Page 56 of The Village Christmas Party

I’m just stretching out my arms before a shower, when there’s a tap on the bedroom door. Dad enters then, carrying a cup of tea.

‘Why didn’t you wake me?’ I stretch my arms out over my head.

‘I thought you deserved a lie in. You do enough running around.’ He smiles warmly, sitting at the edge of the bed. ‘Me and your mother had a lovely day yesterday, we were just chatting about that in the kitchen.’

‘What did you have for breakfast?’ I narrow my eyes at him.

‘Bran Flakes.’

‘Really?’ I ask doubtfully.

‘Yes. Ask your mother. I’m not sure I could get a taste for them but they weren’t too bad with a few raisins,’ he tells me.

I head to the shower and after breakfast I decide to wrap up well, and take the fifteen-minute walk into town to meet Gemma for a coffee at the Blue Teapot, one of the few cafés open on Boxing Day.

The wind bites as I walk along, the roads deserted apart from a few hikers heading for the hills decked out in walking gear, and a couple of families with children enjoying their bikes or scooters, probably Christmas presents.

I pass a couple carrying coffees, linking arms, and smiling up at each other. I think of Kian then, and wonder when I might hear from him to arrange our date. I also fleetingly think of the woman I saw him with and how they were all laughing together, reminding me of a family.

Turning into the market square, I bump into Audrey and her mum coming out of Bentham’s.

‘Hi, how are you both?’ I ask, thinking it nice that Audrey’s mum is out of the house.

‘Really good, thanks. Mum and I just nipped into town, so Mum could have a look at the sales in your shop,’ says Audrey. ‘Well, not your shop, obviously, but you know what I mean.’ She smiles.

‘And I got this,’ says Audrey’s mum. ‘Almost half price, it was.’

She pulls part of a checked woollen coat from her bag to show me.

‘Ooh very nice. I’m sure you will get your wear out of that in this cold weather.’

‘Yes, I think I will. I have a couple of padded coats but nothing smart. I’m going to watch the Fellview brass band with Eileen on Tuesday at the civic hall.’

‘That sounds lovely. Enjoy yourselves.’

I’m happy for Eileen too, who certainly seems to be out there living her best life right now.

Gemma is waiting at a window seat in the café, and waves as I approach.

‘I’ll get you a coffee,’ she says, jumping up to the counter.

‘Thanks.’

I unwrap my scarf from my neck and hang my coat on the back of my chair.

‘So did you have a nice Christmas?’ she asks, returning with my drink. ‘And what’s the story with your mum and dad being under the same roof?’

I tell her all about what happened with Rose and how Dad said things hadn’t been right for a while between them.

‘Your poor dad. He has his big op coming up soon, doesn’t he? Will he be staying with you for a while then?’ She pops a marshmallow from the top of her hot chocolate into her mouth.

‘He will. You know how it is, there is a room for Mum and Dad whenever they want to stay. I still see it as their house really, despite them pursuing their own lives.’

‘That’s such a lovely arrangement, isn’t it? Well, maybe it wouldn’t be for everyone, but I know how close you all are.’

‘Anyway, I have something to tell you.’

We both say this at virtually the same time, and burst out laughing.

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