A heartwarming story

The old clock in the hall meant more to Laney than she could ever put into words

Though the clock was ticking, the hands were still. They’d beensetinthatsame position for a long time – just before 12 – but Laney could remember when they moved, chiming the hour. It was a comforting sound; a memory of her childhood.

“Come on, love. It’s time to go.” It was a gentle reminder. She looked over her shoulder at her husband waiting patiently at the front door, her eyes pleading for understanding.

“Just another few minutes. I need another few minutes.” Jacob understood. He always understood.“i’ll be in the car. Take as long as you need.”

He closed the door behind him so Laney would feel no pressure to hurry. He knew better than anyone her reluctance to leave. She turned back to face the clock. Every detail was etched on her memory, from the Roman numerals and the old gold-coloured pendulum with its weighted disc, to the plainness of the wooden case. Grandpa. She’d begun talking to the clock as a child when her real grandfather was long gone, having died before she was born.

“This clock is your grandfather’s,” Gran had said when Laney was too young to understand. She hadn’t heard the “s” on the end, and from that day on the large antique timepiece had become her grandfather, and the receiver of her innermost secrets and ambitions.

The entrance hall to the old Victorian house was spacious enough to house this and a large oak dresser.there were two panels with coloured glass set into the front door, and when the sun was in the right direction a beam of light shone on to the clock face. On one side stood a small footstool covered with tapestry.

“I made it years ago,” her grandmother had told her,“when Mummy was even younger than you are now.when it was finished, I’d sit in an armchair with my feet on it. I was so proud.”

Laney lifted the stool and placed it gently right in the middle of the hall, its feet on the four indentations where it had made its mark long ago. She was far too tall to sit on it now, and tried kneeling instead on the soft padding. She couldn’t manage that, either, and it made her feel sad.there had been so many changes. She moved it to one side, but even standing she still had to look up at Grandpa’s face. Dust motes could be seen dancing in the air as the light filtered in from outside, and Laney was transported back to her childhood...

“You’ve got school tomorrow. Have you finished your homework?”

“Yes, Mum. I’ve learned all my spellings and done my sums. Mrs Gordon says my writing’s really neat.”

“All right, off with you, then. But only round the block. Don’t forget to put away your scooter when you get back.” “No, Mum, I won’t,” Laney promised, already skipping her way out of the house. It was cherry blossom time and she went into a street that, to her child’s eyes, seemed to be filled with something akin to candyfloss. Jacob had been waiting for her then, three weeks her senior and definitely the leader, on account of his age and gender.that was the way it was in those days. Laney worshipped him.as a consequence of his height, and her lack of it, Laney struggled hard to keep up with him. Her stride was shorter and the distance took far longer to cover. She was never put off because Jacob didn’t laugh at her. He just waited patiently until she caught up. Not like some of the other boys.as time went by he became her champion, sheltering her from the unkind gibes that only children can make.

Laney suffered her first tragedy when

I’ll be back grandpa, I’ll never forget you . . .

she was 12 and her grandmother passed away. Until then the worst things that had happened were grazed knees and the taunts of the older boys when Jacob wasn’t there to shield her. they wouldn’t let her go to the funeral. “it’s no place for children,” her mother had said.

Jacob had stayed with her. His parents were close neighbours of her own mum and dad, and were off to the church to give their support. afterwards the house was filled with people dressed in black, and all speaking in hushed tones. Jacob and his family had gone and Laney crept unnoticed into the hall, picked up the little stool and put it in its usual place.

“It shouldn’t be like this, Grandpa,” she said. “gran would have hated all the whispers and the misery.why don’t they just sing one of her favourite songs? She’d have liked that so much better.” The wisdom of youth. Grandpa’s face looked back at her steadily and serenely. The minute hand, the one that still moved then, reached the hour and the gong rang sonorously, the wonderful familiar sound filling the hall.

Laney giggled.

“I knew you’d agree with me.” Gran had always made her presence felt and for a while the house was unnaturally quiet. She’d had a huge impact on the whole family. Some of them had been in awe of her, so typical was she of her generation, leading from the front, strict but with abounding love. Laney thought once or twice that her dad was a little bit afraid of his motherin-law, but that couldn’t have been right. Her dad wasn’t afraid of anything. Life moved on. Fairly soon a new normality was established. In her midteens Laney had taken up her position in the hall as usual. She was getting a bit big for the stool now, but her limbs were supple and she didn’t seem to notice.

“I’m going to marry Jacob,” she whispered.“he kissed me today. It was the first time I’ve ever been kissed by a boy.” There was strong emphasis on that last word. Grandpa looked suitably impressed.“i know I’m only 15 and it won’t be for ages yet, but I am. You’ll see.” The old face looked down on her and she sensed approval.“i will finish school and I will try to get into university,” she continued.“i’m just planning ahead.” Laney imagined that Grandpa’s face relaxed. He was so often the voice of her conscience that even his imagined opinion was important to her. She and Jacob got engaged when they were 18, the day before they both left for different universities, and in spite of the enforced separation and to the surprise of many, they were still together three years later. By some miracle Jacob landed a job immediately after qualifying. It took Laney much longer. She took on part-time waitressing while she was looking for more permanent work, and on the basis of Jacob’s success they fixed the wedding date and married 10 days after his 23rd birthday and 11 before hers. It wasn’t a big wedding. They needed to save for a home of their own. So when her mum and dad offered them a choice between a big do or the money, Laney consulted Grandpa.

“I don’t know what to do. Every girl dreams of a white wedding, but it’s such a lot of money to spend on one day.” The clock remained impassive.“i could still have a white dress, and marrying Jacob is all I really want.a big reception in a posh hotel isn’t my thing at all.”

Grandpa’s expression didn’t alter. Sadly he could no longer chime out his approval. His hands had stopped moving long ago, though he still ticked as loudly as ever, since Laney’s mother had continued to keep him wound up. She could sense his endorsement, though.

“It’s the only decision to make, really, isn’t it?” she said.

Her father came into the hall.there was no time to whisk the stool away. “I see you’re still talking to Grandpa. Is it anything I can help you with?”

“No, Dad, thank you. It’s just an old habit I can’t seem to shake.” In truth it was a habit she didn’t want to shake. The wedding was everything she and Jacob had hoped for.the registrar made them feel like she was someone they’d known all their lives. Photos were taken and Laney threw her bouquet over her shoulder. Her shy young cousin caught it and Laney knew how she must have felt.the hopes she would cherish and nurture. It wasn’t, after all, that long since she’d been a teenager herself. The party went back home, where family and the few friends they had invited drank the first toast to Mr and Mrs Curtis in the hall under Grandpa’s affectionate gaze.

That had been three years ago, and Laney and Jacob had lived in her old home ever since, scrimping and saving to add to the nest egg that her parents had provided them with.

Finally they were able to put a deposit on a new home, the nest egg having grown in time with the baby Laney was nurturing inside her, due to make an entrance into the world in about six weeks. It was time to move on.

Laney stood in the hall, facing the clock, torn between leaving her old home and a future that held so much promise.“i’ll be back, Grandpa.when I come to see Mum and Dad. I’ll never forget you.” Of course, these days she knew he wasn’t her real grandfather. She remembered her gran teasing her when she’d learned her mistake, but kindly.

Gran had always been kind. Laney continued to talk to the clock anyway. Just articulating her problems always seemed to make them better.

She swung round, ready now to join Jacob waiting patiently in the car. But Grandpa still had one surprise in store for her. Laney didn’t know it, but he’d had a visitor himself recently and a long overdue service.as she stepped towards the front door, the minute hand reached XII and the noise of the gong resonated in her ears. It was many years since she’d heard it, a much-loved sound that was, as it had been in times gone by, a reassuring affirmation that all was well.

Her baby stirred inside her as if acknowledging its cadence.would she introduce her child to this backbone of her own childhood as her gran had done for her? The old stool was in her hands. She’d planned to take it with her to her new home, but hesitated. Perhaps another generation could seek comfort and guidance as she had.

Her mother came into the hall and Laney held the small piece of furniture out in front of her. It was taken and gently set in its customary place.the stool would remain.they didn’t speak, but mother and daughter embraced, an understanding between them needing no words. Laney was ready now. Outside, her husband was waiting. Her new home was waiting. But behind her was something she would never forget. Find more short stories, recipes and features at thepeoplesfriend.co.uk