Try a Little Tenderness (9 page)

‘No, I’ve got the girls to help me.’ Mary put her arms around her friend and hugged her tight. ‘A Merry Christmas, sunshine.’

Amy hugged her back. ‘And you too, girl. And you too.’

Mary sat back and watched the girls decorating the tree. ‘It looks nice, doesn’t it, love? I’m really grateful to Seamus.’

Stan returned her smile. ‘Yeah, it looks great. It’s a good one, too, nice thick branches. Did yer say he got it for nothing?’

‘That’s what he told me. Off some feller he knows at the market.’ Mary was pleased to see her two daughters laughing as they hung the strips of red and green bunting on the tree. It was a rare sight to see Laura being friendly and close to her sister. ‘You can spread the big presents out underneath now, and hang the small ones on the branches.’

The girls elbowed each other out of the way to be first at the sideboard. As usual, Jenny gave way to her sister and let her take the big presents. ‘This is for you, Dad,’ Laura said, balancing the parcel on her hand. ‘It’s not half heavy.’

‘D’yer think it could be two bricks?’ Stan laughed.
‘They’d be handy to put in the oven to warm, and I could take them to bed with me to put me feet on.’

‘This one’s for me.’ Laura fingered the parcel before looking at her mother. ‘I hope it’s not one of those frumpy, old-fashioned dresses yer usually buy me.’

In a split second, Stan saw the pleasure leave his wife’s face and Jenny’s happy smile turn to sadness. ‘Don’t you dare talk to yer mam like that.’ His voice was sharp. ‘Now say ye’re sorry, go on.’

‘I didn’t mean nothing, Dad, it was only a joke.’

‘I didn’t think it was funny, Laura, so do as ye’re told and apologise.’

‘I’m sorry.’ The words were said with ill-grace as Laura shrugged her shoulders and turned back to the tree. ‘It was only a flippin’ joke.’

When Mary saw Stan’s face redden and his hands grip the arms of the chair, she touched his lightly. ‘Leave it be, love, we don’t want any rows, tonight of all nights.’

‘If you say so, love.’ He took her hand and held it in his. ‘But she is getting too big for her boots and I should have listened to yer years ago.’

Mary was up very early the next morning and her first task was to spoon the stuffing into the turkey before putting it in the oven on a low light to cook slowly. Then she set about cleaning the grate and lighting a fire. Soon the coals were burning brightly and she put a kettle on the hob ready to make a pot of tea. There was no sound from upstairs so she sat in Stan’s armchair enjoying the peace of the house. The tree looked lovely, and with the presents spread out beneath its branches it gave the room a real festive air. She’d done a lot of moaning in the last week with the extra work and worrying about whether she was going to be able to eke her money out. But right now she felt it had been well worth it. A spark from a coal hissed as it spurted out, bringing Mary to her feet to stamp it out before it had time to singe the
hearthrug. Not that another scorchmark would be noticed, the poor mat had put up with a lot of wear over the years. It had been made from bits of old clothes, and she remembered how her mother had sat with her many a night pegging the strips of cloth through the canvas.

Mary shook herself to chase away the sadness. This was a day for happiness and she didn’t want the family to come down and see her looking miserable. She hugged herself as she gazed into the dancing flames. There was a lot to look forward to, with her dad coming this morning and then the party tonight. She had never had a party before, but she was going to take Amy’s advice and not worry. So what if her friend’s fairy cakes did turn out as hard as rocks, or Molly’s jelly hadn’t set properly? The world wouldn’t come to an end, they would still enjoy themselves.

She was so wrapped up in her thoughts, Mary didn’t hear the stairs creaking and jumped when her two daughters burst into the room, chorusing, ‘Merry Christmas, Mam.’

‘Oh, I must have been miles away, I didn’t hear a sound.’ Mary hugged and kissed each of them. ‘Merry Christmas, sunshine, and I hope yer both like what Father Christmas brought for yer.’

Laura’s face was eager. ‘Can we open our presents now?’

‘Not until yer dad’s up, I don’t want him to miss any of the fun. Give him a shout while I see to a pot of tea.’

When Stan came down he was carrying a parcel which he put with the others under the tree. He grinned at his wife. ‘That’s for you, love. I hid it under the bed last night.’

Mary clapped her hands together. ‘Ooh, what is it?’

‘Yer’ll find out soon enough, just be patient. And if yer don’t like it yer can tell yer mate off, because she got it for me.’

‘Oh dear, in that case it’ll be a joke. When I open it, it’ll probably blow up in me face.’

Stan’s head dropped back and he gave a hearty chuckle. ‘Fancy thinking that about yer best mate! I admit I had
doubts meself about asking her to get yer something, but I think she’s done yer proud.’

‘Dad, can I open my presents now?’ Laura asked. ‘I can’t wait.’

‘Just hold yer horses, sunshine.’ Mary pushed Stan gently down on to the couch, then handed him a cup of tea. ‘Me and yer dad will sit and watch. I think the youngest should go first, so let Jenny open hers.’

Jenny opened the small parcel first, and much to Laura’s annoyance, insisted upon trying the woollen gloves on. Then she laid them to one side and ripped open the large parcel. Her shriek of delight as she held the dress up brought a glow to Mary’s heart. The dress was deep blue with a round collar, long sleeves and belted waist. It was in a heavy cotton, suitable for wear in any weather. The style was plain, but it was the simplicity that made it attractive. ‘Oh, it’s lovely.’ Jenny held the dress close to her chest as she bent and kissed her parents. ‘Thank you, Mam and Dad. Can I wear it today?’

‘Of course yer can,’ Mary said. ‘Yer can get all dolled up for yer grandad coming. He won’t know yer, think he’s come to the wrong house.’

‘I’m opening mine now.’ Laura’s face was set with impatience. But when the small parcel revealed her first pair of grown-up long rayon stockings, she jumped for joy. ‘Just what I wanted. I’m over the moon, Mam, they’re brilliant! I was frightened I’d have to go to work in me school socks.’

‘I hope yer like yer other present as much.’ Mary had her doubts. She’d spent a long time choosing a dress for her eldest daughter, trying to find a style that was neither too young, nor too old. And it was with apprehension she watched her daughter undo the parcel. But when she saw Laura’s face, she knew her fears were groundless.

The girl was lost for words when she held up the cherry-red dress. She gazed with open mouth at the sweetheart
neck, the long sleeves and the full flared skirt. ‘It’s beautiful! It’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. I bet Cynthia doesn’t get anything as nice as this.’ She twirled round, holding the dress to her. ‘I’m going to put it on right now.’

‘Excuse me, young lady,’ Stan said. ‘Have you lost yer manners? Don’t yer ever thank anyone when they give yer a present?’

‘I’m sorry, Mam, I’m just that excited.’ The tone of her voice and the offhand peck on her mother’s cheek made it clear Laura’s heart wasn’t in it. She was doing what she was told to do, but her mind was elsewhere. ‘I’m going upstairs! I can’t wait to see what me dress looks like on.’

Jenny stepped into her sister’s path, barring her exit. ‘Aren’t yer going to wait and see what me mam and dad got for Christmas?’

Laura looked surprised by the question. ‘No, I want to go and try me dress on. Anyway, I know what me dad’s got so there’s no point.’

Laura tried to sidestep her sister but Jenny anticipated the movement and stood her ground. She knew how her mother had struggled to buy those clothes and she thought the least her sister could do was show some gratitude and not be so selfish. ‘Me mam knew what we were getting because she was the one who had to find the money for them. But it didn’t stop her from being interested enough to want to see our faces when we opened the presents. You’re not the only one in the house, yer know, Laura.’

‘Oh, you get on my wick, you do.’ Laura tried to push her sister aside. ‘Get out of me way and mind yer own business.’

Stan was rising from his chair to intervene when Mary gripped his arm and motioned for him to stay out of it. ‘Let her go, Jenny, there’s a good girl. Yer can’t make anyone be interested if they don’t want to be.’

Laura sneered into her sister’s face before flouncing out of the room, leaving Jenny shaking her head. She always had a vision of families being close on Christmas morning,
laughing and joking as they shared the pleasure of presents given and received. But looking back, Laura had always been the first to rip open her presents. They’d been mostly toys when they were younger, and her sister would sit at the table with them and not even throw a glance to see what the others had got. ‘She’s dead mean, Mam.’

‘I know, sunshine, but that’s her problem, and her loss. Now, you can go in the kitchen if yer like, and try your dress on.’

Jenny shook her head as she sat down. ‘No, I want to see what you and me dad have got. I don’t want to miss anything.’

‘Then you can give them out, love.’ Stan was realising he had a lot of ground to make up with his youngest daughter. He’d spoilt Laura by always putting her first, and he could see now that he hadn’t done her any favours. If he hadn’t given in to her every whim, she might have grown up to be as good and caring as Jenny. ‘Yer mam can go first, then we can have a laugh if Amy has set a booby trap.’

‘I’ll kill her if she has,’ Mary said, taking the parcel. ‘This is one day of the year when I can do without me mate’s practical jokes.’ She was tearing at the paper as she spoke. ‘She’s probably wrapped a dead mouse in an old towel, or something.’

‘In that case, I want me money back,’ Stan said, watching his wife’s face closely. ‘She’s not diddling me.’

The only sound from Mary was a gasp, as she stared down at the neatly folded, deep blue fleecy dressing gown. Then came a long drawn-out sigh. ‘Oh Stan, it’s lovely. But how could yer afford it? I hope yer haven’t gone into debt.’

‘That’s the last thing I’d do, love. Yer know how I feel about borrowing money. Once yer get into debt yer never get out of it. No, I was determined that this year I’d get yer a decent present. It’s always you buying for others, never getting much back for yerself.’ Stan took her hand and smiled into her face. ‘So, since September, I’ve only been
buying ten Woodbines a day, instead of me usual twenty. And the odd times I do go to the pub, I’ve only been having a half, instead of a pint. I’ve put the money away each week religiously, and it soon mounted up. I feel dead chuffed with meself – even gave meself a pat on the back.’

‘Oh Stan, it’s beautiful and I do love yer.’ There were tears in Mary’s eyes. ‘But yer shouldn’t have skinted yerself, I know how much yer enjoy yer ciggies.’

‘It hasn’t done me no harm, love, and I won’t be going back to me twenty fags a day. Instead, we’ll go to the pictures more than once every blue moon. The girls are old enough to be left on their own now, and it’s about time you and me got out a bit more.’

Jenny was watching them with her head tilted and a smile on her face. Seeing her parents like this brought a warm glow to her heart. ‘Mam, will yer show us yer dressing gown now, please? I can only see the colour of it from here.’

‘I’ll do better than that, sunshine, I’ll model it for yer.’ Mary felt happier than she had for a long time. Fancy her Stan going without his cigarettes so he could buy her a present. He had to be the best husband in the world. She stood up and passed the gown to Jenny. ‘You undo the buttons, sunshine, while I give yer dad a big kiss.’ She sat on Stan’s knee and put her arms around his neck. Her first kiss was soft and gentle. ‘That’s because I love yer.’ Then she kissed him with passion. ‘And that’s for being so nice I couldn’t help but love yer.’

Jenny coughed gently. ‘When you two soppy beggars have finished, can I see me mam in her new dressing gown?’

Mary sprang to her feet, laughing. ‘Yeah, all good things must come to an end. If we don’t put a move on, me dad will be here before we’ve had any breakfast.’

With her arms spread, Mary was doing a twirl when Laura came in. ‘Ooh I say, the state of you and the price of fish.’ She eyed the dressing gown with envy. ‘I’ll be
borrowing that for when I have to get up early to go to work.’

‘Like hell you will.’ Mary held her daughter’s eyes. ‘This is the first thing I’ve had in the last twelve years that hasn’t been bought second-hand from a stall in the market, or on a Sturla’s cheque. So you will keep your hands off it. Understood?’

Laura pulled a face and shrugged her shoulders. ‘Okay, keep yer flippin’ hair on. Anyway, isn’t anyone going to say they like me dress?’ Not realising her appearance and attitude had put a damper on a happy scene, she appealed to her father first, expecting to be heaped with praise. ‘It suits me, doesn’t it, Dad?’

‘Yeah, it’s a nice dress.’

‘It does suit yer,’ Jenny said, feeling guilty for the bad thoughts she was having about her sister. ‘It’s a lovely colour.’

‘It looks a treat on yer, sunshine,’ Mary said, determined that nothing or no one was going to spoil this day. ‘Turn around and let’s see it properly.’ The dress fitted Laura to perfection and the colour complemented her dark complexion and black hair. She was a pretty girl, there were no two ways about it. And as she grew older and her figure filled out, she had the makings of a very attractive woman. Her eyes were her outstanding feature, but somehow her smile never reached them. ‘Yes, I don’t think yer could have got anything to suit yer better.’

‘Excuse me,’ Stan said, ‘but didn’t Father Christmas bring me any toys?’

‘Ah, you poor thing!’ Jenny picked up his presents and placed them on his knee. ‘We saved the best till the last.’

Laura was bored stiff having to sit and pretend to be excited about a flipping shirt and pullover, it was all so childish. But she knew she’d blotted her copybook and went out of her way to join in the enjoyment. But while she was laughing, her mind was on the party tonight. How
she’d swank in front of John, the boy from next door, and Mick from across the street. They wouldn’t half get their eyes open when they saw her in her new dress.