Page 74 of A Wish For Wilma

Jinnie served up the trifle then galloped upstairs when the monitor made grizzling noises. ‘Go ahead and eat,’ she called. ‘I’ll join you once I’ve served up dessert for Her Majesty.’

They each tasted a mouthful. Very nice, and so perfectly presented that Sam had the grace to confess his only input had been to order it online. ‘I looked at a recipe. Layering this, soaking that, assembling all the components. I can pull together chapters of a book with minimum stress — that’s a total lie, my writing process is more like chucking it in a blender and hoping for the best — but this defeated me. So I cheated.’

‘So did I.’ Wilma waited for a gasp of surprise from Gus. It didn’t happen.

‘Wilma, you’ve told me before that pastry-making is not your forte,’ he said. ‘I twigged from the start that the pie didn’t come from your fair hands. So what? We loved it, and we love you.’

An inedible lump stuck in Wilma’s throat. Not pastry, but emotion, threatening to undo her. She needed to leave the room, except…

‘It’s almost time.’ Sam gestured towards the lounge. ‘Fireworks and festivities. Let’s turn on the TV and wave 2022 goodbye.’

The roar of the crowd drowned out the presenter. Everyone was hell-bent on seeing in the New Year in the noisiest of fashions. Whatever had gone before was consigned to the past as hope sprang eternal. Always hope, because without it…

‘Excuse me a wee moment.’ Wilma ignored their concerned looks and stepped into the hallway. It seemed aeons since she’d bust her way into the cupboard housing the genies’ lamps. Since she’d sat on one, taken it home, and brought DJ into her life.

There was no lock on the cupboard now. Nothing to hide, no genies lurking in darkened corners. But they were out there somewhere.

‘Gran! Come and join us. We’re going to sing “Auld Lang Syne” after the bells.'

Wilma took a deep breath, opened the cupboard and gasped at the sight of her brocade cushion. She touched it gently, feeling something tingle through her fingers.

‘Gran!’

Wilma closed the door and returned to the lounge. ‘The countdown’s starting,’ said Sam. ‘Everybody grab a glass.’

Fizz in hand, they counted down with the TV.Six, five, four, three, two, one…Happy New Year! They exchanged kisses, toasted each other and sang the famous Burns song at the top of their voices.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never bro't to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And days of auld lang syne?

Wilma gazed around the room. Everyone she loved was here, celebrating new beginnings and looking ahead to all life had in store for them. Her heart swelled with happiness, and she gratefully accepted Gus’s outstretched hand. Yes, everyone was here except three people whose presence she would never forget.

Once the room quietened, Wilma tapped her glass. ‘I’d like to propose another wee toast,’ she said.

‘Go ahead, Gran,’ said Jinnie.

‘The floor is all yours,’ said Sam.

Gus said nothing, but his eyes — fixed on Wilma — spoke volumes.

Taking a deep breath, Wilma raised her glass high. ‘To absent friends.’