Chapter Nineteen
When Eloise came down for breakfast on Wednesday morning, she was unprepared for the favour Sarah asked of her.
“You’ve done so much for me already,” Sarah began, “and I hate to ask, but would you mind keeping an eye on Toby for a couple of hours? I’ve got some stuff I need to sort out.”
Eloise blanched. Toby was a delightful little boy, and she enjoyed being in his company, but she’d never looked after a child all by herself before, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to start now.
What if he cried? Or needed the loo? Or wasn’t well?
It had been easy enough to entertain him for a few minutes yesterday—she’d roped him into helping her wash his toys—but minding him for a couple of hours by herself was a whole different ball game.
Luckily Bart had entered the room with Toby’s favourite breakfast of boiled egg and soldiers, and overheard. “Of course we will,” he said brightly, giving Eloise a look.
Flooded with relief that she wouldn’t have to do this on her own, Eloise nodded enthusiastically. “No problem. Is there anything else I can help with?”
Sarah said, “Not really; I was hoping to pop into the village this morning. Now that I’ve got my phone and bank card, I need to draw some money out to pay you guys back, and I also want to buy some more of those things that go under the tree and are opened on a certain morning in December.
” She waggled her eyebrows meaningfully in Toby’s direction.
“What were you thinking of getting?” Eloise asked, her mind on the toys and books currently sitting in the boot of her car waiting to be wrapped.
“I’m going to try and replace some of what was lost in the fire.” Sarah chewed on her lip, and Eloise guessed that replacing the presents was going to use what little money the young woman had.
Eloise needed to make a confession. “Before you do, would you mind coming outside with me for a minute? Bart, could you keep an eye on Toby, please?”
“No problem. Right, Toby my man, let’s see how many soldiers we can stuff into this egg.” He sat down next to him and handed Toby a sliver of toast.
“Why do we need to go outside?” Sarah asked as she followed Eloise into the hallway.
“Because I don’t want you buying anything I’ve already bought, and I also want to make sure that what I have bought is suitable.”
“I don’t understand,” the girl said, then let out a gasp when the car boot popped open, revealing numerous bags and boxes. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Indeed it is.”
Sarah drew back, her expression closed. “Did you keep the receipts?”
Eloise blinked. “I’ve still got them, yes, but isn’t anything suitable for him?”
Sarah hadn’t taken her eyes off the contents of the boot. “I’m sure they all are, but I can’t afford it.”
“You don’t have to; they’re gifts.”
The young woman was shaking her head. “No, sorry, I know you mean well, but I can’t accept this and neither can Toby.
I don’t mind you getting him a little something, but not all this.
You must have spent a fortune. I really appreciate the sentiment, but…
” She ground to a halt, and her eyes filled with tears.
Softly Eloise said, “Please accept them. They’re not from me, they’re from Father Christmas, and I don’t have anyone else to buy presents for.”
Sarah didn’t say anything for a moment, and a tear tracked slowly down her cheek. Her mouth twisted and she screwed her eyes shut, took a deep breath, then opened them again. “No one?”
“I have a few friends who I swap the odd box of chocolates or bottle of wine with, and then there’s the postman.” Eloise shrugged.
“You don’t have any family?”
“No. Do you?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“In that case, we shan’t. But please accept these little gifts from me. It’ll bring me a great deal of pleasure to watch Toby open them on Christmas morning.”
“I’m still not sure…”
“Would you take a look anyway? See if I’m on the right track, in case you change your mind. Then if you’re adamant you won’t accept them, I’ll take them to the charity shop. You can buy them from there, if you want. Or not, as the case may be.”
“You’d seriously do that?”
“Some little boy or girl might as well have the benefit of them. And by buying them in Honeycombe Bay, I’ve done my bit for the local economy.”
Sarah was studying her with lancet eyes, and she squirmed.
“Please believe me,” Eloise repeated earnestly. “I really don’t have anyone else to buy presents for. I wish I did, but it’s too late now. Seeing Toby’s little face on Christmas morning will make up for all those years when I didn’t have anyone to buy a single toy for.”
Eloise couldn’t be sure whether it was gratitude or pity that made more of Sarah’s tears spill over to trickle down her face.
Eloise said, “Should I leave you here to have a look through them? And then if there’s anything you think he really might like that I’ve missed, by all means go into the village and buy it. No doubt you want to buy him a few things yourself anyway, so Bart and I will look after him for you.”
Eloise placed a hand on Sarah’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze, then left her to it and went back inside. She hoped she’d convinced her to accept the gifts, but there was no guarantee, and she could fully appreciate and understand where the girl was coming from if she decided not to.
Sarah reminded Eloise more and more of what she’d been like when she was her age. She would have hated to accept charity, too. Perhaps Sarah would confide in her at some point; or maybe not. Eloise could only surmise as to why she was all alone in the world except for her son.
But whatever the reason, Eloise wanted to do her utmost to make life a little easier for her in her time of need.
“No.” Toby shook his head adamantly and scowled.
Sarah crouched down. “It won’t be for long, and you like Eloise and Bart, don’t you?”
It wasn’t really a question, but Toby took it at face value and shook his head again, his eyes huge.
“What’s up?” Mitch asked, wandering into the guest lounge and taking a seat at one of the tables.
Sarah pressed her lips together and straightened up. “I was hoping to pop into the village for an hour, but this young man isn’t too keen on letting me go.”
“He can stay with me, if you like.”
“Thanks, but he’s already refused to be looked after by Eloise and Bart. I’ll just have to take him with me.”
“She was hoping to buy some P-R-E-S-E-N-T-S,” Eloise spelt out. “But she can’t do that if the recipient is with her.”
“Eh?” Mitch frowned, then his face cleared. “Oh, I see. Would you like me to come with you, Sarah? I’m sure I can keep him occupied while you do what you need to do.”
“I want to see Santa,” Toby announced.
“Aw, bless him.” Bart ruffled the little boy’s hair.
Sarah bit her lip and wrinkled her nose. She clearly didn’t share the same indulgent sentiment right now. Toby was really trying her patience.
“Tell you what,” Mitch said, pouring cereal into a bowl, “how about I take him to see Santa while you do the necessary?”
Sarah hesitated, and Eloise wondered whether she couldn’t afford the admission price.
“We could all go into the village,” she suggested, thinking that between them they could keep Toby occupied while his mum nipped off, and maybe she could persuade Sarah to let her pay for Toby to see Santa.
Then she added hastily as a thought occurred to her, “Although I expect you’ve got things to be getting on with, Bart. ”
She really shouldn’t assume that Bart would want to come. He would probably welcome a couple of guest-free hours if he had the chance, and if Mitch came with her, then Eloise wouldn’t be on her own looking after Toby.
Bart’s expression lifted. “Nope, nothing that can’t wait. Let me get Mitch his breakfast and see to the dishes; then I’ll be with you. What are you having, Mitch?”
“Just this cereal and a piece of toast, but it’s no problem to make the toast myself.”
“Not on my watch, you won’t!” Bart shot back. “I’ve never yet had a guest make their own breakfast, and I don’t intend to start now.”
With a humph, Eloise rolled up the sleeves of her jumper. “Nonsense!” she declared. “I think we’re past being guests. We’re more like…” She tried to find the right word.
“Friends?” Mitch supplied.
“I was thinking more in terms of collaborators, though I suppose friends will do,” Eloise grumbled, but a warmth spread through her.
Yes, they were friends of a sort, the events of the other night having brought them together, albeit temporarily.
She continued, “Either way, I’m going to help with the dishes.
They’ll be done quicker, so we can be on our way and this little fidget-bum can burn off some energy. ”
It didn’t occur to her until she was standing at the sink up to her elbows in soapy water that she might be treading on Bart’s toes and invading his personal space, and he’d been too polite to say.
It also belatedly occurred to her, from his uncomfortable expression, that he mightn’t appreciate being told what to do in his own house.
Oh well, too late now. She’d just have to be a bit more mindful in future. The last thing Eloise wanted was to upset him. He was far too lovely for that.