Tom tried to put some life back into his voice and drag himself out of the bad mood. ‘Can you bring that box and I’ll carry some of this heavy stuff.’
‘Okay. Wait, is that a tree?’
This time he found some of his Christmas spirit returning. ‘Yeah. It was on sale and I just couldn’t resist. I might need to buy some more baubles.’
‘I love that you love Christmas so much.’ She leaned gently into his shoulder and rested her head there. The smell of her perfume carried on the wind and the familiarity of it calmed him.
‘You do?’
‘Of course. I always have. It’s one of my favourite things about you.’ Lifting her head and stepping away, she said, ‘Shall I tell you my favourite Christmas joke?’
The final remnants of tension floated from his muscles. ‘Go on then.’
‘What do Santa’s elves learn at school?’
‘I don’t know, what do Santa’s elves learn at school?’
‘The elfabet!’ Tom rolled his eyes. ‘Do you see? Because they’re elves and they learn the elfabet. It’s like the alphabet but for elves!’
‘Nell?’
‘Yes?’
‘Stop talking and take that box.’
Both grinning and with arms laden, they walked inside.
Tracey was busy bustling around, settling her residents in the TV room and finding jigsaw puzzles and activities for them. It was hot with that stuffy, slightly damp warmth that comes from having the radiators on full blast, and after stashing some boxes in the corner of the room, Nell and Tom immediately began to strip away their outer layers.
‘Hello, you two,’ said Tracey. ‘We’re all really looking forward to this, aren’t we, guys?’ A few members of staff lifted their heads and waved a greeting. ‘A bit of Christmas sparkle will cheer us up a treat.’
‘Well, you know Tom’ said Nell. ‘Nothing stops him at Christmas time.’
Putting the exchange outside behind them, he beamed. ‘Yep. Mr Christmas is here and ready to get to work.’
‘Is that my grandson?’ Nigel’s voice boomed from the corner of the TV room. Edith was sitting beside him as usual.
‘It is, Grandad. I’m just coming over.’
‘And where’s that lovely young lady of yours?’ Tom cringed. Grandad loved a massively unsubtle hint.
Nell bounded over and planted a big kiss on his cheek. ‘Here I am, Nigel. You’re looking well.’
‘Am I?’
‘Yes, you are.’ She adjusted the brown and red plaid blanket on his knees. ‘And I got you a present.’
‘Lucky me. Anything good?’ He shifted, sitting up a little. Tom found a chair for Nell and one for himself, carrying them over and putting them in front of Nigel.
Nell ran back to her handbag then handed Nigel a tin of his favourite biscuits. They were hideously expensive Italian ones: handmade affairs from an artisan baker in town. Nell had made the mistake of buying them for his grandad one birthday and the old boy had acquired a taste for them. She’d already eased the lid open a little so he could get to them easily, which was typical of her kindness.
‘I think I know what this might be. You always bring the best treats, Nell.’ He opened the box and sniffed in the delicious scent of the almond biscuits.
‘Hey!’ said Tom. ‘I’d like to remind you that I smuggled in your favourite sherry last year.’
‘Tracey found that within two minutes of it being on the property, boy,’ Nigel said with a grump. ‘She put me on more stingy rations than I had in the war. I think there’s still some left actually.’
‘I did not,’ Tracey shouted, coming over and pausing with her hands on her voluminous hips. ‘Cheeky devil. I let you have more than was good for you.’
‘I’m 87, what’s the point in being good?’ Though his eyes were cloudy and unseeing, there was still a life to them that spilled out encouraging those around him to feel the same way.
‘Tom,’ Tracey continued, ‘I’ve added our decorations to your pile, but we haven’t got much. I’m a bit worried the rest of the place is going to look like a bit of a poor effort.’
‘Not by the time I’m done,’ Tom replied. ‘This isn’t even half of what I’ve got in the van. And I brought a tree. It’s a fake one, but it’s nice and big and I thought it’d go well in the TV room. There’s plenty of stuff for everywhere else.’ He pointed to the boxes they’d brought in so far and Tracey’s eyes lit up.
‘Let’s crack on then, shall we?’
With a sweet peck on Grandad’s cheek, Nell followed Tom, leaving Nigel to enjoy his biscuits. The decorating began and Tracey put on a CD of Christmas songs on the old stereo in the corner of the room. Tom glanced at Nell from time to time and was pleased to see her enjoying herself. There were one or two moments when he caught her looking at him, but his heart didn’t sing at the idea. He knew it was only because she was worried after the car accident.
After decorating the TV room with a beautiful garland over the fireplace, paper chains made with the residents hanging across the ceilings, and tinsel over the picture frames on the walls, all they needed was the tree. They loved getting the residents involved and many enjoyed a singsong while hanging up a bauble. There was a lovely sense of friendship in the care home and Tracey was a wonderful, caring manager, encouraging everyone. Tom decided he’d have to get Tracey a present for Christmas too, not just the box of chocolates he’d got her last year. He wanted to get her something special. They all worked
