Page 66 of Christmas at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

But here, now, someone was really riling him up on the phone. What was going on?

He looked up, saw her, and still he had that frown etched across his face.

She could hear him saying tersely, ‘Look, I’m going to have to go.’

He caught Rachel’s eye, looked a little awkward, and then switched his mobile off, shoving it into his pocket.

‘Who was that?’ Rachel asked with trepidation.

‘Ah, it’s nothing.’

It didn’t seem like nothing. Far from it. But, Rachel had enough on her plate right now so didn’t carry on probing.

Tom stood beside her, still looking tense, shoulders hunched, his brow creased. So much for getting a reassuring hug.

Suddenly, he seemed to realise that he needed to snap out of himself for Rachel’s sake. ‘Sorry,’ he said, and he managed a small smile. ‘How is she?’

Rachel didn’t know how to put into words her fears about Granny Ruth. Yes, she should get through this okay now, but her lungs might be damaged or weakened. And that brutal truth had hit her hard: her granny was getting older and frailer – she really was only human after all. Rachel bit back the tears as her emotions threatened to swamp her.

‘Come here.’ Tom’s arms were open. There would be time to talk afterwards, to discuss what the doctor had said.

She stepped forward into his embrace. For now, there were no words, just this comfort, this closeness, the feeling of Tom’s arms around her, when she needed it the most, his warm breath at her ear, as she rested her head against his shoulder. And her world found its axis again.

Ruth remained in the hospital for two days, while they monitored her, checking that the antibiotics seemed to be working and easing her symptoms, and taking a further X-ray before she left. The consultant warned Jill and Rachel that it might take some time before she felt herself again – tiredness being a major factor.

‘That’s lots of TLC needed then, Granny. And you’re going to have to listen to us and rest up a bit.’

‘Hmm, I suppose,’ Ruth replied gruffly.

It was with a huge feeling of relief that Rachel got her into the Land Rover to take her granny back home to her cottage – she had refused absolutely to stay at the farm, determined to keep as much independence as possible.

There was a regular rota of visitors once Ruth was installed back at home, with old friends from Kirkton, plus Rachel and Jill and little nurse Maisy, taking turns to bring her hot meals and pudding treats. Her cottage was a buzz of activity much of the time, which kept Granny amused, though she did have trouble staying in bed to rest.

‘Makes me feel even worse,’ she moaned. ‘All cooped up in there. I can rest as well in my armchair and I get to see the view, or the television.’

There wasn’t a lot of resting going on, Rachel was certain. In fact, she was often up and putting the kettle on for the guests who had come to help out and were meant to be looking after her!

‘I think I might have to make a few more of those Christmas puddings too. I mean, I’m famous, now. Everyone will be wondering where the new Mary Berry’s gone, won’t they?’ she quipped.

There was no point in arguing with her, Rachel mused, and it was hard keeping a Swinton woman down at the best of times. And perhaps keeping busy meant that the dear and feisty old lady was starting to find her feet again.

With Christmas approaching, that was at the top of Rachel’s wish list.

30

Whoever said ‘never work with children and animals’ was so right.

Before Granny Ruth had been taken to hospital, Maisy had come home buzzing with the idea that Petie could play a starring role in the upcoming nativity at school. Maisy was to be one of the shepherds, and the idea had sprung to full-blown life in her mind.

Dashing off the school bus a couple of weeks ago, she’d called out excitedly, ‘Mummy, Mummy! I’m going to be a shepherd and Petie can be my lamb for baby Jesus.’

‘Hold fire, what’s all this?’ Rachel tried to slow her daughter down and get some more information.

‘Yes, and I’m an angel,’ said Amelia proudly.

‘So, does Mrs Brown agree you can bring in live animals for the show?’ Rachel was still trying to check if this was right.

‘Yes, of course,’ Maisy said, as though it was common knowledge and her mum was being daft. ‘She said James brought his donkey in, last year.’