Lonely This Christmas (7 page)

It was a very cold dark night when Judy arrived at the meeting place, and unlike the Judy of 1974, she now wrapped up warm in winter time. Practicality now always took precedence over appearance, but thanks to being surrounded by clothing in her workplace, Judy always managed to combine the two. As she climbed out of the taxi the cold air caught her breath causing her to cough involuntarily.

Le Bistro D’Amour may or may not live up to its name, but either way tonight Judy was determined to have fun. For one split second she imagined the unthinkable, that Ian had had second thoughts and that he wouldn’t show up. As she pushed open the door her fears were quashed as she spotted him in the corner of the dimly lit eating place.

The interior of the bistro was in no way French, the furniture was contemporary and the tablecloths were vivid shades of red and purple. The large blackboard menu was not in keeping with a small French bistro and neither was the music. However, the aroma coming from the restaurants kitchen immediately tickled the taste buds.

As Judy approached the table he stood and offered to help her off with her coat. Soon they were both seated, and sheepishly reaching under the table Ian produced a large gift bag.

“This is for you. I saw it this afternoon in the gift shop window and I just couldn’t resist. Hope you like it.”

Judy accepted the gift bag and glanced silently down into it. Before she had even taken the gift from the bag she could feel herself filling up. It would take all her strength to stop herself from bursting into floods of tears.

Pulling the plush light grey elephant from the bag, she stroked the pale pink felt inner surface of its ears, before straightening the matching pink ribbon around its neck.

“Oh, it’s gorgeous, Ian, I love it,” Judy beamed as her eyes glazed over, tears ready to overflow.

“I just thought, they say that an elephant never
forgets, which is a bit like me really. I never forgot you Judy. I know this sounds crazy, and I shouldn’t be talking like this since we haven’t seen each other for years, but that’s just the point isn’t it. We lost each other for decades and we can’t get that time back. I don’t know about you, but I think life’s too short, and none of us know what’s around the corner. Look at your husband and your dad, here one minute, gone the next. Please don’t answer me just yet, but how about you and me give it another go? We’ve got stacks to catch up on, and who knows I might drive you crazy once you get to know me again. Anyway, let’s eat, drink and be merry, as old whatshisname the RE teacher used to say before school lunch.”

Visions of the school dining hall came flooding back as Judy tried to remember the name of the RE teacher. Although it was totally trivial in the grand scheme of things Judy hated it when she couldn’t recall something, and was relieved when she remembered the name of the balding RE teacher with his baggy trousers and v neck home knit sweaters.

“Mr. Quickfall was the RE teacher,” Judy commented quite casually, as though she had remembered all along.

The quick change of subject eased the awkward situation, and after eating a rather tasty steak meal the mood was much more relaxed.

Despite it being so close to Christmas the bistro failed to fill up. When the last table had cleared the proprietor placed the closed sign on the door, before hastily clearing the tables and stacking them to the side of the room.

Raising her carefully manicured eyebrows Judy couldn’t help but comment, “That’s strange; not many businesses can afford to turn away passing trade by closing their doors early.”

“That’s down to me actually. I told the guy that if he didn’t take any more bookings after ours, I’d pay him for all the empty tables for the rest of the night.”

“But that’ll cost you a fortune,” responded Judy in astonishment.

“You’re worth it; and now for the pièce de résistance, as the French would say.”

Waving at the waiter who stood by the door to the kitchen, he nodded and pointed his forefinger toward the small music system that was situated next to the cash desk.

“Bom, bom, bom, bom, ooh oohooh, ooh, oohooh, ooh oohooh, ooh, bom, bom, bom, bom.”

There was no mistaking which song it was. Two star-crossed lovers giggled in instant recognition.

“Well, do you fancy a dance?”

Shrugging her shoulders, Judy pushed her chair back as she stood. Stepping to the side of the table she took hold of his outstretched hand.

“Why not.”

As two mature adults danced on the spot like two lovesick teens, it was clear that the magic was still there. It would be different this time around; they were worldly wise adults rather than naïve school kids. Whether it would be the happy ever after they both hoped for, who was to know; but for now they were both ecstatically happy. They had found each other again, and against all the odds they had been given a second chance.

“You won’t be lonely this Christmas, or any other Christmas ever again, Judy.”

They could feel each other’s hearts beating rapidly as they held each other tightly, and when Ian kissed Judy as passionately as dignity would allow, she knew that he really did mean the words he was saying. Whatever the future had in store for them one thing was for sure, neither of them would be ‘Lonely This Christmas’.

—ooOoo—

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Books By Krissie LaBaye