“What’s your problem; you dumped me after all didn’t you? I asked you to meet me, you didn’t show. You can hardly blame me for going away; after all what was the point in sticking around where I wasn’t wanted?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about. First of all you didn’t ask me to meet you, you just disappeared, and who said I didn’t want you, not me that’s for sure.”
The two sat in stunned silence. It was like that old schoolyard game of ‘First to speak loses’. After what seemed like an eternity, Ian was first to break the silence.
“If you remember we were arguing quite a bit about me going off backpacking with Kevin. The day before I left, I called round at your house but you weren’t home. I handed your dad a letter asking you to meet me; and I told you in the letter that if you really didn’t want me to go then I wouldn’t. I even phoned later that evening to try and talk it through, but your dad said you didn’t want to talk to me.
“So I left the next day with Kevin; we went backpacking and ended up in France. We got jobs washing dishes to make a bit of extra cash. After about a month I thought you might have calmed down and forgiven me for going off with Kevin, so I called your house for the last time. Your dad told me you had signed up for college and you had met someone new. I thought I’d let you down and I just wanted you to be happy. So I just kept on travelling around from job to job. Eventually I returned back home but by that time my parents had moved, to be near Barbara. So I never came back here again, until the reunion that is.”
Judy was absolutely stunned. Surely Ian would not make up such a story, but her father had never given her a letter or told her that Ian had called. Thinking back, her father had been even more evasive than usual when Ian’s name was mentioned.
“You don’t have to take my word for it, you just ask your dad, in fact you needn’t bother, I’ll ask your dad. I must admit I was scared of him back then, but then I was just a kid. I’m not intimidated by anyone anymore, so let’s ask him together,” Ian suggested.
“Dad died six years ago.”
“Oh, sorry to hear that, how’s your mum?” Ian asked apologetically.
“Well, you know, she’s fine. In fact, after he died she was devastated, but then she became like this whole new person. She’s never at home these days, always gadding about somewhere or other.”
“Weird; I remember she hardly went anywhere back then. Was your dad ill or was it sudden, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“No I don’t mind; he had a massive heart attack. We kept telling him; relax, don’t get so worked up about everything, but Dad just wouldn’t listen, he always knew best!”
Judy had loved her father, but his obstinate nature had often caused problems, and she couldn’t help feeling bitter that his obstinacy had partly contributed to his premature death. It was her belief that happy people lived longer, and even if she was wrong as least they enjoyed life more.
After the revelation from Ian, Judy’s anger towards him was subsiding and being redirected towards her late father. Maybe he had done what he thought was best; but he had watched her going through such torment and self recrimination after Ian went away, knowing full well that it was totally unnecessary. All he needed to do was to put his hands up and say that he’d done what he thought was right, admitted the truth, and she would have forgiven him.
“So, how are your mum and dad keeping?”
“They’re fine; still pretty active. They always liked you, Judy. After you, whenever I brought a girl home she would never quite measure up.”
“That’s strange, because I thought that they didn’t like me, and they felt that I was behind your reluctance to join the fire service like your dad.”
“No, not at all; they always knew I was a wild one. I didn’t want to join the fire service because I didn’t want the responsibility. I saw how my dad worried about leaving mum a widow if a shout went wrong. I saw how it tore him apart when he’d been on a bad job. You’re not supposed to let things get to you but he couldn’t help it, and I knew I would be the same.”
“But somewhere along the line you changed your mind; because you said at the reunion you joined the fire service after all.”
“Truth is, once I’d made the decision to remain single there was no one else to worry about, and I knew it would make my parents proud, so I signed up. After I met Nicole, I got a transfer to Admin. Thought I was doing the right thing, less risk and all that, but Nicole insisted we didn’t tell anyone. It seems that telling someone you’re a fireman demands respect, but doing the paperwork doesn’t,” Ian laughed.
Glancing at her watch, Judy realized it was time to go. She felt that they still had unfinished business, and really didn’t want this to be the last time she saw Ian. Luckily, Ian was thinking the very same thing.
“How about we meet for dinner tonight, unless you’ve already got plans?”
“No, I’ve nothing planned,” Judy smiled.
“I noticed that Del Rios Diner round the corner is now Le Bistro D’Amour. Sounds classy, have you eaten there before?”
“No,” Judy giggled like a schoolgirl, “but it seems that everyone round here thinks if you give somewhere a French name it sounds more impressive, like this place for example. Anyway, what have we got to lose, let’s give it a go, who knows the food could be amazing.”
“That’s settled then; I’ll pop my head in their door when we’re done, and see if they’ve got a table for tonight.”
After discussing what time Judy finished work and the best time to meet, Judy stood up and turned to leave.
“Judy,” Ian call after her.
As she turned, wondering if she’d left something behind, he looked quite sad.
“You won’t stand me up will you?”
“No, of course not,” she reassured him.
Judy rushed along; eagerly counting the minutes until their next meeting. The anger had gone, the apprehension had gone, all that was left was the urge to get together with Ian and make up for all the lost time.
Chapter Twenty One
It was a very cold dark night when Judy arrived at the meeting place, and unlike the Judy of 1974, she now wrapped up warm in winter time. Practicality now always took precedence over appearance, but thanks to being surrounded by clothing in her workplace, Judy always managed to combine the two. As she climbed out of the taxi the cold air caught her breath causing her to cough involuntarily.
Le Bistro D’Amour may or may not live up to its name, but either way tonight Judy was determined to have fun. For one split second she imagined the unthinkable, that Ian had had second thoughts and that he wouldn’t show up. As she pushed open the door her fears were quashed as she spotted him in the corner of the dimly lit eating place.
The interior of the bistro was in no way French, the furniture was contemporary and the tablecloths were vivid shades of red and purple. The large blackboard menu was not in keeping with a small French bistro and neither was the music. However, the aroma coming from the restaurants kitchen immediately tickled the taste buds.
As Judy approached the table he stood and offered to help her off with her coat. Soon they were both seated, and sheepishly reaching under the table Ian produced a large gift bag.
“This is for you. I saw it this afternoon in the gift shop window and I just couldn’t resist. Hope you like it.”
Judy accepted the gift bag and glanced silently down into it. Before she had even taken the gift from the bag she could feel herself filling up. It would take all her strength to stop herself from bursting into floods of tears.
Pulling the plush light grey elephant from the bag, she stroked the pale pink felt inner surface of its ears, before straightening the matching pink ribbon around its neck.
“Oh, it’s gorgeous, Ian, I love it,” Judy beamed as her eyes glazed over, tears ready to overflow.
“I just thought, they say that an elephant never forgets, which is a bit like me really. I never forgot you Judy. I know
this sounds crazy, and I shouldn’t be talking like this since we haven’t seen each other for years, but that’s just the point isn’t it. We lost each other for decades and we can’t get that time back. I don’t know about you, but I think life’s too short, and none of us know what’s around the corner. Look at your husband and your dad, here one minute, gone the next. Please don’t answer me just yet, but how about you and me give it another go? We’ve got stacks to catch up on, and who knows I might drive you crazy once you get to know me again. Anyway, let’s eat, drink and be merry, as old whatshisname the RE teacher used to say before school lunch.”
Visions of the school dining hall came flooding back as Judy tried to remember the name of the RE teacher. Although it was totally trivial in the grand scheme of things Judy hated it when she couldn’t recall something, and was relieved when she remembered the name of the balding RE teacher with his baggy trousers and v neck home knit sweaters.
“Mr. Quickfall was the RE teacher,” Judy commented quite casually, as though she had remembered all along.
The quick change of subject eased the awkward situation, and after eating a rather tasty steak meal the mood was much more relaxed.
Despite it being so close to Christmas the bistro failed to fill up. When the last table had cleared the proprietor placed the closed sign on the door, before hastily clearing the tables and stacking them to the side of the room.
Raising her carefully manicured eyebrows Judy couldn’t help but comment, “That’s strange; not many businesses can afford to turn away passing trade by closing their doors early.”
“That’s down to me actually. I told the guy that if he didn’t take any more bookings after ours, I’d pay him for all the empty tables for the rest of the night.”
“But that’ll cost you a fortune,” responded Judy in astonishment.
“You’re worth it; and now for the pièce de résistance, as the French would say.”
Waving at the waiter who stood by the door to the kitchen, he nodded and pointed his forefinger toward the small music system that was situated next to the cash desk.
“Bom, bom, bom, bom, ooh oohooh, ooh, oohooh, ooh oohooh, ooh, bom, bom, bom, bom.”
There was no mistaking which song it was. Two star-crossed lovers giggled in instant recognition.
“Well, do you fancy a dance?”
Shrugging her shoulders, Judy pushed her chair back as she stood. Stepping to the side of the table she took hold of his outstretched hand.
“Why not.”
As two mature adults danced on the spot like two lovesick teens, it was clear that the magic was still there. It would be different this time around; they were worldly wise adults rather than naïve school kids. Whether it would be the happy ever after they both hoped for, who was to know; but for now they were both ecstatically happy. They had found each other again, and against all the odds they had been given a second chance.
“You won’t be lonely this Christmas, or any other Christmas ever again, Judy.”
They could feel each other’s hearts beating rapidly as they held each other tightly, and when Ian kissed Judy as passionately as dignity would allow, she knew that he really did mean the words he was saying. Whatever the future had in store for them one thing was for sure, neither of them would be ‘Lonely This Christmas’.
—ooOoo—
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Books By Krissie LaBaye
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Lonely This Christmas Page 7