Page 44 of A Merry Little Christmas
‘Perhaps Caleb could talk to Will?’ I said suddenly. ‘He might be able to help with the bullying?’
‘I haven’t actually seen my darling brother properly for ages.’
Me, neither.
Not the way I used to, anyway . . .
Penny shrugged. ‘I guess he’s working hard and hasn’t got time for family at the moment.’ She raised a smile. ‘I do hope he’s making enough time for you two.’
‘Well... he gave me a lovely bracelet for my birthday last Friday.’
‘It was your birthday? Same day as Will’s! I wish I’d known.’
‘It’s okay.’
‘I hope Caleb wined and dined you on Friday night?’
I made a stab at laughing, but it sounded false. ‘I think he had something on... work, of course. To be honest, I haven’t seen much of him lately, either,’ I confessed.
‘Oh?’ She looked puzzled.
‘It’s fine. We went out for dinner on the Saturday night instead.’
Penny was looking at me worriedly now, so I changed the subject and asked if she had tickets for the school show.
I was still determined to remain positive about my relationship with Caleb. I certainly didn’t want Penny analysing why Caleb was being distant with me and coming to a conclusion I really wasn’t ready to face up to yet...
So I pushed away the image of Caleb talking to Amanda in the car that time, when he was supposed to be at an urgent meeting in Guildford. And how he’d seemed to lie to me about it afterwards. And how something fishy had definitely been going on with Amanda at his site office when I’d arrived there unexpectedly on Saturday night...
*****
As I was leaving Penny’s, Will himself was walking up the street. We said hello as we passed each other at the gate and I assumed he would just walk on into the house. So I was surprised to hear him call my name.
I turned with a smile.
‘I’ve been thinking about what you said... about Lewis being a coward and how if I stood up to him, he might back off?’
‘Right. And what do you think about that?’
‘I wish hewouldback off.’
I nodded. ‘So do I.’
‘The thing is... well, I was thinking I might do the audition. Imight.’
‘Really?’ I stared at him in delight. ‘Wow, that’s brilliant, Will. I bet you’d be great.’
‘Mrs Hunter might not think I’m good enough. You have to act as well as sing.’
‘Well,Ibelieve in you. The important thing is to believe in yourself and just do it, and not let anyone, especially that creep Lewis Hatcher, tell you what to do.’ I smiled. ‘And actually, I think youwillbe good enough. I’ve heard you sing, remember?’
He was still looking doubtful. ‘I’ll think about it. Thanks, Katja.’
‘Your mum and your Uncle Caleb would be so proud to see you up on that stage. And it would definitely be one in the eye for Lewis Hatcher.’
He gave me a lopsided smile, turned and walked up the garden path.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
