You Promised

Chapter Twenty Three

It's Christmas Eve. We, John, Hazel, Anna, Thomas, Jayne, Ollie, Dolly and her ever-present patient Dimitri, Adam and I walk back to Adam's house after the Christmas service. We are walking together, but separate. John, arm and arm with Hazel, Anna with Thomas, Jayne holding hands with Ollie and Dimitri leaning heavily on Dolly's arm. Adam and I walk with our arms around each other, enjoying being so close.
My sleepy head rests on Adam's strong shoulder. His arm tightens around my waist.
'How long will it be before Dolly can't take it anymore and explains to poor Dimitri why he gets such special attention?' I ask Adam chuckling as Dolly fusses over every little complaint Dimitri makes.
'I don't think he minds at all.' Adam replies. 'His limp switches leg from week to week. I think he's afraid to be moved to another ward.' He says winking.
I laugh at Dolly's transparency but then I remember that I would do the same if Adam was a patient and I his adoring nurse. John and Hazel break into a competitive sprint ahead until Hazel moans that she keeps tripping on her lovely dress. In response, John spins around and gathers her in his arms. We all laugh at his romantic gesture but they only have eyes for each other again.
The crisp, fresh snow crunches beneath our feet as the wooden gate of Adam's house creaks open. We file through and quietly head up the path, towards the house. The hedges cast long shadows on the stoney path. We push open the front door to loud music and laughter.
Lily bounces out of the salon with her blonde ringlets dancing around her pretty face like a halo. Her eyes gleam as she shoves one of her gifts in my face.
'Hold on Lily!' I exclaim removing my coat. Adam takes our coats and hangs them up in the closet. I see John being dragged away by Lily to try out her new paints while Hazel suggests to try them on John's face. I head into the salon with Adam in tow.
My family is sitting on the plush sofa beside the relatives of all my friends. Dimitri sits in the corner, surrounded by five fawning girls and one frowning Dolly, telling stories of mother Russia. John is spinning Hazel around in circles to a quick tempo played by Thomas and his friends. Anna is chatting to Jayne and Ollie about her art exhibition. Lily jumps alone beside the Christmas Tree begging her mother to let her open her presents.
Mr. Green saunters into the salon, his head almost invisible in a smokey screen in front of his face. He coughs for silence, before taking a large sip of his brandy.
'Friends and family, it's a pleasure to have you all here, this Christmas Day, the season of love and thanksgiving. This is a time for forgetting the war, the death and the pain around us, and taking a moment to appreciate each other. To love each other. I for one feel privileged to be surrounded by such good people.' He takes a second to cough out some smoke from his cigar, before finishing. 'God save the King.'
'God save the King.' We all reply, taking a swig from our glasses.
'Can I open them now Mammy?' Whines Lily.
'Yes is it time yet?' Asks Hazel winking at John.
'What's the point of being the mother if you have no control?' Sighs Mrs. Green, waving her hand for permission.
Lily squeals in delight and, alongside Hazel, dives into the presents searching for her name. She soon emerges with a parcel and tears into the wrapping paper. She gasps as she turns it around in her hands.
While the children, and Hazel, rummage through the presents, Jayne floats over to the piano for a chorus of Christmas carols. We sing until our voices are hoarse, and then we open presents and laugh for the whole evening.
At about ten, Lily is hurried to bed and some of the guests leave. John and Hazel are now slow dancing beside Jayne and Ollie. Anna and Thomas are chatting in the corner and Dolly is sitting with Dimitri who is smiling affectionately at her. I am sitting, sipping tea now, while Adam tears himself away from James, or Stumpy, to come and talk to me.
He sits beside me and throws his arm around the back of the chair.
'Well?' I ask him. 'Had enough whiskey?'
'Never.' He responds smiling. 'Want to dance?'
I feel somewhat silly dancing in the corner of the best room in Adam's house, but dance we do. We keep bumping into the other dancers but that just adds to the laughter in the room. John calls for our parents and I, saying he is tired and wants to go home. My parents, being much more obliging than me, stand to leave, saying their goodbyes. I hug Adam tightly, giving him a goodbye kiss.
We take our coats, and exit the house and out into the brisk night air. John and I walk behind our parents, still listening to the music flowing out of the house as we walk away.
'Ami?' John says slowly.
'Hmm?' I hum in response.
'How much longer has Adam here? Before he goes back?'
I take a deep breath. I was waiting for people to remember that Adam's time in this country is very limited. 'Oh not long enough John.' My speech catches in my throat and I bite my lip to prevent from crying.
'Well. I know what will cheer you up.' He says grinning. 'I'm inviting some friends over for tennis.'
Groaning, I walk with him until we reach our house where Jenny waits, sulking.
I hear her stomp into the hall and glare at us. 'Have a good evening?' She complains. 'Why didn't you bring me?'
We all ignore her and go into the kitchen.
'Mother, can I bring over some friends for tennis?' John asks, making her some tea to gain favour.
'Which friends?' She asks tiredly.
John pauses for a moment. 'A few.'
My mother laughs before conceding and heading off to bed. John happily goes too after saying goodnight. This leaves Jenny and I alone in the kitchen. I hum to myself as I make myself tea and sit down to read a book. I can feel Jenny's cold glare on my back as I turn the pages.
'So. When's your wedding?' Jenny asks. 'That's assuming he makes it back from France.'
I let a small growl escape from my throat, before resuming my book.
Jenny is annoyed that her comment went ignored so she ups her game.
'Maybe he will jump in front of a bullet instead of marrying you. I know I would.'
I fight the urge to turn and throttle her, so I stand up to go to my room.
Jenny's fingers fly out to catch my wrist I as walk past. I try to pull my hand away put her grip is like a vice. 'Don't leave me.' She says quietly. 'Please don't leave me to sleep alone in that awful room. I can't bear being alone.' She says glancing at her tummy.
'Jenny....I'm so sorry that you lost your baby but there's nothing I can do. You shouldn't have gotten used to someone in your bed in the first place.' I pull my hand away and march to the door.
'Please!' She shouts after me. 'Don't leave me alone. Just sit with me for a while, you don't have to talk, just stay with me.'
I slowly turn and sit beside her on the couch. She sighs in relief and settles back into her pile of cushions.
'Thank you.' She says sleepily.
I stare at her in shock as her breath deepens into sleep. Her eyes dance beneath her eyelids as she dreams. Perhaps of her life in London with her lover, Robert. But, I don't care. I creep to my feet and go to my room to sleep alone.