by Kim Nash
Morning for us is Alice’s evening, so it’s a perfect time to call her. She answers immediately, her sister sitting beside her. She looks wonderful; a healthy tan and fresh air seem to be doing her the world of good.
‘Come here Bax. Merry Christmas ladies.’ He jumps up onto my lap and Alice laughs at the fact that he is dressed as a little Christmas elf.
‘Oh Baxter, my darling, how are you? How is he, Madison? And how are you all? Did the presents arrive?’ Alice has very kindly sent a parcel over with presents for us all, but the biggest presents are for her fur baby.
Half an hour later, we’ve caught up on all of the news from this side of the world and theirs. Mum and Uncle Tom have popped in to say hello and Alex finally joins me. It is so lovely to see Alice so well and enjoying herself and we leave the call, saying that we’ll catch up again on New Year’s Eve.
Alex turns and kisses me tenderly.
‘Alex, I have something to tell you. I’m glad you are here, I wanted a quiet moment. Sit down. It’s important.’
‘Bucks Fizz anyone?’ shouts Beth as she bursts into the room. She’s done it again. It’s a good job I love the bones of her.
‘Alex? Can you come and give me a hand please?’ yells Uncle Tom from the kitchen. Alex looks at me, and grimaces.
‘It’s ok babe, it can wait. We’ll talk later.’
* * *
A glance at the clock as I wander up the hall tells me that if we want to get dinner at a respectable time, we all need to get a move on. I pause at the door of the dining room. It’s a stunning room, ornate yet cosy with a huge oak table in the centre of the room surrounded by eleven chairs. Beth and I laid the table last night before we sorted the tree and it looks beautiful.
As I look around at the table, at the nameplates and the table presents, I think about how much my life has changed over the last year. In spring, I was made redundant and I was devastated. It felt like my life would never be the same. It wasn’t, but Beth’s operation, while painful and inconvenient, meant that I could use my time doing the things that she did. All those things that I’d always thought were dull and boring were actually the most fulfilling things that I’ve ever done. They filled my heart and my soul with joy in a way that I’d never experienced before. I’ve learned over the past few months, that things are not important, time is; that we should educate our future generations not to be rich, but to be happy. These days, I don’t count the things I have, but the memories that I make and the people that I meet along the way.
The kitchen is chaos as there are definitely too many cooks, and all of them are trying to be in charge. I shout at everyone to go and sit down so that I can serve lunch.
As I stand at the dining room door, a hush falls across the room. I look around the table. Uncle Tom sits at the head of the table, with Mum and Theo giggling like teenagers to his left and Rebecca and her younger two children and Russell to his right. He smiles at her tenderly and as he pats her hand, I see a special look pass between them and my heart lifts. Uncle Tom deserves love and so does Rebecca after everything she has gone through.
Beth sits next to the children and she smiles lovingly at Dan, who has just arrived after spending the morning with his sister and their children.
Alex bowls into the room and takes his seat. He’s just popped two plated up Christmas dinners over to the Darbys’ house. They couldn’t get out to join us for Christmas so we’ve taken it to them.
Between Theo and Alex there is an empty chair, which I slide into, between a man who I didn’t even know six months ago, and another who I have loved all my life and never knew had always loved me right back.
Under the table, hoping that some food might fall onto the floor, or that if he nudges people’s legs enough, they might just feed him some titbits, is my furry friend, Baxter. He was in disgrace for about five minutes earlier because when we weren’t looking, he jumped up to the kitchen table and nicked some pigs in blankets off a plate. The poor dog was tantalised by the smell of the turkey cooking and obviously thought he’d treat himself, so we hadn’t the heart to let him sulk for too long after being told off.
I’m so glad that Dad is in our lives. He really is a lovely man, and makes Mum really happy. The past is in the past. We were all really enjoying getting to know him better. Her hand is under the table and he’s holding it.
‘Tell them!’ I can hear him whispering to her. Something sparkles under the table and my heart feels like it could burst right open.
‘Mum, show me your hand!’
‘Erm, what did you say, Madison?’
‘Don’t play for time, Mum. I know your game. Put your hand on the table.’
She laughs, takes her hand from her lap and places it in front of her. On the third finger of her left hand, a huge diamond solitaire ring catches the light and sparkles away. A collective intake of breath comes from the table and I get up and hug them both and tell them how happy I am for them.
‘I didn’t know a thing about it, Madison, until I opened the present this morning. I hope you don’t mind.’ She looks at me nervously.
‘Of course I don’t mind, Mum. And I hope you like it. It took Theo and me a while to choose the right one.’ I hug her tightly to me. ‘I’m so happy for you Mum. I really am.’
‘You knew! You little madam. I can’t believe it.’
‘You don’t think I’d have done it without checking with Maddy first, do you, Josie?’ Theo asks. ‘Can you imagine what a hard time she’d have given me?’
I grin at my Dad and squeeze his hand.
On the mantelpiece is a photograph of a smiling Aunty Jen. She appears to be watching over the table and I know that she’d approve of all the changes that have happened over this year. She’d want her children to be happy, and her husband to find love again.
I look around at my family. Family comes in all shapes and sizes, but they are still a family in every way. Family isn’t always blood, it’s the people in your life who accept you and love you for what you are and not for what you have; the people who would do anything to make you happy and who love you unconditionally.
I stare at the photograph, and she looks like she’s staring straight back into my eyes. Putting my hand on my stomach protectively, I raise my glass of orange juice and make a silent toast to her. My news can wait until later; I don’t want to rain on Mum’s parade right now.
When I break my news this time, no one is going to interrupt me. After all, there’s plenty of time before two become three in our little part of this dysfunctional, amazing and wonderful family that I love with all my heart.
A Letter From Kim
Thanks so much for reading Escape to Giddywell Grange.
I do hope you enjoyed it. If you did, I would be eternally grateful if you might leave a short review. I’d love to hear what you think and it’s super helpful for new readers to discover my books.
You can also contact me, via my Facebook page, through Twitter or my website.
https://www.facebook.com/KimTheBookWorm/
@KimTheBookworm
https://www.kimthebookworm.co.uk/
Thanks
Kim
Xxx
Acknowledgments
Once again, there are so many people to acknowledge when writing a book and firstly my thanks from the bottom of my heart, go out to every single person who has read Escape to Giddywell Grange and to those who have left a review or got in touch with me to tell me how much they loved it. It really is very much appreciated.
The support that I have received from the world of books and the friends that I’ve made along the way, has been fantastic. In a world where everyone is competing for the same reading space, the author community is such a great place to be, with kindness, wisdom and inspiration being passed on. It’s an amazing industry and I’m so very grateful to be part of it. I really do value every single DM, PM, tweet, retweet, blog post, Facebook post, comment and your general support. The book blogging community that I mix in is t
ruly marvellous and your passion for books and helping authors just like me every single day, is mind-blowing! Don’t let anyone ever dull your blogging sparkle!
Huge thanks to Keshini and Lindsey from Hera Books for publishing this book. To Jennie and Keshini for your fabulous editorial advice and for putting up with me getting my tenses completely muddled, my timelines jumbled and for telling me when I’ve been talking complete gibberish. Thank you for making the book stronger. And huge thanks to Diane for a gorgeous cover.
To Rachel Gilbey, who has once again arranged another staggering blog tour to launch my second book into the world. You are amazing lady! Thank you!
To my Bookworms United book club buddies! You rock girls! Love you all! Here’s to making many more fabulous memories.
To my Bookouture work family, you are so awesome, gifted and encouraging. An absolute pleasure to work with every single day!
And to the Bookouture Author Lounge. Your wit, talent, generosity and advice are beyond awesome and so much appreciated. You are all so inspirational and I love you all!
To my sister Lisa, thank you for embarrassing me by telling everyone that your little sister is now an author! Thanks for being my cheerleader and for sending me the most hilarious text messages, which you don’t intend to send. Love you!
To my oldest friend Bev. Thanks so much for being my friend when we were in Girls’ Brigade and for still being my bestie today! Thanks for the get-togethers we still have, which always make me smile! Love you!
And finally to Ollie and Roni, for putting up with me writing, editing, talking about writing and editing, moaning about writing and editing and then listening to me loving writing and editing! I love you both so much.
Ollie, you’ve had a huge summer while I’ve been writing Escape to Giddywell Grange. I’m so proud of how you have taken everything in your stride. You make me laugh every single day and I adore you.
Roni, thank you for trusting Ollie and I to rescue you and for making our home an even better place to be.
First published in Great Britain in 2019 by Hera
Hera Books
28b Cricketfield Road
London, E5 8NS
United Kingdom
Copyright © Kim Nash, 2019
The moral right of Kim Nash to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781912973163
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.