A Merry Little Christmas (37 page)

‘Me too,’ said Pippa. ‘But even though my heart is breaking, weirdly I think it’s probably the right thing. That bloody accident changed everything. I’m not sure we could ever go back to being the way we were.’

‘What’s Dan going to do?’ said Marianne.

‘I don’t know,’ said Pippa. ‘Stay with his parents for now, and then we need to think about the farm. I just want to get Christmas out of the way. And think about the future in January.’

‘Are you going to be okay?’ said Marianne.

‘You know me,’ said Pippa, ‘I’m always okay, and I intend to make this Christmas as special as I can for the kids. Now, come on, what do you need me to do?’

‘Pippa, you never cease to amaze me,’ said Marianne. ‘If you could help sort out the costumes, that would be fantastic. I’ve got to ring bloody Danielle Patterson. Ruth hasn’t turned up.’

The next hour was spent in a flurry of activity, going over lines, making sure everyone knew what to do when, trying Danielle Patterson’s number for the millionth time, Marianne eventually got through to her.

‘Oh, sorry,’ said Danielle, ‘Ruth got invited to a party tonight, and can’t make it. Didn’t I say?’

‘No, you didn’t,’ said Marianne between gritted teeth. She turned her phone off and said, ‘Bugger, bugger, bugger! Now what are we going to do? We haven’t got a Mary.’

Ruby put her hand up shyly.

‘Please Mrs North,’ she said, ‘I’ve learnt all Mary’s lines. Could I do it?’

Marianne hugged her. ‘Of course you can, Ruby. Go on, quickly get changed out of your shepherd’s costume and get ready to be Mary.’

As the crowds started to file in, she saw Cat, Noel, and the rest of the family come in, with Mel proudly showing off the baby, which gave Marianne a sudden idea …

The lights went out, and Steven walked to the front, looking nervous but assured as he sang the first few lines of The Angel Gabriel, before the lights came up on the cast in tableau around a kneeling Ruby, looking up at Toby Davies dressed as Gabriel.

This year, Marianne had opted to tell the story as simply as possible, and to give it a contemporary feeling, chosen to depict Mary and Joseph as illegal immigrants. Much of the action took place silently, with a background of music and carols propelling the story on. She had managed to get her donkey in, and Michael had produced a couple of calves, so the scene when Mary and Joseph arrived at the inn, with Mary on the donkey, felt wonderfully authentic. Although Marianne was hoping against hope that none of the animals would disgrace themselves.

Joseph helped Mary off the donkey, and they settled down in the hay as the rest of the cast sang
Mary’s Boy Child
.

The narrator read, ‘And so Mary had her baby, and laid him in swaddling clothes and put him in a manger.’

With the pièce de résistance, Marianne smiled at Mel, as she swiftly passed Louise to her little sister. Ruby held her new niece in her arms, and carefully put her in the crib. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as thirty pure little voices piped up with
Away in a Manger
.

The shepherds and wise men duly came and adored the baby, but Marianne felt she would never top that moment.

‘That was wonderful,’ an emotional Cat flung her arms round Marianne at the end. ‘Thank you so much.’

‘My pleasure,’ said Marianne. ‘Thanks Mel, for letting us have your baby for five minutes. She is absolutely beautiful.’

‘Thank you, Marianne,’ said Mel shyly, holding the baby as if she’d been doing it forever.

‘What are you going to do about school?’ said Marianne.

‘I’ve decided to stay on,’ said Mel. ‘Mum and Dad say they’ll help with Louise, and then I’ll see if I can still go to uni.’

‘That’s wonderful,’ said Marianne. ‘So you’re not going to give her up after all.’

‘I couldn’t,’ admitted Mel. ‘Once she was here, I fell in love.’

‘Babies have a way of doing that to you,’ said Marianne.

‘That was amazing, again,’ Pippa came bounding over to see them all. ‘What time do you want us tomorrow?’

‘Say twelve?’ said Marianne.

‘Marianne,’ Steven came up and tugged her shoulder, ‘have we got room for one more?’

Eve was standing looking shamefaced beside him.

‘Of course,’ said Marianne. ‘What about Darren?’

‘We’ve split up,’ said Eve. ‘Turns out he wasn’t very interested in Steven, and didn’t like coming up here all the time. So …’

‘You’re going to be on your own for Christmas,’ said Marianne. ‘Of course you can come to us.’

‘Sounds like you’ve got a houseful,’ laughed Cat.

‘Why don’t you come too?’ said Marianne. ‘Thanks to Batty Jack, I’ve got the biggest turkey in Hope Christmas.’

‘What, all of us?’ said Cat.

‘Come on, you probably don’t want to be cooking Christmas dinner tomorrow with a newborn in the house, do you?’

‘Actually, we’ve been so topsy-turvy this year,’ admitted Cat, ‘I haven’t even got a proper turkey in. I was going to get a crown roast out of the freezer tonight.’

‘Well that’s settled then,’ said Marianne. ‘This Christmas is on me. And it’s going to be the best ever.’

FACEBOOK status OMG I’m a MUM!!!! Louise Catherine Tinsall born 5pm 21 December 5bs 12 oz.

Jen17:
WOW. Congratulations

Josh:
Bloody hell. Well done.

Ellie:
That’s fab

Jen17:
A baby at Christmas. That’s so cute

Kaz:
WHEN CAN I SEE HER???

Chas:
Wow.

Mel:
Thanks everyone. Can’t believe how amazing it feels.

Andy:
Congrats Mel. Happy Christmas.

Mel:
You too. You can see her if you like.

Andy:
And your dad won’t kill me?

Mel:
BBM ME PRIVATE CHATS NOW!!!!

Teenage Kicks

I had no idea it was going to be like this. From the moment I held the Babe I just knew I had to look after her and protect her. Even the Boy has been to see her. Apparently he’s moving away soon. He says he’ll keep in touch, but I don’t think I believe him. I don’t care anymore though. I’ve got Mum and Dad, and now Louise. Everything I want in life is right here. She’s the best Christmas present ever.

‘Come on in,’ said Gabriel as the Tinsalls squeezed themselves into the house, shaking the snow off their boots. Magically, they’d woken up to discover it had snowed in the night. ‘Everyone’s in the lounge.’

They divested themselves of boots and coats and followed Gabriel into the crowded lounge, dominated by an eight-foot-high Christmas tree in the corner, which was practically touching the ceiling, and seemingly dozens of people, talking animatedly.

‘Mulled wine anyone?’

‘Sounds perfect,’ said Cat, happily accepting a glass.

‘Marianne will be in in a minute,’ said Gabriel, ‘slight turkey crisis.’

‘Does she need any help?’ asked Cat.

‘No, she does not,’ retorted Marianne, emerging red-faced from the kitchen, sporting a Santa hat, and an apron saying Santa’s Little Helper, over a sexy black cocktail dress. She looked stunning.

‘Merry Christmas everyone. Let me introduce you to everyone.’

Marianne’s mother nearly fainted when she finally met Cat. ‘I love your recipes,’ she said. ‘I can’t believe I’ve actually met you. You’re even prettier than you are on the telly.’

‘That’s very nice of you,’ said Cat, and proceeded to try and prove that really she was quite normal.

‘This is my son, Matthew,’ said Jenny, who was looking slightly flushed from one too many sherries, ‘and his partner Marcus.’

‘Mum!’ Marianne nearly dropped her glass in shock.

‘You knew?’ Matthew was looking stunned and wide eyed.

‘Of course I knew,’ said Jenny. ‘What, did you all think I was stupid or something?’

‘Er no,’ said Marcus, ‘we’re just a bit surprised.’

‘You’re a lovely boy, Marcus,’ said Jenny raising her glass to him, ‘so when are you going to make an honest man of my son? I do like a good wedding.’

After that bombshell nothing could possibly go wrong, Marianne felt. And so it proved. The room was buzzing with a sense of fun and excited chatter. Various of the children disappeared to Steven’s room to watch TV, Paige had enthusiastically taken charge of the twins, Marcus and Matthew were talking football with Steven, Pippa was sitting in the corner with Lucy, pulling crackers, and telling each other jokes. Even Eve was unexpectedly getting on really well with Marianne’s dad, while Noel, beer in hand, was busy extolling the virtues of being a granddad to Gabriel’s parents.

‘It’s great,’ he said, ‘I hear the baby crying and I have no guilt whatsoever about not getting up in the night.’

‘Funny that that isn’t a granny reaction, isn’t it?’ Cat nudged him in the ribs.

Mel, shyly showing Louise off, was the centre of attention. And Louise was the perfect baby, waking up only to feed, and in between happily putting up with being passed round all the women in the room for a cuddle.

‘Great mulled wine, Gabe,’ said Cat.

‘Your recipe, I believe,’ said Gabriel, topping up her glass.

‘Ah well, that will be why then,’ blushed Cat. ‘I can’t believe I didn’t recognise my own recipe!’

‘Dinner is served,’ said Marianne. ‘We’ve extended the table from the kitchen into the conservatory, so we should all just about fit.’

In dribs and drabs, and after many dashes to the toilet from the children, everyone arrived at the table, which was laid for twenty-one. The children were down one end, and the adults at the other. Each place was set with a cracker, a party hat, and party poppers, which the children all let off noisily straight away. Louise didn’t bat an eyelid, even then.

‘Isn’t that baby just the calmest baby you’ve ever seen?’ said Pippa in awe.

‘She has to be, living in our house. Isn’t that right, Mel?’ grinned Cat.

‘Too right, Mum,’ said Mel grinning back.

‘Well, Batty Jack’s done us proud this year,’ said Gabriel as he carved the turkey. ‘I bet he had no idea he was going to be providing for twenty-one. We certainly didn’t, but we’re very glad to have you!’

‘You okay?’ said Cat, as she squeezed in next to Pippa.

‘I will be,’ said Pippa with a determinedly cheerful grin. ‘You know me, I’ll survive.’

‘And I know you’ve got an admirer,’ said Cat with a grin.

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ said Pippa, blushing.

‘Richard La Fontaine seemed very interested in you after the ball,’ said Cat, ‘and he is not only rich, but good looking.’

‘Is he?’ said Pippa innocently. ‘I really hadn’t noticed.’

‘Pull the other one,’ said Cat. ‘I’ve seen the way you look at him, when you don’t think anyone’s looking.’

Pippa blushed again.

‘A girl can dream,’ she said.

‘And you deserve a dream to come true,’ said Cat. ‘Come the new year, it’s going to be Project Find Pippa a Date.’

‘I’ll drink to that,’ said Pippa and smiled.

‘Time for crackers!’ said Marianne, and they all joined arms around the table, and with ‘A one, two, three, now!’ pulled at the same time. As usual, half the crackers didn’t work, but Louise, who was dozing in her car seat in the corner, barely even moved when one went off loudly in her ear.

‘You don’t think she could be deaf, do you?’ said Noel doubtfully.

‘I’m sure she’s fine,’ said Cat. ‘Let’s just be grateful she’s asleep.’

The meal passed quickly in a haze of jollity and merriment. There was plenty to eat, plenty to drink and plenty of good cheer, just as there should be at Christmas. All too soon, the pudding had been eaten, plates pushed away, and the port was being cracked open. Gabriel stood up, tapped his glass, and called for quiet.

‘I’d like to raise a glass to everyone here,’ said Gabriel. ‘Firstly, I’d like to thank you all for coming to share our Christmas with us. It wouldn’t have been the same without you. And secondly, here’s to surviving another year. I know it’s been tough for some of us, but we’ve got here in one piece. So a very happy Christmas one and all.’

‘Happy Christmas!’ Everyone raised their glasses.

‘Do you know, I think this Christmas has been the best ever,’ said Noel.

‘Oi, that’s my line,’ said Cat, digging him in the ribs.

‘I think it’s time we had some carols,’ said Gabriel. ‘Christmas isn’t Christmas without carols. Anyone who fancies it come and join us in the lounge.’

Marianne sat down at the piano and started to play, while Steven sang the opening lines of
Once in Royal David’s City
. One by one everyone joined in, young and old united in memories for what had been lost, and for what had been gained. It was the most perfect moment of a perfect day.

Outside in the lane, a figure in black leather sat on his motorbike, listening to the sound of the carol fill the silent air. He smiled, turned on the engine and roared down the snowy lane and into Hope Christmas High Street, where he stopped briefly to speak to Miss Woods, out on her evening spin around the town.

‘Happy Christmas,’ Michael said.

‘Happy Christmas, Michael,’ she said. ‘Are you off again, then?’

‘Only for a while,’ he said with a smile. He looked around him, at the sparkling Christmas lights which lit up the town, and the Christmas tree which dominated the town square.

‘I’m sure I’ll be needed before too long,’ he said.

‘I imagine you will,’ she said. ‘God speed for now.’

‘And you Miss Woods, and you,’ Michael said. Then he revved up the engine and sped off into the night. Soon all that could be seen of him was a small red dot in the distant hills.

Snow started to fall softly, and then more fiercely. And soon the tracks he’d made in the road were obliterated completely.

As if he’d never been there at all.

As usual, I’d like to thank a great many people.

To my long suffering editor, Claire Bord, I’d like to extend my gratitude for her patience and unswerving support when I was somewhat less then punctual in delivering the manuscript.

And to all the amazing staff at Avon Books, a huge thank you as ever for your enthusiasm on my behalf.