“Gosh, it’s quiet in here.” Honeysuckle and I wandered through to The Orangery. I nodded towards the brightly decorated tree in the corner. “Looks like people have been busy, though, Honeysuckle. Did you ever see such a stack of presents? Come on, let’s have a quick look.”
“Or not.”
We spun around just in time for Jack to photograph us, mouths agape, laughing and looking guilty as sin. As he playfully admonished us, we headed towards the kitchen where, at six-thirty precisely, we all sat down to a delicious pasta bake, a joint effort of Lucy’s and Brenda’s. After much lively chatter and merriment during the meal, Honeysuckle and I eventually shooed the others out while we loaded the dishwasher, tidied up, then prepared the vegetables for next day.
“All your pressies wrapped, Cass? What have you got Jack, or shouldn’t I ask?”
“All wrapped and under the tree, sweetie. I thought about having myself gift-wrapped for him, with strategically placed bows, of course.”
“Of course. Dammit, Cassie, you pinched my idea for Robbie!”
“Oh well, I’ll leave that to you, then. Do you remember, many moons ago, when George took all the staff for a day at that racing track? Well, they do “executive” days now. Driving fiendishly expensive cars, champagne lunch, photographs, meeting a famous racing driver, all that sort of stuff. I’ve bought Jack a day out there.”
“No! Seriously? That’s what I’ve got Robbie!”
“Ah, now what was I saying earlier about great minds? Oh, Honeysuckle, look! I’ve just seen a few flakes of snow falling. How lovely is that on Christmas Eve?”
“Oh, you old romantic, you!”
Giggling, we switched off the kitchen lights and went to find the others.
~~~
Jack held a finger to his lips and cocked his head towards the fireplace as we entered the lounge bar. Fast asleep in one of the velvet chairs was Brenda. Rescuing her knitting from her lap I motioned to Jack to take a photograph of her.
“I’ve taken quite a few already,” he whispered. “Of everyone. I’ll take more tomorrow and Boxing Day, then sort them all out on the computer. I thought it would be really good to make up an album for everyone, a memento of our new “family”, as it were.”
“What a beautiful idea.” Smiling up at this lovely, loving man, I felt exactly as I had felt, years before, upon realisation that Scott was The One.
Honeysuckle said she had a few last-minute things to do, which left Brenda, Jack and myself by the fireside. Since Lucy was relaxing in her room and Robbie had calls to make, Jack and I tiptoed away, leaving Brenda to her slumber.
~~~
“You okay, Cass? You seem a bit preoccupied.” Jack kissed my bare shoulders before draping a fluffy bathrobe around them. Turning to face him I assured him all was fine and that I was always a little reflective on Christmas morning; past Christmases, absent friends, that sort of thing. Inside, though, my emotions turned somersaults.
Two things had happened the previous night, on the way back from Midnight Mass. Firstly, in the throng I had seen Merry leaving the church. I knew she had seen me but, choosing to ignore me, she had swished past, arm-in-arm with her latest beau. I had to admit that she looked radiant. The hollow-cheeked gauntness had given way to a healthy glow and her hair, freshly styled and tinted auburn, was amazing. Unwilling to be churlish, especially on Christmas Eve, I had, to myself, wished her well as I sincerely hoped this marked a turning point to a better life for her.
~~~
We all pitched in that Christmas Day, sharing cooking, serving, everything. Brenda’s Christmas pudding was declared a triumph, even if we did need a walk along the snowy streets afterwards. Later, sipping tea as The Queen delivered her Christmas message, I secretly basked in the warmth of my own special message, that which had set my emotions somersaulting.
Hello, darling. Scott had wished all of us a Merry Christmas as we walked back from Midnight Mass, although I was the only one able to hear him.
Listen, Cass. As sorry as I am about this, I’m not going to be able to “visit” quite so often after tonight. It took a long time to find someone special enough to make my Cassie happy, but Jack Jackson makes it “mission accomplished” for me. You need to get on with your new life with him now, darling. I witnessed your little “spat” on the beach, when he drove off without you, and knew you were well matched! Don’t feel disloyal if Jack wants to help with the shop, you both have my blessing. Tell you what, though. If you’re out in the garden on my birthday each year, I’ll be there then. Oh, and I’ll be around to help guide your son if he ever needs me. He’s a tiny speck inside you just now and no, of course I wasn’t looking! Hmm, Jackson Scott Jackson has a pleasant ring to it, don’t you think? Listen, Cass, I have to go now. Let the new year be a new beginning for the three of you. Love you always.
~~~
“Ladies, if you’d like to follow me…”
Honeysuckle and I grimaced as we left our fireside chairs, following Robbie into The Orangery where Jack, Lucy and Brenda awaited. Jack stood, gazing out into the dark, snowy garden, while Brenda and Lucy sat near the Christmas tree.
Amid much joy and laughter, we finally unwrapped the last of the Christmas presents. Smiling to myself as I observed my friends’ happiness, I knew that Jack had been perfectly correct to describe us all as a new family, and strongly suspected and hoped that a new tradition of us all always being together at Christmas had been born.
When Robbie and Jack, each on bended knee, proposed to Honeysuckle and myself, I thought I would explode with joy. Sometimes, something just feels so right and this was such a time.
The men then opened boxes. Robbie slipped The Lion’s yellow pear-shaped diamond ring onto Honeysuckle’s finger, while Jack slipped Brenda’s equally fabulous rare red diamond ring, oval and surrounded by white diamonds, onto mine. Gasping in amazement, I rushed across to Brenda, her eyes bright and rimmed with tears. Hugging me, she hoarsely whispered, “Be happy, Cassie.”
Lucy poured the finest bubbly as Jack and Robbie then presented their brides-to-be with more presents. Honeysuckle and I gasped with utter surprise and delight upon receiving matching dove-grey shoes of the finest suede. Complementing the shoes were dove-grey wraps of the softest cashmere, followed, of course, by matching pale cream chiffon dresses complete with thin straps and washed-out pink roses.
Jack raised his glass. “Anyone for a double New Year’s wedding?”
THE END.
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