Chapter64
Christmas Day
Joe Moon came bursting in through the back door with two old fold-up garden chairs from the shed, then began counting on his fingers. ‘Me, you, our Kara, Billy, Darren, old Flo, Estelle, Skye, that Jack fellow. Or is Billy going home for his Christmas dinner? I forgot. That still doesn’t seem many.’
‘Don’t you be telling my sister you forgot her, now.’ Pearl swiped him with a tea towel.
‘Oops.’ Joe laughed. ‘Of course, your Ireany, John and the kids are coming in the evening.’
‘Yes. And Billywillbe here for dinner, he’s going to Pat and Charlie’s with Kara later on.’ Pearl tutted. ‘And what about your second daughter, Joey?’
Joe bit his lip. ‘My memory. Jen messaged me earlier. She’s driving down from London and left later than she thought, so she said we should just start without her.’
‘Right. So, set out ten places, which is plenty for this kitchen table, especially with the amount of food I’ll be piling on it, and Jen can slip in when she arrives.’ Pearl then checked inside the oven. ‘No need to worry we’ll run out of food. We’ve got a big enough turkey to feed the whole market.’She laughed her big infectious laugh. Hearing it, and smelling the roasting meat, Bob the Dog appeared in the kitchen, his tongue out and tail wagging madly.
‘Still no sign this morning?’ Pearl asked, stroking him. ‘I’m beginning to think we missed it.’
‘No, I’ve checked every single poop, all for the love of you, my lady. Poked them with a stick but still no sparkle.’
‘The vet said it should have come out the day after. I hope it’s not stuck inside him somewhere.’
‘Look at him, there’s nothing wrong with you, is there, boy?’ The big Labrador jumped up at Joe’s legs, and ignoring his owner’s sharp, ‘Down,’ he proceeded to lick the startled man’s face, much to Pearl’s amusement.
‘Don’t encourage him, Pearl,’ Joseph Moon managed to say, mopping his face and trying not to laugh.
‘It’s a lost cause now,’ Pearl said indulgently. ‘He’s nine. It’s like trying to discipline someone your age in dog years. Mind you, I like it that you’re still a naughty boy.’
Joe Moon grabbed a handful of his fiancée’s bottom and gave her a smacking kiss on the neck, causing her to squeal loudly.
Joe chinked his fork against his champagne flute. ‘Before we all sit down to stuff our faces, I would like to propose a Christmas Day toast.’
‘And then say Grace, I hope,’ Florence Sibley muttered under her breath. Estelle, about to tell her aunt to shut up, instead bit her tongue and poured fizzy water into her wine glass. Skye stayed looking down at her phone.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. ‘Must be our Jen,’ Joe said, ‘but why’s she knocking?’
On Joe’s shouted instruction to come in, the door flew open. Darren and Billy looked at each other as their father suddenly appeared in the now cramped kitchen. Pat Dillon for once stood quietly behind him.
‘Happy Christmas, everyone, and sorry to interrupt but I’ve come to collect something extremely important.’ Darren’s eyes began to well up as his dad took a deep breath. ‘Son, there will always be a place at our table for you, come rain or shine, Christmas or otherwise, and I mean that.’
Darren looked at Pearl, who was nodding and gesturing, ‘Go!’
‘Are you coming, Daz?’ Pat Dillon’s voice was wobbling.
Darren stood up at exactly the same time as Billy. Kara reached up and squeezed his hand.
Billy checked with Pearl and saw her nod before answering, ‘We both are, Mum and Dad, but before I go, Kara and I have an announcement to make.’
‘Oh my days! Here it comes!’ Pearl clapped her hands together excitedly.
‘We are having a baby Dillon,’ Kara told them all.
Star gasped. ‘Yes!We can be mummies together like we always wanted to be. When are you due?’
‘Not sure. I know you’re supposed to wait to tell people, but I literally just did the test before we left and we are so excited.’ A beaming Billy leant down to kiss Kara on the cheek.
‘That’s really fantastic.’ Joe felt overcome with emotion. He turned to Charlie and Pat. ‘Come on, have a glass of something with us to celebrate our new grandchild.’
Pearl rushed to get them a drink.
