Steve’s Year

Chapter 4

Christmas

Revision 17

Contents

Christmas

The Event – The Replay

One More for Lunch

The Next Surprise

Adoption

Stock? What Stock?

Not Your Ordinary Interview

Eloise’ Invitation

End of Steve’s Year

Christmas

The atmosphere all around the Three Rivers site was electric. The Christmas Party was on that evening and that was the significant milestone that marked the year coming to an end. The works was closed on Christmas Eve for production line maintenance and then Christmas itself would be a welcome relief from the traumas of the year.

Steve hadn’t been expecting Ruth to be in at all, but she said there were some late details to sort out. She had organised this party. She was behind the microphone and she knew he wasn’t expecting to sort it out if it all went pear shaped. 

He handed her the small soft package that was brightly wrapped and tied with green and red ribbon.

She accepted it with one of the prettiest smiles Steve had ever seen, and pressed her fingers into it a few times. 

“Its very soft”

“Yes, but its something you said you wanted”

“I just hid your present in the cupboard, but do I get to open it now?”

“Its yours. You can open it now or leave it till Christmas day”

She thought about it for a moment until Steve continued “If you wear that to your New Years Eve party and then wake up alone on New Year’s Day, there’s no real men left”

“What! Now I do have to open it”
She tried untying it, unsuccessfully, and gently ripped the paper open and unfolded the delicately pastel peach Nightwish dress. She held it up in front of herself to check the size

“Oh Steve! Thankyou so much. Its beautiful. But there aren’t any of these. They’d all sold out before even Annabelle could get hold of one”
“I had a word with the designer and bent her arm to make one especially for you. I understand there will be a new batch in the store in the New Year. But.. But, there will only ever be one this colour”

She leaned forward and kissed him

“I don’t suppose you’d be making it down to the Boar on the 31^st?”
“You know I’d love to, Ruth. But no, I’ve got a few neighbours coming round”

The evening came around all too quickly. Eloise had eventually escaped from the store by 3 and now watched him laying out his clothes on the bed - new suit, new shirt, new tie! Was she nervous or suspicious? She decided nervous – like preparing for a wedding. But not just that. Unbeknown to her, Geneviève had arranged for a beautician to come round to sort out her hair and makeup. This was all way over the top. Ok, so it was the first Christmas party of Steve’s that she’d been to, and Steve had stressed the importance of it and that he wanted her to look extra special, but this was making her think there must be something else. She drifted back to remembering when she went to Nick's office party, the drinking, the lewd remarks, some intoxicated colleague of his trying to unzip her dress at the bar, the continual inappropriate references, and altogether thoroughly unpleasant. But she went, and the next year, and the next - purely out of some misplaced sense of duty.

But this was so different. At Nick’s almost everyone wore jeans and tee shirt because 'someone might throw up down ye'.

This was the opposite end of the spectrum - professional help with looking your best, and a new outfit costing several hundred pounds. Even the cardigan was over £100. Eloise was buzzing with the result. She felt relieved that the suggested choice was minimal makeup, and that was ideal for her. She didn’t like the full war paint. Might as well just get face painted as a giraffe like a five year old at the zoo.

But now looking in the mirror. “You just need something understated to break up that neckline…” just as Steve came in to see how she was getting on. He handed her a small box. 

“Thought it would go with the dress” he said softly. 

She opened it tentatively and gazed quietly at the single amethyst pendant in a delicate gold necklace.

“It's beautiful” she breathed as he fastened the clip at the back of her neck. “That’s pretty much perfect. Proper job” And armed with a small envelope the beautician had gone.

Steve appeared to be very much preoccupied as they drove in silence to the hotel. He seemed to have something on his mind and Eloise got the strange feeling that interrupting was not a good idea as they checked in.

“Steve, are you ok?” she ventured as he put their case down

“Yes.” Then after a pause “I’m with you aren’t I” 

“Oh Silly!” she laughed “But I get the impression you’re a bit worried about something. If you think I’ll be out of place I….”

“No! Oh Eloise! You look perfect. Absolutely perfect. And I wouldn’t want to be with anyone else in the world”

She smiled back at him. She was already feeling special, but now with these words she felt tingly all over.

“I’m ok” he continued “I’m just thinking of all the things that could possibly go wrong, and how I’ll ever make it up to you if they do. Let’s just hope they don’t”

Make it up to me? What on earth could anyone say? Maybe his ex might pour the gravy boat over my head!

The girl checking everyone in at the function room door greeted them with a huge smile and a cheery “Hi Steve, thought you weren’t going to make it!”

“You didn’t really think I’d miss out?”

“I was getting really worried on what we’d do if you did!”

He reached out to playfully vandalise her hair, but she dodged out of the way

“Don’t do that! It took me ages – even with Daisy helping”

“Daisy? She’s not going to say anything is she?!”

“I’m not supposed to say”

“I was afraid of that” he sighed

“But you must be Eloise?” she said quickly changing the subject

“Correct. Eloise, this is Penny. She’s our star receptionist, switchboard operator, car fleet manager and occasional secretarial assistance”

“Oh my! Do I do all that?” she teased

“Yes, if I were you I’d move to Finance for a rest!”

She opened her mouth to say something but changed her mind

“Oh, Steve. Don’t tease! I’m serious about that move!”  

They were about to move on when a hurrying Lucy came to an abrupt stop right beside them “Ooops. Sorry Mr Bergstrom” she whispered all too quickly.

“There’s no need to be so nervous, Lucy”

“Oh! But I’m still trying so hard. I haven’t had my review yet!”

He gently took hold of not one but both her hands and she looked down at them, biting her lower lip in trepidation 

“We’ll have your review the first week after New Year, but you’re doing wonderfully well. What happened to that boyfriend of yours?”

“He’s history. He’s never phoned me. Not since… well, not since I stopped phoning him”

“Ok. So long as you're not too upset by that?”
“No. Not ever! The trouble he got me into!”

“Ok. Now you need to enjoy yourself tonight. And I’ve also had an independent comment on how you’re getting on, and that said all the right things, so you have absolutely nothing at all to worry about. What we’ll do after Christmas is see what the options are in Components and back at Riverside. I know Gerry’s looking for someone and you know the state everything is in down there with Lisa. So you have a think about where you’d like to get to and we’ll see what we can do”

“Oh! Oh Oh Mr Bergstrom! That’s the most wonderful Christmas present ever” she threw her arms around him and he gave her a quick squeeze. That, he thought, is so much like what Holly would have done.

“You seem to be a popular boss then!” smiled Eloise. She was happy for Lucy. She’d no idea who Lucy was or the history of the case, but Father Christmas Steve had sorted it for her and that was nice.

“Does she do that in the office as well?” she asked

“Not yet, but who knows. I don’t mind people throwing their arms, its sharp objects I’d be more concerned about”

“That’s the first person I need to remember, is it” she teased
“No, Eloise” Steve reassured her as they moved on “You’re going to meet so many people this evening. Don’t worry about remembering all of them even if they remember you. There’s only one new person to them, to you there are a couple of hundred”

“I don’t know. If she’s going to behave like that maybe I ought to remember her”

Eloise looked around as they entered the room trying to take everything in. Maybe she was paranoid, but she felt like every eye turned to look at her as they passed. They seemed to be heading towards the small stage at one end of the room and she couldn’t help but notice the girl in the long emerald green satin evening gown shimmering across the dais. Eloise studied her as she seemed to be headed their way having suddenly stopped whatever she was doing dropping her papers on a table as she’d spotted them. She looked mid-twenties, very pretty and clearly pleased to see Steve as her eyes twinkled under the stage lighting

“Hi” Steve had said “Everything running smoothly?”

“So far”

“Let’s hope it stays that way”

“You must be Eloise! We’ve spoken so often. I’ve been looking forward so much to meeting you. Hope I’ll meet you properly at dinner”

But Steve still seemed unusually twitchy. 

“Wow, there's lots of people here. It's quite busy. How many people are going to be here”? she said trying to break in to his private world. “How many of them do you know?”

“How many? About half of them. I don’t know too many of the wives and husbands, but yes, pretty much the whole company will be here. I believe there will be 176 of the 182 so I don't think there's many that are missing out. And yes, I think I probably know all of them except the new field engineers. At least I hope so.”

They made their way to the central round table with Steve saying hello and good evening as they made their way through. An older grey haired man rose to greet them 

“Eloise, I’d like you to meet Keith. He’s our Sales Director, and his wife Carole. Carole, could I possibly impose on you to look after Eloise for two minutes while I have a quick word with Keith?”
“Of course. Delighted, Eloise. You’ve not been to one of these before”

“No, its all new to me”

“Well, the format is that there will be a few updates on the company first. They’re quite short and I find them quite useful. A lot of the partners here, you know, wives and husbands find that it gives them reassurance that the company will still be around for a while. You know these days employment is becoming more precarious, then there’ll be dinner, then it’s just schmoosing around and a few drinks. I’ll introduce you to Gerry and Elaine when they get back, he’s Production Manager. And Matt Sandford and his wife if ever I remember what she’s called. Oh but don’t tell her that. He’s Field Ops Director. And then there’s Ruth on our table, but she’ll be up and down like a yo-yo because I understand she’s running the show this year. But what is it you do?”

“Oh, I’m manager of the Ladies Fashions department in Simpson and Greens”

“Really! So you must have been involved with that fashion show a couple of weeks ago?”

“Yes, that was my idea, and I compered it – well, until things started going wrong then I handed over to Steve”

“Oh my! I thought that it was Steve, but then I thought, no, can’t be. I didn’t know that Steve was involved as well”

“He wasn’t meant to be. I didn’t even know he was there. But he knew the script so well because I’d practised on him so many times. It was a wonderful rescue exercise”

“Hmm. Not the first time!”

“Sorry?”

But Gerry and Elaine and Matt and Suzanne had arrived and distracted the conversation.

They sat down as Steve and Keith returned and the pretty girl on stage started tapping the microphone to attract attention

“Welcome, Welcome everyone.”

The hubbub receded and the room settled 

“And a special ‘Hi’ to those who have not been to one of our Christmas conferences before. Eloise thought she was looking straight at her. She looked around the room. 45 tables, maybe more, 8 per table maybe 360 people. Much bigger than her own works do at the store, and 10 times bigger than Nicks rat end in the pub that she used to get dragged along to.

The girl on stage continued,

“There's no such thing as a free lunch, or in this case dinner, so that means that apart from all the fun we also get to listen to the current company statement. But on the up side there should be some predictions for the future, and then there is .. .. a free bar later on. Now, you don’t need me to tell you that it's been a tough and eventful year and a personal roller coaster for many of us. The early part of the year was shrouded in uncertainty, the spring was dominated by financial issues and the threat of redundancy for many of us, leading up to what has become known as the ‘Event’. And that was followed closely by the focus on the efforts to rescue ourselves from the collapse of Cave Brothers who make vital components for us, without which….. – I’m not even going to go there. So first I want to hand over to Gerry Salisbury our Production Manager to tell us how that has panned out, and what the current state is. Gerry.”

“Hi, I’m Gerry Salisbury, Production Manager. Thanks, Ruth. Before I touch on the Components issue, let me just announce that we have recently agreed that the investment in replacement plant in the production lines will be going ahead in the New Year, as will the establishment of an additional production facility, although I need to keep the lid on what kind of equipment will be produced there. This is excellent news for the company and the expansion of Production should give everyone confidence that we have indeed achieved the job security that we have been working for over the last two years. This is a fantastic achievement especially given the current financial climate throughout the country. Now, the importance of the specialist motors that Cave Brothers made for us cannot be overstated. Our entire design for 80% of our output is based around these specialist components and the collapse of the Cave Brothers company was potentially fatal for us. I must emphasise that we did not takeover Cave Brothers but we did acquire their patents and their operational site. So I’m delighted to report that the new company we have established known as Three Rivers Components, is now stable and the quality is now up to our minimum standard. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Jack Kenton for his contribution in establishing the QA processes, persuading the line workforce how essential this is and helping to update the working practices to achieve this. By doing all this we rescued over 60 jobs at the old Cave Brothers site. This in turn retains and safeguards the community that was built around the works, and secures the secondary employment in that central area of town. At the risk of embarrassing her, I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Lindy, Jack’s partner – Lindy could you stand up please - who has been hugely supportive when Jacks stable 9 to 5 working hours turned into an erratic jumble of start and finish times depending on what needed doing. Thankyou Lindy. Its support like this that makes Three Rivers the company it is…..” as Penny presented her with a beautiful bouquet to thunderously embarrassing applause. Gerry waited for calm to descend and Lindy to fade several shades lighter before continuing

“It was an ambitious plan to take over the Cave Brothers assets, some said outrageous, and not without risk. In the circumstances, it was always the right thing to attempt. Without it, we would be struggling worse than during the ‘Event’ which preceded it and without these components, we would almost certainly have become unsustainable. But with it and the diversification into component manufacture, there was the risk that the whole of TRE would go down if it failed. So, the risk was enormous, but in hindsight, there was no other viable option. I’m telling you this with the benefit of that hindsight. But there is one man who foresaw this ahead of the issue and whose vision, concept, dedication and sheer hard work made sure that failure was not on the agenda. My view is that he deserves a Knighthood and a gold medal but the very least he deserves from all of us here is a round of applause. The fact that this company is still here is down to one man and that is Steve Bergstrom. Ladies and Gentlemen, Steve Bergstrom” 

He put his hands together in applause that rose to a standing ovation as the entire room rose from their seats. Eloise was dumbstruck, rooted to her chair. She’d been listening carefully to this. Carole was right! It was interesting to get the summary especially when it was all new to her. And then just as suddenly she was standing up joining in as Steve sat there to accept the credit.

She felt herself becoming over emotional as Ruth called the room back to quiet, and Steve stood up as everyone else sat down

“Steve?” she said inviting a reply. Steve accepted the roving mic that Penny pushed into his hand. So this, thought Eloise, is what Steve was nervous about.

“All I should say is, thankyou. But I have one addition to what Gerry has said and that is that the new production facility that he mentioned will create new opportunities and in fact recruitment in both Sales and Field Operations as well as Production for the new equipment range, and no, I’m not saying what it is – at least not yet. And Sally, I have noticed you going a whiter shade of pale and yes, we are looking at the admin impact as well. Yes Heidi, in Service Despatch as well”

He sat down, and dared to turn to Eloise who had grabbed his arm and was squeezing the life out of it beaming over at him as Ruth invited Cheryl to take the mic.

Eloise thought it strange that she simply started without introducing herself. Maybe it was that everyone else knew her.

“You know”, she was saying “that if I was to make this as short as possible, I’d just say that despite everything, we’re doing all right”

 She paused. Some people thought maybe she’d finished 

“But… let me be a bit more positive. Following the ‘Event’ in April we should have expected a dip in revenue as some of our customers became nervous about our future and the support we would be able to provide. However, that failed to materialise due to a large extent I may add to the prompt action that Steve took to retain the Clarkes order as well as to recover the funds, and the second event with Cave Brothers was essentially a repeat of the same risks from a financial impact perspective”

 Eloise glanced over at him again - How many Steve’s has this company got?

“But the bank accounts are healthy, to the extent that we can afford to make the investments that Gerry announced and also fund the product line expansion although I can’t tell you any more about it because, actually, I don’t know. 

I’m unable really to go into any additional detail on the company finances because of the confusion that the Event caused to the numbers lodged at Companies house and the annual audit and normal comparisons with last year such as EBITDA are not really appropriate as we’re still recovering from the sudden loss of 42 million pounds and its equally sudden recovery”

There were various gasps around the room as Cheryl had finally put an amount on the Event

“Yes, initially we were looking at a figure of 12 million but that excluded the investment accounts which we later found out were also involved. However, because Steve managed to retrieve a very high percentage of the company funds that had disappeared, I have been busy recalculating what the annual performance bonuses would have been. These bonuses are supposed to reward the effort and diligence that everyone put in. However, they are calculated on what the company can afford and that is based on how much is actually in the bank. On the date of calculation, that sum was precisely nothing, which is why no bonus was paid, but I think you all know that anyway. However, following discussions with Steve, these re-calculated bonuses will be paid along with this year’s bonus at the end of our accounting year in February. And on that high note, I’ll hand back to Ruth”

She looked for confirmation from Ruth who was still standing at the edge of the stage. 

Eloise glanced over towards Steve to see if she could read his face. Was this the same Steve as the previous Steve’s?

“I have two items left on the corporate agenda before dinner” Ruth was announcing “One was scheduled for after pudding, but Steve….” 

Oh my! There’s another Steve. This is so confusing! How many Steve’s can a company have before they use another way of identifying them? 

“…. wants it brought forward so that the whole of the corporate agenda is completed before dinner, sooo…  When I was setting up this event – oops, sorry bad choice of words – anyway, I was asked if I could let someone have some time to speak to us. This is because, as a central figure to the Event, she is concerned that even now myth and rumour have overtaken the facts and she wants to put the record straight with everyone on exactly what happened that fateful night on the 1^st of April. At that time, Steve wanted to let everyone know the facts as they became available. However, as there were several criminal charges pending, he was not allowed to reveal the details and that resulted in the numerous versions of what happened, including poor Jasmine nearly jumping out of her skin when she thought she’d seen a ghost. Hopefully this evening we will close down once and for all the misinformation that still persists.” 

The Event – The Replay

The room had fallen quiet as the shortish petite young girl with tumbling red hair and flared white floral dress who had been standing fidgeting at the foot of the dais steps took the mic still looking extremely nervous.

“Hi.” 

She paused, the room went almost silent. “I never intended to relive the Event but I think I need to, to set the record straight. My name is Daisy O'Roirden and I’m from a farming family in County Waterford in Eire. About a year ago, a small advert appeared in our local paper. They were looking for someone to join the accounts team in an engineering manufacturer in England. No experience was necessary, although accurate Maths and English were required. This looked like an opportunity that was too good to miss. The alternative for me was probably to stay in my village and marry a farm labourer and have three children under the age of three by the time I turned twenty one. The interview was in Ireland and was with a Mr Harrison. I found him quite scary. He told me that although the pay did not look very good, it was really quite generous when you considered that all expenses would be paid including travel and accommodation, and you would gain a level of experience for your CV. It all seemed too good to be true, but that’s how I came to join the Finance department. I’d never worked in accounts, so I had no idea what the processes were, but strangely that seemed to suit Mr Harrison and he said he’d teach me everything I needed to know. So from the start I did just what I was told. That mainly consisted of paying invoices by transferring money from the company account to these suppliers. And every time I paid an invoice I had to transfer the same amount to an off-shore account which had a very similar name that he had set up. He told me this was the accounting equivalent of saving up for the next bill. 

I must admit, it all seemed rather simple, but also strange in the level of secrecy that was expected, and the fact that the tasks were all separated between people, when I thought just one person could do all of it or even if tasks were spread around more so that other people got to know the process in case someone left or was ill or something. But Mr Harrison just told me to do as I was told and not to raise this again until I had some experience. And from then on I kept quiet, partly because if they needed less people, they wouldn’t need me. 

I wasn’t asked to keep any records of what all these transactions were, but I did anyway, just in case anyone asked when something went wrong, and then at least they wouldn’t be able to blame me. 

Cherry was also part of what happened that night and I’ve asked her to help me with this next part.”

Cheryl moved forward to stand next to her as Eloise sat up in her chair. She wasn’t sure which event they were talking about, but it was clearly important to the company and she was aiming to pay attention. She glanced at Steve, who, strangely, had the frown of inevitability on his face as Daisy continued

“Everything seemed to be going ok right up until the day Mr Jamieson got killed. I never knew him, but it affected everyone being that close by. And Mr Harrison was very, very twitchy that day. I just put it down to the fact that they worked quite closely together. Thankfully, he wasn’t in the office much and disappeared before the announcement which Ruth had to read to our department in his absence. I was supposed to be seeing Mr Jameson that afternoon, but… well, I took the time off and went shopping instead”

She took a deep breath and passed the microphone to Cheryl.

“For a few weeks, I had noticed that money was disappearing from several of the company’s main bank accounts. I raised the issue with Mr Harrison, who said that it was probably just his transfers to off shore investment accounts that I was noticing. But when the levels became dangerously low I raised it again and again. He said he was on the case, but there never seemed to be any progress. Its only after Mr Jameson was killed that I was asked by one of our directors to help investigate the situation with him. Within a short time we came to the shocking conclusion that it was indeed Mr Harrison who was behind a massive theft. All the smaller transactions that Daisy was doing served as a smokescreen for the huge transfers that he did himself towards the end. However, during the search for clues, we found the receipt for a one way ticket for one person to Madrid and then on to Buenos Aires, so it was clear that he hadn’t planned to take Daisy, or anyone else with him when he disappeared. It also occurred to us that if he wasn’t going to take her with him, he may not be intending to leave her behind either as she would know everything that had gone on, even if she hadn’t realised the full impact. Daisy had gone shopping, but immediately we realised that she’d be in danger, we raced round to her house. We got to the end of her road just as Mr Harrison’s was bundling her into his car.”

Daisy hesitated composing herself as she took back the microphone and took a deep breath as Ruth moved closer to her and touched her arm to steady her confidence

“I’d just got home but my flatmates were both away as they often were because they worked for a consultancy. I was still in the hall as I heard a car stop outside, which was strange because I hadn’t remembered seeing any empty parking spaces, and then there was a knock at the door- well more a thumping on the door. It was Mr Harrison. He just grabbed my arm and snarled at me. It scared me, I was confused. He’d never shown any interest in me, you know, socially, so for him to just turn up at my house knocked me off guard. My eyes darted around trying to make some sense of everything and it was then I saw.. .. It was then I saw quite clearly…”

she paused and bit her lower lip, taking in a few sharp breathes. Ruth moved back the few steps across the stage and took her hand. Daisy smiled as she managed to continue 

“On our farm in Ardmore we used to have shotguns for shooting rabbits and crows and I knew about that. But I’d only ever seen something like this in cowboy films. He had the gun in his right hand partly hidden by his coat and it was pressing into my side. He bundled me into the car and we sped off. It was a bit erratic cos he was still holding the gun, and fast – very, very fast. I was terrified. I couldn’t think”

“But we followed them in pursuit” continued Cheryl “and tailed them down the bypass. We got Inspector McKinley on the phone despite doing over 100 miles an hour and weaving through the traffic He was the officer responsible for investigating Mr Jamieson's murder. Mr Harrison swerved off at Vixen Woods. My driver followed him but figured that he wouldn’t be taking her to the open country, so he took the other side of the narrow copse so as not to be noticed. He told me that Mr Harrison was armed and dangerous so I was to stay at the car and if Mr Harrison came back I should drive off as quickly as possible. But we could still see them through the trees. We were as quiet as we could be. Like, we left the doors open to avoid attracting attention. My driver headed off quickly along a thin track keeping them in view. But I decided to go as well. I felt safer with my driver than I did on my own, even if I was closer to whatever action would occur. We’d followed the path that led through denser forest but we managed to keep Daisy in sight. Mr Harrison had her firmly by the arm half dragging her along. I was terrified, but I was running on adrenalin. But my driver just gently took hold of my hand and led me forward to keep pace. Then, a few hundred yards from the cars we all came to a small clearing. Mr Harrison threw her on the ground and A7

took a few paces forward turning with a levelled pistol as she tried desperately to get up, falling back in her panic, quivering on the ground. “Get up” he growled and she raised herself up to stand facing straight at the barrel”.

“I wanted to tell him to stop – that I hadn’t done anything wrong, and I didn’t know what he wanted, but I was just rooted to the spot. I wanted to run. Maybe just dive into the bushes like in the movies, but I couldn’t move or speak. I tried to say ‘No’, but nothing happened. I was crying and shaking. He levelled the gun and I.. .. I was looking straight at it. But I was too frozen to do or say anything.”

“Do something, I hissed into my drivers left ear. He moved away a few steps and picked up a large stone. Then he moved forward so he was only a couple of trees from the open clearing. He hurled the stone high in the air and it crashed down into the bushes behind Mr Harrison causing a distraction. Then my driver shouted something like ‘PC Cormack, cover the south exit.’ to create another distraction. Mr Harrison seemed to twitch looking for the police in each direction, but as he turned my driver dived at him from behind the trees and brought him down with a rugby tackle. The gun was knocked away towards the far edge, and the two men dived along the ground towards it. Mr Harrison missed it and it was knocked farther away towards the bushes. ’Run, Run’ I shouted as the two men got up. They were maybe twenty yards apart and staring intensely at each other. ‘She’s the only one who knows.’ hissed Mr Harrison reaching inside his jacket’. ‘Not any more’ said my driver but in a muffled sort of tone as Mr Harrison had just drawn another gun, but much smaller”

“But now with Cherry calling me, I managed to move and edged towards the trees. I stumbled just on the edge and lay on the ground shaking. She caught me and pulled me farther back into the trees from the clearing ‘Where’s the police’ I gasped. ‘There aren’t any’ she whispered. But Cherry’s driver was talking again. He listed all the things that Mr Harrison was accused of like killing Mr Jameson and framing his wife, stealing all the money from the company, destroying the lives of everyone who depends on us and trying to murder.. .. me. He completed the list by saying that killing him in front of witnesses was even more stupid than anything else he’d done. But it was all done just to create a distraction. ‘Jeez’ he said ‘Richard you are one sick dude’. There was a long pause, or at least it seemed long. You see Mr Harrison was stealing everything the company had, or at least he was getting me to do it for him. Mr Jameson must have found out and he’d gone over to his house and killed him. Like he said, I knew everything about it and I – well, I was next. But now Cherry’s driver was standing where I should have been standing and looking at…. looking at….. looking at the gun like I should have been. But they just faced each other. Then he broke the silence. He must have been as scared as me facing that gun but he still managed to think of distractions. Like he said that a Derringer was just not accurate enough to kill anyone except at short range. And he’d taken a few steps backwards. Then he said its only got two bullets so who was he going to kill. But Mr Harrison hadn’t said anything. Then I saw just the faintest smile on his face and he told Mr Harrison that he should never take his eyes off the target but if he checked out the bushes to his right he’d see that the police had finally got here. Mr Harrison turned just a fraction. I saw him gasp as he saw that the police really were here now. Then he just levelled the gun ready to shoot”

“I wanted to shout to him to stop, but Cherry gagged me. Then just at that point she pointed over to the other side where two uniformed police were creeping up towards the clearing. ‘Check it out’ he shouted, sounding like maybe he was worried that he might have run out of distractions. He listed all the crimes that Mr Harrison had committed again, and then he said ‘and now there’s two officers on your right to witness the finale’ Mr Harrison moved his head to look again, catching a quick breath and twitching slightly spinning round to point the gun at the policemen. Then slowly, ever so slowly, he moved the gun round to point directly at his own head just above his left ear. I wanted to turn away, I didn’t want to watch. There was a spurt of blood, and I heard two shots and saw him slump forward, gasping, hitting the ground with a thud I’ll never forget. The whole forest was silent and everyone just froze. Then one of the officers crept over to him and told us he was dead.” 

She stepped forward a pace to the front of the dais

‘Cheryl’s driver was still standing where he was. Then he turned towards me and Cherry and walked over slowly and gave us a hug. We all talked to the police for a few minutes, then he drove us to the police station to give statements, and then we took Cherry home. I said I was scared of being on my own, so he took me back to his house where his fantastic daughter looked after me and let me share her room for a couple of weeks till I had recovered from the shock. Later they told me that a shallow grave had been dug near the clearing, so I guess it had my name on it”

But now the replay was taking its toll and she was failing to hold back her emotions and Ruth put her arm around her to persuade her to continue through the tears

“By the end of March, the company had nothing in the bank at all. Some of you may have noticed that your weekly cheque was drawn on a private account, not the company account. Cherry’s driver wrote those cheques from his personal bank account and that shows how much he cares about you and this company and how much he believes in this company, and that means believing in you and me and everyone who works here. Over the next few weeks we went back through the records I’d been keeping and managed to recover most of the company’s money. And the result is Three Rivers Engineering is still here and we all still have jobs and I… I … I’m still alive. And that is the story of what has become known as the Event” as she dissolved into tears

“Wow” gasped Eloise close to Steve’s right ear as Ruth helped Daisy gasp back the tears and step forward across the stage

 “I can never repay him for everything he’s done, but I’d like him to join me on stage, so that everyone here can say the biggest thankyou that he deserves. Some of you may know him as The Boss. In Components he’s known as the Professor, in production he’s called The Gaffer. His official title is Chief Executive. Everyone calls him Steve although his real name is Stefan, although I did used to call him daddy when I was staying with him because I was only 3 years older than his daughter, but he’ll always be my hero and he should be your hero as well, every one of you. So Steve … Please … “ she pleaded 

She turned and Eloise was sure she was looking directly at her .. “….could you come up here, please”

 Eloise’s jaw dropped open as Steve got up from his chair and squeezed her hand. The entire room rose in another standing ovation. There was cheering and clapping and hands banging the tables. And a frozen Eloise. She knew he was on the management side of Three Rivers, but she had never realised that he was the top man. She’d read about this event, but had never connected it to Steve before, as he made his way to the dais, shaking outstretched hands as he went. Then, just as he started to climb the steps, Daisy jumped clean off the stage, launching herself at him. He caught her in mid-air holding her horizontally in as dignified a manner as possible as she planted her face into his in a huge kiss that she continued till he got to the top of the steps. He placed her back on the stage, holding her hand although she still had the microphone “I’ve been waiting nine months to do that. But I was never tall enough”

The room erupted again. The atmosphere was just electric like the whole company was sharing in a hard won victory.

Steve took the mic “Y’know, I was hoping that I might get through this evening without any major embarrassments, but then, I guess we all have our unattainable dreams”

Ruth had been waiting on the side-lines just in case Daisy needed more support, and now looked visibly shocked as she led Daisy over to Steve’s table. What would Eloise make of all this. Daisy had a huge smile of relief – she’d relived her nightmare and she’d got her kiss from Steve. Ruth managed a faint smile towards Eloise. 

“Sometimes things happen which aren’t in the script” she said apologetically, glancing over at Daisy but Eloise was too shell-shocked to reply. This evening was so full of the unexpected that nothing could surprise her now.

But Steve was back on the microphone “I hope that sets the record straight. I have no intention of dwelling on the events earlier in the year. Let's just say that the financial irregularities that caused such grief have now been set aside. As a team we sorted it. Together we have recovered our company and together we will build on our success next year. And I want to thank everyone in this room for working together, for retaining confidence and trust and for putting in that extra effort during times of extreme uncertainty.

 I was intending to do this next bit a little later, but it fits in rather well here. You see, there were a number of codes that had to be cracked to reveal the full nature of the event and a huge amount of paperwork to trawl through without us really knowing what we were looking for before we came up with the correct theory. There were a number of people involved in cracking these codes and putting together the pieces that led us to believe that Daisy was in danger, and that we were confident enough to head straight for her house which meant we were already tailing Richard Harrison before he actually kidnapped her. And it was me, Tristan and a special someone that cracked the safe code and passwords. It was this special someone who worked out how to transfer enough money back in to the company accounts to keep us afloat until Daisy managed to come back to work to help complete the task. I invited this special someone to work directly for me on the morning that I made the announcement about Hamish Jameson on April 1st which was the first day of the Event. From then till now so much would have been so much more difficult without her help. From the returning of the displaced money to the landscaping of the works, to refurbishing the maintenance building to making sure that there’s fresh coffee for these important, unpopular decision times, to keeping me sane when the complexities of re-creating the Components plant was destroying my head, to prodding my left leg black and blue when she knows I’m about to say something inappropriate. So if any of you wondered why she always sits immediately to my left in meetings, you now know.”
There was a ripple of laughter as he continued

“You know who you are and where you’re meant to be now” 

Eloise watched as the pretty girl in the long shimmering green evening gown floated back towards the stage. Steve disappeared momentarily through a back door returning almost immediately with the most enormous bouquet she’d ever seen.

“Everyone in the company has done brilliantly and I thank all of you. But there is one person who has done so much more than I ever expected her to, so much more than she ever thought she’d signed up for. And so much more than either she or I could possibly have forecast. And for anyone who hasn’t yet guessed, I’m talking about my unbelievably wonderful PA … Ruth Gilmore. Ruth, it’s your turn back on stage again”

Ruth had tears streaming down her face as she crossed the stage and he presented her the bouquet. Still unrecovered, she took the mic

“Steve, Thankyou”

She turned to face the audience brushing the tears aside

“I was the next on the list to be made redundant when Steve asked me for some help the very first morning of the Event. Since then its been fun, its been tragic, its been exciting, there have been tears and laughter. I’ve learned a lot, and learned a lot I’d rather forget. Sometimes in England we get all four seasons weather in one day, but working for Steve you get the whole spectrum of emotion in one day and a whole lifetime of experience packed into one year. You will never, ever find a better boss that Steve. If I ever had to work for anyone else I’d…I’d give up and become a nun”

She turned back to Steve and whispered “I’m not going to kiss you like I want to because Eloise is here, but you just wait till we’re back in the office”
He held his hand out as if for a handshake, but instead pulled her in to him for a huge on-stage bearhug.

“Ruth, Thankyou for everything.”

Yet again Eloise looked on dumbstruck. Yet again something had happened that had been so left field. No she’d never be surprised again and, oh yes she would, she just didn’t know when. And then something else occurred to her. Here was Steve with a PA that looks like a million dollars, and he still chooses her as his girlfriend. Oh my! Now that’s a surprise as well. 

But Steve was back at the microphone.

“And now onto the last item on the company agenda, and you know just how much we like to involve everyone. If anyone is not at the table that their name tag was on originally, please would they go back and stand at their original table. OK. On each table there is one name tag with a blue back. Everyone with a blue back name tag, please make your way to the back of the room where Jasmine is and you will find a large envelope with your name on it. Do not open it until I tell you which will be when everyone is back at their table.”

“What’s going on?” asked Matt as Ruth got back to the table 

“Its Steve’s thankyou to the staff. You’ll see”

Feet were shuffled, furtive looks at the envelopes bounced around the room, various fingers tried to decipher what was inside, loud whispers were exchanged but no-one was any the wiser

“Now, open the large envelope and give each person their own envelope. Do not open it.

Now I’m going to pick on just a couple of people: Joe McEwan on table 17, Joe is our team leader on production line 2, and Amelia Anderson over on the far left. 

Ok, this is my way of saying a big, big thankyou to everyone who works for Three Rivers Engineering. Most of you have been through tough times this year and its been an emotional roller coaster that most of us don’t want to repeat any time soon. What is about to happen will never fully compensate for that, but as in all gifts it is a token, and it’s the thought that counts. Does everyone have an unopened envelope? Good. 

Joe, would you be kind enough to open your envelope, stand up and tell everyone what's inside it” 

Joe tore it open and spilled the contents out onto the table as Penny hurried his way with the roving mic

“Blimey!” 

He counted the notes back into the envelope. 

“Steve, there's five hundred pounds in twenties” 

“Remember, this is a gift from the company to you Joe. So its non-taxable. Do not declare it to the tax man” 

“Struth Steve! As if I would. But hey, Thankyou” 

“Amelia. For those who might not know her, Amelia joined our R&D team a couple of months ago as a trainee after completing her degree but has been stuck doing general admin on product repairs except for some process audit at Components. Just a word to you Amelia, thankyou for putting up with it and the real work will take off in a big way straight after New Year when we restart the design work for the new Production Line. And you’re going to be right in the middle of that”

“Oh wow, thanks Steve!”

“But right now, Amelia would you mind opening your envelope please.” 

She was sitting with the young apprentices and there was much excitement as she poured the contents onto the table. 

“Wo.. HOoow”, she shrieked, rather more loudly than she had intended, “500 pounds. That's more money than I've ever had in my life. Oh my. Can't believe it. Is it for me, or the whole table?” 

Steve bypassed the question as it would be answered by the next action

“Ok, everyone open your own envelope when you like. That's a Merry Christmas from Three Rivers Engineering. I’m through with taking up your valuable drinking time, and dinner is being served. Have a great evening.” 

Steve returned to the central table. The starter was already there and the others were already beginning to eat before it went cold.

“I was…” Keith said as he finished eating “…intending to haul Eloise up onto the stage and introduce everyone to her, but then I thought that it would really be too much like the Steve Bergstrom show. But then I reflected, I was part of all these things happening, and I guess we just took them one at a time. But when you look at all of them together, it really is quite impressive” 

Eloise was surprisingly quiet. “You know” Keith said “you look about as stunned as the rest of us” 

“Yes, its as you said. When you put it all together. But, no I didn’t know all that” she managed to splutter as she tried to take it all in. After she’d seen Steve’s house she’d said she wouldn’t be surprised by anything. Now she was thinking of what else could possibly be hiding in history just waiting to catch her off guard again. She was sure it would be there, she just didn’t know when it would jump out at her.

“But you two haven’t know each other that long?”
 “Its all relative Keith. But you could say, we kind of grew up together”

Steve could sense an interrogation coming his way and instead introduced Eloise to Ruth.

“I've heard so much about you, and talked to you loads on the phone. It's great to actually meet you.”

 “It's so great to be here” Eloise responded “So much seems to have fallen into place this evening, and now I can put faces to names when Steve mentions people. Is your partner not with you?”

Ruth reached out to the wine bottle in the middle of the table, and refilled all the glasses like a finishing school trained debutante pouring an extra long measure into her own, reminding Eloise so much of Holly

“No. I dropped my fiancé about 8 months ago. Maybe I’ll get my act together next year”

“Oh, that is sad”

“No, not really” said Ruth wistfully “Actually, it was just after the Event, and the thing is, I think the Event affected everyone who was closely involved with it. I know it did for me. It gave me a whole different perspective on life and Tom just wasn’t part of it….”

With dinner over and coffee served, the others drifted off to mingle, talk and refresh drinks from the bar.

Eloise shuffled across her chair a little for a cuddle. “I had no idea.. ..“ she began

“Sorry” interrupted Steve “But, look Eloise, I couldn’t tell you all about these things, and the Event. I mean, there simply wasn’t the opportunity to lean across the table at dinner and say ‘hey, you remember that murder and kidnapping back in April before we met? Well, I was the guy who rescued the damsel in distress”

“No, and you wouldn’t even if there had been. But there’s something I want to lean across the table and tell you.” 

She turned to look straight into his eyes “I love you Steve. I love you more than I ever thought I could love anything and I’m not going to ever ever ever let you go”

“And now you know why I wanted you so much to look perfect”

He got up and led her out to the dancefloor as the band switched to a slower number.

Smooch over, Matt caught up with him “Steve, can I grab you for a few moments and introduce our new field engineers”

“Back on duty! Of course you can”

She held his hand as they followed Matt back to where field ops were assembled and clung to his arm.

She found it remarkably interesting talking to these wives and girlfriends as Steve chatted to the engineers. They all seemed to feel better when she explained that it was her first company function and that she too knew almost no-one. They all soon agreed that it was a shame that they all only got together once a year, and by the time Steve moved her on to the next group, they had the makings of a plan to organise a company picnic in the summer. 

And it got Eloise thinking about what the equivalent would be in her company. Of course it would have to be on a smaller scale, and significantly less expensive due to the financial position of Simpson & Green’s. But maybe if she could think of the benefits rather than the costs, then maybe Giorgio would be persuaded. Maybe next year.

So many introductions, so many of the same conversations that were all different and so many people introducing themselves to her by handing her a new glass of wine. So many people being so friendly and suddenly it had gone 2 a.m. The glass in her hand seemed to have evaporated yet again, and the room had developed a decided list to starboard. She had difficulty maintaining a stable image of anything and was relieved when Steve suggested they throw in the towel. The bedroom, she discovered, was playing the same tricks on her and she decided that the whole building was conspiring against her to lean over at 5 or even 10 degrees. She managed to take off her shoes and curled herself around Steve. “I’m never, ever going to let go” 

Closing her eyes made the room spin slower but at least she wasn’t trying to focus on it. She tried to think back through events of the evening, but it wasn’t going to happen, at least not that night.

It was gone 9 o’clock by the time she woke up. Steve was awake, but still lying there with his eyes closed.

“oohhh” she groaned

“I agree. But we’ll have to get a wiggle on if we’re going to make breakfast”

Breakfast had not been on her agenda till then. Checking that the room was staying still, and that her head didn't fall off when she moved her neck were a higher priority, but a long shower later she felt fit for almost anything, with the notable exception of more wine. 

Terry, who was 6 feet four and built like a tank, hijacked Steve in the corridor and Eloise landed up at breakfast reception on her own. 

It was busy, everyone appeared to be running as close as they could to checkout time, but she spotted Daisy on her own at a table near the far window.

“Can I join you?” 

“Eloise! Of course you can” 

“Oh good, because I seem to have lost Steve” 

“Oh no! You can't have. It wasn't to do with me was it? After my speech was it?” 

“No, No no. Not that kind of lost. He’s been hijacked in the corridor.” 

“Who by?” 

“I don't know. Terry? Maybe? He's a very big fella and I wasn’t arguing. I saw him last night but we weren't introduced. Not that I'd remember anyway. I met so many people, I'll never remember all their names” 

“If it was Terry, that’s my boss. But you remembered my name. I'm not sure that's a good thing after yesterday. Really, I thought you might never speak to me again after my attack on Steve” 

“Don't be silly! I think you're exceptionally brave to relive all that to set the record straight. Showing you care is very important. Anyway, what are you doing for Christmas? 

“Not much. My housemates have both gone home, so I'll probably just take a quiet break with the house to myself. But I won't be answering the door if anyone comes knocking” 

“But you're not spending Christmas on your own, are you? No boyfriend or anyone? I assume you’re not going home to Ireland at this late stage?” 

She shrugged, shook her head and poured more coffee from the jug that had just arrived for Eloise

“No” she paused and Eloise got the impression she was about to say something else as the breakfast waiter arrived. 

“No,” Daisy had now decided to tell her “Actually Eloise, I'm not confident enough to have a boyfriend or any of that sort of thing. I thought I'd recovered and was back to the real me after the Event, but really it's affected me more than I want to admit. I'm too afraid of getting it wrong and landing in all sorts of trouble again. And going home? I just can’t afford it. I know I’ve got that amazing bonus from Steve now, but it’s too late to book everything. And buses are so erratic to our village, and over Christmas it will be impossible. I’d end up stranded somewhere and sleeping under a hedge or something” 

“Well, maybe you'd like to come over to our house for Christmas lunch? Especially if you used to call Steve daddy” 

Steve had just sat down “who's calling me daddy. It's not true. I'll deny all claims” 

“No, silly. Daisy. I just invited her for lunch as an honorary member of the family. Otherwise she'll be spending it alone” 

“Well, we can't have that. Is that right, Daisy? Well, you're most welcome at our house. They'll only be the four of us so we can easily set a fifth place”

“Four of you?”

“Yes. We’ve got Eloise’s wonderful little girl as well now, not just Geneviève and me”

“What’s she like?”

“Well, if Geneviève is organised, focussed and quite grown up, Holly is a year younger and near enough the exact opposite. She’s totally captivating, but she is a cross between a live wire and a loose cannon”

“She sounds like fun! Can I really come?” 

“Yes you can. In fact you must. I can’t have you on your own for Christmas. Now, lunch will be at half past 2. The house is called the Briers, it's in Primrose Lane, in Apple Grove There’s a big green gate just past the third tree on the right after the end of the new houses. Press the green button on the right to open it” 

“It all sounds very mysterious” 

“That's what I thought when I first saw it, but it's really the most wonderful magical place” 

“Yes please, she nodded. I'll see you tomorrow”

It was nearly lunchtime when they drove back to the house and stopped short of the front door exchanging perplexed glances 

“Any more surprises?” asked Steve

“Every time! Every time I say I’ll never be surprised by anything ever again, something else shows up”

There across the front porch was a 25 foot pine tree lying at a strange angle and completely blocking the front door.

“So, what do we do now!”
“Go in round the back”

She followed him round to the conservatory door as he calmly called the girls

“Holly! Geneviève! Did either of you invite a large fir tree over? Because he’s knocking at the front door. Not that we really want to invite him in, but it would be polite to sort him out all the same”

She caught his arm

“I would have gone berserk at them. But you…” 

She smiled a huge sigh

“Oh, Ellie, there’s no need to get cross with them. I mean, they are the two most delightful children you could ever hope for. And it’s a bit of a laugh really”

Eloise melted – yet again. She had thought that the next hurdle was Christmas itself. And if we can survive that we can survive anything, but now! Now there was no doubt.

“Holly, darling” called Steve “the only way he’s coming in here is in fire sized logs. So I hope you’ve not got too attached to him”

Eloise started laughing “I’m going to check we’ve got everything for the menu over the holiday, and make a shopping list of any extras”

“Ok. But can you include a large bucket and a couple of gallons of water for our friend in the porch”

“In a previous life I would have got really exasperated. But now! You just show me that I should just chill out and not take it so seriously. Take it as it comes and make the most of it!”

“Ah, there you two are. I thought we agreed that we didn’t want a real tree inside this year, considering that the needles drop off and hang around for months”

“I know” said Geneviève sadly “But we thought it would look spectacular in the porch”

“Till it got stuck” added Holly

“So what happens once its un-stuck?”

“We were thinking of getting a few lights for it”

“Only a few? I think you’ll need more than a few. Maybe quite a lot. Maybe you’ll need a small nuclear power station as well”

Geneviève screwed her face up “Maybe we should just take it back to the woods”

“Oh” groaned Holly. “But it would look so nice. Especially for the New Year party”

They all drifted into the kitchen where Eloise had all the cupboards open 

“I think mummy's going shopping this afternoon. Do you want to go with her, Holly, and pick up a half a dozen sets of lights? Geneviève and me will see if we can straighten your tree out” 

“Oh, wow. So we get to keep it?” 

“Yes, but not inside the house. Geneviève, you need to think of this as a simple mechanics problem. Where do we need to tie ropes to pull it back upright? And take into account the tensile strength of the different sections. We don't want to break it” 

“Fundamentally” Geneviève explained “its just three feet too tall” 

“Ok. We'll suspend if from the balcony, saw the bottom off, place the flowerpot under the trunk and then lower it back” 

“But it will still stick out too much and still block the door, because, actually, it's just too big” 

“We'll just chop some of the back branches off” 

“But it won't be round anymore”.

“But it won't matter. The bit you see will be round, and it’ll fit into the corner”.

And so it was. By the time Holly was back with the lights, the tree was emplanted in the corner of the porch with plenty of space to get to the door, and prevented from falling back by being lashed to the balcony balustrade. 

Eloise was contemplative, almost withdrawn, as Steve brought her a small glass. 

I was just thinking, four months ago. Only four. I was telling Holly we'd be looking at no Christmas at all. Now everything has changed. Everything. Christmas Eve. Our little family” 

“Already ready made with teenage children” teased Steve. 

The girls arrived right on cue, just in time to share the alcohol. 

“Tomorrow” began Steve 

“I'm so excited” interrupted Holly “last year Christmas was a non- event. We were glad when it was all over and we could get back to normal” 

“Well that's no good. Why would you ever aspire to be normal? You should aspire to be exceptional!” teased Steve

“That's not quite where I thought I was going” she frowned

“So, tomorrow. I think we should open some presents before breakfast, but leave the treasure hunt till after breakfast”

“Treasure hunt?”

“Yes. Its a surprise”

Eloise just shook her head, smiled and let the alcohol refresh memories of yesterday evening.

Christmas Day and Holly woke unexpectedly late. The excitement of anticipation had worn her out the previous day and now she was more than pleased that it was an acceptable getting up time. She leapt out of bed and headed for the door. But wait! What's this? She turned back. There on the end of the bed was a giant Christmas stocking with her name on it. She climbed back onto the bed and took everything out one by one, unwrapping as she went – so many little things and each one special in its own way - the apple, the tube of smarties, the bottle of Chloé perfume, the orange, the notepad, a long jewellery box. She held her breath as she opened it carefully and held it up as she looked in the mirror. It struck a chord. The perfume might be from mum, but this ! This was from Steve. It was beautiful, it was understated - just a single amethyst on a delicate gold necklace. She clipped it round her neck and fell back on the bed with her mind going blank. She felt she was going to cry. This must be what mum felt like. She always said she was so happy with Steve, but so many times was reduced to tears. Was it happy? Or was it sad at the fear that one day she might lose all this? ‘The more you have’ Steve had said, ‘the more you have to lose’. But then he'd also said 'so make the most of it while it's there'. Today, she resolved, would be the day before tomorrow, not the day after yesterday.

She heard a noise from the hallway landing, and poked her nose out to see Geneviève going down stairs. “I'm just making some coffee for mum and dad” 

Holly tagged along, noticing that she too had an amethyst necklace.

They tapped on the door and were rewarded with a loud 'hello' and they climbed onto the bed like a couple of four year olds And there it was, family wake up coffee. In bed. 

Maybe we should make this a family tradition suggested Holly 

I'm not sure it will catch on, I think you might be too grown up for this in a couple of years. Geneviève sighed but the irony was lost on the youngest member as she wriggled her way in between Eloise and Steve. 

“I love my Christmas present” she said 

“Have you found it already?”

“Yes it was in my stocking”

“That's great. Maybe that can be a tradition that does catch on”

“I expect so”                   

She pointed to the necklace and ran her fingers along the chain to the stone.

“But you mean the necklace? Its like the one Steve gave me before his Christmas party” said Eloise 

“I wanted you all you have one. I thought as a single amethyst it would remind you of the first Christmas together. And if this is the only Christmas we have together, I want all three of you to keep it and remember that one wonderful Christmas as something very special and as something you want to remember forever”

“Only one Christmas?” asked Eloise with notes of rising panic 

“Only because you never know what's going to happen” 

“Oh daddy don't be so gloomy. It's the happiest day of my life”

“Ok, I've told you why I got you a necklace. Now. Let's all get dressed and go downstairs to the living room and see what presents there are under the tree”

Holly returned to her room but kept turning the purple stone over and over between her thumb and forefinger. Yes, Steve was right, she could keep this for ever and ever to remind her of the wonderful time at the Briers, and no matter how long it lasted, now, she would always have this to spark all those memories.

Down stairs, she was relieved that she'd decided to get Steve two CDs rather than just the one. It was nice having money again, but somehow she'd forgotten how to spend it. Geneviève seemed pleased with the book of cake recipes and mum was over the moon with her book - the next in the series she had been reading two years ago but couldn't continue to afford them. 

“Each of us has a big present as well” announced Steve as Eloise started to clear the mounting mountain of wrapping paper and ribbon 

“Oh wow! Is that the treasure hunt? “

“Yes. We’ll get to that after breakfast”

Breakfast was Geneviève’s treat. She'd set the dining room table and laid out the smoked salmon, the scrambled egg, the toast and the marmalade she'd made back in June. There was a pot of coffee on the table and a jug of orange juice, but she had just poured out the champagne for the bucks fizz as the others ambled in. 

“So how does this treasure hunt work?” mumbled Holly as she stuffed her face 

“Holly! Do remember that you've got an enormous lunch in about four hours” warned Eloise 

“I'll manage” Holly replied confidently, still stuffing her face

“The treasure hunt, Holly, is something that Geneviève and me have done for a few years now. On the tree there are four small envelopes, one each. Inside there's a clue. It might be cryptic, or an anagram, or a puzzle and it will tell you what your present is. Then you have to find it, but where it is will be obvious from what it is, so its not so hard”. 

Holly looked puzzled 

“For example, supposing it was a banana tree, you'd expect to find it wrapped up in the conservatory, because that’s where big plants are kept”

“What happens if I can't solve the clue?”

“Well that's the next bit. In the envelope, as well as that clue there are two five pound notes. If you can’t solve the clue, you can buy a hint from me. Each hint I give you costs five pounds, and you can only get two” 

“Five pounds! Maybe I could just search the house for things that didn't used to be there”

“But if you can’t solve the clue at all, then I’ll take your present back to the shop”

Holly gasped, and then relaxed poking him hard in the ribs “That’s just you teasing me again!”

Eventually she found all four, hidden amongst the decorations on the tree and passed them around

“Ok, previously Geneviève would have written my clue, but this time I wrote all the clues so I know all the answers. So we’ll use mine as an example of how this works.. .. Here, Holly, you read my clue”

Holly opened the envelope “There’s no five pound notes in here!”

“That’s because I wasn’t expecting to need a hint to solve my own clue”

“This increases overall control, and while the head of the House is one, here there are four” 

The girls all looked blankly at each other as Holly finished reading

“Head of the house? That's Steve maybe?” said Eloise 

“Yes, maybe, but we have to split the clue up correctly, and sometimes you have to reconnect different letters to form new words”

“I remember two years ago it took me till mid-afternoon, but that's because I was so greedy that I refused to buy a hint” 

They mulled it over bouncing ideas around, with Steve being of no help whatsoever.

Geneviève peered over Holly’s shoulder. Oh look. ‘house’ has a capital letter. That must be significant”

“Is it?”

“Yes, because daddy wrote it, and if it wasn't meant to be like that, then it wouldn't be like that” 

“So, the House, which house?” 

“And head of the House, with a capital”

“So the house.” 

“That must be the Houses of Parliament” mused Eloise out loud 

“Ok, so who's head of the government?”

“That's the prime minister” said Holly

“True, But the prime minister is head of the government, but who heads up the house? It's head of the House and I think that’s different” 

“The head of the House is known as the speaker. So that's the Speaker of the House of Commons”

“So this sounds like a politics kind of clue”

“So, 'overall control'. If something, no, someone is in overall control then they are the government, right? Like the political party that’s is in power is in overall control”

“Increases. Mummy, think of synonyms for increases”. 

“More, makes bigger, amplifies, gains”

“Yes! So they've got one, but we've got 4' right? So daddy's present is ‘overall control’ that's power, ‘increases’ is amplifies and they’ve got one, we’ve got 4. 4 speakers. So that gives us power amplifier and 4 speakers. It's a new stereo system”

“So it must be in the living room” 

“So look over behind the blue settee”

“Looks like it might be here” 

“I think my brain hurts” 

“Well, proves its still there” added Steve 

“I do hope mine isn’t as difficult as that” said Holly

“I don't hold out much hope of me getting my clue either. But no matter. I'd be happy just with my amethyst” consoled Eloise

“Geneviève, you do yours next”

She read it out “Are you listening Holly, 'a one line advert is needed for this Cruise Line'

“Maybe it’s a cruise. Maybe we’re all going on holiday” enthused Holly

“I think you’re missing the point of this. Come on Holly, what is a one line advert. A quick advert for something”

“You mean” Holly said still confused “Like a shout out or a plug for something”

“Hmm, a plug. So if it needed a plug, it would be electrical. Right?”

“Well done, Holly. That’s a good start” encouraged Eloise

“So, a cruise line”

“Where to?” asked Holly

“No, not a cruise. A Cruise Line. They’re the companies than run cruises ships”

“Like Cunard maybe?”

“An electrical Cunard”

“Cunard is very similar to ‘canard’ which is French for duck. I wouldn’t put that type of licence past daddy, but I can’t think he’d buy me an electric duck”

“No, we need another Cruise Line”

“Fred Olsen, maybe? They’re Norwegian”

Geneviève considered this, but without success

“I don’t think so mummy. Although it’s a good connection”

“Peninsular and Orient” offered Eloise

“P & O”

“Electric P & O?”

“Yes, shouted Holly “An electric piano”

“Music room”

They sped out into the hall and dived into the smaller living room that housed Geneviève’s aging upright piano that was held together with wire and string that she should have got rid of already, and her new Bechstein that Steve had got her for her next grade. Geneviève ripped into the wrapping paper as the others arrived to watch.

“Oh, daddy, it’s wonderful. I can’t wait to play it. Oh! But you already just bought me the Bechstein”

“True, Geneviève. But the electric is portable and I think that will be helpful when you start getting to know a few more friends. You’d need to re-tune your Bechstein if you moved it too much”

Back in the living room, Holly opened her envelope with some trepidation, and read it out loud

“It says: Me new pet corgi looms, transforms Holly’s hobby”

More blank looks all around

“Pet corgi? A puppy? Surely not”“

“I doubt it” said Geneviève “it’s too simple”

“That.. .. is a fair point”

“So, what’s Holly’s hobby that could be transformed”

“Teasing daddy?”

“Not just the hobby that’s transformed. I think it’s a hint at an anagram. Especially because it starts 'me' not 'my', that's not a colloquialism that daddy would normally use. So, your hobby?” 

“Hockey?” 

“No, we don't have an 'h' ” 

“Dressmaking” 

“No, we haven't got the right letters for that “

“Needlework?” 

Holly peered at the piece of paper “we've got all the letters for 'sewing'. 

“So let’s take them away what have we got left?”

Steve got up “you all seem to have the hang of this now. I'll go and ramp up the dinner while you carry on”.

Geneviève and Holly sat up on the settee either side of Eloise and the room fell quiet as they all tried to think, but not for long. 

“Gen, we've got 'r o o m' here. That would give us sewing room. We haven't got 'decorate' have we?”

“No” said Eloise, “but we do have 'complete' ”

“Complete sewing room!” 

Again there was a charge for the door. Across the hall and into the room where the old Singer sewing machine sat on a folding table. Beside it on the table were two boxes, brightly wrapped with red and green Christmas paper, but on the floor there was a stack of boxes taking up most of the space, all wrapped in the same paper and tied with pink ribbons that clashed appallingly.

“Wow, there's masses of it” 

“Well yes. But you wouldn’t expect to get a whole sewing room in one box. But it looks like you might have to build it first” 

Holly pulled the bow off and undid the wrapping paper from the first box on the table. The clues started appearing as more of the box was revealed, and there, as she had been hoping, was a new sewing machine. Not just any old sewing machine, this was a Pfaff, this was the very best innovative German technology.  

She tore open one of the boxes on the floor. 'Haberdashery storage drawer’ and then another, ‘cutting table base unit’. 

“Oh my goodness” she breathed. “I had no idea, maybe it is a complete sewing room” 

“No idea?”

“No idea that he’d take me so seriously. That when I said to daddy I'd like a new sewing machine, that it would come with all this”

“I guess that’s daddy for you. He doesn’t do half measures. If it needs doing, it gets done properly”

Holly stood there looking around and shaking her head

“So what's in the other sewing machine box? You can't use two at once, can you” asked Geneviève seeing that Holly was about to get stuck in one of her ‘frozen’ moments. 

Holly unwrapped it carefully. This was unexpected and was making her think a lot more than she would like to get used to. 

“It's an embroidery machine” she murmured “it's for adding pictures of butterflies or team motifs and things. I've never used one but I’ve seen the results and they can be quite awesome”

Her voice tailed away as the bouncy carefree excited enthusiasm drained from her face to be replaced with a much more sombre expression 

“I must say thankyou to daddy” she said faintly biting her bottom lip “Back in a mo” 

“She doesn't seem that pleased with it” said Geneviève, disappointed on Steve’s behalf 

“Oh Geneviève, I’m sure she is, But I think she's just a bit overwhelmed” 

Through in the kitchen, Holly stopped in the doorway 

“Did you find it?” said Steve with all the excitement that Holly had just lost. She stood still, with silent tears trickling down her face and dripping dilute mascara onto her satin dress. 

Steve quickly closed off what he was doing and went over to her 

“No good huh?.. .. Not what you wanted, maybe?” he asked trying not to sound too disappointed

“Daddy, it's wonderful. It's all wonderful. Its too wonderful. I've dreamed of having a Pfaff some day” 

“But…” prompted Steve 

“But, but I’m just little Holly that keeps getting herself into trouble with drugs and boys and drink and every other thing that can cause trouble. I don't deserve all this, and I don't deserve to be here and I don't deserve you and for you to be this nice to me. And I can't even give anything back”

Steve succeeded in retaining the vestiges of a smile as he weighed up the mechanics of the situation. Then swept her clean off the floor and cradling her in a near horizontal position. She gasped, enough to interrupt the waterfall as he carried her back to the living room trying hard to refrain from leaning down and kissing her lips as she lay across his arms. Grief! She was heavy, but he made the living room ignoring the minor muffled protests. 

“Of course you give something back, you gave me two CDs”

“That's hardly compares to not one but two Pfaff s”

“Ok, but how much money did you have to spend on presents?”

“How much? Including the twenty pounds you gave me, about 29 pounds 37p.”

“And CDs are about 5 pounds each, so that equates to roughly 30% of your available funds. Whereas my present to you accounted for less than 0.1% of my available funds.”

“Daddy, that’s not the point”

“But it’s one way of putting it in perspective”

He half fell, half sat down on the settee next to Eloise, with Holly now on his lap.

“Here we have one little girl who is just a bit overwhelmed by everything”

“You don’t think” mused Geneviève “that she’s just overwhelmed by finishing the champagne bottle at breakfast”

Steve broke into a soft laugh, Eloise was less impressed

“Holly, you didn’t?”

Geneviève gave an exaggerated nodding from across the coffee table

“Well, squeaked Holly, Maybe, but there wasn’t much left”

“No, not after you’d finished it, there wasn’t” giggled Geneviève.

“Well, we’ve got our guest for lunch arriving in an hour, so I think we should get on with Eloise’s clue, and make sure the dinner is cooking, and make sure Holly does not crash out and embarrass herself”

“Lunch guest?”

“Holly, I did tell you. She’s a young lady who’s a long way from home, and would be all on her own all day if I hadn’t invited her”

“Does she work with you?”

“No, she works with Daddy. Geneviève’s met her before”

She nodded again 

“What’s she like?”

“She’s Irish, quite short with long tumbling red hair, quite pretty. She’s up for anything, good sense of humour. In fact she’s mad as a box of frogs”

Holly, why don’t you go and lie down for an hour”

“No, I want to help mummy with her clue”
“Ok” said Steve, and then whispered quietly to her “And this evening, I’ll tell you why you deserve your complete sewing room”

“Really”

Steve nodded “Really. Now it’s back to the kitchen, although I’m thinking the Castle will be a better option next year”

They listened carefully as Eloise read her clue

“To pre-empt the end of the carnival, Cross the stream without a bridge, with a companion for pleasure or security, at the turn of the 17^th century, … .. Geneviève? Any ideas?”

She screwed up her face in concentration “Only that the clue is split up by commas, so each bit is probably a separate word”

Holly keeled over to lie on the settee

“Holly!”

“Oh, don’t be cross with her! Its Christmas day, and as Daddy said, she’s just a little overwhelmed”

Eloise calmed down a little. After all she reflected, it was only her that was getting wound up. Steve and Geneviève didn’t seem at all bothered

“If…” Holly said from her horizontal position “…you cross the stream without a bridge, maybe you could wade”

“Or stepping stones?” added Geneviève

“What about a zip wire?”

“Or you could just jump?”
“Or maybe there’s a ford?....”

Over in the kitchen, Steve had dinner under control as the girls bundled in

“We can’t find it” announced Geneviève “We’ve looked in the car, and it’s definitely not there”

“I can understand that” said Steve unhelpfully “So do you know what you’re looking for”

“We think so”

“We think” Eloise began “that crossing the stream is a ford, and pre-empting the end of the carnival is something about my old little car breaking down. You know, a Fiesta is a carnival”

“So far, so good!”

“The companion for security in the military is an escort, which Holly tells me can also be used for a certain type of professional young lady that might keep you company, but we think it might relate to the name of Fords breakdown policy”

“Ok”

“The turn of the century is 1600, which we think may be the limit on any claim”

“So, our conclusion is that its a Ford breakdown policy that will rescue me if my car breaks down. But we’ve looked in the car, and there isn’t anything wrapped up in there”

Steve put both his hands around her waist while the girls stood by.

“The logic is amazing, and you’ve even got some of it right. But that’s not the answer”

 “Well” she said holding out both her five pound notes, “I think I’ll have to buy a hint or two, because we’re all out of ideas. I mean, where else would you keep the policy apart from in the car?”

“I agree entirely, darling. So my first hint is…” he said accepting one of the notes “…Does my lovely Eloise believe that I’d just get her an insurance policy as her main Christmas present? What do you think, Holly?”

“Looking at the other presents, I guess not”

“So there must be something else, something you’ve missed? You're very much of the right lines. And actually, you're right. I have got you breakdown cover just in case, but there's something else that comes with it.”

Sheepishly, Eloise watched her second note disappear into Steve’s pocket.

“So my second hint is this” 

He produced a blindfold from his pocket. 

“Oh no. What's that for?” 

“It's for a surprise. Because I know how much you like them. Now Geneviève and Holly, here is a map. Its like a treasure map and will lead you to Eloise’s Christmas present. Don’t take her blindfold off till you get there, and you’ll know when you’ve found it”

“How will we know that?”
 “Because its quite big and its shiney purple…”

“Does that go with the amethyst?”

“No. Go on, off you go. I'll just turn the oven down and be there in a minute.” 

Geneviève tied the black cloth around Eloise's head. 

“Why is it” she asked with a hint of a laugh and a hint of sadness “that as soon as I decide I'm not ever going to be surprised by anything else, something surprising happens” 

It wasn't as easy as they'd expected to navigate a sightless Eloise down the hall and through the front door, but it was a source of much laughing and giggling, not least because Holly managed to bump into as many things as Eloise.

The driveway was easier, apart from the rain, and they had to open both halves of the workshop doors with Eloise needing propped up on both sides to stop her tripping over. By the time they worked through the second door, they were all suffering from an overdose of giggles and Steve had caught up with them. He switched the light on as the others edged around the back of the car. 

“Oh my ! Oh my gosh!” 

“Holly! Are you alright?” 

“She's fine mum, although she has gone white as a sheet. Still, probably sobered her up a bit. Well, read it then”

“Oh mummy. It is bright purple!”

“Purple! So how big is it?”

“Nearly as big as this garage” said Geneviève

“Are you going to read it Holly. What does it say?”

“Ok. On the left, it says 'Ford' and on the right, it says Escort with the number one thousand six hundred” 

Eloise scrambled the blindfold off 

“Oh my goodness. It's a new car. Steve...” 

He ushered her forward and opened the door for her to sit in the driver’s seat. 

“This is the new 1600 model. It's brand new and this is one if the first ones available. Young boys on bicycles will fall off craning their necks to look at this car. Of course, older boys will fall off just looking at the driver.” 

One More for Lunch

“Helloooo” called a soft voice at the doorway “So this is where yers all hiding” 

Daisy came in and gave everyone a hug, including Holly who she'd not met before. 

“Daisy's just going to be another member of the family for today, so let's all make her feel at home” 

“That's good” returned Holly “she can help me set the table” 

Dutifully, Daisy tagged along with Holly to set the table.

“That’s hardly fair” complained Eloise

“She’ll be fine. We don’t want to overwhelm her. And she’s the kind of person who will want to make a contribution”

“So, I know you work with daddy, but how do you know Geneviève?” Holly asked innocently.

Daisy took a long intake of breath “Well, back in April there were a lot of problems at work. I talked through this at the Christmas party just to set the record straight, but of course you weren’t there. So what happened was, our financial director had nicked all the company’s money. Our MD found out, so he shot him. I was the only other person who knew what was going on, except I didn’t know the money was being stolen. I just thought it was moving from one place to another. Anyway, this financial director then kidnapped me and …”

“Oh My! I remember that. We talked about nothing else at school. And that was you! Oh good grief!”

“So, you remember it? It was all over the radio. Anyway, it was Steve that rescued me…”

“Steve? My daddy? Oh gosh” Holly exclaimed with every drop of colour disappearing from her face “But supposing it had gone wrong and he wouldn’t have been here after that. Oh dear. I think I need to sit down”

“Well, it didn’t go wrong, but I was a bit scared so Steve invited me to stay with him and Geneviève for a few days till I felt better. And that’s how I know her. But what do you do?”

“Apart from go to school? I make clothes. What I really want to do is expand my fashion design company”

“Oh, so you’d be at that fashion show down at Simpsons?”
“That’s right. Were you there too? That was me getting interviewed right at the end”

“So that was you. With the Nightwish dress!”
“Annabelle was modelling it, but I designed it and made it”

“Ah Ha! I was wondering how I was ever going to get hold of one of them. But that’s so awesome. Running your own fashion label. And you’re only, what? 16”

“14” corrected Holly

But the table was ready now and they returned to the living room to hand over to the next team who would serve dinner when it was ready

They continued the conversation about Holly’s dressmaking over dinner, and then Daisy described their traditional Christmas in Waterford. Over there it was a less extravagant event, but with the whole family getting together which was about forty people in all.

“Yes, I would have liked to be there, but I’m also glad I don’t have to explain the Event to them”

“You mean, being country farmers they might not understand?”

“No, they just wouldn’t believe me”

Dinner continued slowly, with no-one in any rush and Eloise even had time to reflect just how easily Daisy had melded in to the family and seemed completely at home and confident rather than timid and nervous like the last time she’d seen her, before she eventually announced

“You know I really ought to be going”

“Well, before you do, lets have a look in my sewing room. It’s a bit of a mess at the minute because its about to get rebuilt. But I think I might just have a surprise for you”

Holly led her through the hall and rummaged through a rack discarding a bunch of half made skirts “I think this would be your size” she said handing her the dress. Daisy held it up, then just as quickly un-buttoned her own dress and changed into it, just as Steve and Eloise were on their way past.

“Look – it does fit. You can keep it if you want. Like a Christmas present from me, cos you must be the bravest person I know”

“But that’s not me. The bravest person you know is Steve”

The words struck Holly with a fear. Not a fear that something would happen to Steve, but the fear that sooner or later this possibility would become a Thought and that Thought would frighten the life out of her, and probably everyone else when it woke her up with a shriek at 3 a.m. And Holly knew that it wasn’t a matter of if, more just when. She let the point drop. Maybe Geneviève was the bravest girl after all she’d been through when she was 12, even if Daisy’s was more dramatic.

They migrated back to the living room to see if there was general approval for Daisy’s Nightwish.

“Do you think I could introduce these as compulsory uniform for girls on site?” asked Steve

“Now, that depends on whether you want any of the guys to get any work done” replied Eloise

“Well, you won’t find me complaining if you wear that to work. You look fantastic”

“Thankyou, but I’m not thinking its quite suitable for climbing 20 feet up a ladder in the storehouse”

“Oh, I don’t know…” Steve was saying 

“Oh you! Does he tease you, Holly, like this as well”

Holly nodded “All the time”

“But I’ve had such a good time, but I really must be going”

“What? So soon”? 

“I was only invited for lunch, not the rest of the year. But there's something very important happened to me today that I want to tell you about before I go. You see when I talked to Eloise at breakfast in the hotel, I said I didn't have the confidence after the Event to get out there and have fun and maybe even find a boyfriend. But today you've made me so welcome, and so chilled out and allowed me to be just me again. 

At the party I made a speech about the Event. I found it hard, and it upset me quite something, but now, you Holly, made me talk about it again, and now I think I can accept what happened as just something that makes me the way I am. Back then, I told myself that after that I need to live every day as if it's my last, because for sure one of them will be. But I never did that. Instead, I hid inside a shell as if the event was still going on. But all of you have helped me take the step back, think about it, and think about the future. And it's what you said Steve. Today is the day before tomorrow, not just the day after yesterday. So now I'm looking forward to tomorrow. So now, I'm going to go home, and then I’m going to walk down to the Joiners Arms at the end of our road and pretend I'm waiting for a friend, who never turns up, and make something happen. I'm not going to wait for tomorrow, I'm starting today”. 

“So what's next?” asked Holly as if they hadn’t had enough excitement already for one day. 

“I think we should go and listen to what this new piano sounds like, then we should listen to what this new sewing machine sounds like. 

I'll get us a little snack while you three build it” suggested Eloise 

But the excitement of the day had taken its toll on the girls, and while Holly had only fully unpacked one machine, there somehow seemed to be two in her vision, and bedtime looked like it was looming on an early horizon. 

“You were going to explain something to me later today, but daddy, if it's much later you'll have missed it” 

“Well, you go get ready for bed, then come back down and we’ll all sit down quietly together and I'll tell you”. 

She sat between Eloise and Steve as Geneviève curled up on the carpet with Steve’s free arm round her neck like a scarf. 

“You see, Holly, we explained before why Geneviève had to grow up so quickly”. 

“Yes, I remember. It was very sad. It made me cry” 

[cue Desire Lines – Camera Obscura] 

“Well that meant that she missed out on lots of the things that twelve, thirteen and fourteen year olds do”

“I don't know if I missed them all out. I think I crammed a load in, and then went fast forward through the others” 

“I guess so, but it also meant that I missed out on that period as well. One day I had a twelve year old, a year later I had a 16 year old, and seven months of that she was in Australia on her own. So that's where you come in. I doubt I'll ever get the twelve and thirteen year old back, but you are the fourteen, and I hope the fifteen year old. That’s something I won't get a second chance at. You're the fourteen year old I never had. So that's why you're worth the biggest ever Christmas present. But it's you as well Geneviève, you won't get that part of your life back either” 

“I'm not sure I want to. I’m not sure I can miss something I never had and I'm happy as I am. Daisy was talking about packing as much as she possibly could into her life, and I think that's what I’ve been doing since, well, since, you know, Oz”.

Holly’s eyes misted up again “There’s a reason I don’t like History, daddy. It always makes me cry”

“That’s sad, Holly. But you needed to know. And sometimes you need to know sad things as well as happy ones”

She wrapped her arms around him. “Please don’t ever leave me daddy, even if history makes me sad”

“I just explained, Holly. You’re very important to me. And tomorrow we’re going to build your sewing room, for my little 14 year old who fully deserves it”

“Was that just one day?” asked Eloise as she curled herself around him in bed that night “or maybe a whole week”

“I hope it wasn’t a whole week” he replied gently “that would mean I’d have missed out six nights of being in bed with you” 

No-one was up early the next day, but Geneviève was keen to try out all the options on her piano, which left Eloise and Steve free to concentrate on Holly’s sewing room. Steve expected this to take a couple of days, but Holly was unsure of what the best place for everything would be. Its not as if she’d thought about this and she didn’t even know how many pieces there were. Steve was reluctant to just do it all for her. He wanted it to be hers and that meant she needed to make the decisions. But the construction took time and some things had to move so that others would fit and it looked as though it might even take more than the two days Steve had estimated.

But with Steve sitting on her bed that night she was more nervous. She sat back up from her pillow and hugged his neck like maybe she’d strangle him “Daddy, I’m so worried now. About the Thought”

“Holly, all that stuff is over. We got through that and we’ve just come to accept that things are the way they are now and we’ll move on from here”

“But this will be a different Thought. Daisy told me about you rescuing her, and how dangerous it was. And I can’t help thinking what would have happened to me if it had all gone wrong, because then I’d have no daddy – and .. and .. and and I know that Thought is going to wake me up one night. And I don’t know how to explain it to mummy”

“Holly, you just try telling yourself that there are lots of things that all combined together that if they hadn’t happened then you and me would never have met and we would both be somewhere else. You’d be ok. Just with some other people. Geneviève said earlier she doesn’t think she could miss something she never had. But I understand. And if the Thought does come, then I’ll look after you. So try not to worry about it. We’ll deal with it if it happens”

And maybe, Steve reflected, she still didn’t have the level of security she needed. Or, more likely, she just didn’t appreciate that she did.

[cue Light Before the Dark by Place Vendome]

Now with the girls in bed, he gazed pensively out of the window at the snow tumbling in huge white flakes. Geneviève had said earlier in the evening that it was snowing, but no-one had paid much attention because no-one was thinking of going outside - until now. 

Sometimes, you need to look for the signs for what is right. And sometimes you even recognise them. Clearly the couple of degrees drop in temperature from this afternoon had made all the difference. He was running out of time. Just how long could he leave it? This needed to be done before he could talk to Holly, and that needed to be done before the 29^th which was the last day he could cancel without serious penalty. But this was not something to be rushed. Or maybe…. Or maybe it was! Recognise the signs, Steve. This was perfect, as Eloise joined him by the window. 

The Next Surprise

“I agree” she said “There’s something about that garden that always looks beautiful and in this snow its magical. That lawn is sort of infinite because you can’t see the other side, and that kind of makes it endless and timeless”

“Is that what I was thinking?”

“Wasn’t it?”

“Maybe, But I was also thinking that there are some things that you really ought to wait for the moment before you do them”

“Oh? Like?” she said, puzzled

“Ok, like, sitting a driving test maybe, or something important like that. And then there’s really, really important things that should wait, but are too important”

“Steve?”

He turned towards her building courage and excitement

“What’s…?” began Eloise as Steve took her hand 

“Come on”

She tagged along not wanting to fall on the floor as he pulled her out through the door, across the patio and then with quickening pace out onto the lawn and into the snow. Huge flakes fell gently onto their heads and stayed on the end of Eloise’s nose.

“Steve! I haven’t got a coat! Its pounding down out here! Its freezing!”
But by now they were almost running

“All the more reason to hurry up!” as he continued to pull her along. She broke into a run just to keep up and that meant she had no breath left for comments. She’d already learned that there was little point in questioning it. However bizarre the situation that Steve led her into, it would be magical, surprising and wonderful 

“Steve, have you flipped? Its not the season for a wet tee-shirt competition” as they slowed towards the middle of the lawn

“Nearly there!”

“Nearly where?”

“Here!”

They slid to a stop and Eloise managed to catch enough breath to shiver. She was looking straight at him with a huge bemused smile that begged for an explanation.

“Steve – what are we doing? Is there a method here or just madness?” she beamed over at him trying to make sense of the joke as the bemused grin spread across her whole face. This was crazy – whatever it was, and it served to remind her just how wonderful life with Steve would be if only it could go on forever.

“This is the spot, in the middle of the lawn where we had our first family picnic. Except is was unseasonally dry then. Just the four of us. And I know it was only a few months ago. But now with the snow it’s the perfect place to make another memory”

“Steve, I’m soaking wet and freezing!” she broke into a laugh “Steve, can’t we discuss this in the house? Ok maybe not. Or maybe I should take my top off to complete the madness!”
“Only after you answer a simple question”

“Steve!” she pleaded, But Steve had dropped to one knee and produced the ring box from his pocket

“Eloise, will you marry me? Please”

He took the ring out of the box as she paused in astonishment with the smile slipping from her face as the question registered. It made her completely forget the snow and the cold as she suddenly remembered she was supposed to answer.

“Yes!” she yelled at him “yes, yes yes!” as he squeezed the ring onto her finger.

They threw themselves at each other forgetting the impending frostbite creeping up their legs, then started to walk slowly back to the house, arms around each other, but Steve stopped and moved slightly apart. Then without a word he took her hand and waist and waltzed her across the lawn, round and round, getting faster like they had the first time Eloise saw the house and landing back at the conservatory dizzier than when they left, wetter than when they left, colder than when they left. And Eloise’s head was spinning again. Another surprise, straight out of left field and now turning her whole world upside down yet again. Or was it? What else could Steve come up with, with each surprise bigger and better than the last and leaving her floating farther and farther from the ground as they hugged and dripped into the living room until Eloise started shivering.

“A hot shower and dry clothes is what you need” said Steve quietly

“You need one as well” she replied

“That’s always going to be an offer I can’t refuse” he replied as they drifted upstairs.

Adoption

But while Steve had closed the works over the Christmas period giving most of the staff an extra day’s holiday and the maintenance crew an extra days pay, it was sale time in the retail sector.

Despite the excitement from the previous evening, Eloise felt she had to honour her promise to Brenda that she’d drop in to the store to make sure everything was all right

Charlene had the whole thing under control. Posters, stickers, signs and enough assistants to make sure no opportunity was missed. She and Brenda were busy marking up sale tickets and Eloise felt strangely superfluous. She drifted through to menswear where there was a surprisingly completely different story. Don was already in a panic. Peter was responsible for setting up the Christmas sale, but of course, Peter was still off sick. He hadn’t recovered from the trip to India and its knock on effects and no-one had done anything. Eloise’s Ladies-wear department was festooned in red sale posters nearly everywhere because the girls had popped in the previous day to set up – that was before they all adjourned to the Blue Boar for an all-day lunch that managed to continue through most of the evening as well. But the menswear department was devoid.

“Oh my goodness” she gasped “of course – no Peter, no show!”

But all Don would do was wail that it was a disaster and that Grenasius would surely skin everyone alive for it.

Eloise sighed deeply. This quick pop in and out looked like it would turn into a one way street popping in. She sent Simon through to find Charlene and commandeer any spare posters or any other sale advertisements. She grabbed Don and hauled him reluctantly in the direction of the basement to collect the old price reduction signs and half an hour later it was looking like there might even be a sale on here.

By mid-morning Don had brightened up. Sales were going well and the new signs that Charlene was printing for them had virtually replaced the original temporary ones. As expected Gio was on walkabout and was disappointed at the disparity between displays in the departments. Don explained as best he could, but it was left to Eloise to make it comprehensible. The only saving grace was that Gio was expected somewhere for lunch and had not intended to stay. And Eloise was equally thankful that she could also get back to her family.

The frantic pace that started the morning was replaced by a rush of customers and it was with some disappointment that Eloise drove home without having discussed her new ring.

Back home the atmosphere re-kindled her elation as she joined Steve sorting the bottles in the drinks cabinet while Geneviève was busy in the kitchen. Of course with her going out before the girls had got up, they wouldn’t know either!

I was just going to start getting some lunch” Geneviève said as Steve stuck his head into the kitchen.
“Ahh Geneviève...”
“Hold on. That's the ‘I’ve got something serious to talk to you about’ voice”
“I must do something about being so predictable. But yes”
“And...?”
“I proposed to Eloise…”
“Whoa. Yippee” and like a scalded cat, Geneviève had swerved through the hall and into the living room.
“Congratulations. This is mega. Can I see the ring? Now you really can be my new mummy!” as she threw her whole weight behind trying to bear-hug the life out of her.
Geneviève was still gazing at the ring as Steve arrived
“I didn't even say you'd accepted”
“Don't be silly daddy, of course she’d accept. There was never any doubt in that”
“Oh wow. Can I organise it. Oh I've got so many ideas already”

“Well, I think it ought to be a joint effort really”, coaxed Eloise.
“Hmm . Does Holly know?”
“Not yet, there's something else I have to talk to Holly about as well”
Geneviève frowned, questioningly.
“Oh my, have we got a date yet?”
“Easter maybe”

“Let’s wait till Holly gets here” but hearing something of a commotion, Holly appeared at the door looking as bleary eyed as she ever had 

“Is everything all right? Thought I heard something”

 “Holly! Look at the state of you!” exclaimed Eloise, but still with her ecstatic smile she‘d had fixed on her face since the previous evening

“Mummy, I think I’m what's known as a completer-finisher. Christmas day I finished off the champagne after breakfast 

And then yesterday evening I completed the bottle of Cointreau”

“Ah Holly...”
“Oh dear. That's. The ‘I've got something serious to talk to you about’ voice”
“You haven't become less predictable yet” interjected Geneviève

“Oh dear. What have I been found out for now” 

Holly sat hesitantly on the edge of a chair across the room. Awaiting the bad news. “I don’t think I’ve quite woken up yet”

“Sobered up yet, is more to the point!” teased Geneviève 
“Yes. Actually Holly, there’s three things. But I know how much you like these big surprises, so I was thinking we’d leave them till tomorrow”

“NO! No, not now you’ve told me. I’d worry all day about it. I’d speculate. I’d stress out even more than knowing. I.. .. You’re teasing me again!” 

She bundled across the room landing on him as Geneviève sat giggling in her chair.
“Have you seen anything different about mum? “asked Geneviève bubbling with excitement.
“Different? Since when?”
A silent pause
“Well, I mean she's put on a bit of weight since we moved here”
“I don't think that's quite necessary” reproached Eloise indignantly.
“No expanded Geneviève, think about her hands”

“They’re a bit softer, now that she’s not doing so much cleaning and housework and stuff cos Marina does most of that”

“Is she wearing anything different.”
“Oh what? Geneviève! Well she’s not wearing gloves…”
“No….o”

Eloise was back to bubbling and it seemed to be contagious. Holly started giggling 

“What’s going on? It’s something. But I don’t know what, At least, not yet”
“Oh that colour varnish is new. Is that very special?”
Geneviève shook her head

“Holly” said Steve firmly “I think you should go back to bed and sleep off the excesses of yesterday. After all, you want to be ready to go round again tonight don’t you”

“But I’ll worry ab…..”
“No, you won’t you’ll be asleep. You nearly are already. Look, if the world is going to end in the next two hours it will do that on its own whether you’re here or there.”
“Oh No! I hadn’t thought about th….”
“…Holly, if you do, you’ll get up late afternoon all stressed out and fit for nothing. You’ll rush down here in a panic and everything will be perfectly normal and you’ll think ‘that was a waste of my life, wasn’t it’ “

“I don’t want to miss out” she muttered with her eyes closing

“You won’t. If the world ends it will affect everyone, probably equally. Geneviève will want to play her new piano, and Eloise and me will be clearing and tidying up…”
“Maybe I do want to miss out”

Steve swept her off the floor and carried upstairs, plonking her down on her bed, and she crept under the duvet as Steve pulled the curtains.

“Good news! Holly” Steve opened as she reappeared in the music room in the late afternoon. Steve and Eloise had been listening to the new electric piano but Steve had just declared it to be coffee and cake time

“Good news, daddy?”
“Yes! The world did not end while you were asleep, so you didn’t miss it. And if it did and you did miss it, this one you’re in now is equally good, and bad”

“Daddy, that is far too philosophical for Holly, especially the state she’s in”
“I’m not in a state!” and then more quietly putting one hand to her head “I’m just a little fragile, that’s all”

But Eloise was still too elated to comment, biting her lower lip in anticipation of Holly’s reaction when she noticed

“Daddy, something was happening in the old world that I was in before I went to sleep, but I don’t know what it was” she said as she sat down between them. Cake usually cured whatever was wrong with Holly, and they all followed it into the living room where Genevieve had put the drinks.
“It might not be happening in this new world” she teased

“But then again, it might” 

“Holly, we got as far as looking for something different about Mummy”

“Oh! she’s got a bit fatter I remember. So we must be in the same world as before”

“Holly! I don’t think that’s very fair! Be more polite please!”

“Is it only memories that prove that you haven’t switched to a new universe?”

“Daddy, stop it. She’ll have nightmares about this if you keep on! No, Holly, take a closer look. Hands remember. Hint - left hand. Third finger”
“The light caught the diamond and the switch flicked on in Holly's head.
“Oh wow, mummy that's fantastic!”
She got up to take a closer look. “When's it happening? Wow! Is Geneviève going to organise it?”
“I think I might have a hand in that as well! But we're thinking maybe Easter, although it might have to be the summer”
“They need quite a lot of planning”.
“Yes and I want get it right. Actually it hasn’t really sunk in yet”

Holly strangled her neck with a hug “That’s wonderful, mummy. I’m so pleased, I might cry. Oh No! I don’t want to cry about the future as well as cry about the past. I’ll might get like you!”

She bounced back and landed on Steve again.

And that means you’ll really be my daddy. But there’s something else as well. You said so”

“Yes”

“But we need a celebration – a drink. Geneviève? Mummy? Daddy?”

“Just a small one” Steve warned “Because we’re going out for dinner tonight. We’re going to the Castle. And you, young lady have not fully recovered from yesterday”
“No, but someone told me last week that the best way to avoid a hangover is just to keep drinking”

Geneviève folded up in a fit of giggles as Eloise retained her elation despite being flabbergasted

“What’s this other thing?” continued Holly back on Steve’s lap and taking a large slurp of her liqueur 

“Yes Holly. I need to talk to you about adoption”
“Adoption? No way! Struth daddy. Everyone will think it's mine!”
“Really Holly. And what sort of reputation have you got yourself at school?”

“Oooops”
“No, I was thinking more about your adoption”
“Me?”
“But I don't want to adopt anyone. I've got enough things I want to do without a baby as well. And anyway, I think I'd rather do these things naturally, well, you know when the time is right”
“No Holly, your adoption”
“Me? My adoption? You want to put me up for adoption?”

“Sort of”
Terror struck, she looked between the three faces, all strangely smiling, and nodding.

[cue Fifth in Line to the Throne – Camera Obscura]

“But why? I'm not that bad! Am I? Well, yes, maybe I am. Oh my. Gen!! You’re meant to be my best friend! You can’t do this to me” she replaced her glass unsteadily on the table
“I am” Geneviève insisted as Holly leapt over to sit on the floor next to her.
“Holly, it's because mummy and daddy are getting married”

Holly burst into tears. 

“Well yes. And I’m so pleased for them. But... But I didn't know you could only take one of us.”
Steve and Eloise joined Geneviève on the floor, almost surrounding the distraught Holly, not knowing whether to laugh or cry
“Holly, Holly, calm down baby. Seldom have I seen a stick get taken more by the wrong end”
Steve slipped his arm around her and gave her a squeeze.

“Daddy, you promised. You promised you’d never leave me”
“Holly, slow down the tears and listen...Are you listening? Ok. When we get married, mummy will change her name. Its usual for a girl to take on her husband’s name so she’ll be Eloise Bergstrom. We don't want you to be left out. So the best thing to do is for me to adopt you. That way your name will change to Bergstrom as well and there's loads of legal advantages in the future. It could be quite difficult at school, that's why we want to agree it with you. It's your name. It's your life”

Holly sat up and drained her glass 

“I never considered anything like this before. I've always had my name. It's what people know me by. Its one of the things that makes me, you know, me!” 

“But your friends would still call you Holly. And your guitar teacher would still call you Holly” 

What about people like Vanessa Merton-Dunster?”

“There's only one of her, and I'm sure she's seen names change before. Some of her girl friends must have got married at some point. And in any case, if you use the brand name we discussed, HB stays the same” 

““Hmmm” 

“We’ll pick it up later on, once you've mulled it over” 

“Thought about it with a glass of mulled wine is more like it Daddy. After all, it is the season” 

“You're not having a go at me are you Geneviève Bergstrom?” she said as a distraction as she picked up Geneviève’s glass

“Me? No! I'm only hinting that if we’re going to the Castle.” 

“Are we? Really?” 

“Yes, then we'll probably have a drink to start with, then there'll be wine ..” 

“Or champagne?” 

“….with the meal, and maybe if we're lucky we’ll have liqueur coffee. We’re taking a taxi so Daddy can have a drink as well, but you’re off to a head start being half cut already” 

Holly stopped taking the next slurp and dribbled what she had back into the glass

“Well, maybe. After all its only 4 o’clock and there’s the whole evening ahead of us”

“Why don't you put that in the fridge for later and maybe daddy’ll help you complete building your sewing room. Oh, this evening is going to be so special. And we don't want you honking up over the lobster thermidor, do we now?” 

Chef Special

“Mr Bergstrom, and family. It is indeed a pleasure to see you all here again” 

The head waiter put their unfinished drinks on a tray and Holly kept a keen eye on hers as they followed it to their table looking out across the top of the cliffs. 

“Would you like to see the Table Dote menu as well as the a la Carte?” 

“We'd like the Chef Special menu, please” 

He gave a polite questioning nod.

“As you are a valued guest of ours, you will know that some of these dishes can take a little longer to prepare” 

“That's fine. I think we have enough to talk about” 

“And, I'm afraid I am obliged to inform you that there is a significant cost implication” 

“Thankyou, but that's fine too” 

“Very well. I shall inform the chef immediately. He will be immensely pleased, and I’m sure you will not be disappointed” 

“What's a ‘significant cost implication’? “ asked Holly “I mean, how significant does it have to be to be significant?” 

“Well, Holly, since you ask. Last time we were here was with Daniella the bill was a bit over £350. Tonight, with just four of us it will be a least half of that again” 

“Oh my” gasped Holly as Geneviève whispered “so you'd better not honk up all over the lobster” while Eloise quietly reminded herself that five months ago she had less than £100 for food for both of them for an entire month. Now it was that much each for a single meal. 

It was while waiting for dessert that Holly raised the subject of her name. She'd been watching the other dishes around the tables and wondering what they were called, which encouraged the subject to pop up in her mind. 

“I'm not really that attached to my name” she said suddenly at a break in the conversation

“Actually, I think Beresford is part of what I used to be, not what I want to be in the future” 

“That's really good” said Steve “I think that is the best option, but there is a minor issue with this option. And that is that professor Belvoir’s office has informed me that they are unable to change your name on their school register” 

“So, if I can’t change my name, then maybe I need two names. I might need a split personality for that. Like a schizoid or something” 

“I think you’d cope” said Geneviève “But the rest of us might have a problem if there were two of you. You know, we’d have to try to remember which one of you we’d told something to, and guess which one of you was going to turn up somewhere”

“Yes” agreed Holly “You might tell one of me something but the other one of me wouldn’t know. So you’d have to tell me again, and if you told the wrong one, then you’d tell the same one twice and then I’d think you were a bit weird”

Geneviève screwed up her eyes trying to find a hole in Holly’s logic and was dismayed to find that at the time it all seemed sound.

Eloise sighed, not knowing what to take issue with first and Steve shook his head 

“You know, Eloise, I can’t see there being that many dull days. But there is an alternative to us having two of you, and it does lead me into the third thing” 

“Third?” 

“Holly, I told you there were three. I don't think you were listening” 

“Maybe I was distracted” 

“Or asleep, or hungover, or all three” teased Geneviève as Holly reached out for the wine bottle 

“And this is something you might want to think about as well” 

She put the wine bottle back where it was 

“We all discussed this a couple of weeks ago, and back then we didn't have a strong deciding factor one way or the other. Our instinct pushed us one way, but there were equalising pros and cons on both sides. However, this new factor I think swings the balance. You see it's important that your school records are in the same name as the one you use. I mean, how are you going to explain to a university or college or even an employer that your A level certificates that you submit are really yours even though they have a different name on them. No one will believe you” 

“Hmmm. That sounds awkward. So after all that, I can't change my name” 

“Well, yes you can. You just can’t at Long Meadow. And that means you need to change schools. So I've signed you both up for a St Luke's assessment”

“St Lukes! No way Daddy!” 

But Geneviève fell speechless
“When’s that!” prompted Eloise on their behalf

“It’s on Monday, after lunch. And if you pass, start of term is Tuesday after New Year” 

The memory of that Chemistry lab buzzed through Geneviève’s head. It was awesome. Oh wow dad, thankyou so much. Oh. That’s unbelievable, but she was still unable to speak

“St Luke's?” questioned Holly “With Danni, and Tamara, and Sabrina? But they're all posh! I don’t even speak posh!” 

“You don't think that the chef’s special menu at the Castle is just a little bit posh then?” 

“Well, yes, but …. Oh no! What if Danni’s parents move her to Long Meadow! I'll have to phone Danni right away” 

“No no Holly. I already spoke to Angela and Danni’s staying till at least the summer. Then they might think again” 

“So I’d have my new name at St Lukes”

“That’s right”

“Hmmmm. But then there’s this assessment thing. What’s that?”

“That’s what they use to keep numptys out” said Geneviève finally finding her voice

“Oh. So I might have a problem with that. I’m not really very bright. I might have to stay at Long Meadow and have two me-s after all”

“No you won’t. You’ll be fine. As far as I know there are a number of factors. But the main ones are aptitude and attitude, which are covered by an interview. Maybe you could phone Danni and see if she can give you a steer”

Holly reached out for the wine bottle to refresh her glass that had seemed to have evaporated

“There’s another downside Holly” added Geneviève “you’ve only got 41 hours to sober up”

Eloise failed to stifle a giggle as Holly put the wine bottle back where it was, just as pudding arrived.

They unanimously agreed that dessert should be framed and photographed rather than eaten and as the waiter had predicted, no–one was disappointed.

But now the room Holly was in had started to move of its own accord. She opened her eyes wide and focussed on the far wall. It was still fuzzy. But coffee passed without mishap - or liqueur.

And back at home, Steve picked her up again and carried her up to her bedroom

“Tomorrow, my little girl, we’ll finish your sewing room, and we’ll run a practice interview if you like.”

Building the sewing room was turning into a family affair. Steve wanted Holly to unpack everything first so that they could implement some kind of design considering the muddle they’d got into on their first attempt. But Holly was more interested in seeing real progress of the base units in the room itself. Geneviève had reconciled herself to shifting everything out of the room that was not in position and not being worked on or was superfluous for some other reason and had created three growing piles in the hall – one headed for the bin like packaging and old junk, One for things that had been temporarily evicted and one for new boxes that hadn’t been opened yet and were waiting for Holly to open because, after all, this was her Christmas present.

But it also meant that it was Geneviève who answered the phone with a cheery

“Bergstrom residence”

“Oh, I do hope I’ve got the right number” said a quiet meek voice “But I was looking for Mrs Beresford”

“Sure. Who’s calling please?”
“Its Don. From Simpson and Greens menswear department”

This was unusual and the other three crowded round being nosey as Eloise completed the call and turned looking quite concerned.

Holly decided that, even though breakfast had only been just over an hour ago, it was time for tea and cake – especially cake, while mum decided what to do.

“If it needs sorting – just sort it. I’d phone Peter if I were you. He may be off sick, but he’s still being paid. And being Sunday has nothing to do with anything”
“I think I’ll phone Sandra and ask her to ask him”

“And if it needs sorting, just sort it” reaffirmed Steve

Back in the soon-to-be sewing room Holly was deciding where everything should go. Steve was assembling base units and Holly was changing her mind as new items appeared. 

But the more it took shape the more excited Holly got and it seemed to be infectious and it took no time at all for Eloise’s level of elation to rise to a similar level when she reappeared.

That evening Holly finally managed to get her haberdashery sorted while the mildly morose tones of Geneviève’s new attempt at her piece by Finzi drifted out from the music room. 

“Don’t worry about it” Steve was saying to Eloise in the living room “Someone had to do something, and I’m sure it will be fine. But if its not I’ll underwrite it. I’ll just give it to Holly and let her get some sales practice for her Fashion studio”

Monday morning charged up with all of the anticipated excitement for their interviews. Geneviève held Hollys hand as they waited in what would have been the lower sixth form common room. It felt like a doctor’s appointment lined up outside the surgery until you were called, totally irrespective of when the appointment was actually due. 

But no, the door opened just a few minutes late 

“Would Geneviève or Holly prefer to go first?” asked the flustered voice.

They opted for Holly. She would only get more and more nervous the longer she was there, and Geneviève was overall more confident.

“Hi” she smiled entering on a confident note. She tried to remember what Steve had told her about the questions. They may not be looking for any particular answer, rather they might be checking out how you handle different types of situations. And this was just like her interview on the catwalk – maybe.

The panel introduced themselves which Holly immediately forgot. On my! I hope I don't need to refer to anyone by name because… But the first question had buzzed in one of her ears and was only now registering as it broke out through the other

“You're not particularly academic, are you?” 

That was rather an aggressive start and knocked her slightly off balance 

“No, not really.” 

“And we pride ourselves on our academic achievements here at St Luke's” 

“Yes” Holly nodded “but that's one reason to come here. There are lots of distractions at Long Meadow, like some kids are not interested at all and just disrupt everything. And the boys are always hitting on you just trying to get your attention. I'm hoping I'll be able to do better here” 

She felt she was holding her position as the questions pounded her until they progressed onto sports 

“I like playing hockey” 

“And would you consider yourself good at hockey. Here we pride ourselves on having an excellent hockey record” 

But that was a step too far for her. She screwed her face up a bit 

“Yes, I think so.” she replied confidently “I'm captain of the Long Meadow first team, and we did beat you 5:3 about a month ago even though Tamara hit me over the head with her stick. So, yes I think I'm quite a good player” 

She returned the glare with an innocent smile while hiding her concern that maybe she shouldn't have said that.

This prompted some discussion amongst the panel

“Can I just be clear, Holly. You are Holly Bergstrom? Because I was under the impression, as informed by Tamara Melksham the vice-captain of our first team, that it was Holly Beresford that suffered the accident on the field and was captain of Long Meadow”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s me as well. I'm both.” 

“Both? I'm sorry, Holly. I'm not with that” 

“Well. I'm Holly Beresford at the moment. But my mum is going to marry Mr Bergstrom at Easter. So she'll be Mrs Bergstrom. So daddy is adopting me so my name becomes Bergstrom as well. So I'll be starting at St Lukes as Holly Bergstrom so I don’t have to change my name and confuse everyone” 

More discussion 

“You see, we're familiar with the role that Holly Beresford played in our teams match at Eastern, which was quite impressive if Tamara is to be believed. But what I didn't understand is what she was doing there in the first place?”

“That's because Daniella Hapgrove was staying with me that weekend and we had to take her over to the match anyway. And I thought a bit of research would be useful too because we were playing Eastern the next week, so obviously, I caught up with the team at half time” 

“Obviously! So you'd consider your hockey as being something of a success?” 

“Yes. But with me success in hockey is not just about winning games, it's about being a good captain, it's about team” 

“So do you want to be a professional player after you leave school?” 

“No, I think that would be rather short term. I want to go into fashion” 

“So, you would apply to art school or maybe a fashion and design degree?” 

“Maybe. But I may not have the time” 

“Not have time? But why not? This would be after you leave school at 18, not concurrent” 

“Yes, but I'm hoping to be successful before then” 

“But surely a fashion degree would be the first step?” 

“Definitely not! Not the first step! I've already started my company. FB Fashion and Design - a change for all seasons” 

“When you say you've opened it, do you mean you've registered it?” 

“You mean at Companies House? Yes. Its in my name. But I already have a contract to supply S and G. with my Nightwish range and I’m hoping they’ll consider some of my designs for their Spring collection. And then I also have a few bespoke clients. Like Vanessa Auden-Dunster who contacted me after the fashion show at Greens.”
“Lady Merton-Dunster, indeed?”

“Yes. She's come back twice now for something special and innovative, and referred me to some friends of hers too” 

“Ah ha. So was it was you that was interviewed at the end of that fashion show?” 

“Yes. You see, I think you can be successful without being really academic. It just makes it a little bit harder and I'm working at making my company successful now. I'm not waiting till I leave school. Why would I?” 

“Why? Because you only get one chance at an education. I'm sure your fashion business will do well, but it is putting all your eggs in one basket. Perhaps a balance between academia and business activities would make sure you retained more options” 

“I do agree! I wasn't suggesting I stop coming to school, just that I don't want to wait until I’m 18 to start my business. And that's why I want to come to St Luke's. With my business as well, I'm going to need all the help I can get with schoolwork”

This was by no means what they expected. This was really quite a distraction. There was no doubt that she was clear in her own mind what she wanted to do, and was even getting on with it, and with some success already. Many of their top students had no idea what career they wanted to pursue even as they left for university. Here was an individual who had her own ideas, who was just getting on with it, and was looking for help with the bits that formed the backup plan.

“Holly, your fa.. guardian, has asked us to reserve a place for you starting at the beginning of term in just a few days. Is there anything that would prevent you accepting that place, were it to be offered?”

“Only if my sister wasn’t accepted as well”

Thankyou Holly, would you ask Geneviève to come in please

“Your turn, Geneviève. They’re ok. A bit aggressive”

Anton managed to catch that remark through the open door. He reflected on it as Geneviève came in and sat down as invited. 

“Bon jour, Anton. Good morning” she said in her usually hidden French accent and sparkling her eyes around the panel

“Bon jour, Geneviève” he responded instinctively, but Geneviève continued the conversation directing it to him in French, asking if he’d like to conduct the interview in French just to make him feel at home. He declined, citing the inclusion of the other two panel members, and then explained to the others

“So, Geneviève, what subjects apart from French do you like in school?”

“Oh, I like maths and physics, especially mechanics – and Chemistry. But I’m sorry, I don’t have time to do French at school”

“But you speak it almost fluently!”

“Yes, its my first language. I didn’t speak English till I was eight. Daddy and me speak in French quite often at home”

“Oh, I see, so he’s French…”

“No, he’s Norwegian”

The panel exchanged a few glances. Holly’s interview had been different. This was going to be surreal. 

“Your grades are all good to excellent, but you’re a year older than Holly, but in the same class….”
“.. yes. I spent some time in Australia when I was twelve. I went to school there, but the curriculum was different, so when I came back I hadn’t covered the right stuff so I had to go into the year below”

“Does that bother you at all?”

“No”

“Really?”

“Yes. You see, when I was in Oz I was on my own.”

“You mean without your parents?”

“Yes. So I had to grow up rather quickly just to hold my own. And that meant I grew up in a sort of fast forward mode. Being in the younger group means that I can slow that down a bit and catch up”

Anton decided to change tack

“But you’re not sporty are you?”

“No. But I keep quite fit”

“So, what do you do to keep fit? You’re not a hockey player are you?”
“No, I don’t do any sports. I do a lot of forestry”
“Forestry?” came the bewildered request for clarification

“Yes. There’s a lot of woodland attached to our house and its not clear where the boundary is. So I’ve been clearing a track through so that I can get the fencing materials in and that means I need to fell some trees”

“By ‘some’, you mean how many?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve lost count. But its well over 100 since I started last summer. Then I have to lop the side branches off and haul them out, sometimes by hand, sometimes with my land rover. Stacking them is a manual job as well because I don’t have a log handler. I need to use levers and I have some of the smaller trunks reserved for that. But I’m hoping Daddy will get me a JCB for my birthday”

The panel looked at each other trying to assimilate what they thought they’d just heard, but it hardly prepared them for the next answer

“Do you have any other hobbies, Geneviève?”
“Yes, I’m restoring an old car. Its been lying in a garage in the woods since 1943”

“Oh! That’s quite old!”
“But its much older than that. It was built in 1922”

“And what have you done most recently on that project?”
“That would be stripping down the gearbox, taking out each of the cogs and then cleaning and rebuilding. It weighs about 60 pounds so lifting it back up into position is like working out on a bench press. It has to be done from under the car and then the shaft wiggled through the clutch towards the engine. But I built an engine jig and I can use that to increase the ground clearance while I’m working. It was good welding practice after I finished my course”

“So where do you find out how to do all this. Is there a manual?”
“No, sadly not. I need to work it out from first principles. There are some similarities with other cars that age, but there’s only one other of these in the world and when it was rebuilt they got it wrong. But I’m helping them get it right now”

“Sorry, Geneviève I’m not quite with that”

“Well, the only other one in the world is owned by Sir Mark Eastall. When he found his one, it had been in a severe front end crash. He had his team rebuild it the best they could but there were no design drawings or anything surviving, so they redesigned it and built it how they thought it might have been. Of course Mark wasn’t very pleased when I told him I’d found another one. But mine didn’t have any damage, so I was able to tell him that his guys had got it wrong and how it ought to look”
“I would have thought he’d be pleased that you could help him”
“Yes, he was eventually because he can now race his and have access to a reference point if he hits anything and needs to rebuild parts of it. But as the only one in the world his was worth a lot of money. As one of two known examples it was worth about twenty thousand less. But I did say sorry”

“So do you have a career in mind for when you leave school?”
“No, not definitively. I have a number of directions I could go in, but kids change as they grow up, so I want to keep options open as long as possible. A chemistry degree is a possibility, but something in mechanics is also possible or even something completely different”

“Mechanics Geneviève? Is there a future as a mechanic?”

Geneviève was visibly taken aback

“Certainly. Making specialist parts is hugely complicated – and expensive. For instance the variable pitch camber angle steering bar that I milled for Mark took advanced calculus to work out the connector angles. It had to be angled in six places to fit around everything else and there was a limited gap for it so I had to work out what the stresses and pressures would be, quite apart from working out what the maximum lateral strain would be to decide what diameter rod I needed to start with because really strong carbide steel would be almost impossible to mill. It’s a relatively simple job to feed the steel into the milling machine, but its hugely complex working out the parameters to tell the machine what to do. I gave it to Mark for 1500 pounds but he told me that a commercial fabricator had estimated 10 to 12 thousand”

“I thought older cars were a simpler design than modern ones?”
“Yes. In general they’re much simpler. But Mark wants to race his and a certain amount of customisation is permitted. Which is why he wanted a variable camber bar and these parts need to be designed from scratch”

Silence prevailed for several moments and Geneviève was seriously considering using her prepared question to restart the conversation, when the panel started to discuss her amongst themselves. But it was only a few moments before Anton spoke again 

“Geneviève, we would be delighted if you and Holly were able to start with us at St Luke’s next term. Is there anything that might prevent that happening?”

She shook her head “No. If fact we’ve been looking forward to it more each day since daddy told us at Christmas”

Holly was waiting nervously outside in the hall but jumped in the air with a yee-ha whoop when Geneviève told her. “I can’t wait to tell Danni. She’s going to be so pleased”

“Tamara will be as well if you start playing for them”

“Yes. Except she’ll have to find someone else to hit over the head with her stick”

Stock? What Stock?

That morning, Eloise was also back at work. She hadn't even got to her pokey little office before Grant from Homewares caught her by the arm. Gio wants to see you. First thing, he said. I think he's got everyone in the store looking for you. Actually Eloise, I was passing his office ten minutes ago and there seemed to be some serious discussion going on so I think he's quite wound up about something. Just hope it's not you”

She glanced at her ring several times as she headed for the second floor. That was her safety net. Even if he didn’t bail out the 50 thousand pounds of company money she’d just risked. But her ring said that Steve would always be there to look after her that was what gave her the confidence that she could now just tap on Grenasius’ door and amble in almost uninvited.

The argument was still going on. The three men seemed decidedly intent on out-talking each other. All were directors. Gio, who she knew, Pierre who she knew and Eric Simpson who she knew who he was. He was the sleeping partner in the Simpson and Green name and had significant business interests elsewhere. He was really a non-executive director turning up for board meetings and offering advice, but Eloise had no experience of meetings with him. 

The subject under discussion was Peter, or more to the point, lack of Peter and she’d interrupted their debate but only long enough for Gio to wave her to sit down. 

 “Its all very well” Pierre was saying “that the sale has gone well. But we now have virtually no stock left, and Annabelle told me that she hasn’t seen any order details for us to accrue against” 

“Gio, it's your organisation that’s at fault. There's no built in cross check” Eric sounded as wound up as Pierre 

“But there is!” insisted Gio “it's in the finances. If you checked the figures Pierre, you'd see that the stock was sold. And the figures would also tell you if there were any new invoices outstanding if new stock had arrived – even without Annabelle raising the issue” 

“Gio. I'm an accountant. Not a warehouseman. Yes the evidence is in the figures and I can report on that. But it's not up me to look for and highlight those issues. It's up to the departments” 

“Which takes us straight back to Peter” said Eric

“Enough!” said Gio rather more forcefully than Eloise would have liked. He turned now towards her, but looking equally severe 

“It appears” Mrs Beresford, “that menswear are having a very successful sale and I think that may be partly down to you. You seemed to have had some involvement there on Saturday” 

“Yesss” she said slowly looking between the three others “I popped in to make sure my girls were all right and there were no last minute hitches. The only one seemed to be that you'd told them to increase the overall discount to 25% rather than 20. However, in menswear there had been no planning at all. It's Peter that does that kind of thing so without him around there was nothing. So I got the extra posters from my department and used them, then I found the old 20% stickers that were redundant and spread those around until Charlene from my team managed to create some new ones. We got round the price difference by telling everyone that they were in the first 20 or 30 or something customers and qualified for an extra five percent. That went down rather well because it wasn't expected. But I understand that it all went very well following that rather shaky start.” 

“Yes this is true, but it also means that we are in danger of running out of anything to sell. I don't know what those guys think they're doing in menswear” 

“That's a bit harsh!” cut in Eloise “the guys are employed to sell stuff. That's their job. I can't imagine you'd be too pleased Eric, if you went down and found them turning customers away just so that they have something left to sell tomorrow” 

“Quite so” finalised Gio “but the question is Eloise, do you know if Peter has any more stock on order?” 

She hesitated 

“I asked Donald” cut in Pierre “and all he said was that he was not authorised to place orders or spend the department’s money. That’s hardly working in the best interests of the company. There is such a thing as retrospective authorisation” 

“You could level that criticism at almost everyone” defended Eloise
“But the other point, Mrs Beresford, is that Peter hasn’t set up a deputy. He hasn’t authorised anyone to act in his absence”

“I couldn’t agree more!” she exclaimed suddenly appreciating that the criticism was now headed her way and it was time to deflect it 

“Peter kept the purchasing function very much to himself, but I know for a fact that he has not placed any orders for the Spring Season” 

“Are you certain?

“Yes”

“So we'll run out of stock.” said Pierre flatly “I suppose we could close and use the time to refurbish the area” 

“Eloise” asked Gio suspiciously “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I asked him yesterday”

A strange quiet fell across the room. Why would she ask Peter on a Sunday when he’s off sick unless something happened to prompt her

“Yesterday, Eloise?”

Now that was a better cue for her to expose her risky actions

“Yes. I was out with my family for a celebration on Saturday evening” she said subtly flashing her ring “so Don couldn’t get hold of me till Sunday. He was concerned about exactly this issue so rather than do nothing he phoned me. So, no Pierre, I don’t think so. And I’m glad you said that Eric, and, Gio, I hope you were listening” she said nodding at each of them in turn

All six eyes trained on her thinking that maybe they’d missed hearing some of the words 

“So after Don phoned me, I asked Sandra to ask Peter for me. That way it would be less like an accusation and more just a question. So then I contacted the German supplier that we get most of our stock from…”
“…. Good thinking Eloise” said Gio …”but they have a six week lead time”

“Yes, Gio, although I didn’t know that at the time. It’s outside my area as we already discussed. So then I phoned my up-market supplier in Mumbai, who also produces menswear. I’d had a look at his range when I was there, but of course we weren’t there to cover menswear as well” 

“So what’s his lead time, presumably from date of order?” asked Eric
“So we’ll only be closed for a couple of weeks” criticised Pierre

“No Pierre” she sighed “My supplier is in the middle of manufacturing a large order for a Stateside customer. He was intending to ship the whole consignment so that he got paid earlier, although the Americans would prefer a split shipment and staged payments to relieve pressure on their cash-flow. So my supplier has agreed to divert some of the American stock to us. That way he gets paid early as he wants, the Americans get the staged delivery that they want, and we get a brand new range of menswear. Rohan put the shipment on a plane straight away, so that arrives late tonight and should clear customs on Wednesday. So Friday or Saturday should see the racks restocked”

“Oh well done, that lady” complimented Eric

She paused expecting in vain that someone would say something else but instead continued “Of course, I don’t know if we’ll completely run out of stock before then, but just in case I think we should create some posters advertising the new seasons stock available from Friday just to get the New Year off to a good start”

There was another pause for thought

“Of course, as we already discussed, I have no authority to spend the Menswear budget, so I have two suggestions. This new order is currently against the Ladies-wear summer collection budget where we have not yet placed the orders. So we can either reassign it and do a simple funds transfer. Or Gio, I could simply act as a wholesaler and sell it from Ladies-wear to Menswear. Of course there would be a nominal mark-up”

Gio went various colours of red through white and then back again, while Eric burst out laughing “Genius!” he exclaimed. “Genius Mrs Beresford! And which would you prefer?”

“Which ever makes life easier for Pierre”

Gio had now calmed down. Not often did anyone dare to tease him, but in this case he found that he didn’t mind. In fact he quite enjoyed the diversion, subtle as it was.

“Is it the full range that we’re getting?” he asked

“Yes. I’ve taken a bit of a risk on the suits. But I’m confident that we won’t be disappointed judging from his previous supplies”

“Previous supplies?”

“Yes, his shipment of new year Ladies-wear Spring fashions arrived just before Christmas so that its available for immediately after the sale and my initial inspection looks very promising”

Calm now prevailed and it looked very much like Holly would not be going into the menswear retail business after all. 

“Thankyou Eloise” said Gio “but we three have some additional business”

She dropped in on Don to update him as she headed back to her department to pick up her real job but managed to do remarkably little of it before her next interruption. 

It was early afternoon that she was in the middle of the conversation with Brenda she’d been trying to have for maybe two weeks now when Julia appeared at the foot of the stairs

“We need to set it up as a separate entity” Eloise was explaining

“A what?”

We need to keep it separate, section it off, so we don’t risk alienating our main customers by stocking really expensive stuff. We don’t want them to feel bad that they can only afford the Everyday range in our store…..”

“Yeah” interrupted Charlene “we could put it all over there and have a big sign that says Brenda’s Boutique”

“I would prefer if it was more prominent, like more central”

“No, I don’t think so. We couldn’t stick Brenda away in a corner if we did it that way” 

But Julia was waiting for a break in the banter

“Eloise, Gio wants to see you, now, if you’re not with a customer” 

She walked with Julia back up to the top floor but was surprised to find herself directed to the boardroom rather than Gio’s office and froze as she felt all 16 eyes train in on her as she entered the room. She stopped abruptly hoping someone would explain, or the floor would give way and she’d disappear back down to Homeware.

“Ah! Mrs Beresford. Thank you for lending us your valuable time. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Mrs Beresford who, pretty much independently set up the much acclaimed fashion show just before Christmas. Now Mrs Beresford, I know this is putting you on the spot somewhat, but we’ve been trying to come up with ideas for other departments that might have the same impact as your fashion show, and I think its fair to say, we’re struggling. So as something of a last resort I suggested you join us, just on the off-chance that you had any more ideas”

Eloise stood, speechless, by the door, thinking maybe her best bet was to surreptitiously open it then bolt through it and run like mad. But all eyes were again on her

“Well” she stuttered “Em. More ideas? Well, in Ladies-wear we’re already planning Fashion and Colour co-ordination workshops and make-up demonstrations for the new year just to attract people in….”

She felt Gio drilling her with those piercing eyes. This was something else she’d planned without telling him first and now she was sure that he’d think she was just taking liberties and heading off in so many unauthorised directions like a loose cannon 

“… the events aren’t fully developed yet, but I think we’ve done enough background to know they’ll be popular. But for other departments. Em, It depends which department you had in mind. I.. I mean, Menswear could run a similar event, but guys, on the whole , are less interested in fashion, and…” she said beginning to find a thread “…focussing on the 20 to 30 age group limits our audience and is not a speciality. And similarly children’s-wear, although running a fashion show with a bunch of 8 year olds as models ought to be a recipe for either a very good laugh or a terminal heart attack. To be fair, teenage fashion might work”

“Yes” agreed Gio, “That’s about where we got to. Any ideas on the other departments?”

“Maybe we could put something together showcasing homeware and furnishings and with decor and fittings as well. It would be like an ideal home exhibition. Paint, wallpaper, furniture, lighting – the whole room, to give people home improvement ideas as Spring looms on the horizon?”

A few looks and nods were exchanged around the room as she seemed to have ignited some thoughts at least.

“Another concept on homeware is to distribute displays around the store. They would add interest to the corners of other departments where there are inaccessible or unusable spaces. And certain items could be used as props in static displays, with a sign that directs anyone interested back to the first floor.”

“This is all good food for thought, but it doesn't sell homeware much. I agree that displays might help the other departments, but...”

“..no” agreed someone else “I can't see this helping you shift those Toby Jugs” 

Eloise was a little cross with this. There she was, asked without notice to come up with something where all of them couldn't and now they had the audacity to criticise it. 

“Ok, what about advertising?” 

“Yes, but it's the cost” 

“What about a competition?” suggested Eloise recovering from being cross and continued as Gio’s questioning look greeted her across the table 

“Like, what's the connection between a slow cooker and a short cocktail dress? And what we do is we post this question, or a similar one each week in the front display window. And then the next week we draw out one of the right answers and present them with the prize of.. of.. of a Toby Jug” 

“That's just like giving away the Toby Jugs” 

“Not if you can write it off against the advertising budget” 

“But, if you're going to look at it that way, you'd be better selling them off cheaply” said Eloise,

“That” retorted Pierre flatly “would make a loss, even you should know that!” 

“Well, yes. But I look at it more simply, Pierre. If we spent £500 on Toby jugs and sell them all cheaply for say £300, then we make a £200 loss. If we don't sell them at all and confine them to the basement, we make a £500 loss” 

“But.. Over 5 years, so it's only £100 per year. Your way it's a £200 hit in year 1” 

“If it was my household budget, Pierre, I know what I'd do!” 

Pierre glared at her, but was unwilling to prolong the exchange as he knew from experience which side of the debate Gio would be on. 

“Ok. So maybe in the short term, we just try to make the best use of our front window display space” 

“Oh great - a window full of Toby Jugs! Clearance, no offer refused!” 

She felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise, keep calm, keep under control 

“I was thinking” she glared back “more of a neat shelved pyramid of Toby Jugs.” She broadened out into a softer smile at Pierre “And a caption that says - Pig ugly Toby Jugs. Buy one today for someone you really hate” 

The room dissolved into laughter, and Gio was relieved that the tension had been curtailed. 

“Or,” continued Eloise “that central corner window isn't used much. It's too hard to get into. So what I would like to do is unbolt that whole storage unit that's used for ties and shirts in menswear, and just get maybe 8 blokes to lift it up and move it four feet back. That gives plenty of access space and hardly reduces that empty space behind it. Then we set up a special display. Like maybe a dinner party. 4 or 5 mannequins suitably dressed, a table from furniture with glasses and bowls and plates from homeware with food, jewellery, a carpet, stain removal products, decorations, a light fitting. And a sign behind it all listing all the items with their department location and price. And we change it every week. Its there specifically to generate interest because that space is wasted right now” 

“I'm beginning to like this idea. And zero budget. And it can't do any harm. And, Mrs Beresford, what was it you said before the fashion show about team building, could you remind the Board please” 

“Oh, Em, Yes, of course. Since you ask. What I said before the event was that even if the fashion show didn't generate any additional revenue, it would still be worthwhile because it would bring people from all different departments together in a single project, like a team building exercise only more fun, and they would all feel as though at least they’d tried. As it is, so many people now feel more positive towards the company because they were all part of it, and inter-department co-operation displays like I just suggested are now feasible. I don’t think it would have worked three months ago.” 

That too had gone down well with everyone except Pierre “Whatever. Now, what's the answer? What is the connection between a slow cooker and...” 

“... And a cocktail dress?“ completed Eloise suddenly remembering that she was wearing one of Holly's shortish inverted pleat asymmetric accordion skirts.

“Well” she said twinkling her eyes and moving towards the end of the table. She reached Pierre and stood just offset behind him. She’d almost teased him in the meeting that morning and it seemed to meet with silent approval from Gio. Now the interest quickly became tangible as everyone anticipated why that was and what she would do next, not least generated by Gio, as she ran her hand seductively round the back of Pierre's neck. 

“Let’s just imagine, Pierre that you're missing out on time with your mistress. So, you buy her a lovely short dress that you know will make her look delectable. Thankyou, she says, but I don’t think that’s really practical for cooking dinner in the kitchen. That’s when you buy her the slow cooker so that she can prepare dinner before she goes to work, and has much more time to wear that new cocktail dress just for you after work!” 

Assorted smiles broke out all around the room, but no one was sure if Pierre would accept this in the spirit, or if he would actually explode.

Not Your Ordinary Interview

Meanwhile, at the Riverside site, Steve glanced at his watch. 29th of December. It would be a new year in two days. New year? But what was a year? Steve gazed out across the apron as the production shift arrived. Another pantechnicon was waiting at the gate for direction to unload. That’s another quarter of a million pounds worth of components. He’d had to consider component supply before. But looking at that truck now there was so much more. So much had happened. He'd moved on so far. All of these people now worked for him. A few directly, and the rest indirectly. But he was still responsible for all of them. And the buildings. And production. And….

The new calendar year would roll over to January again in two days, but the tax year? That would be another 3 months. The financial year. That ended – and started - in March for no apparent reason. And then it would be the anniversary of the Event, not that he had any intention of either celebrating the company's survival or even remembering it. It could be consigned to the forgettable company archive. But personally he would always remember it. Not actively, just something that happened because he reacted to events, and might hopefully avoid a repeat performance.

He had most of the organisation sorted out and he knew what he wanted to do about the rest. The Components production facility was working, they'd recovered and Heather wanted to do some kind of interview with him for the Gazette. The gamble with the house purchase had paid off. Eloise had agreed to become Geneviève’s new mum. How much could the world change in one year? How much would it change in the next? He wondered how the girls were with their interviews. He’d made sure that they were as prepared as they ever would be and his mock interviews went ok. At least that would give them some confidence. And he knew that Jim would hold his taxi and wait for the return trip. 

There was a lot planned at the TRE works. Steve was intent on getting all his personnel changes finalised before the new year, and that included Annabelle. 

It was a big day for Ruth. She’d told Annabelle that because she was her best friend, she’d used her influence to get her an interview for a Senior Accountant post that she knew was being created soon. She knew that Annabelle was looking for a new challenge now that she’d passed her exams and she knew already that Annabelle thought that manufacturing held more opportunities than retail. Annabelle had almost jumped at the chance and now Ruth was due to meet her at the gatehouse. She had checked in with Penny on reception, and had now stepped outside into the dim sunshine to wait for her escort. 

Ruth had only just arrived taking longer than usual to make sure she was ready as she hurried into her office with the single intention of dropping her handbag and returning to the gatehouse. Thwarted again, Steve caught her arm, intercepting her as she appeared to be heading out somewhere

“What’s up?” she asked suddenly nervous at his serious expression

“There’s just something I need to tell you. And I need to tell you before anyone else does”

“Well, if its bad news, Steve, we ought to get it over with now so that we can start fresh in the new year!”

“No, I don’t think its bad news, but opinions may vary”

She looked suspiciously at him encouraging him to explain

“Eloise and I got engaged. We’re….”

“Steve! Oh wow. Eloise is so lovely. Oh congratulations!”

She nearly hugged the life out of him and this time there was no Tristan to interrupt, even if this was going to make her a few minutes late.

“Have you got a date yet?”
“No, we’re aiming for Easter, but no, not an exact date because I need to make it a date that you’re available so that you can come. So if you could check your calendar and let me know. Then everyone else will just have to fall in line”
“Steve! You can’t organise the whole thing around me!”

“Why not? It’ll be so much easier than changing it when I find out you’re busy that day”

This new news made Ruth extra excited as she hurried to the reception office.

Annabelle commented enthusiastically on the surroundings. The lawned grass alongside the walkways and the roads. The car park neatly marked out, the smooth road surfaces rather than a pothole ridden wasteland with some flower borders next to the buildings breaking up the stark profiles. 

“Ruth, this is amazing! I've not been here before, but it looks more like a National Trust garden than a manufacturing works!”

Ruth smiled to herself. This was mainly Steve’s influence. Some of it while he was Production Manager but most of it in his more recent role as CEO. 

“I'm so envious of you actually working here. Where's your office? Do you look out over this side?” 

“No, largely I look out over the river, when I get 10 seconds to actually look at anything” 

“River? Of course, it must be near here somewhere” 

Ruth guided her round towards the cafe and then beyond it to where the tables and chairs were randomly dotted around the grassy riverbank that drifted down towards the water’s edge 

“….and that's where you take lunch?”

“If I have time” 

“Still can't believe you really work at this place” 

“Well, you might be able to as well. But its up to you now” 

“Yes, But I don't quite understand this. I know you invited me for an interview, and I know I need to find a new job, but it's not as though I've applied, I mean, not formally with a CV and a letter and everything. And then last night you said the interview isn't even with the financial controller. And do you know what? I’m beginning to think it's all a hoax. You’re just trying to make me jealous” 

“Huh! Do you think I'd do such a thing?!” 

“Yes” she said narrowing her eyes “And to be fair it would be quite funny. Imagine telling everyone down at the Boar. I'd have to laugh with them” 

“So why did you accept this hoax interview invitation?” teased Ruth 

“Because you’re going to show me round and I’ll be able to meet Steve again. You know, that fella who did the fashion show with Eloise” 

“Oh Annabelle, you’re not still pining for that cuddle all over again” 

“Hmph. you have no idea, Ruth” 

“Oh, I don’t know about that. But come on, we'll be late. You’ve got an interview to go to” 

“Don’t we get a coffee in the cafe first?” 

“No. There'll be coffee there” 

“Sure?” 

“Absolutely certain. And donuts” 

“Donuts! Now you are joking” 

“No, there will definitely be donuts. I know because I set this up”
“Set this up! Set me up more like”

“No, Bella, don’t be silly. This is your big chance!”

They walked the few steps across the road to the Old Building. Annabelle hung back as they turned right at the sign that said CEO’s Office at the top of the wide staircase 

“Look, that’s my office” said Ruth pointing out her name plate on the door. 

“Oh yes?” she said suspiciously

“It's in case I forget who I am. And this…”
“Ruth.” she interrupted flatly “This says CEO on it”
“Mhmm. Yes, but this is a position is quite senior in our finance team” she smiled tapping on the door and going in without waiting for a confirmation

“But he's the CEO, she hissed in a panic. I don't know what to do”

“Just give him a kiss. You'll be fine”

“You what!”

She edged her way forward and through the doorway as Steve got up from behind his desk.

“Steve. I’ve got Annabelle Winters, for her interview” she announced
“Winters? With an ‘s’?”
“Yes, its not plural. Thank Goodness. One of her is quite enough”

“Annabelle! Thank you so much for making the time to come and see us” 

She stood frozen to the spot, agape with disbelief as he beamed a smile at her, before spinning round to face Ruth

“You muppet! This is one big wind up – and I fell for it. I knew it was too good to be true and I jumped right in. Hook, line and sinker”

Steve was taken aback, but there was clearly more to this than he knew about

“Coffee?” he offered “Donut, maybe?” he said in a vain attempt at recovery

“Ruth! You just wait!” she took the few steps over to Steve and gave him a short kiss as Ruth had suggested. Previously she thought she’d been joking, but now she had to enjoy the joke herself.

“Hi Steve. Its great to see you again. Ruth, this is finally your retaliation for Islington isn’t it?”
Now it was Ruth’s turn to be nervously confused

“No, Annabelle, no its not. This is the Senior Accountant interview I promised you”

Annabelle smiled across at Steve and munched a donut

“Steve, a few months ago we were up in London. At the time Ruth had a bit of a crush on this particular guy. So I told her that he was going to be in a particular bar in Islington. I said I’d spoken to him very briefly in the corridor at the exhibition and he’d said he’d arranged to be with some mates and had to go, but if she turned up, then that would be different…”
“…Annabelle! I’m sure my boss doesn’t need to know about all this!”

“… but that’s how he’ll understand how funny this joke is, won’t you Steve? Anyway, Ruth got all dressed up and went over there. Go on Ruth, you tell him…”

Ruth sighed heavily “ooooh”

“Come on Ruth” prompted Steve “I’m dying to know”

“Oh ok. I thought it was a bit strange that I was the only girl in the pub but I got a drink and sat on a stool by the bar getting some strange looks for about ten minutes before the barman came over. He looked at me sort of strangely so I told him 

‘Its ok. I’m expecting to meet someone here’ and he said ‘I can believe that! But you won’t get much business in here, it’s a gay bar’. Well! I phoned Annabelle from the box on the corner and all she did was fall down laughing. A few moments later a guy picked up the phone at her end and asked what I’d said to her to make her fall on the floor in a most unladylike fashion and laugh such that her sides might split. I got the tube back across to Ealing and when I got into the bar of our hotel she was still laughing”

“And now you’ve got me back”
“Do you two play practical jokes like that all the time?”
“No, just when its appropriate. I think we look for the circumstances when the other will fall for it” said Annabelle while Ruth desperately searched for some way to retrieve the situation.

“I think it would be a good idea” Annabelle said “that we should tidy up the crumbs and move on before your CEO gets back and realises we’ve blagged his office?”

“I guess so” said Steve somewhere between bewildered and confused, gazing blankly out of the window “He’s around somewhere. That’s his car down there”

“Right! That seals it. I was hoping you’d be able to show me round the rest of the site. Its so amazing”

“Ok lets go. They walked across to the maintenance building and back via the other side of the river and through the café garden. Annabelle took Steve’s hand as they crossed back and headed for her car. She stopped at the drivers door shaking her head 

“You! Ruth Gilmore. I’ll see you in the Boar later. And its your round.. .. All night! But I’d better get back to work before someone misses me. Are you coming to the Boar later, Steve?”

“No, sorry Annabelle. I can’t make it today, but I think its awesome that you can take a practical joke so well. That’s impressive”
“Actually, I think it was long overdue, but it was bound to happen sooner or later”

Now alone in the office Steve stood quizzically looking at Ruth who just stood there not knowing if to laugh or cry with her outstretched palms facing him in a gesture of disbelief.

“I appreciate” Steve said breaking the silence “that your interview was unconventional. But this takes it to completely new heights”

She leaned back and rested against his desk “Would ‘Sorry’ help?”

“I doubt it. Ruth,” he chuckled “You know that the whole senior team and not just me has been really impressed by your performance since you joined my office, but someone who can pull off a stunt like that against their best friend and get away with it has got to be on a completely different level”

“But Steve, you know it wasn’t a trick. She just hasn’t connected the Steves together. I thought I was doing the right thing. Oh, Please don’t be too cross with me.”

“Cross! Not at all. I used to work with a bunch of crazy engineers. They were always playing practical jokes, but nothing quite like this. Although I’m not sure how we recover now. I had already marked her in as our new Accountant”

“Oh my goodness! Have I ruined her career as well! Oh Steve, please… “ 

But they were interrupted as Sally came in with the monthly prospect list that he’d asked Keith for.

“Who was that, Steve?”

“It might be our new senior accountant”

“Oh! Do you hold hands with all your interviewees?”
“No, only the girls”

Back across town, Annabelle was faring rather worse, walking straight into Gio as she headed for her office 

“Been out?”

“Yes, Mr Grenasius. I needed to go across town for something. But I’ll get everything finished this evening that’s needed for tomorrow”

“Across town? Oh yes! Of course you did. How did it go?”

“Go? Mr Grenasius?”
“Yes, Annabelle. Did you reach a conclusion?”

“Not .. .. Not really?”

“Oh dear. I was hoping I might finalise the plan tomorrow.”

Back at TRE Ruth had finally come to a standstill in Steve’s office. Now she was unlikely to achieve anything more at work that day and headed for the coat stand.

“Good luck with Annabelle in the Blue Boar later” he said

“I think I’ll need it. I don’t know what to tell her”
“Tell her anything at all – Whatever it is, she won’t believe you”

Annabelle got to the Blue Boar rather late after finishing the work she’d promised Gio. Only four of the usual crew were at the table with Ruth as Annabelle approached. 

“Your round” she said, but not quite as cheerfully as she had planned because Gio’s comment was still playing on her mind. He must be thinking about something completely different. He couldn’t possibly be in on the prank.

“Its my round….”
“No, No its not. Its Ruth’s round” said Annabelle as she approached the table
“Sounds a bit unfair, she got the last one”
“Yes, and she’ll get the next one as well! Have you told them yet?”

“I think we should tell them. Its only fair they know why you’re in the chair all evening!”

Annabelle related the story with minimal help from Ruth with the hilarity enhanced by the recent alcohol. Ruth kept quiet till the end. It didn’t seem appropriate to interrupt and the laughter had started to subside before she spoke 

“But the funniest bit is…”
“Funniest bit, Ruth. That’s all of it, isn’t it?”

“No, Annabelle. The funniest bit is that it actually was a real interview, for a real senior accountant position with the real chief executive of Three Rivers. But Annabelle didn’t believe me” 

The four fell about even more as Annabelle’s jaw hit the floor. Was this another joke or was it Armageddon?

Next morning Annabelle was surprised to find Mr Grenasius hovering by her desk.

“Thank you for those projections” he started “and for staying last evening to finish them. But, tell, me. Do you have a second interview planned?”

“No”

“Oh! How strange. I thought Steve was intent on moving quite quickly on this. But then I get the impression he tries to move far too fast on everything he does”

Ruth’s phone took ages to be answered

“Bergstrom’s office, How can I help you?”
“Is that Ruth?”
“No, Its Sally. What can I do for you this morning?”

“Hi, Sally. Its Annabelle Winters here. I was over seeing Steve yesterday”

“Oh yes, I remember”

“You do?”

“Yes – you seemed to be quite friendly”

“Yes. He’s a really friendly guy. Is Ruth around”

“No, she’s over in HR at the moment, but Steve’s here”

“Which Steve is that, Sally?”

“Which one? We’ve only got one. And believe me, that’s enough”

“Which one is that?”

“Steve Bergstrom, the CEO” she said becoming concerned

By now Steve was watching over at her

“Hold on, Annabelle. Steve. I’ve got your Annabelle on the line, presumably after yesterday’s interview. Have you got time today?”

“Nothing that can’t move” he said checking the diary “and I’ve got nothing specifically designed to disrupt this afternoon”

Sally relayed the message with limited editing but was still surprised when Ruth caught up with her later and asked her to act as escort when Annabelle arrived.

As requested, Sally responded to Penny’s call to collect her with a cheery introduction

“Hi Annabelle, I’m Sally. Sales Division secretary. We spoke on the phone earlier. You seem to know Steve quite well”

“Do I?”

Sally was confused, and decided not to pursue this as they headed for the Old Building. 

“This is where I went yesterday I think”

“Yes, its where the executive lives – first floor”

“And Steve is expecting me?”

“Yes.”

Sally stopped as they reached the pavement “Miss Winters, forgive me for being confused, but you don’t seem anything like the person that was here yesterday. Yesterday you were bubbly, laughing and even holding hands. Today you seem more of a nervous wreck. Its not really anything to do with me, but I would recommend you take two minutes maybe in the ladies room to compose yourself before your meeting. I’ll wait by the stairs and take you up”

“Oh look! Ruth’s name is still on that door” she commented trying to retain the composure that she’d repainted onto her face

“Ruth? That’s because that’s her office. She’s even at her desk. Don’t know why she asked me to bring you over. But its my pleasure whatever. Steve. I’ve got Miss Winters here to see you”
“Ahh! You mean my Annabelle. We had no specific mayhem planned for this afternoon, so we thought we’d invite you to make up for it” he said as they entered his office.

“One day I’ll work this out” said Sally sadly “but it won’t be today”

“Tomorrow isn’t looking good either!” quipped Steve as his phone rang

“Yes Keith….”

Annabelle stood gazing out across the lawned cafe to the river and the meadow beyond while Ruth took her coat from her like a lady in waiting. She placed the coffee and donuts on the coffee table as Steve finished his call. Yes, this was the same Steve as yesterday and she drifted over to him on autopilot. She reached out and gave him a kiss as Ruth had instructed the first time. This was weird, but now hopefully it would all fall into place. 

“Now that's the very best way to start an interview. If only they were all like that” 

The three of them sat down and Ruth played mum. 

I'll be fine in a minute, thought Annabelle, mesmerised with trepidation. Just an interview would have been ok, but this was not just any old interview. This was for a company she really wanted to work for with a guy she really wanted to work with. It was career progression that she’d been working towards for years and it was on site with her best friend – and that was just the start, except that she was starting a whole stack of madcap consternation behind where she should have been.

Now Annabelle, she said to herself, I’m going to count down from three snap my fingers and at that point you will wake up. Three, two one! There I think I’m back now 

“Annabelle, despite Ruth's teasing, are you all right. You seem a very long way away” 

“I'm. I'm ok Steve Thankyou. Sorry, I was just a bit overwhelmed. I think its due to getting a second chance after yesterday’s episode. This site, its like a rose garden but really it's a factory making sausage machines. And after yesterday, I have never been more…” she tailed off. Was it nervous or insecure or just plain scared? 

“But Ruth did tell you what's going on didn't she?” 

“Yes, she probably did, but I didn't believe her. She said it was an opportunity for an interview that I really shouldn't miss. But she says very little about her work” 

“That's a shame. But I did tell her she was in a very confidential position” 

“Annabelle wouldn’t know that one, Steve, if its not in the Carme Sutra”

“No Ruth, that would be the compromising position”

But having now pointed the discussion in the direction of more frivolity, she headed back to her own office. 

“In that case. I'll explain. This all follows on from the Event. Has she told you about the Event! No? Oh no matter. As I understand it from Ruth you've just passed your CIMA qualifications. Now your job at S and G is a level two going on three which you simply continued to do after passing your level 4. Talking to Gio, I get the impression he doesn’t want to pay Cima salary for a level 2 to 3 job. Also, you want to move on to doing more appropriate stuff. Gio doesn't have much at that level and what he has, Pierre is doing in his role.” 

She nodded silently at all the right points admitting to herself that Steve was indeed well informed as he continued

“Now, during the Event we lost our FD and since then the finance operation has been running on a kind of autopilot. Its surviving, but only just. In addition to all that, we've just set up a new company called TR Components. Lisa Byrnham is supposed to be the Head of Finance but is over at Components trying to keep that show on the road while we get a General Manager installed. I’ve posted some ground level admin assistance down there to help her, but she’s way too busy to re-establish the Finance Department. She too busy just firefighting to take a step back and set it up, and then Finance would be after that.

Its been proving quite a challenge to hire the right General Manager so I’ve not been at all sure when we’ll get our Financial Controller back. However, we should have someone start in the new year and in any case, the Components operation is now sufficiently established that I want the back office functions to cover both companies which will mean even more changes. 

Now over here our level 2 girl is not really interested or capable of moving upwards and is quite happy in her current role. She's got a young family, so I understand that. Our level three called Cheryl is really rather good and very conscientious, but she was directly involved in the Event back in April where Daisy got kidnapped” 

“Oh, I remember that. It was headlines for days. That was the murder at Vixen Woods! 

“.... Good, so now you know where we're starting from. So Cheryl would leave if she had somewhere to go. Daisy was the other member of the finance team, but she has moved to logistics. She has no interest and almost as much aptitude for accountancy. 

So that leaves me with either a deserted department disaster, or a number of vacancies with an open door to reorganise the way I want it. 

Add to all that, you have recently passed your Chartered qualification and, my covert informant tells me you might be looking for career progression and might be interested in moving into manufacturing”

“Oh my. Yes please. I thought my chance had disappeared after yesterday. I wanted to join Three Rivers five years ago but there wasn’t really an opportunity so I joined Greens instead”

“I thought you might. And if you didn’t I thought I might be able to persuade you. So I've had a chat to Gio, and Cheryl has been for interview with him and Pierre and all that looks promising. And it's in the town centre which is where Cheryl would prefer to work. 

In our new structure, our new Senior Accountant would immediately hire a level 2 or 3, take responsibility for our existing level 2 and I'm also intending to place a raw novice in the department as well, either to start on the accounting ladder or to take the weight of pure admin. So with you looking for a job, and me having a vacancy, with Cheryl wanting to move to a pure level 3 but with nowhere to go, and everything else adding up like she doesn't want to be pushed into progressing while her kids are still demanding attention, I suggested to Gio that we do a straight swap. Of course we don’t want to be accused of modern slavery, so it has to be between consenting adults, as it were. Hence the interviews, but that’s also why you won’t see these vacancies advertised anywhere.”

She listened carefully trying to take it all in. So Gio was in on it! Except it wasn’t one of Ruth’s weird stunts

“Steve. This sounds like such a wonderful opportunity. But I don’t see where yesterday fits in”
“Usually, it’s the day before today. But if you and Ruth start getting together on site I might have to start questioning even fundamentals like that. But in this case I was all prepared for a formal interview with you that Ruth had set up. That’s normal as she keeps my diary. But then you seemed more interested in becoming more familiar, scoffing donuts and wandering around the site. I did wonder if that was the impression you wanted to give. You see, what I didn’t know is how much of a practical joker you are. But you did know, and that’s why you didn’t believe it was all real”

“Its just that it all seemed too good to be true. And when it seems that way it usually is. I suppose I’ve got a huge amount of ground to make up now?”

“Not at all! You see, I’m an Engineer. I can’t ask you technical questions that only a good experienced accountant could answer. So for that side of things I have to rely of other people. Like the summary from Mr Grenasius and the feedback on what you do and how you do it from Cheryl after her interview there. And I’ll get Lisa involved as well. The bit I need to concentrate on is the more ethereal aspect - will you fit in with the rest of the team and are you flexible enough to adapt to our changing circumstances. Would you stand up and explain what you really believe about a situation like a member of our senior team, or would you go with the flow like a member of staff. Would you be an asset outside of your specialist area, or would you be a liability that needs to be kept on a short leash. And then yesterday. Ok, Quite often with my little girl at home, the odd the strange and the bizarre rock in with unexpected frequency but seldom do I encounter anything as surreal as where I just have to take a step back and watch the comedy unfold”

“All is not yet lost!”

Steve shook his head slowly

“If I offered you the job right now, would you take it”
“Yes”

“Even though we haven’t discussed salary, benefits or the actual tasks?”
“Yes”

He looked at her awaiting an expansion “Because?” he prompted

“Because this site is so well looked after and because if you can have a farce like yesterday just kick off in your office and hardly bat an eyelid, this has got to be a good place to work. Ruth absolutely loves it and I can understand why. And I want to be part of it too”

Steve nodded in approval

“I’d like you to come over to Components with me, if you have the time, to meet Lisa”

Lisa was bent so far over her desk her head was almost touching it. She was concentrating on the matrix in front of her adding to it and making corrections at a furious pace. She looked up but clearly without any inclination to stop and chat.

“Steve, I really need to get this done. I can’t be late out again tonight. Phil will surely divorce me”
“Lisa, there’s plenty other fish in the sea”

“Steve! The last thing I have time for right now is fishing”
“Just thought I’d introduce Annabelle. She’s interested in joining your finance team”

Lisa finally looked up “Sorry. Hi, welcome. How well do you do frantic?”
“Oh, I can do frantic when its needed, but I do try to avoid it”
“Lisa, Annabelle hasn’t actually joined us yet”

“Oh my. Oh Steve, I’m so sorry!”

“Its ok. Lisa. Why don’t you phone me later this evening and we could have a chat. Or I can phone you?”
“Yes, much better. Steve’s got my number. 8.30, or 9”

“Annabelle, lets go and find Lucy instead. I did warn you about Lisa and maybe Lucy’s not quite so pre-occupied”

“Steve, I don’t mind if she is. I think I’d be able to make a real difference much sooner if its like this to start with”

Lucy was altogether calmer. She had a pile of papers in her in-tray twice as high as the tray itself, but she beamed over at him putting her pen down and picking up the phone “Penny, can you bounce all calls for us. Say the fire alarm just went off but they should be back in half an hour after its checked out. Thanks hun. Steve, this is unexpected”

“I decided to bring Annabelle down to see this part of the company. She was thinking about joining us as a senior accountant”

“Not just was, Steve, still am”

“I see. But you’ve just seen Lisa. She gets through so much stuff. But Steve, I’ve found a couple of things that I think are wrong, but I daren’t say anything. I think she’ll burst if she tries to do any more. And if I’m wrong and raise an issue that’s really my mistake, there’ll be exploded Lisa all over the walls for nothing”

“Steve, what about if I take a look. Lucy can run through it with me, and we’ll just check if there’s a problem”

“Annabelle. Even if you decide to join us, you wouldn’t start immediately”

“I could do some moonlighting”

“We could!” exclaimed Lucy in excitement “We could meet covertly down the Horse and Jockey and hide in a dark corner checking Lisa’s figures. Then maybe we could just have a chat and I can tell you what a good place this is to work”

It was on the way back that Annabelle raised her one concern. There was, she said hesitantly, no real signs of CIMA level work. Plenty of setting up a working department, hiring staff and staff supervision that she hadn’t done before which may well come with the seniority, but not much pure cost accountancy

“That’s because its secret” Steve said as they got back to the Riverside site.

“Why am I not surprised!” she replied in exasperation turning in towards him now parked outside the Old Building.

“There’s one building here we haven’t been to yet, tucked away just round from here. Its where the repair workshops are. But there’s a new use for that building starting January and that’s R&D. We’ll be developing a new range of machines and that means we need someone to be responsible for the costs. Development costs, production costs, sales costs, projected selling price, potential market at that price, probable margin, maintenance costs, cost of maintenance contracts to customers…” he paused seeing that she was in danger of glazing over – and that’s all CIMA stuff in my limited understanding of the hierarchy”

“Oh my goodness” she said ever so quietly and ever so slowly “that is just awesome”

She got back to the store after closing time but managed to catch Gio before he went home. She apologised for being out all afternoon, but he listened attentively as she summarised the job at TRE as Steve had described it. 

“But please don’t go telling anyone because the R&D department hasn’t been announced to the staff yet”

He nodded his approval “I will be very sorry to see you go. However, I would have some difficulty justifying a CIMA salary, and Cheryl will be more than capable as your replacement and she is really keen to join us. I think this plan of Bergstrom’s makes everyone a winner, and that doesn’t happen often”

And now with that done, the next stop on the whirlwind was the Horse and Jockey back across town for 7 o’clock. And don’t forget to phone Lisa at half past 8. But that can be done from the pub if its not too noisy and we haven’t had too much to drink by then.

Eloise’ Invitation

The day had also been busy for Eloise as she bumped straight into Gio in the top corridor heading back from seeing Annabelle just as she was leaving to see Steve.

“Ah, Mrs Beresford. Just who I was coming to see” 

He asked Julia to get some coffee, closed his office door behind them, and invited her to take a seat. 

“I do apologise for not inviting you to join the table yesterday. Quite frankly, we weren't expecting you to stay that long” 

“Oh, I'm sorry. I think I was a little overwhelmed at first. I didn't mean to overstay my welcome” 

“Oh, no, my dear, you didn't. What I meant was, we thought you'd maybe have one idea and we'd discuss that. I don't think any of us expected, well, so much. And it's not often we get much humour at these meetings. That was a welcome diversion as well. Especially when you managed to embarrass Pierre into turning bright red” he finished having lowered his voice to a near whisper

“Sorry, Mr Grenasius, I just thought he was being a bit rude” 

“Oh, don’t apologise, we all did. Except for Pierre himself of course. And seldom does anyone take him down a peg or two. But that is not the subject of this meeting. 

Now Mrs Beresford, as I think I have mentioned before, I am in the process of reorganising the management structure. I want to make the minimum impact on the ground level staff so that they are not unsettled, but changes at the top are not only necessary, but imminent. And as part of that I'd like you to consider taking on some additional responsibility” 

“Oh my! In what way?”                                        

“The existing position of Head of Apparel will disappear at least in title, so old fashioned. And I’m afraid its clear that Peter cannot continue in that post with his track record in procurement, unacceptable use of company funds in the purchase of airline tickets, and his misuse of his position in his treatment of Vanina Chandrey” 

Gio paused and Eloise feared she was supposed to say something

“I suppose so. But he was always a good salesman in tailoring. He’s just out of his depth”

Gio frowned at her drilling into her head with his exocet eyes

“Are you suggesting that we offer him a reduced position on the sales floor?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think he’d accept it?”

“That’s debatable, but jobs are hard to find right now. But it would save us training someone new, and it gives us the moral high ground of offering an alternative rather than just turfing him out on the street – even if that’s what he deserves”

“That is an interesting perspective. Especially since he so nearly wrecked your fashion show”

“Yes. I think that was really mean. But how did you know?”

“Was it not you that told me that!” he said rhetorically with the faintest of smiles.

“But back to the issue in hand. Mrs Beresford, I'd like to appoint you as Head of Fashion. The new position would take in ladies, gentlemen's, and children's wear including shoes, makeup and accessories. It will also extend to include jewellery”

“Oh my goodness!” 

“And you would also be responsible for procurement in these areas. I've already suggested to Grant that he sorts out homeware procurement for himself so that is excluded even though it used to come under Peter. Basically, I want each department to be responsible for the full cycle from procurement through to sales. That gives department heads full control of their P’n’L”

“Oh my! 

“Now, following yesterday’s meeting both my non-execs told me independently that you should be given a place at that table. Your contribution was the sort of thing that would bring a new impetus to Board meetings and help to revitalise the company. And that’s before we consider your necessary independent action on menswear. So although your title would be 'Head Of' you would be expected to attend board meetings as a full voting member. Naturally, if it works out then a Directorship would follow in perhaps a couple of years. Salary package would of course reflect the magnitude of the post and I’m sure we can come to an amicable agreement on that. So I'd like you to think about this, but please, also take into account that 5 out of the 6 remaining board members are already backing you for this”

Eloise sat glued to the chair trying to take it all in 

“Well! yes! I’m very flattered. I.. I expect this would take up a lot of extra time. I think I'll need to consider how this would impact my family. But thankyou. And I shall consider it carefully. When do you need an answer?” 

“As soon as possible. Tomorrow would be good. Or the next day. I appreciate you need to consider this, but I would prefer to know my options before my interview with Peter” 

Back on the ground floor she went to find Brenda 

“Gio's asked me to think carefully about something, so I'm going to leave a bit early to give myself time” 

“Well just go. Go on girl, go now! We can cope you know!” 

She bought a bottle of champagne and considered what a suitable celebration meal looked like. She browsed round the supermarket in something of a daze hoping inspiration would solve dinner and intuition would solve Gio. Or, she thought as she approached the frozen chickens, we could all go to the Castle! Yes! A few short months ago, it would be out of the question. But now, with her bank balance the right side of zero, it was possible. And maybe this was an opportunity to pay just a little back to Steve. 

Now at home - my goodness, is this where I call home now - she drifted into the living room. With the champagne in the freezer and some gentle ballads on the stereo she poured a small gin, booked the table and taxi and settled down on the settee. Now all she had to do was think about what it all really meant. What are the implications? What are the consequences? 

She checked the time. No-one else was home yet. Geneviève and Holly were both out. They’d rushed into town to get their new school uniforms for St Lukes. They wanted them ahead of the New Year party so that they could show Daniella and she could tell them what else they would need. But the girls were on holiday. During term time, Geneviève often didn’t get in till 6 if she went to the library or had a piano lesson. And then she would be in her workshop or out in the woods And Holly? She was still practising her guitar, sometimes. And she seemed very determined to do everything she could to make this dressmaking into a business and make it work. - and she was doing that without her interference! Steve was behind it giving her confidence and the odd steering correction. Maybe she could make more meals at the weekend so there was less to do on weekday evenings. Otherwise it was probable that Geneviève would pick up the pieces, and she didn't want that. It wasn't a competition, just she didn't want to force Geneviève into doing the cooking instead of her many other interests. 

She stared at her glass, admonishing it for evaporating, and settled back with a new one. 

Geneviève was first back. She bundled into the living room, having already been to the kitchen 

“Hi, mum! You ok?” 

“Sure! Shouldn't I be?” 

“Well, yes. Just I saw your car here, but you weren't in the kitchen and I didn't see any signs of dinner” 

“No. Dinner won’t be till 7.30. So there’s time to do whatever you want before that”

 “Oh, mum! I'm starving!” 

“Ok, I'll get you a snack and bring it to .. where? The music room? Where's Holly?” 

“Oh, she's just dropping some stuff in her sewing room”

“Oh great! Are we on the Cointreau already? Can I have one” said Holly by way of announcing she'd arrived. 

“Only a small one. And dinner won’t be till later….” as Holly disappeared back across the hall.

Eloise drifted slowly upstairs and changed into her more casual yellow flared dress just before Steve finally showed up at ten to 7

“Wow, Elly, you look fantastic”

But Eloise had just finished reflecting on all the decisions she'd made in the last couple of hours without getting all stressed out about it and she just drifted towards him and draped herself roughly around his neck as the girls appeared.

“What’s for dinner mum?” 

“Good question. What for dinner Eloise?” echoed Steve

“Anything you want!” 

“Anything I want? Oh dear. Was I meant to be cooking tonight? I didn't think so” 

“Daddy, something going on. Mummy was already on the gin before we got home” 

“Come on you two. Go get changed. We're going out to dinner and you've got twenty minutes. If you can make that 10, there'll be time for a glass of champagne before the taxi arrives.” 

Neither of them needed a second invitation and neither of them needed much makeup to look lovely, so it appeared that Holly was intent on breaking the world record for a quick change now that there was the incentive of fizzy wine. 

“Where are we going daddy?” 

“What's the occasion?” 

Steve picked up the last glass on the tray 

“I have no idea, on either count” 

“So this is all your idea, mum?” 

“Hmm, so we're going to Pizza Hut then?” 

“No we are not!” replied Eloise indignantly, but the driver gave the game away as he confirmed the destination 

“Oh wow. The Castle. Again! Must be something really special” 

“I knew something was going on!”

But Eloise steered the talk towards food, and what everyone would order so that they might save some time and not be home desperately late because tomorrow would be even later. 

But now with an aperitif in her hand, a crack appeared in her practicality and she decided to prolong the suspense. The starter was on the table when they sat down and there was an unvoiced expectation that an explanation would be forthcoming.

“Now” Eloise teased “This is a very special occasion” 

“We guessed that, mum” 

“Yes, and now you need to guess what the occasion is. You'll have till pudding to come up with something, then you can tell me what you think it is” 

“Oh mum! That's not fair. We're all desperate to know” 

“I'm not sure I'll be able to eat and think at the same time” replied Holly pensively ”but, oh, just look at that salmon. It's such a work of art it's a shame to eat it” 

Geneviève leant the back of her hand on Holly's brow 

“Are you feeling all right? Last time you told me 'don't let it looking good get in the way of eating it!' ”

“Holly, I'm thinking maybe you've had too much to drink already” 

“Not yet mum. But I'm working on it” - which Eloise took as a good cue to ask about the St Lukes interviews.

Now with the chef crafting dessert, Holly was first to guess suggesting that it had been all of three long days since Steve took everyone to the Castle, she'd have to do it herself. 

Steve was next going round the table “I think. I think that you've been a very naughty girl, and this is to say sorry before we all find out what you've been up to” 

“Daddy! That's a bit harsh!” chided Geneviève, but Eloise's complexion had gone up by several shades of pink. 

“Mummy you have! You've gone all red!” 

“Well, that is as maybe, but it's not the right answer” 

“Mummy, you'll have to fess up to daddy. Then he'll be cross with you. But only for five minutes, and he might not show it, then he'll love you again - at least, that's what happens to me” 

“Geneviève?” asked Eloise trying to move on without resolution 

“I think this is for Holly really. I think it's mum saying thankyou to Holly for, well, everything, over the last couple of years and now that she's got all that behind her, she's able to say a big thankyou. Dad and me? We're just joining in because while this is saying thankyou for the past, we’re all part of the future. And I think mummy’s just squeezing this in before the end of the year so that we can all just look forward in the new year” 

…That's all very interesting. It's fascinating to know what people think deep down and that’s such a lovely answer from you, Geneviève…

“So what is it really?” 

“Well, I had a meeting with my MD, Gio, he's the boss, and he has offered me a promotion as part of his management reorganisation” she said speaking slowly so as not to slur her words after the gin and champagne and aperitif and wine, as she described the new job 

“I haven't decided whether to accept. I need to think about the implications. But this celebration is just because I was asked” 

“But that's fantastic mummy, so you won't be working for that Peter that you went to India with?” 

“No, Geneviève, in fact, it he comes back, he'll be working for me” 

“So who will you be working for, is there another director?” 

“No, I don’t think so. I think I'll report directly to Gio. But I'll be part of the senior team and I'm expected go to board meetings as well” 

“It all sounds so fabulous. But you said you haven't accepted it. Why not? Mummy, you can't go delaying things. You might not get a second chance. You did with Daddy, but only just! And Gio might be different” 

Put like that from her daughter, Eloise suddenly discovered an increasing nervousness mutating into fear fluttering somewhere between her heart and her tummy that she'd go in to Gio tomorrow and find he'd withdrawn the offer.

“No, I told Gio I'd have to discuss it with you. It'll take more time, and that means less time with you and Geneviève and Steve” 

“But you must accept it” insisted Geneviève “it's great having you around and I do love doing things together, but we all do different stuff and we wouldn't all be around even if you were. So if it takes more time, then it will quite likely be time we wouldn't be together anyway” 

Steve reflected silently on Geneviève’s philosophical viewpoint, and up to a point, she was right. And it would become increasingly so, as the girls became more and more independent 

“But you can't pass up the opportunity. As Holly suggested, it may not come around again” 

“I think I'll just go up to bed” confided Holly as they all fell into the hallway “I'm not sure I feel so good” 

“It's probably that last half glass of wine! Finishing off the bottle like that” but although Eloise may have been cross, she was too elated or inebriated or both to sound it 

“Maybe, mummy. But it might have been that large Cointreau I had to start with while you were having that gin” 

“But it will all be worth it tomorrow” added Steve with a smile “So depressing, waking up in the morning without a hangover, knowing that that’s the best you’re going to feel all day”

Steve agreed that Geneviève could play a couple of Nocturnes before going up, and sank down onto the settee with Eloise 

“I've not been a very bad girl” she opened 

“That's good” 

“But not so good as being a good girl” 

“Oh, I don't know. Bad girls often have more fun. Whichever, I think it's good” 

“But?” 

“Four months ago you didn't have the confidence to be a good girl, never mind a bad girl. Now look at you. India, on your own and now Head of Fashion and Board member. But if you've been a bad girl I definitely want to hear what you’ve been up to!” 

She related the incident of embarrassing Pierre and Steve failed to stifle a chuckle. “I can see the headlines in the Gazette. ‘Sexy new board member winds up stuffy old directors’. I think those meetings will be a whole lot less sombre with you in there” 

She sat on the edge of the bed waiting for him to finish locking up and popping in on the girls.

 “So you think I should take this job?” 

“Definitely. For sure it will take up extra time at the start. But once you get established it may take less time if you set up your delegation lines properly. And you should be able to take the whole weekend off, at least once you get established”

“And what about Pierre?” 

“I think you should pop in casually and make sure he's not too upset. You don't want him gunning for you at your first full meeting in front of everyone”

New Years Eve already and the party was in full swing at the Blue Boar. Annabelle had found someone to bore half to death with talk of CIMA level accounting and Ruth was heading for the bar looking at the same time for any of her usual circle. 

But there was a guy that looked vaguely familiar sitting on his own on a stool at the bar. She was wearing her Nightwish as Steve had suggested, not that she was expecting to end up in bed with anyone. Just that it made her feel great. She reached the bar and the barman brought her a drink without a word being exchanged. The guy looked round wondering what type of magic was invoked to make this happen, only to find Ruth looking quizzically straight at him

“Hi” he opened, surprised that such a pretty girl should be staring at him

“Sorry” Ruth said suddenly “I was trying to decide if you were the guy….”
“…that you were destined to meet tonight?” he interrupted

She avoided that line “I thought I’d seen you at the Three Rivers site but I know you don’t work there”
“I’m new in town. I start work there on Friday”
“I guess starting on Friday, you can have a good look round before you get into it for real on Monday”

“I guess that might be the plan. I had only thought that by starting on the 2^nd it would be a whole month from an HR perspective. But did you say you work there?”

“Yes. I’m a secretary there. But I’ll introduce you to some folks around here and you won’t be on your own if you like”

“Ok. Or maybe you could just tell me a bit about you, unless you have to get back to your boyfriend”

“Oh ok. I’m Ruth. I’ve worked at TRE for nearly three years and I do admin stuff. And I guess you’re Adam, right?”

They moved to the quieter bar and then to the dancefloor and back to the bar for the next round. Ruth hadn’t intended the year to end this way, but it was better than the way most other years had ended for her.

Over at Steve’s house, Holly answered the door and led the guests upstairs to their rooms to drop cases and coats. Back in the living room, Steve poured a scotch for Marvin and a large gin for Angela. They looked on in amusement as Steve followed Holly’s move to grab the Cointreau bottle and catch her by the collar. He slipped an arm around her with the other unashamedly around their own daughter’s neck

“Now, you two” 

“Oh, dear” wailed Holly “that's dads 'I've got something very important to say to you' voice” 

“Yes,” retorted Steve “and it's this. It's a long evening. It's just gone 7 o clock, and that means 5 hours till mid-night and 6 hours till the party winds up. If you're going to last the pace, you need to moderate what you drink. Danni, what's your limit for Cointreau before the room starts going round?”

“Three” 

“I think you may remember its only two. Three is when the room actually does go round and left to your own schedule, you two could easily get through that before the rest of the guests arrive. Then you'd miss the whole evening. Now, I'm not saying don't drink alcohol. But I want you to think about how much, and when. There's plenty of orange juice and grapefruit and bitter lemon and Coke and Fanta and lemonade and grenadine” 

“What kind of grenade?” 

“Grenadine, Holly. It's pomegranate juice. It's red and denser than most other fruit juices so it sinks to the bottom if you add it to something like orange and it looks very pretty” 

But Steve was interrupted by Geneviève calling from the hall 

“Dad, can we invite four more?” 

The conversation lapsed until she came in to explain 

“That was Sarah Wilshier from number 14. The Cartwrights from number 12 were supposed to be at some party in France, but their car broke down and they missed the ferry. They've only just got back, so Sarah was asking if they could come along” 

“So how many are you expecting?” 

“About 30 , but that'll be about 34 now, mainly neighbours from the street” 

Eloise appeared through the door asking who was on the phone. “Sarah, looks like the Cartwrights are coming as well” 

“But they're in France, aren't they” 

“No, their car broke down,” 

“Oh, what a shame” 

“A shame? What, that they're coming? or that their car broke down?” 

Geneviève and Eloise played hostess until everyone had arrived. They pointed out where the buffet was laid out and where the drinks were, made some introductions and tried to remember who everyone was. 

Marvin had parked himself near the whisky but had slumped onto a stool in the study sometime not long after 9 o’clock. Angela sat on her own in the living room, occasionally talking to someone, but mainly looking thoughtful, or perhaps just miserable until Steve found Eloise in the hall 

“Angela needs rescued” he whispered 

“Who from?” 

“Herself” 

“What are you going to do?” 

He led Eloise into the living room where the conversation was beginning to get a little muffled. Holly was over by the stereo with Harry and Danni as he called over to her 

“Holly, fast forward the cassette to 120 and switch it in. There’s a good girl” 

A number of guests paused their chat. That instruction was very precise, and so something must be about to happen. The audible wallpaper faded out and instead a hard rock and roll beat took over. Steve whirled Eloise into the middle of the room and took up with a steady jive, as Eloise just laughed in astonishment and tried very hard to concentrate on the moves and especially to not fall over. The moves became more exaggerated as the track progressed, and soon he was spinning her round with her short yellow flared skirt floating ever farther up the faster she spun. The next track was slower, but Steve stayed with her as several others joined in 

“I thought you were going to do something about Angela?” she asked word by word as they came together on every second beat 

“Next track”                    

Eloise was elated and now slightly dizzy. She disappeared to make sure the food trays were fully stocked and Steve took Angela's surprised hand and pulled her up out of her chair 

“Oh, no. On no. I don’t... I mean I never have...” 

But the remonstrations fell on deaf ears as the next track pounded out. Steve started gently, like he had with Eloise, but very quickly moved the pace up as she concentrated on the next move. Steve threw her in to a spin, but in panic she threw her arms in the air groping desperately for something to hang on to. Steve couldn't catch her arm, as it was pointing to the ceiling and she crashed laughing and giggling into Alex and Chas standing watching by the stereo. They caught her and bounced her back over towards a catching Steve, who carried on as if nothing had happened. And the grin on her face said it all. On the next track, Steve picked up a gesture from Brian and Alex and deliberately cast her off towards them. They caught her an arm apiece and returned her to the dance. Angela was ecstatic, and took the next dance with Alex who was at least seventy five and a bit less vigorous with her than Steve. But she was loving it nonetheless. Now, thought Steve, who else needs integrating. 

The mood continued to improve as the alcohol ticked through to midnight, with everyone together in the living room for the final seconds of the year. It had gone only a little quieter as everyone waited with a last minute scrabble to top up their glasses. 

“Start as you mean to go on!” shouted Steve as he held a large whisky glass in the air and then poured it down his throat on the last stroke of midnight as everyone followed suit. 

With the main event complete, people started to drift off taking notice that Eloise had suggested that a one o'clock finish was anticipated. She accepted an invitation to the Wilshiers for that evening, but with the proviso that they had all sobered up enough to walk that far. 

Eloise was clearing away the remains of the food as Angela wobbled unsteadily into the kitchen with Steve not far behind 

“I think the girls have all gone up already” he said “I have no idea what state they're in” 

“Whatever it is” slurred Angela “it'll be a better state than Marvin. He's spaced out right across the bed and I can't move him” 

“No matter” replied Steve brightly “now that all the coats are gone from the south east corner, you can move in there instead. 

“Time for bed” said Eloise with her eyes half closed already. 

“I'm just going to check on the four girls” 

“Four? Well don't you go spending too long with the fourth one. I doubt if she's expecting a kiss goodnight too although the fifth one definitely is” 

Morning came around far too quickly and one by one they drifted into the kitchen looking variously for coffee or cures. 

“Oh my goodness “groaned Geneviève “someone please tell me there's a cure for this” 

“Hair of the dog” said Steve as Angela arrived looking quite the worse for wear. 

“Hair of what?” 

“The ‘hair of the dog that bit you’ is having another small dose of whatever got you into that condition in the first place” explained Steve 

“Sounds good to me” enthused Holly as Daniella just shook her head 

“You two look in remarkably good shape” he said 

“We took your advice and paced ourselves” said Holly 

“Yes” said Danni “we figured out what our limit would be, given the time and then tried to keep to it. We nearly succeeded” 

“It's more than your father did” said Angela crossly 

“I thought I hadn't seen him. But...” Daniella continued mischievously “I thought he might have got lucky with that lady in the lbd that kept talking to him so I didn't go looking for him” 

“Daniella!” admonished her mum, but then immediately put her hands to her head deciding that getting cross might hurt too much. 

“No, he just seems to have finished off that bottle of Speyside and crashed out around 10 o'clock” 

“Oh dear. You mean he missed all the fun? Never mind. No doubt he'll know his limit when he grows up” 

Angela groaned. There was so much truth in what Danni was saying but she was in too fragile a state to get cross that she’d said it. 

“Ohhh. Just don't let him hear you saying that….” 

End of Steve’s Year

Chapter 4

Christmas

Next Chapter is New Year