Page 70 of A Miracle on Hope Street
Michael blushes slightly.
‘I work at Gloria’s Café in town,’ he says modestly. ‘Let’s just say I’ve recently rediscovered my love of being a chef, even if I’m only a humble waiter there for now. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Sorry about the spuds.’
Nicholas raises a glass. ‘To frozen chips at Christmas!’
And everyone heartily joins in.
‘Your turn to relax now,’ I say to Michael and our company agrees. Young Marcus, after a moment of crying which left Molly in an awful fluster, has fallen asleep in his pram that his daddy fetched from the car after he lapped up his mashed-up dinner and both Molly and Jack look like the weight of the world has been lifted off their shoulders as they look forward to dessert.
‘I thought you said you didn’t have a boyfriend,’ Kelly, who sits to my right, whispers to me.
‘I don’t have a boyfriend, but yes, we are most definitely very good friends,’ I say to her with a wink and a nod and my cheeks blush when I think of the Christmas Eve that Michael and I spent together. It was amazing. ‘It’s early days but I do think he’s pretty hot.’
Kelly swoons in agreement. ‘You know something, Ruth,’ she says to me. ‘You have turned my world around by asking me to come here today and share all of this with you. I don’t how to ever thank you enough.’
I sit down and give her my full attention now, despite the muffled noise of conversation that I’ve tried to keep up with throughout dinner.
‘Elsie is in safe hands today and her dad sent me pictures of her opening her presents this morning,’ she tells me, reaching for her phone and showing me photos of her little angel grinning for the camera. ‘You were right, it’s only fair that we each take turns to share her, but if it weren’t for this today, I’d be a quivering wreck, stuck at home feeling sorry for myself. I think I’ve made a new friend in Molly and we are going to meet up for a playdate soon with Marcus and Elsie. My Christmas would have been so very different if it weren’t for your kind invitation. Thank you.’
She is enjoying her glass of wine and her plate is empty, so her words to me are just the icing on the cake.
I get up to finish clearing the table.
‘Let me help you with that,’ she says to me and soon we have all cleared away and are eyeing up Kelly’s desserts, yet wondering how we are going to fit any more in.
‘I think it’s time to open some presents,’ I say to our guests and they all whoop in delight. ‘Then we will have tea and dessert, what do you think?’
Michael brings me over a bundle of presents from under the Christmas tree and I sort through them as all eyes are on me in anticipation. For the first time since everyone arrived here, they have all gone a little bit quiet as they watch and wait for the next part of the afternoon to commence. The big thing that has touched me today so far is that as well as everyone being in such great spirits, each and every one of them is enjoying and savouring everything, from the food to the background music, to the general chit-chat and the ability to get to know new people in very unusual circumstances. Now, as they watch as I sort out a few token presents, the feeling in the room is like waiting to hear the lottery results as they take in my every move, not knowing what is coming next.
‘Nicholas, my darling,’ I begin. ‘This is for you.’
‘Oh!’ says Nicholas in genuine surprise.
‘May you never forget the power of music and all the joy you have brought to others down the years,’ I remind him. ‘Keep singing and keep playing, Nicholas. I pledged that I will help you find a way and you are now invited to play every Sunday for the residents of the care home where my father was looked after. I have spoken to my old friend Oonagh there and they will be delighted to have you. What a wonderful gift you have to share with the world.’
I hand him a small box and he opens the silver wrapping paper with such care, then lifts the lid and his face breaks into a huge, beaming smile.
‘Well, that is just the best news in the whole world!,’ he says, taking out the treble clef-shaped brooch I bought from a market stall and holding it like it is made of precious jewels as tears well in his eyes. ‘I don’t even know what to say! You have no idea how much I needed to hear that. That’s just marvellous! Thank you, Ruth!’
He carefully pins the brooch on, looking down at it on his chest which brings a tear to my eye as well as to his and to everyone else’s around the table. I clasp my hands and savour this beautiful moment, looking at each face as they light up for Nicholas with such sincerity.
‘Okay, next,’ I say, quickly, before I get too emotional. ‘You’re going to have me crying by the end of this all, I just know it. Molly and Jack, this next one is for you. We’ve something for Marcus too but I think we’ll wait till he wakes up and he can get stuck in.’
Molly looks taken aback as the present makes its way down the table to her and her husband. She opens it as once again the rest of the party look on.
‘It’s a photo frame that says “home”,’ I explain, as she takes it out of the box. ‘It’s a little reminder, I hope, that family is everything and, although we all face tough times now and then when life throws us a curveball, it all comes down to family and love – and what a beautiful little family you have. I have learned so much over the past few days about how fragile and important our family is to us, and I know how much our lives can change when we lose someone, or indeed when we are reunited with someone, and that’s what makes it all very real. We’re going to get you through this, Jack and Molly, so please don’t worry, it’s all going to be fine.’
Jack puts his arm around his wife and kisses her head, then reaches down to their sleeping son and touches his downy hair.
‘To family,’ says Molly, raising her glass. ‘And to all of you for your kindness here today. We were so close to not coming but I’m so glad now that we were brave enough to swallow our pride and do so. We’re all going to be all right, you know. I really do believe that now.’
‘To family,’ I echo, unable to take my eyes off my mum, who is nodding in agreement, the pain on her face for the years we lost screaming out from her weary eyes now and in every expression she makes. I look at the presents before me and find the one that says her name.
‘Mum, I know we have so much to make up for,’ I say to her. ‘But today is only the first of many precious occasions where we can focus on quality time and get to know each other again. We have so much fun to look forward to and it has really made this Christmas extra special to have you here. I bought this for you many years ago and have kept it in the hope that one day we would be reunited. I’m so happy that day has finally come.’
I get up from my chair and walk around to where my mother sits beside Marian and I fall into her arms as the room goes completely silent. No one, apart from Michael, of course, would have known the importance of today for me and my mother, and they look on with a mixture of sadness and delight.
‘Thank you,’ she says to me and I hand her the small gift then go back to my seat as she opens it. I have so much to talk to my mother about and I don’t want to do it now, in front of all these people who are here to forget about their own worries for just one day, but I couldn’t pass around gifts without including her and I really hope she likes it as much as I do.
