emerging. ‘I need to get used to being on my own, Rachel; it will be fine. I need to find my new family, whatever that means,’ she’d said with a shrug. ‘And without Ed, it looks like it’s me and Taffie!’ Secretly, she wondered if she would see Greg, but she hugged that thought to herself; it wasn’t the time to talk to Rachel about it all, not until she’d unpicked all the emotions in her brain and worked out just how she felt.
They’d chatted about Tim, about his gambling. Rachel had seen him a few times in the village. ‘He looks awful, Maddie.’
Alan had told Maddie to be wary of him, not to agree to anything without taking advice. ‘It’s an illness, Maddie. I knew one bloke I used to work with – he lost his job, his house, his wife. Couldn’t kick the habit. Be careful. We’ve all talked to him, Maddie. Said we’d support him, but he has to do it himself.’
She knew Alan was right.
Thankfully, her last text from him had said he was starting counselling.
‘Will you remember the words?’ Rachel handed her the hot drink and Maddie took a mouthful of rich, smooth coffee, warming her up instantly.
‘Yes! I’ve been practising in the shower!’ She grinned, as the band started up. Maddie pulled her scarf tighter around her and looked at the running order.
First off was ‘Silent Night’. Maddie filled her lungs and started to belt out the old favourite. It felt good to sing again. She’d missed it, missed the choir and the community and what it meant to her.
It was just as she was ringing out the first line of ‘Oh come all ye faithful’ that she saw it. A familiar face in the crowd. The face had on a red Santa hat, and dark glasses, but it looked very much like…
‘Santa’ suddenly took his sunglasses off and grinned right at her.
‘Ed!’ she shrieked as the crowd turned to look at her. He smiled broadly, then darted over to her, wrapping his arms around her. ‘Merry Christmas, Mum!’
‘Oh, Ed, what a surprise!’ Tears prickled behind her eyes.
The choir leader coughed loudly, as they started ‘Oh Little Town of Bethlehem’ and Ed stood next to her, singing along. Once it was over, she pulled on his sleeve. ‘Quick, let’s go this way.’ They quietly manoeuvred to the edge of the choir, gave their sheets to a volunteer and popped a fiver into his tin.
‘Hungry?’
‘Starving. The plane food was awful!’
She took his hand as they wandered towards the Happy Hen on the corner of the square and sat down at one of the tables.
Two hot chocolates, two toasted cheese sandwiches and two mince pies were ordered. She looked over at Ed and beamed at his tanned face, and then caught sight of something new on his arm as he held his head in his hands. ‘Ed! A tattoo!’
The waitress came to the table and put down the food and drinks. Ed picked up the toasted sandwich and raised an eyebrow at her. ‘Yeah, me and Adity—’
Maddie tilted her head to one side. ‘Yes?’
‘Got matching tattoos.’ He shrugged.
It was a delicate outline of a lotus leaf, etched in black, with red petals. It was just on the inside of his wrist.
‘Nice.’
‘You think?’ Ed looked down at his wrist then took a bite of sandwich, wiping the melted cheese from his chin. ‘Bit impulsive. Bit drunk!’
‘Well, at least it’s a lotus leaf, not “I love Mum!”’ She grinned. ‘It’s good to have you back. How long you here for?’
‘It’s not for long I’m afraid.’ He frowned. ‘Sorry.’
‘But you’ll come to Maris Cottage with me? Stay for Christmas?’ She held her breath. All her hopes had been raised when she saw him.
‘Of course – that’s why I’m here!’
She grinned at him and they ate in silence for a while.
Ed placed his napkin on the plate. ‘Hey, I felt awful the day of Aunt Olive’s funeral, by the way. I just kept looking at my watch and wondering what was going on, where you’d be. Thanks for sending a picture of the flowers. Dahlias, right?’
‘Yes, she loved them. Don’t worry. We had no money – no choice. Olive would have understood. Listen, I really appreciate you coming now – but how did you afford it?’
‘Adity’s dad lent me the money.’
‘That was good of him. It must be quite serious with you two? And you’ll pay him back?’ She looked over and he nodded.