As their guests arrived, the house was warm and cosy, the decorations radiated festive cheer and Christmas carols filled the air. The festive spirit cheered Lucy up enormously. She loved catching up with old family friends at this time of year, it was a lovely tradition that she hoped would last long into the future, with the new generations that were hopefully to come. Granny Annie charmed the socks off everyone in her sweet little dress and matching turquoise jewellery, she was always everybody’s favourite guest and she loved regaling the young with stories of her misspent youth. Gus and Ollie made sure that no one’s glass was ever empty and Lucy and Ginny handed around the plates of canapés, which everyone said were the best they had had in years.
After everyone had left, the five of them sat down for dinner, their annual Christmas Eve feast of baked ham, Cumberland sauce, cauliflower cheese and jacket potatoes. They played a game of charades; Gus had everyone in stitches as he tried to act outPretty Woman. Afterwards the four of them flopped on the sofa to watch a bit of Michael McIntyre’s Christmas special. Granny Annie had already gone to bed, exhausted after such a busy day. Lucy and Ollie stayed up till midnight in honour of the tradition they had started as children, much to Ginny and Gus’s annoyance as they had waited for them to finally go to sleep so that Santa Clause could come undetected.
The rest of Christmas passed in a blur of food, champagne, carols, church and frosty walks, before Lucy set off once more for London. She had been touched to receive an envelope from her parents which contained a cheque to put towards her treatment. She realized that this was a sign of them giving her their blessing and was very grateful; every penny counted as the process certainly wasn’t cheap. She only had enough money for one more round so this would enable her to continue with a fourth cycle if she needed it. Finding a moment alone with her parents, she had thanked them for their present.
‘I hope you know how much it means to me that you are supporting my decision,’ said Lucy.
‘We know, darling,’ said Gus.
‘If you’re really sure it’s what you want…’ added Ginny, still not entirely convinced by the whole thing.
‘It is. Has Granny told you that I’ve spoken to her about it?’ asked Lucy.
‘No!’ exclaimed Ginny. ‘I had no idea… good heavens!’
‘What did she say?’ asked Gus.
‘I told her on the train. I didn’t know whether she would talk to you about it, she’s so old-fashioned about these things. I think she has chosen to simply forget I ever mentioned it.’
‘So she was against the idea?’
‘I’m afraid so.’
‘Oh darling, I’m sorry, but I’m not surprised. I must be honest… I still find the idea hard to get my head around, and she is my mother!’ said Ginny. ‘These things just wouldn’t have been acceptable in her day.’
‘I know, I know…’said Lucy. ‘It’s just that her opinion means the world to me, so it’s hard for me to know I’m going against her wishes.’
‘Darling, it’s your life,’ said Gus. ‘You have to do what feels right for you.’
‘You’re right, Dad,’ said Lucy, giving her parents a big hug and thanking them once again for their support and generosity.
Annie was staying in Cornwall for a few more days to spend New Year’s Eve with Gus and Ginny after Lucy left, while Ollie was going to a friend’s house party in Gloucestershire. Lucy spent New Year’s Eve as planned with Tor, Will and Otto. They had a very pleasant and relaxing evening, and as she had promised herself, she woke up on January the first feeling as fresh as a daisy, full of excitement about the New Year ahead. She began to count down the days from day one of her cycle, ready to telephone the clinic to let them know when she needed to be booked in for round three of her treatment.
In mid-January she went back to the clinic, now a familiar journey for her, and sat once again in the clean, white waiting room, flicking through a magazine and waiting for her name to be called. The fertility specialist came to collect her and led her up the spiral staircase to one of the treatment rooms. She lay on the bed, her legs in the stirrups, and tried to relax, unclenching her muscles and visualizing the fertilization process, willing it to succeed.
Lucy sat in the chair for ten minutes after the insemination was over and done with, praying for the miracle that she so desperately wanted. She then got dressed, flung her handbag over her shoulder, and set off to catch the bus towards home.
She decided to keep to her tradition and stop off at Holland Park for a chai latte and a wonder around the gardens on her way home. She pulled down the sleeves of her green cashmere jumper underneath her trusty duffle coat, a pair of black skinny jeans tucked into leather boots. The air was bright but icy and she wriggled her toes to stop them feeling numb, they already felt blue with cold despite the angora socks that she was wearing. She was feeling the beginnings of a winter cold and knew that catching a chill wouldn’t help her chances of conceiving.
As she arrived at the café, she pulled open the door, enjoying the warm air from inside as it made contact with her chilly cheeks. She approached the counter, taking her place in the queue and eyeing up the pastries and cakes behind the glass, wondering whether she should treat herself. Suddenly she felt herself sneeze, she reached into her pocket to try and find a tissue.
The man in front of her in the queue turned his head slightly to say ‘Bless you.’ As he did so, a flicker of recognition passed over his face, and he said, ‘Oh hello! It’s Lucy… isn’t it?’
Lucy remembered their last meeting as clear as day and was mesmerized for a second by his piercing blue eyes. Realizing she hadn’t answered him but had instead been staring at him rather obviously, she quickly stammered, ‘Rory… Hi! How are you? And where’s your lovely dog?’ she asked.
‘Well, I’m not sure that he deserves to be called lovely, but he’s tied up outside. I won’t be letting him inside here again in a hurry, don’t you worry!’ said Rory with a smile. ‘I still feel terrible about him spilling your drink that time. Please, allow me to buy you a coffee today, I’d like to make up for it.’
‘You really don’t have to do that!’ Lucy said, touched by his thoughtfulness.
‘I insist!’ said Rory. ‘What’ll it be?’
‘A chai latte please. It’s very kind of you!’
‘A chai latte?! What on earth’s that when it’s at home?’ he asked.
‘It’s a sort of spiced milk, it’s delicious! You should try it!’ Lucy laughed.
‘Nah, I’ll be sticking to my coffee till the day I die,’ said Rory, ‘I’m a creature of habit, I’m afraid!’
