Carrie asked Loretta and the girlsmore about their lives in Butterbury, growing up here, school. None of them mentioned Harry. Loretta sensed that would come later, either with or without her. She’d already shared a lot about her husband and the sort of man he was in the time she’d spent with Carrie. Perhaps in time the girls would be able to share with her the sort of father Harry was to them. But for now it was Christmas, a timeto welcome, embrace, enjoy.
When it was time to clear some of the detritus before the Christmas pudding, Loretta and Ivor took plates and serving dishes over to the kitchen and stacked them beside the sink. And for a few moments, as the lively conversation played out at the family table, they watched everyone else.
‘I’m proud of you,’ said Ivor. And it didn’t matter what age you were, praisefrom your parents was always powerful. ‘Accepting Carrie into your lives is a huge step, never mind attempting to bring the girls back together. I had my doubts.’
‘You never said.’
‘Of course not, that’s not how you parent. You offer your opinion, you give your advice, but you never assume your child will fail. Kids wouldn’t ever try anything new if that was the case.’
He was right. If he’dvoiced his doubts she might never have asked her girls to come home, she might never have introduced Carrie and Carrie may have thought it all too hard and walked away before she had a chance to get to know any of them. Harry would’ve been happy at the way things had turned out, she felt sure of that.
Loretta brought over the last of the serving bowls and set it with the others. And she wasn’tsure but she thought she might have seen the first flakes of snow beyond the kitchen window. She stayed there, the noise of conversation in the background, the beating heart of her family, letting it wash over her as she waited to see whether any more flakes would appear.
Ginny’s voice came from behind her and Loretta realised she must’ve been standing looking out of the window for a while. ‘Whatdo you think, Mum?’
‘Sorry, what do I think about what? I was miles away.’
‘We all thought we should take a break and open some presents before dessert.’
The girls were impatient. They wanted their grandad to see the quilt they’d worked so hard on. ‘That sounds like a lovely idea.’ And then she began to grin.
‘What are you smiling at?’
‘I think you and Daisy might need to go answer the frontdoor.’ Lucas and Joshua were outside, clutching gifts and making their way across from the opposite side of the road.
‘Mum, I’m sorry, I did tell Lucas to come over,’ said Ginny. ‘I didn’t expect us to take so long eating the Christmas lunch.’
‘It’s completely fine, I love those boys, they’re welcome. And they can have Christmas pudding with the rest of us after we open presents. There’s plentyto go around.’
‘Are you sure this is all right?’ Joshua asked Loretta the moment he stepped into the hallway. ‘Are we too early?’
‘Merry Christmas to you both.’ Loretta smiled, giving each of them a welcome hug. ‘And no, you’re not too early – it’s getting dark already,weare very late to finish.’
Joshua lowered his voice. ‘How did Daisy do with the lunch? She was really nervous about takingcharge of a turkey.’
‘She did brilliantly.’ Loretta smiled. ‘She’s a keeper.’
‘Don’t worry.’ He smiled. ‘I know she is. Took me long enough to get her, I’m not about to let her go now.’
They all settled themselves in the sitting room – Ginny snuggled next to Lucas on the sofa, Daisy knelt on the floor next to Joshua. Jacob was getting restless, Cooper was trying to act cool as though he, likethe rest of the men, wasn’t that interested in gifts at all.
‘You’re first, Grandad,’ said Fern, barely able to contain her excitement as she handed over the wrapped quilt.
Hidden beneath silver wrapping paper and tied with a white satin bow, the gift sat on Ivor’s lap while he did the same thing he did every year, feeling it for clues as to what it might be and throwing guesses into the air:A dressing gown? A jumper? Some pyjamas?He gave it a shake to see if it rattled and finally released the bow and tore off the paper.
‘Well I never.’ He beamed as he unfolded the Christmas quilt.
It was beautiful. The girls had all worked so incredibly hard on it and now, with the sashing that pulled it all together, it was a sight to behold. Ivor inspected the squares in turn, laughing at theone with candy canes, appreciating the cat that looked remarkably like Horatio, thanking Carrie when it was revealed she had been the one to choose the fabric with winter berries and robin redbreasts.
‘I don’t know what to say.’ Ivor had reluctantly folded up the quilt when Jacob tried to move things along and open more gifts.
Ginny laughed. ‘Come on, the game’s over, Grandad. We know you didn’treally need a new one.’
He opened his mouth to protest but instead said, ‘Sprung.’
‘I’m afraid so,’ said Loretta. Although the idea had worked even better than they’d imagined.
Fern handed Carrie a gift next. ‘Boys, have patience … Carrie can open this first.’
