Page 64 of The Merry Christmas Project

‘I didn’t have you down as a likely volunteer for the Christmas Project,’ I said, looping my arm through his and taking him to the front row where I’d been sitting.

‘I’m deputising for my boss,’ he said, lowering himself neatly into the chair beside me. ‘Tasha has got some reports to write and can’t make it tonight.’

‘We’re all busy,’ I said, with an edge to my voice that I wasn’t proud of, a hangover from my jealousy during the early days of mine and Daniel’s break-up. I didn’t want to be that person, I realised. Tasha had been perfectly nice to me on every occasion. I glanced at Tom but he hadn’t picked up my tone.

‘Ain’t that the truth,’ he grinned, rolling his eyes. ‘Especially as some bright spark has decided to set the nativity in outer space this year because Year Five have been doing a project about the International Space Station. But I don’t mind doing this for Tasha tonight. I’d do anything for her, all the school staff would. She’s a breath of fresh air after the last head we had. That one used to flinch when the children tried to hug her and she would wrap an antibacterial wipe around door handles before she touched them. Tasha is warm and approachable and thinks nothing of getting down on the carpet to play with the kids.’

‘Even in those heels she wears ?’ I said doubtfully.

He shook his head, laughing. ‘She only wears heels for meetings, the rest of the time she’s in trainers. In fact, she’s relaxed the dress code for all of us, which is much more sensible. The amount of suits I’ve ruined with bleach after clearing up children’s vomit, you wouldn’t believe.’

‘Thanks for that image.’

‘Seriously though,’ Tom said, ‘I know you and Daniel thought I should have applied for the promotion but I’m so glad I didn’t. I’m happy standing in for her now and again but being the boss isn’t me. And having her in school is like having Glinda the Good Witch floating around the building.’

‘Wow, you really do like her,’ I laughed, pushing his arm playfully. Tom was obsessed with The Wizard of Oz. He’d even used the film as the theme for his thirtieth birthday party ; he’d dressed as Dorothy and his partner Chris had dressed up as Toto. I hadn’t known Daniel then, but the party had gone done in the annals of Hughes family history.

The door opened again and a few more people arrived and sat down. I automatically scanned every face for Cole, but he hadn’t come. It occurred to me that since Pam and Jim Dunford weren’t going to be here this week, I would have to decide when to kick the meeting off, but Nell hadn’t arrived yet, so I could safely carry on talking to Tom for a few minutes yet.

He looked at his watch and then around the room.

‘It’s not going to take long, is it ?’ he whispered. ‘I want to get a second coat of paint on my space-age stable before I go to bed.’

‘Not if I can help it,’ I whispered. ‘I’m hoping to work later too; I’ve got candles coming out of my ears at the moment.’

‘That sounds painful,’ he winked. ‘Unless you mean Hopi candles ?’

‘No,’ I sniggered. ‘Frankincense and myrrh.’

‘I’ll have a couple of those for nativity, we can burn them when the wise men walk in. Maybe you should do some special nativity-themed candles for the Christmas Fair ?’

‘Which scent would you like, madam,’ I said tongue in cheek, ‘little donkey or three wise men ?’

We both laughed.

‘Fair enough,’ he said. ‘I think I’ll stick to set design, leave the candles to you. Daniel told me how well you were doing, I’m pleased for you.’

‘Is Daniel coming tonight ?’ I asked, glancing at the door again.

Tom shrugged. ‘No idea. You probably see him more than I do.’

‘You’d think so,’ I said, ‘considering we work next door to each other, but I rarely bump into him.’

‘It’s good that you’ve stayed friends. It hasn’t always been the case with his break-ups. He went out with a girl called Stella once. She did not take it well when he called off their engagement,’ he said and winced.

My eyebrows shot up ; Daniel had been engaged ?

‘Oh dear,’ I managed to say. ‘That is awkward. What happened ?’

He pursed his lips and leaned in. ‘Well, she started stalking us all, not just Daniel. Mum got freaked out once when she found Stella asleep in the car outside their house ; she’d been there all night because she thought that Daniel was inside. Of all Daniel’s girlfriends, you took it the best.’

‘I’m not sure what you mean,’ I said, baffled. ‘Took what ?’

‘He’s always been the same,’ Tom continued. ‘He gets so far and then seems to suffer from cold feet. I don’t know what his problem is. But the family did think you’d be the one to break down his commitment barriers. He seemed happier with you than he’d been with anyone else.’

Except along came Tasha, I thought, wondering if Daniel had told his family about her yet. It didn’t sound as if Tom knew.

‘He’s a lovely man,’ I said diplomatically. ‘Perhaps he’s just waiting for the right woman.’