pretty much the whole village must have got involved in order to get this show on the road!
I pop into the village store for some milk. Anita’s mum is behind the counter and she welcomes me with a hug. ‘Carrie! Anita will be so delighted to see you. She said she’d pop along just before the show?’
I smile. ‘Fantastic. I’m really looking forward to catching up with her as well. I’ve…missed this place.’
‘We’ve missed you, too. Now, what can I get you?’
I’m still smiling from her warm welcome as I turn the car around and pull onto the road around the green, driving slowly along admiring all the houses and cottages, sparkling with lights, and finally drawing to a stop outside Snowdrop Cottage.
When I get out of the car, the sight of Moon Cottage takes my breath away. It dazzles just as much as the rest of the houses, with the coloured lights in the window and the glimpse of a Christmas tree within. It’s a far cry from the spooky, lifeless place it was when I first arrived in the village. And the barn looks amazing, all strung with fairy-lights. Both doors have been pulled back and I can see a tantalising glimpse of a stage and wooden chairs within.
By comparison, Snowdrop Cottage looks rather bleak, and walking up the path, my eye falls on the remains of Ronan’s igloo. There’s not much of it left and my heart jags painfully at the sight.
But once I’m inside the cottage, I feel myself relaxing. Everything looks wonderfully familiar. I’ve been feeling a little nervous about returning – although I haven’t really examined why – but being back in this cosy cottage is like coming home.
I close the living room curtains, blocking out the igloo, and walk around switching on lamps and the lights on the tree. Then I go upstairs to get ready for the Christmas Revue.
*****
It’s so good to see Anita. We hug as if we haven’t seen each other in months. And she wants to know all about Krystle’s trip to Paris and how I’m feeling to be back.
We chat non-stop, falling straight back into our easy friendship, and I can tell she’s excited about Jeff being there tonight. He’s bringing Rufus along for the start of the show, so that Anita and I can spend time catching up.
‘I just hope it works out,’ she sighs. ‘Rufus loves the fact that both Jeff and I will be taking him out tonight. He can watch the first half and then Mum and Dad will collect him and take him home to bed while we stay for the rest of the show.’
‘Sounds great.’ I beam at her, noticing the light in her eyes that was often missing when I first got to know her. That’s love, I suppose…
‘You look great, by the way,’ says Anita, checking out my nod to the festive season – a pretty silver-sequinned top with a daring V-shaped neckline which I’m wearing with blue jeans and boots, and my black wool coat (I’m anticipating it being fairly nippy in the barn).
We join other groups of eager show-goers, walking up Reenie’s path, at just before seven-thirty, and Anita introduces me to Jeff and Rufus, who’re waiting for us outside the barn.
Jeff is medium-height with sandy hair and a ready smile. And after a quick chat, he takes Rufus by the hand and they walk into the barn to find their seats near the front, while Anita and I take our time, chatting to Reenie who’s just appeared from Moon Cottage.
‘Off to the show again?’ I laugh after we’ve said our hellos. ‘Anita tells me you’ve been in the audience every night. You must be so proud of Becca.’
‘I certainly am.’ She beams with pride and I notice she’s had her hair cut and highlighted. It looks really chic and elegant – a long way from the wild creature in the black wig who I first met. I guess the real Reenie Lennox is back!
‘Is…Maggie coming tonight?’
‘I doubt it,’ she says, her smile vanishing. ‘She came to Monday night’s performance but she slipped in and sat at the back, not wanting to talk to me.’
‘Never mind,’ says Anita, linking her arm. ‘We’ll have a good time tonight anyway. Come on, it’s just about to start.’
We hurry inside the barn and my eyes immediately start roaming over the audience, searching for someone familiar…someone tall with short dark hair…
Then someone taps me on the shoulder, and when I turn, it’s