A Kiss in the Snow - Rosie Green Page 0,76

Nora.

‘Hi! How are you? And how’s little Holly? Keeping you awake half the night?’ I smile, delighted to see her looking so well.

She’s wearing make-up and her dark red hair hangs loose. She’s braided the front section, which looks really pretty.

‘Holly’s brilliant. Mum and Dad are looking after her while I’m over here.’

‘Really? So have they come round to the idea of being grandparents, then?’

She gives a wry smile. ‘Oh, yes. Mum’s telling all her friends how obviously intelligent Holly is because she smiled at her. I didn’t like to tell her it was actually just wind.’

We laugh and Anita asks, ‘So will you be going back to your parents to live?’

Nora looks at her as if she’s a cracker short of a full box. ‘You have to be joking! No, I love where I am. I’m staying put. But they only live an hour away, so they can visit any time they like.’

‘Where are you sitting?’ I ask.

‘I’m not sure.’ Nora glances over at the theatre-style arrangement of chairs and someone calls over to her. ‘This is your seat, Nora.’

She smiles at us in a resigned sort of a way. ‘I’d better go.’

I stare in amazement. ‘Hang on, is that Maud who’s keeping your seat?’

She nods. ‘Your little “chat” in the street with Maud obviously hit the mark. She’s been much nicer ever since.’ She smiles. ‘She even gave me a rattle for Holly. It’s ancient and obviously belonged to one of her grandkids. But it’s the thought that counts.’

Anita grins at my amazed expression. ‘I know. Who said a leopard never changes its spots.’

We leave Nora and make our way up the central aisle to the second row from the front on the right. I scan the people in the audience hopefully. But there’s no sign of Ronan. I smile wryly at my stupid optimism. Why on earth would he be here?

Jeff and Rufus are sitting on the aisle but they scoot along two seats, so Anita sits next to Jeff and I’m on the aisle, on Anita’s other side.

My heart heavy, I cast my eyes around the barn. The stage looks a little rustic but that’s hardly surprising, since it was probably hammered together in just a few days! And the barn itself looks amazing. There’s a huge sparkly Christmas tree in the corner by the stage with lots of boxes stacked around it, wrapped in shiny red and green paper. And above the stage is strung a cheery banner in huge red letters that reads, ‘Merry Christmas Everybody!’

Looking behind me, across to the other side, I spot Reenie and we acknowledge each other with a smile. I notice there’s a spare chair beside her. It occurs to me that maybe she was saving it for Maggie, and my heart lurches painfully at the thought of Reenie’s disappointment. And then I happen to glance over at the main doors, which are being closed against the night breezes.

Someone scoots inside, just in time.

I watch, holding my breath, as Maggie stands there, looking a little uncertain. Her eyes move over the audience. Then she walks quickly over to her seat on the other side of the barn – the seat right next to Reenie.

I catch Reenie’s expression of amazement turn to utter delight at the unexpected presence of her daughter. My hand flies to my chest at the surge of emotion. Honestly, I feel like crying myself, so goodness knows how Reenie is feeling. And Maggie as well, for that matter. And then the lights dim and the show starts, and I have to blink furiously because the stage appears to be swimming in water!

It’s a fabulous variety show, with acts ranging from a group of cute kids singing everyone’s favourite carols, to the fabulous break-dancing teens and the local male voice choir that I remember Anita telling me about. Then Becca is introduced to loud applause. I look round and see both Reenie and Maggie clapping furiously, both of them smiling.

A happy ending, I think to myself.

A lump rises in my throat. I would have liked my own happy ending, but clearly, it isn’t to be. All along, ever since I decided to come back to Silverbells, I’ve been wishing and hoping that somehow, Ronan would appear. That maybe he’d hear about the Christmas Revue being held after all, and he’d come along, hoping to see me.

But according to Anita, he hasn’t been to any of the performances so far and he’s clearly not here tonight, either.

Becca sings