no doubt the feeders were going to be very much appreciated and there were plans to put up bird boxes in a few weeks’ time.
‘I’m capitalising on the weather,’ I told him. ‘It’s just over a week until the official opening and, as the ground has thawed, I’m making the most of it. And don’t forget, I’ve got Graham on the case, too. I might have taken a couple of days off this week, but he hasn’t. He’s been forging ahead.’
‘Making hay while the sun shines, hey?’ Jacob beamed.
‘Something like that,’ I agreed, my shoulders tensing a little as I remembered the last time I’d heard the expression. It was Jackson who had said it.
I couldn’t be sure if Jacob was talking about getting ahead in the garden or if he’d seen Finn popping in and out of the square. His house was only a couple of doors away from mine and he and Ryan often walked Gus together in the evenings, so it was a possibility.
‘Well, whatever the reason,’ Luke continued, ‘it all looks even better than I could have imagined. It’s amazing that we’re only a few weeks into the project and so much has happened.’
‘I’m truly delighted you feel that way,’ I smiled, before turning my attention to the children who had started to shiver. ‘Now, let’s work out where to put everything, shall we?’
With so many eager pairs of hands, the operation didn’t take all that long and Luke promised to get the special wildlife cameras, which the school had raised funds for, trained on to the feeders the following week. The livestream was to be beamed straight into the classroom so I would have to make sure Finn didn’t track me down for a clandestine kiss in full view of the local kids. That wasn’t the sort of wildlife they were hoping to see!
‘Are you coming to the carol concert tonight, Miss?’ asked one of the boys, as he helped carry the tools back to the shed.
‘Oh, I’d forgotten about that,’ I told him. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’
‘I’m going to be singing a solo,’ he proudly told me.
‘In that case,’ I promised, ‘I’ll definitely be there.’
* * *
The church was packed, and I was pleased to see Harold in a pew just ahead of me. I would ask him after the service about how he used to decorate the house.
‘This isn’t quite what I thought you had in mind when you said we were going out,’ Finn, who was sitting tight up against me because there was such little space, said quietly. ‘I hope you aren’t expecting me to sing.’
‘Can’t you sing?’ I asked, pressing my thigh against his.
‘I can,’ he whispered back, ‘I just choose not to.’
We quietened as the lad I recognised from earlier walked down the aisle and then turned to face the congregation. There was total silence as he sang the first verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ without any musical accompaniment. His voice was confident, strong and pure, and when the congregation joined in with the second verse there were more than a few moist eyes being dabbed with crumpled tissues and neatly pressed hankies.
After the service, throughout which Finn had sung with gusto I was amused to note, everyone stayed on to drink tea and enjoy the mince pies supplied by the school kitchen and the local Women’s Institute.
‘Are you keen to get off?’ I asked Finn.
He’d sat down again once he’d collected his pie, because he took up so much space standing up.
‘No,’ he said, ‘I’m in no rush. I’ll wait for you and we’ll go back together, if you like.’
‘All right,’ I smiled. ‘That would be lovely.’
I ignored the knowing looks coming from certain neighbours and friends and waved to Harold.
‘Just the person,’ he said, as he made his way over and Finn shuffled up so he could sit down too. ‘I was hoping I’d see you, Freya.’
‘Likewise,’ I told him. ‘I have a question for you, Harold, but you go first.’
‘Age before beauty, hey,’ he chuckled, slapping Finn’s knee. ‘It’s about my Christmas decorations.’
Finn looked at me and smiled. He knew that was what I wanted to ask about and was clearly amused that Harold had got in first.
‘They’re all still in the loft,’ Harold explained. ‘They’re the only things up there, and in all the excitement of moving, I completely forgot about them.’
‘Don’t worry,’ I told him, ‘I can drop them round to you in my van. It’s no bother.’
Given that his