Last Christmas. Julia Williams

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      Making a hurried excuse, Marianne rushed out of the shop, meaning to march straight to the post box and post her well-worn envelope.

      ‘Oh—’ Someone was coming in as she was coming out. And they got rather entangled.

      ‘Marianne, my dear, how lovely to see you.’

      Oh lord. Did Luke’s grandfather have to walk by just now? A reminder that getting out of Hope Christmas was going to be essential for her sanity if she was ever to get over Luke.

      ‘Er, hello.’ Marianne still hadn’t quite figured out how she should address her erstwhile grandfather-in-law—wasn’t he a lord or something?—and now they weren’t to be related by marriage, she felt even more awkward.

      ‘How are you, my dear?’ The kindness in Ralph Nicholas’ voice took her by surprise.

      ‘Not too bad, thanks,’ said Marianne.

      ‘If it’s any consolation, which I know it won’t be,’ Ralph continued, ‘I think my grandson is an utter fool for letting you go, and I’ve said so.’

      ‘Erm, thanks.’ Blimey. That was unexpected. Luke’s mum, who had always looked as though she were sucking lemons when she met Marianne, couldn’t have appeared more relieved by the turn of events if she’d tried.

      ‘I hope the actions of one Nicholas won’t be enough to drive you out of town,’ Ralph was continuing. ‘I think the school would struggle to replace such a talented teacher as you. I thought that you wanted to make a difference.’

      Now he’d touched a nerve. Marianne had got so fed up teaching in London schools where the class sizes had seemed impossibly large. Coming to teach in Hope Christmas village school had been a joy. For the first time in her teaching career she really felt she had the time to do the job she loved properly.

      ‘I did—I do,’ said Marianne. ‘Actually, I was thinking of moving on. I’ve got a job application to post.’

      ‘Pity,’ said Ralph. ‘I think you could do a lot of good in this village. Not least by helping poor Vera out. Still, if you’re determined to leave…’

      He looked at her so directly and clearly, she almost felt he was stripping her soul bare. Which was absurd as she barely knew him. But she felt her resolve crumble a little. She did like it here. Maybe she shouldn’t rush off home the minute something went wrong. That’s what her mum always expected her to do.

      As if mirroring her thoughts, Ralph added, ‘And don’t you think it would be better to face out the situation, rather than running away from it? After all, you’re not the one who’s done anything wrong.’

      He smiled at her and doffed his hat, before continuing into the post office and greeting Vera. ‘Ah, Vera, a packet of your finest Werther’s Originals if you please.’

      Marianne stared after him open mouthed. Perhaps Ralph was right. Perhaps she should stay. Help Vera with the campaign. Keep teaching the kids she loved. Pay Pippa back for being such a good friend. Show Luke what he was missing…

      She turned the envelope over once more, then crumpled it up and stuffed it back in her pocket. She still hadn’t quite made up her mind, but maybe Hope Christmas deserved another chance. And, maybe, so did she.

      ‘Cat, are you in?’ Noel walked through the door on Friday night and was met by an eerie silence. The hall light was on, but the rest of the house was dark. Odd. He didn’t recall Cat saying that the kids were doing anything tonight. Mind you, she was always accusing him of not paying any attention to their activities, so perhaps she had mentioned it and he’d forgotten.

      He went down the stairs to the basement kitchen, turning on lights as he went. The house was as quiet as the grave without the children. Much as the constant noise and chaos grated on him sometimes, it was better than this funereal silence. Where was everyone?

      There was a note on the kitchen table in Cat’s writing.

      Noel,

      I tried you on your mobile but it was switched off again. (Funny how such a simple sentence could bristle with so much hidden antagonism. Cat was always on at him to turn his mobile on, but he hated being in constant communication with the world, so turned it off unless forced not to. And, whenever he did ring, Cat always seemed to be engaged so he’d long given up trying.) Magda cut her finger chopping up vegetables—Noel’s eye was suddenly drawn to a pool of blood on the floor by the sink—so I’ve taken her to hospital.

       Mel on sleepover, Regina has everyone else. Back as soon as I can get away.

       Love Cat

       x

      Right. So now, instead of settling down with a well earned beer and a rerun of Top Gear on Dave, Noel was going to have to drag the kids away from Regina, their saintly and wonderful neighbour, probably feed them, put them to bed, then wait on his tod till Cat and Magda made it back from Homerton, which from their many experiences of family trips to Casualty could be anything up to several hours. He’d been looking forward to curling up with Cat on the sofa. Magda was normally out with her disreputable Russian boyfriend, Sergei, whom Noel darkly suspected was part of the Russian mafia. Bloody Magda. She ruined everything. Her life seemed to be one perpetual crisis—if she wasn’t homesick, she’d had a row with the boyfriend. She had to be the most useless (and sulky) au pair they’d ever had.

      Noel left a message on Cat’s mobile and then went next door to round up his children.

      ‘Noel,’ said Regina warmly, letting him in, ‘do you fancy a drink? The kids are all fed, and Ali’s just come home.’

      ‘Regina, you are an angel sent from heaven, thank you so much,’ said Noel. ‘It’s been a hell of a week.’

      He poked his head into Regina’s playroom where two of his offspring were sharing a sofa with Regina’s two youngest, watching MI High.

      ‘James?’ he asked.

      ‘With Joel on the Wii,’ said Regina.

      Satisfied that everyone was quite happy he made his way down to the basement kitchen, which was a mirror image of his own and Cat’s, and sat down with his neighbours, reflecting how lucky he and Cat were to have such good mates on their doorstep. Life with four children and a working wife would be impossible otherwise.

      ‘Thanks for this, you two,’ he said, as he sipped his beer. ‘And sorry to dump on you. Again. I don’t know what we pay Magda for. It’s certainly not to look after the kids. She’s more of a liability than all of ours put together.’

      ‘No problem,’ said Regina. ‘Cat’s helped me out more times than I care to mention. It’s what friends are for.’

      Noel stayed for one more beer, before regretfully deciding he’d better get his charges home. It took him half an hour to round everyone up, and Ruby was only persuaded to go if he promised piggyback rides, but eventually they were through their own front door. Noel made a unilateral decision to dispense with baths that night, and packed the little ones off to bed while he went to prepare something for Cat, Magda and himself to eat.

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