On Christmas Day

by Rosie James

  Mr. Mayland spoke again. ‘I can see that you are as surprised as we were,’ he said, ‘because the purchaser has paid well over and above what any of us expected the land to fetch. The bids from the other two interested parties came nowhere near that sum.’

  Lexi found it hard to speak for a moment. The figure dancing before her eyes was a fortune! She looked up at the solicitor, knowing the answer to the question she was about to ask. ‘And who is it? Who has paid this enormous amount of money for my field?’ she asked quietly.

  Mr Mayland smiled broadly. ‘Let us just say that the gentleman is well able to afford it, Miss Martin, because he is a very wealthy man.’ The solicitor stood up. ‘I’m sure you know of him – it is Mr. Reynard McCann of Grey Gables.’

  As she made her way slowly back home, Lexi felt as if she was living a fantasy, a dream. But this was not a dream, this was real. The solicitor had just confirmed it. She was, as he had said before, a very wealthy young woman. Her house, soon to be officially theirs, surely …

  As she approached the Roman Baths, she stopped suddenly. That was Miss Lewis over there … looking in that shop window. Lexi went straight across and gently touched the lady on the shoulder. And at once Jean Lewis turned and clutched Lexi’s hand.

  ‘Lexi – my dear,’ Jean Lewis said, ‘how lovely to see you – and you are looking so well! And so lovely, as always.’

  ‘You are obviously here visiting friends,’ Lexi said. ‘Are you staying in Bath for a while?’

  Jean Lewis paused. ‘It is a long story, Lexi,’ she said. ‘Look, have you time for a cup of coffee? I would love to talk to you, dear.’

  Lexi didn’t hesitate, even though she really wanted to get back. ’Of course I have time, Miss Lewis,’ Lexi said. ‘Why don’t we go up to Fortte’s – it is always nice and quiet there, where we can chat.’

  Sitting opposite each other at a table in the corner, with a large jug of hot coffee and two Micado cakes in front of them, Jean Lewis said –

  ‘The fact is, Lexi – I could not settle in Cornwall. I tried my best to make it feel like home, but there will always only be one home for me, and that is here, in Bath, where I know so many people.’ Jean Lewis stopped to pour coffee into their cups before going on. ‘Having the shop, you know, all those years, Lexi, everyone who came in felt like … felt like family. And although I was there alone after my sister died, I never felt lonely … never. Especially after you came into my life, Lexi. I was the happiest then, that I had been for a long time.’

  Lexi hardly knew what to say to that, and coloured up at the compliment. ‘Well, you know how I felt about the shop, Miss Lewis,’ she said gently, ‘I used to pretend that it was mine – because that is what it felt like to me.’

  Jean Lewis stirred some sugar into her coffee. ‘Of course, the doctor was only trying to do the best for me at the time, in suggesting that I move somewhere near the sea, and in fact my cough is much, much better. But I just did not feel happy, and that was making me feel less well.’ She paused before adding – ‘Homesickness can be as debilitating as any other sickness, you know, Lexi, and I could not stay that far away for the rest of my life. I knew I couldn’t, and that’s all there is to it.’

  There was silence for a few moments as the two enjoyed their Micados, then Jean Lewis said, looking around her – ‘I may even look for a little job – somewhere like this would be rather nice.’ She smiled across. ‘One of the reasons I have felt so lost is that I had nothing to do. My time was my own, and I liked that – for about five minutes! But I have always worked hard, you see, and work is what I like best, it’s what I do best. It makes me feel complete … if you understand me, Lexi.’

  Lexi returned her smile. ‘I really do understand, Miss Lewis,’ she said softly. ‘So – when are you coming back?Have you sold your house in Cornwall?’

  ‘Oh, I only rented a small place,’ Jean Lewis said, ‘and now what I have to do is to find somewhere here that I can afford to buy – or rent, if I have to.’ She smiled briefly. ‘Of course, money soon slips through the fingers when one has no income to rely on, and it doesn’t seem to me that there’s going to be much choice of dwelling for me with the resources I have.’ She smiled ruefully. ‘I must just be patient - I only returned to Bath a couple of days ago and friends in Henrietta Road are putting me up temporarily.’

  A little while later, Lexi said – ‘I am not singing at the Pump Room anymore, Miss Lewis,’ and Jean Lewis looked up, surprised.

  ‘Oh? Why not, dear?’

  Lexi took a deep breath before explaining that Mr Bakewell had left her the café, and that she was going to be running it herself. But she said nothing about the extreme wealth she had also inherited. Not after Miss Lewis had been telling Lexi about her own circumstances. That would have been thoughtless.

  Eventually the two parted company, both promising to keep in touch. ‘You know where our cottage is, Miss Lewis,’ Lexi said, ‘and my mother and I would always be very pleased if you called in to see us.’

  Before she went home, Lexi ran down to Grey Gables to see if Johnny had arrived. He was due back from college today, but Anna hadn’t been too sure what time that would be, because another parent was bringing him. Mr McCann had a very important site meeting which he had to attend.

  When Lexi went into the kitchen, Anna was there as usual, and she turned to smile at Lexi. ‘How clever of you, Lexi – Johnny only came back half an hour ago and he’s upstairs getting out of his college suit and into something more comfortable. I’ll call up and tell him you are here.’ Anna went over to the inner door before adding – ‘Can you stay for a light lunch with us dear?’

  Lexi shook her head quickly. ‘No thanks, Anna … I’ve got rather a lot to do. Dada is down at the café, so I’d better join him! But I just had to see Johnny – if he was home.’

  ‘Of course you did!’ Anna said, then, calling up the stairs – ‘Lexi is here, Johnny! Hurry up!’

  Lexi sat down on the edge of a chair for a minute, suddenly feeling exhausted. Well, rather a lot had gone on that morning, and she was only just beginning to take it all in. She glanced over at Anna.

  ‘I was looking at Mr Bakewell’s big book of recipes yesterday, Anna,’ she said, ‘I knew where he kept it, of course, because he showed it to me many times. Everything he ever made is written down, all in beautiful handwriting – and you won’t have any trouble making the rice pudding slices! It’s all there in black and white.’

  ‘Well, I’m relieved to hear that,’ Anna said. She smiled at Lexi. ‘You must be feeling so excited, my dear,’ she said, ‘and I am excited for you. And I promise that I will cook for you as often as possible – it’s going to be a challenge for all of us!’

  Just then Johnny’s footsteps could be heard clattering down the stairs, and he came right in and caught Lexi around the waist, and she stood up to be hugged, thinking that she truly must the luckiest girl in the whole world. There was nothing more – and no one more – that she wanted, or would ever want.

  And Anna, with her arms folded, gazed at the pair of them. What a beautiful couple they were – they were made for each other. Anyone could see it.

  Eventually breaking apart, a reluctant Lexi went over to the door. ‘I’ll have to go,’ she said. ‘Mama will have made the dinner, and as I told you in my letter, Johnny – Dada is here, too! And working so hard at the café! He just won’t stop!’

  Johnny followed Lexi to the door. ‘I can’t come up to the cottage to see you until this evening, Lexi,’ he said, ‘because my father and Alfred will be back later this afternoon and of course I must be here to talk to them.’

  ‘Of course,’ Lexi said. ‘And Phoebe and Joe have broken up as well, so we shall be a full house. Dada and I will be back at tea time – if I can drag him away from the café. He is going to work himself to a standstill if I don’t stop him.’

  Chapter Thirty-One

  It was almost 9 o’clock by the time Johnny knocked on the door and let himself
into the cottage. Lexi had been watching the clock as she waited for him, and now, with the two of them alone in the kitchen for a few moments, she slipped her arms around his neck.

  ‘What kept you so long?’ she whispered, ‘Phoebe and Joe have gone to bed, and they were so disappointed not to see you. I thought you’d forgotten you said you’d come.’

  ‘As if I could forget,’ Johnny murmured. ‘Sorry … my father has got a lot going on with work, and he wanted to tell me all about it in detail!’

  They moved inside where Cecilia and Albert were sitting quietly together, and Albert immediately stood up.

  ‘Well, if it isn’t young Johnny McCann!’ he said, going over to shake Johnny’s hand. ‘And will you kindly stop growing so tall! Soon you are going to reach the ceiling, so you are!.’

  ‘Hello Mr Martin,’ Johnny said, ‘it’s very good to see you again, sir.’ And for the next ten minutes the four chatted happily, with everyone trying to get a word in. There was so much good news to go on and on about …

  Presently, Johnny sat back, sensing that if he played his cards right, this could be his chance. Mrs Martin had made it clear that her husband must be consulted – but as he seldom put in an appearance, Johnny had never seen that happening. But Albert Martin was here, now … and Johnny swallowed nervously. There were ways of doing these things, and he was desperate to get it right, not to put his foot in it, not to say the wrong thing. He stood up and went over to where Albert was sitting.

  ‘Mr Martin,’ Johnny said, ‘I have something very special I need to say to you … if you could spare me a few moments.’

  Sitting in her chair, Cecilia stared straight ahead. She knew what was coming and she was powerless to stop it.

  Albert looked up. ‘What’s that, Johnny?’ he said.

  ‘It’s just that … that I love your daughter, Mr Martin,’ Johnny said, ‘and she loves me. Lexi and I have known each other for a very long time as you well know, but the feelings we had for each other as children have changed into something much deeper, very much deeper. And one day, I hope we shall be married.’

  Cecilia broke in nervously. ‘Johnny – my husband is very tired because he’s been at the café for most of the day. Perhaps … perhaps another time for this …?’ But Albert interrupted.

  ‘No, hear him out, Cissy,’ he said. ‘And I’m not tired. Not at all.’

  Johnny swallowed, forcing himself to go on. ‘I have always known that Lexi is the one for me, and the thing is, in two years’ time I will have finished my training and will be in a position to start earning enough to support my wife.’ He paused, sensing that he had Mr Martin’s interest. ‘I have spoken to Mrs Martin about this, but she didn’t feel able to consider the matter until I had spoken to you.’ He could hardly say that he was afraid Lexi’s mother didn’t like him enough to be her son-in-law.

  Albert leaned back and gazed up at Johnny. He’d always liked this McCann boy. He was handsome, easy to talk to, unpretentious. And he was well-connected. There was money at Grey Gables – not that that mattered now, now that their clever Lexi was rich, but still … and if these two youngsters loved each other, what could possibly go wrong?

  Albert got up and went across to where Lexi was sitting, her hands in her lap, her eyes downcast. He gently brought her to her feet.

  ‘Is what Johnny has told me all true, Lexi?’ he asked gently. ‘Do you believe that this young man is really the one you want? For the rest of your life? Think about that. Is he right when he says that you love him as much as he loves you?’

  Lexi dropped her head onto Albert’s shoulder. ‘Yes, Dada, I do love Johnny,’ she whispered. ‘He has always been the one I want to marry.’

  A huge, cheerful grin spread across Albert’s face. ‘You know, Cecilia and I were meant for each other, too,’ he said. ‘There’s no explaining these things, but when it happens, you just know it. So, if my wife is in agreement, Johnny McCann, when the time comes, you have our permission to marry our daughter.’

  It was almost midnight when Lexi went upstairs to bed. Going over to where Phoebe and Joe were sleeping peacefully, she bent to kiss each forehead gently.

  Slipping into her nightdress, she sat on the edge of her bed and started to brush her hair. Then there was a light tap on the door, and Cecilia came in. Lexi turned, and their eyes met.

  ‘I’m … I’m so sorry, Mama,’ Lexi said quietly, and Cecilia sat down beside her.

  ‘What are you sorry about, Lexi?’

  ‘You know … what Johnny said to Dada, and then what Dada agreed to,’ Lexi said miserably. ‘Because I know that it is not what you want, Mama. You don’t really want Johnny and me to be together, do you?’ Lexi looked up, her eyes full of tears. ‘I don’t know why that is, because I always thought you liked Johnny, Mama.’

  Cecilia began brushing Lexi’s hair gently. ‘I do like Johnny. It’s not that, Lexi,’ Cecilia said. ‘It’s just that no parent thinks any man is good enough for their daughter, however nice he is. You have not met very many men, Lexi, not enough to know your own mind so early in your life.’

  ‘But I do know that Johnny is the one for me, and that I am the one for him,’ Lexi said earnestly. ‘Dada said you and he felt the same about each other, didn’t he?’

  Cecilia nodded slowly, knowing that this was true. And in spite of all things, she wouldn’t change Albert Martin for anyone else on earth.

  She put down the brush and tucked Lexi into bed. ‘You must get some sleep now, Lexi,’ Cecilia said softly. ‘It’s not good to go to bed with so many things on your mind.’ She smoothed her daughter’s forehead gently, and Lexi looked up.

  ‘But you’re not too cross, are you, Mama?’

  ‘Of course not,’ Cecilia said. ‘Now, goodnight darling. Sleep well.’

  As she went downstairs, Cecilia’s mind was made up. Things had become completely out of her control. The time had come when she must make her move. The move she’d prayed would never become necessary.

  The following morning at Grey Gables, Johnny tapped on the door of his father’s study and went straight in. Reynard looked up, smiling. He patted the chair beside him for Johnny to sit.

  ‘I know you’re busy, Dad,’ Johnny said, ‘but would you mind sparing me a few moments to talk to you about something?’

  ‘I’m seldom too busy to talk to either of my sons,’ Reynard said affably. For all sorts of reasons Reynard McCann was feeling happier than he had ever done before. ‘Fire away.’

  ‘It’s … it’s about Lexi and me,’ Johnny began carefully, and. Reynard raised one eyebrow. ‘Go on,’ he said, but he didn’t really need telling. He had watched his son and the girl together many times.

  ‘I want you to know that Lexi and I love each other, and one day we hope to be married,’ Johnny said earnestly. ‘I was able to speak to Mr Martin about this last night, and he has given me his approval to court his daughter.’ Johnny hesitated before going on. ‘Of course, I cannot marry Lexi until I finish my training and start on my career – well, until I am in a position to support my wife,’ he added.

  Reynard sat back and folded his arms. Lexi Martin was a beautiful young woman, spirited and determined, and she was now also very rich. A more than useful asset for any bride to bring with her.

  There was silence for a few seconds, then Johnny said – ‘I am so happy, Dad, but I would be even happier if you are in favour of Lexi one day being your daughter-in-law. I realize that you have got know her quite well, but when you know her as I do, Dad, you will understand. She is everything a man could wish for. She works so hard and she is kind and sweet and funny and clever … always putting others before herself. And, it may seem a strange thing to say, but Lexi is very courageous, and very brave,’ Johnny went on, ‘and I don’t think anything, or anyone, will get the better of her. Ever. She is that determined. That focused,’ he added.

  Reynard stared into the far distance for a few moments. He himself could vouch for the girl’s bravery and courage, and he
felt a nerve in his neck twitch uncomfortably. Although he had managed to disconnect his thoughts from the night those intruders had broken in, what he could not forget was the shame, the ignominy, of being attacked and overcome in his own dining room, tied to a chair like a helpless animal awaiting slaughter. But at least, thankfully, it had never become public, because why would those louts want to brag about being held up at gunpoint by a slip of a girl – and leaving the premises with absolutely nothing to show for their infamy? And the girl – she had promised never to speak of it to anyone, and she clearly had not. Reynard ran his tongue over his bottom lip. And he agreed with Johnny. She was brave, and very courageous, because she had dealt with that egregious situation with quiet calm – even though Reynard had been only too aware of her small fingers shaking as she’d struggled with the knotted rope around his ankles.

  He nodded slowly in agreement with his son’s opinion of Lexi. ‘She is certainly a very hard-working young woman,’ Reynard said. ‘Very diligent. She never failed to collect the rents, and there was never a penny missing.’ He paused, then - ‘And I agree that she appears to be – that she is - a very brave young woman,’ he added.

  ‘I am glad that you think so, Dad,’ Johnny said quietly.

  After a moment, Reynard stood up and went over to fetch two glasses of brandy. He offered one to Johnny, who immediately stood up, smiling all over his face.

  Reynard raised his glass. ‘Let us drink a toast to the future married couple, Johnny and Lexi Martin,’ he said.

  It was now the very end of July, and the café was due to re-open in a few weeks’ time. Lexi had decided that it should be on a Saturday when more people might be around to patronize her business, so the 18th of August was to be the big day.

  This morning, Lexi had been down to the small grocer’s shop at the end of Westgate Street to place her first order for flour and sugar. She knew exactly what to ask for, because she’d done this task for Mr Bakewell several times – and anyway all necessary details were carefully recorded in the book he’d kept for the purpose.