Grace snipped the cotton then held up the Santa to appraise her efforts.
‘What do you think, Tom?’
He peered at the toy then nodded. ‘He’s all fixed like you did an operation on him.’
‘Do you want to take him through to Amy?’
‘Yes, please.’
After Tom had left the kitchen, Grace tidied away the sewing things into the drawer where she’d found them. The drawer was stuffed with bits and bobs, from needles and cotton, to Sellotape, drawing pins and a ticket from a fairground ride. As she’d pulled the cotton out, it had been stuck to an old mint that she’d thrown in the bin. There was also a bar of coal tar soap with its strong nostalgic antiseptic smell, a frayed tape measure and a few foreign coins. Nestled in the corner was a small notebook with a chewed pencil, an unopened pack of dog treats and a box of matches. Kitchen drawers could tell stories about their owners and what they’d been through in their lives.
She leaned against the counter and looked around. The rectangular kitchen had a table and chairs at one end next to French doors that appeared to lead onto a patio area, and the kitchen cupboards, Aga and apron-front sink were at the other. The ceiling was low with wide oak beams and had a lot of similar features to her parents’ cottage. Grace liked the kitchen; it smelt of wood, thyme and garlic, as if years of the Aga burning and cooking meals had permeated the very walls. It had a homely lived-in appeal and she could imagine Oli and his children sitting down together to eat, talking and laughing and enjoying their time together.
Tom was such a cute boy and he made her smile. Before she’d sewn Santa’s legs back on, he’d been dancing them across the worktop, creating a rather disturbing scenario where Santa had lost his torso by getting it stuck in the chimney, so his legs had run away. She’d had to stifle her laughter as she’d taken the legs from him, then she’d pricked her finger twice as she’d sewn, because she’d been shaking as she tried to suppress her laughter again.
‘Hey…’ Oli entered the kitchen. ‘Thanks so much for putting Santa back together.’
‘I’m no expert seamstress but he should hold, at least if there’s no more fighting over him.’
‘The children have been warned.’ He leaned against the unit next to her. ‘I’ve lit the fire and put a DVD on for them. Amy’s still quite upset so I’m hoping it’ll distract her.’
‘She’s bound to be. Losing her mum so young must be hard.’
‘She doesn’t deal with it as well as Tom because he was just a baby really when Linda died. But Amy knew her mum, she felt what it was like to be loved by Linda and she feels her loss all the more.’
‘And special occasions bring it all back don’t they?’
He nodded then turned around and placed his hands flat on the worktop. ‘Are you hungry?’
‘A bit… I think.’ She rubbed her belly. ‘Yes, actually I am.’
‘Well, how about I make us some food?’
‘That would be lovely. Do you need a hand?’
‘No, but I’d be grateful if you’d go in there and keep an eye on those two. Just to make sure that Santa doesn’t have another accident.’
‘Of course.’
On the way back to the living room, Grace sent her mother a text to tell her where she was and that she wouldn’t be home for dinner. She found Amy and Tom on the sofa, their eyes glued to the TV, the Santa sitting between them. In the corner of the room the old Christmas tree looked sad and forgotten, unadorned except for a set of lights that weren’t glowing. Grace went over to the tree and turned the plug on but the lights stayed dark.
‘They’re the broken ones.’ Tom shook his head. ‘Daddy said we need new ones.’
‘Yes he did, didn’t he?’
Grace pulled the plug out of the socket, then carefully unwound the lights from the branches. She put the old lights into a plastic bag, then went back to the hallway and retrieved the bags she’d brought with her and carried them into the living room. While cartoon characters sang about Christmas on the TV, Grace wrapped two sets of lights around the tree. She knew they worked as she’d tested them earlier, so once she’d finished, she plugged them in but didn’t turn them on.
‘Amy, Tom. Do you want to decorate the tree now?’
‘Yes please!’ they both responded.
Fifteen minutes later, they had used all of the decorations she’d brought from her parents. The tree was literally groaning with the weight of them, but the children had been so enthusiastic about the tiny snowmen, reindeer, Santa Clauses and the tinsel, that Grace hadn’t wanted to curb their excitement by suggesting they hold back. Then they’d added some of their own from the boxes on the floor, and now the tree could have given the one at the Rockefeller Centre in New York a run for its money.
‘There’s one thing left to do…’ Grace pressed the switches on and the tree came to life, sparkling with the racing white lights and glowing like a rainbow with the small coloured set.
‘I love it.’ Tom came to stand next to her then slipped his small hand into hers.
‘Me too.’ Amy gazed at the tree, the lights reflecting in her eyes and over her face as she stepped closer. ‘Thank you, Grace. I thought it was going to be a rubbish tree. And that would have made Daddy sad.’
‘It’s my pleasure. No one should be sad, especially at Christmas time.’
Grace bit her lip. She sounded like she’d just stepped out of the TV. But she did know that she wanted these children to be happy, and that if they were happy then Oli would be too.
‘Now, that looks incredible.’ Oli was standing in the doorway, a big smile on his face.
‘You think so?’
He nodded. ‘You didn’t have to do that.’
‘I wanted to help.’ Grace shrugged, a bit embarrassed now.
‘And you have. I’ve finished dinner if you’re all hungry. Kids, pause the movie.’
In the kitchen, the children went to the table and took what must be their regular seats. Grace looked at the two spare chairs, suddenly feeling incredibly awkward. She didn’t want to take Oli’s seat but neither did she want to take Linda’s. That would just feel wrong.
‘It’s a new table,’ Oli said, as if sensing her discomfort. ‘I bought it in the summer. Sit where you want.’
Grace flashed him a look of gratitude then sat next to Tom and opposite Amy.
‘That’s Daddy’s chair.’ Amy pointed at her.
‘Oh.’ Grace stood up. ‘Shall I come round there?’
Amy eyed her, a frown settling on her pretty face. ‘No it’s okay, you can sit there. But you might have to cut Tom’s food up.’
‘No, she won’t!’ Tom slammed his fork onto the table. ‘Don’t be silly, Amy, I’m not a baby.’
‘Sometimes you are,’ Amy said.
Grace watched Amy carefully, but she seemed to be innocent enough as she cast the judgement on her brother. Sometimes siblings could be mean, but Grace hoped Amy hadn’t intended to hurt Tom.
Suddenly, Tom snorted then he nudged Grace. ‘Sometimes I am a baby.’
Amy and her brother both giggled at this, and Grace met Oli’s eyes as he set a bowl of mashed potatoes and a smaller one of peas on the table. He returned with four plates, then a baking tray with four breaded pieces of fish.
‘Can I have tomato sauce, please?’ Amy asked.
‘You know where it is.’ Oli nodded before taking a seat. ‘Oh… drinks!’ He jumped up and got four glasses from a cupboard then brought over a carton of juice from the fridge.
Grace polished off her food quickly. It was simple yet delicious and she enjoyed listening to the gentle chatter of the children and Oli’s additions to their conversation. The three of them were evidently close and had many shared stories and jokes. It made her think of Sam and how they’d shared so much, how they’d had their own in-jokes and how they’d made their parents laugh many times over dinner. She missed the closeness she’d shared with her brother, and hoped that Amy and Tom would remain close as they grew older. A good relationship with a sibling was something to treasure.
She caught Oli’s eyes on her a few times and when he realized she’d seen him, he’d quickly looked away. Was he comparing her to Linda, wishing she was here, or was he just enjoying her company?
Grace helped him to take the plates to the dishwasher, then Oli replenished their drinks before bringing four bowls of chocolate ice cream to the table.
‘It’s from Foxglove Farm.’
‘I shouldn’t really, but I can’t refuse ice cream,’ Grace said as she spooned some into her mouth. It was smooth and creamy and the sweet hit she craved after a meal. ‘Delicious.’
‘I know. I pick some up every week because it’s just so good.’
‘Another reason to stay in Conwenna Cove.’
Oli’s eyes widened. ‘You’re thinking of staying?’
‘Oh… uh… I’ve considered staying until the New Year. But I’ll have to go home then… I have a flat and… things.’
Things? What things? Belongings that could be moved anywhere easily enough?
‘Of course you do.’
Was that disappointment that just flashed across his features?
‘Are you married, Grace?’ Amy asked as she stood up and carried the bowls to the dishwasher.
‘No… never been married.’
‘Do you have children?’
‘No. No children.’
‘A boyfriend—’
‘Amy!’ Oli snapped. ‘That’s enough.’
‘I’m only asking, Daddy. People always ask me if I have a boyfriend.’ She placed a hand on Grace’s arm and leaned forwards. ‘To be honest, Grace, it gets on my nerves. Why would I want a boyfriend? The boys in my class are all so childish.’ She shook her head then tutted.
‘Right kids, chores time.’
Tom rolled his eyes at Grace and she hid a smile behind her hand by pretending to cough. She watched in amazement as Amy loaded the dishwasher then popped in a capsule and switched it on. Tom cleaned the table with kitchen roll and an antibacterial spray that Grace wanted to tell him to be careful with, but then she realized that Oli was supervising him discreetly.
‘What now, Tom?’ Oli asked.
‘Wash my hands very well.’
‘Good lad.’
Grace felt like a complete lazybones for not helping with anything, but every time she’d tried, Oli had raised a hand and shaken his head. When the kitchen was clean and tidy, Oli gestured at the doorway.
‘Shall we go and put the rest of the movie on?’
‘What time is it?’ Grace asked. ‘I’ve completely lost track.’
‘Six.’
‘Already?’
‘The weekends fly past. We even forgot to have lunch because I was about to make some when you arrived. Although those two did have a snack in town so that’s probably why they didn’t ask for anything else. Do you fancy a glass of wine?’
‘That would be nice.’
‘You go on through and I’ll catch up in a moment.’
Grace went through with the children and Tom pushed her towards the sofa. ‘Sit by me, Grace.’
‘Okay…’ She sat down between the children then wriggled as she realized she was on Santa’s rather inadequate lap. ‘I’ve been very good, can I have a new book, please?’
‘What?’ Amy frowned at her.
‘I’m sitting on Santa’s lap,’ Grace said, raising herself so she could pull the toy out from beneath her.
‘Oh!’ Amy smiled. ‘Funny.’
Grace chewed her bottom lip. Amy was so lovely at times then almost spikey at others. It was confusing, but then Grace had little experience of children and no frame of reference, except for her own time as a child. Perhaps it was linked to Amy’s age, or perhaps it was because of what she’d been through. And, of course, she hardly knew Grace so might warm to her as time went on. Although Grace would probably be leaving, so that probably wouldn’t happen.
‘How’s this?’ Oli held a glass of wine out to her. ‘It’s a pinot noir. Light and fruity.’
‘Fantastic, thanks.’ Grace took a sip of the ruby liquid and sighed as it slid down her throat. ‘That’s delicious.’
‘I like wine, so it has to be good.’
When they were all seated, Grace in between the children and Oli in the chair by the fireplace, Tom put the movie back on and festive music filled the air.
The fire crackled in the grate, the lights twinkled on the tree and soon, Tom was sleeping against Grace’s arm, his weight warm and solid – reassuring. Melting her heart. Because it was nice. Nice to be a part of a family, nice to be able to cast glances at Oli that he returned with smiles, nice to see Amy shuffle closer and closer to her until she was able to rest her head on Grace’s shoulder, and nice to be a part of this little family.
It might not be her own, but right now she was enjoying their company and she could almost imagine what it might be like if they were hers.
Almost…