Fifty-Eight

By ten o’clock everyone was flagging. Katie had carried an overtired Michael up to bed, and now the Arbuckles said they would be off. Agnieska immediately said she would go too.

‘You don’t have to,’ Edna said.

‘No – we don’t want to break it up!’ said Susan. ‘You stay with your brother, if you want to.’

‘I like to go to sleep,’ Agnieska told them, and she did indeed look exhausted. ‘Goodnight – and thank you so much!’

Katie was touched by the fact that Agnieska leaned down and kissed her cheek after hugging her brother and Piotr.

‘Oh – goodnight. I hope you sleep well,’ Katie said. ‘And happy Christmas!’ She was already very fond of Agnieska.

‘Time for me to hit the hay as well, I think,’ Sybil said, after all the thank-yous and departures. ‘You can stay down here, if you like – put another log on the fire. But I’m all in.’ Sybil was sagging. For the first time, almost, Katie took in that she was quite elderly. Even with her rheumatism she seemed to get so much done normally.

‘Thank you for a lovely day, ‘Katie said, kissing her cheek. ‘This is the nicest Christmas I’ve ever had.’

‘Oh . . .’ Sybil brushed off the thanks. ‘Well, I’m glad. Pleasure. Right – goodnight all. Happy Christmas to you again.’

‘Thank you, Miss Routh – Happy Christmas!’ Marek and Piotr called to her. ‘Thank you!’

It went quiet suddenly, as if all the energy had gone. Marek reached for a log and threw it into the flames, where it crackled, sparks whirling up the chimney.

Piotr sat back and stretched, arms above his head, giving a huge yawn. ‘I go to bed. I’m sleeping already.’

Katie and Marek both tried not to show that they were pleased he was going, and wished him goodnight. As the door closed behind him, they looked at each other and smiled.

‘Well . . .’ Marek said. They could hear Piotr’s footsteps going upstairs.

‘It’s been a lovely day. I feel so nice and warm and well fed.’

‘Oh yes.’ Marek shook his head. ‘It is just wonderful.’ He looked up as the door closed upstairs, then held his arm out to Katie. ‘Come here . . .’ He was in the nice big, comfortable chair by the fire.

‘Let me put the light out,’ she said. ‘It’ll be cosy.’

Marek pulled her onto his lap and they snuggled up comfortably, Katie’s head resting on his shoulder, his arms close round her. She loved the way he held her very tight, as if she was utterly precious to him. She reached up and kissed his cheek, and he looked down at her.

‘You are so lovely,’ he said. ‘You are gift from God.’

‘Oh, I don’t know about that!’ she laughed. She stroked her palm across his cheek, bristly and lean, loving the feel of him, his heartbeat a gentle rhythm against her ribs. He reached down and they kissed, and she caressed the back of his neck.