Kay Brellend 3-Book Collection by Kay Brellend

Author:Kay Brellend [Kay Brellend]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2012-01-17T00:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

‘You’re welcome to come along with us tomorrow to Wood Green. It’ll be me ’n’ me fiancé going. Reg is his name. Me daughter Beth and her husband are setting off early for a turkey dinner, so there’s plenty of room in the car for some more.’ Matilda jammed her cold hands into her coat pockets. It was the first time she’d had a proper conversation with Faye Greaves. Usually they’d just nod or grunt as they passed in the street. But today Matilda had made a point of keeping a lookout for her. Alice had asked her to try to persuade Faye to come to her Christmas Day party.

‘Thanks, that’s nice of you,’ Faye said, ‘but I’m not sure what we’re going to be up to yet …’

‘It’s Christmas Eve,’ Tilly reminded her bluntly. ‘Ain’t got long now to make up yer mind, have you?’ She gave her a half-smile. ‘Can’t believe anyone ’ud want to hang around Jimmy Wild on Christmas afternoon.’

‘Me mum’s got to.’

‘Her choice, though, ain’t he,’ Matilda pointed out flatly. ‘Anyhow, the little lad’ll have a playmate in Lilian. She talks about him a lot, y’know.’

‘He remembers her too,’ Faye replied.

‘Well, that’s settled, then,’ Matilda stated. ‘After all, Christmas is for the kids, ain’t it? And don’t go fretting how to get back home. We won’t be stopping past midnight; you’ll get a lift back with us. So walk down to ours about four o’clock tomorrer. We’ll be raring to go by then.’

‘But …’

Matilda was already striding away into the late afternoon mist and just raised a hand in farewell.

Faye smiled. Deep down, she was pleased that the decision about the party had been made for her. She would love to go, and it would be such a treat for Adam to have fun with a friend. Midnight was late for her son to still be up … but it was Christmas! She could perhaps get him to have a nap after his Christmas dinner if she laid down with him and cuddled him till he fell asleep.

It was to be a fair meal after all for them at home, not the miserable bacon knuckle she’d anticipated. She and Edie had clubbed together – even Jimmy had contributed a few bob without too much complaining – to buy a Christmas feast of chicken and sausage-meat stuffing and a little plum pudding for afters. Earlier that day Michael had lugged the coal pail, filled to the brim, from the merchants so that they’d be able to stoke up the temperamental cooking range first thing in the morning. The boys’ stockings had been hidden away for months and she and Edie had been slowly filling them with sweets. That morning they’d secretly whipped them out and topped them up with some fruit and mixed nuts. As they’d worked together for a few minutes, chatting, a little bit of Christmas magic had warmed Faye, reminding her of days long ago when her dad had been alive. Michael had

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