Page 28 of The Village Christmas Party

‘I’m actually going to an arts and craft sale a few miles away with Ellie, my new friend.’

‘Oh, that sounds like a nice place to pick up a Christmas gift.’

‘That’s what I was thinking. Um, you are welcome to join us,’ she offers.

‘Oh, I wasn’t angling for an invite.’ I laugh. ‘And honestly? I have a ton of things to do. Thanks, though, I hope you enjoy it.’

‘I will.’ She smiles. ‘I’m just heading home to drop this cough medicine off for Mum.’ She lifts a bag. ‘She’s come down with a bit of a virus.’

‘Sorry to hear that. Actually, if you have ten minutes I could give you a lift home? I’m just popping into Bentham’s to buy Dad a new dressing gown. I couldn’t help noticing at the hospital that his current one is a bit well worn.’

‘Sure.’ She smiles. ‘And thanks, that would be great.’

I choose a thick, maroon dressing gown for Dad, along with a spy thriller from WH Smith. Dad has always enjoyed a good spy thriller and as he is supposed to be taking things easy at home, hopefully he will appreciate it. Mum texts me and I tell her I will meet her in the car park and I introduce Audrey to Mum when she arrives.

‘Actually, I was wondering,’ Audrey begins when we pull up outside her house. ‘Do you need an extra pair of hands at all at the pensioners’ Christmas lunch?’

‘We can always do with an extra pair of hands,’ I tell her and Mum agrees. ‘Why, are you offering to help?’

‘I was thinking about it. To tell you the truth, I was trying to persuade Mum to go along, but she won’t hear of it.’ She fiddles with the strap on her bag. ‘And I suppose it’s too late now anyway.’ She looks at me.

‘No, really, there is always room for one more. Honestly, we have a mountain of food this year. Maybe you could ask her again?’ I suggest.

‘I will, because I think she needs to make some friends. She doesn’t go out anymore since Dad died,’ she confides. ‘I think she feels a bit trapped inside the house.’

‘But she encourages you to make friends?’

‘She does.’ Audrey nods. ‘She told me she doesn’t want me to end up like her,’ says Audrey, and my heart goes out to her mum. ‘She tells me I ought to be going out with people my own age, and not hanging around with her. But I just feel a bit mean leaving her alone every time I go out of the house.’

‘Oh, Audrey, I’m sorry you feel like that, but you have to go to work, your mum knows that. And your mum is right in encouraging you to go and try different things, but maybe we could help her to do the same? You know, she is lucky to have a daughter like you.’

‘Thanks,’ says Audrey coyly.

‘Try and get your mum to come,’ Mum says gently. ‘The first step is the most difficult but after that it isn’t so bad. She will meet lots of nice people at the community centre.’

‘I’ll try.’ She smiles.

‘Anyway, try and let me know by tomorrow, just so we can set an extra place. But, of course, you are welcome to come and help out regardless. I can even arrange a lift for you both.’

‘Really? Oh wow, that might be a good thing. Mum hates the thought of buses, and I imagine it will be difficult to get a taxi on Christmas Eve. Perhaps getting a lift might encourage her.’

‘I will personally collect you both, I promise. So I take it you’re not working Christmas Eve then?’

‘No, I actually finish tomorrow until after Christmas, as I worked until late Christmas Eve last year. We have a rota.’

‘Then you must definitely come along to the centre on Christmas Eve,’ I tell her.

‘Thanks, Lauren.’ She smiles. ‘I will almost certainly be there.’

‘Great. Speak to you soon.’

I notice the net curtains part as Audrey’s mum peers out and watches me drive off as Audrey walks up the path. I do hope they will both come along on Christmas Eve. I don’t like the thought of them spending Audrey’s Christmas holidays stuck inside the house, her feeling guilty about leaving her mum.

SIXTEEN

At home I realise I’m out of milk, so head to the corner shop to buy some. I’m walking along the pavement a little close to the road, when a car drives through a huge puddle of water and soaks me.

I stand there dripping and catching my breath, like in that scene from theBridget Jonesmovie, cursing the idiot driving, and raising my hands in the air, when the car comes to a sudden stop. Oh heck, I hope there isn’t going to be any trouble.

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