by Sharon Owens
‘Presents, first!’ said Daisy reaching for her handbag. She gave them each a pair of gloves that she had made out of scraps of felt from the Art College. Amazingly, they all fitted perfectly. She had even stitched cute coin-purses for Bridget's sisters. Bridget gave small bottles of perfume to the women, and aftershave to the men. She hadn't been able to afford to replace Lily's giant bottle of Chanel, but Lily didn't seem to mind at all. She thanked Bridget warmly for her gift and said she would keep the bottle always. Trudy had dainty boxes of Belgian chocolates to hand out, beautifully wrapped in red cellophane with purple raffia bows on the top. Marie gave jars of natural honey and bars of organic chocolate to everyone. Barney, Joey and Francy Mac distributed their tins of butter shortbread and bottles of wine. They were quite overcome to receive gifts themselves. They really hadn't expected such generosity. Gerry Madden and the Devaney brothers had all bought designer costume jewellery for their girlfriends. They'd heard a few days earlier on breakfast television that that was the ideal gift for a loved one. And they were delighted with themselves when Trudy and Marie expressed great satisfaction with their gifts. Daisy went a little bit quiet when she opened hers, but everyone assumed she was just lost for words. Lily adored her silver necklace with a crystal fairy pendant, and Jack tried on the warm jacket that Lily had bought for him.
Then it was time for Lily and Jack to give the staff their gifts. They waited excitedly for the girls to tear off the brightly coloured wrapping paper. In her parcel Bridget found a full-length extra-warm dressing gown, and a pair of pretty felt slippers. Daisy received a small CD player and a CD of party songs. Trudy was thrilled with her elegant fabric-bound notebook and glass fountain pen; she said she was going to copy out her favourite poems into it as soon as she had time. Marie loved the rhinestone watch and earrings set she was given. She thought that Lily and Jack were trying to tell her, in a coded way, that it was time to come out of the shadows and start to shine a little. She gave them both a big hug.
Finally, they presented Bridget's sisters with crocheted woollen scarves in soft pastel colours. The girls were very touched by Lily's thoughtfulness. Barney was about to comment that all he ever found in his Christmas stocking, as a child, were oranges and walnuts. But he decided not to spoil the moment. It wasn't the fault of the young people that they were born a hundred years too late to know what it was like to be poor. And anyway, something about the guarded faces of the O'Malleys told him that they could tell a tale or two themselves, about hard times.
They all found their places at the table, Gerry and Trudy sitting at one end with Daisy and David. Lily and Jack, and the three old men sat in the middle. And Bridget, her sisters, Michael and Marie sat at the other end. Father Damien had been invited too, but he always spent the day at the Salvation Army hostel, helping to serve Christmas lunch. He said he liked to be seen to be busy on the Lord's birthday, but he promised to remember the O'Malleys in his prayers.
Lily said a short prayer now, before Jack served the carrot soup and wheaten bread. Marie lit the white candles, and Bridget buried her nose in a large white handkerchief.
‘The table is beautiful, Lily.’ She sniffed. ‘You make housekeeping look so simple, but most people would never be able to do something like this. It's lovely.’
‘Isn't it also lovely, to have all our friends round us, on this special day?’ Lily said softly. ‘This past year has brought many changes to our lives. Some have been very sad. Some have been happy. Here's to the future, and to friendship.’ She held up her glass of wine.
‘Here's to friendship,’ they all agreed. Then Jack went to fetch the main course before the mood of quiet optimism could begin to fade away. Lily went with him to carry the dishes of vegetables. When they came back, they told the little party that the old stove upstairs had finally paid the price for all its hard work.
‘The door of the main oven just fell off in my hands,’ said Jack. ‘I can't say I'm surprised. It's never been left to cool down, these last six weeks. Good job the dinner was cooked.’ He set the platter of turkey down on the table and picked up a serving knife and fork.
‘I don't suppose we'll find anyone to fix it right away,’ said Lily sadly. ‘At least you didn't get a nasty burn.’ She set a stack of heated plates and a dish of vegetables beside Jack, and Trudy went back up for the gravy and the tray of roast potatoes. ‘Mind your hands on that stove, pet,’ called Lily.
‘What about the catering for tomorrow?’ asked Marie. ‘There's a huge party on tomorrow night. And they've ordered tons of food. And Boxing Day is always busy for pub-grub anyway.’
‘I'm tempted to cancel the booking,’ said Jack. ‘I didn't like the delegation that came to inspect the place. They actually asked me to show them the kitchen.’
‘Self-important bunch of suits,’ agreed Lily. ‘We should have said no.’
‘I'd love a day off, you know,’ murmured Daisy. ‘Let's all put our thinking-hats on and see if we can come up with a good excuse.’
‘Sure, we don't need an excuse, if the stove is broken,’ offered Bridget. ‘Just tell them there's been an emergency case of equipment-failure?’
‘Daisy, Bridget! You can't mean that!’ Marie exclaimed. ‘Lily, what about your good reputation? We've been doing so well lately, and all the media are behind us. We can't be seen to be out of our depth.’ They were all amazed at Marie's emotional outburst. She had changed quite a bit from the little mouse they had met on the first day.
‘Look, you might as well know, girls –’ Jack began.
‘Jack, no!’ Lily cried.
‘Lily, it's no use, we have to tell them. Look, everyone, we really don't think we'll be able to save the tavern now, whatever happens.’ They all registered varying degrees of shock and disappointment. Jack immediately turned a deep red colour. He had promised Lily he would not discuss this painful subject during the holidays. He didn't want to spoil Christmas Day but he couldn't bear to go on deceiving them all. The barmaids had been working so hard, putting in extra shifts. Even Daisy and Trudy, who were still students and had a lot of study and coursework to do.
‘We can buy a cheap electric cooker to see us through to the end of February,’ explained Lily, giving her husband a reproachful look. ‘But after that, we may be forced out of business.’
‘Oh dear,’ said Barney.
‘We weren't going to tell everyone yet, but it seems we are the only traders who want to stay. All the others have accepted Vincent Halloran's terms already.’
‘The traitors,’ whispered Barney. The shine of the day dimmed a little for him.
‘What will we do without our wee snug?’ asked Joey sadly.
‘There's always the OAP day centre,’ said Francy Mac. The other two old men exchanged horrified glances. ‘I was only joking,’ he added. ‘That place is God's waiting room. We're not ready for there, yet.’
‘Are you serious?’ Barney said, looking at Jack. ‘Is it all official?’
‘Yes, I'm afraid so,’ admitted Jack. ‘It was a really tough decision to have to make but we talked it over last night and we felt it was time to let go with dignity. We don't want to fall out with our neighbours. We won't tell Halloran yet, though.’
‘We'll make him wait till the very last day,’ added Lily. ‘It's the only satisfaction we'll get out of the whole thing.’
‘Well, that's a crying shame. The Halloran guy is only a gangster, I'm sure of it. There's no such thing as an honest rich man.’ Joey sounded very bitter. Bridget, Daisy and Trudy looked crestfallen, but resigned. They were not planning to stay in the tavern for ever. And neither was Marie, but she still seemed genuinely shocked. She didn't want Lily and Jack to lose their home the way her own parents had.
‘But things were going so well,’ she said. ‘Who cares about the other traders? We've been doing fantastic business. You said so yourself. I don't understand.’
‘I'm afraid that's exactly why we are giving up,’ said Jack. ‘We haven't had a day off or any time tog
ether since all this business with the shopping mall began.’
‘But you don't have to do it all by yourself,’ Marie persisted. ‘Haven't you got us to help you? Didn't you say it was time somebody took a stand against these developers before the whole planet was nothing but a big ball of cement?’
‘Indeed, we did,’ said Lily, ‘and we're exhausted and it's not been the same with so many people here every night. It's far too noisy. I've been turning down future bookings, in fact.’ She didn't add that most of the profits they had made so far would be used up in staff wages, and replacing various damaged household items such as the television and the sofa. Of course, a new carpet for the sitting room was off the agenda now, as was the repainting of the hall doors. But they had asked for an update on the phone bill, and the cost of twenty-nine long-distance calls to America was not cheap. Also, they were planning on giving the girls a generous bonus with their final pay packet. ‘I suppose what I'm trying to say is that it's not the bricks and mortar that matter in the end, it's people, and friendship. We'll still have each other, won't we? Wherever we are in the future?’
‘I guess we'll have to start looking for rooms in the New Year,’ said Marie, sadly. Lily and Jack nodded and apologized.
‘It might be a good idea,’ Jack said gently. ‘Definitely by the end of February.’
‘What will you do yourselves?’ asked Gerry Madden, suddenly. It was the first time he had spoken to anyone else except Trudy all day.
‘We haven't a clue,’ admitted Jack. ‘It will take us a while to adjust to the idea of moving but we expect we'll stay in the city somewhere.’
‘Come on, everyone, tuck in,’ chided Lily, then. ‘The food will be as cold as a tombstone.’ And then she could have kicked herself, as the O'Malley girls looked startled.
‘I'll have a look at the stove for you,’ said Barney, to fill the silence that followed Lily's tactless remark. ‘My mother used to have one and I was always fixing it.’
‘How kind,’ said Lily. ‘That would be great altogether if you could do anything. But have your dinner first, Barney.’
‘Ah, Barney is terrific with his hands, Mrs Beaumont. He has hands on him for anything,’ said Francy Mac, sensing that the conversation was going to be an uphill struggle for the rest of the afternoon. He might have to dust down some of his old boyhood tales after all.
Daisy played a Christmas CD that had come free with a Sunday newspaper to lift the atmosphere in the room once everyone began to eat. More white wine was poured. Gerry and the O'Malley sisters opted for sparkling water. For a few minutes the only sounds at the table were the softly sung hymns on the stereo, the occasional loud crack of a damp log on the fire and the gentle clatter of silver on china. Lily was pleased that she had managed to disguise the leftovers so well. A good rich gravy and nobody was any the wiser. In fact they were all very impressed that she had prepared so many different dishes.
‘A fine meal, Mrs Beaumont,’ said Barney, patting his lips with a napkin. ‘I've not eaten such a tasty meal since my dear wife, Susan, died, God rest her soul. She used to roast a goose every Christmas.’
‘I've never tasted a goose,’ said Lily quickly. She prayed Barney wasn't going to talk about his late wife. Any more talk of death and she was going to go loopy. ‘Aren't geese supposed to have a very strong flavour?’
‘Not too strong, correctly cooked. Very nice fat, you get from a goose: excellent for frying.’
‘I must buy a goose next year,’ said Lily, glad that at least they were not talking about selling the tavern any more. She knew the old men would be the hardest hit by the closure. The girls would move on. Three of them had found very likeable boyfriends and Bridget seemed to be bearing up well under her tragic circumstances. Bridget's sisters were, as Lily had predicted, very happy to be reunited with her. When she'd left home, they had felt she didn't want them. But once the recriminations and the hurt were aired and wept over, there had been hugs and kisses all round and promises to keep in touch this time. Lily didn't know if it was too late for them to become a close family again. Maybe the years apart had made a full reconciliation impossible. But at least they had made a good start.
‘Oh, I forgot the cranberry sauce,’ said Lily, suddenly. ‘I always forget to serve the sauce until I'm half finished my dinner. Isn't that very annoying?’
‘I'll get it,’ said Jack, rising from his seat. He was worried that Lily was doing too much. She was yawning already. ‘Where is it?’
‘Still in the microwave, in a big glass jug. Use oven gloves, darling, it'll be very hot, still.’ She handed the gloves to him.
‘Please, allow me,’ said Bridget. She thought she might cry again and she didn't want to spoil the wonderful atmosphere Lily and everyone else had worked so hard to create. She took the oven gloves and hurried upstairs, planning to splash some cold water on her face before she came back down again. She was the head of the O'Malley family now and she wanted her siblings to know they could rely on her. She had buried her bitter feelings towards her feckless parents for twenty-five years, and she didn't want them all to come pouring out now in front of these kind people. She darted into the bathroom and sat down on the fluffy bathmat for a moment. The twig-hearts on the window sill looked very pretty against the mottled glass. She would miss this little apartment, she realized, and not just because it was filled with lovely things. It had been more like a proper home to her than any of the other places she had lived in. The tears sprang to her eyes and there was nothing she could do to stop them. She would just collect her thoughts here for a moment, she decided, then wash her face and fetch the cranberry sauce.
Downstairs, the conversation staggered along on very wobbly legs. Jack tried to get the laughter going again by telling a funny story about a stolen turkey, two foreign bishops and a broken-down car. Suddenly, there was a loud knock at the door. Everyone jumped.
‘Who on earth can that be?’ said Lily. ‘Did we invite anybody else, Jack?’
‘I didn't,’ he said, heading across the room. He peered out of the side window, wary of burglars. Sometimes they just knocked on the front door and pushed their way in, he knew. It was terrible, the things they heard on the news.
‘It's a policeman.’
‘Is it?’ gasped Lily, her face suddenly turning pink.
‘He's very tall,’ said Jack. ‘With a military-type moustache.’
‘It must be John. I mean, Constable John Kelly,’ said Lily in a jittery voice. ‘I wonder what he wants?’
‘Better let him in and find out,’ said Jack, turning the large metal key.
Anyone for gravy? Lily piped up. She made a great fuss of pouring more hot gravy, walking twice round the table. She'd taken the liberty of telephoning John Kelly at the station to thank him for his kindness and had casually dropped into the conversation that Bridget had remarked, several times, what a nice man he was. Nothing as crass as telling him a bereaved girl had a notion of him. Nothing as direct as that! But Lily knew a woman in love when she saw one. She had also spotted the tender way John had looked at Bridget as they walked from room to room in that little house of cobwebs. And she had convinced herself that she wouldn't be committing a crime if she brought the two of them together.
‘Well,’ said Jack, opening the door, ‘more than likely, he's come to see Bridget. What's delaying her, I wonder?’
‘I'll see what it is,’ offered Daisy and she went upstairs. The others laid down their knives and forks and turned to face the visitor.
‘Good afternoon, everyone,’ John said quietly, stepping into the room. ‘I came by to ask Bridget how she was. Sorry, now! I didn't know you would still be eating.’
‘Why don't you sit down and have a bite of turkey, John?’ asked Lily kindly. ‘I take it you're on a lunch break?’
‘Um, yes, I am. I don't usually wear my uniform on my days off,’ he said and tried to force a laugh.
‘I bet he does,’ whispered Francy Mac to Joey. ‘I bet he goes to bed with ever
y stitch on him. Even the hat.’ Joey gave Francy Mac a tiny shove to keep him quiet. Francy Mac had had a grudge against policemen since the time he was told to remove his wheelbarrow full of pansies off the footpath outside his home. Apparently, his lovely floral display was causing a disruption during the school-rush. You can never find a copper when you want one, thought Francy Mac. Where was this John Kelly last month when some thieving little rascal emptied my coal shed?
‘Look, sit down, and take the weight off your feet,’ urged Lily. ‘Everyone, save a bit of turkey for the cranberry sauce!’
When Bridget heard that John Kelly was in the building, she went very quiet. She'd been drying her face in a fluffy warm towel when Daisy knocked smartly on the door, and almost caused her to have a heart attack. She didn't think she would be disturbed, as there was a second bathroom downstairs. Daisy saw the oven gloves abandoned on the hall table and wondered what was going on.
‘Are you all right in there?’ she asked, leaning her face against the painted wood of the bathroom door. ‘We're waiting on the sauce and, like I said, you have a visitor. He's quite a looker.’ Although, he's way too tall for you, if he has romance on his mind, thought Daisy. She'd seen Lily getting flustered and knew at once she had been matchmaking again.
‘I can't come out,’ said Bridget, after a moment.
‘Why not?’
‘Just.’
‘Are you ill?’
‘I'm too tired for visitors, the funeral has taken it out of me,’ Bridget said. ‘Tell him I've gone to bed. And tell the others I'm sorry, will you?’
‘But your sisters are downstairs, Bridget. They'll be leaving soon. You can't stay hiding up here all day.’