Beside it was the huge real Christmas tree that George always insisted on. Alice would grumble about the needles dropping onto the floor, but as it was George who would decorate it so beautifully, going over the top with lights and bows, she did not complain for long. It was the season of goodwill after all.
Jess had deliberated for so long over what she should wear for the party. She had spotted a gorgeous black dress in town but thought it might be a bit much for a house gathering. Then again, it was New Year’s Eve.
‘You look beautiful,’ Carol had told her when she had tried the dress on in the shop. ‘Wear the dress for the party. I would, if I still had your figure,’ she joked.
‘Do you think I should?’ Jess asked doubtfully as she gave a little twirl in front of the mirror. She had to admit it did look good on her.
She was torn between the dress, and a fashionable trouser suit, that had a more relaxed look.
‘Definitely. I’m wearing a dress. My trusty red wrap over that I have had for years. It’s very forgiving.’ Her mum had laughed. ‘Especially after some food and drink.’
Declan had insisted on paying for the quality buffet that would be delivered to Alice’s in the late afternoon of the party.He had also ordered champagne for the celebration. He would never be able to pay Alice enough for her generosity.
When Mark found out, he had purchased some outdoor lights to drape along the fence, as well as a couple of patio heaters, should the party spill over outdoors.
Jess and Carol had taken over the purchasing of balloons and banners to decorate Alice’s flat, as well as a celebration cake from the food hall at M&S.
‘I am so looking forward to the party,’ said Alice to Declan as they chatted one morning on the landing.
‘Me too,’ he told her. Declan realised that Jess would be there, and the thought of it gave him a warm feeling inside.
‘So where are you off to?’ he asked Alice, who informed him she was heading to the church opposite the Co-op.
‘Hop in, then,’ he said. ‘I’ll drop you off, unless you want to be all independent,’ he teased. He was heading into the office a little later today, as things were quiet in between Christmas and New Year.
‘You know me so well.’ She smiled. ‘Although on this occasion, I will accept a lift. It is rather cold out there.’
After Declan had been into the office and checked a few emails, he would pop into town and buy himself a new suit.
He had decided to splash out on something of quality that would serve him well in his new role meeting up with clients, as well as for New Year. And maybe even something to wear at a top restaurant in the city if he got up the courage to invite Jess.
SIXTY-NINE
The Party
Alice’s garden looked stunningly beautiful. Mark had hung the lights along the fence and set up the patio heaters.
He had found something online that turned the water in the fountain different colours, and gold banners had been attached to the fence, bearing words of congratulations that shimmered beneath the lights. Along with Alice’s selection of garden fairies and ornaments, the whole space would look magical when darkness fell.
Once more, Maisie’s friend had been invited for a sleepover, after Jess’s friend had mentioned she could not find a babysitter for New Year’s Eve. The two little girls would keep each other occupied, so Alice was more than happy for her to attend.
Carol had offered to take them to Jess’s flat before midnight, but Jess had been one step ahead and bought a wigwam and two sleeping bags for them to settle in.
She would not expect Alice to look after the girls overnight at her advanced years but wondered vaguely whether Declan might help her get the girls back to her flat.
Jess felt the butterflies in her stomach when she thought of Declan being at the party.
‘I think that’s a wrap,’ said Carol as she glanced at the impressive buffet that had arrived twenty minutes ago that she had laid out on the table.
The white iced cake at the centre of the table looked impressive too and had been adorned with some edible gold glitter. The room was festooned with balloons, and two banners were displayed on opposite walls, one bearing the words ‘Happy Birthday’, the other ‘Happy New Year’.
Alice had been banished to her bedroom to change, and when she emerged wearing a beautiful silver dress and her favourite red lipstick, she gasped.
‘It all looks wonderful,’ she said. ‘How have you managed to do all this so quickly?’
‘Well, the balloons were already inflated and in bin bags,’ revealed Carol. ‘The rest took two minutes.’
The buffet had been uncovered whilst Alice had changed, and she took in the platters of delicious-looking food.
