Page 46 of The Christmas Star

With a downturned mouth and his palms up, the man shrugged for a second time and muttering to himself, left us to our plight and headed back into the woods.

‘Well that was a waste of time,’ I said, shaking my head as I watched him disappear.

Theo undid his seatbelt. ‘My turn to drive.’

Fed up with what felt like musical chairs, I sighed as I got out of the car and yet again swapped places. ‘It would be easier if we knew where we were going,’ I said, buckling up.

Theo indicated my phone which he’d put back in the dashboard holder.

Seeing the village was back in view, I felt myself blush. In my desperation not to wet my pants, I’d forgot I’d simply needed to pinch the screen and voila! it would be there. I flicked my hair to mask my embarrassment. ‘So what are we waiting for?’

Theo smiled as he put the car into gear and unlike me who’d been too scared to carry out a three-point turn, he confidently manoeuvred the car around to face the right way. Setting off again, our vehicle suddenly juddered.

‘What’s happening?’ I asked.

The car kangarooed, causing Theo and I to rock backwards and forwards in our seats.

‘Why is it doing this?’ I glanced around its interior with no clue as to what I was looking for.

The car stalled and brought us to a sudden standstill.

‘Why has it stopped?’ I asked.

Frowning, Theo turned the ignition key but as the engine turned over, it refused to catch. Giving up, he checked the dashboard and sighed. ‘I take it you didn’t notice the petrol gauge?’

‘You mean we’ve run out? I thought you said you’d filled up?’

‘How many miles ago?’ Theo asked.

My shoulders slumped. ‘I’m sorry. I was too busy concentrating on my bladder.’

Theo got out of the car and opening the boot, retrieved his coat from amongst the luggage and shopping bags.

I got out too.

‘You stay here,’ he said buttoning up. ‘I need to find a garage.’

I looked at Theo, horrified. ‘You can’t leave me.’ My gaze went from him to the wooded area lining the road. ‘Not when there are men with guns around.’

‘Honestly, it’ll be quicker just me. Lock yourself in if you’re worried.’

I scoffed at the man’s stupidity. ‘Because that’s gonna stop a bullet.’

‘Trust me. You’ll be fine.’

As Theo headed off down the road, I hugged myself as I watched him go. A gunshot sounded, and suddenly panicked I hastily got back in the car.

CHAPTER 31

Doors locked, I sat in the car awaiting Theo’s return. I glared at the petrol gauge, cursing myself for not noticing its needle creeping down into the red. Wherever Mum and Jackson were headed, thanks to me and my shenanigans, their lead was getting so big that they’d probably pass us on their way back.

I glanced around the rest of the car interior and sighed, partly out of annoyance and partly through boredom. Checking my watch, I questioned what was taking Theo so long. It was late afternoon on Christmas Eve and we’d yet to sort out a bed for the night.

I wondered how Christmas Eve was going for my fellow crochet club members. Bursting with excitement, Joyce would be enjoying the start of her cruise. Dressed in their finery, she and Richard would be sipping wine in one of the ship’s bars and getting to know their fellow passengers.

Poor Hattie would be on her way to the Mayhews and from what I’d heard Gideon’s family weren’t exactly party people. His mother sounded like an absolute nightmare and reaching for my phone, I wondered if I should call Hattie in the hopes we could cheer each other up.

I brought up her number but knowing it would be unfair to interrupt someone’s Christmas just for a moan, I signed into Mum’s TikTok instead. My eyes widened at the sight of another update, and surprised to see both Mum and Jackson on screen I pressed play.