‘Steven!’ Marianne flung her arms around her stepson’s neck as soon as he walked in through the door with Gabriel. He looked tanned and healthy, and she could have sworn he’d grown a couple of inches since he’d been away.
The twins toddled towards him. ‘Tevie, Tevie,’ they said, holding out their arms. Marianne felt a swell of warmth as Steven bent down and hugged them. It was lovely how well he got on with them, when it could so easily have gone the other way. For a few minutes, they all laughed and hugged one another. It was wonderful to be back together again.
‘How was your holiday?’
‘It was brill!’ said Steven. ‘Mum and Darren took me scuba diving. And I went on a jet ski. And climbed a mountain, and swam with dolphins. It was awesome.’
‘Sounds it,’ laughed Marianne. ‘Well it’s lovely to have you back. The place hasn’t been the same without you.’
‘Hasn’t it?’ Steven smiled shyly at her. ‘Only Mum kept saying you must be pleased to have more time with the twins.’
‘Oh Steven,’ said Gabriel. ‘You know that’s not true. We’d much rather have you with us all the time. It’s been really quiet without you.’
‘Do you mean that?’
‘Of course we do,’ said Marianne, giving him another hug. She looked anxiously at Gabriel. Why did Eve have to say these things? ‘Now why don’t you come in the kitchen and I’ll make you my special ice cream sorbet.’
Marianne’s ice cream sorbet was one she’d pinched from one of Cat’s recipe books, but adapted to use whatever fruits from the garden came to hand. Knowing how much Steven liked it, today’s version featured raspberries, which grew in their garden in abundance.
When Steven had exhausted telling them about the holiday, and shown them the thousand and one photos he’d taken of the same jellyfish, he retired upstairs, ostensibly to unpack, but more likely to be reunited with his Xbox.
‘Isn’t it great to have him back?’ said Marianne. ‘I can’t stop grinning.’
‘Me neither,’ said Gabe. ‘But honestly. I could bloody kill Eve sometimes. What on earth possessed her to say that to Steven?’
‘Well, she was probably looking at things the way she would – to her it would probably be better to have Steven out of the way, if she was in our position,’ said Marianne. ‘But I agree. Not helpful. Not at all.’
‘And with him starting school soon, as well,’ said Gabriel. ‘The last thing I want is Steven thinking we want to get rid of him.’
‘He won’t think that,’ said Marianne. ‘He knows how upset you are about him going.’
‘I hope so,’ said Gabriel, ‘because I’d hate him to think we don’t want him. It’s the furthest thing from the truth.’
‘Try not to worry about it,’ said Marianne. ‘It’s just Eve stirring things up. Steven knows us better than that. I’m certain of it.’
Just then, Steven came downstairs with a pile of dirty clothes for the laundry. Having lived with Gabriel for so long on his own, he was well trained in domestic matters.
‘Dad, Marianne, can we watch a DVD and have Domino’s pizza tonight?’ he said. ‘To celebrate me coming home?’
‘Of course we can,’ said Gabriel, ruffling his hair. ‘It’s great to have you back.’
‘See,’ whispered Marianne, giving him a kiss. ‘I told you so.’
Chapter Twenty-Four
‘Come on, Dan,’ Pippa put on her briskest, bossiest voice. It was one she usually employed at the end of boring committee meetings, or to get the children up when necessary. She hated having to use it on Dan. ‘It’s a lovely day and the kids are back at school next week. We’re going to go out. Your dad and Gabe are covering the farm today.’
‘Where?’
‘Let’s go to Ironbridge,’ suggested Pippa. ‘We haven’t been there in ages.’
‘Okay,’ said Dan, to her surprise, not putting up any resistance. It felt like weeks since she’d got him out of the house. He always made excuses for why he needed to stay in.
It was a clear hot sunny day, and Pippa felt her spirits revive as she drove out of Hope Christmas and onto the road for Ironbridge. The boys were grumbling happily in the back of the car, more for show than anything else. She had the feeling that they were pleased to be going out as a normal family once again. Lucy, who loved being in cars, was giggling with pleasure. Pippa felt a stab of joy go through her. Despite all the difficulties of her life she wouldn’t be without Lucy, whose boundless optimism was food for her soul. Other people never understood that, always feeling sorry for her, not understanding that Lucy was an integral part of the family. It helped that the boys were so good. They managed a complicated life with very little fuss and were fiercely protective of their little sister. But then again, Lucy bossed them about as much as she could. It was more of a two-way street than people realised.
Dan seemed quiet, but relatively calm, so Pippa had high hopes of having a really good day for once.
And they did. The boys always enjoyed changing their modern money for old as they entered the old-fashioned bank at the top of the High Street in the Victorian Town. As usual, they spent most of their newfound wealth on the mind-boggling array of sweets in the traditional sweetshop. Even Pippa, whose sweet tooth had definitely disappeared as she’d got older, was tempted by the gobstoppers, liquorice and lollipops on display.
They walked through the town visiting the bakery (where sticky buns were a necessary purchase) and the grocer’s, and stopped for a pint in the pub, where an old-fashioned knees-up with slightly inappropriate songs was going on.
‘Why is Fanny a funny name?’ asked George innocently, when Nathan dissolved into fits.
‘Time to go, I think,’ said Pippa, and they carried on down the main street, where they watched an impromptu display of Shakespeare from a travelling theatre group and witnessed candles being made at the candle-makers. At the doctor’s surgery the boys made Lucy laugh by trying out the antiquated wheelchair in the waiting room.
‘I think Lucy’s is better,’ pronounced George. ‘It’s got super-duper powers.’
Pippa had to restrain them from racing down the hill with Lucy as they tried to see how fast her wheelchair could actually go.
Eventually they found themselves at the ironworks, where the boys were fascinated with the process of smelting iron into coke, and Dan’s interest was also fired up. To Pippa’s surprise, he grew quite animated when he started to tell them all about Abraham Darby III who’d built the world’s first iron bridge, and explained how it all worked. They rounded off the day in a Tex-Mex place they found on the way home. Dan delighted Lucy by buying her a cowboy hat and putting on silly accents, while the boys stuffed themselves silly with burgers and chips, followed by the largest ice cream Pippa had ever seen.
All in all, it had turned out to be a really great day.
‘Feels like old times,’ she said, squeezing Dan’s hand, as they watched the boys compete to see who could stuff the most ice cream down fastest.
‘Yes, it does,’ said Dan, squeezing her hand back. ‘Thanks Pippa. I know this has been tough on you. You’ve been brilliant. Better than I deserve.’
‘No worries,’ said Pippa lightly. ‘You’d have done the same for me.’
She sat back, feeling relaxed for a change. Maybe things were looking up at last. She really hoped so.
Marianne and Steven were at the school outfitters, in the most expensive department store in Shrewsbury. She’d left the twins with Jean, so she could fully concentrate on Steven. It was a big deal for him, and she didn’t want to be distracted by having to feed the twins or change nappies at inopportune moments.
‘Bloody hell,’ she said. ‘This kit list goes on forever. And it’s so expensive. Do you really need it all?’
‘We don’t have to get it all if it’s too much,’ said Steven, looking worried.
‘No it’s fine, sweetie,’ said Marianne. ‘There’s just such a lot of it.’
Steven not only needed PE kit, bu
t a House PE kit, plus gowns for choir, an exorbitantly priced blazer, and trousers which were more expensive than the last pair of designer jeans she’d bought. Thank God for Marks and Spencer’s and plain white shirts.
‘I thought we’d find you here.’
To Marianne’s surprise, Eve and Darren were bearing down on them.
‘Sorry,’ she was confused. ‘What are you two doing here?’
‘Well, I did say to Steven that we’d be buying his uniform. Didn’t he tell you, silly boy?’
Steven looked so panic-stricken, Marianne immediately wanted to deck Eve and hug him.
‘Sorry, Marianne, I forgot to tell you.’
‘And I rang the farm and Gabriel’s mother told me where to find you. Isn’t that nice?’ continued Eve, blithely oblivious to any awkwardness. The shop was old-fashioned with narrow aisles. There was barely room for the four of them to stand comfortably.
‘Er, yes,’ said Marianne faintly.
‘And I’m sure that money must be tight for you two right now, what with the twins and everything. So we’ll pay for this.’
‘I don’t think Gabriel would like that,’ began Marianne, who was damned sure Gabriel would be furious. Money was tight it was true, but Gabriel had always prided himself on giving Steven everything he needed, and he wouldn’t be about to stop now.
‘It’s fine,’ said Marianne. ‘We’re nearly done here, anyway. Aren’t we, Steven?’
She could see Steven squirming. Poor kid. He clearly hadn’t known what to do. Even after all this time, Eve still didn’t understand how much pressure she put on him.
‘We can take over here,’ said Eve, ‘why don’t you strike out for some retail therapy of your own, while we help Steven sort it all out?’
‘I can’t do that,’ said Marianne, trying to rein in her fury for Steven’s sake. This was ridiculous; they were like two fishwives arguing over the same fish. She was so incensed on Gabriel’s behalf, for once she was prepared to fight her corner. But then she saw the look on Steven’s face. He looked mortified. This wasn’t his fault, and he shouldn’t have to watch his mum and step-mum slug out the family dynamics in front of him.
‘Well, at least let me pay for half,’ said Marianne feebly. ‘Gabriel will be so cross if I don’t.’
‘And we could take you out for a lovely lunch,’ said Eve. ‘It’s all right, Marianne, we’ll drop him home later on.’
‘Is that okay with you, Steven?’ said Marianne. She knew it would be. Steven could never resist spending time with his mother, flaky as she was. His loyalty, much like that of his dad’s, was one of his most endearing qualities.
‘Well, okay,’ said Marianne reluctantly. ‘But I do mean it about the money. We want to pay for half.’
‘Of course,’ said Eve, who’d clearly got what she wanted – to do the uniform shop with Steven.
Marianne watched them go and felt bereft. Steven wasn’t her son, it wasn’t her place, but she felt like she was losing him already. In a week’s time he would be away at school, and spending every other weekend with Eve and Darren. From being a constant presence in her life for the last four years, he was suddenly going to be a part-time one. She was only his step-mum, but she was going to miss him badly. And life for her, Gabe and the twins was going to be very very different.
Cat walked in from the shops, where she’d been stocking up for the new school year, into a family meltdown.
‘It’s my turn on the laptop!’ Paige was screaming at the top of her voice at James. ‘You’ve been on it for ages.’
‘Just a sec,’ James was delighting in teasing his sister by taking forever to respond. ‘Nearly done.’
‘You said that ages ago.’
‘RUBY WILL YOU STOP BEING SUCH AN ANNOYING LITTLE RUNT!’ Mel yelled from the top of the stairs. Cat had to concede she had a point, as Ruby was standing on her head singing the Go Compare tune tunelessly because she knew it annoyed her siblings.
‘Christ, I leave the place for five minutes,’ muttered Cat, as she picked her way through the detritus left behind by the children. She’d left just after breakfast, and no one had thought to clear the dishwasher. Someone (probably Ruby) had spilt Cheerios on the floor, and dirty bowls and cups were littered everywhere throughout the house, wherever a child had happened to be sitting at the time.
‘Noel!’ she called. No response. Noel was probably in the shed, oblivious to all the chaos, doing his carving. Since they’d come to live in Hope Christmas, Noel had started wood carving as a hobby. He found it therapeutic, which was great, and Cat was glad he had a hobby, particularly as the results were so spectacular. Cat was all for it, apart from the mess he made with the wood shavings. But still … She wished he wouldn’t leave things in quite so much chaos.
She found him, as predicted, deeply involved in carving an owl.
‘Did you get everything you wanted?’ he said.
‘Just about,’ said Cat. ‘I’ve bought new school shirts and socks and boring stuff like that.’
‘Great,’ said Noel absentmindedly, but she could tell he wasn’t remotely interested. And why would he be? Why would anyone be? Buying shirts and socks and pants was just one more dreary task in among all the other dreary mundane tasks of the domestic side of life.
‘That’s looking good,’ said Cat, ‘but were you ever planning to sort the chaos out inside?’
‘Oh,’ said Noel, ‘I told them all to clear up. Haven’t they?’
Cat rolled her eyes.
‘What do you think?’ she said, before going back indoors to marshal the troops. Eventually, after much yelling and many slammed doors, the house was restored to some semblance of order.
‘Sorry, Mummy,’ said Mel. ‘Shall I make lunch?’
‘That would be lovely,’ said Cat warily. Mel hadn’t called her Mummy for ages.
‘Do you want a cup of tea?’
‘Yes, thanks,’ said Cat, wondering what all this was in aid of. She peered at Mel, who looked nervous. Suddenly Cat’s heart was in her mouth. She had an inkling that something was badly wrong, her anxiety increasing when Mel asked, ‘Mum, can we have a chat?’
‘Yes of course, sweetheart,’ said Cat, now seriously worried. It was ages since Mel had wanted a chat about anything. ‘Just give me a minute–’
The phone rang, and within seconds there was no room for chatting with anyone.
‘Mrs Tinsall?’
‘Yes,’ said Cat.
‘This is the sister on the stroke ward. I’m afraid your mother’s taken a turn for the worse. You need to come right now.’
‘Oh, of course,’ Cat felt the shock of it wash over her. This was a phone call she’d been half expecting, and still it came as a surprise. She put the phone down in a daze. Her legs had gone to jelly, and her brain to mush, and she was shaking all over.
‘What’s the matter?’ said Mel looking worried.
‘It’s Granny. She’s got worse suddenly. I have to go.’ Cat grabbed a bag and coat as if in a trance. ‘Can you get Dad? We need to go to the hospital right now.’
In the end, the whole family came.
‘I don’t think you should be alone,’ Noel had insisted, and the children refused to be left at home. Despite Louise’s lack of memory and awareness of who they were, the children all loved her dearly.
‘It’s probably best if we’re all together anyway,’ Noel said.
Cat squeezed his arm, unable to say anything. He was right. This was a time for the family to be together.
The journey to the hospital was conducted mainly in silence, apart from Ruby worrying whether she’d left the catch on Hammy’s cage.
‘I’m sure he’ll be fine,’ said Cat for the millionth time as they approached the hospital. She was feeling faintly surreal. Worrying about a sodding hamster when her mother was so ill seemed odd, to say the least.
When they entered the ward, Cat’s heart dropped to her boots. The sister, a bright breezy sort with kind eyes, who introduced herself as Kath
leen, was coming towards them with a look of sympathy which could only mean one thing. No, no, please don’t let it be. Cat felt panic rise inside her. This couldn’t – mustn’t – be happening. And yet somehow it was. She was vaguely aware that Noel was holding her hand tightly as the nurse ushered them into the family room, and sat them down and said, ‘I’m so sorry, Mrs Tinsall, but your mother died a few minutes ago.’
‘Right. Thank you.’
Cat felt weirdly spaced out and detached, as if all sense of feeling had left her. Mel gasped aloud, and Paige burst into tears. James looked awkward, as if he wanted to be somewhere else and Ruby clearly hadn’t got it, as she said, ‘Is Granny going to be okay?’
That was the catalyst. A torrent of feeling broke through Cat, and she struggled to hold back the tears as the children all hugged her fiercely.
‘Do you want to see her?’ asked Kathleen gently.
Cat nodded mutely.
‘I’ll stay here, with the kids,’ said Noel. ‘Give you some time.’
Cat kissed him and followed Kathleen to a side ward, where Louise’s body lay on a bed. She looked cosy and comfortable in her best nightie, for all the world as if she had just fallen asleep. But her face was pale, and had a slightly waxen look. And her hands, when Cat touched them, were cold. She looked so frail and small.
‘I’ll leave you to it. Let me know if you need anything,’ said Kathleen, drawing the door shut behind her.
Cat approached the bed, and felt her legs buckle as she sat down next to Louise and held her hand. She let out a howl of anguish. Her mother was dead. It was over. She was never going to see her again. Cat had never felt so alone or lost.
A while later, there was a tentative knock at the door, and Mel appeared.
‘Dad wanted to see if you were okay,’ she said.
‘Oh, Mel,’ said Cat, tears streaming down her face, as her daughter came over to hug her. She felt a strange sense of peace at the three of them being together, it felt so natural and right.
‘Sorry,’ Cat said, wiping away her tears. ‘Are you okay? Wasn’t there something you wanted to tell me?’
A Merry Little Christmas Page 20