Sunday 6 December 2020

Snippets of Downshire Life – Feast of St Nicholas

 

The traditional seaside resort of Sharpington-by-Sea with its Victorian Pier, seafront hotels, crazy golf, The Palladium ballroom, well maintained gardens, promenade, theatre and illuminations, has all the usual things to have a great time by the seaside, as well as amusement arcades and of course the Sharpington Fun Park and it was in the grand neighbourhood of Granite Hill, which in a nod to San Francisco, the locals had nicknamed Nob Hill where Church Warden of St Lucy’s, Henry Appleby, was attending a dinner on St Andrew’s Day, at the home of a local celebrity, children’s author, Alesha Khan.

Henry was a popular figure in Sharpington society who dedicated all of his free time to the church and good works, so it would have been of little surprise to find him on the guest list, but he on the other hand was surprised at some of the other guests.

In addition to the hostess Alesha, was Kim Labuschagne, an illustrator, who was an old school friend of hers, and she also assisted in the kitchen, Alesha’s brother artist Zach, Curate of St Lucy’s, Russell Glavin, Literary agents, Jayson and Kathryn Mercer, Actresses Kerry Freeborn and Sharon Blackburn and Tim Street who was a Local Historian, so it was an interesting bunch, but his interest was overwhelmingly in Kathryn.

Henry had known Kathryn since she was a girl, he was an old family friend, but it wasn’t friendship that he felt for her, but he had not shared his feelings with her, because he thought it would have been a betrayal of her parents trust, but following their deaths in a car accident, but he said nothing then because he had to fulfill more of an avuncular role, and then she married so he resigned himself to the fact that there could never be any other role for him in her life.

 

When the time came for them to take their seats Henry found that he was seated oposite Alesha and next to Kathryn, and he could tell by the look on the formers face that she had put them beside eachother by design, hoping that her change in circumstances would move things along between them.

 

Kathryn had divorced from her husband Jayson the year before, but it was a completely amicable split because after eight years of marriage they both realised it wasn’t really working, they loved each other, and still did, but they were not in love.

In fact, they still lived under the same roof, in the same house, after the split, and planned to sell the house, or buy the other one out, if and when their personal circumstances changed.

So domestic life for them wasn’t really very different to when they were married, and it really should have been if they belonged together as a couple, so they knew they had made the right decision, and even after the divorce they were still best friends, and of course they still worked together at the Literary Agency they founded, Mercer and associates.

 

The conversation between Henry and Kathryn during dinner was as easy and relaxed as it always had been, so much so that it actually felt like they were a couple, but they wernt.

Over coffee Kathryn said

“I’ve been asked to organise the St Nicholas gifts this year”

“Really? I did them for a couple of years” he said “before I became Church Warden”

“Yes I remember” she said “Which is why…”

“Why what?”

“Which is why I could use your help” she replied

“Of course I’ll help” he said

“We could meet tomorrow”

“Perfect” she said

 

They met the next day at his house after Church and over coffee they compiled a long list of items she needed to get from the cash and carry and afterwards they walked along the promenade to Albies Coffee Shop and Café where they had lunch.

“Thanks for your help Henry” she sadi

“My pleasure Kathryn, you just need to drive over to Purplemere and pick it up”

“I might need your help again with that” she said “I’ll never get that lot in my car”

“Why? You’ll easily get it all into your SUV”

“Erm… Its in the garage until Wednesday, so I’ve only got the Mini”

“What about Jayson’s car?”

“He’s gone to Millmoor, and won’t be back for a fortnight” she replied

“Well in that case we can go in mine” he said

 

They couldn’t go on Sunday afternoon as it was the first Sunday of Advent and as he was Church Warden and she was the Verger they needed to be on hand for the evening service, so he picked her up early on Monday morning and drove her over to the cash and carry.

 

It was an amazing place, and they were very impressed even though they had both been to one before, it was like an Aladdin’s cave of Christmas goodies, and they soon filled their trolley.

But Kathryn seemed to be in no particular hurry to leave because although they had everything that was on the list she kept Henry there for another hour wandering up and down the aisles but added nothing to the trolley before she accepted they had finished the shopping and went to the checkout.

Henry and Kathryn loaded the shopping into his car and then they exited the car park with the sound of thunder in the distance.

On the way out of the gate it started to rain, and as he turned onto the Sharpington road the sky had grown really dark and the thunder cracks grew closer and the rain fell harder.

Twenty minutes later the rain was falling ever harder until the wipers could barely cope.

As luck would have it they were just approaching a lay-by, so Henry turned into it to wait for the rain to abate.

He had barely applied the handbrake when there was a clap thunder above that shook the car and Kathrine screamed and launched herself at Henry.

“Hold me” she begged “the thunder frightens me”

 

“Don’t worry honey” he said putting his arm around her “I’ve got you”

 

The thunder storm went on for almost half an hour before it moved away, and the rain eased off and Henry said

“I think it’s safe to go now”

“Are you sure?” she said “it might come back”

“No, it’s moved away now” he said and released his hold on her and he thought he heard her sigh.

 

When they got back to Sharpington they went back to her house and unloaded the car.

“So where do you want them?” he asked as he walked in carrying two boxes

“In the Dining room” she replied “I’ll make a start on them after lunch”

And then almost as an afterthought she added

“You’ll stay for lunch of course? “

“That would be lovely, I can stay and help after” he suggested

“Really? Would you?

“Of course,” he replied “and I’m free tomorrow so I can help you box them up and deliver them” 

 

The St Nicholas Day gifts could come in different forms but were almost always presented in boots or shoes.

The ones that St Lucy’s Church were giving out consisted of a small red plastic Santa Boot, complete with white fur trim and filled with chocolates and candy.

Each one contained Chocolate Coins, Candy Canes, Bonbons, Fudge, Chocolate Santa, a small toy and a puzzle.

So, after lunch they set up a production line and when the Boot was filled the whole thing was completed by putting the filled Boot inside a cellophane bag tied at the top with a red ribbon.

working together right through until 10 o’clock, only stopping for pizza, they got them all filled, bagged and tied, but left the packing of them until the next morning.

 

Henry arrived at Kathryn’s just after ten the next morning and they packed the gifts in boxes for the various destinations, and then they loaded the car, before making the deliveries.

Jubilee Primary School, Whitecliffe Hill Primary, St Lucy’s Church, for the Sunday School, and Sharpington Library for the reading club and then back to Kathryn’s.

“I can’t thank you enough Henry” she said

“It was my pleasure” he said “I enjoyed it”

“Nonetheless I’m very grateful” he said “Let me take you to dinner tomorrow night as a thank you, L'uccello Canto”

“That’s my favourite restaurant”

“I know it is” she said, “so is that a yes?”

 

It was a lovely meal and the conversation was easy, witty and stimulating but Henry drank more than he probably should have but he was having such a good time.

“A perfect end to a perfect evening” she said when the liqueurs arrived

“Your perfect” he said, and then he realized he had said it out loud, and he glanced at her and she was smiling, but not in a derisory way, so he decided, aided by all the wine, to tell her how he felt.

“I’ve always thought you were perfect, in everyway”

“Before you go any further I have a confession to make” she said

“You don’t have to say anything, I just need to say how I feel” he replied

“But I really do” she insisted

“Ok” Henry replied, a little concerned at what might follow and then

Kathryn took a deep breath and blurted out

“I planned all of this”

“All what?”

“Everything in order to get you here tonight” she said, and Henry thought for a moment and then said

“Did you arrange for me to be sitting next to you at the Dinner Party?” He asked

“Yes, but that was the easy bit” she confessed “because I had an ally in Alesha, but after that, it was up to me to take advantage of the situation”

“Which of course you did” he said

“Indeed, I did” she admitted, “The rest however took a bit more planning”

“And a bit more deceitfulness” she continued, and Henry took a moment to think before he said

“You didn’t need my help with the planning, did you?”

“No” she confessed

“And the SUV being in the garage?”

“Was a lie” Kathryn confirmed

“And your being scared of the thunder?”

“Also, a lie” she confirmed again “I just wanted to hug you”

“So why?”

“So that I could be close to you and hopefully pluck up the courage to tell you how special you are to me”

“So, does that mean what I think it means?” he asked

“If that’s what you want now that you know that I’m he not perfect” she said

“I do” he said and held her hand

“You don’t think less of me?” she asked

“I’m shocked and stunned” he said “but only that you want me”

“I’ve always wanted you” she said and kissed his hand

 

As he walked her home arm in arm he asked

“So, are you pleased with the outcome of your scheming?”

“Oh yes” she said “pleased and surprised”

“Surprised?” he queried

“Yes, I’ve never done anything like it before, and I’m surprised how conniving I’ve been” she said

“Well you’ve got me now” he said

“Yes, and that’s perfect” Kathryn said

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