December
Church Warden
of St Agatha’s, Kevin Southey, was attending a dinner on St Andrew’s Day, at
the home of a local celebrity, children’s author, Chania Campbell.
Kevin was a
popular figure in Pepperstock Green 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 Chania, was Fiona Phippen, an illustrator, who was an old school
friend of hers, and she also assisted in the kitchen, Chania’s brother artist
Aiden, Curate of St Agatha’s, Derren Mcphail, Literary agents, Harry and Tracey
Smedley, Actresses Louise Sexton and Jade Edwards and Tim Weston who was a
Local Historian, so it was an interesting bunch, but his interest was
overwhelmingly in Tracey.
Kevin had known
Tracey 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, 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 Kevin found that he was seated opposite
Chania and next to Tracey, and he could tell by the look on the formers face
that she had put them beside each other by design, hoping that her change in
circumstances would move things along between them.
Tracey was
divorced from her husband Harry the year before, but it was a completely
amicable split because after eight years of marriage they both realized 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, Smedley and associates.
The
conversation between Kevin and Tracey 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 weren’t.
Over coffee
Tracey said
“I’ve been
asked to organize 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 into
the village to the Britz Coffee Shop where they had
brunch.
“Thanks for
your help Kevin” she said
“My pleasure
Tracey, you just need to drive over to Pipershaven 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… It’s in
the garage until Wednesday, so I’ve only got the Mini”
“What about
Harry’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 Tracey
seemed to be in no particular hurry to leave because although they had
everything that was on the list, she kept Kevin 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.
Kevin and
Tracey 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 Expressway 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 Kevin 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 Tracey screamed and launched herself at Kevin.
“Hold me” she
begged “the thunder frightens me”
“Don’t worry
honey” he said putting his arm around her “I’ve got you.”
The
thunderstorm went on for almost half an hour before it moved away, and the rain
eased off and Kevin 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 Pepperstock Green 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 Agatha’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.
Kevin arrived
at Tracey’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.
St Agatha’s
Primary School, Tots nursery, St Agatha’s Church, for the Sunday School, and
some for Pipershaven Library for the reading club and then back to Tracey’s.
“I can’t thank
you enough Kevin” 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, The Kissing Angel”
“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 Kevin 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.
“You’re
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 every way.”
“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” Kevin
replied, a little concerned at what might follow and then.
Tracey 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 Kevin 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 Chania, 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 Kevin 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”
Tracey 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 they rode
home holding hands in the back of an Uber 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” Tracey said
