Christmas at Lock Keeper's Cottage

by Lucy Coleman

  On the day of their engagement when she opened the box, she said she almost fainted when she saw the aqua ring. She told him off and, apparently, everyone burst out laughing. He had to talk her out of returning it. Grandma gave in when she realised Tollie wasn’t simply trying to impress her, but it was a mark of his love for her.

  I place it back inside the pouch and step forward to accept Tollie’s embrace.

  ‘This is the ring I want, and I know that Gray will understand. It means so much, Tollie. Besides, I’d rather he helped sort his mum out financially and this feels like a gift to us both.’

  Standing back, I can see his relief at my reaction.

  ‘Well, m’dear, she’d be proud, for sure. With regard to Rona, houses here aren’t cheap, but it would be nice for her to be close by. As we get older, every memory we make is precious. That’s why I want you and Gray to take over the cottage. It’s time it had a facelift to see it through its next stage in life. Think on it, Immi. I’m just being practical. There’s little point in me fixin’ this place up, as the pair of you will have your own ideas. It needs extendin’ in my opinion. Do it once and do it right for the future. When I’m gone The Retreat will be a way of earning a little extra and you’ll no doubt be glad of it.’

  ‘Oh, Tollie – let’s not make any hasty decisions; we can talk about this after Christmas. And as for the engagement party, well, I had an idea which I put to Gray and he just texted a thumbs up. What do you think about having a small gathering on Christmas Day? I know that’s a bit unusual, but it gets around the problem of not inviting every single person we know in Aysbury.’

  I give him a pointed look and Tollie puts his head back, chuckling.

  ‘Christmas Day?’

  ‘Yep. Fisher’s on his own and so is Mrs Price, so I’m sure they’d be delighted to come along. With Rona, Gray and the two of us that’s six, but I also thought it would be rather nice to invite Ethel and Abe. Sarah, Kurt and the girls will be at her mum’s, of course, so they won’t feel left out. Can I cope catering for eight people, do you think?’

  ‘You bet. Sounds perfect to me, if that’s what will make you happy.’

  ‘Oh, I’m so looking forward to Christmas Day now. It feels like a turning point, Tollie. Anyway, that’s enough planning for now. It’s been a long day and I’m shattered, so I’m off to bed. Sleep well and thank you – Granddad.’

  He tips his head, leaning in to plant a kiss on my cheek. It’s been a long time since I called him that – he’ll always be simply Tollie, to everyone who knows him, as he was to Grandma Nell. But he’s touched to see me feeling emotional, as I recall Christmases when I was too young to use his nickname.

  ‘I’ve waited a long time to see a smile like that on your face, m’dear. Everyone will welcome Rona, don’t you worry – she’s a kind-hearted lady. And there’s a bit of money left in the pot to help with doin’ up this place properly for the pair of you. Right, I’m off to The Bullrush to grab a pint with Fisher. See you in the mornin’.’

  As I close the back door of the cottage behind me, I’m not sure how I feel about the thought of Tollie not living here any more. It doesn’t feel right, somehow, and I know that Gray will feel awkward about it, too. Maybe once Gray is here permanently we can talk Tollie into staying put but suggest we all pull together to put in a new kitchen, to start with. It would certainly be nice if we could freshen things up. Doing it ourselves, we can make excuses about being settled in The Retreat and carry out the work on the cottage at a pace Tollie is happy to accept. With Gray’s things around us, The Retreat will soon begin to feel like our home together, I’m sure of it, and we wouldn’t feel we were pushing Tollie out of his.

  ‘I love it when a plan comes together,’ I whisper into the darkness, swinging open the front door to The Retreat and stepping inside. ‘It’s payback time, Granddad,’ I murmur aloud.

  It might take until next summer to get Gray here, but there’s so much to look forward to. Turning on the lights, then sinking down onto the sofa, I grab my phone when it kicks into life.

  ‘Did you get my text?’ The sound of Gray’s voice makes my heart skip a beat.

  ‘Yes. I was talking to Tollie, so I couldn’t respond.’

  ‘Oh. Did you put forward the idea about Christmas Day lunch?’

  ‘I did. And he thought it was a good idea. And Mrs Price is going to join us for tea at The Bullrush this Saturday. I told her your mum used to teach.’

  Gray starts humming the strains of ‘Hallelujah’ and I burst out laughing. Do I spoil his mood and ask if he’s heard anything about work? On reflection, I don’t have the heart, so I tackle him about the other issue.

  ‘Tollie knows the cottage needs attention. The kitchen and bathroom are well past their sell-by date, let’s be honest. He wants us to have the cottage, but it doesn’t feel right, Gray. It was his home with Grandma. He’s jumping too far ahead, intent on handing everything over, as if we’re swapping roles. Which is ridiculous.’

  ‘I totally agree with you, Immi.’ Gray responds instantly.

  ‘I hoped you would. There’s one other thing we need to discuss; something that means a lot to me.’

  ‘Uh-oh, it sounds like you’ve already made up your mind about whatever it is.’

  ‘Before Grandma died, she told Tollie that she wanted me to have her engagement ring. It’s truly beautiful, Gray, and I really hope you understand that it’s her gift to us. She might not have met you, but she knew that one day I’d find my Mr Right, and this would make her a part of our celebration.’

  I take a deep breath and hold it in, anxiously awaiting his response. I don’t want Gray feeling undermined in any way.

  ‘Well, I will admit it’s taken me by surprise, as I was looking forward to going ring shopping together. I mean, I don’t want to upset you if your mind is made up, but you deserve a bit of spoiling and this was going to be my moment.’

  Finally expelling my breath, I screw up my eyes in the semi-darkness, keeping my fingers crossed this doesn’t turn into a thing between us.

  ‘I’m grateful for that thought, Gray, really I am, and there will be lots of little moments to come when you can spoil me. But this means a lot, more than any modern piece of jewellery ever could. There’s also a wedding fund she left for me. Oh, I’ve told Tollie straight that we don’t want a lavish affair, but that we will have a big party afterwards. He says whatever we want is fine, but he and Grandma put aside a pot of money for this occasion. Out of respect I think we need to accept it graciously. There’s no arguing with Tollie, at times.’

  Gray is ominously silent.

  ‘It’s very generous, but that hardly seems fair on him, Immi. I mean, hopefully I’ll get some cash together to share the cost of it. Admittedly, Mum doesn’t have much, but I was thinking we could involve her in the arrangements, so that her contribution really counts for something. And I’m still adamant that what I have in the bank goes to fixing up the cottage. That’s something Tollie is going to have to accept.’

  I was concerned this was going to be a little awkward but I’m glad to be addressing the issues in one fell swoop.

  ‘Of course. And that’s a wonderful idea about Rona, Gray, as we’ll need all the practical help we can get. The thought of having to organise a wedding is a little daunting, so I’m perfectly happy for her to take charge if she wants to do so. But please let’s not make this about who pays for what. Tollie wants to do this for us. If it means that leaves you in a better position to help your mum get settled here, then that will make everyone happy, won’t it?’

  Another silence. I sit, my fingers nervously skimming over the cushion next to me. Money and property are two such emotive issues. I don’t want Gray to feel he’s being forced into doing something he’s not happy about.

  ‘Immi, is this what you really want, or are you doing it to make the best of the situation we’re in? I don’t want you to compromise for the sake of it and end up harbouring regrets.’

  ‘Gr
ay, I just want us to be together and for everyone to be happy. That includes Rona, and Tollie – of course – and all our friends. Grandma’s ring is a celebration of love and does it really matter who pays for what? We can repay Tollie and Grandma’s kindness, by sorting out the cottage. That doesn’t mean we’ll move in, but he’s not to know that.’

  An affirming ‘okay’ comes back a few seconds later.

  ‘We’re lucky, aren’t we?’ Gray continues. ‘I only have one request and it’s that I buy your wedding dress. It’s your choice entirely, but it’s my gift to you.’

  ‘Oh… you’re not expecting some silly ball gown, are you?’

  He laughs. ‘Surprise me. Will I be doing the suit thing?’

  I frown, giving it some serious consideration.

  ‘Let’s do it in the summer and dispense with the jackets. I’m thinking of a cornfield with poppies… a floaty knee-length dress and you in a casual white shirt, and trousers. What do you think?’

  ‘Okay… sounds interesting, if we can talk the vicar into it, of course.’

  When you truly love someone, anything is doable. Stumbling blocks are rarely insurmountable, they are simply detours that end up taking you in the right direction.

  ‘You, me, the vicar, Rona, Tollie and Fisher in a field. Then later in the day, a big party at the village hall, catered by Sarah and Kurt. What do you think?’

  A loud ‘hmm’ filters down the line.

  ‘It’s fine by me if that does it for you. But good luck getting that past Sarah, Kurt and the girls, Martin, Mrs Price, Abe and then there’s my crowd from London. I daren’t leave anyone out and choosing a best man is going to be a tough decision. You’ll understand once you meet them all.’

  ‘Okay. That guest list for the ceremony might need a little tweaking. Just the teensiest bit.’

  ‘I’m staying well out of it. You tell me what you want done and I’ll do it.’

  Gray is beginning to sound a little overwhelmed already.

  ‘Your task is to focus on Rona. You won’t be happy unless you know she’s settled and happy. We all know she can’t stay where she is because it’s not practical. She wants you to be happy, but we want her to be happy, too. So, you concentrate on that and leave the rest to me. Is that a deal?’

  ‘Yes, boss. And I’m looking forward to doing up the cottage for Tollie – at least that’s something I can do. Mum won’t let me loose on her place because her heart isn’t in it any more, so the sooner she cuts the last of her emotional ties with it, the better. I love you, Immi. You’ve made our wedding about everyone and not just about us. And that’s precisely why I fell in love with you in the first place.’

  10

  Friday at Last

  As I’m packing up to head over to see Mrs Price, Martin suddenly reappears after being absent for a couple of hours.

  ‘I’m glad I managed to catch you before you left, Immi. We were stuck in traffic and the deliveries seemed to take forever. At this rate we’re going to run out of Christmas trees, can you believe it? I wanted to say a huge thank you for everything. Not just the extra help, but you’ve worked tirelessly this week and it’s appreciated. More than you know. I will admit I woke up on Monday morning wishing I could just roll over and go back to sleep. That isn’t me, as I’m not a quitter, but I had no idea how we were going to get through what needed to be done. And now it’s Friday, our customers are happy and we survived. I owe you, big time.’

  I shift from one foot to the other, feeling a little embarrassed.

  ‘It’s my pleasure, Martin, and it was teamwork. We had a laugh and I think I’ve probably lost a few pounds climbing ladders and running back and forth to the van. So, it’s all good. I’m equally relieved that we managed to get everything done. Fingers crossed, next week will be a little less frenetic if everyone is finally back to work.’

  He holds up his left hand, doing just that.

  ‘When you see Fisher, tell him I owe him a drink next time I’m in The Bullrush. How’s he been getting on with Mrs Price?’

  Martin looks at me, hesitantly.

  ‘Better than I expected. I promised I’d call in as soon as I finish here today, but Mrs Price has been a great help and she’s a quick learner.’

  His face brightens. ‘And you’re good for next week, too?’

  ‘Yes. That should see you through the busiest period. We haven’t even trimmed up at home yet, so I’m hoping to take off the last few days before Christmas to get things sorted.’

  ‘Of course. And whatever you need from here, you just help yourself. Word is that you’re having a quiet engagement celebration.’

  Obviously Tollie has continued spreading the news.

  ‘Yes. It all happened so quickly and with the Santa cruises wiping out the weekends, there just isn’t time to organise a big party. I don’t suppose you and the family are around on Christmas Day?’

  This is uncomfortable, and I do feel bad, as I know they aren’t.

  ‘No, sadly. We’re away as usual. This year it’s the in-laws’ turn, as we alternate it with my parents. Why on earth they’re happy for us to descend on them for three days with the kids and a dog in tow, I have no idea. It would have been nice to have popped in for a quick celebratory drink with you all, just to mark the occasion. But we’ll definitely catch up with the two of you as soon as we get back, I promise.’

  As I head off in the direction of the marina, I am a little bit sad not to be able to get everyone together. But the problem with Aysbury is that it’s all, or nothing.

  ‘You’ve made Tollie’s Christmas, you do know that?’

  I spin around to see Abe striding out to catch up with me.

  ‘Yes, so it seems. Has he mentioned Christmas Day lunch to you?’

  ‘You bet.’ Abe beams. ‘I’m off to tell Ethel now. She’ll be thrilled to bits. We’ll come loaded up with a home-made Christmas pudding and Christmas cake. You know what she’s like. That woman loves to bake.’

  ‘Well, the kids adore her gingerbread men and the star cookies. Last Christmas was rather quiet, so it’ll be nice to have a little gathering this year. Say hello to Ethel from me and I’ll see you tomorrow. If she needs any help with the baking in the morning, just shout.’

  ‘Will do, but she should be fine as Mrs Price has already offered – bye, lovely!’

  Abe takes the right fork to cross over the bridge as I trudge along the winding path. There’s a bitterly cold wind today and it’s a battle to keep the hood of my coat covering my hair. I really hope it isn’t like this tomorrow, but maybe it will at least blow away those ominously heavy rain clouds.

  By the time I walk into the office I’m so cold that I head straight over to the radiator, making no attempt to take off my coat.

  ‘You look like you need a hot drink,’ Fisher says, pushing back on his chair.

  Mrs Price indicates for him to sit back down. ‘I’ll make it.’

  ‘Thank you, Valerie. There’s a box of mince pies in the cupboard.’

  My jaw drops in surprise. Valerie? Mince pies? I snap my mouth shut as Fisher looks at me, a tad sheepishly.

  ‘You’ve had a tough week, Immi. I bumped into one of Martin’s guys in The Bullrush last night. He said it’s been non-stop.’

  ‘Since when are you on first-name terms with Mrs Price?’ I whisper, keeping an eye on the door.

  Fisher strides over to stand next to me, pretending to look nonchalantly out of the window.

  ‘It surprised me, too. Did you know she teaches French?’ He keeps his voice low.

  I nod. ‘Yes, she told me on Monday. I didn’t even know she had a job.’

  I listen out but can still hear her moving around in the kitchen.

  ‘I was a bit nervous when you first suggested the idea of her coming in, but she’s been a great help. Do you think I should offer to take her out for a drink, to say thanks? I mean, she did step in at short notice and the pay isn’t overly-generous.’

  The door suddenly opens, and
we spring apart.

  ‘Fisher just suggested that we all meet up for a drink in The Bullrush tonight, Mrs Price, as a thank you. What do you think?’

  ‘Oh, that would be lovely. What a nice thought, Jack.’

  He hurries over to make room on the desk for the tray. I sneak a look at them and there’s a little flirting going on there, for sure. Slipping off my coat and grabbing a mince pie, I turn towards the door.

  ‘Right. I’ll go and find those return forms, then.’

  I leave them to it for a few minutes, and when I walk back into the room they’re laughing, so much so that I hang back a little. The moment they spot me they immediately stop, and Mrs Price gives me an apologetic look as she carries across two mugs of tea.

  ‘Right. Let’s do this, then, Immi, so you can get off home.’

  Fisher doesn’t look at me as he grabs his coat off the hook, but the vestiges of his smile are still etched on his face. ‘I’ll take mine out with me. It’s almost locking-up time and I want to grab the work sheets before the men leave for the day. See you later.’

  As soon as he’s gone, I turn to Mrs Price, raising my eyebrows.

  ‘Well, Fisher’s in a happy frame of mind.’

  ‘Is he? He’s been like that all week. So, these are kept in the stationery cupboard, then? I did have a good look but wasn’t sure what was what.’ She points to the small stack of forms in my hand.

  ‘Yes, but, as they’re not used very often, I always kept them on the very top shelf, on the left-hand side. We’re a bit low on a few things, I notice, so I’ll run through a stationery order with you, too. If you can fax it across on Monday, that will tide us over until the middle of January. They’ll be shut for two weeks over Christmas and New Year. So, how has it been?’

  She nods enthusiastically, finishing off a mouthful of pastry.

  ‘Good. Enjoyable, actually. How about you?’

  ‘Tiring. But Martin is a lot happier. I can’t believe what we managed to get done. He built his business from scratch and if anyone deserves to succeed, it’s him.’