I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day - Milly Johnson Page 0,54

the furniture it all worked somehow. For a while.

‘Do you remember the weird and wonderful meals we used to make? They always tasted so good, didn’t they?’ asked Luke.

‘We were bloody starving all the time, that’s why.’

‘Hot buttered toast, Laughing Cow cheese and chopped-up red onion.’

‘Bread dipped in a cup of Bovril.’

‘Tinned tomatoes and cheap white bread.’

Bridge was sure her mouth was starting to water slightly. ‘It feels like another lifetime ago.’

‘We had everything then and didn’t know it,’ Luke said, his smile fading. ‘It was all waiting inside us to flower.’

Bridge saw his Adam’s apple rise and fall as he swallowed. The show of sunshine in their conversation slipped behind a cloud.

‘Well, that was then and this is now,’ she said, as Jack and Mary walked in from the kitchen.

‘I’m glad we both found another happiness,’ said Luke.

‘I’m glad you’re glad.’ A flash of a smile, no more.

Luke pushed back the vision of them both lying on the springy new-old lounge carpet crushing the paper chains they’d spent the best part of the afternoon putting together. She hadn’t remembered and neither should he. It had no right being in his head any more.

Chapter 18

Radio Brian gave himself a break from Christmas carols and revved up a mambo from Pérez Prado, which cut into Charlie and Robin’s sleep and woke them up. They both stretched like synchronised Siamese cats.

‘How long have I been out for the count?’ asked Robin, eyes roving around the lounge looking for the clock that he was sure was on a wall somewhere.

‘Months,’ replied Luke. ‘It’s now June.’

‘I do hope not,’ said Charlie on a yawn. ‘I don’t want to miss Christmas Day.’

‘Oh yes, we all need to go present-hunting, don’t forget,’ said Robin.

‘Ooh, I see the paper chain is up,’ said Charlie, admiring Bridge and Luke’s joint effort. ‘And you’ve finished the tree, Mary.’

‘You’ve just reminded me.’ She sprang up from her seat and trotted over to it. ‘Are you all ready?’

‘For what?’ asked Robin.

‘This. Ta-da.’ Mary bent down, pressed a switch. Christmas tree lights. Twinkling and red like large holly berries.

‘Perfect,’ Charlie declared.

‘Do you know what the difference between a Christmas tree and a Christmas tree light is?’ asked Luke.

‘I have no idea,’ said Charlie.

‘Forty calories,’ said Luke and exploded into laughter.

Groans ensued. That triggered off an idea in Luke’s head.

‘I tell you what, I’ll make some crackers with my best jokes in them for tomorrow.’

‘I hope they’re better than that one, Luke,’ Mary said, holding up crossed fingers.

‘Trust me, they won’t be,’ replied Bridge to that.

Outside the snow continued to fall, but softly so; the wind was taking a rest.

‘So, are we going to have the full Christmas dinner shebang then?’ asked Bridge. ‘I mean, all that food the landlord’s bought in would go to waste otherwise, won’t it?’

‘I’d like it to go to my waist,’ said Mary, which made Robin and Charlie chuckle. ‘I’d love to cook the Christmas dinner for everyone.’

Noises of protest came from all concerned.

‘We will cook it together,’ said Charlie and licked his lips. ‘Do you know, I don’t think I would ever get fed up of Christmas food. I could live off it every single day.’

‘You might have to if this snow doesn’t go,’ said Bridge.

‘Which brings us to the question of what to have for dinner tonight,’ said Robin. ‘Anyone fancy a jacket potato?’

* * *

Robin wrapped lots of large white potatoes up in tinfoil and put them in the bottom of the oven. He returned from the kitchen wearing a huge smile and carrying something behind his back.

‘Look what I found,’ he said and pulled out a large toasting fork. ‘We can make toast.’

‘We can anyway, there’s a grill in the kitchen, Robin,’ said Bridge.

‘Oh, but this way is much more fun,’ argued Robin, settling back into the armchair. ‘And marshmallows. There’s a bag of them in the kitchen, suitable for vegetarians – I checked. And you can get about six marshmallows on each of these big prongs.’ He looked around. ‘Where’s Mary?’

‘She went upstairs for a sock,’ said Bridge.

‘I thought she’d been picked off by the murderer among us,’ said Robin. ‘And then there were five.’

‘No one in their right minds would pick off Mary first,’ said Jack. ‘She’s too…’ His voice trailed into silence as he realised he’d spoken a thought aloud.

‘Efficient?’ Bridge supplied the word, flavoured with a tone of mischief.

‘Capable, I’d have said,’ stated Charlie. ‘No self-respecting murderer would want to get rid of someone who would be his greatest ally