Christmas at Lock Keeper's Cottage

by Lucy Coleman

  Stepping forward, I place an arm around my guys, drawing them into me in a group hug.

  ‘Oh, my goodness! Some good can come out of something… well, not bad exactly, but testing. And now it’s time for some hard work. Let’s do this. It’s just snow – it can’t be that arduous a task, can it?’

  They both shake their heads, laughing at my naivety.

  ‘Hmm. You might discover a muscle, or two, that hasn’t been worked in a while. Let’s just say that there will probably be a few of us in need of a soak in the tub tonight, laced with a generous helping of bath salts. Hopefully, everyone will be in their own homes, though.’

  Kurt interrupts, bearing even more good news. ‘It looks like we’ll be able to switch the power back on within the hour. We’ll soon get this place warmed up and the farm is going to get one of their dumper trucks down with a load of fresh supplies. Ethel and Rona have volunteered to take charge of the kitchen and will make sure hot drinks are available when people take breaks.’

  At last, things are starting to look up and a real sense of relief is emanating from Kurt. With fridges and freezers full of food that will probably have to be thrown out, he simply wants to get things back to normal as quickly as possible.

  Outside, however, it’s another matter entirely. It’s hot, sweaty work even though my nose, and toes, refuse to warm up. Ironically, the sky is now a stunning cornflower blue, and the sun is shining as if it’s the middle of summer – it looks glorious, but the temperature is only a few degrees above freezing, so there’s little sign of a significant melt. But at least it makes shovelling a bit easier, as we’d be sweltering otherwise.

  I’m in a small party of six, with Valerie, Liam and three guys from the manor, who are very jovial.

  Tollie is nowhere to be seen, but I bet he hasn’t stopped. He waved out to me half an hour ago as he trudged off in the direction of the lane, phone pressed to his ear and deep in conversation. With JCBs and probably well over forty locals getting hands-on, this little community certainly knows how to pull together, but it’s a lot to co-ordinate.

  Gray has crept up behind me unseen and I jump as he suddenly leans in, making me turn around in surprise.

  ‘We’re nearly out of grit and we’ll need someone to bring down a load from Adler’s farm. I can’t raise Tollie, so could you help me find him? His phone is permanently engaged, and Kurt and Sarah want me to let him know that the earliest they can serve lunch will be two-thirty.’

  His voice is loud enough for everyone around us to hear and I’m grateful for an excuse to relinquish my shovel. My arms are already complaining and Gray was right, I seem to be using muscles I’ve never used before and they aren’t happy.

  ‘I’ll be back in a bit, guys, promise!’ I throw the words over my shoulder as I stride off in pursuit of Gray, who is already a few paces ahead.

  When we reach the lane, he slows to allow me to catch up.

  ‘I knew you’d feel awkward if I pulled you away, but you were giving it your all and you’ll pay the price later, believe me, Immi.’

  Out of sight of anyone, he catches my gloved hand in his, reassuringly.

  ‘It’s been hard work, but we’ve had a laugh, too. The dog walkers are out now it has warmed up a little and everyone has been calling out their thanks as they pass by.’

  ‘Foot traffic helps break down the snow. And a track has been cleared down as far as the bridge over to the marina, but there’s a long stretch to go to get down past the lock. There are a few hours of work ahead of us still.’ I’m so relieved to see that Gray at least looks pleased with the progress so far. ‘The real danger is more likely to be tomorrow if it freezes again overnight. We need to grit the footbridge and along the path by the permanent moorings. I’d hate to think of Abe, Ethel or any of them slipping and falling in.’

  I feel rather guilty as the pace of my little group has slowed a little, even though a single track has been cleared and gritted, all the way around The Bullrush and back to the communal car park.

  ‘Valerie was flagging a little, too.’

  ‘Don’t worry, I have it covered. Kurt is going to ask if she can help in the kitchen. Hopefully, Liam and the three guys will keep going for a bit after a round of coffee and some home-made chocolate brownies.’

  I burst out laughing. ‘Shame on you resorting to bribery, but I suspect it will work. Liam is getting on well with the other guys and asking a lot of questions about the manor. I can’t imagine he’s that interested, so I rather think he’s grateful for their company. There’s a little good-natured banter going on between them, as well as a bit of flexing of muscles. They’ve made it competitive, so none of them will want to be the first to give in. At least stopping for refreshments is a good excuse to allow them all to take a much-needed break.’

  ‘I come in useful sometimes, then?’ Gray quips, but I can see he has something else on his mind.

  ‘Come on, you seem distracted; what’s going on?’

  ‘I worry about you, sometimes. When everyone descended upon us, I should have talked you out of doing the ring thing. You were supposed to be the centre of attention, not the hostess – what was I thinking? An engagement party should be memorable.’

  ‘Trust me, it’s a day I will never forget!’

  We draw to a halt, standing two feet apart with our hands still clasped. I scan around, taking in the bare overhanging tree branches through which the blue sky and the glorious sunshine create an inviting vista.

  ‘Okay, so it wasn’t quite the cosy little dinner we’d envisaged. But it was lovely, for all sorts of reasons, not least because it reminded me of Grandma’s Christmas dinners,’ I continue. ‘I won’t make the same mistake with our wedding, though, I promise. You, me, Tollie and Rona will get our heads together and I’ll listen to reason.’

  Gray lets go of my hand and draws me into him; the look on his face tugs at my soul.

  ‘I only intend on doing it the once, so it’s important we get it right.’

  Gray stares down at me, taking a long, slow drawing-in of his breath, and his happiness is very evident.

  ‘Now let’s make sure no one has an excuse not to make it home tonight, because I don’t intend sleeping anywhere other than in our own bed. I want us to be able to enjoy our last night of the holidays together and I intend to make it a memorable one.’

  26

  Finally, the Sun Delivers

  After the delights of a mug of Sarah’s hot chocolate, topped off with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder, I’m ready for the last clearing session before a well-earned lunch. Fisher asked for two volunteers to give him a hand to clear a path from the marina’s offices over to the footbridge.

  As Fisher, Liam and I approach one of the sheds in the boat yard, the temperature is rising and off come the hats and the gloves.

  ‘For the first time since we started this morning, I can feel the tips of my toes!’ I exclaim.

  ‘The forecast is for a gentle thaw and tomorrow it’s supposed to warm up considerably. This shouldn’t take us long. If I shift the snow, can you guys take control of the mini salt spreader and follow on behind? It’s a pain having to refill it every few yards, so it’s a bit stop and start, but it shouldn’t take too long.’

  Fisher unlocks the door and disappears inside, Liam close on his heels. I leave them to forage around and lean against the side wall of the offices, eyes closed and face upturned.

  ‘Here you go, Immi.’ Liam’s voice breaks my reflective moment. ‘This little baby is all yours.’

  He wheels a compact, cherry-red machine in front of me that looks like a tub sitting on two bouncy tyres.

  ‘I’ll go and throw a few bags of grit into the wheelbarrow and load you up.’

  Fisher exits the shed carrying the widest snow shovel I’ve ever seen.

  ‘I’ve been itching to test this out. It’s called a Mega Scoop and does the work of two people, allegedly.’

  Men and their gadgets. Fisher is clearly excited
as he lowers the beast to the ground. It’s just a wide piece of polypropylene pushed along by a large steel handle covered in foam. As Fisher pushes against the frame, it seems to glide along with relative ease.

  ‘Now that’s what we need on the other side of the canal,’ I enthuse, conceding that not all impulse buys turn out to be lemons.

  There’s no stopping Fisher, and Liam hurries over to shovel grit into the spreader.

  ‘We’re going to have to stop every couple of metres to top it up, but the upside is that it’s not going to be too heavy for you to push, Immi, if Liam can do the shovelling.’

  ‘A new set of muscles to test out, then,’ I reply, smiling.

  He’s right and it’s easy to follow in his wake. Even if there is a bit of a freeze overnight, this will do the trick.

  ‘Mum was telling me that she’s been working in the offices here.’ Liam trundles along behind me, unfazed by the weight in the wheelbarrow. He’s a strong guy and not afraid of hard work.

  ‘Yes,’ I call over my shoulder. ‘It’s been a great help in the run-up to Christmas, as I’ve had to do extra shifts at the Lockside Nurseries.’

  ‘She said she’s taking it on permanently after the holidays. It’s a good job, then?’

  Is he curious, or is he concerned about her? Either way, I’m glad they found time to have a proper conversation.

  ‘Well, I’ve worked for Fisher for several years now and I’ve enjoyed it.’

  ‘But you’re moving on.’

  I draw to a halt and Liam stops alongside me, to begin topping up the hopper. I unzip my coat, wondering if I should take it off.

  ‘It’s not possible for me to handle both jobs now and your mum and Fisher work well together.’

  He finishes what he’s doing, placing his shovel back on top of the barrow. Glancing ahead, we both watch Fisher for a few seconds and I’m pretty sure he’s out of earshot. Clearly, Liam is thinking the same thing, but when he replies he still lowers his voice.

  ‘He’s okay, then? Trustworthy?’

  ‘He’s like a second dad to me and I’d trust him with my life.’

  Liam nods, and I start pushing forward again.

  ‘My mum has had a hard life.’ Liam follows just a pace or two behind me.

  ‘I’m sorry to hear that, Liam. She’s a kind lady once you get to know her.’

  ‘Yeah. She doesn’t let people in readily. I’m like my dad. He’s an open book. They drove each other mad and when things between them ended, he went off travelling. He teaches English at a school in Japan now.’

  I turn around briefly, just to show him I’m listening.

  ‘So, the travelling bug is in your genes, then?’

  ‘I guess it is, or maybe the truth is that staying in one place has never really appealed to me, until now. I needed to see for myself that Mum really is all right before I make a commitment. I thought she was wrong coming back here in the first place. There was some talk about a link with the family in the manor house. Mum loves history but some things are best left alone.’

  I don’t know quite what to say to that, as he’s assuming I am privy to whatever it is he’s talking about.

  ‘The thing is, I might not be able to afford to fly back again for another two years and it’s easier to leave knowing there’s someone around she can trust. At least we’re back in touch properly now, so I won’t be reliant upon updates from people she no longer sees on a regular basis.’

  Something is telling me that maybe there’s a girl involved and that’s what’s really behind this. Once he’s settled, I wonder if he’ll invite Valerie to visit at some point.

  ‘You don’t need to worry about her, you know. She has a good circle of friends and is a valued member of our community. Working at the marina has made a huge difference to her. Saint Nicholas’s Well is a little off the beaten track, but, being around the marina on a regular basis, Valerie has begun taking part in more of the social side of things. We’re all happy about that.’

  ‘Thanks, that’s helpful, as I’m heading off early tomorrow. She struggles to let go, you see. And that makes me feel guilty, like I’ve neglected her. But like my dad, I’m a free spirit.’

  I stop again for Liam to refill the gritter and as he looks up at me I can see how much he cares about her. But there’s clearly something he wants to get off his chest.

  ‘It was my fault. I upped and left, and then didn’t get in touch. The longer I left it, the harder it was to… well, I just can’t have someone constantly looking over my shoulder, checking I’m all right every two minutes. She wanted me to have a plan, but I like to wing it. Life should be fun, after all.’

  ‘Three more loads should do it, then we can head back for lunch,’ Fisher calls out.

  He’s way in front of us now, so I slip off my coat and tie the arms around my waist. This last push is going to be hot work.

  ‘Let’s crack on, then,’ Liam says enthusiastically. ‘My stomach is telling me it’s been a long time since breakfast.’

  The Bullrush Inn is full. Sarah and Kurt are apologetic about the limited menu, but everyone is so hungry no one is about to complain. There’s a hearty shepherd’s pie, beef lasagne and a cheesy vegetable bake.

  ‘The food is free,’ Maggie informs me as I order my meal at the bar. ‘You only need to pay for your drinks.’

  It’s a kind gesture by Sarah and Kurt, but people around here don’t take advantage. The tip jar next to the point of sale is crammed full of ten- and twenty-pound notes and I have trouble stuffing mine in there.

  ‘That’s very kind,’ Maggie says. ‘They’ll soon be back in service as normal and clearing the outside at least means customers can get in and out of the car park and around to the front safely. How’s it looking over at the marina?’

  ‘Good. And the sun is really warming up on that side of the canal, too. Mind you, another hour and the temperature will probably begin to drop rather quickly, but hopefully not too low.’

  I carry a well-deserved glass of white wine across to find a seat. Gray waves out from a table in the far corner. It’s for four, but there are five of them seated around it. As I approach, he jumps up.

  ‘Good timing, Immi, you can take my seat. I’m off to give Abe a hand. We’re going to begin clearing the snow off The Star Gazer for Fisher.’

  He gives me a fleeting kiss, as Jade is heading in this direction with a plate of very hot food.

  ‘Here you go, Immi. I made the sauce.’ Her look is one of immense pride.

  ‘Ah, it’s going to be extra special, then. Thank you, gorgeous girl.’

  She smiles back at me, shyly. ‘Least we can do as you looked after us so well.’

  Little does she know that it was her and her sister’s bubbly laughter and excitement that helped to keep our spirits up and remind us what Christmas is all about.

  ‘Hi, Rona, how are you doing?’

  I slip into the empty seat next to her and she turns, giving me a contented smile.

  ‘Good. And more than a little relieved, knowing the lane is almost clear. I was afraid we were going to be cut off for a while.’

  The food in front of me is hot, but I’m so hungry I start nibbling away at the edges to load my fork.

  ‘Are you anxious, or excited, about the trip?’

  ‘I was anxious at first, but now I can’t wait to see Grayson in person again. I’ve had several emails from him in the last twenty-four hours, as he was worried when he saw the awful weather we’ve been having. When we talk it’s like turning back the clock and it reminds me that we both have a lot of good years ahead of us.’

  Could this turn out to be the new lease of life that Rona needs right now to begin enjoying life again? Gray seems to be a lot more relaxed about her since he got his head around the trip, that’s for sure, and I really can’t see her pinning her hopes on retiring at fifty-five. When she’s well, this woman has a lot of energy; I simply hadn’t realised how much her health had declined since the first time I met h
er. But now she’s bouncing back.

  ‘So, it’s all good, then?’

  ‘It is and I’m feeling optimistic. That smells delicious.’

  ‘This lasagne is hitting the spot, I must say, not least because I had no hand in the making of it. It’s good to hear you sounding more like your old self.’

  ‘Loneliness has a way of making you think about what matters most in life. Grayson is lonely and he’s made that very clear. I couldn’t have managed without my son being there every step of the way for me, but a serious illness is also a wake-up call. I’m a lot stronger than Gray thinks I am, but the truth is that I’m worried about his reaction. You know, if Grayson and I decide not to go through with the divorce.’

  I put down my fork and stare at her. I always thought it was Rona who needed Gray. Was I wrong? We exchange a slightly worried look.

  I eat in silence for a while, content to look around and glad that the water didn’t breach the steps up into the restaurant area. Quirky old buildings sometimes have their advantages and it certainly stopped a nightmare from turning into a total disaster.

  There’s a pause in the conversation between Abe, Ethel and Bernie, and they turn their attention to me.

  ‘We were just saying that this time yesterday, Immi, you were serving us up a turkey dinner. Best one I’ve ever had, I will admit.’ I study his face, checking whether Bernie is pulling my leg. He looks serious.

  ‘Well, hopefully it made up in taste what it lacked in presentation.’

  Now they are laughing. ‘Well, you did us proud. And it was a perfect way for Yvonne to get to know everyone, up close. In fact, Valerie and my lovely lady are down at yours right now doing a big clean through.’

  My jaw drops. ‘What?’

  ‘After a stressful couple of days and all that physical exertion shovelling, you deserve to go back to a sparkling house. Tollie gave them the keys and by the time you, Gray and Tollie are ready to quit for the day it will all be sparkling.’