Come in, Mum, weve been waiting for you, said her son, Paul, as his wife, Emma, whisked off her mother-in-laws coat and cheerily presented her with a pair of comfy slippers. Emmas bright smile faltered for a moment as she glanced at the floor, a flicker of concern crossing her face.
Paul followed Emmas gaze and spotted what she had noticeddamp footprints trailing across the hall. They exchanged a meaningful look but chose, for now, to let sleeping dogs lie.
Paul and Emma had wonderful news: their twins, a recent addition to their family, were now old enough for a small celebration. So, theyd decided to gather their nearest and dearest for a bit of a knees-up.
Mary, whod been enjoying her retirement on a modest pension, arrived bearing lovely hand-knitted baby clothes shed crafted herself. Shopping for gifts wasnt in the budgether purse-strings were tighter than everso shed hesitated to visit, insisting shed pop by another time. But Paul and Emma wouldnt hear of it; on such a special day, Mum absolutely had to be there.
The boys were called Jack and Harry, which delighted Mary to bits. Her late husbands name was Harry and her father had been a Jack, so Paul had kept the familys tradition of names alivea legacy not lost on her.
What a lovely little chap he is, looks just like you, Emma! And this ones the spitting image of you, Paul. Oh dear, or is it the other way around? Theyre as alike as two peas in a pod! Mary bustled around the cot, quite at a loss as to who was who, for the boys truly could have swapped places without anyone noticing.
Paul and Emma just laughed, their amusement fuelled by the sight of Marys granny-glee mixed with an equal measure of puzzled worry.
Once the last guest had toddled off home, Mary began gathering her things. Emma glanced at Paul, and he suggested, Mum, why dont you stay over tonight? Its late, buses are all over the shop at this hour. Besides, you can give Emma a hand with the twinstheyll need a bath and a good tuck-in tonight.
All right, love, whatever you say, Mary replied.
Mary helped Emma clear the table, washed up, and tidied everything away. Then, the three of them set about bathing the twins. Mary positively glowedthe proud grandmother on duty. When Emma handed her one of the boys, Mary fretted, Hes so tiny! Im afraid Ill drop himhell slip right through my fingers!
You managed not to drop Paul, didnt you? Emma grinned.
Oh, that was ages ago! I can hardly remember how to hold a baby now, Mary fussed.
Emma placed little Jack in Marys arms, andmiracle of miraclesthe boy nodded off immediately, as if hed known all along that he was exactly where he belonged. Emma gave Harry a gentle rock and soon had him off to dreamland as well.
Mary tucked herself in a separate room, but sleep wasnt easy. She lay listening with both ears pricked for even the tiniest peep from Jack or Harry. Her vigilance wore her out; only by the early hours did she finally drift off into a deep, well-earned sleep.
When she awoke, Emma had already rustled up a cooked breakfast, while the twins were still blissfully snoozing.
Wheres Paul, then? Mary asked, raising an eyebrow when she only spotted Emma in the kitchen.
Sit down, Mum, have some teaPaul will be back in a tick, Emma said quickly, keen to allay any concern.
True to her word, Paul soon returned carrying a massive shoebox.
Mum, this is for you. Go onopen it! he said, grinning.
Mary opened the box and found a brand new pair of leather boots. She was so surprised she quite lost her words.
Oh Paul, Emma, these are far too dear, I cant possibly accept them, Mary gasped, her eyes shining with tears.
Not dearer than you, Mum. Come on, try them onwed love you to have them, Paul replied, gently.
Mary tried on the boots, marvelling at how Paul and Emma could have known she needed new shoesher old ones had just about given up the ghost and simply couldnt be mended. She couldnt have bought new ones herself on her pension, not in a month of Sundays.
Just then, one of the babies began to wail, and Mary, now shod in her splendid new boots, dashed to the rescue.
Youre a star, thank you, Paul whispered to Emma. If not for you, Id never have thought of it.
Oh, it wasnt hard to guess! Yesterday when Mary came over, her feet were soakedI saw the prints on the floor and took one look at her boots. Three thousand quids a lot for us, but we can always earn more. For your mum it would have been impossible. Let her have something nice for a change, Emma said, hugging him gently.
Mary felt a lovely warmth insidenot just from the new boots, but from knowing just how much she mattered to her family.
