Overcome with happiness, she wiped a tear from her eye as a handkerchief flicked into her line of sight. It was Tom. Trusted, wonderful Tom and she took it before resting her head onto his shoulder. His arm wrapped gently around her waist and he gave a soft squeeze but the look in his eyes wasn’t as happy as she expected. Tom loved Christmas and kids, but his excitement was dulled. His expression was clouded with concern and something else she couldn’t understand. It was almost like loss or grief and she had no idea why that would be. Her body responded to her worried thoughts by tightening her chest.
A crescendo of music drew her attention and from behind the children she could just make out a skinny black tail weaving its way through the rhinoceros-donkey’s legs. Mr Scrooge must have come in through the open front door and was trying to find his spot by the fire. Nell took in a breath and pointed him out to Tom. ‘Shit. Mr Scrooge has got into the nativity.’
‘You can’t disrupt the children,’ Tom whispered. ‘You’ll just have to leave him and hope he settles somewhere and goes to sleep.’
With bated breath they watched Mr Scrooge sniff and roam through the makeshift nativity scene. Only a couple of the children noticed though the cat remained oblivious. He rubbed himself against the legs of the manger almost sending it off balance, turfing baby Jesus out, then gave the rhino a very odd look and made his way back to his little corner. If anyone started sneezing or coughing like they were allergic she’d have to run and get him and take him down to the flat, but so far no one had.
Together they enjoyed the rest of the concert and when the headteacher stood to thank everyone for coming, Nell rushed to the kitchen to start bringing up the mince pies and gingerbread men, along with the decorations and bowls of icing to make things stick. Before she left the kitchen, she put a mince pie on a small plate and left it to one side for Harry, then doubled back and put two more on another tea plate for her and Tom to enjoy after everyone had left. He definitely deserved one for always being there for her. Sometimes she really did take it for granted.
Nell walked back through the door and into the dining room with the platters of gingerbread men. ‘Now for all you kiddies, I’ve got some delicious gingerbread men who need decorating. Who wants to help me?’ She was met with a chorus of excited cheers. Tom looked on and the sadness seemed to have disappeared from his eyes. ‘And for the adults I’ve got mince pies and hot chocolate with cinnamon stick or candy cane stirrers for a bit of extra festive fun. Enjoy yourselves!’
On her way back to the kitchen, Nell spotted the waitress again, chatting to one of the parents. She must have had younger brothers or sisters there. Grabbing another couple of platters of mince pies from the kitchen counter, she went back up the stairs, pushing the door with her bum and as she came through, the waitress was near her laptop at the little reception desk in the hall. Nell couldn’t tell what she was doing but she was peering around behind it. Luckily, the laptop was always closed, though she’d think twice about leaving it there in the future. ‘Can I help you?’ Nell asked, keeping her voice light and airy. Startled, the young girl stood bold upright and her cheeks turned pink.
‘No, thanks. I was just … umm, looking for an earring.’
‘They’re both in your ears,’ Nell commented dryly.
‘I mean the backs. One of the backs has come off. Never mind, though. Thanks.’ And like a frightened rabbit she darted back into the throng.
Nell scowled but shook her head and went in to deliver the mince pies. The place was so wonderfully full and the teacher in charge of the laptop had put on some more Christmas songs. Excitement hit the festive air and seeing the place so full made Nell bounce on her tiptoes with joy. As it was now the very end of November it was basically the start of Christmas and no one could fail to be filled with the joy of the season or say it was too early to celebrate. Taking a break, she found a quiet corner and sipped her hot chocolate.
‘Here,’ said Tom, brandishing a hip flask.
‘Naughty,’ she replied with a giggle. ‘Where did you get that?’
‘I know where Mrs Meggett keeps hers.’
‘Brandy? Or whisky?’
‘Brandy.’
‘Yum.’ She took a sip of the drink and took a moment to enjoy the velvety sweet warmth in her mouth. ‘It’s been brilliant tonight, hasn’t it? I’ve loved every minute of it.’
‘Me too.’
‘What was wrong with you earlier?’ she asked, watching him carefully looking for clues and any signs he was lying.
‘When?’
‘When you handed me your handkerchief? You looked so sad.’
‘Nothing.’ He shrugged. ‘I was just worried about you getting all teary.’
‘I can’t help it. There’s just something about children singing Christmas carols that gets to me.’
‘I know,’ he replied knowingly. She really did love the fact that he knew her better than anyone. She took another drink of her hot chocolate.
‘Their voices always feel like the true sound of Christmas. I don’t know what it is about them, but they carry all the excitement of believing in Santa and everything being magical. The world’s just a more wonderful place on the build-up to Christmas. Even the cold doesn’t feel as bad. What?’
Tom was studying her in a way that felt