A Love Shared

by Chrissie Loveday

  “She certainly is. It was very quick. I phoned the vet and described what was happening. He said he’ll come if we think we need him but he was confident all was going to plan.”

  “Look at the little star on her forehead. We should call her Star or Starlight.”

  “Ursa Major, perhaps. Take account of her father.” They both smiled. “She really has to be Starlight, doesn’t she?”

  The little creature staggered to her feet and her mother raised herself up. She cleaned the foal some more and it reached beneath her seeking milk. Major whinnied from next door and Moonlight raised her head and whinnied back.

  “He wants to be a part of it, but I think he’s best left where he is for now. Hey, well done girl,” she said, patting the horse’s neck.

  They both went out of the stable and shut the door on the new little family. “Oh Alex, isn’t it wonderful?” Her eyes were filling with tears.

  He caught her hand and pulled her close. He kissed her cold lips and then led her inside the house.

  “Come on. A hot drink is needed. You’re freezing.”

  She shivered and agreed.

  The kitchen was cosy and warm, just as she remembered it that first time she had been inside the house all those months ago.

  “You can tell Mrs H is back. It has that sparkle again. Oh, thanks,” she added as he handed her a hot chocolate. “Just what I needed.”

  “Sarah,” Alex began softly, “I think I know what love means. Seeing you in the stable, watching Moonlight with such wonder, I suddenly knew that I want you here with me all the time. Will you marry me, Sarah?”

  “I don’t think I have any choice in the matter. We are both a bit overwrought and emotional tonight but we have become very good friends lately, haven’t we? I think love and marriage need to be based on true friendship and now, I think I agree. What I feel for you is indeed true love. And you’re my best friend as well.”

  “What more could I ask? When can we tell everyone?”

  “I’d like to keep it to ourselves for a while. I’d like to tell my parents face to face for a start.”

  “There is one problem. Can you bear to marry me, when I have a mother like mine?”

  “That is a bit of a deterrent but I’m marrying you, not your mother. As long as we can limit her visits and that she knows she’ll be asked to leave if she continues to make nasty remarks about me.”

  “Agreed. Now, I think we better get some sleep. There’s not much of the night left and I do have a hearing in court tomorrow morning.”

  Exhausted, Sarah drove back to her cottage. Quite a night. “And,” she whispered as she settled back into her bed, “I do believe I’ve become engaged to be married.”

  As Christmas approached, Alex and Sarah faced the eternal problem of where were they to spend the holiday. Mrs Weston couldn’t really be left alone and Sarah’s parents would expect her home. They had kept their secret so far and no-one at work suspected a thing.

  “I’ve had a brilliant idea,” Alex announced. “Why don’t we invite everyone here? There will be room for them, even if all the bedrooms aren’t properly finished. Then we can make the big announcement over Christmas dinner. What do you think?”

  “It sounds wonderful, but I can’t even think of cooking for that lot. Do you mean Beth and the kids as well?”

  “Why not? I’m sure Maddy Harper would come in. She claims to have no family commitments so she can come and cook and share the meal with us. Please say yes. I think it will be terrific fun. We can have a huge tree in the hall.”

  “My mum will have already made cakes and puddings. It’s what she does.”

  “Great. She can bring them with her.”

  “OK. I’ll phone them and see how they feel about it.”

  Naturally, everyone thought it was a brilliant idea.

  “I’ve been longing for an invitation to see the place since you first mentioned it,” her mother said. “How exciting. And Beth and her family. Are they invited too?”

  “Of course. It’s a vast place, even if some of it won’t have been finished. Will you bring one of your puddings please?”

  “I was going to offer. I’ve already made puddings and cakes, oh and also mincemeat. Leave all that to me. I shall be delighted to think I’ve made a contribution. What does Beth say to the idea?”

  “I wanted to run it past you first, Mum. If you were against the idea, there would be no point.”

  “And is there anything you want to tell us?”

  “Of course not. I don’t know what you mean,” Sarah said, stifling a smile.

  Beth’s response was very much the same. Great enthusiasm and the expected query about there being any news.

  “The only problem with all of this is Mrs Weston. Naturally she has to be included and she is a bit of a monster. Alex assures me he will threaten her with being deported if she says a single nasty word. Easily said, but she may be grateful enough not to be left on her own and so behave herself.”

  “I’m sure we’ll cope. There are more of us than her, anyway. Leave Dad with her. He can charm anyone in five minutes flat.”

  “Maybe,” Sarah said doubtfully.

  The next couple of weeks were spent in frantic activity. Work at the office was slowing down so they were able to leave earlier some evenings. Alex had ordered a mountain of decorations, a huge tree and had been driving his decorators like a man possessed. New beds had been arriving and chests of drawers and wardrobes were taken into each room.

  “Pillows,” he announced suddenly. “I’ve forgotten pillows. Where can I get dozens of pillows?”

  “Don’t panic,” Sarah calmed him. “I’ll order some on-line. Let’s do a tour round and make sure there isn’t anything else. You might have forgotten any number of things, working on this massive scale.”

  By the time they had finished, she had a long list, including bath mats for the extra bathrooms, a set of sheets for one room that was also missing curtains and four bedside lamps.

  “Right. I’ll order it all to be delivered as soon as possible.” She sat at his computer and made her choices. It was all very simple and half-an-hour later, it was all done. She sat back and looked at the man she now knew for certain that she loved. He was carrying a tray of tea and set it down on the table beside her.

  “I don’t know how we’re going to fit everything into the time we’ve got. They all arrive on Christmas Eve, so between now and then we have to put up decorations, make sure the house is ready for all these guests, buy enough food and most important, I need to buy you a ring.

  “I was planning to surprise you, but when I started looking in the jewellers, I realised I have no idea which stone you would actually like. You’ll be wearing it for a good many years so it has to be right. Am I very unromantic if I suggest you come with me to choose it?”

  “Oh Alex, I’d really like that. I was wondering if you were planning something for my Christmas present. I’d love to be with you to choose it. Thank you.”

  There was a look of complete relief on his face.

  “Thank you. I was so afraid you would expect it to be a surprise and then hate it.”

  The following afternoon, after work, Alex took her to the biggest jewellers in town. He had asked them to have some trays ready for her to look at.

  She stared at the dazzling array of rings resting on their black velvet cushions. It was difficult to choose, but she decided on a simple ring with three diamonds.

  “It looks very expensive,” she said doubtfully. “Are you sure?”

  “If that’s the one you would like, that is the one you shall have. Don’t worry about the cost. But you can’t have it till Christmas day.”

  “Thank you, Alex. It’s so beautiful.”

  “If you were a kitten, you’d be purring,” he said taking her hand fondly as they walked back to the car.

  “We should get back. There’s one large tree waiting for attention.”

  The office was closed the day before Christm
as Eve. She had taken her belongings over to the room Alex had prepared for her to stay over the holiday.

  They made an early start organising everything. Maddy Harper was coming in early to make up beds and make sure everywhere was clean. She was also invited to stay over, as she was going to be doing all the cooking. She seemed very grateful to be included and more than earned her stay by working frantically in the kitchen.

  “This is going to be a fabulous, old-fashioned family Christmas,” Alex kept saying, revelling in the whole business.

  Mrs Weston and Sarah’s family were all arriving after lunch on Christmas Eve. There was to be a simple dinner in the evening and hopefully, an early night for Beth’s children. Everything was ready. Presents were wrapped and Alex had lit a huge log fire in the lounge. The downstairs rooms were all finished and they went from room to room checking everything was in place. Alex and Sarah held hands and beamed at each other.

  “We did it!” she said. The dogs began to bark frantically. “Someone’s arriving, I think.”

  It was Sarah’s family arriving together.

  “We decided to drive down in convoy so we’d all find it easily. What a fabulous place,” Mrs Pennyweather chirped excitedly.

  “Come in. Welcome.” Alex looked suddenly shy. He had never known a proper family and felt a little overcome by the magnitude of being host to so many people. Everyone piled into the hall and gasped at the magnificent huge tree.

  “Wow,” exclaimed Ethan. “I’ve never seen such a big tree. It’s like a forest. Must have taken hours to decorate it.”

  “Quite a while,” Alex agreed.

  At last, Mrs Weston arrived and came in looking perturbed by the large number of people filling the place.

  “We’re just about to have cups of tea and mince pies. My mother’s made them and they’re highly recommended. Come and sit by the fire, Mrs Weston,” Sarah invited. “I’d like to introduce you to my parents.”

  Without protest or comment, she sat down and shook hands with everyone. Mr Pennyweather sat beside her and chatted as if she was an old friend. They overheard her saying to him after a short while, “Call me Emma. We can’t be so formal when we’re all under one roof.”

  Sarah’s jaw dropped. Good old Dad. Beth was right, his charm was certainly working.

  It was a most enjoyable evening and three excited little boys were taken to their room and hung stockings at the end of their bed. Mince pies, a glass of sherry and a carrot for the reindeer were duly left near the tree and even Mrs Weston entered the spirit of the little ceremony.

  “I never ever did that,” Alex whispered to his almost fiancée. “But we’ll do it with our kids, won’t we?”

  “You have a charming family Sarah, my dear,” Mrs Weston said quietly, leaving Sarah gasping in amazement. Was this a breakthrough?

  They didn’t manage to wait till Christmas dinner for their announcement. They were all sitting down for coffee after the children were in bed.

  “So,” Beth said loudly. “When are you going to tell us your news?”

  “I don’t know what you mean,” Sarah protested.

  “You two are looking as if you’ll burst any minute. And you can’t take your eyes off each other and you keep brushing your fingers whenever you pass each other. Come on.”

  Alex and Sarah looked at each other and laughed softly.

  “All right everyone. Sarah has agreed to make me the happiest of men. She’s going to let me keep the foal all to myself.” Everyone laughed and even Mrs Weston raised a flicker of a smile. “OK. Yes, we’re going to be married. Sarah, you can have your present now after all, even if it isn’t Christmas yet.” He took the ring box from his pocket and slipped the lovely diamonds on her finger.

  Right on cue, Maddy Harper came in with a tray of glasses and a magnum of champagne.

  “I gather you need this now rather than tomorrow?”

  They all raised their glasses.

  “To Alex and Sarah.”

  “To love, whatever that is,” Alex said with a grin as he put his arms round the woman he knew he truly loved.

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