Page 30 of The Merry Christmas Project

‘Ooh,’ her eyes sparkled. ‘I know just the thing. Max is coming for the whole of Christmas !’

Nell adored her stepson and I knew this was a big thing for her. She and Olek normally only got to see him for one day and night. She told me that she was planning Christmas Eve movies in matching Christmas pyjamas and she was going to do stockings for both Max and Olek even though Olek was forty-five and Max was thirteen. Olek’s parents, whom she loved dearly, would be there too. The house would be full to bursting with people and Christmas bonhomie.

‘And you’re welcome too, obviously.’

‘Thanks,’ I mumbled, shifting my legs to the side to let more people into our row.

‘That’s what I like to see,’ Nell said drily. ‘Plenty of enthusiasm. Stop turning round, it’ll only make you clammy.’

‘I’m looking to see if Cole is here,’ I explained. ‘The one from the market. But he’s not.’

Nell smirked. ‘Ha ! I knew you fancied him. This is very good news. You have my blessing in that department – he was very cute.’

I gave her a stern look. ‘I want to ask him when the scaffolding is coming down, that’s all.’

I wasn’t ready to start dating again, it wouldn’t be fair on any new man; I wasn’t totally sure I’d got over Daniel yet.

As if I’d conjured him up, my phone buzzed with a text message from the man himself.

Good luck tonight, I know you’ll be brilliant.

Warmth flooded through me, that was so sweet of him.

‘Look.’ I showed Nell the screen. ‘He still cares.’

‘Of course he cares,’ she said briskly. ‘He’s being supportive, that’s what friends do.’

I nodded and said nothing, but what if it was more than that ? Maybe he was having second thoughts ? If he was, well … I felt a leap of joy. I missed being part of a couple ; I loved Holly Cottage, but I’d love it even more if I had someone to share it with. Was there still a chance for us ? My eyes sought him out across the room and found him looking straight at me. He was wearing the blue jumper I’d bought him for his birthday under his down jacket. I’d always liked him in that jumper. We both smiled as I mouthed my thanks and he gave me a thumbs up in return. I wasn’t imagining it, there was definitely something still there between us.

The door banged open at that moment and a man appeared in a rain mac with his hood pulled up, a long bedraggled beard poking out.

‘Sorry I’m late, everyone.’ Nigel shook the raindrops off his coat and then spotting the refreshments, tiptoed towards them like a villain in a pantomime and poured himself a drink.

‘Let’s start,’ said Jim, calling us all to order. ‘Just to recap for any newcomers, Benny set aside some money in his will to help celebrate Christmas in Wetherley this year. So without further ado, I’d like to invite Merry Shaw to present her ideas for the project.’

Pam started to clap, everyone else followed suit and all eyes were on me. My heart began to thud ; I’d assumed there’d be more of a preamble than that but suddenly I was in the spotlight.

‘Go on.’ Nell nudged my arm. ‘That’s you. Good luck !’

I stood and walked to the front of the room. At least going first meant that I could relax and listen to the other two without panicking that mine would be the worst.

Pam gave me a twinkly smile. ‘The floor is yours, love.’

‘Good evening everyone. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Merry Shaw, local business owner of the Merry and Bright candle company.’

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Nell beaming proudly.

‘I’ve never done anything like this before, so I wasn’t sure whether to bring anything to show you. But I haven’t, so … you’ll have to use your imaginations.’ I was shaking. Hopefully no one would be able to tell from where they were sitting.

‘I started my planning with Benny. If he could choose his own tribute, what would it be ? We know that getting the community together was very important to him, so I think he’d like something that would reach out to every resident of Wetherley.’

Somebody started a round of applause, which was encouraging, even though no one else joined in and it quickly fizzled out.

‘And then of course, there’s the annual Christmas tree in the market square, which is a very special part of Benny’s legacy to Wetherley.’

‘Hear, hear,’ said a lady in a purple bobble hat. ‘My kiddies still come back to see the tree and they’re in their twenties now.’

‘Every family, every person, every single part of the community celebrates Christmas in their own way. Not every culture celebrates with a Christmas tree but many of us do. We all have our little traditions passed down through the years; from what sort of tree we prefer, be it tall and skinny, or short and plump, when we put it up and what we decorate it with.’