Page 52 of A Merry Little Christmas

Nell couldn’t hear Cole’s words, but she did hear the explosion of sound.

‘Oh dear.’ Woody thrust the phone away from his ear to avoid being deafened. ‘He doesn’t sound happy.’

Merry’s foot slipped on the step, and she yelped as she clung on to regain her balance. There was a collective gasp among the crowd.

‘Vorsicht!’ Astrid clasped a hand to her chest.

‘For heaven’s sake. Look at you,’ Nell hissed, hoping the rest of the shop wouldn’t hear.

‘It is a bit foolish,’ Astrid agreed, joining Fred at the bottom of the stepladder.

‘You are the most selfish person I’ve ever met,’ Nell continued. ‘I’d give anything to be in your position, and I don’t mean up a ladder behaving like an absolute idiot, but a mother-to-be, literally days away from having your own baby. One you’ve created with your husband. You have no idea how lucky you are and how hurtful it is for me to see you being so careless. And I can’t stand by and watch you risk the baby’s life like this, so get down now or, I swear I will never, ever speak to you again.’

‘The baby, the baby, the BLOODY baby!’ Merry cried. ‘I’m sick of hearing about the baby. What about me? Where am I in all of this? Nobody ever worries about me and what I’m feeling.’

‘What? That’s not fair and it’s not true either.’ Nell’s lip trembled; how could she say that? Nell had done nothing but love and care for Merry for almost twenty years. She felt a tight band around her chest. Merry had crossed a line and Nell had had enough. She drew herself up tall. ‘You know what? That’s me done. You think you can do everything by yourself, so on you go, prove it. I quit. I am resigning immediately.’

As the shop fell totally silent, the budgie swooped down to its owner, who tucked it securely back into its carrier.

Merry’s head whipped around, and she stared at Nell open-mouthed. ‘Seriously?’

Before Nell had a chance to reply, Woody cleared his throat. ‘Sorry to interrupt, Merry, but Cole says your dad’s care home has tried calling you. You need to get over there immediately. Apparently, it’s urgent. Very urgent.’

‘Oh my God, Dad!’ Merry’s feet stumbled down the steps in her haste to get off the ladder.

‘Mein Gott!, Astrid yelped. ‘Be careful, Liebling!’

Nell put a hand out to steady her. ‘I’m so sorry.’

But Merry didn’t even acknowledge her. Instead, she grabbed the phone from Woody, scooped up her handbag and fetched her coat from the studio.

‘Merry, ‘she called after her,’ let me drive you.’

Merry shook her head without even looking in Nell’s direction. ‘Leave me alone.’

Poor Merry. What had she done? How could she have turned on her best friend like that at a time like this? Nell just hoped she’d find a way to make it up to her before it was too late.

Chapter 19

Merry

Merry made it to her father’s bedside at Springwood House as fast as she could, where manager, Gail, and Peter, one of his carers, were waiting for her. Ray was lying propped up, his gaunt face and thin neck dwarfed by a stack of pillows. His skin was translucent, as if all the blood had drained from him, and his breathing wheezy and faint. Merry was shocked by how much he’d deteriorated in only a couple of days; she wished with all her heart that Emily was still here. But he was breathing, thank goodness, and while he could still breathe, she had hope that he’d recover.

‘Dad!’ She took his hand in hers. ‘It’s me, Merry.’

She was breathless from rushing, shaky with fear and wanted more than anything to sink into a chair and close her eyes.

‘I’ll give you some privacy.’ Peter’s expression was grave. He patted her arm before leaving the room.

‘Thanks for coming so quickly, Merry.’ Gail put an arm around her shoulders, her voice gently deferential.

‘Of course,’ she replied, scarcely able to drag her eyes away from her dad. ‘How is he?’

Gail let out a deep breath. ‘I think you need to prepare yourself for the worst.’

Merry blinked at her. ‘But he seemed to have stabilised, and then Emily went home and now she won’t …’ she choked on a sob.

‘I know, and she mustn’t blame herself,’ Gail soothed. ‘These things are impossible to predict. But in your father’s case, I don’t think he has long.’