Page 27 of The Village Christmas Party

‘Well, I think that’s as much as we can do for now,’ I say and Barry says he will come around Christmas Eve morning and get the tables and chairs out.

‘I’ll be here. We can all give a hand,’ I say, before taking the cups into the kitchen and washing them.

There’s a dark sky looming when we leave the centre at four o’clock, and a stillness in the air. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some snow later.

My grandad taught me how to smell the weather. A fresh, almost earthy scent, means rain, and an unseasonal mildness, while a warm coloured sky often means snow. I always get a headache just before a thunderstorm too.

‘I think it might snow,’ I say, looking up at the grey, slightly orange-streaked sky.

‘Do you? But Christmas is two days away. If it snows today, it will all be mush by Christmas Day,’ says Mum as we walk towards the car.

‘Unless it’s really thick and it sticks. We might get snowed in, like we did years ago,’ I say, recalling the sleigh rides down the nearby hills and cosy nights around the fire sipping mulled wine after a heavy snowfall that hit almost the entire country.

‘Oh, I remember that. 2011, wasn’t it? I dropped my front door keys in the snow, which was almost a foot high,’ Mum says, laughing. ‘It took your dad ages to find them, digging around with a spade, which was baffling as I’d dropped them straight down in front of me.’

That was the last Christmas we spent together as a family, before my parents went their separate ways.

‘Anyway, it had better not snow until after the Christmas Eve lunch,’ I say, thinking of what a headache it would be for the pensioners to get there if it did. ‘It can do what it likes after that.’

‘It’s a shame we can’t order it on a certain date, as I’d like it to be on Christmas Day, after lunch whilst I’m watchingDie Hard, which is bound to be on a channel somewhere,’ says Sue.

‘Even though it definitely isn’t a Christmas movie,’ I say, quickly getting into my car and closing the door before she can argue and Mum jumps into the passenger seat.

Sue waves a fist at me before she takes Barry’s arm and, muffled up in their winter coats, they walk over to their house, which is literally across the road from the community centre.

Pulling out of the community centre, a black car approaches and makes its way into the car park. I can see that it is hot shop guy, and I wonder what he is doing here?

Before heading home, I make a detour into town to buy a few things for Dad, and Mum plans to call in at a charity shop to drop a Christmas card off for one of her friends who works there. In town I run into Audrey coming out of Boots.

‘Lauren, hi.’ She smiles warmly. ‘Where are you off to?’

‘Hi, Audrey. I’m just grabbing a couple of things for my dad for when I visit him tomorrow.’ I tell her all about his heart problems. ‘He’s okay, but is scheduled for an operation early in the new year.’

‘Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear that.’ She frowns. ‘My dad died of a heart attack,’ she says, before covering her mouth with her hand. ‘Gosh, I’m so sorry, what a stupid thing to say.’ She looks mortified.

‘Please don’t worry, I know you didn’t mean anything by it.’

‘I’m always putting my foot in it.’ She shakes her head. ‘My mum says she’s surprised I wasn’t born with my foot in my mouth. Sorry,’ she says again.

‘I’m sure that’s not true. You mustn’t let anyone make you feel that way,’ I say gently, realising that even the most innocent remarks can get to us.

‘It’s kind of true though. I kind of just say what’s on my mind. Maybe that’s why I don’t have many friends,’ she admits.

‘Ah, but here’s the thing. Real friends wouldn’t mind, they would know that you don’t mean to be rude. You know the saying, “Those that mind don’t matter, and those that matter don’t mind.”’

‘That’s so true. But I guess it’s making the friendship in the first place I find difficult,’ she admits.

‘You met me and Gemma, didn’t you? Not to mention your new friend from the gingerbread evening,’ I remind her.

‘I did, didn’t I? Fingers crossed I haven’t messed things up so far.’

‘Of course you haven’t, and when you do make new friends, just be honest. Tell them in advance that you have trouble filtering your thoughts,’ I tell her. ‘I have always found that honesty is the best policy in any situation. They might even help you.’

‘You are so wise,’ says Audrey. ‘I’m so glad I met you.’

‘Well it’s easier dispensing advice to other people.’ I shrug.

‘What are you up to tonight then?’ I ask as we fall into step.

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