Effie felt sick she’d not thought through the implications before she’d read the note out, but Fraser was already coming to her rescue. ‘John was a nasty piece of work who badgered Effie over the internet. But she’s a smart woman and she blocked him. Liv was just stopping him from doing it to others.’
‘I see,’ said Dolly. ‘Good thing she did – some people can be gullible.’
‘They can,’ said Fraser and he and Effie exchanged smiles.
38
Effie was blown away by what Liv had done. She loved that Liv knew someone who could wreck John’s computer. Liv was right – at least now he’d lost all the information he’d probably built up, it would take a while before he was in a position to start approaching women again. Effie even hoped that perhaps this would be the wake-up call he needed to realise the error of his ways and get himself a proper job. She’d play that little story out in her head and hope it came true. She didn’t like the thought of anyone else being upset like she had been. Although, even today it didn’t seem quite the disaster it had first felt like.
She’d thought she’d found someone special in John but even in the midst of all the excitement and subterfuge she’d known it wasn’t love. She’d liked the reassurance of him telling her she wasn’t an idiot, but now she realised she was surrounded by people who didn’t think she was daft and that was what really mattered.
Effie absent-mindedly flicked the ghost lights on and off. She felt her grandmother’s hand on her shoulder.
‘Are you all right?’ asked Dolly, with a kind and knowing smile.
‘I’m all good,’ said Effie and she meant it.
Dolly turned her attention to Fraser. ‘What did Liv give you?’ she asked, nodding at the gift in Fraser’s hands.
Fraser took a moment before holding up a deflated plastic man. ‘Her note to me says:Hi Fraser, I’ve done some tinkering and your website search engine optimisation should be better than it was. Your security is pants so you need to change your password.’ He rolled his eyes at that before carrying on. ‘I’m also gifting you my friend Plastic Stan. He’s not much of a talker but he’s a terrific listener and will make a good stand-in until you realise how valuable your friendship with Callum is and that it’s not something you want to let Lizzie ruin. All the best. Liv. P.S. It was nice meeting you for real.’
‘Good grief,’ said Dolly, putting one hand over her mouth and pointing with the other. ‘Is that asextoy?’
Effie burst out laughing and Fraser looked decidedly uncomfortable. ‘I think so, but it’s just a joke.’
‘Hmm,’ said Dolly. ‘It’s an unusual Christmas present but I have to admit, I think what she says is true.’
‘About Stan being a good listener?’ said Fraser, tipping his head to one side and smiling.
‘About you and Callum. We can all act like bampots now and again. And I don’t want to play down what Callum did, because it was deceitful and the worst kind of betrayal. But there’s no prize for taking the higher ground here. You’ll only lose your friend for good. And I think it would annoy Lizzie no end if you and Callum made up, so that’s probably the best reason to give him a call.’
‘And it’s Christmas,’ chipped in Effie. ‘You shouldn’t fight at Christmas.’
‘I don’t know. Maybe I’m not the forgiving type,’ said Fraser.
‘You forgave Liv for accusing you of being a ghost. And you forgave me for whacking you in the gentleman parts with a flowerpot.’
‘You were only seven at the time, Effie.’
‘Still, it means you can find it within you to forgive and forget. You just need to speak to Callum.’ Effie put her hands on her hips.
Fraser looked Stan over and smiled at the note in his hands. ‘I’ll think about it,’ he said.
The doorbell went. ‘I’ll get it. Do you think it’s Callum?’ asked Effie getting to her feet. ‘That would be spooky,’ she added as she left the room with Jock’O at her heels carrying a sock to greet the visitor with.
‘It’s Christ-mas!’ announced Winnie in a very high-pitched attempt to mimic Slade’s Noddy Holder. Unfortunately it set off a coughing fit.
‘Goodness, Winnie. Merry Christmas,’ said Effie trying and failing to hurry the old lady inside. ‘Granny is in the library.’
‘Wonderful,’ said Winnie and she shuffled in that direction with a small bag of presents dangling from her walking frame. ‘My chauffeur is just parking the car,’ she added with a giggle.
Effie was about to follow her when the doorbell went again and she opened the door to a very large present, which moved down to reveal the deliverer. ‘Yuletide felicitations,’ said Robbie, who was wearing a Santa hat.
Effie was super excited to see him. She’d done some thinking since yesterday. The fact that he’d gone to the trouble of finding the video of her dad for her meant so much. It was the kindest thing anyone had done and when she took a moment to think about it, Robbie had only ever been lovely to her. ‘Happy Christmas. Come in,’ she said, unable to hide her grin. They walked up the hallway and both faltered near the mistletoe. ‘Sorry about yesterday,’ she said. ‘I don’t know what Liv was thinking.’ Effie felt a little embarrassed when she recalled the moment they’d both looked up to find themselves directly underneath it. Obviously they hadn’t kissed and now, if she was honest, she was a little worried about evil spirits but undeniably excited about the prospect of witches. She took Robbie through to the library where Fraser quickly bundled up Stan.
‘I need to check on the roast beef,’ he said. ‘Hiya, Robbie. Did you want to stay for dinner?’
‘Festive greetings one and all,’ said Robbie. ‘Thanks for the offer but my mother will roastmeif I’m not there for Christmas dinner.’ He chuckled and Effie giggled along.
