Christmas for Beginners - Carole Matthews Page 0,65
some of the students are refusing to take part. We’re a few short weeks away and I can see no progress. The tree, however, is looking wonderful.’
‘It’ll come good,’ he says. ‘These things have a way of doing that.’
I wish I had Matt’s optimism. As if I haven’t already got enough to do. Christmas does feel like a pain in the bum this year. I’ve bought no presents, nothing. I haven’t had a discussion yet with Shelby about what he wants to do. I’m assuming Lucas will be with us, but what if he wants to spend Christmas with Aurora? When it was simply me and the animals, I never had these dilemmas.
‘I’m quite busy in the run-up to Christmas with official commitments, but I’ll do all that I can to help. I can stay for the rest of the day if that’s any use to you?’
‘I have lots of jobs that you could do, if you don’t mind.’
‘I’ll enjoy it. I like getting my hands dirty and have little chance to do it now.’
‘Oh, I can definitely make sure you’re covered in mud by the time you leave.’ I hold out my hands to indicate the state of me and we both laugh.
‘You have a lot on here,’ he says. ‘I admire what you do.’
‘Keep telling me that,’ I urge. ‘This is one of those days when I could easily jack it all in.’
‘There aren’t enough places like this. If we’re not careful, children like this fall through the cracks. This is a very valuable service you perform.’
‘I like to think so, but I’m not sure all of the kids would agree with you. We try our best, but I worry that some of the students are unreachable.’
‘You can’t save the world, but if you can save some of it that’s a very good start.’
‘Thank you for your enthusiasm,’ I say. ‘That will keep me going until lunchtime.’
‘Come on.’ Matt nods towards the door. ‘Let’s get out there. It sounds like the rain has stopped for now.’
I glance out of the window and I think that he’s right.
‘I’d like to do some more preparation in the yard for the open day, if that’s all right with you? There are lights to be strung for a start, if you don’t mind getting up a ladder.’
‘No problem. I should go and move my car. It’s blocking the gate and I need to make a few phone calls, then I’m all yours.’ He pushes away from the table.
‘Before I join you, I’ll have a quick word with Bev.’
The mayor goes outside and I take our mugs and plates back to the kitchen. ‘Are you going to tell me why you and Alan have fallen out?’ I ask.
She bangs her ladle into the pan of whatever she’s making for lunch. ‘Silly old sod only mentioned the M word,’ she huffs.
Looking at her wide-eyed, I gasp out, ‘Marriage? That M word? How exciting!’
My friend glares at me in return. ‘Not you too!’
I hold up my hands in surrender. ‘Is it not a good thing? I thought you two were getting on famously.’
‘We are!’
‘So why is Alan wanting to marry you a problem? I thought you were planning on moving in together before Christmas?’
‘We are!’
I look at her blankly.
Bev sighs and she genuinely looks troubled. ‘There’s a whole world of difference between living together and getting married. When you get married it all goes tits up. They take you for granted and then bugger off with someone younger.’
That does make me smile. ‘I can’t see Alan doing that.’
Then Bev starts to cry – something that she rarely does.
‘Hey, hey,’ I say and go to put my arms around her. ‘Just because that happened with your first husband, doesn’t mean it’ll happen again. You’re at a different stage in your life, Alan is a completely different person. He adores you.’
‘It’s going so well that I don’t want anything to make it go wrong,’ she sobs.
‘I’m sure that’s not his intention. Far from it.’
‘What do you think I should do?’
‘Stick to your plan. Move in together. See how it goes from there. There’s no rush to get married, take your time.’
‘I’m being stupid, aren’t I?’
‘Yes.’ I put my hands on her shoulders. ‘Relax. Enjoy this.’ She sags beneath my touch. ‘Stop damaging all the pots and go up to the barn. Take Alan some cake. Kiss and make up.’
She sniffs. ‘I like the sound of the kissing bit.’