‘Anyone else?’
‘We should manage on that, shouldn’t we?’
Robyn shrugged. ‘Doesn’t hurt to have as many bodies as possible. We’re up against it now – the tree ceremony is in just under two weeks and we’ve got a lot to do before then. Not just organising this, but Christmas as well.’
‘Christmas can wait as far as I’m concerned.’
Robyn threw her a sideways look. ‘No plans with Mr Perfect then?’
‘We haven’t really talked about it, but I don’t suppose so. I mean, we’re sort of a bit in between, aren’t we? We haven’t really been going out long enough so that spending Christmas together is a given, and yet I’d like to.’
‘Why don’t you just tell him that?’
‘Because his priority will be Polly. He told me that she always struggles with Christmas because that’s around the time Jane walked out on them, and he said Polly spent every Christmas of her childhood wishing Jane back. I’m sure she’s not doing that now, but I still don’t feel I can intrude on that time. Polly needs her dad more than ever and I’d be a distraction, wouldn’t I?’
‘It might be a welcome distraction, though.’
‘I don’t know. I’m just waiting for Colm to say something, one way or another, but he hasn’t yet.’
‘Polly’s mum doesn’t even come to visit at Christmas?’ Robyn asked with a look of scathing disbelief. ‘What kind of woman is she?’
‘Mad, so Colm says.’
‘Must be. No matter what, I’d want to see Toby at Christmas. Any parent would want that. This hippy commune she’s living in must be something special if she can’t even bring herself to leave it for a week or so every year.’
Nina shrugged. ‘I don’t really know much about it. I think it’s on one of the islands off Scotland and it’s a long journey to get back down here. I think it’s one of those sorts of places where nobody has their own money – you know, you see them on the television where everyone just lives off the land and barters for the things they need from the outside world and they all share everything they have…’
‘That wouldn’t stop me. Hell or high water wouldn’t stop me getting home for Toby. In fact, I wouldn’t have left him in the first place.’
‘I know, me neither. It probably sounds horrible and selfish but I’m quite happy about her not coming back, whatever the reason. I don’t want her coming back now and messing things up between me and Colm – or between me and Polly while I’m getting to know her. From what I’ve heard she can be unpredictable and that can’t be good, can it?’
‘I can’t blame you for that. But Colm wouldn’t take her back now, surely, even if she did show up?’
‘He says he wouldn’t and I have to believe him, don’t I?’
Robyn nodded, and there was a pause. ‘So for now it’s turkey at Winston’s again, then?’
‘Probably, but even that might not happen this year. What if Dad wants to go to Pam’s and daren’t tell me? I’d hate to stop him doing what he really wants to do.’
‘He wouldn’t go without you.’
‘I don’t suppose he would but that in itself worries me. I’d feel responsible for him being miserable without her.’
Robyn rolled her eyes. ‘It’s only one day – I’m sure he can manage.’
‘Yes, but he shouldn’t have to.’
‘Ugh, you’re so bloody saintly it’s sickening. Why can’t you be selfish for once and get what you want instead of worrying about what everyone else wants?’
Nina gave a rueful smile. ‘That does sound lovely.’
‘Well, you can always come to mine. Obviously, I’ll have a houseful of hideous relatives but there’s always room for one more.’
‘No Peter then?’
‘Not for Christmas lunch. I’m sure I’ll grab an hour with him Christmas night, though…’
Nina’s small smile turned into a broad grin. ‘It’s still going well, then?’
‘I really like him. I mean, really.’
‘I can tell. I’m glad you two sorted things out because everyone could see you were perfect for each other.’
‘I think his wife might beg to differ.’
‘Well, she might, but it doesn’t sound as if it’s any of her business now. She’s staying out of the way?’
‘Moved in with her sister, so Peter says. He’s going to put the house on the market in the new year so it seems like a definite end to their previous cohabiting arrangement.’
Nina nodded. ‘That’s good. So the way is clear.’
‘I suppose it is, at long last.’
‘I could do with moving these boxes out of the way until we’re ready to start,’ Nina said, looking at the fruits of their internet shopping.
‘We could get some of them done today.’
‘I don’t want to do them too soon because then they’ll have to lie around my house fully assembled for ages and I might break one. Better if they stay packaged for now and we can put them together and tag them up just before the ceremony. Did you phone Sammy for that?’
‘I spoke to Diana – she says he’d fly to the moon for us.’
‘So he still thinks we’re a pair of angels?’
‘Dodgy ones at best but, yeah, basically. I think he might have noticed some of the feathers falling off my wings, though.’
Nina laughed. ‘You know what, I was so stressed about this whole memory-tree business but I’m actually quite excited now that the ceremony is getting closer.’
‘That also means that Christmas Eve is getting closer too, and I hate to tell you but I am not looking forward to that.’
‘Your in-laws?’
‘Yep, every Christmas Eve come rain or shine they turn up. Which has been fine for most years – even though they drive me mad – but this year I just know Toby is going to say something about Peter to embarrass me.’
‘I thought he was behaving now?’
‘He’s better – and I think I have your dad to thank for that – but I can’t expect miracles straight away.’
‘Well Dad thinks he’s great – loves having him around. He says he’s clever, polite and respectful.’
‘He is letting the right boy into his home, isn’t he?’
Nina laughed. ‘Yes! I think so.’
‘Well I’d check because that doesn’t sound like Toby at all.’
‘Dad has a way of bringing out the best in people.’
‘He must be doing something right. It still doesn’t change the fact that my son is a liability at home, especially where the in-laws are concerned, and especially if he can see a way to get Peter out of the equation.’
Nina gave Robyn a more sympathetic look now. Toby was proving to be a little stubborn when it came to accepting Robyn’s new boyfriend, and the situation wasn’t a million miles from the one she’d feared she’d encounter with Polly when Colm had come clean with her about his relationship with Nina. She counted her blessings every day that so far Polly had been tolerant and accepting of them, despite the Christmas tradition of wishing for her mum back.
‘He doesn’t seriously think that he can split you two up by telling Eric’s parents about you?’
‘He’s not that stupid. In fact, he’s way cleverer than that – at least he likes to think he is. He’s just looking to put pressure on the relationship in any way he can, thinking that will end it by one means or another in a way that doesn’t make it look his fault.’ Robyn plonked her hands on her hips and looked at Nina. ‘He’s got a lot to learn about life has that boy of mine. He might think he’s got all this influence but he’s going to find out he’s very wrong. Things rarely go the way you want them to and there’s bugger all you can do about it most of the time.’
‘You can say that again.’
‘So what are you going to do Christmas Day?’
Nina shrugged. ‘I don’t really know. Connie invited me to go with her to her cousin’s house but… well, I have to admit that it feels a bit weird now that she knows
about Colm. Like I have no right to her family any more.’
‘But they’re Gray’s family too, so by default that makes them yours.’
‘I know; that sort of makes it worse. I can’t explain it.’
‘You don’t need to – I get what you mean. I suppose I might feel the same if I gave a shit.’
Nina chuckled. ‘I wish I could be like you.’
‘No, you don’t.’ Robyn sniffed. ‘Be like you – it’s far nicer.’
‘Far more boring.’
‘I don’t think so. I wouldn’t be friends with you if I thought that.’
‘Well,’ Nina said, colouring at the compliment, ‘thank you for being my friend and not finding me boring.’
‘I’m pretty sure Colm doesn’t find you boring either.’
‘Sometimes I wonder why. I’m sure he could have had his choice of women.’
‘Yes, and he chose you.’
Nina gave a slow, dreamy smile. ‘He did, didn’t he?’
‘Bloody hell!’ Robyn grinned as she looked back at the pile of boxes. ‘We’d better get this sorted before I lose you to the fairies. So when do you want to get cracking?’
‘This weekend?’ Nina asked, trying her best to shake thoughts of Colm so she could concentrate on the task in hand. ‘We can’t do next weekend because it’s my dad’s engagement party and the memory-tree ceremony is only few days after that anyway.’
‘Next weekend. Book me in then; I’ll come over to help. Toby as well.’
‘And I’ll make some calls to see who else wants to come.’
‘What about all these neighbours of yours? There’s a whole street of people here you can tap for help.’
‘I don’t know… I feel like we asked too much of them with the garden and everyone started to fall out, didn’t they? I think I’d rather just keep it between us from now on. After all, this tree project is really just ours anyway.’
‘Lazy buggers,’ Robyn said.
‘It’s not that. Most of them work so it must be hard enough to fit everything in, let alone extra. I don’t work so I don’t really have an excuse.’
‘You still have a life even if you don’t have a job. It’s alright – they’d probably just annoy me anyway. If you want to keep it between us that’s fine with me.’
‘Well, maybe Nasser and Yasmin will help. Kelly might too.’
‘Don’t ask those sisters – they might force us to eat their cake.’
Nina frowned. ‘Oh, we can’t leave Ada and Martha out if we’re asking others. Out of everyone they’d want to come.’
‘Alright then, but they can leave their Victoria sponge at home.’
‘I can’t promise that, I’m afraid.’
‘Bugger. In that case let them make some and we’ll use it to threaten people into working faster.’
‘That’s not actually a bad idea.’
‘Honestly, I don’t know how you can get cake so wrong. And it’s not like they have to make it – there are plenty of shops that sell perfectly good cakes.’
‘Everyone’s been too polite to say anything to them for so many years it’s sort of too late to say anything else now, isn’t it? We’ll all have to keep pretending until they decide to stop baking.’
‘Please, God, let it be soon.’
Nina giggled. ‘I’m sure Ron will eat it if nobody else does.’
‘He’s not coming, is he?’
‘I doubt it, but I suppose he won’t like being left out of being asked.’
‘He’s got to be the most infuriating man I’ve ever met.’
‘He can’t help the way he is,’ Nina said. ‘I honestly think he misses Yvette.’
Robyn raised her eyebrows. ‘So he wasn’t miserable before they went to Spain?’
‘Well, I suppose a little bit…’
‘There you go then.’ Robyn folded her arms. ‘Once a git, always a git. Honestly, if I was his wife I’d stay in Spain too.’
‘I don’t know what happened in Spain but I definitely think he still cares for her.’
‘I believe you,’ Robyn said, ‘though I’ll admit to struggling with it.’
Nina smiled. Then she turned to the boxes. ‘I think we should go through and quickly open each one to check none of the lanterns have been damaged in transit. At least that way we’ll have time to order replacements if any have been broken. What do you think?’
‘Sounds like a good idea, boss. Let’s get on with it then so we can have a cuppa. I’ve been standing in your kitchen for at least half an hour and you haven’t so much as looked at the kettle yet. It’s very poor service, you know.’
‘OK,’ Nina said, throwing her a brief grin. ‘Work then tea. Sounds like a plan.’
Until now, Nina had been reluctant to let Colm into her home. After all, it had been the home she’d shared with Gray, but since her talk with Connie, it didn’t seem like such a big deal any more. Perhaps this way was the best way to introduce it too, having him here for the first time along with Polly, Robyn and Toby, and her dad. Ostensibly they were all here to help with the decorations for the memory tree, but though they had lanterns to wire up, strings to tag and candle wicks to trim, they weren’t making much progress because there had been far too much chat and laughter.
Robyn had certainly been instrumental in that – her icebreaking skills could free a ship from an Antarctic sheet. While Nina was always more hesitant, worrying about everyone getting along (while simultaneously realising that if they were going to get along they’d have to be in the same room together sooner or later and then worrying about that too), Robyn was straight in there, cracking jokes and generally ribbing everyone in the most merciless way. She was quite fond of sharing embarrassing anecdotes too, where she had them, and this afternoon found Toby on the receiving end of quite a lot of them. As far as Robyn was concerned, it was heartily deserved, because not long after Toby and Polly had been introduced, he’d embarked on a sustained and earnest campaign of trying to impress the young girl.
‘You know, Polly,’ Robyn began as her son did his best to look disinterested in the proceedings while also trying very hard to get Polly to notice how disinterested he was, ‘he might seem cool now but he wasn’t always. Like when he was three, he was obsessed with his fireman’s uniform. God, did he wear it everywhere – in bed, to the shops, to nursery. We even had to bathe him in it, which was lucky because we wouldn’t have been able to get it off him to wash it anyway. If you tried to take it off he’d burst into tears and threaten to call the fire brigade to take you away!’
Toby turned an impressive shade of red and Polly gave a polite but uncertain little laugh. Winston, on the other hand, found it all too funny.
‘Oh, and there was me giving you boring old overalls!’ He chuckled. ‘I’ll see if I can pick you a little fire officer uniform up for next week!’
Toby looked like he didn’t know whether to punch someone or run away, but Robyn winked at Nina. If she was being honest, Nina did feel sorry for Toby and wondered if Robyn wasn’t being a little unfair. But then, after the weeks of turmoil they’d had and in light of how hard Robyn was trying to set Toby on a straighter path than he’d been on of late, she realised that perhaps this was her friend’s way of keeping his feet firmly on the ground when she felt he was getting too cocky for his own good.
As afternoon turned into evening, Winston announced that he quite fancied a takeaway and so now, along with the candles and wire and lanterns, there was also an assortment of Chinese dishes in foil trays on Nina’s kitchen table. Colm insisted on paying, but then Winston decided he was paying for it, followed by Robyn and Nina’s offers to contribute, and a good-natured argument ensued, culminating in Winston and Colm splitting the bill between them. They went to collect it together too, and although Nina had been anxious watching them go, when they returned all smiles and banter, she felt a huge weight – one of many – lift from her shoulders. They liked each other and another important hurdle had been leapt over with apparent ea
se. But then, to meet either of these men was perhaps to wonder who on earth wouldn’t like them.
They took a break to eat and it was a chatty, informal affair, with everyone picking from this tray and that, the food having been left in the takeaway cartons for ease, and, if they were honest, for laziness. But it was nicer that way, encouraging everyone to interact and let their guard down. In fact, everyone was getting on so well it was more than Nina could have hoped for. She couldn’t remember when her little house had last been filled with such life and fun.
One by one, people abandoned the food and began to pick up odds and ends to work on again. When Nina was certain everyone had finished, she and Colm began to collect the leftovers to wrap up and put in the fridge. Polly’s offer of help raised a broad smile from Nina, who was only too happy to let her. When they were done, everyone sat back down to start on the lanterns again.
They’d been working for twenty minutes when Polly frowned at the list of dedications. ‘What’s this one?’ She turned to Colm. ‘Dad, is this one for…?’
Colm nodded as she showed him. Nina guessed she’d seen the dedication for her twin brother Billy, who’d died as a baby. Polly smiled up at Colm. There was no sadness in it – perhaps it was hard to be sad for someone she’d never really met – but there was a significant appreciation of the gesture, and there was affection and support too, a recognition of the pain that the loss must always cause her dad, even after fifteen years.
They were snapped from the moment by a knock at the front door.
‘I expect that will be Ada and Martha,’ Nina said, getting up. ‘They had something on at the church this afternoon but said they’d come afterwards.’
She opened the front door to find the sisters on the step, smiling up at her.
‘Who’s here?’ Ada asked.
‘We never expected there to be so many cars outside your house,’ Martha added.
‘Hello,’ Nina said, not a bit flustered by their blunt question. ‘We’ve got a little chain gang working on the lanterns.’
‘Oh, there’s still some for us to do?’ Ada asked, looking worried.
‘We so wanted to help,’ Martha said.
The Garden on Sparrow Street: A heartwarming, uplifting Christmas romance Page 24
