comfort zone, but he delivered it at perfect pitch. I couldn’t be more proud of him. He’s even managed to put his anti-Christmas sentiments aside to do something for the students.
‘I need to get the mayor to turn on the lights now,’ Bev whispers to me. ‘Still no sign of Shelby?’
‘No.’ No text either.
‘I’ll give him a piece of my mind when I see him,’ Bev says. ‘Do you want to leave the alpacas with the kids?’
‘I’m not so sure. They’re a bit of a handful today.’
‘No change there, then.’
‘Jack could probably cope with them. I think they’d pull the girls over. Where’s Alan?’
‘It’s only for five minutes. I’d like you down at the front with me.’
‘Do I have to?’
‘Yes.’ She pulls my arm.
I hope she’s not going to give me a bouquet or anything like that. I’ve had enough of the limelight for one day.
Chapter Sixty-Five
‘The moment we’ve all been waiting for!’ Bev shouts out. ‘Our mayor, Mr Matt Eastman, will be turning on the Christmas lights!’
Matt steps forward and says, ‘I know it’s already been said, but thank you to everyone for coming along and supporting Hope Farm. As I’m sure you’ve learned, they do great work here with challenging issues and limited funding. I hope you’ve all bought cakes, sampled the wine and cider on offer and will be taking home some of the crafts that the students have made. Dig deep and don’t go home with any loose change in your pockets! There are plenty of buckets around waiting to be filled.’
Bev passes him the switch that Alan has rigged up for the lights and Matt continues, ‘It gives me very great pleasure to turn on the Hope Farm Christmas lights!’
The lights shine out in a burst of multi-coloured twinkling and there’s much applause. It’s an idyllic scene with the beautiful Christmas tree and a backdrop of a nativity scene. Couldn’t be more festive if we tried.
It’s so perfect that I let out the breath I’ve been holding. Another thing gone without a hitch. Bev’s right, I do worry too much. Our students have been brilliant. The animals have been a big hit. We have put our best foot forward and this day could not have been better. Well, Shelby could have been here, but you know how I feel about that.
Then, before the crowd can disperse, Bev says, ‘Just one more thing before you go!’ She waves over to Alan and, looking rather bemused, he reluctantly joins her.
Bev stands in front of him and immediately drops to one knee. ‘I never thought I’d do this again at my time of life, but now that I’ve found you, you’re not going anywhere. Alan Taylor, would you do me the very great honour of becoming my husband?’
It’s fair to say that Alan could not look more surprised if he tried.
The crowd hold their breath while Alan tries to find his voice. When he does, he says, ‘I will.’
Cheering ensues as Bev jumps to her feet and hugs her new fiancé. I find myself crying as I cheer too.
‘Wow.’ Lucas is at my side. ‘Did you know about that?’
‘No!’ I laugh. ‘I’m nearly as surprised as Alan.’ I’m so pleased for them both. I think it was such a shock when he had his stroke that it’s crystallised her feelings for him.
The local paper have sent a photographer and he comes up to take a photograph of the newly engaged couple. Then he asks Matt to pose in front of the Christmas tree.
As he does, there’s a terrible racket from the nativity scene behind him. I know what it is instantly. ‘Oh, shit! Not now! Not now!’
Rod Stewart has decided to mount Tina Turner. Jack is so shocked that he drops all of their halters. I knew it was wrong to leave one of the students in sole charge. When our boys go, they have a mind of their own and the strength of an ox.
And, believe me, when alpacas mate, they don’t do it quietly. As you would imagine, of course, our alpacas do it much louder than any others. Instantly, the racket starts up. Their mating call is known as ‘orgling’ and it sounds like someone blowing bubbles under water. Quite amusing, in its own way, but not exactly what you want at the end of your open day in the middle of the nativity scene.
Not content to be on the sidelines, Johnny Rotten joins in. They can do this any time of the year and