Rita headed over to her friend Harriets flat to water her plants and feed her beloved tortoise. Harriet and her husband had gone away for a holiday. Unlocking the door with the key Harriet had given her, Rita stepped into the hallwayand stopped, startled. Every light in the flat blazed, the Christmas tree twinkled with fairy lights, and the television was roaring with sound. Strange noises were coming from the bathroom. Rita opened the bathroom door and gasped in shock.
Rita was spending the New Year holidays all alone. Well, not so much proud as pitifully lonely.
Her best friend Harriet and her husband had left for the Lake District five days before New Years Eve.
Harriet, knowing Rita was the most dependable of her friends, had asked her to look after her plants and make sure her tortoise was fed.
They lived in the same building, just in different stairwells.
Rita had agreed, not yet realising what fate had in store for her.
A week before New Year’s, Ritas boyfriend JonathanJonny, as she called himdropped a bombshell over dinner. Theyd been living together for two years, and she thought they suited each other perfectly. But Jonny, after finishing his shepherds pie, suddenly announced hed fallen in love with someone else.
Andnot only thatthe new woman was four months pregnant. Naturally, Jonny said, I have to do the right thing and marry her.
It seemed everyoneshe, her mother and her grandmotherinsisted Jonny must marry the other woman. Jonny put up no protest and simply agreed.
And what about me? Rita managed, stunned.
Jonny finished his pint, dabbed his mouth with a napkin, and answered, You? Oh, dont worry yourself about me. Lets be honest, its not as if Im a great loss. Surely youve noticed the love went out of our relationship ages agonow its just an empty shell. These things happen. You should be grateful, really, that Im saving you from myself. Oh, and could you help me pack? No? Alright then, Ill do it myself.
He calmly started gathering his things.
For four days, Rita didnt leave the flat, just wept and sulked. Eventually, another friend, Patricia, paid her a visit. In the course of their chat, it became clear Rita hadnt eaten for daysshed just been drinking coffee.
Patricia, Rita, and Jonny had planned to see in the New Year together in a grouptheyd already reserved a restaurant in advance. Now, Jonny would be bringing his new wife instead.
There was no way Rita wanted to celebrate New Years Eve with her parents. She knew theyd only fuss over her, and her mother had never much liked Jonny anyway.
On 31st December, Rita, out of habit, still hoped for a miracle. Why? Perhaps just for traditions sake.
People understand well enough that miracles dont exist, but every New Year, like children, they make wishes and hold out hope for something marvellous.
The day slipped into evening. Nothing happened. Rita remembered she hadnt given Jonny his Christmas present before he lefta thick, cornflower-blue woolly jumper shed bought for him. It had cost her a fair bit, too.
Rita unwrapped the jumper and tried it on. Far too big for hershoulders much too wide.
Probably would have been too big for Jonny as well, she thought, absent-mindedly stuffing it back into the bag.
She put on some eye makeup, promised herself she wouldnt cry, and left the flat. She really believed that the way you saw in the New Year set the tone for the whole year. Far better to spend New Years Eve out in town than moping about at home.
There was about an hour and a half left till midnight. Rita just hoped the time would pass quickly so she could go home again.
She was feeling terribly down and alone, and outside, it was pouring rain.
Rita wandered into a little shop for something to do. While searching in her coat pocket, she came across the list Harriet had left. Second on the list, after water plants, was feed tortoise twice a week.
Rita was suddenly filled with panic.
Oh no! With everything thats happened, I completely forgot! Harriet will go spare if something happens to that tortoise!
So much for New Years celebrations…
Rita dashed off towards Harriets to feed the tortoise.
Unlocking the door with Harriets key, she stepped inside and froze.
Lights everywhere, the Christmas tree sparkling bright, television blaring.
From the bathroom came odd sounds. Rita opened the door and threw her hands up in surprise.
There, shaving at the basin, stood a stranger, humming cheerfully to himself.
Her first mad thought was: someones got in and burgled the flat! But why would a burglar decide he needed a shave?
Who are you? she demanded, trying for her sternest voice.
The man quickly rinsed his face, turned, and smiled at her.
You must be Rita. Dont worry, nothing to be afraid of. Im Harriets cousin, Oliver. I live and work over in Bristolcame up for a conference and couldnt get back as planned. Luckily, Ive got a key to my cousins place. We spoke on the phoneshe kindly said I could stay over till I could get away.
Rita blurted out, Have you seen the tortoise?
Oliver laughed. I have, and I even fed her. Shes wandered off over there, he gestured to the corner behind the sofa.
He buttoned up his shirt.
Well then, shall we introduce ourselves? Im Oliver.
Rita gave her name and shook his hand. He offered, Why dont we welcome the New Year together? Its only about ten minutes to midnight.
Suddenly, Rita realised something, bolted out the flat and shot down the stairs. Oliver, bewildered, hurried after her.
Wait! Have I done something wrong? Where are you going?
Rita raced home, snatched up the gift bag, and dashed back to Harriets.
Back in the flatwith the front door still ajarshe burst in just as the clock struck twelve.
Oliver handed her a glass of bubbly, and she gave him the bag.
This is for youHappy New Year! Rita said.
Oliver opened it up. There, neatly folded, was the thick cornflower-blue woolly jumper. He held it upand it fit him perfectly, even in the shoulders.
Ive had a lot of surprises on New Years, but this is the best so far, was Olivers first sentence of the year.
Ive had two surprisesdivorcing Jonny and meeting Oliver, Rita thought, but only smiled in reply.
The next New Years Eve, Rita, Oliver, and their little daughter spent it together in their own home…
