Free Above the Harvest Moon by Rita Bradshaw

forth from a number of throats, Rose and Hannah smiled at each other.They were in the kitchen making up yet another batch of sandwiches, the third of the night.
     
    ‘It ought to be Naomi doing that,’ said Rose, waving at the pile of ham sandwiches Hannah had prepared. ‘You’re a guest when all’s said and done, lass.’
     
    ‘I like helping, Mrs Wood.’ She did like to be useful but she liked being with Naomi’s mother even more.
     
    ‘I don’t know what we’d have done without them joints of ham and beef Jake brought, and the ham and egg pie. He’s a good lad, my Jake.’ Rose was deftly slicing Hannah’s fruit cake into small squares as she spoke. ‘The lot’s gone now though but it’s nearly midnight, things slow down after that. Go and find Mr Fraser, hinny, and remind him he’s first-foot. Tell him to come an’ get the coal and bread and his bottle, I’ve got it here ready. It’s time he got himself away. I don’t want him rushing and ending up flat on his back on the ice with everyone waiting in the hall for his knock at the front door.’ Rose made a face and they both laughed.
     
    Hannah was still smiling as she left the kitchen with the plate of sandwiches in one hand and the fruit cake in the other. She nearly dropped the lot when she was grabbed from behind and Adam’s voice whispered in her ear, ‘I was wondering where you’d got to.’
     
    As he turned her round to face him, his flushed cheeks and bright eyes told Hannah he’d had more than a few beers. Quickly she said, ‘I’ve got to take these through and your mam wants me to tell Mr Fraser—’
     
    ‘Blow Mr Fraser.’ He took the plates out of her hands and put them on the bottom tread of the stairs. Then he pulled her against him as he said again, but under his breath now, ‘Blow Mr Fraser.’
     
    Hannah’s heart was beating so violently she could hardly breathe but she didn’t resist as he lowered his head and took her lips. She wanted Adam to kiss her. She’d dreamt of this so many times and it was actually happening. His mouth was warm and firm on hers, his hands moving up either side of her face as he murmured, ‘Oh, Hannah, Hannah, you’re bonny. And sweet, so sweet.’
     
    The front-room door opened and brought them jerking apart. As Mr Fraser lurched past them making for the kitchen, Hannah let out a silent sigh. Her first kiss and she had liked it. She had liked it very much. ‘I’d . . . I’d better take the sandwiches and cake through,’ she said shyly, knowing she was blushing scarlet.
     
    ‘Aye, all right. I’ll help you.’
     
    Adam’s voice was soft, like his eyes. Hannah blinked, then as Adam smiled at her she returned the smile. Adam Wood had kissed her . She felt as though she was floating a foot above the ground as he followed her into the front room.
     
    When the stout wooden clock on the mantelpiece began to chime midnight and the ship’s whistles down in the docks along with myriad church bells rang out, everyone began to embrace each other. The men shook each other’s hands or clapped each other on the back and everyone said, ‘Happy New Year. Happy New Year.’ There was some laughing and hugging and one or two of the women were crying but not in a sad way.
     
    Hannah drank it in.This was lovely, lovely. Everything was lovely and Adam had kissed her.
     
    When the clock struck for the twelfth time they heard a loud knocking at the front door. As though no one had any idea it was going to happen, there were shrieks and cries as Mr Fraser came into the house, grinning widely and shouting, ‘First foot! First foot!’
     
    ‘Happy New Year, Hannah.’ Naomi was laughing loudly and the two friends hugged each other for a moment before Naomi moved on. Then Hannah was in front of Joe who, at seventeen, was two years younger than Adam. She liked Joe, everyone did. Adam’s brother was the soul of gentleness and much quieter than Adam, she had never heard him raise his voice or