Collette Bonnar's Short Stories: Christmas at Branley Cottage - Part One

“The nights are getting chilly, we won’t find until Christmas,” Vera Ryan remarked to Kate McNamara as she handed her change in the village store.

“Yes, and talking of Christmas, will you be on your own this year?” 

“I’m afraid so. Sadly, my family are all in Australia. They were home last year but they just can’t afford to travel again this year,” Vera added.

“I believe there’s a few members of our book club who will also be on their own for the festive season,” Kate remarked.

“Yes, there’s three others as well,” replied Vera.

“Mmm, I’ve had an idea…” Kate hesitated. “I’ll put it to the members at tomorrow night’s meeting.”

“Really?” Vera’s interest was piqued.

“Yes, well, they may not be interested, but …”

“Why not run it by me? And I’ll tell you what I think,” Vera’s curiosity was getting the better of her.

“As you know it’s my first Christmas back in Ireland and I don’t fancy spending it on my own. I was planning to invite those of you who are on your own to spend Christmas Day with me in Branley Cottage.”

“That’s a fantastic idea! I’m sure the others will be delighted. I did hear a few of them mention that they were thinking of going to a hotel. But there’s the uncertainty of the weather for travelling. Christmas at Branley Cottage would be brilliant.”

“I’ll invite them and see what they say,” replied Kate, delighted by Vera’s reaction.

The following evening, it was Kate’s turn to host the book club meeting which was the final one before the Christmas holiday. As the evening was ending, Kate brought up the subject of Christmas. “I’m aware that like myself, a few of you will be on your own this Christmas. I was wondering if you’d like to join me in Branley Cottage on Christmas Day?”

“That would be super,” exclaimed Maeve Gilmartin.

“I’ve already told Kate, I’d be delighted, seeing my family can’t make it back from Australia this year,” said Vera.

“That’s so kind of you,” Ted O’Sullivan’s face flushed with delight. He hadn’t been looking forward to Christmas on his own.

Philip Kilcoyne was looking decidedly regretful as he told Kate; “My nephew, Owen and his wife, Grainne, have invited me to Doolin for Christmas, but I really appreciate the invitation, Kate.”

“No problem,” she tried to keep her voice steady and hoped the others wouldn’t notice her disappointment.

Later, after the others had left, Philip lingered behind. Looking at Kate; “I’m really sorry to be missing Christmas here with you. If I’d known…”

“Don’t worry,” Kate reassured, but she realised her voice sounded flat. They sat and chatted for a while until finally, Philip looked at the clock. “It’s time I was off, I’ll see you at the Book Club’s Christmas Dinner in The Brambles.”

“Yes, that’s next Friday night,” Kate replied, looking forward to the night out.

After Philip left, Kate made another cup of tea and tried to settle by the fire with the book the group had picked for reading before the next meeting. Unable to concentrate, she left it down and allowed her mind to drift back over the past year. Six months earlier, she’d moved back to Ireland after working for over thirty years in New York as a companion and housekeeper for a wealthy author. She’d lived-in with her employer and after her death, Kate had been overwhelmed to discover that her boss had not only left her a large monetary inheritance but she’d secretly bought the cottage that Kate had been reared in and had bequeathed it to her in her will.

At first, Kate had found it difficult to settle back in Ireland after the hustle and bustle of New York. But after joining the local book club, she quickly made friends with the other members and one member in particular – Philip Kilcoyne. He was a widower, whose wife had passed away five years earlier. He and Kate had been friends when they were growing up but after she emigrated to America, they’d lost touch. Since Kate joined the book club, their friendship had been rekindled, and they were now spending a lot of time together.

Over the following days, Kate was busy decorating the cottage and doing Christmas baking. On Thursday morning, her doorbell rang and she was surprised to see Philip standing on the doorstep. 

“I’ve brought you some holly, it’s in the boot of my car. I was checking to see if you were at home,” he smiled as he walked across the icy gravel to fetch a large bunch of red-berried holly from the car.

“Oh, thank you. I love holly and there’s so many berries,” Kate exclaimed as she led Philip indoors. 

“I smell mince pies,” Philip’s eyes twinkled as he sniffed the spicy waft emanating around the old kitchen.

“How about sampling a few, washed down with a cup of coffee?” Kate offered.

“Well, seeing as you’re twisting my arm,” Philip laughed as he took a seat at the antique pine table. 

“So, when do you head off to Doolin?” asked Kate when they’d settled with coffee and mince pies.

“I leave tomorrow. There’s snow given for Christmas Eve, so I’m travelling down the day before, just to be on the safe side,” he told her. “You know, there’s been so many Christmases, I’ve been spending on my own. Owen and Grainne, normally go skiing for the holiday. This year, I was looking forward to staying around the village but sure it’s Murphy’s Law that I get invited when…”

Kate looked at him quizzically as he continued.

“Oh heck,” Philip reached for her hand and said; “I’d much rather be here with you.”

Feeling pleased, Kate’s eyes filled up as she nodded, unable to speak.

To be continued…