“It’s gorgeous in here.” She slid her hands around the mug, her gaze lingering on the fairy lights and the pinecones. “So Christmassy. It’s like a movie set. And the room smells delicious.”
“That’s your cookies baking. They always smell divine.” Jenny felt a hum of satisfaction. So far, so good. And she had to admit itdidlook pretty. She wouldn’t normally have bothered turning on fairy lights or lighting candles in the morning but maybe she’d rethink that in future. Hayley was right. ItwasChristmassy.
“It’s important to make the indoors as comfortable and welcoming as possible in the winter,” she said. “Of course we try and be outdoors as much as we can, but there’s too much to do right now, which is why we’re all in the kitchen.”
“I feel terrible that Jamie and I have made things complicated for you with this party.” Hayley took a sip of hot chocolate. “Everyone has extra work to do because of us.”
Jenny felt a stab of guilt. Had her own feelings showed? “We couldn’t be more excited,” she said firmly.
“That’s true. We’re very excited. I love a party. Any excuse to dress up,” Rosie said. “And don’t feel terrible—that’s what families are for!”
Hayley glanced up briefly. “Is it?”
Jenny wondered if Rosie’s comment had been tactless in the circumstances.
Flustered, she took the plate of sandwiches her mother had made, covered them and slid them into the fridge. “Even if you hadn’t got married, we still would have been celebrating something tonight.”
“Mum’s right,” Rosie said. “You’ll soon get used to the fact that we celebrate at every possible opportunity. It’s Dad’s fault. He used to say to us ‘you have to celebrate each moment because you never know what tomorrow will bring.’ And then he’d get called out to see a patient and wouldn’t be there for the moment we were celebrating. But we carried on without him anyway.”
That was the story of her life, Jenny thought, glancing through the window to the garden. She’d become used to carrying on without him, but she’d thought that once he retired that would change.
Apparently not.
She frowned through the window. She’d assumed he was outside with Jamie, but there was no sign of him.
Where was he?
Hayley was still in conversation with Rosie. “Jamie says the same thing. He says all we can be sure of is this moment, so we should make the most of it.”
“He gets it from his father and also from his grandfather,” Phyllis said. “Brian was the same. It comes from being a doctor, I think. Being faced with all the different ways in which life can throw you a curve through no fault of your own. It teaches you to live in the moment.”
Jenny turned away from the window. “I suppose it’s not a bad way to live, although I did point out to the children that one does have to plan for the future too, just in case this particular moment doesn’t turn out to be your last.”
Hayley laughed. “It certainly does seem like justification for extravagance. Jamie is better at it than I am. He’s more relaxed. More impulsive, I suppose. I’m trying to be a bit more like him. Not to be so careful all the time.” She sounded a little wistful, as if maybe it was a fault in her to be more cautious about life.
“Jamie always had a safety net,” Jenny said quietly. “Which would have made it easier to take risks.” She couldn’t imagine what it must be like to grow up without a web of family ready to catch you when you fell.
Hayley looked at her and something passed between them. An understanding.
Jenny glanced at her mother and felt a rush of gratitude.
Here they were, three generations together, preparing for a family celebration.
She remembered being ten years old, preparing for Christmas with her mother, her aunt and her grandmother.
Did she take it for granted? Yes, she did sometimes. Despite her own experiences as a nurse, she took her family for granted. And it was a privilege to be able to do that. To not have to think about it or doubt it. They were justthere.
The timer beeped and Jenny gestured to Hayley. “Come and check your handiwork, Hayley. Let’s see if they’re cooked.”
She opened the oven and peered inside. She’d made them so many times she knew they’d be cooked but she said nothing as Hayley crouched down and studied them.
“How can you tell?”
“They’re a lovely pale brown. Perfect. We don’t want to overcook them or they’ll be hard.” She handed Hayley oven gloves. “Pull the trays out and we’ll put them to cool. Then we can leave them plain or ice them.”
While Hayley was tending to her baking, Jenny slid the quiches into the oven and set the timer again.
She washed her hands. “What are Declan’s family doing this Christmas, Rosie? Do they mind him not being there?”
