Christmas for the Halfpenny Orphans
Page 36
‘Sounds as if you’ve had a rough time,’ Terry said and looked sympathetic. ‘My father likes his drink a bit too much at times and Ma swears by her Bible, so you can imagine what it’s like in our house when Dad gets a bit tipsy. Shall I walk you home then? What are you doin’ for Christmas?’
Tilly linked her arm in his. ‘Cookin’ dinner, I expect, but they can get their own tea … if you fancied goin’ for a walk or somethin’?’
‘Ma cooks a huge dinner and expects me and Dad to eat the lot. I like a nice walk in the afternoon on Christmas Day.’
Tilly gave a sigh of contentment. She’d got the job she wanted, her stepfather was no longer a danger to her and now perhaps she’d found a boyfriend for herself. Life was looking very much better than it had a few weeks previously … maybe she’d even get married one day and the kids at St Saviour’s would make her a present like they had for Angela … She smiled as she thought of the woman who’d helped her and hoped she was enjoying her special evening as much as Tilly was enjoying hers.
Mark popped the champagne cork, letting the fizzy drink bubble over into the napkin before he filled their glasses. He handed Angela her glass with a smile, seeing that she was bending over the gift the children had made for them. It was a collage of different pictures drawn and painted by the small children and signed by all of them, each adding a message with a picture of some sort, and it had been framed behind glass so that it would keep bright.
‘Look at this one from Mary Ellen and Billy Baggins,’ Angela said. ‘They hope we shall be happy forever and ever and have lots of babies!’
‘Good idea,’ Mark said.
‘And this one is from Timmy – he’s the young lad with polio. He says he loves being at St Saviour’s and thanks me for bringing him here … and here’s one from Archie, Nipper, Jimmy … and Matty too. Michelle must have taken it to the hospital for him to sign – oh, they’re all so lovely!’
‘You deserve it, Angela,’ Mark said and raised his glass. ‘Here’s to you, my darling and to the future … May we have many wonderful years together.’
‘Oh, Mark,’ Angela’s throat was tight with tears as she touched her glass to his. ‘I’m so happy. I can’t wait for our wedding day …’
Mark put down his glass and kissed her softly on the lips. He smiled into her eyes, his fingertips caressing the curve of her cheek. ‘We have Christmas presents to deliver on Christmas Eve and then we can go home to your father’s house and get ready for the wedding. I’ve got the special licence in my pocket and everything is arranged.’
‘I haven’t done anything, except choose a dress,’ Angela said. ‘You and my father have done it all.’
‘Well, it gave us both a lot of pleasure to do it,’ Mark said. ‘You’ve been busy, Angela – but you did make time to write and tell your mother about the wedding I hope?’
‘Yes, I did. I don’t think she will come, but I knew I must ask – and I have, but don’t hold your breath.’ Angela grimaced. ‘I’m not sure I really want her to come, in the circumstances, but she is my mother.’
‘Yes, she is,’ Mark said. ‘If you let the breach widen you would never forgive yourself, Angela.’
‘No, I suppose not,’ Angela said. ‘That is such a pretty cut-glass vase the staff bought for us, Mark. It will look lovely on that table in the hall. The one I used to have there was broken, so I think I’ll stand it on the table.’
‘You can do that later,’ Mark said and put his arms around her. ‘Come to bed, Angela. I’ve wanted to be alone with you all night …’
Angela stood listening to the choir of staff and children singing carols. The sound of their voices raised in praise to God was beautiful and brought tears to her eyes. Mark had finished giving out the presents and gone off to change out of his Santa suit, though apart from a few of the very small children they all knew it was him dressed up to give out their gifts.
Excitement had reigned for the past hour, but now they were all standing quietly listening to the carols before everyone trooped into the dining room for sausage rolls, mince pies, fairy cakes, orange juice, lemonade and sherry or wine for the adults. Some of their supporters had been invited to listen to the carols and so Mark had decided they’d better have wine as well as sherry.
She turned to him as he came to join her with a smile of welcome. ‘Feel better to get out of that thing?’
‘The beard tickles a bit,’ Mark admitted, ‘but I wouldn’t miss this for the world, Angela. To see those kids’ faces when they tear the paper off … it’s priceless.’
‘It’s heartbreaking to think that, for some of them, this is the only proper Christmas they’ve known. Before they came here many of them had never been given a present or a toy; they had poor diets and second-hand clothes. You’ve transformed their lives, Mark.’
‘I didn’t do it alone,’ he said. ‘I’ll admit it was my idea to get something started when I saw how badly a place like this was needed – but there were many others who helped, like my colleagues on the Board who contributed, and above all you and Sister Beatrice.’
‘But you’re the one who cared enough to drive it forward,’ Angela said, squeezing his arm. ‘And we shall get that holiday home you want, if not next summer then the one after.’
‘Yes, with you by my side, I’ll make sure of it,’ Mark said. ‘I love kids, darling – all sorts of kids, regardless of colour, creed, pretty or ugly, it’s all the same to me. I simply want to make them happy …’
‘Good,’ Angela turned to kiss him on the lips as the lights went up, signalling the end of the carol concert. Angela’s kiss was plain for everyone to see, and the sight was greeted by some giggling and then a cheer and then clapping from the children. Angela laughed and would have moved away, but Mark held her tight and kissed her thoroughly and everyone laughed.
‘And now that we’ve proved how much we love each other to all and sundry, I think we’d better go and feed them all,’ Mark said and led the way into the dining room where a table laden with as much festive food as could be managed, with some rationing still in place even now, was waiting for them.
Mark filled wineglasses and sherry glasses, smiling as everyone came up to him, remarking how well things had gone.
‘Yes, we’re very pleased,’ he said and raised his glass. ‘First of all I want to thank all the staff for their efforts, today and every day of the year – and in particular Sister Beatrice, whom we are very glad to have back with us after her illness. I would also like to thank Angela for all her efforts and, indeed, each of you, our supporters and friends, for caring that our children have the kind of life all children should be entitled to but sadly aren’t.’
‘Hear, hear!’ several voices chorused.
‘And so it only remains for me to wish all of you – our guests, our staff and most of all the children in our care – a very happy Christmas and may 1949 be a wonderful year for all of us here at Halfpenny Street!’
‘To St Saviour’s and all associated with her,’ Father Joe said and sipped the good Irish whisky Mark had provided for his benefit. ‘May God and Christ be with us now and always …’
St Saviour’s will give them hope …
Don’t miss the first two novels in the Halfpenny Street series, both available to buy now.
Click here to buy now 978-0-00-811845-7
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About the Author
Cathy Sharp is happily married and lives with her husband in a small Cambridgeshire village. They like visiting Spain together and enjoy the benefits of sunshine and pleasant walks, while at home they love their garden and visiting the Norfolk seaside.
Cathy loves writing because it gives pleasure to others, she finds writing an extension of herself and it gives her great satisfaction. Cathy says, ‘There is nothing like seeing your book in print, because so much loving care has been given to bringing that book into being.’
She is also the author of The Orphans of Halfpenny Street
and The Little Runaways, the first two novels in the Halfpenny Street series.
Also by Cathy Sharp
The Orphans of Halfpenny Street
The Little Runaways
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