Page 18 of The Merry Christmas Project

‘As you know, my brother Benny passed away in August. For many years, he was the manager of the bank just across the square from where we are now. Benny loved this town and he loved Christmas too and it was he who first negotiated with the local council to supply Wetherley with an annual Christmas tree, on the condition, as you all know, that the bank supplied the power to light it up for the season. Of course, the old bank has new owners now, but I’m sure the tradition will continue for many years to come …’

Jim appeared to be delivering a eulogy and I found myself tuning out and focusing on the body language of the two people in front of me. I’d been wondering whether Daniel had been in touch with her since she’d moved back to Wetherley and now I knew. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Or her. At one point the doors opened and a man in a bright yellow coat arrived, but I didn’t even turn around for long enough to see if it was anyone I recognised. I was watching Daniel and Tasha for signs of … well, I wasn’t sure what, but at any rate, there weren’t any.

‘And now we come to the reason you’re all here : this Christmas,’ Jim said, raising his voice and dragging my attention back to the meeting. ‘Pam, would you like to carry on ?’

Pam got to her feet. ‘Benny always had a project on the go, but none as important to him as his Christmas Project, which he started planning straight after Bonfire Night. Turning on the Christmas tree lights in the square was something he looked forward to immensely. Flicking that switch at the beginning of December, seeing everywhere light up, the tree taking centre stage … It was a special moment for him, particularly as he’d had to work hard to get Wetherley a tree in the first place.’

‘It was special for us too,’ piped up a man with a shiny bald head and wispy grey beard, the end of which reached his pot belly. ‘If he hadn’t been there to organise us, none of it would have been possible.’

‘Hear, hear !’ a couple of others chimed in.

‘And then of course, his pièce de résistance,’ Pam continued. ‘Christmas Eve.’

‘Ah, Christmas carols around the tree,’ said a woman wistfully. I recognised her from the market : Audrey’s Vintage China. I’d bought a couple of teacups from her once with the idea of making candles in them. ‘Gathering together to celebrate, before we all dash off to our own homes, is always such a lovely moment. It’s my favourite part of Christmas.’

‘Thank you, Audrey.’ Pam blew her nose. ‘It was Benny’s too, and he would want the Christmas spirit to carry on in Wetherley for generations to come. Which is why he left a sum of money in his will to be put towards this year’s celebrations.’

There were gasps from around the room. One person started clapping and everyone else followed suit.

‘That is just like Benny,’ Nell said, looking quite moved. ‘He was so generous.’

Jim stood and raised a hand and the applause died down. ‘It’s time for the Dunfords to step back and let new faces take over. So, Pam and I are suggesting that you get your heads together and come up with some ideas to make this Christmas the best Wetherley has ever seen.’

‘Absolutely !’ cried a voice at the back. ‘Any volunteers ?’

There was a moment of silence before Tasha raised a hand and got to her feet.

‘I’m new here, and I would hate to tread on anyone’s toes,’ she said, addressing the room. ‘But I’d be happy to manage Wetherley’s Christmas celebrations. The children at my school would love to be involved. And I’m sure I could even rope in the PTA. Also,’ her liquid brown eyes narrowed in thought, ‘the school will be presenting a nativity play for the parents – perhaps we could repeat the performance al fresco ?’

‘No !’ I blurted out.

Tasha bit her bottom lip. ‘Oops, my apologies, have I spoken out of turn ?’

Daniel turned to stare at me in amusement and I felt the heat rise to my face.

‘No, no,’ I added hurriedly. ‘I mean, that would be nice, of course, and very generous of you. But I’m sure you already have enough to do in your new job. And everyone knows schools are busy places in the run-up to the end of term.’

Tasha opened her mouth to reply but was interrupted.

‘Good point,’ said the man with the beard who’d spoken earlier. ‘Anyway, why should the kids have all the fun ? I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.’ He rubbed his hands together gleefully. ‘Leave it with me.’

‘I dread to think,’ Nell sniggered. ‘That’s Nigel from the hardware store. Remember last year he had an inflatable Santa doing a moonie on the roof ?’

I nodded absentmindedly, my face still burning from my outburst. What had I been thinking ?

‘There you go, Pam,’ said Jim, beaming at his sister-in-law. ‘Three offers of help just like that. I knew you needn’t have been worried.’

Three ? Tasha, Nigel and … My eyes widened.

‘He doesn’t mean me, surely ?’ I muttered. ‘I’m not doing it.’

Nell snorted under her breath. ‘Serves you right.’

‘Thank you everyone, it’s a weight off our minds,’ Pam said. ‘It’s important to me that we do Benny proud with his bequest.’

She leaned across to whisper in Jim’s ear and I looked at Nell and groaned.

‘I’m going to have to say something,’ I hissed. ‘The last thing I want to do is organise a town-wide event.’