He smiled and held out my bags to me. As I reached for them, he locked his fingers into mine and held our hands together for just the briefest of moments.
“Goodnight, Tom,” he said with a smile as he took a step backwards and began his departure.
“Nos da, Gwyn,” I replied. I was a little unsure of my words but he flashed me a grin for my effort
“Not bad,” he said, taking another step back before turning and walking towards the lane. “Not bad at all.” Then he rounded the corner and was out of sight.
I stared after him for a moment and then hurried along the street through the village, snow creaking and crunching underfoot and a smile on my face that was making my jaw ache. Everything seemed still and quiet, the residents all settling down for the evening to keep warm in front of their fires, and I couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come to make my excuses to go visit Mair’s house again.
“I come bearing gifts,” I announced, bursting through the kitchen door to the farm. Everyone was at the table having just eaten dinner.
“You’re back earlier than I thought you’d be,” Mrs Hopkin said, obviously surprised by my entrance. “Betty said you didn’t want food and we’ve nothing left. Shall I cook you something?”
“No, Mrs Hopkin, you stay where you are.” My spirits were higher than they’d been in a long while and I swept around the table with a huge grin on my face.
“Are you drunk?” Teddy asked, causing all the children around the table to laugh.
“I am not, but I’m feeling very festive,” I replied. I put my bags down on the counter amongst the pots and pans that were waiting to be cleaned. “I have brought gifts. If that’s ok with you, of course, Mr and Mrs Hopkin?”
“I don’t see why not,” she replied, eyeing me curiously. Mr Hopkin gave me a nod so I reached into my bags and pulled out the bag of pics.
“Cakes for everyone,” I said, ripping the bag open and laying them out on the table. The children seemed excited by the sugary treats and everyone reached in to help themselves. Once they were done Mrs Hopkin took one for her husband and then one for herself. “And I don’t know what this is,” I said as I placed the peanut concoction down on the table, “but it looked too good to leave in the shop so I hope I got enough for everyone.
I made my way around the table to Mrs Hopkin. Her eyes were wide, not from the treats, but from seeing her family enjoying them so much, and I sat in the empty chair next to her.
“I don’t have much,” I said, reaching into my pocket, “but I sold my ring to help out and I want to give you this.” I handed her about five pounds worth of coins and clenched her fingers shut over it before she could refuse.
“We can’t take this, Tom, it wouldn’t be right,” she said, a look of consternation on her face.
“I insist. You’ve been good to me. Let me pay my way, even if it’s only a little bit.”
She looked to her husband who gave another nod of approval and then threw her arms around me for a hug, squeezing me tightly and rocking me back and forth.
When everyone else had gone to bed that night, I snuck out to the barn and up the ladder to my makeshift bed. I opened the little cubby I’d made to hide the ring and my wallet and carefully placed the tea set and chocolate gifts for the family beside them and covered them over again, ready to give to them out on Christmas Day.
When I went back inside the house I made my way to my new lodgings in the room at the top of the stairs, and for the first time in weeks, I fell asleep in a real bed.