It was Christmas Day and the rooms above the bakery were full to bursting. Ellen and Ted had decided to have their Christmas dinner here rather than at Ted’s house, which hadn’t pleased Nora Parker at first, until Ellen had asked if the older woman would help her prepare and cook the large meal, professing to be out of her depth at cooking for such a large gathering. Now, as Nora basted the enormous turkey, she thought, not for the first time, that it was the strangest Christmas dinner she’d ever been to. Putting the bird back into the oven Nora wiped the sweat from her face and took a large gulp of sherry as she mentally counted the number of people she was catering for, just to make sure she hadn’t left anyone out. There was Sadie and the two boys, Ellen, Ted, and Micky and Molly, plus herself and John Smith. A look of sadness flitted over her face as she recalled the memory of poor Sarah Smith. Just a bad cold, John had told her when she’d enquired after his wife. But the cold had turned into pneumonia. Within a few days Sarah was dead, leaving John shocked and grief-stricken at the suddenness with which his beloved wife had been taken from him.
That had been over two months ago, but John still hadn’t come to terms with his bereavement. It had taken her, Ted and Ellen to persuade the solemn man to have his Christmas dinner with them instead of sitting alone in an empty house brooding. Taking a few steps from the kitchen she peered into the sitting room where the table was already set for the festive occasion.
‘Need any ’elp, Nora?’ Sadie North, dressed in a simple blue blouse and black skirt, looked at Nora hopefully. Nora understood exactly how Sadie felt and her mood softened towards the former prostitute. She and Sadie hadn’t exactly hit it off at first, but were now friends, due to their association with Molly. Sadie and the Knight boys had visited frequently since Molly had come to live with her brother and Ellen, but this was the first time she and the boys had been invited to what was essentially a family occasion, and it was obvious Sadie was feeling a bit awkward.
‘Yeah, thanks, Sadie, I could do with an extra pair of ’ands.’ Sadie gratefully followed Nora back into the kitchen. ‘’Ere yer go, love, get that down yer,’ Nora said gaily, handing Sadie a glass of sherry.
‘Cheers, Nora.’ Sadie took the drink gratefully. ‘What d’yer want me ter do?’
Waving her hand in the air Nora said, ‘Nothing, thanks. I just thought you was looking a bit left outta it.’
Sadie leant her buttocks against the table. ‘Is it that obvious?’
Nora laughed. ‘Don’t worry, mate, I don’t think anyone else has noticed, ’specially the two lovebirds.’ She nodded towards the other room where Ted and Ellen were standing together, smiling like doting parents as the four children played with the toys they had received for Christmas.
Following Nora’s glance Sadie asked hesitantly, ‘’As there been any news of Arthur… I mean, about getting the annulment? ’Cos Ellen and Ted can’t get married till it’s all sorted. It must be hard fer you, I mean, with your Ted living at your ’ouse one minute, and here the next. It must be confusing fer the kids an’ all.’
‘Nah.’ Nora waved her hand airily, the sherry beginning to take its toll. ‘Kids tend ter take things at face value. They’re much easier at dealing with changes in their lives just as long as they feel safe. Anyway, according ter Ellen it won’t be too long now. They’re just waiting fer the solicitors, that’s probably what’s ’olding everything up. Mind you, just between the two of us, I think the reason it’s taking so long is ’cos Arthur’s been dragging his feet, at least he was till he met the widowed sister of that Bradley woman. Like I said, up till a couple of months ago Arthur kept stalling every time Ellen wrote ter him, making up any excuse to delay signing the final papers. Now suddenly he’s doing all he can ter hurry up the whole business. Of course he’s making out he’s doing it fer Ellen’s sake, but I’ve known Arthur since he was in short trousers.
He’s the type of bloke that can’t cope on his own. First he depended on ’is dad, then when he died he latched onto Agnes. I don’t know the whys and wherefores of how he dumped Agnes, but I do know he started to spend more and more time with Ellen’s parents after Ellen was born. From that time on he became besotted with Ellen. Yer see what I mean about him not being capable of living alone. Ellen and her parents became like a sort of family ter him. Now he’s taken up with this widowed woman he’s got someone else to look after him. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he announced he was getting married again, once the annulment has been finalised.
My Ted’s already been ter the solicitors. Gave them a right rollicking he did, but them sort ain’t easily frightened. Most likely they’re making as much money as they can outta the whole thing while they still can. Gawd knows how long it’d take if they was trying ter get a divorce. Most likely be too long in the tooth to care,’ she ended on a raucous laugh, then put her hand to her mouth in dismay. ‘Bleeding ’ell, I’ll be pissed if I ’ave any more. ’ere, ’elp me get this turkey outta the oven, before it dries up.’
Ted and Ellen looked up at the sound of loud laughter coming from the kitchen.
‘Sounds like Mum’s been at the sherry again,’ Ted grinned widely, his arm tightening around Ellen’s waist. ‘You all right fer a drink, Johnny?’
John Smith glanced up absently, his thoughts wandering to a time when he and Sarah had shared many a Christmas together. Jolted out of his reverie, John put on a brave face for the young couple’s benefit, though he was already regretting accepting their kind offer. Now he was here, he mustn’t put a damper on the proceedings.
‘Thanks Ted, I’ll have another beer, please.’
While Ted fetched the beer, Ellen sat down on the arm of John’s chair, saying gently, ‘You must miss your wife terribly. I just want you to know that we won’t be offended if you want to leave early, though it would be wonderful if you could stay for the day.’
John patted Ellen’s hand affectionately. ‘You’re a lovely girl, Ellen. Ted’s a lucky man, and so am I for having such good friends. It’s a pity Agnes couldn’t be with us, though I can understand why she wanted to get away, poor soul.’ A look of sadness clouded his eyes. ‘All her life Agnes wanted to be popular, to feel important, much the same as Arthur did. Then when she achieved that aim she couldn’t handle it. It must have been very hard for her to suddenly find herself the centre of attraction. You would have thought she’d have gloried in having her name splashed all over the newspaper, and people who’d previously poked fun at her suddenly swarming round her, wanting to be her friend.
There’s an old saying that goes, “Beware of what you wish for, ’cos it might come true.” And that’s what happened to Agnes. All that she wished for came too late. That’s why she went away, she couldn’t handle being in the limelight. But I think the real reason she upped sticks was because she didn’t think she deserved the praise and fame that came after she’d put her life on the line to save Molly, because she still blamed herself for her part in the whole sordid episode.’
He fell silent, and Ellen waited, sure the solemn man had more to say, and she was right.
Toying with his empty glass John looked up at Ellen and asked, ‘I don’t suppose you know where she is, only I can’t bear to think of her in some strange hotel or boarding house all alone on Christmas day.’
Ellen shook her head. ‘No, I don’t, Johnny, I wish I did. If we knew where she was Ted would have gone to fetch her home. The last we heard from her she wrote to say she was having a nice time and would be back soon – that was nearly a month ago.’
‘What you two looking so gloomy about?’ Ted handed John another beer. ‘It’s Christmas, everyone’s happy at Christmas.’
John took the bottle of beer gratefully, hoping the alcohol would help cheer him into the festive proceedings.
‘We were just talking about Agnes, and how we’d hoped she would have come back in time for Christmas,’ Ellen answered.
The smile on Ted’s lips wavered at the mention of Agnes. He most of all wished she could have shared the special occasion with them. He still hadn’t shaken off the guilt for the awful way he had treated her, and he had a feeling he never would.
He was saved from further self-recrimination by his mother’s voice calling loudly, ‘Come on, you lot. Get yerselves up ter the table. Ellen, if yer could fetch the vegetables, Ted can start carving.’
Nora and Sadie were carrying a large platter upon which rested the golden-browned turkey and a large portion of roast potatoes. Putting the heavy tray onto the table Nora said, ‘It’s a good job Ted brought over the extra chairs, else some of us would’ve had to have our dinner standing up.’
Ellen had just finished saying grace, a ritual that was greeted with muffled glee by the Knight boys, until they were given a quick clout to the backs of their heads by an embarrassed Sadie, when they heard a loud knock on the back door.
‘Good Lord, who could that be?’ Ellen had risen to her feet.
‘Sit down. I’ll go and see who it is.’ Ted pushed her gently back onto her chair. ‘Don’t start without me, will yer?’
Bounding down the stairs, he saw a large white envelope lying on the mat, and pulled open the door. There, on the doorstep were several gaily wrapped parcels. His head swinging from left to right he saw a figure walking quickly away and called out, ‘Hey, Agnes, where yer going, yer silly cow?’
Agnes stopped in her tracks and turned to face Ted. ‘I’m sorry, Ted. I didn’t mean ter spoil yer Christmas dinner, only I just got back and I wanted ter leave the presents fer the kids.’
Ted caught at her arm and pulled her into the house, along with the parcels. ‘Get inside, fer Gawd’s sake, before we freeze ter death. Anyway, why didn’t yer let us know you was back home? Yer know we would ’ave wanted yer with us at Christmas. I don’t know why yer went away in the first place.’
With much pushing and prodding, Ted propelled the embarrassed woman up the stairs. Pushing open the door he shouted merrily, ‘Look who I found lurking outside.’
A great cry of pleasure went up as the assembled group saw who it was. But it was Molly who ran into Agnes’ arms. ‘Oh, I’m glad yer came, Agnes. It wouldn’t ’ave been the same without you, would it, Micky?’
Her face flushed, Agnes looked around the room, a sudden warmth spreading through her chilled body. She had been afraid she wouldn’t have been welcomed, especially on a day primarily reserved for family. But she saw now she had been wrong. She hadn’t been intruding. All these people were genuinely pleased to see her. It was an experience she wasn’t used to, and she had to swallow the lump in her throat before answering, ‘Yer sure I ain’t disturbing yer?’
Ellen started towards her, but it was John who pulled up the one remaining chair and placed it beside him. ‘Here you go, old girl. You sit with me.’
Her legs unsteady, Agnes sat down as Ellen said grace once again for the benefit of the late visitor. With the formalities over, Ted began carving the turkey, while Nora and Sadie made sure the children had enough vegetables on their plates, much to their disgust. But before the assembled group could start on the tantalising meal Ted rose to his feet. Looking around the table to make sure everyone had a drink he raised his glass.
‘Merry Christmas, everyone. To friends and family, all together on the best day of the year.’ His eyes swept around the table, but it was Agnes his eyes lingered on as if he were speaking to her alone. And that kindly gesture created in Agnes a feeling of belonging – a feeling of being loved, and for a moment she feared she would break down. Then she felt a strong hand grip hers and looked up into John’s face and the moment passed.
There was a tinkle of glasses touching, then a resounding ‘Merry Christmas’ filled the room before the hungry group began their meal.