If they were unavailable, he would get away as soon as he was free.
He was so grateful that Jess and Mark were there to look after Alice, but he was determined not to let work overshadow the rest of his life. He had come to learn that friends were everything. Especially friends like his.
SIXTY-SEVEN
ALICE
Alice’s friends had been astounded by her progress in the weeks that followed. Perhaps being in her own home had helped as the doctor had thought, as it wasn’t long before Alice had told the carer she was no longer required. Even so, Jess always checked on her before she left for work to ensure she was up and dressed.
Alice had shown the determination of someone half her age and was now walking largely unaided, apart from using a walking stick if she needed to get to the local shop.
‘If I don’t get out for a daily walk I think I shall go mad,’ she told Jess one day when she met her in the lobby downstairs. Sitting watching daytime television all day was enough to drive a person to drink, thought Alice. Thankfully, she had discovered some interesting podcasts to listen to.
‘Okay, but be careful,’ said Jess, who thought Alice probably needed a walking frame rather than a walking stick, but never said anything.
Even if her friends and family had tried to advise her otherwise, there was no way Alice would give up. Her hip had healed nicely thankfully, without needing any major surgery, which she had attributed to her strong bones. Being a dancer in her younger days and a lifelong healthy diet had almost certainlyhelped. Still, she knew she had been lucky. And she was not so foolish as to venture outside if there was any ice on the pavements.
The weeks had quietly bled into December now, and the shops were busy with people buying gifts for their loved ones. Darkness fell over the city around five, when the Christmas lights would add some festive cheer to the gloomy weather. The sight of the decorated tree in the village centre cheered up Alice immensely every time she walked past.
Jess had been kind enough to invite everyone to her place for Christmas lunch. Carol would bring an additional folding table to accommodate everyone, as well as preparing and bringing some of the food.
Alice had a feeling that Carol was someone who would be instrumental in keeping the group together and it gave her some comfort. She could rest easy knowing that the house was safe and that the friendships would continue. Soon enough it would be time to pass on the baton.
SIXTY-EIGHT
Christmas
Declan had politely declined Jess’s invitation for Christmas, explaining that he would be spending it with his mother.
‘It’s always difficult for her at this time of year,’ he had explained.
‘I understand,’ Jess had told him, even though she could never begin to comprehend how it must have felt for his mother to lose her daughter, or Declan his sister. At least they would get together on New Year’s Eve.
Jess had suggested a lucky dip for the Christmas lunch table, rather than people feeling the pressure of having to bring gifts for everyone else. Not that she expected them to, of course, but even so a lucky dip was always rather fun in work, so she was pleased when everyone was on board with the idea.
Although Jess completely understood Declan’s reasons for not attending Christmas lunch, she could not help feeling it would not be the same without him there.
She had quietly come to the realisation that she no longer wanted to deny her feelings towards him. And could only hope that she had not left it too late.
Christmas Day was a lot of fun, and Maisie had been overjoyed to receive the latest toy that had sold out in almost every outlet in the country.
Her father had returned from working abroad, where he had managed to purchase one of the most desired toys on Santa’s list. He had also taken Maisie to the Lego store in town, and treated her to a new Lego set, before a slap-up lunch at her favourite pizza restaurant.
Thankfully, Maisie had been just as overjoyed with her bicycle that Jess had saved up for and surprised her with.
Maisie had become accustomed to her father’s infrequent appearances, without it causing her too much distress. At least Jess hoped that was the case. She could only hope that she was surrounded by enough love from the people in her life to compensate for her father’s absence. She tried not to think about when Maisie was older, and whether she would have a reliable male role model in her life.
Alice had enjoyed her Christmas lunch immensely, and laughed at her lucky dip prize, a pair of knee-high stripy socks.
Once home, she had changed into her nightwear and slipped into bed to read. It felt strange not spending Christmas night in the house she once shared with George and she hoped the new family would enjoy their first Christmas in their new home.
‘I have been very well looked after today,’ she said to another framed photograph of her husband. ‘In fact, my friends have been wonderful looking after me for some time. I managed to survive a nasty fall, which was my own fault, but perhaps you already know that.’ She smiled, thinking of how she had forgotten to place her jigsaw box under the coffee table, and stumbled right over it. ‘Such a silly thing to do, but I am getting on in years.’
She felt her eyes become heavy, as she began to yawn. She wondered how many more Christmases she would have on thisearth, but when the time came, she would be ready. In the meantime, she would enjoy every minute.
‘Goodnight, my love. Merry Christmas.’
It wasn’t long before she had drifted off to sleep and she dreamt of Christmases past in the house she once shared with her husband. She was in a room filled with singing and laughter, as her family and friends sang along to a tune George was playing on a piano in the drawing room.
