Page 44 of A Merry Little Christmas

Chapter 16

Merry

Merry entered the lounge at Springwood House, followed by Emily, who was pushing Ray in the wheelchair. Her back was aching after working at the shop yesterday and she was having serious regrets about the angora jumper she was wearing; the temperature in the home was virtually tropical and Merry could feel the steam rising from her warm body. Today was one of those days when she felt more beached whale than blooming, and she could have really done without accompanying Emily. But Emily was heading to the airport straight from here and Gail had wanted to see them both together about Ray’s health before she left.

The lounge, like the rest of the building, was exuberantly decked out in all its festive finery: a plump Christmas tree sparkling with glittery baubles in the bay window, chains of tinsel decorations looping lattice-like across the ceiling, fairy lights around windows and sprigs of holly and mistletoe tucked into the top of every mirror and picture frame. It was tea time, which meant that the lounge was full. Irrespective of the varying states of the residents’ memories, almost all of them knew that tea and cake wasn’t something to be missed. After a year of being a visitor, Merry knew many of them, although circumstances meant they didn’t always remember her.

‘I’ll put your chair here near the fire, Dad,’ said Emily, rubbing his arm affectionately. ‘Unless you’d rather sit at the table near Bernard?’

Ray was recovered from flu and having one of his better days. He’d been sitting up in bed when they’d arrived and talking about getting dressed and leaving his room. Everyone agreed that the change of scene might do him good, but his legs were weak from lying down for so long and the carers suggested he hitch a ride to the communal part of the home in a wheelchair.

‘Sofa please. Sod Bernard.’ Ray tried to get out of his chair, but his arms didn’t have the strength to pull himself up. He gave in to a coughing fit and sank back resignedly.

Merry and Emily exchanged worried glances. His lungs sounded very congested.

‘Poor Bernard!’ Merry said, waving to her dad’s friend. He had a female visitor with him, and they were playing Scrabble; Bernard would spend all day playing Scrabble if he could find an opponent.

‘Who are all this lot then?’ Ray gestured around the room vaguely. ‘What are they doing in my house?’

‘Same as you, Dad,’ Emily told him. ‘Waiting for a slice of lemon drizzle and a hot drink.’

‘Over here by me, dear,’ called Lavinia, who had a soft spot for Ray. ‘We can watch the television together like the old days. I’ll even let you choose the programme.’

‘Is Mary Berry on?’ Ray asked.

‘Yes. Probably.’ Lavinia pressed at the remote control repeatedly. ‘Possibly not. Damn it.’

‘Oh, Lavinia, you’re incorrigible. He doesn’t want to watch TV,’ her friend, Maude piped up, from the middle of a sofa so enormous and soft that she was swamped by the cushions. ‘Sit here, Ray, loads more room, and we can have a nice chat.’

‘Look at that, Dad, the ladies are arguing over you,’ Emily teased.

‘I met Mary Berry once.’ Ray allowed Emily and one of the carers to help him onto the same sofa as Maude. ‘She’d lost her car keys. I had to give her a lift in my van.’

Merry smirked at her sister. This was a well-worn story. If Ray were to be believed, Michael Caine, Barbara Streisand and Joey from Friends had all, at one time or another, had lifts in Ray’s van. It was obviously sad how confused he was, but knowing her own father’s little foibles and being able to share them with her sister still felt like a dream. She didn’t think she’d stop marvelling at how precious these two people were, and how lucky she was to finally have a family to be a part of.

Once they’d got him settled with a mug of tea and a small piece of cake, Merry found a seat away from the fire where it was slightly cooler, while Emily went to speak to Bernard and fetch them both glasses of water.

‘How’s the Scrabble king?’ Merry asked, gulping her cold water when Emily returned.

‘Missing Will,’ said Emily. ‘Says that his friend Hilary isn’t a patch on him at games, which went down very well, as you can imagine. I’ve said Will plans to visit him next time he’s here.’

Will had been Bernard’s occupational therapist this time last year, as well as his Scrabble partner, and had even on one occasion cut his toenails for him. No wonder he was missed.

‘You must be looking forward to seeing him too,’ Merry said.

‘He’s meeting me at the airport, and I can’t wait to see him.’ She chewed her lip. ‘But I’m worried about leaving Dad in case anything happens. He’s so frail, and that cough is still awful. If it was anybody else’s birthday party, I’d make my excuses, but I really don’t want to let Izzy down, she’s been so good to me, and she wants her husband to have a fantastic fortieth.’

They both looked over to where Ray was sitting, now sandwiched between Lavinia and Maude. He’d already dropped off to sleep and the two women were tussling over a blanket they were trying to tuck over his knees.

Secretly, Merry was worried too. There’d been times over the last few weeks when she’d felt as if he’d checked out of life altogether. She’d been to see him, only for him to simply sit in his chair listlessly, staring out of the window at nothing. She’d hated those visits, mentally willing him back to lucidity, hoping that he’d at least recognise who she was and talk to her.

‘Try not to fret too much. He’s in the best place,’ she reassured her sister. ‘Gail is on the ball, and I’m here.’

Emily gave her a stern look. ‘With more than enough on your plate already. Promise you’ll call me if you’re worried about anything at all.’

‘Promise.’ Merry’s voice shook.

Emily meant anything concerning Ray, but Merry had a whole other list of things which were keeping her awake at night. Like how to be a role model to a small person, about how to cope with a baby when Cole was away, when they were going to move into the new house and how the baby was doing since her waters had broken, was it still thriving? If she stopped to think about everything that she was worried about, she’d dissolve into tears.