Chapter 40
Snowball – the classic Christmas cocktail made with advocaat, lime and lemonade. Add a glace cherry for retro appeal.
F rom then on, it was a constant stream of visitors.
Karl popped by with his wife on his way to his in-laws.
They’d walked all the way dressed in thick boots, woolly hats and bulky coats.
Standing at the kitchen door, he handed over a card saying, ‘Happy Christmas, Livvy. We couldn’t pass without stopping to wish you season’s greetings.
’ He harrumphed, looking embarrassed. ‘And wanted to say I’m sorry for not keeping a closer eye on Eli. ’
She flung her arms around him, hugging him tightly. ‘Oh, Karl, don’t be sorry. It was all my fault.’
‘Wasn’t your fault,’ Jen, Karl’s wife, declared fiercely. ‘It was that bugger Jason. Just hope it don’t put you off running The George. My Karl’s been that happy working here.’
‘I’m the one who’s lucky to have him working for me, Jen.
’ Livvy ran to the bar to retrieve an envelope.
It contained Karl’s share of the Christmas tips.
‘Thank you for all your hard work. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.
’ She pressed it into his hand. ‘Happy Christmas, both. Take care walking down the hill and have a lovely day with your family.’
‘We’ll be okay,’ Karl responded. ‘Silent Ernie’s giving us a lift into town. He’s going to try to clear the worst of the snow on the main road so folk can get in and out. Happy Christmas, Livvy!’
Livvy shoved on some boots, threw on a coat and followed them out.
They watched as Silent Ernie manoeuvred his tractor back out of the car park, its enormous tyres leaving three-foot-deep gouges in the snow.
She smiled as she saw the cab was festooned with tinsel and fairy lights.
It seemed a long time ago, and in another life, that she’d been hoisted up in the cherry picker.
Glancing up at the lights, switched on for Christmas Day, she realised it might be the only way to get them back down again.
Waving them off she was just about to join in with Mark, Nats and a white fur-coated glamorous Simona who were building a snowman in the beer garden, with Angel dancing around them, when Daisy, and Lucie and Eli Wiscombe staggered over.
‘Just come up to wish you Happy Christmas,’ they chorused, red-faced from the exertion of climbing up the hill in deep snow.
‘It’s madness in town,’ Lucie added. ‘People are skiing down the main street and there’s snow on the beach.
On the beach!’ she repeated incredulously.
She tugged off her hat and raked a hand through her bright red hair, fluffing it up.
‘Never thought I’d say this but, for once, Austin’s weather forecast came true.
He said it would be a white Christmas and it is. You coming down to join in the fun?’
Livvy shook her head. ‘Maybe tomorrow. Looks like I’m hosting Christmas dinner for four.’ She pulled a horrified face. ‘Just hope they survive my cooking.’
‘We’ll maybe see you tomorrow then. Don’t think this snow is going anywhere any time soon.
’ Lucie came closer. ‘Thank you for giving Eli another chance. Think he’s been through hell and back.
I knew something was up with him but couldn’t figure out what.
I’ll give him a good talking to after Christmas. ’
‘No, don’t do that.’ Livvy watched as Eli, hampered by the snow drifts in the car park, lurched over to greet a just arrived Brittany and Stewie. ‘I think he’s learned his lesson.’
Lucie gazed at her. ‘It hasn’t put you off running this place, has it, Livvy? Lullbury Bay would miss The George if you went. Think the town would miss you if you went. I know it’s not been long, but you’ve really become part of the community.’
‘Lucie’s right,’ Daisy piped up. ‘We want you to stay in Lullbury Bay. I mean where else can I dress up as a fairy? Don’t let Jason ruddy Lemmon drive you out. I’d miss you if you went.’
Livvy didn’t have time to answer as Brittany began a vicious snowball fight against the boys. She looked at them. ‘Think Eli and Stewie need help. Up for a challenge?’
Screaming a battle cry, they went in on full attack.
‘Sweetie, you’ve got snow all over your coat,’ Simona said, as she, Livvy, Mark and Nats made their exhausted way back inside.
The others had gone, after a snowball fight which recognised no rules.
‘Let me get it off you.’ She began to beat snow off Livvy’s back.
The snowball fight had got out of hand with them all joining in, and with Bee from the bookshop turning up.
She’d brought an old-fashioned wooden sledge and, having squeezed Daisy behind her, had whizzed off down the hill.
‘Thanks, Si. Ssh, Angel, stop barking. Ugh. My hair’s soaking. Is that the landline ringing? Go into the bar everyone and make yourself a drink. I need to get lunch sorted.’ Livvy escaped her coat and ran to get the phone.
‘ Buon Natale, bella! I’ve been trying your mobile but there was no answer.’
‘Fabio! Happy Christmas. We’ve all been outside having a monumental snowball fight. Are you having a good day? Did you get home okay last night? The snow was really bad.’
‘Took a while, babe, but got home eventually. Not going anywhere today though. Just me and Mama and a turkey big enough for a football team.’
‘I forgot to give out everyone’s Christmas tips last night. I was in such a state. Only Stewie picked up his and I’ve given Karl’s his today.’
‘It’ll keep. I’ll be back in the day after Boxing Day.’
‘Oh yes, we get a whole two days off and then it all starts again.’
‘And you love it,’ he accused.
‘I do. Have a lovely day. Love to your mum.’ She put the phone down only for it to ring again immediately.
‘It’s Austin and Aggie here wishing The George very warm felicitations. Happy Christmas, Livvy. Hello? Is there anyone there, or am I speaking to an answerphone?’
‘Hello, Austin. It’s Livvy. A real live person here. Happy Christmas to you both and thank you for supporting The George. And you were absolutely right about the snow.’
‘I was.’
‘Always a first time,’ Aggie cackled in the background.
‘Forgive my good lady wife, we’re on our second bottle of champagne.’
‘Way to go.’ Livvy giggled. ‘Enjoy and see you both soon.’ She put the phone down and texted Yolanda a quick:
Happy Xmas Day! All gone crazy here. Fill you in asap.
She’d just pressed send when the mobile buzzed.
Hearing a pop of a cork and laughter coming from the bar, she murmured, ‘My lovely customers, I love you all, but I’d really like to get my own Christmas Day started.
’ Seeing who it was she had no choice but to answer. ‘Morning, Pete. Happy Christmas!’
‘Morning, Livvy. Having a rare old time here. Even Skip’s behaving. Just thought I’d ring to wish you Happy Christmas, like. Heard all about last night.’
‘Already?’ Livvy said, startled. ‘News travels fast.’
‘It do. Never trusted that Jason.’
Livvy could hear Pete sucking his teeth in derision and Skip’s faint bark in the distance. ‘We’ve all survived to fight another day but it was quite the drama.’
‘And I missed it,’ Pete said gloomily. ‘Most exciting thing to have happened since Aggie forgot her knickers and flashed the vicar, and I wasn’t there.’
Livvy giggled. ‘And we missed you. We’re keeping your chair warm.’
‘Ar. Quite right too. When I gets back I’ll sort out a fixtures list for next season’s skittles matches.’ Skip barked again, this time more loudly. ‘I’m coming, boy.’
‘About that, Pete,’ Livvy began to say but was cut off.
She stared thoughtfully at the phone. If she accepted her parents’ offer and took over The Olde Gates, would the new owner of The George keep the skittle alley going?
How could she let Old Pete down? She thought of all her friends who had made the effort to come to see her today.
They hadn’t just popped by in the car, they’d tramped through thick snow.
Jason Lemmon had attempted to destroy her, but the community had rallied round, in their many different ways, to support her.
She knew she couldn’t have done it without them.
They’d shown her the true meaning of Christmas.
A wave of gratitude to them and to the little town of Lullbury Bay overwhelmed her. How could she leave it – and them?
Christmas lunch was a riot. Livvy managed not to mangle the food and the salmon en croute with hollandaise sauce and buttered spinach, while not traditional, were what she found in Fabio’s stocks and knew how to heat up.
They set up in the bar having put two tables together.
With the lights on, the tree giving off warm pine scents and the wood burner lit, was cosy and atmospheric.
Nats took charge of Aggie’s old-fashioned record player.
A medley of classic Christmas hits played in the background, but Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were mostly drowned out by her indiscreet and hilarious stories about several famous actors.
‘Ye gads, I’ve had the most marvellous Christmas Day,’ sighed Simona.
‘In fact, I’m being positively greedy. That’s my second Christmas lunch this year!
A snowball fight, delish food and enough champers to sink a battleship too.
Still can’t believe Brittany’s commitment to that snowball fight.
I had to rugby tackle her legs to get her down.
Thank you all. Oh, and thank you, Mark,’ she added as he brought in the coffee. ‘Perfect. Oh goodie, biscotti too.’
Livvy poured the port and then sank back in her chair looking around at her friends. She was deeply content. Three short months ago she hadn’t known any of them and now couldn’t see herself without them in her life.
‘Yes, thank you, Livvy,’ Nats groaned. ‘I can’t believe I ate three of those chocolate brownies, and with clotted cream too. I’m going to have to diet from now until June.’
‘Well, it wasn’t turkey and all the trimmings but hopefully just as nice.’
‘Better than nice, Livvy. I’m no fan of plum pudding,’ Nats replied.
‘And I can live without brandy butter sauce.’ Shuddering, she drank down her port in one and held out her glass for a refill.
‘I prefer my alcohol unadulterated. I can’t believe Brittany, either, Simona.
Unerring aim with a snowball. She got me twice right on the head. Certainly made me work up an appetite.’
‘I’ve eaten far too much too,’ Livvy said mournfully. ‘And I had two breakfasts. Well, Angel ate the first lot of toast as we were,’ she caught Mark’s eye and blushed, ‘otherwise engaged.’
Nats looked from her brother to Livvy. ‘Aha!’ she exclaimed, slamming her glass down as the penny dropped. ‘About time you two got together. He’s been banging on about you, Livvy, for the last three months. The lovelorn act has become very boring.’
‘Nats,’ Mark protested.
Livvy felt her face grow even hotter. ‘I thought you didn’t tell Nats anything about me?’
Mark didn’t get a chance to answer as his sister butted in.
‘Didn’t tell me anything about you? He’s not shut up about you!
It’s been Livvy this and Livvy that. Oh, she’s so gorgeous but why would she have anything to do with an old, divorced bloke like me.
On and on. Thank goodness he’s finally made a move. ’
Simona rescued them. Tottering to her feet, she announced, ‘Darlings, I’m exceptionally delighted you’ve got together too.
I can’t imagine a better suited pair.’ Toasting them, she said, ‘Congratulations! And now, Natalie sweetie, I think it’s time we left the lovebirds to catch up.
It’s been quite the hectic day and I’m sure they’d appreciate some alone time.
You can come next door with me. I have a big old snuggly sofa, central heating, lots more champers, a bucketful of Hotel Chocolat and the latest Jonathan Bailey film. ’
Nats managed to sit up. ‘That’s only just been released.
’ Heaving herself up, she added, ‘You’re on.
’ She kissed her brother sloppily on the cheek.
‘Happy Christmas, bro.’ Staggering round to Livvy she did the same.
‘Thanks again. Don’t wear him out too much,’ she giggled, ‘he’s got to drive me to Yorkshire at some point. ’
The women ambled in the direction of the kitchen, loudly discussing where they’d put their coats and scarves. Finally, Mark and Livvy heard the kitchen door slam and there was blessed silence.