Christmas Past (39 page)

Alan usually worked late, so the night he arrived home on time Avril knew something had happened. Grandma Holmes saw the worried expression on her face when the car drew up
outside, and tactful as ever decided it was time to visit one of her neighbours, asking permission to take Elizabeth with her. After they had gone, the little girl toddling happily along holding on
to the old lady’s hand, Alan came in, wearing a smile which laid to rest any worries Avril had harboured.

‘You’re early,’ she said. ‘Has the garage burned down?’

‘Not on your life!’ Alan grabbed Avril round the waist and danced her round the kitchen table. ‘How does it feel to be dancing with the new manager of Hillside Garage?’
He stood away from her so he could see her face, the face he had loved from the first moment he had ever set eyes on it. Now it was a picture of smiling astonishment.

‘What?’

‘You’re looking at the new manager of Hillside as from today.’

‘But I thought it was to be sold. Has the new owner employed you or something?’

‘They’re changed their minds. They’re still moving to Derbyshire as planned, but they’re keeping Hillside too, and I’ve been put in overall charge. Colin’s
decided if I’m half the businessman my parents are I’ll have no problem.’

‘I’m sure he’s right.’

‘And that’s not all. Colin’s house is up for sale. What do you think?’

‘Oh, we couldn’t, Alan. They’ll be asking a fortune – we can’t possibly afford it.’

‘But I haven’t told you the best part. I shall be given a substantial rise in salary, enough to enable us to take the chance.’ He hugged Avril to him. ‘We’ll show
my mother I can keep my wife and child without any help from anybody.’

‘You’ve already done that. I do wish you’d let bygones be bygones and stop harping on past differences. You only upset your father by being so stubborn.’

‘OK, OK, I promise, but only if you agree to consider buying Colin’s house.’

‘All right. We’ll make some enquiries, I promise.’

Looking down into the gentle grey eyes, Alan ran his fingers through her tousled shoulder-length hair and was suddenly overwhelmed with a desire to kiss her. It was at that moment that Grandma
Holmes chose to walk in the door.

‘Dada,’ Elizabeth said. ‘Dada.’

Alan grinned and lifted his daughter high, planting a kiss on her turned-up nose. The only shadow on Alan’s happiness at that moment was the thought of having to break to his grandmother
the news that they would soon be leaving.

It was Jacqueline’s birthday, and Mary wasn’t very pleased that her daughter had arranged to join the other teachers at her school for their annual dinner dance.
Husbands and boyfriends were invited and a coach was to take them to the Angler’s Rest in the village of Bamford. ‘It’s been arranged for ages,’ Jacqueline said. ‘They
just added my name to the list automatically. No one knew it was my birthday. Besides, I would have gone anyway.’

‘But we’ve always had the family to tea on your birthday,’ Mary moaned.

‘I know, and I’m sorry, but I’m not a little girl any more, Mam. It’s not as though I’m going to miss the jelly and cream buns. And we shall be having all the usual
Christmas get-togethers in a few days.’

Jack admired his daughter’s ability to stand up to her mother, and wished he’d done the same years ago. Not that he didn’t love Mary dearly, but she did tend to boss everybody
around given half a chance, though she had mellowed a little after the set to with Alan.

That evening Jacqueline wore a royal blue cocktail dress with rhinestones adorning its low scooped neckline. She was also wearing a diamante necklace, a birthday present from Doug, and a pair of
silver earrings from Grandma and Grandad Roberts.

‘You look a sight for sore eyes, sweetheart,’ Jack said when she came downstairs. ‘Here’s a little bit of something from yer dad.’ Jack always found himself
embarrassed when handing out presents and he shyly gave Jacqueline a parcel wrapped in rose-patterned paper.

Jacqueline tore open the paper eagerly to find a jewel box in polished wood. When she opened the lid a ballerina began a pirouette and the tune ‘Fascination’ began to play.

‘Oh, Dad, it’s absolutely beautiful, and I adore the tune. Thank you.’ She hugged her father and left the box open so she could continue to listen. Mary watched her daughter
with pride.

‘You look a million dollars, love,’ she said.

‘Thanks to you, Mam.’ Jacqueline gave a twirl. ‘The dress is really smashing. I bet everyone at the dinner dance’ll be queueing outside the shop for one just like it next
week.’

‘Well they won’t get one.’ Mary brushed a dark hair from Jacqueline’s shoulder. ‘Anything I make for my daughter is exclusive, and no one else will ever have one
the same.’

‘Well, thanks, both of you. You’re making me feel guilty now for going out. I tell you what, Doug and I will make amends by taking you out for a meal tomorrow. How’s
that?’

‘Don’t be daft.’ Jack laughed. ‘Go and enjoy yerselves. Make yer memories, you and Doug, now while you’re young. When you get to our age they’re the most
precious things you can have, memories.’

Mary looked at her husband thoughtfully as Jacqueline ran out to the coach. ‘That was a lovely thing to say, Jack, about the memories.’

Jack coloured slightly. ‘Well it’s true, isn’t it? Don’t you ever look back – you know, when you’re sewing away all on yer own? I know I do. I might be
sitting there hammering nails into someone’s old shoe, surrounded by the smell of leather, and all the time I’m miles away, barn dancing in the old school at Longfield or eating a
picnic among the heather, with a freckle-faced auburn-haired beauty.’

Mary felt tears prickle her eyes. ‘Oh, Jack, I wonder where she’s gone, the girl of your memories.’

Jack grinned. ‘She’s still here, love, alongside a virile dark-haired youth. Though sometimes he’s hard to recognise these days.’

‘Oh, Jack, you’re still the same – still virile, if only I encouraged you more.’ Mary walked over to where her husband was sitting and perched on his knee.
‘It’s just that we seem to have lost sight of each other amongst all the turmoil of raising a family and running the shops, though I don’t think we’ve made too bad a job of
it all, do you?’

‘We’ve made a damn good job of it when you look at the kids.’

‘There’s just one thing though, Jack – they aren’t kids any more. We need to let them go, and I’m finding that hard to come to terms with.’

Jack placed an arm round his wife and kissed her. ‘Aye, love, and another thing is it’s time we started making more memories.’

‘Come on, then, show me some of that virility you’ve been bragging about.’ Mary undid her blouse and slipped it off. ‘We paid good money for this sheepskin rug; what do
you say we try it out for comfort?’ Jack joined her on the rug. They were in their prime, and it was indeed time to make more memories.

‘It’s been a lovely party, as usual,’ Gladys remarked as she fastened her beaver lamb coat. ‘You must be exhausted, Mary, after all the catering and
organising.’

‘I am, but it’s worth it for all the family to get together. After all, it’s only Christmas once a year.’

‘It looks like you’ll have to throw Rowland out, otherwise he’ll never go.’

‘There’s no need for you to go. You can have Alan’s bed. Jack’s mother is in Jacqueline’s bed and Doug won’t mind the settee.’

‘No, we wouldn’t think of imposing further. Besides, if you’re all coming to dinner tomorrow I’ll need to make an early start.’

‘Imposing? After you’ve been like parents to me for all those years? Look, I know I haven’t visited Newcastle as often as I should but I love my parents very much and I’m
going to make up for that in the new year. But I love you just as much. We all do. The children have never considered you anything but their grandparents, so don’t ever mention imposing
again. Besides, Jacqueline’s coming over with Doug in the morning. You must let her do the donkey work.’

‘I will. Don’t you worry about me, you know how I enjoy having you all.’ Gladys walked back into the sitting room where Rowland, Jack and Doug were sprawled out discussing the
boring subject of taxes. Gladys sighed. ‘Don’t tell me you’re still on about finances. Can’t you give it a rest, seeing as it’s Christmas?’

Rowland dragged himself reluctantly to his feet. ‘Looks like my wife’s all ready to go,’ he said. ‘Oh well, it’s been a lovely day, and that was an excellent
brandy. We must continue where we left off tomorrow.’

Jack accompanied the departing guests to the door. ‘Take care,’ he said. ‘There may be some ground frost by the looks of it.’

‘We will, don’t worry. You know I never do more than thirty even in daylight.’

Jacqueline giggled. ‘Yes, we know. You’re nothing but an old slow coach. Did you know, Dad, Doug’s herd of cattle moves faster than Grandad’s car?’

‘And quite right too,’ Mary said. Rowland cleared the windows and started the engine amidst a good deal of jesting and much waving.

‘Gosh, it’s cold,’ Mary said, closing the door and locking up for the night. ‘I’m going to bed, I don’t know about anyone else.’

‘Oh aye, I expect I shall have a pair of cold feet to contend with,’ Jack remarked, and they went upstairs, leaving the young couple to their privacy.

‘I thought they’d never go,’ Doug sighed, taking Jacqueline into his arms.

‘Me too.’

He undid the buttons of her silk blouse and slid his hand inside her bra, feeling her nipple harden. When her hand unzipped his trousers he was immediately erect and ready to make love, but he
undressed her slowly, running his lips over her body until she was almost crying out for him to enter her. Still he caressed her, sensuously, almost driving her mad with desire. Only then did he
take her by the hand and lead her silently up the stairs and into Alan’s room, where they finally came together, locked in a powerful and exquisite climax.

‘I don’t want to leave you,’ she whispered.

‘Then stay,’ he said. Then he changed his mind. ‘Except that we don’t want your mother having kittens, especially on Boxing Day.’

Jacqueline giggled and slid out of bed, crept quietly out of the room and slipped into bed beside Grandma Holmes. She lay awake for some time wondering what the year ahead would bring, and
decided that if nothing turned up she would consent to live at the farm. If it was the only way to be with Doug she really had no option; their love was too powerful a force to be denied. She
couldn’t help comparing the tender lovemaking she had just enjoyed with Doug to the clumsy grappling of Barney Ross. What a lucky escape she had had.

Suddenly Jacqueline sat bolt upright in bed. She was drenched in perspiration despite the coldness of the room. She wondered if it had been a dream, yet knew deep down that she had been awake,
that the vision had been perceived whilst she was in the hazy, half-awake state. She had witnessed it perfectly clearly, like a scene from a play, only the setting had been Moorland House and the
characters had been Grandma and Grandad Roberts standing on the steps to the front door. They had waved and smiled, then disappeared in a haze. Jacqueline felt a wave of nausea wash over her as she
remembered the visitation of Grandad Holmes on the night he died.

She wanted to confide her fears, to seek reassurance, but knew she mustn’t wake the family so early in the morning. Besides, they would scoff at her fears – except for her mother.
Jacqueline slipped out of bed and tiptoed across the landing to her parents’ room, where they were sleeping like a pair of spoons, one in the other.

She shook her mother gently and Mary unlocked herself from Jack’s embrace.

‘What is it?’ she whispered, following her daughter from the room. Jacqueline was trembling and Mary led her downstairs to the fire.

‘What is it, love? Are you ill?’ Mary prodded the fire with the poker, inciting a blaze, then filled the kettle before sitting beside her daughter.

‘I’m frightened, Mam.’ Jacqueline shivered.

‘Frightened? Of what?’

‘I don’t know. It’s just that I’ve had another queer vision, like the one of Grandad Holmes, only this time it was Grandma and Grandad Roberts!’

Mary felt a shiver run down her spine. ‘You were probably dreaming. Or maybe it was the wine – you did drink quite a bit.’

‘Oh, I do hope so, Mam. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to them.’

‘I’m sure it won’t, but you know, love, they aren’t getting any younger. We all have to go sooner or later.’

‘I know, and I’m not afraid of death, I know there’s a far better life beyond this one, but I’d miss them so much.’ Jacqueline wiped the tears from her cheeks but
her eyes continued to stream.

‘Come on, love, you’ll make yourself ill. I know how much you love them, so do I, but I’m sure you’ve no cause to worry. I’m sure it was just a dream.’ Mary
made the tea and poured two cups. ‘Just you see, they’ll be waiting for you to help with the dinner as usual in the morning.’

Jacqueline managed a smile. ‘It’s morning already. I’m sorry to have woken you so early.’

‘It doesn’t matter. I wasn’t asleep anyway,’ Mary fibbed. ‘Come on, let’s go back to bed. It isn’t often we get a chance to lie in.’

They did have a lie-in, but at ten o’clock the knock on the shop door sent a shiver of fear down Jacqueline’s spine. It was Jack who opened the door, expecting Alan
and his family. He went cold at the sight of a policeman in uniform and another in plain clothes.

‘I’m sorry to have to bother you, and on a Boxing Day too, but I’ve been given your name in connection with Dr Rowland Roberts and his wife Gladys. Is it correct that they were
friends of yours?’

‘Were?’ Behind Jack Mary uttered the word in a whisper, her heart thumping in her chest.

‘I’m sorry to inform you that there’s been an accident. Their car swerved off the road between Cowholes and Lower Longfield and careered down the bank towards the river.
I’m afraid they were killed instantly. Mrs Roberts was thrown from the car when it hit a boulder, and the doctor died from head injuries whilst still in the car. We think he might have had a
heart attack initially.’