Page 26 of A Merry Little Christmas

‘Oh, are you drinking again?’ Merry asked.

It may have been innocently meant, but Nell was extra sensitive at the moment and easy to rile.

‘Yes, why not?’ she said, keeping her voice light. ‘No reason not to now, is there?’

‘You lucky thing. I’d kill for a glass of wine right now.’

Nell bit her lip. ‘I’d hardly call it lucky. I’d rather be pregnant, given the choice.’

‘No. Sorry. Of course.’ Merry sounded very meek. ‘Oh please don’t be cross, Nell, I’m so fed up with everything. And now I’ve had another row with Cole. Anyway, I was just ringing back about the candle-making workshop.’

‘If you’re going to give me another lecture about me not being up to the job, don’t. Cancel it or don’t cancel it. Up to you.’

‘I was going to say that of course you can run it; it makes perfect sense,’ said Merry, sounding hurt. ‘I’m very grateful to you for stepping in.’

‘Thanks,’ Nell was mollified and regretting jumping to conclusions. ‘I won’t let you down.’

‘We haven’t got a lot of choice really, other than cancel.’

The phrase ‘damning with faint praise’ sprang to mind, but Nell knew what she meant. ‘If we cancel at short notice, people might be too annoyed to rebook, and we don’t want that.’

‘Absolutely,’ Merry agreed. ‘I’ve worked so hard to build this business, I mean, we have, that I’d hate to damage our reputation. So I’ve had a brilliant idea; I can join you via Zoom. You can set up your laptop in the corner of the studio and I’ll be there virtually to help you, give you some guidance if you get stuck. Answer tricky questions, that sort of thing.’

Nell’s jaw fell open. She could just imagine Merry butting in every few seconds with helpful suggestions. She meant well, but it would undermine Nell’s meagre confidence to have her friend there in the background. ‘That’s very kind of you, but I don’t think that will work, Merry. Far better if—’

‘Oh hell,’ Merry interrupted. ‘I’m sorry, Nell, but Dad’s care home is trying to get through. I’ve already spoken to him once today and he wasn’t well. I’ll catch up with you soon. Thanks for being understanding about the Zoom, I think it’ll be brilliant.’

‘Brilliant?’ Nell muttered once the line had gone dead. ‘That’s not quite the word I’d use. But I guess we’ll soon find out.’

Chapter 10

Merry

In a small flat, on the ground floor of Springwood House, Ray Meadows lay motionless under a sheet and blanket, except for the shallow rise and fall of his chest, his breath fluttery and faint. Occasionally, he’d have a coughing fit and the rattling sound of his lungs made his daughters, Merry and Emily, exchange worried looks. They sat either side of his bed, each holding a hand. Gail, the manager of the dementia residential home, stood by the door, having a whispered conversation with his carer. Merry’s heart ached just looking at him. His skin had taken on a grey pallor, his cheeks were sunken and his jawline unshaven.

‘I’m so glad you’re here, Em,’ Merry told her. ‘Thanks for coming so quickly. It’s lovely for me, and I’m sure Dad appreciates it too.’

Since Merry had received the call the day before to inform her that Ray’s health had deteriorated, he’d been moved from his one-bedroomed flat with a view of the gardens into this one, which was geared up to make it easier for staff to care for him. Dominating the space was a hospital bed which could be raised and lowered, with bars on each side to stop him rolling out. Other than a kettle and mini fridge to keep milk in, there weren’t any cooking facilities. It wasn’t safe to give him access to anything more complicated than that anymore.

‘Of course.’ Emily dismissed her thanks. ‘I was primed to fly over when I heard you were in hospital, but you wouldn’t let me.’

Emily had grown up only a stone’s throw from Merry; they often marvelled at how much of their lives had been like sliding doors. There’d been so many occasions and places where they may have been close to each other and not known who the other was. Earlier this year, Emily and her boyfriend, Will, had decided to start a new life on Jersey, helped by Emily’s best friend, Izzy, who’d been trying to get her to move over for years. Merry was glad for her, but sad to have lost the spontaneous ‘fancy a coffee?’ moments that the two of them had enjoyed.

‘I’m very grateful.’ Merry smiled. ‘But there was nothing you could have done, and I’d much rather have you to stay once the baby arrives.’

‘I could have done both!’ Emily shot her a stern look. ‘I wanted to help, even if it’s just to cook dinner or fold laundry. So next time, let me.’

‘Noted,’ she replied, meekly. Her sister meant well, but Merry knew how she liked things to be done. Sometimes it was easier to do it yourself than watch someone do it not to your liking.

‘And just you try to stop me coming when my niece or nephew makes their entrance,’ Emily added. ‘You’ll be desperate to get rid of me.’

‘Not going to happen. I’d have loved an aunt when I was little,’ said Merry, ‘or any relative at all, come to that. I’m going to make sure my kids get plenty of Auntie Emily time.’

‘Good.’ Her sister’s eyes shone and Merry smiled too.

A year on from discovering the other existed, neither of them could quite believe how fortunate they were to have the sibling they’d always longed for. The fact that they got on like a house on fire sometimes made their relationship feel too good to be true.

Before they had met, Emily had been totally responsible for looking after Ray, but ever since, Merry had tried to ease Emily’s burden and make sure she knew she wasn’t alone. When Emily had moved away, Merry had become the first point of contact for the care home. But this was the first time that Ray had been properly ill, and Merry was relieved Emily was on hand if his condition worsened.