by Joan Jonker
‘Here, I’ll take some of the pans out,’ Alf offered, ‘if someone will give me a hand.’
There were many willing hands, and soon family and guests were seated. Nigel was sitting on the floor with Milly, his arm across her shoulders, and next to them were Bobby and Abbie. ‘Will you do the honours, my dear?’ Robert asked. ‘You’ll do it much more graciously than I ever could.’
Four of the parcels under the tree were exactly the same size, and after reading the labels Maureen gave them out. Then the two smaller parcels were given, one each, to Alf and Bobby.
Bobby’s grin stretched from ear to ear. ‘Is it all right if we open them, instead of sitting gawping, and wondering what they are?’
Abbie produced a sprig of mistletoe from behind her back and held it over his head. ‘You have to pay for it with a kiss.’
The lad blushed. ‘Ay, Mr Robert, your daughter’s not half forward. She’s practically throwing herself at me!’
‘She takes after her brother.’ Nigel took the mistletoe Milly had handed to him, held it over her head and gave her a kiss which lasted several seconds. ‘You’ll enjoy it, believe me.’
Bobby looked to where Rose was enjoying her son’s embarrassment. ‘Mam, is it all right if I give her a kiss?’
‘Of course it is, lad!’
‘But what if she wants another one? She’s never satisfied with one kiss, yer know.’
‘Go on,’ Abbie said, ‘tell the whole world our secrets. But not until I’ve had my kiss because once you start talking, you make a meal of it.’
‘Excuse me,’ Agnes said, ‘but this parcel’s burning a blinking hole in me lap, so will yer hurry up and get yer kissing done, so I can open it?’
Five minutes later, while Alf and Bobby were admiring their pale blue shirts, three middle-aged women and one young one were running upstairs, laughing with excitement, to try on the new dresses they’d been given. And when they came back to the drawing room, they paraded like mannequins. Their dresses had been chosen with great care to detail, and the fit, style and colour were perfect. They were profuse in their thanks, and Robert was showered with kisses. ‘Wait until Tilly gets a load of this,’ Agnes said, ‘she’ll be green with envy.’
Alf gazed at his wife in the dress of violet crêpe, and thought she looked lovely. ‘Come here, sweetheart, and give us a kiss.’
‘Blimey! This kissing lark’s catching.’ Bobby pursed his lips and nodded knowingly. ‘All women must be the same. D’yer know, Abbie had six kisses last night and still wasn’t satisfied.’
‘Only six?’ Milly said. ‘She’s easy pleased.’
Maureen whispered in Robert’s ear before reaching behind the Christmas tree for a large bag with string handles. Then she began to pass small wrapped parcels around. ‘These are from me, as a token of my gratitude to everyone for making me so welcome. They aren’t much, but they come with my love.’
As the paper was being ripped to reveal ties for the men, and pretty headscarves for the ladies, Robert sat back and thought he must be the most contented man in the world. All around him there were people with smiling faces. He did think of his wife and eldest daughter, but it was with sadness, not a sense of loss. Nigel and Abbie had called to see their mother and sister yesterday, taking greetings cards, and presents. He had given them a cut-glass decanter to take as a present for the house, but although the children had said the presents were gratefully received, there was no enthusiasm in their voices. So he didn’t have to be told the atmosphere in Rodney Street was in stark contrast to the warmth and happiness you could almost touch here. But he was glad the children went, he wouldn’t like them to lose touch with their mother and sister. And, soon, of course, a new baby.
Robert was so lost in thought his mind was not on what was happening around him, and he was a little startled when Abbie touched his arm. She and Bobby were standing before him with their arms around each other, and Nigel was with Milly. The happiness on their faces was a joy to behold. His daughter held out her arm and shook it near his face. ‘See what Bobby bought me, Dad? Isn’t it pretty?’ There was an attractive bracelet on her wrist, made up of coloured stones, and Robert reached out to examine it closer. ‘It is very pretty, love, and a good choice on Bobby’s part.’
‘I got one too, Mr Dennison, off Nigel.’ Milly held it for closer inspection. ‘I’m made up with it.’
‘They didn’t cost the earth, Mr Dennison, but they didn’t come from Woolies, either.’ Bobby’s face was serious, but only for a second. Then he grinned. ‘When I’ve taken your job off yer, I’ll be able to buy her diamonds, ’cos that’s what Abbie deserves.’
‘You’ll have to go through me to get Dad’s job,’ Nigel laughed. ‘You can have Jeff’s job, and you and me will always be friends, like Jeff and my dad are.’
As the youngsters walked away, stealing a kiss as they went, Robert couldn’t prevent his mind going back. He was called Bobby on that day long ago, when he’d asked Jeff if he wanted a day’s work for a sixpence. Neither of them thought it was the start of a friendship that would last a lifetime. It was Jeff who shortened his name to Bob, but that wasn’t good enough for Edwina, and she insisted on him being called Robert in her presence.
‘Robert, you’re very quiet, love,’ Maureen said, bending down to look into his face. ‘Is there a reason for it?’
‘I’ve been reminiscing, my dear, and laying old ghosts to rest. But it’s time for seasonal toasts now before Agnes leaves.’ He gestured to his son. ‘Nigel, do you think you and Bobby could bear to leave your girlfriends just long enough to see to the drinks?’
He raised his glass for the first toast. ‘This is to wish Ada and Joe many more years of happiness and love. And to tell them I am honoured they are part of my family.’
The old couple were holding hands and smiling into each other’s faces, proud as could be. They would tell Bob later that it was they who were honoured to be part of his family.
Then glasses were raised to Agnes, Kitty, Alf and Rose, who looked as proud as peacocks. ‘First time in me bleedin’ life, this,’ Kitty’s whisper was loud. ‘I feel like a real toff.’
‘You are a toff, Kitty,’ Robert said. ‘In my eyes, all of you are toffs.’ Then he raised his glass, saying, ‘To my two children who I love dearly. I couldn’t wish for better children than Nigel and Abbie.’ He chuckled. ‘I better hadn’t leave Bobby and Milly out, seeing as they could, one day, be part of my family.’
Bobby waited until the toast had been made, then he said, ‘I think ye’re right there, Mr Dennison. Because if Abbie keeps running after me, she’s bound to catch me sooner or later.’
Milly had been more quiet than usual, overawed by the richness of everything around her. But she had been slowly unwinding in the warmth and friendliness, and now felt able to say, without blushing, ‘I could never run fast if yer paid me, so Nigel caught me on the first corner. Mind you, it had come to the stage where I thought I was going to have to chase him.’
Robert chuckled, thinking his life would never again be dull. ‘Now a toast to absent friends.’ There were shouts of, ‘Hear, hear,’ and he waited until they’d died down before putting his arm around Maureen’s waist. ‘And now to the woman who has been my dear friend for three years, and who will soon be my wife. I know you will all love her as I love her.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘I used to dream a little dream that one day I would find happiness. Then I met Maureen, and knew my dream had come true.’
‘Dad,’ Nigel called. ‘Your dream has brought us all happiness.’
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