Page 27 of A Merry Little Christmas

Since receiving the call from Gail yesterday, Merry had spent as much time here as she could. A fact that had not gone down well with Cole.

‘There are always coughs and colds and viruses going round in that place,’ he’d pointed out, not unreasonably, when she’d called to tell him she planned to visit her dad immediately.

They’d ended up having harsh words with each other. She felt emotional just thinking about it, especially as they hadn’t even dealt with their previous row about the workmen being pulled off Meadow View. Gail’s message had made her dad’s condition sound so serious that she hadn’t stopped to consider the consequences and had driven herself over to the home immediately.

‘He’s my dad, Cole, I can’t not visit him when he’s alone and ill,’ she’d argued. ‘That’s cruel.’

‘How about I go, and you stay in the car park outside? I can FaceTime you so you can say hello? That way, at least you won’t pick up any germs. You heard what the doctor said, you’re susceptible to infection now that you don’t have the amniotic fluid to protect the baby.’

‘Dad’s got flu, Cole,’ she’d said curtly. ‘I hardly think that’s going to be a danger to my vagina. And don’t think I’ve forgotten about the workmen situation at Meadow View, I haven’t. But right now, Dad has to take priority.’

‘Of course he does. I’m just looking out for you and our baby, darling.’ Cole had looked so sad that she’d almost relented. But her streak of independence was too wide to back down. There had still been a slight frosty atmosphere between them this morning and Merry felt wretched about it.

Now, looking at her dad so poorly, she felt justified. He hadn’t been awake yesterday when she came, and so far today he hadn’t woken up either. What if he didn’t wake up ever again? She frowned at herself for being morbid, but the truth was that if anything happened to him and she hadn’t been in to see him, she’d always have to live with that guilt.

‘You look amazing,’ said Emily. ‘Like a woman in a Renaissance painting – all softness and curves and radiant skin.’

‘Thanks.’ Merry forced herself to concentrate on her sister and pretended to pout. ‘I think we should FaceTime every morning so that you can boost my ego like that.’

‘Gladly,’ Emily said with a grin. ‘Seriously, I was so worried about you last week.’

‘You look great too.’ Merry changed the subject. She wished everyone would please stop worrying, she was perfectly capable of looking after herself. ‘Brimming with health and vitality, and how can you still have a tan in December?’

Her sister pressed her free hand to her face. ‘It’s probably windburn. My skin is like leather these days. I’m outside every day, on the beach mostly. Will has got his first bookings for next spring. I’ve been getting the beach shack ready while he has been completing all his safety courses and instructor training.’

Will and Emily’s love story was so cute. He’d been the occupational therapist here at the home when Emily met him, and part of the team looking after Ray. Within weeks, they’d fallen head over heels in love with each other and he’d moved into her cottage. As a mad-keen surfer, his dream had always been to open a surf school with a not-for-profit element offering tuition to disadvantaged kids. His own upbringing hadn’t been easy, and he’d seen first-hand how developing a passion for surfing could boost self-confidence. Merry couldn’t wish for a lovelier man for her sister.

‘And what about you? Your fashion business?’

Emily looked down at her hands. ‘It’s in the planning stage.’

She had been working in a senior school this time last year, as the PA to the head teacher. She’d taken the job on largely because the hours had afforded her plenty of time to look after their father. But her true passion was for buying vintage clothes, upgrading them with her own fashion twist and selling them on. Merry had encouraged Emily to follow her dream and try to make a living from doing what she loved.

‘What’s to plan?’ Merry smelled a rat; Emily wasn’t meeting her eye. ‘You’ve got suitcases full of vintage finds ready to go.’

She knew that because she’d helped Emily to pack up her little cottage in the spring. Cases, trunks, boxes … stuffed full of beautiful things, many of which Emily had added her own creative touches to.

Emily looked shifty. ‘I have, but we’ve been putting all our time into Will’s surf school. It’s far more involved than mine; it makes sense to get that up and running first.’

‘You said that about Izzy’s business when you first arrived in Jersey.’

Izzy had a busy holiday cottage business and Emily had been employed to help her renovate a new property when she’d first arrived on the island.

‘I always wanted a pushy big sister.’ Emily gave Merry a sideways look.

‘Oh very funny. It’s just …’ Merry chewed her lip, torn between wanting to just enjoy being together and feeling like it was her duty to give her younger sister a pep talk. ‘When it was just you looking after Dad, you had to do everything, and I know you put your own life on hold. Now you don’t have to.’

‘And now I’ve got you to share the load and I’m really grateful.’ Emily reached across their sleeping father’s legs and squeezed Merry’s hand. ‘But I feel guilty that I’ve abandoned you, especially now.’

‘You can stop with guilt-tripping yourself right now, lady.’ Merry gave her a stern look. ‘If it wasn’t for you tracking me down, I wouldn’t have had my dad and my sister at my wedding last Christmas Eve.’

An image popped into Merry’s head. She and Cole emerging from the registry office and into a sparkling white snowy scene, all their loved ones around them, throwing confetti and wishing them well. She’d felt more surrounded by love in that moment than ever before. It had been a wonderful occasion, made even more magical because she’d never imagined for a second that she’d have real family at her wedding. Emily had made that possible.

‘Merry, I’m miles away and completely useless and you’re about to drop and not supposed to be doing anything at all.’

‘Who said that?’ Merry frowned. ‘Don’t answer that: Cole.’

‘You’d be disappointed in him if he didn’t show he cared about you and the baby.’