Page 50 of So This is Christmas
WALTER
One Year Later – Christmas Day
Walter had decided it was so much fun that he’d keep the Christmas letter tradition going. Nick, Jennie and Sophie had all sent him one this year, and in return he’d sent his to each of them at the start of December.
In his letter he talked about Marsha, his home help who was nice enough but not a patch on any of them, although she could knit.
He’d had her knitting the comfort teddies to stop her incessant talking – she did love the sound of her own voice – and she’d done a wonderful job.
He also wrote about the cooking lessons Marsha had given him, one for Italian cuisine, another for French, so rather than cooking for him they cooked together.
She was almost fifty and quite bossy and he often wondered whether she bossed her own family around quite this much.
Jennie had written a lovely letter even though she lived in Vienna and they saw each other on most days.
She’d insisted on doing it and she’d written all about the second skiing holiday Elliot had persuaded her to go on.
I’m terrible! she’d said, but I’m having the time of my life!
She’d written about the day Elliot had asked her to marry him, about the diamond ring she wore now as they made plans for the wedding, and she reminded Walter that he would be walking her down the aisle in a few months’ time so could they please tee up a time to go and choose him a suit.
Sophie had written and sent her letter all the way from England.
She had been working at some good places, some bad, doing the agency work that paid well but allowed her to be flexible to come and go as she pleased.
She was seeing the good side of no longer having her son living at home, she was embracing the freedom.
She and Nick had been in a relationship ever since Nick stayed in London following their surprise visit to her at the very end of last year, and Walter had kind of hoped it might be a double wedding with Sophie and Nick tying the knot too, but there was only so much meddling he could do.
He didn’t want to go too far, after all.
In his letter, Nick had written that one day he’d move in with Sophie or she’d move in with him, and he’d get her to write these as he wasn’t sure he did a good enough job.
He’d written about Greta, how he missed her and was sad she never got to see him and Sophie together, he wrote about his job at the hotel and how he still loved it but it was nice to have something else in his life – a partner.
He also wrote that Henry was coming for New Year in Vienna and couldn’t wait to see his grandad, which was a surprise for Walter especially as he’d asked to stay at the apartment with him on at least a few of the nights.
Walter had of course said yes. He’d said he’d give Marsha a few days off and his ears a rest from all the talking.
In the Wynters’ apartment, a wide fir tree stood in the lounge near the window, the same place as it was every single year.
Walter watched Sophie try to choose an appropriate branch on which to hang the bauble she’d gifted him – a clear glass bauble with a London scene inside including Big Ben, a double-decker bus and a Christmas tree.
After all, she’d said, Vienna might be his home now, but England always would be too.
He suspected she felt the same way. Who knew where she and Nick would choose to settle, although he secretly hoped it would be here.
Sophie stood back, hands on her hips, and turned to him. ‘Happy with its position?’
‘I’m not fussy at all.’ At his words she tilted her head, waited.
Nick came into the room and over to Sophie. He put his hands on her waist. ‘He’s totally fussy.’ And he kissed the top of her head.
Walter admitted, ‘It might be best to move it a couple of branches towards the fireplace, about six inches above the nutcracker. Then I’ll be able to see it from this chair.’
‘You’re right,’ she said to Nick, not discreetly either, ‘he’s totally fussy.’ But she did the honours.
‘Perfect,’ said Walter.
Christmas in his beautiful home once again. A Christmas surrounded with love.
Jennie and Elliot came into the room carrying trays of glasses filled with glühwein. Another Christmas lunch had been and gone, they’d all been for a walk to appreciate the light snowfall that was even starting to settle beyond the window, and now it was time to be together.
Walter wondered what Greta would make of all this and he smiled as he sipped the warm drink.
He shouldn’t wonder, not really, because she’d be very happy indeed with the way things had worked out.
And all because of a Christmas letter, one that had started between two old friends and had brought Sophie into their lives as well as helping Jennie to heal.
Jennie set down her tray of drinks and as she handed Sophie her glass of glühwein, the diamond on her finger caught the light. She was going to make a beautiful bride in the spring, and Sophie would be a stunning maid of honour.
The afternoon passed in a whirlwind of board games, laughter and togetherness as the skies grew dark, and as early evening fell all of them found room for a Greta special – extra brie and cranberry sauce for Walter, just the way he liked it, just the way Greta had always made it for him.
As his bedtime approached and after they’d all huddled at the window to watch the snow fall over Vienna in the magical way he never tired of, Walter retired to his bedroom. He left the younger generation, the tree and the cosy fire. It would all still be there in the morning.
He sat on his bed, took off his slippers and left them next to Greta’s. It had never felt right to move them, and he liked pairing his next to hers.
He picked up the photograph of Greta that lived beside his bed. ‘We’ve got a full house this year, it really is quite wonderful.’ He put his fingers to his lips and then to the frame. ‘We did it, my darling, we did what we both always wanted – we shared our love and we have a beautiful family.’
He climbed under the covers, and with one more look at Greta’s photograph before he switched off the light he told her, ‘I’ll see you in my dreams.’
Because he knew he always would.