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“They have the Christmas tree festival here every year,” said Joy. “Schools, community groups, businesses, you name it they’re here. Come on, we’ve got time to have a look.”
Joy led Kate along the side of the church. Each tree held decorations unique to the group who had decorated it. Kate’s favourite were the children’s efforts. Imperfect, covered in glitter and exuding all she loved about Christmas. Every tree held a story of the group it belonged to, and spoke of a town brimming with community spirit and kindness.
“Come on, dear, we’d better find ourselves a perch.”
Kate followed Joy as she shuffled into a pew. The church was fit to bursting, noisy with the chatter of old friends, and whoops of delight as children showed off their new toys. Quiet descended as the vicar appeared in her finery, the only sound the odd gurgle from a baby, and whispered chatter from toddlers.
Perhaps magical was the wrong word to describe a Christian service, but to Kate that was how it felt. She helped Joy up as they sung through the carols Kate remembered from her childhood, and squeezed Joy’s hand as she shed happy tears at the sight of children walking to the front to display their presents to the congregation.
Joy’s hearty voice carried above those around her as she sangHark the Herald Angels, softening to a velvet vibrato filled croon duringSilent Night. Kate felt proud to be standing by her side. As Joy sang, the years fell away to reveal the young woman beneath the wrinkles and arthritis.
The vicar stood to send her congregation away with a blessing, but her words drowned beneath a commotion at the back of the church.
“Get your hands off me. Who are you? I’m calling the police!”
Necks craned to see where the sound was coming from, but with the pews packed, it was impossible to tell. Unfazed, the vicar raised her voice, drawing people’s gaze back to the front of the church, as if nothing were going on.
Occasional shouts from the back punctuated the vicar’s prayer, but with her head bent, Kate had no idea who the culprit was. The blessing ended and people rose from their seats, some staying to chat, others desperate to get back to a glass of Port and roast turkey. A scream pierced through the hubbub and Kate turned to see a figure being dragged out of the door by someone who looked just like Bob.
“Was that Bob?” Kate asked, spinning round to face Joy.
“I don’t know what you mean,” said Joy, shuffling her feet, refusing to look Kate in the eye.
“The men who just left the church, I’m sure one of them was Bob.”
“Sorry, dear, my eyesight’s not what it was. I’m sure it wouldn’t have been Bob, though. Come on, let’s grab ourselves a mince pie.”
Kate looked on as Joy made her way unsteadily along the pew. Her friend knew more about the scuffle than she was letting on, but Kate let the matter drop.
CHAPTER THIRTY
KATE SCREAMED ASshe opened the door to her best friend and drew her into a tight hug.
“You’re crushing me,” said Maddie, laughing as Kate squeezed even tighter.
“Sorry, I’ve just missed you so much! Come in, come in.”
Maddie dropped her bags onto the living room floor and flopped onto a sofa.
“Are you OK?” Kate asked. “You look awful.”
“Thanks,” said Maddie, managing a small smile. “I’m just tired after the festivities, that’s all.”
“OK, well, let me get you a drink. Tea? Coffee?”
“Hmm, much as I’d love some caffeine, I’m not sure I could face it right now. Do you have any lemonade?”
“Oh. No, sorry I don’t. Would tonic water do? I’ve got fresh lemons I can add to it?”
“That sounds great, but don’t go to too much trouble. As long as it’s fizzy, it’s all good.”
“Bad hangover?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
Kate left Maddie slumped on the sofa and went through to the kitchen to fix Maddie’s drink. Despite saying it as a joke, Maddie looked awful. Her glossy blonde hair was dull and greasy, her chin dotted with spots, and her face had grown rounder, like she’d been hitting the beer too hard. Did Maddie have an alcohol problem? The thought had niggled Kate on and off since she’d known Maddie. If anyone could recognise the signs, it should be Kate, yet Maddie held down a stressful job and was bloody good at it, too. But from experience, Kate knew alcoholics were adept in hiding the problem. Maddie was too fragile right now to broach the subject, but Kate would keep a close eye on her. Sometimes being a good friend meant giving a few home truths, something Kate had never been very good at.
“Here you go,” Kate said, grabbing a coaster.
