Coming Home for Christmas

by Patricia Scanlan

  ‘Hello?’ Olivia pretended innocence.

  ‘Hi,’ murmured Alison.

  ‘Oh! Alison, you’d think we planned it! We were just going to sing “Happy Birthday” to Mam. Hold on until I give her the phone and you can join in. I’ll put you on speaker.’ Olivia played her part to perfection, with just the right amount of surprise. Alison could hear the chatter of the children in the background.

  ‘Hello, pet, you’re up early,’ her mother said, the speaker giving a tinny effect to the call.

  ‘I set my clock. I wanted to wish you happy birthday, Mam.’

  ‘Aren’t you the darling,’ her mother said, and Alison just knew she had tears in her eyes.

  ‘Let’s all sing,’ Olivia commanded.

  There was a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday to you,’ and Alison joined in with gusto, glad no one was walking along the road to see her singing her head off into a cell phone.

  ‘I wish I was there with you all.’ Alison injected a note of sadness in her tone when it was over. She was even better at this acting lark than Olivia, she thought smugly.

  ‘I wish you were here too. Isn’t there any chance of you getting home this Christmas?’ Esther asked plaintively.

  ‘Not a hope with the way things are going. But look, Mam, have a great day and enjoy your meal tonight with the family. And raise a glass for me,’ she added poignantly, for good measure.

  ‘I will, pet, I will, but it won’t be the same without you. Say hello to your father.’ Esther was definitely teary at this stage, and Alison began to feel a bit mean.

  ‘Hello, Dad, it sounds like a madhouse there.’

  ‘It is a bit,’ her father said mildly. ‘How are you?’

  ‘Great, great. Looking forward to a lie-in seeing as I don’t have to get up today,’ – that wasn’t a lie: she was longing for sleep, she thought as the weariness of jet lag hit her in a wave of tiredness.

  ‘You enjoy it and take it easy, you work too hard,’ her father declared.

  Not any more, she was tempted to say, but she held it back, she wasn’t going to spoil her mother’s birthday with her tale of gloom and doom. ‘Not a bit of it, Dad. Have a good day today. God bless,’ she said, suddenly anxious to be inside with them.

  ‘Bye, love,’ he said.

  ‘Bye, everyone, and happy birthday, Mam,’ said Alison and heard a chorus of goodbyes before she hung up. She tucked her phone in her bag and got out of the car, racing up the path as quick as she could, filled with eager anticipation. She took a deep breath and scrambled for her keys in her cavernous bag. The set of keys to her parents’ house was on her keyring. She found them and slid the key in the lock, and gently opened the door. She stood in the hall and inhaled the familiar scent of home. A vase of winter roses stood on the hall table and the scent from a fragrance diffuser with long, narrow, scented sticks mingled with the smell of wax polish and baking. She could hear the buzz of conversation and excited children’s chatter in the kitchen.

  Alison pushed open the door. Her mother was sitting at the table in her dressing gown, surrounded by her three grandchildren, who were helping her to unwrap presents. She looked pale and older than Alison remembered, she thought with a shock. That flu had taken its toll. Her father had his back to her as he reached into the fridge for milk. Olivia smiled, and Michael, her brother-in-law, winked.

  ‘Happy Birthday, Mam,’ said Alison quietly, as a lump the size of a golf ball rose in her throat.

  Esther looked up, stunned. ‘Alison! Oh, Alison darling,’ she exclaimed joyously, jumping up from her chair and, arms outstretched, she gathered her daughter to enfold her in the most welcome hug Alison had ever had in her life. Then it was her father’s turn, and she leaned her head against his shoulder and felt safe and protected like she used to when she was a little girl. Here, in the fortification of her childhood home, it didn’t seem to matter that she was jobless and had lost most of what she’d worked for. Here were security and love, and a sense that everything would be all right.

  ‘Auntie Alison, Auntie Alison.’ It was the twins’ turn next to launch themselves at her. Ellie stood back, unsure. It was eighteen months since Alison had seen her, and she couldn’t get over the size of her.

  ‘Well, aren’t you the little rip, pretending to ring me from America?’ Her mother was laughing and crying at the same time.

  ‘Good, wasn’t it?’ Alison smirked, kissing Esther again over the top of her nieces’ heads.

  ‘How long are you staying? I’ll have to air your room. I can’t believe you’re here.’ Her mother was in a tizzy.

  ‘Calm down, Mam,’ Olivia interjected. ‘I’ll sort the room later. Alison’s staying with me tonight. She can come home tomorrow.’

  ‘When do you go back, I suppose it’s a flying visit?’ Esther sighed, holding Alison’s hand tightly.

  ‘Actually I’m not going back until after Christmas—’

  ‘You’re here for Christmas?’ Esther was gobsmacked. ‘Why, what’s wrong?’

  Olivia’s jaw dropped.

  Alison stood there as they all looked at her, astonished. It would be so easy to tell them she was jobless and on the skids and just get it out of the way, it would be a huge relief, she thought wearily. But how could she do it on her mother’s birthday and ruin the lovely surprise she’d just given her? How selfish would that be? And then she’d have to endure all the questions, and word would leak out to the neighbours and relations, and she just couldn’t bear the thought of their pity and, in the case of two of her cousins who weren’t great fans of hers, their smug delight at her fall. No, this wasn’t the time or the place to make her revelation.

  ‘Nothing’s wrong,’ she said calmly, privately marvelling at her mother’s astuteness. ‘I just wanted to come home for Christmas. It’s been a while.’

  ‘Hurray!!’ Kate yelled, punching the air.

  ‘That’s great news altogether,’ her father exclaimed.

  ‘I had leave to take, so when I was coming home for the pa— to see you,’ she corrected herself hastily when Olivia flashed her a look of consternation, ‘I decided I’d take it. I haven’t been home for Christmas in ages.’ She was turning into the most accomplished liar, she acknowledged wryly.

  ‘This is the best birthday present I could ever have had.’ Esther had tears running down her cheeks.

  ‘Don’t cry, Mam, stop.’ Alison threw her eyes up to heaven and glanced over at Olivia, who seemed just as stunned at the news. Esther wiped her eyes.

  ‘Why are you crying, Gran? Are you very sad?’ Ellie threw her little arms around her grandmother.

  ‘I’m crying because I’m happy. I’m the luckiest woman in the world to have all my family around me on my birthday.’

  ‘And we’re having a Chinese tonight in the restaurant. We’re getting dressed up,’ Lia informed Alison. ‘Will you be coming?’

  ‘I certainly will.’ Alison hugged her, marvelling at how pretty she was with her blond hair tied in two pigtails and her fringe feathering her big blue eyes.

  ‘Brill,’ said her niece. ‘Can I have some lipstick?’

  ‘If your Mam lets you.’ Alison nodded.

  ‘Can I, Mam? Can I?’ Lia demanded.

  ‘Cam, I?’ said Ellie, tugging at Alison’s arm.

  Alison looked at Olivia for confirmation. ‘Go on, this once,’ she said.

  ‘Cool,’ said Lia with satisfaction. She loved when her aunt was home. Alison had brilliant high heels and let them use her make-up to dress up.

  ‘I hope they give us that big round table with the thing in the middle that makes the food go around.’ Kate draped an arm around her grandmother’s shoulder as she sat down at the table again.

  ‘That’s the one I asked for,’ Olivia said, giving Alison the tiniest wink as she filled the kettle and switched it on to make the tea.

  ‘Did you bring us some presents?’ Ellie fixed her aunt with a blue-eyed stare.

  ‘Ellie! That’s rude,’ hissed Lia.

  ‘
Yes, Ellie, you don’t ask people for presents,’ Olivia said sternly.

  ‘Sorry.’ Ellie’s lip wobbled.

  ‘Of course I have presents for you, darling.’ Alison knelt down beside her and put her arm around her. ‘I’ve Hershey bars in my bag for you as well. Can I give them one?’ She cocked an eye at her sister as the children’s eyes lit up at this unexpected treat.

  ‘Oh go on,’ sighed Olivia. ‘Chocolate bars for breakfast! What next?’

  ‘It is a very special occasion,’ Kate pointed out earnestly.

  ‘I can’t argue with that.’ Olivia smiled, amused in spite of herself.

  ‘Give me your coat, Alison,’ her brother-in-law said after she’d distributed the eagerly received bars, ‘and sit down and take the weight off your feet.’

  ‘I will,’ Alison said gratefully, shrugging out of her coat and loosening her scarf and handing them to him. He hung them in the small hall between the kitchen and utility room. She walked around the table to where Olivia was standing and stood beside her sister. ‘Are we giving Mam our prezzie now or, or . . .’ She’d been about to say ‘at the party’ but had managed to stop herself before blurting it out. Alison was beginning to understand the pressure Olivia had spoken of earlier of everything going OK for the party and not letting the cat out of the bag. She’d nearly let it slip and she was only home ten minutes. ‘Or will we wait until the meal tonight?’ she amended.

  ‘Ah, you can’t do that,’ protested Esther. ‘That would be cruel to make me wait until tonight, wouldn’t it, girls?’ she appealed to her grandchildren.

  ‘Patience is a virtue,’ Lia said primly, in exactly the same tone as her mother would use.

  ‘Lia Hammond!’ Esther spluttered.

  ‘Only joking, Gran.’ Lia exploded into the most infectious giggle.

  ‘I agree with Lia. It will give you something to look forward to,’ Liam teased, knowing how his wife was like a child where presents were concerned and was always trying to find out what he’d bought her for Christmas and birthdays. This year he’d given her a weekend away at a luxury hotel and spa. His wife adored such treats.

  ‘Don’t be such a meanie, you. Come on, girls; don’t keep your poor old mother in suspense,’ Esther begged.

  ‘If you guess what it is, we’ll give it to you.’ Olivia grinned at her.

  ‘Ah no! Don’t do that to me.’ Esther groaned.

  ‘Don’t be mean, let’s give it to her now.’ Alison kissed the top of her mother’s head again and wrapped her arms around her.

  ‘It’s good to have one pal.’ Esther stroked her cheek tenderly.

  ‘Now! Now! Now!’ Kate banged on the table with her teaspoon.

  ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ chanted Lia, doing a twirl.

  ‘All right then,’ relented Olivia. ‘It’s a very special one for a very special mother, all the way from New York. We chose it together on the internet and Alison got it,’ she explained, as her sister rooted in her bag for the box.

  ‘You give it, seeing as you’re the oldest,’ Alison grinned, handing Olivia the Tiffany package.

  ‘Mam, from the two of us with love.’ Olivia kissed her mother as she handed her the present.

  ‘Oh my goodness! What’s this? Oh my God! Tiffany’s – how posh!’ Esther exclaimed excitedly as the grandchildren crowded around her for a look.

  ‘Open it, open it,’ Kate urged.

  ‘Oh, girls!’ Esther exclaimed as she opened the beautifully wrapped box. ‘Oh my Lord, this is beautiful.’ She held up the diamond-encrusted bangle and slipped it on to her wrist, twisting it this way and that as the children oohed and aahed.

  ‘You can wear it tonight to the—’ Olivia gave her a dig in the ribs. ‘To . . . to the meal out,’ Alison stuttered, aghast that she’d nearly let it slip again.

  ‘You must be hungry, love,’ Liam interjected. ‘Sit down there and I’ll cook you some breakfast.’

  ‘Is there any of Mam’s homemade brown bread?’ Alison asked wistfully. ‘I’d love a slice of that. I couldn’t eat a fry. I’m too excited to be home.’

  ‘There’s a fresh loaf and a currant loaf and plenty of scones.’ Esther couldn’t take her eyes off her gift.

  ‘Cam we have some?’ piped up Ellie, and her mother darted her a glare. Olivia was constantly warning the children not to be asking for food at their Gran’s, to absolutely no avail.

  ‘Of course you can, pet.’ Esther laughed at the hopeful anticipation in her grandchild’s voice.

  ‘A feast,’ Alison declared as the doorbell rang.

  ‘Who would that be on a wet Saturday morning?’ Esther wondered.

  ‘I’ll get it.’ Alison, who was nearest the door, stood up.

  She knew when she saw the stooped outline and the shape of a hat through the frosted glass of the front door exactly who it was.

  ‘Uncle Leo!’ She beamed with pleasure when she opened the door to find him standing in the porch with a small tree in a container.

  ‘It’s yourself! Ah, lassie, you’re a treat for sore eyes.’ Her uncle’s face lit up and he gave her a big bear hug, knocking his hat off in the process. ‘When did you get home?’

  ‘About an hour ago.’ She smiled as she stepped back to let him in.

  ‘Let me get the present for Esther.’ He bent with difficulty to pick up the container, and she felt a pang of dismay as she saw how stiff he was. It was the first time she’d ever really noticed that both her parents were getting on in years and that it was starting to show. Now Leo was leaning heavily on his stick as he limped into the kitchen. Suddenly she was glad she was home for Christmas. She’d forgotten how important family was, she thought guiltily, remembering her trips to Aspen and the Caribbean the previous two years. Olivia really did mind them all, she thought, remembering vaguely her sister’s last email about having to bring Leo for some breathing test.

  ‘Happy Birthday, Esther.’ Leo thrust the container at his sister-in-law. ‘It’s an acer, a Japanese maple, I know you’re fond of them. It’s a very fine specimen, I got good advice from a gardener chap I know. In fact he got it for me, and it’s the best that could be got.’

  ‘Ah Leo, you’re very thoughtful,’ Esther said, touched. ‘Thank you so much. Come in and sit down and have a cup of tea and a scone. Michael, would you take the tree off Leo and put it in the back?’ She smiled at her son-in-law.

  ‘You’re welcome, and thanks for the offer of the tea. I see the gang’s all here.’ He rubbed his hands in delight as the twins flung themselves at him.

  ‘Uncle Leo, will you play sword fights with us with your walking stick?’ Kate begged. It was one of their favourite games. ‘Please, Uncle Leo,’ Lia urged, clasping her hands together in supplication.

  ‘After we’ve had the tea,’ Olivia ordered, bringing the pot to the table. Liam placed a basket of scones and a plate of sliced currant and brown bread on the table.

  ‘I’ll get the jam and marmalade.’ Alison went to the cupboard.

  ‘And get the butter while you’re at it,’ Esther reminded her, ‘and don’t forget the jam spoon.’

  Alison smiled to herself. Esther was a stickler for not allowing buttery knives into the jam and marmalade and had always insisted on them using jam spoons. Neither would she allow a carton of milk on the table. Milk was always poured from a jug.

  She turned from the fridge and took in the scene before her. Ellie was sitting on Esther’s lap looking at her birthday cards. Liam was putting knives and plates on the table, Olivia was pouring the tea, Michael was pouring a cup of milk for Ellie, the twins sat on either side of Uncle Leo telling him about a ‘real’ fight in the schoolyard. The kitchen was snug and warm as the rain hammered on the windows. She exhaled as tension seeped away. Coming home was the best thing she could have done for herself after the battering her confidence and finances had taken.

  And, although she’d never really understood it or acknowledged it before, her coming home was a joyful thing for her family. It was a closing of the circle,
and the falling economy and gloom and doom of the recession could make no dent in it, or prevail against that powerful force of energy that a united family gives. She might have lost material wealth and possessions, but she was enriched beyond measure by all the love, joy and goodwill that was in this homely kitchen right now. Family was all that mattered at the end of the day, Alison acknowledged gladly as she went to join her loved ones at the table.

  Chapter 10

  ‘Oh, you’ve done a great job of the room, Alison. Well done!’ Olivia exclaimed later that afternoon as she stood beside her sister and gazed around the private room of the Golden Dragon. The rectangular table at the top where the family were to be seated looked on to several circular tables, where the guests would sit. Alison had fashioned small wreaths of holly, ivy, evergreen and yellow roses on every table. In the centre of each wreath three votive candles in small glass holders were ready to be lit.

  An artful display of massed poinsettias and cream candles stood on top of a gleaming mahogany sideboard, where champagne glasses on trays stood waiting for their fizzy sparkling liquid. The two windowsills were draped with greenery, with red and gold ribbons entwined through the branches matching the red gold-flock paper on the walls. It was very tastefully done and gave the room a touch of class. It was almost dark outside, and the small red lamps dotted along the walls poured soft light into the room, giving a cosy, intimate ambiance.

  ‘Glad you like it,’ Alison said, pleased with the effect herself. ‘What else do you want me to do?’

  ‘Umm, we have the cake, and the music is sorted. And champagne will be served as the guests come in; the glasses are ready. I think we have everything covered.’ Olivia bit her thumb nail in concentration.

  ‘And you’re sure about place names?’ Alison said.

  ‘Let them sit where they want. That way the ones that don’t get on don’t have to end up sitting beside each other,’ Olivia said firmly.

  ‘Pity we had to ask Bert and Tessa and those two obnoxious sons of theirs.’ Alison frowned.

  ‘They’re Dad and Leo’s family, and you know Mam would have been upset if we hadn’t. You know what she’s like for doing the right thing.’