Christmas Kiss (14 page)

‘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 kicked out 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.’

‘Okay. 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 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 of 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 online. 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, 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 Christmas 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 that 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 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 put up the lights and decorations.’

‘Quite a while,’ Alex agreed.

They toured the house, oohed and aahed over the tiny foal and the two dogs.

‘Remember our two? Beth whispered to her sister. ‘They were so gorgeous weren’t they? Bet you had something to do with choosing these two.’

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 make so 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 break through?

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.

‘Sorry Alex. I should have told you my sister’s a witch.’

‘All right everyone. Sarah has agreed to make 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. ‘Okay. 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.

If you enjoyed
Christmas Kiss
you might be interested in
Relative Strangers
by Chrissie Loveday, also published by Endeavour Press.

Extract from
Relative Strangers
by Chrissie Loveday

Chapter One

The pain was excruciating. Why hadn’t anyone told her? A new wave came over her and she screamed.

‘Now then, it isn’t that bad. Just breathe through it. Come on now.’

‘You have no idea what I’m going through,’ Jemima snapped. ‘Masochist.’ She lay back, having got over that cycle.

‘Good girl. Relax until the next one comes.’

The midwife was doing something to her down below, where she couldn’t see. She felt a new surge of pain starting.

‘Oh God, here it goes again. How much long...’ She stopped as the agony took hold of her again. She tried so hard not to scream and bit her tongue with the effort.

‘Good. One more like that and you’ll be ready to push. I’m going away for a few minutes now. If another one comes before I’m back, just breathe through it.’ The woman left her. She lifted her head slightly looking round the room. It was bleak. Yes, that was the word for it. Bleak. White paint and nothing on the walls to cheer them up. Hygiene she assumed. The bed she was lying on, called the delivery couch, was hard as nails. Her feet were suspended in some device leaving all her private parts open for anyone to see. The next contraction was coming and she flopped back. As she was alone in the room, she screamed. It seemed to help and nobody came in to tell her off. Then she felt as if she was longing to go to the toilet. Oh my god she thought, I really need the lavatory. What ever could she do? She felt the next one coming. What had the woman said? Push. She did so and felt herself peeing. Too bad. The midwife shouldn’t have left her alone. She pushed and pushed like she had never done before. The door opened and the midwife came back in.

‘Now let’s see how you’re doing. Have you been pushing?’ she asked in an accusing way.

‘You said I should push with the next contraction. So I did.’

‘You need control my girl. I’ll tell you when to push.’

‘You weren’t here. I’m afraid I went to the toilet.’

‘So I see. Okay, push now,’ she said as her next contraction started. ‘Easy now. You

don’t want to tear.’

The next few minutes went by in a flood of pain and then relief as the baby was born. The midwife took it and wrapped it in a blanket, leaving Jemima lying on the couch. She felt a new contraction beginning, this time a mild one. Had she got another baby in there? She pushed again and something slid out.

‘Help me someone. Please ...’ She was sobbing. She wanted to see her baby but the midwife had taken it away.
It
. Was it a boy or girl? The midwife came back into the room. ‘Something else came out,’ she told the woman.

‘Afterbirth. That’s all.’

‘So where is my baby?’

‘You mustn’t worry about him. He’s safe.’

‘When can I see him?’

‘Best not.’

‘Best not? Whatever do you mean?’

‘You’re best not to see him. Can’t have you getting attached, now can we?’

‘Why not? I gave birth to him didn’t I? What’s wrong with him?’

‘Nothing. He’s fine. We shall look after him and find him some good parents. You can go home in a day or two. You’ve had an easy birth. Be grateful for that anyway.’

‘You call that easy? It was sheer hell.’

‘I’ll be back in a few minutes to wash you off. Just lie there for a while.’

‘But I want to see my baby,’ Jemima screamed. ‘My beautiful baby boy. I want my baby.’ She fell into crying and felt as if her life was over. Why on earth had she done it? Why had she had sex with that boy? He was handsome and he had told her everyone was doing it nowadays.

‘Come on love. It’s so easy. You know you want to, don’t you?’

‘Well, all right then. If you’re sure.’

They’d left the dance and gone outside. He’d led her round the back of the dance hall and pulled her knickers down.

‘Stop a minute. What if someone comes round here?’

‘They won’t. Come on now.’ She felt him hard against her and he kissed her. She grew wet and a strange feeling stemmed from the bottom of her tummy. He threw her knickers to the ground and fumbled with his zip. His penis was huge as he pushed it into her. She felt sick but he continued to pump until suddenly, he came. A sticky mess slid down her legs. ‘Oh darling, you’re the best,’ he mumbled. ‘Now pull your knickers back up.’

Was that it, she wondered? Was that what it was all about?

Jemima lay on the bed, her legs now released from their supports. The midwife had returned and washed her off with something that smelt disinfectanty.

‘Have you got your nightie?’

‘It’s in my room. You gave me this thing to wear when I was back there.’

‘Oh yes. Okay. Well, you’d better go back there and put it on. There’s a pad for you to wear. I’ll give you a bandage to fasten it. Get up now.’ Feeling wobbly, she rose from the birthing couch and stood hanging onto to it for a moment. The midwife fastened a bandage round her middle and hooked the sani pad to it. ‘Right. Off you go.’

Tottering along the corridor and back to her room, she felt as if her life was concentrated into a mess that was down below her, somewhere. She was walking bow-legged. And where was her baby? She looked at several doors as she went along the corridor. Was he in there? Behind one of those doors? She hesitated and pushed one open. It was store cupboard. She pushed open the next one and the next one but her baby boy, Jacob as she was going to call him, was not there. Feeling very teary, she went back into the room she shared with four other mothers. One of them was only just starting her labour.

‘What did you have then?’ one of them asked.

‘A boy, I was told. I never got to see him.’

‘That’s how it always is. Some places let you see them for a few days before they go. Here, they take them away straight away. I know my sister said it was like that for her. I didn’t mind. I never wanted mine anyway. Glad to see the back of it.’

‘I didn’t realise they took them away straight off. Where do they go?’

‘They have a list of people who want them. So, how old are you anyway?’

‘Fifteen. Sixteen next week actually.’

‘So you couldn’t have kept it could you?’

‘My Mum would have helped me. Well, I think she might have.’

‘Not if she sent you down here. It’s known for its quick turnaround. I’m going home tomorrow. They won’t want you here for long either. I bet they’ll be sending you back in a day or two.’

The other girl who was starting labour began to cry.

‘I never realised it would hurt this much.’

‘It won’t take you too long, I’m sure.’ Jemima wanted to help the girl but simply didn’t know what to say. ‘Have you told them you’ve started?’

‘Not yet. I thought I needed to be well on the way.’

‘I’ll call someone for you.’ She went to the door and yelled. No need to be polite any more. She was going home soon. ‘Come in here quick. Maggie is giving birth.’

A midwife came in.

‘Lie on your bed dear. I’ll examine you.’ In front of the others in the room, she hitched the girls pants down and stuck her fingers into the girl. ‘Yes. You’re well underway. I’ll get you a gown and then you can follow me along to the delivery room.’

‘Good luck,’ called the others.

Two days later, still grieving over what she saw as the loss of her baby, Jemima was sent home. She sat on the train, wanting to cry, but the carriage was full of normal looking people who would never have understood. She surreptitiously wiped away the tears and hoped her parents would be meeting her.

The train stopped and she picked up her travelling bag. She could see her mother waiting on the platform. She almost ran along, or she would have done if she wasn’t so sore, and flung her arms round her mother.

‘Thanks for coming to meet me, Mum. It was so awful.’

‘Yes, well you knew what would happen. Come on or we’ll miss the bus.’ She set off at quite a pace with Jemima struggling to keep up. The bus was waiting outside the station.

‘One and a half to Mursely Street,’ she said to the conductor.

‘Is she a half?’ he asked suspiciously.

‘Course she is. I know my daughter.’

‘Well, I’ll take your word for it this time. She looks older than sixteen.’

Jemima kept silent. When the conductor left them, she said,

‘I was sixteen last week. In case you’d forgotten.’

‘I remembered. Your auntie sent you a card. I’ve got one for you at home too. But why pay full fare for you? Waste of money, so close to your birthday and all.’

She sat looking out of the window at the familiar streets. Her own nightmare was over.

‘Do they know what happened at school?’

‘They think you’ve had glandular fever. You’ll be going back next term. Your exams will be starting soon. I hope you continued your studies while you were away.’

‘I tried but it wasn’t easy. Perhaps they’ll give me some extra help.’

‘I doubt you’ll get anything extra after what you did.’

‘It wasn’t my fault,’ she whispered.

‘You must have known what you were doing. Let’s hear nothing more about it. Your father certainly doesn’t want to hear any more.’

‘You haven’t even asked me what I had.’

‘It was a baby wasn’t it? That’s it now. No more mention of it. It’s all in the past.’

To Jemima, it was never going to be in the past. Night after night she cried herself to sleep, missing ‘Jacob’. Would she ever get over losing him? She doubted it very much. The boy she’d had sex with had moved away. She would never see him again.

To download the book and continue reading
click here
.