The Garden on Sparrow Street: A heartwarming, uplifting Christmas romance

by Tilly Tennant

  Nina was gratified to see a healthy stock of food in the freezer – oven-bake fries, sausages, breaded fish, beef burgers and bake-at-home pies. It was the sort of inventory one might find in a student’s freezer, but Nina was used to pulling a decent meal together out of what he had in. She’d brought fresh vegetables to go with it, and a Victoria sponge as a treat for afterwards.

  She’d just turned the oven on to warm it when her dad came in. He’d changed out of his overalls and now sported worn old combat trousers and a faded Thin Lizzy T-shirt.

  ‘Aren’t you cold in that?’ Nina asked mildly.

  ‘It’s a bit parky but I’ve put the heating on so it’ll warm up in a minute.’

  ‘Don’t you want to put a jumper on?’

  ‘No, you’re alright, love.’ Winston sat down at the table and Nina resisted the impulse to roll her eyes.

  ‘Do I have to go searching for one?’ she asked. ‘Or shall I let you freeze to death?’

  ‘You can search all you like but I doubt you’ll find a clean one – I haven’t done any washing this week.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘There wasn’t enough to make a full load so I thought I’d save it for next week.’

  ‘So you’re planning on wearing T-shirts all week even though it’s November?’

  ‘It’s warm enough in the house,’ he said with a frown. ‘Don’t nag me.’

  ‘I’m not nagging. If I do it’s only because I worry about you. I don’t do much else for you so at least let me do that.’

  ‘You do enough, love,’ he said with a frown that smoothed instantly to a smile. ‘I’m lucky to have you.’

  ‘Well then, it’s a good job you adopted me all those years ago, isn’t it?’ Nina said briskly, going to fetch mugs as the kettle clicked off. ‘A kindness gets a kindness, just like Mum used to say.’

  ‘I’ll make the tea,’ Winston said, getting up to take them from her. ‘What are we having for lunch?’

  Nina relinquished the tea duties and went to check the temperature of the oven. ‘I don’t know – what do you want? Did you want the fish?’

  ‘If you do.’

  ‘I’m easy either way.’

  ‘Right, fish it is.’

  ‘I’ve brought some veg.’

  ‘No mushy peas? I think there’s a tin in.’

  ‘Veg, Dad. Never mind five a day – it’s five a year for you. It’d be five never if I didn’t come round.’

  ‘Mushy peas count, don’t they?’

  ‘I’m pretty sure they don’t. If you like I’ll put them on too, but you’re having some fresh with them.’

  ‘Alright then,’ Winston said sulkily. ‘What’s for afters?’

  ‘Victoria sponge.’

  ‘From that cake shop?’

  Nina smiled. That cake shop could have been anywhere, but as far as her dad was concerned there was only one cake shop in Wrenwick worth patronising and she wouldn’t dream of getting him one from anywhere else. It was the cake shop her mum had always gone to, a business now run by the third generation of the same family using only fresh and natural ingredients.

  ‘Yes,’ she said.

  ‘Lovely!’ Winston rubbed his hands together like a character from a fifties comic strip and Nina had to laugh. She loved his funny ways. She loved him, loved spending time with him, loved looking after him and nagging him to stay well, loved that she was lucky enough to be the child who’d been chosen by him and Miriam out of all the children they could have chosen instead. She’d never felt sad or incomplete from the knowledge of her adoption; she’d only ever felt incredibly lucky and grateful that such a beautiful couple had given her the chance of a happy, secure life that many others never got. She loved him all the more knowing he’d saved her and she’d never been troubled by the identity of the biological parents who’d given her up, because they had given her up and, thus, had removed themselves from her life and her future. There was no bitterness in her about any of it – that was just the way things were.

  An hour later they’d mopped up the last blobs of fresh cream from their plates of cake and a second pot of tea was brewing.

  ‘So what do you think?’ Nina asked.

  Winston folded his arms and regarded her shrewdly from across the table. ‘I think it’s a cracking idea. If you want help let me know.’

  ‘I think we’ve got it covered for now,’ Nina said. ‘At least for the moment, unless Nasser decides to make the project even bigger than it is now.’

  ‘Still, I’d like to help,’ Winston said. ‘I might be old but I’ve still got a bit of go in me – could do a bit of digging, fetching and carrying, that sort of thing.’

  Nina smiled. ‘In that case I bet you’d be welcomed. Maybe you should come to the next meeting with me.’

  ‘Let me know when it is and I’ll ask my secretary if I have a gap in my schedule.’

  Nina laughed. ‘I thought I was your secretary!’

  ‘You’re my everything, love,’ he said with a grin. ‘So have you decided who’s getting the donations?’

  ‘I thought we’d give to the Sacred Heart, obviously. And Cancer Research in memory of Mum. I’m sure plenty would be up for supporting that anyway.’ She paused. ‘Who else do you reckon?’

  ‘Something for the kiddies?’ he asked.

  ‘That’s not a bad idea. We’ll ask for suggestions of children’s charities at the next meeting. Basically, if it’s close to someone’s heart then we’ll probably find a way to support it.’

  ‘I’m sure there’ll be no shortage of suggestions,’ Winston replied approvingly. ‘So what about your job? I know you’re looking but will you have time to do one with all this lot?’

  ‘I’d have to make time if I got a job offer, I suppose. I don’t think anyone on Sparrow Street would expect me to give up the chance of paid work, and I think they’re just glad of any time anyone can spare.’

  ‘Have you seen anything that might suit you?’

  ‘Not yet. But I’m not going to start panicking about it just yet. I don’t think I need to worry too much until after Christmas.’

  ‘I think Dave might need someone at the pub,’ Winston said. ‘I could ask him for you.’

  ‘I haven’t had any bar experience, though. Does he know that?’

  ‘I don’t expect he’ll care,’ Winston said. ‘He always liked you and I think that would be enough.’

  ‘I’m not so sure.’

  ‘It’s not exactly a swanky cocktail bar, is it? It’s only the Feathers – a little pub like that full of local folks won’t be expecting anything special. It wouldn’t take you an hour to learn how to pull a decent pint and then you’d be away.’

  Nina nodded. ‘In that case I don’t mind giving it a try if he’s still got the opening and he’s willing to take someone who doesn’t have bar experience. Thanks, Dad.’

  ‘I’ll let you know what he says when I’ve had a chance to ask him.’

  Nina got up to clear the table while her dad poured the tea. It was then that she heard the faint ringing coming from the handbag she’d stowed beneath the table. Pulling out her phone, she noted Robyn’s number on the display.

  ‘Hello!’ Nina said brightly. ‘I tried to call you earlier.’

  ‘Oh, I know,’ Robyn said. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t pick it up. I’m at the council offices… in Peter’s office, actually. At least, I was; I’ve just left him.’

  ‘I thought you and Nasser were going to get an appointment at the council and go together?’

  ‘We were, but then I thought about it and I thought, strike while the iron’s hot and all that. I still had Peter’s number from before so I thought, why not give him a call? What’s the worst that can happen?’

  ‘So how did it go?’

  Robyn laughed. ‘He was like putty.’

  ‘Really?’ Nina asked, raising her eyebrows. She suspected that the conversation had been a lot more awkward than Robyn was making out, given her history with Peter. ‘Didn’t he
wonder what on earth you were doing just turning up out of the blue?’

  ‘I suppose he did seem a bit surprised.’

  ‘Surprised? I should think it was more than that.’

  ‘Not when I explained to him what we wanted. And I did remind him that he owed me big time.’

  ‘I’m sure he really enjoyed being reminded of how he screwed up and you dumped him.’

  ‘He deserved to be dumped,’ Robyn shot back. ‘That wasn’t my fault!’

  ‘I know that, but it doesn’t change the fact that he probably wasn’t pleased about you walking back into his life again after all these months he’s spent getting over you.’

  ‘He could have said no when I phoned, but he didn’t. He asked me to go to his office.’

  ‘Probably thought you were going to take him back.’

  ‘Even Peter’s not that stupid,’ Robyn said.

  ‘Booty call then? Sex with an ex?’

  ‘Not even funny!’

  ‘OK, OK… so tell me what happened.’

  ‘He said he was glad that I’d felt able to go to him for help.’

  ‘He did?’

  ‘Yes. And he says he knows who to talk to and they like him so they’ll probably be receptive to his suggestions.’

  ‘Which means…?’

  ‘Which means get your charity list drawn up, because I think we’re on!’

  Chapter Six

  Ada and Martha had turned up to the meeting (which was presently adjourned for a refreshment break) with tubs of cake. The cake currently sat on a table surrounded by teacups and an urn. Nobody was quite sure what sort of cake it was and the other meeting attendees could be forgiven for eyeing it with some suspicion. They’d all made the mistake of trying Ada and Martha’s cakes before and most had been left traumatised by the experience. Only Ron tucked happily in, but then Ron would eat anything if it was free and it was going down so fast he probably couldn’t taste it anyway. Nina watched him now and couldn’t understand why he’d even bothered to turn up again after the last meeting.

  Ron had behaved so far, however, and the meeting had gone well. People had been happy with many of Nina’s suggestions, including the list of charities that she and Robyn were proposing to give memory-tree donations to, and had made some agreeable ones of their own. Robyn had brought Peter along and the poor council rep – who insisted he wasn’t as big a noise as people might have supposed – had been inundated with queries and questions, which he’d answered as best he could and with surprising cheeriness. Whatever the situation between him and Robyn now, whether the past they’d shared had been discussed or not, they seemed to be getting along and behaving like grown-ups and Peter was proving as good as his word when he’d offered to help.

  The first thing the meeting had agreed on was that the spare ground needed some serious tidying up before they could do anything else. A task force had been put together comprised of the more able residents, ones who could also spare the time. They’d make a start as soon as possible, pruning back the wilderness of weeds and clearing the rubbish that currently choked it. The meeting had also agreed that not only should they have the memory tree for Christmas, but that the garden should function as a garden of remembrance all year, a little oasis of calm to sit and contemplate and reflect on the people they’d lost, or maybe just on whatever else life might be throwing at them. To that end, they’d plant bulbs ready for the spring to brighten the space, and people would tend it on a rota through the year to make sure it stayed tidy and green. It also needed fencing, some landscaping and some kind of irrigation system to ensure it didn’t dry out if they had a hot summer.

  As Nina helped her dad and Kelly pour out tea to hand to the meeting attendees, she glanced to the far side of the room to see Robyn and Peter deep in conversation. Every so often Robyn would laugh loudly at something he’d said or flick her hair with a coy look. For someone who was only supposed to be talking to Peter again to make the most of his council connections, she was doing a remarkable impression of someone who actually still had deep feelings for him. Nina couldn’t deny that the thought worried her. Robyn had been hurt by the way things had ended with Peter more than she’d ever admitted – it had been so obvious it hadn’t needed saying. Going back there now, even if Robyn had no intentions of starting anything up with him again, promised to be emotionally perilous at the very least.

  ‘It’s a nice cup of tea…’

  Nina turned to see Ron offering up his empty cup. She blinked, her eyes watering, suddenly overwhelmed by the aftershave that was radiating off him in potent waves. It was a wonder Kelly’s asthma hadn’t been triggered, though Nina noted from the corner of her eye that she was backing away out of range, probably just in case.

  ‘I wouldn’t mind another if there’s one going,’ he continued.

  Nina refilled his cup. ‘I didn’t make the tea; I’m only helping to serve it.’

  ‘Oh. Well it’s good anyway.’

  ‘I’ll tell my dad – he’ll be glad to hear it.’

  ‘Hear what?’

  It was Winston’s turn to pay attention to the conversation.

  ‘The tea,’ Nina said. ‘Ron likes it.’

  ‘You’re Nina’s dad?’ Ron asked, looking suddenly uncomfortable. He offered his hand in greeting but he looked as if he’d now rather be heading off towards the exit than drinking Winston’s tea, however good and free it might be.

  ‘Winston Alder.’ Nina’s dad nodded with a grim smile as he shook Ron’s hand.

  ‘Alder… but I thought Nina’s name was Munro…’

  ‘Married name,’ Winston said patiently, though Nina couldn’t help an internal smile because she knew what her dad was probably thinking. It seemed that Ron suddenly realised how silly he’d sounded too.

  ‘Of course…’ he mumbled.

  ‘So you live on Sparrow Street?’ Winston asked.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Ron was very kind to me after… Well, you know,’ Nina said.

  Winston fixed Ron with a frank gaze. ‘Thank you for that,’ he said.

  ‘It was really nothing,’ Ron said.

  Winston nodded. ‘Ron…’ he said thoughtfully. ‘Are you the fella who spent time living in Spain?’

  Nina coughed loudly, trying to warn her dad that he was heading into a conversation he really didn’t want to have, but Ron saved any further embarrassment by cutting it short himself.

  ‘I think I’m needed…’ he said before rushing off.

  ‘Dad!’ Nina scolded.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Why did you bring that up?’

  ‘I didn’t think it was a secret,’ he said mildly. ‘I was just going to ask him whether he liked it there.’

  ‘Well, it wasn’t a secret exactly but it’s a bit… awkward. You know, because his wife didn’t come back with him…’

  ‘Oh!’ Winston said. ‘I’d forgotten about that bit.’

  She gave an exasperated shake of her head. If her dad was going to drop her in it whenever he met any of the people she’d been gossiping about, maybe she needed to stop feeding him so much gossip about what went on in Sparrow Street. However, any further thoughts on that subject were cut short by the arrival of Nasser.

  ‘Oh, hello,’ Nina said brightly. ‘Haven’t you managed to get a cup of tea yet?’

  ‘No, and I’d love one,’ he replied.

  Nina poured some out while Nasser extended a hand in greeting to Winston. ‘You must be Nina’s dad.’

  ‘That’s me.’

  ‘We do appreciate your help,’ Nasser said warmly as they shook.

  ‘Always happy to help.’ Winston smiled. ‘Though I’m not sure how useful any of my skills will be to you.’

  Nina handed Nasser his tea. ‘Don’t worry, Dad,’ she said, ‘I’m sure we can find something you’ll be good at.’

  ‘The most important thing is that you’re here,’ Nasser said. ‘Manpower and commitment, that’s what we need more than anything else. We’re not look
ing for experts, just willing hands.’

  ‘I can certainly offer those,’ Winston replied cheerfully. ‘So when do we start work?’

  ‘I’m hoping we’ll be able to begin just as soon as we get the official go-ahead from the council. Peter’s waiting for confirmation from his boss and he’s going to let us know just as soon as that comes through.’

  ‘Well, I’m sure he’ll be in close contact throughout the process,’ Winston said with a sly grin at Nina, who glanced across to see that Peter and Robyn now had their heads close together in earnest conversation. It looked as if everyone else in the room had been forgotten. While anyone not in full possession of the facts might have found it amusing, Nina wasn’t quite so sure.

  ‘It’s good to have him on our side,’ Nasser said. ‘It certainly makes things more straightforward if all we’ve got to worry about is doing the work and not a battle to get the land in the first place.’

  ‘But it’s never going to be our land,’ Nina reminded him.

  ‘Of course. What I mean is that at least we’ll be fairly safe to invest time and effort into making it nice without fear that someone will come two weeks later to bulldoze everything to the ground again.’

  Let’s hope so, Nina thought. There were no guarantees of anything in life. She hated the cynic in her and she wished she could stop thinking like that all the time, but she couldn’t help it. While she tried hard to be optimistic and to see the best in everyone and every situation, sometimes the scars of her past made it harder than she’d like. But she didn’t say so now, because what would be the point in infecting everyone else with her own doubts? Maybe this time would be the time that proved her wrong?

  ‘I have to say it’s been a very productive meeting,’ Nasser continued. ‘It just goes to show what can be achieved when the community pulls together. It’s most gratifying. Even Ron came back and I didn’t think he would after last time.’

  ‘I suppose he must have had a change of heart,’ Nina said.

  ‘Good for him,’ Nasser said. ‘We can always do with an extra body.’