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Jacob
On Sunday morning Jacob did a little tidying up around his flat, deciding to clean behind some cupboards, pull out the bed and search for spiders, practically anything he could think of rather than call the number Lisa had given him and ask Charlotte if she knew how he could get in touch with Clarice Toad. He pulled up the number on his phone, which he had added to his contacts list under Charlotte Harding new CH volunteer, as though to put anything else was to assume a level of familiarity which suggested their relationship was closer than the current non-event.
It was amazing the things he could find to do to avoid making the call. His shower needed to be grouted, and a couple of socks needed darning. He even found time to shovel the snow on the pavement outside his house, and on the pavement in front of the next five buildings along. Then there was time to call the hospital to ask for an update on Nora—no change, but she was still stable—and Rita, who told him an elongated version of what the doctor had said—and then time to browse online for any new updates on the closure of the assisted living facility, which in reality, hadn’t offered assisted living at all.
By the time he had done all these things—plus rearrange his sock drawer, something he’d been meaning to do for some time—it was time to go over to his mother’s for Sunday lunch, and there was no time left to call Charlotte. Still, it could wait until the evening, and if he ran out of time then, perhaps tomorrow morning. He was starting to feel a little pressure though: Aunt Marjorie needed the position filled as soon as possible, and if Clarice Toad wasn’t available, she would need to advertise.
‘I’m on it,’ Jacob had assured her. And he really, really was.
His mother was pleased to see him as always, and they enjoyed a nice meal together, roast chicken with all the trimmings. Afterwards, Jacob, who had walked rather than risk riding his bike in the snow, cleared the snow off her path and the pavement in front of her house, then took some time to hang fairy lights in the front garden. The little street was starting to look really festive, especially now that Mr. Davis at the far end had put an illuminated solar-powered Father Christmas in his front garden. He had also invited Jacob’s mother over for Christmas Eve drinks along with the rest of the terrace’s residents, which put Jacob at ease since he had committed to help Aunt Marjorie run the tearoom stall at the Sycamore Park Christmas festival.
Before heading home, they had a final cup of tea in Julie’s room, sitting with the curtains open, watching the snow falling outside.
‘I’ve never seen anything like this before,’ Julie said. ‘It’s just never ending, isn’t it?’
‘I saw on the news that they think it’s going to last until New Year,’ Jacob said. ‘We’d best enjoy it. It’ll probably be raining again next Christmas.’
Julie patted him on the knee. ‘You know what they say about Christmas, don’t you? It’s a perfect time for romance. Perhaps it’ll be your turn this year?’
Jacob felt his neck going hot, and tugged at the collar of his sweater. ‘I’m much too busy.’
‘Come on, Jacob, I don’t think I’ve got all that much time left, what with all this medication. I mean, I’m not hoping for a Christmas miracle, but I’d love to see you married at least before I pop my clogs. Or at least, you know, go on a date? How long’s it been since you last had a girlfriend?’
‘You sound like Aunt Marjorie and Daphne.’
‘I’d hope that I sound more like your mother than either of them, seeing that I am your mother. But of course we discussed your love life—or complete lack of it—the last time we all got together for coffee.’
‘That must have been a thrilling conversation.’
Julie chuckled. ‘There wasn’t much to say. We all appreciate how much you do for the community, but what about doing something for yourself for once?’
‘I do loads of things for myself.’
‘Getting a Netflix subscription doesn’t count.’
‘Well, I might buy myself a new shirt for Christmas.’ He shrugged. ‘Although it would be cheaper if I wait until January.’
Julie chuckled again. ‘Jacob, I despair of you. Come on, every mother wants to see their son happy, and I’m not sure that you are.’
‘I’m happy, Mum.’
‘Your words say it but your eyes don’t. I know you, Jacob. I was the first person to look into your eyes, remember?’
Jacob sighed. ‘There’s a lot going on.’
‘Marjorie told me over the phone about this lady you helped. You know, you make me proud even without doing stuff like that, Jacob. But there are times when I could just burst. Considering your father, considering Bill, considering James … you came out all right, Jacob.’
‘I just … I don’t know, Mum. It’s just hard sometimes.’
‘Stop trying to change the world. All you can do sometimes is change your little corner of it, and that can spread and spread. But you can’t make others happy if you’re not happy yourself.’
‘There was … is … might be … a … um … girl,’ Jacob croaked.
Julie leaned forward. ‘Really?’
‘But it’s probably nothing.’
