The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2242 by Angharad Copyright © 2013 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

After our ‘quiet moment’ we returned to the fray and astonishingly, dinner turned out to be of an edible variety. I sent Sammi over to David’s cottage to see how he was and to deliver the presents I’d got them. It appeared he wasn’t at all well and Ingrid had been too busy to worry about making a dinner for them. When Sammi returned with this message I helped her carry three dinners over to the cottage before we ate our own. Ingrid was very grateful.

Having played Lady Bountiful and visited the poor estate workers, I got stuck into serving us ours and as Tom had now carved half the turkey I was able to slap on quantities of vegetables and gravy to go with it. Simon, ever the schoolboy, passed a dish of sausage meat up to Stella, saying, “I hear you want stuffing,” I didn’t catch her response but it was probably more original than his remark.

Everyone was just finishing when Henry and Monica arrived–unannounced. Thankfully there was enough food to give them a dinner as well. I muttered to Simon, “If I’d known they were coming, we could have waited.”

Simon blushed, “I–um was about to tell you when you sent me to the study–I kind of forgot it.”

Simon scuttled off to open some more wine and this time I had some, a Rioja. The younger children hung around to see what they’d brought as Christmas presents but I sent them off to play while their grandparents ate.

“Cathy, this turkey is delicious,” said Monica what sort of baste do you use?”

“I just use one that my mother showed me one Christmas.”

“A family secret, passed on from mother to daughter, eh?”

I hadn’t thought of it like that.

“So which one will you favour with your recipes?”

“I’m not sure any of them are that interested in playing housewives.” Sammi cleared her throat and I looked across at her, “Except Sammi, who is thinking of getting engaged.”

“Oh how wonderful,” Monica enthused and I left them to talk about it. Henry was busy talking to Danielle.

“And this person you considered a friend?”

“Yeah, Gramps–until then, yeah. Still she got me through the op a bit quicker than if I’d had to do the full year life test.”

“But what she did was just a trifle dangerous, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, I lost a lotta blood.”

Henry was looking upwards so I suspect he was imagining what that was like. Not unexpectedly, the sausage he was about to cut, he pushed to one side–can’t think why.

“So you’re a proper wee girl now?” he said to Danni.

“Yes, Gramps, I even have to push this...”

“I think that’s enough detail, Danielle, Gramps is still eating.”

“Mummy doesn’t have to do it now, she has Daddy to that for her.”

I now have Rioja stains on my tablecloth. No, it wasn’t me who choked but my pa in law.

Once dinner was over and I’d cleared up helped by some of the girls, we settled down with a cuppa and chatted. The kids were still waiting for their Christmas presents from Henry and Monica who eventually deigned to get them from the car just before it was time to think about tea.

One of the reasons they’d waited until it was dark was so they could show the presents to good effect. They all had torches and one or two had infrared binoculars. Okay, so they weren’t state of the art like the Us Army has, but they were better than the sort you see advertised in the Sunday papers. I made them put their coats on before they went outside with their toys. To Julie, they gave her the freehold of her shop. She squealed with joy–no more ground rent. Henry congratulated her with having the courage to take on a small business and make it work, for her effort, he chose to reward her big time.

Sammi, he gave a bracelet in gold and diamonds, for her service over the previous year, including working whilst in hospital. She was pretty pleased with it.

To Jacquie he gave a new computer–one which Sammi had recommended and set up for her. She was very happy and I told her she had no excuse for not doing some online learning.

Phoebe got a complete set of waterproofs and boots for her scooter which pleased her. Stella got a cheque, which puzzled me–I mean she’s a millionaire in her own right, so why give her money?

He handed a card to Simon which was addressed to both of us. Simon tore it open and his face lit up. “What is it?”

“Show her, son,” said Henry.

I read it two or three times before I understood what it said. If I understood it correctly, and my Spanish is pretty poor, it told us that we were now the owners of the villa on Menorca.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” suggested my husband almost squaring up to fight. “This far too much.”

“Yes I know,” Henry agreed taking the wind out of Simon’s sails. “But it wasn’t for your efforts I gave it.”

“Gee thanks, Dad.” Simon’s expression dropped down to his shoes. I’d have words with Henry about that later.

“It was through the work of your lovely wife that we realised how important she was to the family and also to the bank. I believe there are dormice on Menorca, perhaps you will be able to see one.”

“Much as I’d love to see one, Henry, this–this is too much, even by your standards.”

“It’s done now, I’ve transferred ownership to both of you, so I expect to hear you’ve taken the kids over a couple of times a year. You could always let it out, but I prefer not to and then not have to lock all my stuff away. It’s up the end by Mahon or Mao, near the freshwater lagoon they have and a nice safe beach. The nearest town, really more like a village is Es Grau. The villa is in the nature reserve, so you shouldn’t have far to go to see things, like eagles or red kite, even osprey at migration times.”

My mouth was drooling, so I closed it.

“Yeah, so you can see eagles and red kite from the castle,” challenged Simon.

“When it stops raining,” smirked Henry. “Why not see what your lovely wife thinks, eh Cathy–or are you not into bird watching or seeing wild tortoises?”

I was drooling again.

“There’s a Range Rover in the garage. It’s all yours.”

“I thought you had a villa up near Ciutadella?”

“I have,” he smiled, “And I’m keeping it.”

“Thank you, Henry, so much.” I hugged him and kissed him.

“Keep that up, old girl, and you’ll get the other one as well.” Simon gave us a very disapproving look and his father roared with laughter.

Tom came and invited Henry to have malt tasting session with him and I knew from then on that he’d be missing the rest of the night until they decided to stay or Monica drove them back to Southsea. Thus ended our Christmas–well all I’m going to tell you about. I did wear one of my new nightdresses, but that’s all I’m going to say...