“What was that about,” Mair asked, coming up behind me.
“Just Mrs Wilkes popping by on her broomstick,” I replied.
She looked at me, confused. “I don’t get what you mean,” she said, but I waved it off.
“It’s no matter. Today is not the day for worrying about Mrs Wilkes or Arthur Morgan and their games.”
“Will we see you after dinner?” Betty asked.
“Yes, lovely,” Mair responded, reaching out and squeezing Betty on the arm. “This one wins at all the games but this year I shall thrash her.”
Betty smiled and went bright red. She dipped her head, unable to look at any of us and I began to guide her off before she exploded with embarrassment.
“See you after dinner,” I called back, but Mair was already nattering away to someone else.
“I love the snow,” Betty said, almost so quiet that I didn’t hear her. “It’s always so sad when it melts away.”
“Then we should build a snowman before it’s all gone. We can do it while the food is cooking. Teddy and the twins can help.”
“But what about dinner?” she asked. “I’m supposed to help my mother.”
“Nan can help with that. She knows her way around a kitchen and I’m sure she’d rather be doing that than standing in the cold with us. It’s about time you had a little fun.”
She thought on my words for a few steps and then clutched my arm tight. “We’ll do it right in front of the house,” she said excitedly, her smile beaming as she quickened her pace to get home. “And everyone will be able to see it from the village.”
As soon as we were back on the farm she ran off to change and gather up her siblings. The snow had subsided overnight but we still had over a foot of it layered across the whole front field. In no time at all the body of the snowman had been built, leaving us red-faced from the cold and exertion. Nellie and Howell, not wanting to risk frostbite, watched from the bench under the front window while Teddy, Sophia, Betty and myself rolled around the balls to build it higher. When it was almost complete Sophia ran off to collect coals for his face.
“Hey Teddy,” I called out. As soon as he turned to me I launched a snowball at him, catching him off guard and covering his face in snow.
“I’ll get you,” he said, bending down to pick up a handful of snow and giving me time to dash off.
As I tried to dodge an incoming attack from Betty a snowball caught me in the side of the face making my ears ring and turning my cheek numb. I turned in the direction it had come from to see Mr Hopkin laughing to himself for catching me off guard. The children, unaccustomed to seeing their father being so playful, immediately started pelting him with snow, causing him to duck and dive to avoid them.
“Dinner is ready,” he shouted, running around the side of the house away from the onslaught.
Mrs Hopkin had provided us with a feast. I’d never had goose before but it looked and smelled delicious and I couldn’t wait to try some. The table was laid out like a banquet with the goose sitting proudly in the middle surrounded by roast potatoes, vegetables and two huge gravy boats filled to the brim. Off to the side she had set a plate for Jack in the hope that he might return for Christmas with his family, though none of us acknowledged it for fear of upsetting her.
“Merry Christmas,” Mrs Hopkin called out and raised her glass.
“Merry Christmas,” we all cheered back, raising our glasses along with her.
Once a prayer was said, Mr Hopkin gave the nod for everyone to tuck in and the table came alive with chatter and excitement. By the time we had finished we’d eaten our way through more food than I’d seen since I arrived there, and it was all cooked beautifully. For the first time in a long while, I was actually too stuffed to move.
By the time Mair and Gwyn arrived, we’d retired to the sitting room with brandy and the games had already begun. The children had pushed the furniture around to create more space but by the third round of charades, I needed a rest and was desperate for a place to sit.
“Care to join me outside to smoke?” Gwyn asked, approaching me with two drinks in hand. He knew I didn’t smoke but I wasn’t going to refuse time with him so I followed him out to the yard.
The cold air caught my breath as we stepped out into the darkness and snow had begun to fall again. I wrapped my arms around my body to keep myself warm and wondered why Gwyn had really asked me to join him instead of smoking inside as he had done before.
“I got you a little something,” he said, reaching into his inside pocket. The snow was coating his hair and lashes, causing him to blink and shiver as he spoke. He pulled out a small bag and offered it to me. I looked at it, then up at him and gave him a curious look wondering what it might be. “Open it.”
Inside the bag was a small silver pocket watch dangling from a chain and it looked far more expensive than what he should be spending on me. I looked down at it in my palm and watched the hands ticking forward counting quick seconds, though the moment between us seemed to last much longer.
“Gwyn, it’s beaut-” I started, but he grabbed my arms and pulled me towards him, kissing me hard on the lips right there in the yard. I instinctively froze and then relaxed into his embrace, kissing him back.
It was better than I could have ever imagined. I’d spent so long longing for it that I could hardly believe it was happening and I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, drawing him closer.
“I’ve wanted to do that since I met you,” he said when our connection finally broke. I stared at him, and smiled, wishing it hadn’t taken him so long.