by Jane Gilley
‘Ah! Well, you and I, Marjorie,’ he began, after a little pause. ‘You and I, first and foremost, have got a wonderful friendship. It’s a friendship I never thought I would have with a woman, after Dianne. All my friends were men before. But I think you and I now have something more than just a friendship, even though friendships are marvellous institutions. So if you’re in agreement, Marjorie, I’d like to see where this thing takes us …’
***
Stacy was sitting sullenly at one of the tables.
‘I really thought they’d come, you know.’
John put his arm around her.
‘You’ve done your best, Stacy. The rest is up to them. We can’t predict what someone else will do. It’s the same in my line of work. Everybody reacts differently to things like trauma, shock or bad news. Some people lose it and smash things up or hurt people. Others bury their head in the sand. Or maybe they’ve simply been discussing things and want to go and see her privately. That would be more likely, don’t you think? Look, let’s finish the Champagne and let’s have one last dance.’
‘But they don’t know where she lives. I only put the address of the community centre on that piece of paper. And she’s moving into her new flat soon so they won’t know where that is, either.’
‘Well, you’ve tried your best. Come on, Stacy. I want to have our first slow dance together here. Let’s start making some of our own happy memories, sweetheart. Let everything else sort itself out.’
***
As the evening wore down, people started slowly drifting away. Dora hoped they’d have happy memories of her party. She’d wished them a happy Christmas and fun at New Year if they were going to parties. They all traipsed out around ten-ish with their food bags and happy boozy smiles.
‘Thanks for inviting us, Dora. It’s been wonderful!’
‘Yes, thank you, Dora. We don’t often go to parties!’
‘You’re all very welcome!’ Dora smiled, happily.
The DJ had started putting his decks and equipment away and Eileen and Taynor followed him out the door after hugging Dora and all her family and friends.
‘Happy Christmas! Happy New Year! See you next year. We start up again from mid-January, so see you then. Bye!’
Even though Dora had told people to take as much food as they liked from the buffet table, there was still masses of it left.
‘Hey, guys,’ she said to her remaining crowd, ‘Please take some more of this stuff. It’s sacrilegious to leave it all here.’
Eileen had told Dora that the woman who locked up after parties would come at midnight so could Dora put any rubbish in the bins provided, ready for removal. Usually everything had to be cleared out by the partygoers but on this occasion she’d okayed it with the organisers for Dora to just do the clearing and leave their rubbish bags in the canteen. Marjorie, Raymond, Stacy and John and the rest of Dora’s family had said they would stay and help clear up. And so they set to, putting jackets on the backs of chairs and rolling their sleeves up as they started the clearing process.
By 10.40 p.m. the last black bin sack had just been put in the kitchen and the chairs stacked in the corner of the hall. Raymond and even Stuart were pink-faced and perspiring.
‘Remind me not to offer a full spring-clean at the end of the next party!’ Raymond said chuckling.
The door connecting the main hall to the reception area, opened.
‘Anyone want a balloon to take home, guys? Otherwise we’ll have to go round popping them all,’ Dora called out.
That made Marjorie smile.
‘Um, I think I’d like a balloon,’ said the voice of the girl who came in through the door.
She wasn’t alone. Her father was with her and his mother was behind them. The girl’s grandmother went straight over to the surprised but delighted Stacy and gave her a hug.
‘Thank you so much! You were right, love,’ she said. ‘I didn’t know the whole story. I do now.’
Dora stood staring, from one to the other, her mouth slowly opening in awe. Marjorie knew what was happening straight away; it was patently clear that they were witnessing the long-overdue reunion between her dear friend and her long-lost family. There was no doubt that Dora was Lauren’s mother with her blonde hair, blue eyes, the same cheekbones. Dora’s mother’s mouth dropped open in shock too and she stared in complete disbelief at the scene being played out in front of her.
Stacy was so happy she burst into tears. John hugged her and whispered, ‘Why are you crying, Stace? This is the best possible outcome. You should be so pleased.’
‘This is me p-pleased!’ she spluttered.
‘God, I’d hate to see you when you’re sad then,’ he said with a smile.
‘I think it’s time we left,’ Marjorie said to Raymond, quietly.
‘What, love?’
‘No, don’t. Please stay. This is momentous for me. I’m sorry, Mum. I should’ve told you. But the time never seemed right and I never thought … I really never thought this day would come. I’d hoped it would happen. But no, I never truly believed it would,’ Dora said, looking across the room at her mother.
Andy looked around at everybody and then he suddenly moved forward. He went to everyone in turn, shaking their hands.
‘Hi, I’m Andy,’ he said. ‘And this amazing young woman here is my – no – mine and Dora’s daughter, Lauren. And we’re, um, we’re very pleased to meet you all, even though this is a little overdue.’
When Dora’s mother had recovered from her shock she strode over to Dora, her eyes blazing.
‘Why didn’t you tell us? Why didn’t you tell us? Your father would have loved her! Your father would have absolutely bloody ADORED her!’ she yelled, bursting into tears. Then she abruptly turned on her heels and stormed out of the building, with her sister in hot pursuit.
Dora stared after her mother in complete astonishment; as did everybody else. She never imagined, for an instant, that her mother would react so aggressively to this amazing news. Her mother should’ve been hugging her only actual granddaughter for all she was worth! She’d been building bridges with her mother for years; always waiting for that one special moment when – she imagined – Yvonne would take her in her arms and tell her she loved her, no matter what she did in life. But, in that instant Dora realised her mother would never forgive her for this.
And that knowledge was too much for Dora to bear. Her head drooped forward and silent tears flooded her face, dripping off her chin as she stood there, crushed.
Stacy and Marjorie reacted, first, but Andy was nearest and reached out and scooped her into a tight hug.
‘I’m so sorry about all this, Dee. It’s all my fault,’ he said hoarsely, wrapping his arms around her, feeling her racking sobs.
And then suddenly Lauren was there too, tears dripping down her own face as she reached out to hug the woman she’d recently been reintroduced to as her mother. ‘It’s okay … Mum. It’ll be okay!’
Chapter 34
After the commotion over the shock arrival of Dora’s daughter, Marjorie and Stacy had busied themselves making teas and coffees for everyone. Then Marjorie and Raymond had left with Stacy, John and Jodie.
‘We’ll speak later,’ Marjorie had whispered to Dora, giving her a big hug. ‘It’ll get better.’
Dora had walked up to Stacy and thrown her arms around her.
‘Thank you so much, Stacy,’ she whispered. ‘It was a plucky thing you did for me and I will be eternally grateful that you did it. It’s the best gift anyone could’ve given me, despite the, er, result. I owe you big time for this and love you heaps.’
***
The rest of the family were finally sitting quietly, pensively, around a table and sipping their hot drinks when Philippa brought Yvonne back into the room. Yvonne snatched herself out of Philippa’s grasp and sat down at the opposite end of the table to Dora. Philippa sat next to Dora and gave her a hug. Yvonne sat rigidly, with her back to Dora, her arms folded. She was furiou
s at this unbelievable turn of events. She’d thought they’d almost become as close as sisters over the years. It was like a slap discovering the biggest secret Dora had kept from her.
And even though the heating was on in the hall the atmosphere felt frosty.
‘So, Yvonne, I just wanted to say that this is not Dora’s fault,’ Andy began, breaking into the strained atmosphere. ‘We certainly made mistakes and it is a bit of a mess. But we’re here today to try and start putting things right.’
No one spoke.
Hazel held Steph’s hand and had an expression on her face that suggested she’d much rather be somewhere else. Stuart was looking down at his feet, slightly shaking his head. Dora’s lips were quivering as if she was about to start crying again. Her face was tear-stained with mascara streaked down one cheek. Philippa was patting Dora’s hand and trying to shoot daggers at her sister who refused to make eye contact with anyone.
‘I understand exactly how you feel, Yvonne,’ Lauren’s other grandmother said, finally finding her voice. ‘I have also been led to believe something very different to the truth. I spent a lifetime thinking it was Dora who’d gone off with someone and walked away from Lauren and I’m not usually one to get mad at anyone—’
‘Grandma lost it with Dad,’ Lauren said with a small smile, interrupting the tension between the so-called adults. ‘But I want to get to know my mum, now. I think I always did want to know her. I always wondered what it’d be like if we met. And, um, to both grandmas, kids do keep things from their parents. And I wanted to say that parents do not always know us or know what’s best for us. You may think you do and you may even want us to think like you. But everybody’s different. And, Dad, you were wrong to do what you did. You weren’t protecting me from anything by not telling the truth. You were keeping me from the truth.’
‘Well.’ Dora sniffed as Philippa handed her a tissue. ‘I think that’s the most astute thing anybody’s said tonight. And yes, between us, me and Andy have certainly screwed things up. I will admit. But I do want my daughter back in my life. I need her in my life and if all of you here don’t like that or can’t accept that this thing has happened and move on from it, tough. I’m sick of worrying about every sodding aspect of my life all the time. Damn right I had no confidence before. The success of my family was a tough act to follow. I never did feel good enough in their eyes and so the decisions I made may not have been great at the time. But what’s done is done. Can’t we just move on from that?’
Dora glanced around the table. This time Stuart began to nod.
‘Well, Mother? And screw your neck back in, you’re not bloody perfect, yourself!’ Dora snapped.
Lauren’s hand shot to her mouth, to stifle the giggle at her mother’s comment. And gradually everybody started to smile. That was the old Dora. Not standing for any nonsense!
‘Bloody hell, Yvonne. You’re so bloody immature sometimes!’ Philippa shouted, making everyone jump. ‘Well, are you going to kiss and make up or what? It’s way past our bedtime!’
Lauren got out of her seat and went to stand by Yvonne’s chair.
‘Um, I know you’re really mad with everyone, Grandma – can I call you that? But you know what? I think once you’ve got used to the idea, you’ll like it. We’re all going to try and be friends with each other and I think once everyone gets friendlier it’d be really nice to have a proper family Christmas together. Maybe at Grandma Pat’s this year or next year if you want?’ Lauren said slowly. ‘I think it’d be great.’
***
Andy raised his eyebrows.
This sort of thing hadn’t been discussed. Lauren had been so distraught when Stacy had left that day. After she’d confronted her father about the truth, she’d stormed off to stay with friends, switching her mobile off with no word when she’d be coming back. Andy truly thought he’d lost his daughter for a while, there. Even his mother told him to, ‘Get out of my house!’ Why did I let it all get so out of hand?
His mother now glanced at him and nodded.
‘I’m sure everybody’s already made arrangements for Christmas, Lauren, even though it’s a sweet idea. But we could easily meet up another time …?’ she said softly.
Yvonne sniffed and turned back to face her family. Her cheeks were glistening with silvery tears.
‘Or, or what if we have a New Year’s Day party around at mine and Philippa’s when we’ve all had a chance to mull everything over and get to know each other first?’
‘Yay, Grandma!’ Lauren giggled.
‘Oh yes! That’s a good idea,’ said Andy’s mum. ‘New Year; new start for us all.’
‘Right, so perhaps the best idea is for us to introduce ourselves properly and I think Dora should do that,’ said Yvonne, without looking at her daughter.
Dora started to get to her feet, when Lauren jumped up and handed Dora and Yvonne a small parcel each.
‘But first I’d like to give you these. They’re your Christmas presents from me and Dad and Grandma. They’re photos. We got a few together and marked on the back what year they are and where we were. They’re all of me – well, a few of Dad and me. Dad and Grandma picked out the best ones for you,’ Lauren said breathing enthusiastically; entwining her fingers, her eyes bright.
‘Plus,’ she added. ‘I can do the introductions. We’re Andy, me and Grandma Pat and I know you’re Philippa, Grandma Yvonne’s sister, and you’re Uncle Stuart and your wife is Auntie Hazel and your daughter is Steph. We’re cousins, Steph. There. It’s done! Now can I have something to eat from the buffet? I’m starving!’
***
Stuart, Hazel and Steph who were due to stay with Yvonne and Philippa until Sunday morning, left early Saturday morning, after breakfast.
‘You need to talk to your new family, Mother,’ said Stuart. ‘We’ll be back at Christmas and we’ll work it so we stay for your New Year’s Day party. We still keep the hotel closed during Christmas and New Year, to give ourselves a good long break, so that’ll work out perfectly for us. And I know we’re supposed to be going out for dinner tonight but it’s not as important as you spending time getting to know Lauren and her family. We can always do stuff another time. Anyway, we’re off. Things to do. See you later. Bye, Mum!’
***
So Yvonne and Philippa cancelled their weekend plans and went to visit Pat and Andy at both their homes on the Saturday. Lauren said she was happy with the offer Dora made to go shopping for a gift for what had been Lauren’s nineteenth birthday last April and they ended up having afternoon tea in the spa down by the waterfront, where she’d been with Marjorie.
‘I really love the clothes we got today – thank you! Dad hasn’t really got a clue and Gran, well, she thinks I should just wear sensible stuff all the time,’ Lauren said, helping herself to an immaculately square-cut piece of Victoria sponge off the cake stand, which was crammed with a variety of bite-sized pieces of cake, as usual.
‘You’re very welcome, sweetheart,’ said Dora, pleased she’d allowed Lauren to pick out what she’d wanted to buy, rather than trying to choose Lauren’s clothes for her.
‘I know I keep saying this but it’s so strange, isn’t it? I can’t believe it, really. It’s what I dreamed about for years. I missed out on heaps of things I couldn’t do, like send Mother’s Day cards or anything – but Grandma Pat helped me a lot. I was brought up by Auntie Dariana for quite a few years when I was growing up – one of Dad’s girlfriends. And I got her a Mother’s Day card once but she just looked at me as if I was nuts. And – oh, there’s just so much I want to tell you!’ said Lauren, her face flushed with excitement.
‘I know! It’s so funny, you know, because I was panicking thinking, how do you start a conversation with a daughter you’ve only just met, proper? But you make it very easy for me. You’ve got such a lovely personality. Your dad and Pat have done a marvellous job raising you, sweetheart. And you seem to be taking all this rather well. So do you – I mean, it might be too soon for all this – but do
you forgive your father and I for this?’
Lauren shrugged. ‘I don’t know about that yet exactly. I think I do. I mean I know things get complicated sometimes. I’ve got friends whose parents split up and it was horrible and everything. And there’s loads you can find on social media about all that – about relationships and how nothing lasts or things change, you know? Or maybe it’s just easier to say, well, that’s how it was with you and Dad then. And this is how it is now. I mean Dad’s been great with everything, apart from this one big fat lie. But he even told me about periods and stuff, way before my friends knew about it all. But it’s not the same as having someone, having your mum on your side, explaining stuff, even though Grandma Pat was good. And, Mum, I’d really like it if you could meet all my friends? They’re dying to see you.’
Dora laughed nervously at that. Wow, critical teens. She couldn’t wait for that experience! She wondered what they’d all think. She’d probably be miles older than some of their mums. But she couldn’t start worrying about things like that now. It was part and parcel of her new life with Lauren. But, in another way, how lovely to be welcomed back – no, the best bit was that she was happily being accepted back into the open arms of her little family, without question.
***
Marjorie yawned as she stood in the kitchen in her dressing gown as she put toast in the toaster. There was no other noise in the flat apart from the kettle boiling. She hadn’t seen Dora since her wonderful birthday, last Wednesday night, but Dora had texted to say she was staying with her mother and Philippa, whilst they sorted everything out. They all had so much to catch up on, since the arrival of her beautiful, estranged daughter. What a massive, marvellous life change Dora was facing because of a risky but selfless act on Stacy’s behalf. It was probably the last piece of the jigsaw that had been Dora’s life. She’d feel complete now, Marjorie thought, but she sighed. It wasn’t long until Christmas and afterwards Dora would be moving into her own new flat. And then, sadly, Marjorie would be on her own again.
That thought left Marjorie feeling a little deflated. She’d worried about Dora leaving just as much as she’d worried about Gracie moving on. But as she sat down to eat her toast with a generous helping of honey she smiled. Coming and going. Living and dying. It wasn’t all bad. At least she had some pretty amazing friends now and they’d always be there for her, even though they were going through their own challenging phases.
