Mrs Boots

by Deborah Carr

  ‘It’s shocking out there,’ the woman said, glancing around the displays in the shop. ‘I need to buy Christmas gifts for three nephews. They’re six, eight and nine years old, and I have no idea what they will like.’

  ‘We’ll definitely find something they’ll like here,’ Florence reassured her. ‘If you want to take a seat then I’ll bring you over a few choices.’

  Florence had been worrying about what to buy Jesse for Christmas and despite searching all the shops in St Helier that she supposed might stock something to his liking, she still had not found anything suitable. It was only when she was serving the older lady that it dawned on her. She would buy him the most exquisite leather letter-writing case. Jesse enjoyed writing letters and travelled from factory to shop constantly. If she bought this for him, and had it engraved with his initials, then he could write to her from anywhere.

  Satisfied that she had finally thought of something suitable, she settled and focused her attention on the customer.

  ‘How about a thaumatrope set?’

  The woman frowned. ‘I don’t know if I’ve heard of such a thing. Do you think it suitable for all three of the boys?’

  Florence reassured her that she did and asked Lily to fetch one, pointing to the picture on the box. ‘You see? It’s a disc with a picture on either side. Then they attach two pieces of string, in some sets a stick is attached. The boys then spin the disc and it makes the two pictures appear to merge into one.’ She took out the example and showed the woman how it worked.

  ‘The three of them can make their own thaumatropes and colour or paint them, then they can do a show for their parents.’

  Florence noticed that Lily was still standing nearby rather than having returned to her work. She wondered if maybe she hadn’t seen a thaumatrope set before, but sensed that Lily wanted to say something.

  ‘Lily, is there something the matter?’ she whispered as the customer focused her attention on the toy.

  ‘I … well … I was wondering if I could make a suggestion about the boys’ gifts?’

  ‘Oh, please do,’ the lady said, overhearing. ‘Any suggestions will be most welcome.’

  Lily’s face reddened. She caught Florence’s eye and seemed unsure what to do. Florence realised she was worried about speaking out of turn and smiled at her.

  ‘What did you have in mind?’

  ‘I have little brothers of similar ages to your nephews,’ she said, her confidence rising with every word she spoke. ‘I was thinking what they might like if they could choose anything from here, and I think they’d enjoy.’

  ‘Go on,’ the lady said, beaming at Lily.

  ‘Well, the oldest of my brothers would like one of the Kaleidoscopes that we have.’ She glanced at Florence who gave her an encouraging nod. ‘The middle one, I think would like a box of tin soldiers, and my youngest brother would probably enjoy the hobby horse.’

  ‘What a clever woman you are,’ the lady said, perking up and clapping her hands together gleefully. ‘I was beginning to think I’d fail to find anything for the boys. Such dear children, too, but rather a handful for their mother. If I buy them the gift that you suggested, Miss Rowe, for them to share. Then,’ she said, focusing her attention on Lily, ‘I could also buy them individual gifts. They should then be kept entertained for several hours, if not days. I’m sure their mother will be delighted.’

  ‘I can imagine she will be.’ She took a cheaper example from a nearby cupboard. ‘Let me show you this one. It will give you the idea, without breaking open your box. Your nephews might be different ages, but most children enjoy painting and it’s something they can do indoors in the winter and outdoors in the summer.’

  She and Lily waited patiently while the woman inspected the toy.

  ‘Splendid,’ she said finally. ‘That looks perfect and I can imagine that none of the other relations will have come up with this idea,’ she said, as if the suggestion had been her own.

  Florence smiled at Lily, satisfied that between them they had helped solve the lady’s problem. She gazed out of the window. The weather had worsened, and it was going to be nasty enough for the woman to walk home without having to carry an awkward box.

  ‘It’s still raining, and I doubt you want the box to get wet. If you want, Lily can take down your address and we’ll have it delivered to you first thing tomorrow.’

  ‘Thank you, my dears. You were both exceedingly helpful. I shall tell all my friends to visit you here if they need help buying presents. Now, do you have a piece of paper and a pen for my address?’

  As soon as the customer had left, Florence turned to Lily. ‘Thank you,’ she said, her happiness at the excellent sale, aware that she and Lily working so well together had benefitted the business, she watched Lily’s delight that her suggestions had been so well received.

  ‘I hope you don’t think I overstepped the mark?’ Lily said thoughtfully seconds later. ‘I hadn’t meant to offend.’

  Florence took her friend by the shoulders and shook her head, smiling. ‘Not at all. You were a wonderful help. It goes to show that with your experience of younger siblings you know a great deal about what children would choose given the choice. That knowledge is invaluable. Well done for stepping forward with your ideas.’

  Lily’s mouth drew back in a wide smile. ‘I’m so pleased that you’re not cross with me.’

  ‘Cross? Why would I be? You’ve taught me to make the most of your talents, as well as my own.’ She pulled Lily into a hug. ‘Thank you, and well done.’

  Later, satisfied that she and Lily had learnt something valuable from each other, Florence left her to keep an eye on the shop and went to find the latest delivery of writing folders. She wanted the most impressive one Rowe’s stocked for Jesse.

  She could hear Lily speaking to a couple about gifts, happy that she had a free few minutes to source the best present she could think of for Jesse. She opened each box, carefully peeling back the tissue paper inside to check which one she favoured most. She was about to open the next box when something caught her eye. It was a larger box. She couldn’t recall seeing this box before. There seemed to be only one in this size.

  Florence lifted it from the chest and carefully lifted the lid, gasping at the magnificent oxblood-red embossed leather cover. She folded back the two ornate brass clasps holding the book shut and lifted the top cover to display the most exquisite photograph album she had ever seen. This was what she would buy for Jesse for their first Christmas.

  They might not be together, but this gift would express the hope that she held for their future together and over time they would slowly fill each of the empty framed spaces with photographs of themselves and, God willing, their family when it arrived.

  Florence ran a fingertip around the edge of one of the empty framed areas, then, closing the cover lightly, ran her fingers across the embossed leather. She felt certain that Jesse would love this as she did.

  She did not mind how much it cost, the gesture meant too much to scrimp and hopefully this gift would last their entire lives together.

  She painstakingly wrapped the album in the tissue paper once again and placed it into the box, closing the lid very slowly.

  She would package it carefully and send it to him first thing in the morning, together with the carefully chosen Christmas card she had found for him earlier in the week.

  *

  It was Christmas Eve. After a day filled with one customer after the other coming to the shop panicking over what last-minute gifts to buy people, their father, Amy, Lily and Florence were finally able to lock the door.

  ‘I’d like to give you a little Christmas box, Lily,’ their father said. He had spoken to Florence and Amy a few days earlier about his idea of giving Lily a small bonus as a Christmas gift.

  ‘I beg your pardon?’ Lily’s eyes widened as she glanced from one of them to the other. ‘But I’ve only been working here a few weeks.’

  ‘Yes,’ Mr Rowe said, handing her a small
brown envelope with her wages inside. ‘And you’ve been a little gem. You’ve learned quickly and worked hard. You’re always on time, and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed having you working here at W. H. Rowe.’

  Her expression changed immediately, and she seemed as if she was on the brink of tears. ‘You want me to leave now?’

  ‘What?’ he frowned. ‘No. I’m simply praising you for your work. And wishing you a happy Christmas. I expect to see you back here bright and early on the twenty-seventh. We’ll have a lot of work to do after the next few days. People wanting to change items and the like.’

  ‘Oh,’ she said, her cheerful expression reappearing on her pretty face, ‘that’s very kind of you. Thank you.’

  ‘It’s a Christmas box for your family,’ Florence explained.

  Lily stiffened. She could see that she wanted to refuse but wasn’t in the position to do so.

  ‘For your younger siblings, too,’ she added. ‘I don’t have children, but I recall how excited I was for Christmas. We thought that maybe you could give them a little treat.’

  She knew the treat would probably be by way of food and hoped that it would be the case. If Lily’s skinny appearance was anything to go by her siblings and mother would need a bit of a boost.

  After a little hesitation, Lily shrugged. ‘As long as it’s not charity. Father won’t let us accept any charity.’

  Florence’s father shook his head. ‘No, it isn’t that,’ he insisted. ‘Not at all. We give a Christmas box to some of the people that deliver to us. We wanted to include you in the group of people to whom we share this token gift.’

  Lily’s pride restored, she smiled. ‘Then I’d be very happy to be one of your people. Thanks, Miss Florence, Miss Amy, Mr Rowe.’

  ‘You’ll also find an extra two shillings in your wage packet,’ her father said proudly.

  Lily stared at the brown envelope in her hand. ‘Two bob! Thanks very much.’

  Florence wondered if they could have got away with giving Lily more. ‘See you after Christmas, Lily, and have a lovely time with your family.’

  She was visibly brighter now, Florence was relieved to see. Lily’s right hand clasped shut around the envelope. ‘I’m looking forward to it. Happy Christmas to you all.’

  Now Florence really did feel like she had the Christmas spirit, she thought, as she watched Lily leave. She hoped Lily hadn’t realised that they had made up the story about the Christmas box. Either way, she thought they had managed to give Lily a little money, which Florence knew she would use to make this Christmas slightly special for her mother and siblings.

  ‘And I have a small gift for you, too,’ Florence said, going behind the counter and taking the wrapped boot box and handing it to Lily.

  Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. ‘Thank you,’ she sniffed.

  ‘Have a lovely Christmas,’ Florence said, giving Lily a hug.

  ‘You, too,’ Lily said before leaving the shop.

  Florence went upstairs to the flat, feeling emotionally drained. Her mother pointed out a package that had arrived addressed in Jesse’s handwriting for Florence. Unlike the one she had posted to him the day before, this package was very small.

  ‘I imagine it’s jewellery,’ Amy whispered as Florence studied the brown paper surrounding the gift. ‘Why don’t you take that off? I would imagine he has had the gift itself wrapped prettily for you. At least, I should hope so?’

  Florence was certain that Jesse would have done. He was such a thoughtful man and always took note of the details with anything he did. She untied the string surrounding the package and peeled off the brown paper to reveal a card box. She lifted the lid off it carefully to reveal a beautiful pale crushed rose paper tied neatly around her present and tied with a silver ribbon.

  A small label attached to it said simply, To Florence, may this be the one and only Christmas that we celebrate alone. My love, Jesse x

  Amy gasped. ‘You’d better hide that from Father. He won’t be pleased to see Jesse’s affections for you demonstrated quite so openly.’

  Her sister was right. Now she knew why Jesse had taken such care to add an outer layer of wrapping. She placed the gift back into the box, closed the lid and re-wrapped it, tying the ends of the string in a tight knot so that it would need cutting to remove it.

  ‘There, that’s better,’ she said happily knowing what was inside. ‘Now no one will be able to open it but me.’

  Chapter 25

  Florence woke and silently wished Jesse a happy Christmas. Soon the world would be celebrating 1886 and then she could count down the months until Jesse’s return to the island.

  Her thoughts turned to Lily. Her reading had come on exceedingly well and Florence could not be more proud of her protégé. She pictured her and wondered what Lily’s Christmas was going to be like? She hoped the family’s circumstances had improved. Maybe Lily would have a celebratory day with her closest ones, she hoped so.

  Florence stretched and, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, got up. She yawned as she brushed her hair; parting her hair into sections, she expertly twisted and pinned it in place and in moments her hair was presentable. She washed and dressed and, wanting to be alone to open Jesse’s gift, crept into the living room and retrieved his present from under the Christmas tree.

  She went to her bedroom and taking a small pair of manicure scissors, snipped the string holding the brown paper around the box. She removed the dull paper and held the beautifully wrapped box in her hand, marvelling at the intricate Christmas paper with the lace motif that had been used to wrap her gift. Florence carefully untied the silver ribbon and folded it gently.

  Then taking her time so as not to tear the paper, she finally removed it and opened the box. Within it was a letter and a smaller leather box. She unfolded the single sheet of paper and pictured Jesse saying the words to her.

  16–20 Goose Gate

  Nottingham

  16 December 1885

  Miss Florence Rowe

  27 Queen Street

  St Helier

  Jersey

  My dearest Florence,

  I hope this small gift that I commissioned a jeweller to make for you is to your taste. I am painfully aware that I have not been allowed to present you with a promise ring and wanted to give you something that symbolised our love without offending your parents. I therefore thought of a love knot. To me it not only symbolises our love but the eternity that we will share once we are married. I believe that despite our enforced separation we have a bond that no other can break and so, my love, I give you this to wear until I am able to present you with the engagement ring you deserve. The ruby is the deepest red the jeweller could source and this, as well as the embossed roses, represents my love for you.

  I shall miss you on Christmas Day, more than I do on the other days we are apart, but I know in my heart that this will be the last time anyone has the power to keep us apart.

  So, my dearest Florence, Happy Christmas. Think of me and know that summer will soon be here.

  Your ever loving,

  Jesse

  Her heart fluttered as she pressed lightly on the metal clasp of the box and it opened to reveal an exquisite brooch. She gasped at the intricate love knot with tiny roses embossed over it and in the middle was the deepest, reddest ruby she had ever seen.

  With trembling hands she carefully removed the brooch from its protective casing and pinned it onto her dress. She walked over to the small mirror at her dressing table and stared, admiring the perfect gift that Jesse had sent her. He might not be here today, she thought, but his sentiments had come across with this present. She didn’t need reminding that he loved her, but he had ensured that all the love he held for her was displayed in this precious gift.

  ‘Thank you, Jesse,’ she whispered, longing to be with him, even if for one moment, to kiss him and wish him a very happy Christmas.

  ‘Florence?’ It was her mother calling from the hallway. ‘Amy? Hurry along, girls; w
e need to be at chapel in fifteen minutes.’

  ‘Coming, Mother,’ Florence replied, surprised at how long she must have been sitting thinking about Jesse and wondering what he was doing at that precise moment. Probably leaving for chapel, too. She wished they were going to the same one together.

  ‘Never mind,’ she murmured. ‘This time next year things will be very different.’

  Hopefully different in the way that she hoped. Although she was determined to marry him regardless of the opposition against her by her mother and maybe even her father, she did still live in their home and wasn’t in a position just yet to be able to afford to move out and rent a place of her own.

  It was a cold but sunny day, and everyone they passed on the way to Halkett Place seemed more cheerful than usual. They walked past the home where she had been born and stopped while her parents chatted briefly with their previous neighbours. Amy and Florence left their parents talking to their friends and walked the last few yards to the steps of the impressive church that she had known all her life.

  Amy nudged her gently. ‘Look,’ she whispered, indicating a small group of people standing slightly apart from everyone else.

  ‘Isn’t that the Buttons family?’

  ‘Yes,’ Amy said. ‘Look, doesn’t Lily look well.’

  Florence noticed how Lily’s skin glowed. It was such a change from the pinched, anxious expression she had borne that day Florence had spoken to her in Waterloo Street about the job at Rowe’s. She seemed to have filled out slightly too. Florence’s sadness at missing Jesse lifted slightly. She couldn’t wait to tell him about the Buttons family. She presumed their cheerfulness and the children’s rosy cheeks had come about by Lily buying extra food for them. Lily’s clothes seemed newer too.

  ‘Let’s go and speak to them,’ Florence said, not wishing them to feel out of place, which, judging by the nervous looks on the face of Lily’s mother as she kept scanning the crowd outside the church, they did.

  ‘Mrs Buttons,’ Florence said when she reached them, closely followed by Amy. ‘Hello, Lily. We thought it was you.’