blouse to go with them.’
* * *
‘That was a delicious starter,’ Jenny said. ‘And so right for the huge dinner to follow — thank you! I will gather the dishes while you see to the next course.’
‘That’s really helpful. Those crystal bowls mustn’t go in the dishwasher, though. I will wash them by hand later. Ciaran, shall I bring the turkey in here for you to carve or would you rather do it at the kitchen table where there’s more room? I have a smaller meat dish already warmed.’
‘I’ll come through and do it in the kitchen,’ Ciaran said.
‘Well, no more dallying with the mistletoe,’ Jenny called with a laugh. Neither Roxie nor Ciaran heard Amy murmur, ‘I would be delighted to see Ciaran dallying a lot more in this case. It is ages since Amanda died, but he has never been serious about anyone else.’
‘I don’t think Ciaran was all that serious about Amanda,’ Donald said. ‘I mean they were good friends, but Amanda wasn’t cut out to be a farmer’s wife. She was forever playing one sport or another. Ciaran is not short of girlfriends when he is out with us, is he, Jenny?’
‘No, but none of them ever manage to interest him for more than a few dates.’
‘I suspect he’s already smitten with Roxie whether he admits it yet or not.’ Donald grinned. ‘She’s perfect for him.’
In the kitchen, Ciaran grinned wickedly at Roxie.
‘You’d better get to work,’ Roxie urged, placing the turkey in front of him. He looked anxious.
‘I’ve never carved a whole turkey before. My father used to do it. Mum always took away the legs and these bits,’ he said, pointing at the wings, ‘before bringing me the breast to carve.’
‘Oh, I see. My father always did the carving at our house, but I know he removed the leg and the wing on a bird before he set about the breast.’ She came to stand close to Ciaran.
He couldn’t resist slipping an arm around her waist as she took the carving knife from him.
She tapped his hand away, but smiled. ‘You’re supposed to concentrate on the carving.
Look, you feel for the joint with the knife, as close as you can to the breast, then cut through.
’ She did that for the wing. ‘Now, you do the same for the leg.’ Ciaran did as she instructed, then grinned triumphantly.
‘Now I see! That leaves the breast free.’