A Family For Christmas (35 page)

James was eating a bowl of porridge and talking
to his father when she arrived at the cobbler's shop. His eyes lit up, when he saw her.
Then, noticing her expression, he frowned and looked down at his dish. Mr Cary just grunted,
then excused himself.

‘I want to explain how I feel
…' she began.

‘It were a scary night, Eliza, but so
rewarding to be able to help those poor souls,' he said ignoring her. ‘Their vessel
foundered on rocks and they would have perished if we hadn't reached them.' He shook
his head, then yawned. ‘Sorry, it was nice of you to come and make sure I was safely back,
but I'll have to hit the hay before I fall asleep at the table. I'll get Father to
wake me in time for us to go for our sundaes,' he added. The thought set her insides
heaving again, but she knew she had to say what she'd come for.

‘James, it's a brave calling
you've answered and I really admire you for what you are doing …'

‘But?' he asked, eyeing her in the
same shrewd way Nan had the previous day.

She took a deep breath. ‘But I can't
stand the uncertainty. Every time the maroon's fired, my insides go crazy. I feel sick,
can't eat …' Her voice tailed off as she saw him stiffen.

‘You mean you're putting your
feelings before my wishes?' he said so quietly she could hardly make out his words.

‘It's not like that,' she
protested.

‘Looks like it from where I'm
sitting.'

‘Oh, you don't understand,' she
cried, making for the door.

‘Typical blooming female, taking off as
soon as the going gets a bit tough,' Mr Cary spat, coming back into the room.

‘I'm sorry,' Eliza began.

‘We don't need your platitudes, girl.
My James here is a fine fellow and you should be proud to support him. Had my doubts about you
the first time I set eyes on you. Now get out of my house and don't ever set foot in it
again,' he ordered.

She turned to James but he shook his head, and
turned away.

Feeling sicker than ever, she headed back through
the town, where church bells were pealing joyously. Dodging the Sunday worshippers alighting
from their carriages, she wiped her tears and tried to harden her heart, but the memory of the
despairing look James had given her wouldn't go away. Perhaps it was she who should get
away. Grandfa Sam and Nan were James's family, after all, and it couldn't be easy
for them having her living in their property, knowing she was unable to give him her full
support.

With her thoughts whirling she found herself back
at the shop before she realized it. To her surprise, although it was Sunday, the shop door was
ajar. Thinking Nan must have decided to do some cleaning she pushed it open then came to an
abrupt halt. Standing beside Grandfa Sam and Nan was a figure she hoped she'd never see
again.

‘Well, don't just stand there
gawping, girl. Aren't you going to say hello?'

‘Father? What the heck are you doing
here?' she cried.

‘That's a fine greeting and no
mistake, and after I've brought Luke all this way to see his big sister,' he said,
pointing to the lad by his side. Eliza turned helplessly to Grandfa and Nan, but they were
looking bemused.

‘How did you find me?' she
muttered.

‘Ah well, a bit of luck, that. We was on
our way … well, somewhere. Anyhow, when the staging post stopped at Follytown I got
chatting to a pleasant woman who was delivering something to the hostelry. When she heard my
tragic story, she was only too happy to tell me where you'd gone. Apparently a Mr Farrant
had found out you was here but decided you weren't worth pursuing,' he smirked.
‘Mrs Buttons, this woman was called, said to be remembered to you. After that it was easy
to find where you were working. ' He grinned, his yellowing teeth and triumphant sneer
giving him the appearance of an ogre she'd once seen in a picture book.

‘We'll be upstairs if you want
us,' Grandfa Sam said.

Eliza nodded, hardly taking in what he'd
said.

‘What tragic story?' she asked, only
too aware how her father could spin a yarn when it suited.

He sighed and clutched his chest. ‘Your
mother died in childbirth. Course, I always said she shouldn't have any more,' he
moaned, and Eliza remembered then why she'd never liked him. Her poor mother never stood a
chance
with his constant demands, she thought
with a pang. ‘Then Timmy went and got that influ … in … well, that sickness
thing, and was gone just like that.' He snapped his fingers.

‘Oh, no, that's terrible. What about
Hester and Izzie? Haven't they been back to help?'

Her father snorted. ‘Selfish, callow cows.
Couldn't care a cuss for their father or young brother. Left me to carry on by meself
after the funeral. Said I was mean 'cos I wouldn't fork out for a decent burial, but
like I told them, when you're dead you don't know, do you?'

Eliza shuddered. He was still as selfish and
self-centred as she remembered. She crouched down beside her little brother, who was watching
wide-eyed. ‘Hello, Luke, do you remember me?'

‘Course I do. I members yous smell. Sides,
I'm a big boy now,' he said puffing out his bony little chest.

Eliza smiled and ruffled his short spiky hair,
then got to her feet.

‘Well, he seems …' But she was
talking to thin air. Her father was nowhere to be seen. Running to the door, she peered up and
down the street but he'd been swallowed up by the sea fret that was sweeping in. Frowning,
she closed the shop door. It was then she noticed the bundle beside the counter.

‘Father said I'm staying with
you,' Luke grinned as she picked it up. So her father had it planned all along, Eliza
thought, staring down at the scrawny little boy with his cheeky face. She didn't have the
heart to disillusion him. It might be hard to manage, but rather nice having a member of her
family with her at last. Sensing Luke was waiting for her to say something, she smiled.

‘Are you indeed?'

‘Of course he is,' Nan said, coming
back into the shop. ‘And I'm betting this young man would like some of my meat stew
with dumplings,' she added, smiling down at Luke. His eyes widened and he nodded
vigorously. ‘Well, come upstairs and wash those grimy paws and we'll see what we can
find.'

‘I'm sorry, Nan,' Eliza
muttered.

‘It's hardly your fault, is it? I was
looking out of the parlour window when I spotted that man hurrying down the street and guessed
what had happened.'

‘How will we manage?' Eliza
asked.

Nan shrugged. ‘The boy can share your room
for the moment. I've got spare blankets and we can make him up a bed on the floor.
I'm sure if we tell him it's an adventure, he won't complain. I seem to
remember little boys love adventures.'

‘Oh, Nan,' she said, throwing her
arms around the big-hearted woman. ‘Whatever would we do without you?'

Nan smiled then asked: ‘And how was
James?'

Eliza swallowed hard. ‘I'm really
sorry, Nan. Although I love him, I had to tell him I couldn't live with the worry and
uncertainty every time the maroon goes up. Of course we will leave if you no longer want us
here.'

‘Oh, Eliza, that's a crying shame.
It's admirable work he's undertaken and he's right fond of you.' She let
out a loud sigh. ‘But then we all are. Stay for the moment and we'll see how things
work out.'

‘Thank you, Nan. I feel dreadful about
hurting James but every time the maroon is fired my stomach heaves at the thought of losing
him.' She swallowed hard, seeing
again the
hurt in his eyes and vowed to seek other lodgings. Grandfa Sam would be sure to ask her to leave
when he heard.

‘Well, if that's how you feel, then
there's nothing more to be said. At least you've played fair with him, but I guess
he'll not be calling in so often now,' she sighed.

‘Oh, Nan, I've really made a mess of
everything. I'll find somewhere else for Luke and me to live.'

The woman shook her head. ‘James will be
all right. He has Jimmy and a roof over his head. Luke's lost his mother and been
abandoned by his father. Poor lad's so thin he needs a few square meals and looking after.
You've had a shock yourself, so it's best you both stay with us, at least for the
time being. Who knows, a young boy around the place could be just what Sam needs to perk him
up?'

Eliza smiled, feeling love for this big-hearted
woman tinged with sadness for the loss of her mother. If only her father had more restraint she
might not have died, she thought.

Later they watched Luke gobble down his food as
if he hadn't eaten for weeks.

‘Cor, that were tasty,' he said,
running his fingers around the side of the dish and licking off the gravy.

‘Well, if you promise to use your spoon
instead of those fingers, I might be able to find some of my fruit crumble and custard,'
Nan offered.

Luke's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
‘Coo, we don't even get that at Christmas, missus.'

‘Well, this is a special occasion having
you come to stay,' Nan smiled. ‘You can't go round calling me
“missus”, though. I'm Nan and that is Grandfa Sam,'
she said, smiling at her husband as she got up to get their
pudding.

‘It must have been fun riding on the
staging coach,' Grandfa Sam said.

‘Yeah, we was on it for weeks and weeks.
When we got to the hostelry, Father asked why we'd stopped. The driver said the horses was
tired and needed a rest but Father said he hadn't time to waste and he should whip them
and show them who was boss.'

Sam frowned, but Nan came bustling in with a
large pudding bowl and Luke's attention was distracted.

‘Goodness me, I don't know where you
put it all,' Nan said, when Luke held his empty dish out for more. ‘There's
nothing of you. I've seen more meat on a butcher's pencil.'

‘Pencils don't have any meat on
them,' Luke scoffed.

‘So they don't,' Nan
smiled.

‘You knew that really, didn't
you?' he grinned at her, looking so innocent and appealing Eliza couldn't help but
ruffle his hair.

‘Gerr off,' he protested, but she
could see he liked it really.

‘Did you have anything nice to eat in the
hostelry?'

Luke shook his head. ‘Father was chatting
to that Mrs Buttons. She said she was having a quick snifter whilst waiting to be paid and what
her boss didn't know wouldn't hurt him. Father got all smiley then and said he
wouldn't tell, so why didn't she have another? They was talking for ages. By the
time we left all Father's money was gone so I never got no pie,' he sighed.

Eliza saw Grandfa Sam's mouth tighten and
quickly got to her feet.

‘That was a lovely meal, Nan, thank you. Come on, Luke, you
can help me with the dishes while Nan and Sam put their feet up.'

Luke chattered away as they cleaned and stacked
the dishes, but by the time they'd finished he was yawning.

‘Early night for you, young man,'
Eliza said, spreading out the blankets Nan had left in her room. He was asleep almost before
she'd covered him over and, leaving the door ajar in case he should wake, Eliza went back
to the parlour.

‘Nan and I have been discussing things,
Eliza,' Grandfa Sam said. ‘Naturally you and the boy are welcome to stay, that goes
without saying. Luke's a lovely but lively little chap and will need a firm hand, so we
propose that you take over all Nan's duties in the shop while she looks after things up
here.'

‘I can't thank you enough,' she
whispered. ‘I'll make a success of downstairs and look after Luke when the
shop's quiet. I can help you too, and work on my perfume.'

Grandfa Sam smiled. ‘I can't deny
your help would be appreciated.' Then his expression turned serious and he stared at her
with his wise old eyes. ‘Nan's told me you no longer feel able to walk out with
James. I can't pretend I'm not disappointed because I am; particularly after all
he's done for you. However, you're a great help around here, so we will respect your
decision and see how things work out.'

‘Thank you. I'm really sorry but
…'

Grandfa Sam held up his hand. ‘It's
been an eventful afternoon so I suggest we turn in.'

Exhausted from her troubled day, Eliza fell into a disturbed
sleep, only to be woken by the sound of sobbing.

‘Luke?' she whispered.

‘I'm lonely and can hear bears
roaring. Can I come into bed with you?'

‘Of course,' she said, putting out
her hand to help him in. ‘That's the sound of the waves you can hear.'

‘What are waves?'

Eliza smiled into the darkness, remembering how
the vast expanse of ocean had been new to her, too. ‘It's the sound of the sea
talking to the mermaids,' she said, stroking his hair. ‘They are pretty ladies who
live in the sea and sing songs to the sailors.'

‘Like Mother used to afore she died?'
he yawned.

‘Yes, just like that, Luke. Would you like
me to sing to you?' she asked, but he had already fallen back to sleep.

Eliza lay staring into the darkness, listening to
the seas breaking against the harbour wall. Her heart gave a pang as she remembered her mother
and little brother Timmy. She closed her eyes and prayed they were in a happier place, along
with the new baby who'd never drawn breath.

Then, as the images of them faded and were
replaced by one of James's handsome face, the tears she'd been holding back all day
poured down her cheeks. Stuffing her fist into her mouth so she didn't wake Luke, she
sobbed until she was spent. She truly loved James, of that she had no doubt, but in her
experience loving meant losing, and there was no way she could bear the hurt again.

The following days fell into a pattern. Nan
bustled around, happily taking charge of her household while Eliza took over the running of her
side of the shop,
using the lull between
customers to make some more of Nan's fragrant soaps and salves. In any spare time, she
experimented with her own perfumes and found to her delight that the one with the yellow flowers
smelled quite uplifting.

It was helpful that Luke was kept busy. He adored
Grandfa Sam and took to following him about like a shadow, passing him whatever he needed.
Despite his rheumatics getting worse, Sam patiently showed Luke around the dispensary, even
permitting him to measure out tablets on his weighing scales. Nan let him have scraps of
leftover pastry or dough so he could cut out his own. When Sam was there, Luke was perfectly
behaved, but whenever the old man went upstairs for a rest, the lad became bored and
fidgety.

During her luncheon breaks, Eliza would take him
out for a walk. He was fascinated by the sea.

‘Cor, what's that smell?' he
asked.

‘That's what they call ozone,'
she explained, remembering with a pang the time James had explained the same thing to her.

Then Luke's attention was caught by the
boats moored in the harbour.

‘What's them big flapping
things?' he asked.

‘Sails. When the wind fills them it carries
them far out to sea.'

‘Can we go on one?' he asked, his
eyes sparkling.

‘Perhaps, one day,' she said.
‘Now, though, we'd better get back to the shop or Grandfa will use our guts for his
garters.'

He giggled and her heart lifted. Even in the
short time
he'd been here his little cheeks
had begun to fill out and he was looking healthier.

As they wended their way back through the shops,
Eliza's attention was caught by a figure unloading a bundle from a cart. She stopped
abruptly, making Luke cry out.