Christmas at the Little Waffle Shack: A cosy, heartwarming Christmas read (Heritage Cove Book 2) by Helen J Rolfe

Author:Helen J Rolfe [Rolfe, Helen J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-12-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

‘Are you going to tell me what’s got you so upset?’ Julian probed as they went in through the front entrance of Aubrey House, the bouquet resting in Lucy’s arms.

‘Honestly, it’s nothing. I’m overtired, that’s all.’

In the residents’ lounge, Maud waved them over. Lucy couldn’t see the rest of Julian’s family yet but they’d be sure to pop up at any moment. They’d always loved big gatherings, and if talking were a national sport they’d be top of the league. ‘Is there a dining room somewhere?’ she asked Julian.

But Julian was already striding towards his gran, telling her how beautiful she looked. And she did. She’d gone to a lot of effort for the occasion and Lucy caught a whiff of the familiar floral perfume she’d used liberally today when she hugged her hello. Maud had picked out a thick-material turquoise dress and pinned on the floral vintage brooch with lavender glass and pink rhinestones that the family had given her when she turned ninety. That day there’d been a grand garden party to celebrate, with helium balloons showing the age Maud said she was proud to reach, and there wasn’t a space to be seen on any chair, bench or low wall as family and friends gathered to mark the occasion.

But nobody else was here now. It was just the usual faces Lucy had come to recognise on her visits here. She sighed. Maybe she should be grateful she and Julian had arrived first; she could talk to Maud for a few minutes without being in competition with anyone else, which was exhausting, especially on top of the tiredness she already felt.

‘These are beautiful.’ Maud held the bouquet Lucy had handed her in her arms and took a long inhale of the blooms, eyes closed to enjoy a simple pleasure. ‘And I have the perfect vase in my room too.’

One of the staff came by and offered to put the flowers in water for now but Maud said they could wait. ‘I want to look at them right here.’ She set them on one of the chairs opposite so they could all see them. ‘And they’ve got a bit of water in the bottom of the cellophane, I can see, so they’ll be fine for a little bit while I catch up with you both. Did you choose the flowers, Lucy?’

‘I did. You always loved white rather than red.’

‘And you always know how to put a smile on my face. It’s so good of you to come – I know it’s a busy time of the year, and it’s dark out there. I wouldn’t like to drive in the dark. I don’t know how you youngsters do it.’

‘Headlights, Gran,’ Julian quipped, accepting the offer of tea from the staff member who’d tried to help with the flowers.

‘I thought we were going to be late tonight,’ Lucy admitted as Maud dismissed her grandson’s teasing with a shake of her head.

‘You must be busy with work.’

‘Always. But it’s good, just the way I like it.

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