‘Actually there was something I wanted to run by you and Ginny.’
‘Go for it.’
Daisy explained what Carrie had told them about Grandad’s quilt.
‘He’ll be so upset,’ said Fern, a hand against herchest, ‘and too polite to complain. I feel like going up there to say something, but I won’t, it would upset him if I stuck my oar in.’
‘I think we need to give him another one for Christmas.’
‘We can do that. What’s in the shop? There are always a few gorgeous ones.’
‘I think we have to make him his own, make it special, select material that means something.’
‘Well that sounds ideal, butit’s not that long until the big day, you don’t have time for that and I doubt Mum has either.’
Daisy bit down on her bottom lip. ‘Would you help?’
Fern began to laugh until she realised Daisy was serious. ‘Oh, Daisy, I haven’t picked up a needle and thread in years, I wouldn’t know where to start. And neither has Ginny as far as I know. You’re the only one who kept it going all this time.’
Daisy was gutted. But at least she’d asked, that was all she could do. ‘Don’t worry, just an idea, a crazy one this close to Christmas,’ she dismissed. ‘So are you going to see Grandad tomorrow?’ Daisy asked instead of dwelling on what could never happen. Perhaps if they were closer it would be different, her sisters might leap at the chance to do this once more like they had in their younger years.
‘Ginny said she’d go with me in the morning,’ said Fern. ‘Hey, if it’s quiet in the shop, you should come too.’
‘I’ll see what I can do.’ It felt good to be included, even better that her older sister had come in here tonight to make peace. There was a time when she might not have bothered. Perhaps being a mum had changed her in ways Daisy didn’t always see.
Fern was looking at the photographof Harry in the frame beside Daisy’s bed. Taken of him sitting on a park bench in the snow, all three sisters had the same shot that captured his smile, the love for all of them in his eyes. ‘Sometimes I expect him to be here, you know, at the house, and then when he’s not …’
‘I dream about him sometimes.’
‘I don’t think I have in years.’
‘Waking up is like going through the grief all overagain.’ She blew out her cheeks. This was the second time tonight that she’d got all melancholy. First with Joshua, now with Fern. She’d make an effort to go with the others tomorrow. ‘I’ll try to come up to see Grandad with you and Ginny.’
‘Great. But we’ll understand if you can’t, you have the shop after all.’ Fern stood up to go. ‘I’d better get to bed. I am sorry about earlier, Daisy.’
‘Me too.’ Daisy looked at her sister. ‘I know I’ve made mistakes. But what you need to know is that I’ll never forget them, please try not to keep reminding me.’
Fern nodded her affirmation. ‘Just tell me one thing …’ Daisy hoped this wasn’t yet another reminder and she braced herself for it. ‘At least tell me whether Joshua is a good kisser.’
Daisy gasped and picked up her pillow, whacking hersister with it. Fern responded by picking up the spare pillow and doing the same in defence before Ginny came in to see what all the commotion was about.
Fern filled Ginny in on the question Daisy refused to answer.
‘You like him though, don’t you?’ Ginny asked softly, perching on the end of the bed.
‘I’m not looking for a boyfriend,’ Daisy told them. ‘I’m not,’ she said more firmly and then,despite how tired she was, asked, ‘When will we do the Christmas tree?’ It was looking very sorry for itself and neglected downstairs in the lounge where she and Joshua had set it up.
‘Now?’ Fern suggested.
‘It’s a bit late,’ Ginny moaned.
‘We’ll never do it otherwise.’
She was right and so between them they took the boxes of decorations from where they’d been waiting patiently, piled up atthe far end of the landing, and traipsed downstairs shushing one another because Loretta had already gone to bed. They coaxed Busker into the sitting room with them so he wouldn’t feel he was missing out and for the next couple of hours they strung lights, hung baubles, laughed at some of the childhood ornaments Loretta insisted would never be omitted from the Christmas rituals. And perhaps it workedout better that they were all tired. There was no bickering, not much chatter to be construed as having hidden meaning, it was simply the mark of the start of their time here all together.
Daisy was exhausted by the time she finally climbed into bed but she was content, not only because she wasn’t at war with her sisters when it could so easily have gone that way given the visit to the pub earlier,but also because talking to Joshua had really helped. She felt lighter than she had in a long time and even though the weight was still there on her shoulders, some of it had at least begun to lift.
She snuggled beneath her quilt and thought about the kiss. The kiss that likely had the whole village talking, the kiss that would’ve gone on and on had the hecklers not dragged her attention away.
And Daisy felt sure she’d fall asleep with a big smile on her face.
