Anne Douglas (19 page)

In Mrs May’s time, after Maybel’s had closed on its last day before Christmas, she had always invited the staff up to her flat for ginger wine and mince pies. That first year under new management, no one was sure if Mr Kyle would continue the tradition, but he said he’d be glad to, as long as they didn’t mind shop-bought mince pies. Oh, and no ginger wine. A decent red, a pleasant white, would be what he was offering. Any takers? Everyone accepted.

As soon as Brigid had locked the shop door on Christmas Eve there was a rush to the staffroom for the girls to change from their green outfits into their best dresses, while upstairs Stuart MacNay solemnly combed his hair and Miss Elrick put on a red cardigan over her black working jumper and skirt.

‘Everyone ready?’ asked Brigid, preparing to lead the way to Mr Kyle’s flat, but a knock at the shop door made her halt. ‘That’ll be Willa!’ she cried, running to let her in.

‘Who’s Willa?’ asked Cassie and Isla.

‘She used to work here before she married,’ Shona explained. ‘We still miss her. Wonder if she’s brought Grant?’

Yes, Willa, looking as attractive as ever, had brought her husband, tall, fair-haired Grant, and there were pleasant moments of hugs and introductions before they all made their way up to Mr Kyle’s flat.

‘I can’t believe all the changes here,’ Willa was murmuring to Shona. ‘Mrs May’s office a plant shop and her lovely room for an accountant now? But things are going well, eh?’

‘Very well. We’re really prospering.’

‘Don’t tell her that,’ murmured Grant. ‘She misses this place quite enough already.’

‘Come on, I’ll introduce you to the boss,’ said Shona as they moved up to the top floor of the building, which Fraser had converted into a comfortable living room and bedroom, and took pleasure in seeing his eyes widen when he met the blonde Willa.

‘So, you’re the one that got away,’ he said, smiling as he shook her hand. ‘I’ve heard you were a great loss.’

‘Don’t know about that, Mr Kyle, but it was very kind of you to invite me – and my husband, Grant Henderson.’

Fraser, shaking hands with Grant, said it had been his pleasure to follow Mrs May’s precedent in inviting her and her husband to the Christmas get-together. Now, how about joining everyone in a glass of wine and trying all the stuff he’d put together? Sausage rolls, ham rolls, cheese straws, mince pies? Who’d help to pass round?

‘No ginger wine?’ asked Grant, as he and Dan Hardie drank deeply of Fraser’s ‘good’ red. ‘This is a change, eh?’

‘Aye, he’s a generous man, Mr Kyle, and knows what’s what. Ambitious, too. Planning to expand soon as he sees how things go.’

‘Might be coming to us for a loan, then,’ Grant said with a laugh, at which Stuart, joining them, raised his eyebrows.

‘What’s this about a bank loan?’ Dan asked.

‘Oh, I’m just thinking aloud,’ Grant answered pleasantly. ‘Nothing’s been said.’

‘I should hope not, seeing as I’d be the one to advise on it,’ Stuart said a little coolly, and jumped as Fraser suddenly appeared, clapping him and Dan on the back.

‘What are you men doing, all standing together?’ he cried. ‘Come on, circulate! Stuart, why aren’t you eating? There’s a ton of stuff here to get through, remember.’

‘You know my stomach, Mr Kyle.’

‘Thank God I don’t!’

‘What I mean is, I have to be very careful.’

‘Just move about a bit, there’s a good chap. I have to speak to someone now.’

The someone was Shona, who had been standing a little apart, dubiously trying the white wine she’d been given.

‘All right?’ Fraser asked when he joined her. ‘You liking that?’

‘It’s a wee bit sharp.’

‘Sharp? Never! It’s a dessert wine – quite sweet.’

‘If you say so.’

She saw his eyes following Willa and gave a wry smile when he murmured, ‘Attractive girl, that.’

‘I knew you’d think so.’

At once he turned back to her, his gaze now fixed on her delicate features, her parted lips, her bright, springing hair. ‘Not to be compared with you, Shona.’

‘No need to say that. Willa was always our beauty.’

He shook his head. ‘Not to me. If I’m interested in her it’s not for her looks, but for what I think I see in her. Rather the same as I see in you. She’d make a good manageress, in my view.’

‘That’s true, but she’s no’ working now, she’s married.’

‘Damned waste, eh? Why shouldn’t married women work if they want to?’

‘I ask the same thing, but there are the bairns, you see. Who takes care of them?’

‘Has Willa any children?’

‘She’s hoping.’

‘I see.’ He shrugged. ‘Have to see what happens, then.’ He touched her glass. ‘Like a top up?’

‘No, thanks, I think we’ll all be going soon. And you’ve your train to catch.’

He had already told her that he was taking the London train to spend Christmas with his sister, while she and Cassie would not be going far afield, having been invited to Mrs Hope’s along with Mrs Gow.

‘My train’s not till late,’ Fraser said easily. ‘No need to worry.’

‘Still, I think we should make a move.’ Her smile on him was sweet. ‘But it’s been lovely, Fraser. We’re all so glad you wanted to keep the tradition going.’

‘Of course I did. I’m a great one for tradition, as long as it means something.’ He bent his head towards her. ‘Listen, don’t worry about getting home. I’m giving you and Cassie a lift. Seems Brigid and Isla are going back with Mr and Mrs Henderson, Miss Elrick’s meeting cousins in George Street and Dan and Stuart can fend for themselves.’

‘You have it all worked out?’ she asked, laughing.

‘Sure I have. That’s me, eh?’ He laughed with her. ‘I reckon they could put that on my tombstone.
He had it all worked out
. . .’

‘I’ll find Cassie,’ said Shona, still laughing a little.

There were cheerful farewells all round, not only fuelled by the wine, as people collected their coats and exchanged hugs and promises to meet, before giving earnest thanks to Mr Kyle.

‘Can we not wash these glasses?’ Isla asked worriedly, but Fraser told her all the clearing up was taken care of. Mrs Yarrow, who cleaned the shop and his flat, was already in the kitchen and would be putting her magic touch on the place even before he got back from taking Shona and Cassie home.

‘So, let’s away!’ he cried. ‘Happy Christmas to you all. Mr and Mrs Henderson, nice to meet you, thank you for coming.’

‘Thank you again for asking us, Mr Kyle,’ said Willa. ‘And all the best to you and everyone. Have a lovely Christmas!’

‘I second that,’ put in Stuart. ‘Go easy on the Christmas pudding, eh? I’ll have to be careful as usual.’

‘Oh, God,’ murmured Fraser, ‘who cares about being careful?’

The night air was bitter on their faces as Shona and Cassie followed Fraser to his car, and the pavements so packed with freezing snow it was hard not to slip.

‘Should’ve put my other shoes on,’ Cassie groaned. ‘These high heels are useless!’

‘You know you have to suffer to be beautiful!’ Fraser called, opening the car doors. ‘Now, who’s coming in the front next to me?’

‘Go on, Cassie,’ Shona urged, but Cassie was already settling herself in the back.

‘I’m all right. You sit next to Mr Kyle.’

Trust Cassie, pairing me off with Fraser, thought Shona, taking her seat at the front, and saw him smile as he closed her door.

‘Nice to get out of the cold,’ she said politely.

‘It’s a killer, eh? Can’t expect anything else this time of year.’

‘Just as long as we don’t all get snowed in,’ said Cassie. ‘Remember last winter? They even had blizzards in the south!’

‘We might be lucky this time,’ said Fraser. ‘But it won’t take me long to get you girls home. Just have to take it gently.’

Driving carefully on the short journey from the West End, especially on the descent into the Dean Village, he gave a sigh of relief as he drew up outside Kitty’s house in Baxter Row. ‘There you are, Cassie, got you back safe and sound. Wait till I open the door for you.’

‘I could get out here, too,’ Shona offered quickly, but Fraser shook his head.

‘I’ll drive on to Mrs Gow’s, nae bother. Want me to help you across the pavement, Cassie?’

‘No, thanks, Mr Kyle, I can manage. Thanks very much for the party and lift home. Shona, I’ll see you tomorrow at Mrs Hope’s, eh?’

Having reached Kitty’s door without mishap, Cassie waved and let herself in, while Fraser gently eased his car down the street to Mrs Gow’s, where he stopped.

‘Home for you, Shona,’ he said quietly, switching off the engine. ‘Were you really going to get out with Cassie?’

‘Well, it was no’ far for me to walk on. I didn’t want to trouble you to drive me.’

‘You knew I’d want to say goodnight to you.’

‘Yes, but Cassie might have expected me to get out with her.’

‘I’d never have let it happen. I’ve been looking forward all evening to this little time alone with you.’

She twisted in her seat, looking out at the empty street where the snow was a white blur in the darkness, except for where light fell from the curtained windows and the street lamp. But Fraser had again carefully not parked close to the street lamp.

‘We’d better no’ be long,’ she whispered. ‘Folk can hear cars. Sometimes, they look out.’

‘What will they see?’ He took her hand in his and removed its glove. ‘Very little, I’d say. Two people saying goodnight, maybe, if they open their curtains – but then we’d see them do that.’

Her hand still in his, she was feeling uneasy, as though she were in a goldfish bowl with the neighbours looking in, which was foolish, really, as so far no one’s curtains had twitched. Still, she felt she’d better go and was beginning to withdraw her hand when he tightened his grip.

‘No, no, Shona, you’re not leaving me yet. Remember, I’m not coming back till after New Year. I have to make this meeting last.’

‘Fraser, I think I’d better—’

‘No, don’t say any more.’ He gave a long sigh. ‘Truth is, I’m going to let the side down. I said I wouldn’t make a nuisance of myself, yet here I am, doing just that. But I can’t help it, that’s the thing. I have to say what’s in my mind, whatever you think, and I’m just hoping you’ll understand. First, though—’ He gave a subdued laugh. ‘It’s Christmas, eh? Can I have my Christmas kiss?’

Without waiting for her to speak he dropped her hand, drew her towards him and kissed her on the lips with the sort of strength and passion she’d read about but never experienced, and which sent her own feelings whirling like the snow that was once again beginning to fall.

‘Fraser!’ she cried, as he let her go. ‘Fraser!’

‘What?’ he asked, his face close to hers. ‘What do you want to say to me? Haven’t you ever been kissed like that before?’

‘No’ quite like that.’

‘Didn’t you enjoy it? You did, didn’t you? I wasn’t the only one kissing, was I?’

‘Fraser, it’s getting late. You’d better go; you’ve a train to catch—’

‘Plenty of time. I haven’t said what I want to say yet.’ He took her hand again. ‘Maybe you can guess what it is, anyway?’

She shook her head, trying to come to terms with his kiss and beginning to remember the neighbours, as he stroked her fingers.

‘I love you, Shona,’ he said softly. ‘I want us to be married. Not immediately. I’ll give you time; I don’t want to rush you. But I’d like you to think how it could be for us. I know I’m not the one, the special one, for you at the moment, as you are for me, but you needn’t worry, that would come, I promise you. And when we were married, I’d want you to be a partner in every sense of the word. I mean, you’d have the chance to develop ideas, make your own mark. We’d be man and wife and business partners as well, making money, making a success of things.’ He was pressing her hand until it hurt. ‘Shona, don’t you see what I could give you?’

‘Fraser, I – don’t know. It’s all been – well – so quick –’

‘I know, I know.’ He released her hand, ran his own down her face, then kissed her again, very gently this time, very sweetly. ‘But you can take all the time in the world to think about it. Starting with next week. No need to give me an answer, even when I come back after Hogmanay. I want you to be sure, you see. Absolutely sure. Then we can be happy. In the meantime –’ He drew a small package from his pocket.

‘In the meantime, I’d like to give you this.’

‘Oh, Fraser, it’s no’ a Christmas present? And I haven’t got you anything!’

‘That doesn’t matter.’ He pressed the package into her hand. ‘Hope you’ll think of me when you open it.’

‘I’m going to open it now. It’s nearly Christmas anyway.’

He laughed as he watched her struggling with the wrapping which she eventually tore off to reveal a small jeweller’s box. Not a ring, she thought wildly, it wouldn’t be a ring, would it? It was a silver bangle. A perfect gift, not too elaborate, not too important, just a very pretty thing to wear, which made her reach over to kiss him as sweetly as he had kissed her.

‘Thank you, Fraser. It’s beautiful. I love it.’

‘I’m glad. You will wear it?’

‘When I’m with you.’

‘That’s all I want.’

Smiling, he left the car and moved round, through the driving snow, to open her door.

‘Goodnight,’ he whispered. ‘Goodnight, dear Shona, and Merry Christmas.’

Her hand was holding tightly to her present, her face damp with snowflakes as she let him help her to Mrs Gow’s door.

‘All right?’ he asked gently. ‘Got your key?’

‘No need. The door’s no’ locked.’

‘In you go, then. Get out of this weather.’

But she waited, as he touched his cap and returned to his car.

‘Fraser!’ she called. ‘Safe journey!’

Only when he’d driven away, swallowed up in the darkness and fast falling snow, did she brace herself, putting her hands to her cheeks, to go into the house to face Mrs Gow.

Supposing she would be able to tell that Shona had just been kissed? Not in the usual goodnight way by an inexperienced boy, but hard and passionately by a man who knew what he wanted? Would she be able to see some sign? Some colour, or mark, of his shaved chin against Shona’s face? Mrs Gow had been married: she must know all about passion, about making love that was so much more than kissing. What hope would there be of hiding Fraser Kyle’s effect on her young lodger?