A Perfect Christmas (40 page)

Well, it’s just that now I’m a man of means, I can do something I’ve wanted to do for a while, and I was wondering how best to put it to you.’

‘Put what to me?’ Jan asked, puzzled as to what it could be.

‘I wondered if you would consider letting me take you for a proper night out – as more than just friends, Jan?’

She was so astounded by his unexpected proposal, she stared at him speechless.

He took this to mean he had insulted her and added apologetically, ‘Look, I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. We haven’t known each other long, but I’ve wanted to ask you if it was possible you could look on me as more than a friend for a while now, but I had nothing to offer you. I couldn’t even pay for a night out for us. Why should you look twice at me?’

She was shaking her head at him. ‘Oh, you silly man. I’ve felt the same way about you for probably as long. I didn’t care that you hadn’t two ha’pennies to rub together. It’s you I love, not your money.’

He gawped at her. ‘Did you say “
love
”?’

She flushed in embarrassment and said awkwardly, ‘Did I?’

‘Well, there’s nothing wrong with my hearing and I’d swear blind you did.’

‘Oh, in that case, I must have, mustn’t I?’

‘Oh, I see. Well, that makes all the difference.’

Her face fell. She was mortally disappointed that her declaration had put the fear of God in him and now he was backing off. ‘I’m sorry I frightened you by coming on too heavy. Can we forget what I said and still go out together as friends?’

Glen responded with conviction, ‘No, I’m sorry, I can’t.’ Then he looked at her earnestly and added, ‘Because now I feel free to tell you that I love you too. Let’s just cut out all the courting bit and get married, Jan.’

He received her answer to his suggestion when she jumped up in sheer delight and dashed over to him, throwing herself into his arms and hugging him tightly. It was apparent to him that she never wanted to let him go.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

I
t was three months later when Glen poked his head around Jane Trucker’s door and asked her, ‘Would you mind if I borrowed Lucy for a couple of minutes, only I have something I want to show her? But only if you can spare her.’

Jane blushed as she did whenever she came face to face with Glen. She had really enjoyed working with Reg Swinton and never would have thought she could find a better boss, but she had been wrong. Glen surpassed him by a large margin. He was such a pleasure to work for, valued all his staff’s opinions, always knew what was going on in the factory before the gossips got wind, thought nothing of rolling his sleeves up and getting stuck in when times called for it, and always sat in a spare chair at a worker’s table at mealtimes, after first making sure he wasn’t intruding, and chatting amicably away with them while they ate, when he could have sat in solitary state on the boss’s table. His office door was never closed to anyone. Jane nursed a secret crush on him and was a little miffed to hear he was getting married very soon so her feelings for him would for ever go unrequited.

She smiled warmly at him and told him, ‘Lucy’s not working with me today, Mr Trainer. Mr Owens is showing her all that goes on in the stores so she’s primed up a bit for when she starts her three-month stint down there on Monday. I can get a message to her to come and see you?’

In his excitement at what he had to show her, Glen had forgotten that Lucy was beginning her training, doing several months in every department so that she knew how they all operated, just like his father had set him to do when he’d first started with the company. Glen told Jane, ‘Don’t worry, it’s not as if you haven’t got enough to do, Miss Trucker. I’ll pop down to the stores myself and find her.’

A short while later, standing at the front entrance to the works by the gates, Glen instructed Lucy to turn around and tell him what she could see.

She did so and looked in front of her, all around, then said to her father, bemused, ‘What am I supposed to be looking for?’

He laughed. ‘If I told you that it wouldn’t be a surprise! I’ll give you a clue. Look straight forward and up.’

So she did, and when she saw what her father wanted her to see, she gasped in delight. ‘Oh, Dad,’ she uttered emotionally.

He put his arm around her and hugged her to him fiercely.

‘Does this mean I’m now officially entitled to throw my weight around?’ she asked, tongue-in-cheek. ‘Well, the sign does read “Trainer and
Daughter
, Quality Bespoke Shoes and Leather Goods”, doesn’t it?’

He answered in a serious manner, ‘Yes, by all means, but don’t expect me to come to your rescue this time.’

‘I hope I never give you any reason to have to speak to me like that again, Dad.’

He looked down at her, nestled by his side, love for her brimming in his eyes. ‘I have no doubt whatsoever that you never will again.’ His eyes lingered on her for a moment. Anyone who didn’t know would never realise that the pair of them had been through such a long separation. The closeness they now shared was normally only achieved by a parent and a child who had never been parted. He knew she was still getting used to being part of a family, having parents – and he included Jan in that equation as she was proving to be as good a mother to Lucy as he knew her birth mother would have been – who openly showed their feelings for her. They enjoyed her company or just being around her, encouraged her to bring her friends home, but were not afraid to show their disapproval when she had said or done something with which they didn’t agree.

Glen said to her, ‘So you’re happy then with the change of company name?’

Before Lucy could answer, out of the corner of his eye Glen noticed a ragged old man shuffling his way towards a short cut that led down the side of the works towards the canal tow path. He was carrying a sack Glen knew would contain his worldly belongings. Excusing himself to Lucy, he dashed out of the entrance gates and after the man. Catching up with him, Glen took out his wallet and removed a pound note, which he pressed into the old man’s filthy hands. ‘Buy yourself a hot meal,’ Glen told him.

The man looked at the money in astonishment then up at Glen. In a cracked voice he said, ‘A whole pound! You’re giving me a whole pound, guv? The type-a place I eats at nowadays, yer lordship, this ’ud buy me four hot meals and I’d have change. Bless yer heart, guv. You’re a gent, so you are.’

‘Well, I know what it’s like to be hungry.’

The tramp looked him up and down, noted the good cut of his suit and the handmade shoes he wore. He shook his head of matted grey hair. ‘I doubt it, sir. Maybe missed a meal, but not several days’ worth at a time.’

Glen watched the man as he shuffled off. I can assure you I do know, he thought.

Lucy had watched what he had done, the same as she had on many occasions now. She knew that until the day he died her father would never be able to pass by a needy-looking soul without giving them something to help them on their way. His compassion was only one of the countless good traits he possessed and she felt it was a privilege to be his daughter.

When he rejoined her, he said, ‘Now, where were we? Oh, yes, I asked you if you were happy with the company’s change of name?’

She shook her head and to his dismay said, ‘Sorry, Dad, no, I’m not.’ Then she gave a laugh at his worried expression and changed his frown to a broad smile when she added, ‘I’m ecstatic.’

He smiled in delight. ‘Good, I’m glad. Of course, you’ll be at liberty to change it to what you like when it all becomes yours, but for now I’m glad you approve. Right, young lady, we’d best get back to it before the workers all go on strike, thinking the bosses are slacking while they do all the work.’ He leaned over and kissed her cheek. ‘I’ll see you tonight at dinner, love. I hope Agnes has made us one of her delicious steak and kidney puddings.’

‘She won’t have because she’s got the afternoon off. And you won’t be seeing me at dinner tonight for two reasons. The first is that I’m going straight from work to Belinda’s as we’re off to the flicks together. We’re going to grab some fish and chips on the way.’

‘You’re out again tonight? I can’t remember the last time we all sat down and ate our evening meal together,’ he said, pretending to sulk.

‘Oh, Dad, stop exaggerating. I admit, I just grabbed a snack last night as I didn’t want to be late for meeting Neil, and of course I wanted to look beautiful for him, but the night before that I ate with you and Jan.’

‘Oh, yes, you did. I suppose an old dad should be grateful for small mercies. How is that young man of yours? When are we finally going to meet him?’

‘Well, as I said, we’re just taking it slowly. You know what our history is, Dad, and the last thing I want is to appear to be pushing Neil into anything, but the way things are going, I’d say it won’t be long. Anyway, the second reason you wouldn’t have seen me at dinner, even if I weren’t going out, is that you won’t be eating dinner at home tonight yourself. You’re meeting Jan, remember? To have dinner at the place you are thinking of for the wedding reception, to make sure the food is to your liking. You’re meeting her there at six o’clock.’

‘Oh, thanks for reminding me. I’d forgotten.’

Lucy scolded him, ‘Oh, you liar, Dad. You never forget anything to do with Jan. You love that woman more than anyone and can’t wait to marry her.’

‘Very true I can’t wait to marry her, but it’s not true I love her more than you.’

Lucy laughed. ‘Well, equally then.’

‘Okay, I’ll agree to that, but don’t tell Jan because she thinks I love you most and her second, and then she might get above herself.’ He took his arm from around Lucy and gave her bottom a playful slap. ‘Now come on, I’ve got a business to run.’

She slapped his bottom back. ‘And I have one to learn.’

Arms linked, laughing and joking as they did so, they hurried back inside the factory.