She watches as a small feathered head appears at the door of the hen house, and quickly pops back indoors. ‘You wanted to change your flight and come yesterday. And if you had, you’d be here now and everything would be okay?—’
‘Hey,’ he says, ‘it’s happened. As long as you’re all okay, then it’s fine.’
She pauses, still trying to quell her guilt. ‘So will you still fly to Glasgow and stay there until the weather clears?’
‘Actually,’ he starts, ‘I thought I might as well stay in London…’
‘What, forever?’ she teases. ‘Come back, Michael! We need you here?—’
‘I mean until the thaw comes.’ He chuckles. ‘I think I can amuse myself here.’
Shelley smiles, despite everything. ‘I should’ve asked. How did yesterday turn out?’
‘I had a great day actually. Walked for miles, taking it all in. All along the South Bank and then through Covent Garden and Soho, and there was this amazing place with a huge courtyard, Somerset House, and I sat there and had a coffee and got chatting to all these tourists on a Christmas shopping trip. Then I found a little bar on the Strand…’
‘Oh, that’s great. I was worried about you mooching around, all on your own.’
‘No, quite the opposite. I must’ve talked to more people than I’ve talked to all month, probably.’ A pause. ‘I haven’t been ice skating though.’
‘There’s still time.’ She smiles. ‘But I’m glad you’ve been out and about. Sorry, that makes it sound as if you’re about ninety?—’
‘I feel it sometimes.’ He laughs. ‘But actually, not so much right now. It really has been pretty good. And that’s why I thought I’d stay here a little bit longer. I don’t care about the flight. I did buy a cheap phone though, in case you need me…’
‘Great. So have fun, won’t you? Sounds like you’re loving it down there…’
‘I am. It’s…’ She senses him smiling too. ‘It’s… well, it’sdifferent.’
‘You can say that again.’ She laughs. Then Lena calls out that breakfast is nearly ready, and over at the cars Frida snaps atRoger, ‘Don’t be so defeatist. The party’s happening at four and that pudding’s not going to paint itself!’
‘What wasthat?’ Michael asks.
‘Just your guests,’ Shelley says, ‘having a mini crisis. But we’re all fine here. Honestly, there’s nothing to worry about.’
‘But what about you and your family?’ he asks. ‘How will they feel if you can’t get back home tomorrow?’
Shelley forms deep footprints in the snow as she heads back to the cottage. ‘Oh, I’m sure the snow will be gone by then,’ she says firmly. ‘It’s got to be, hasn’t it? It’ll be Christmas Eve.’
32
No magical snow plough arrives. No gritter either. There are enough shovels to go around, so everyone – Frida and Theo excepted – digs away at the snow around the cars. However, Niall and Roger do the lion’s share and by lunchtime the two men are visibly spent as they all return to the kitchen.
‘Well, we had to try,’ Niall says, catching Pearl’s eye, ‘but there’s no chance of getting out of here today.’
‘No, I realise that,’ Pearl says. Hours before, the three women had reassured each other that of course the snow would clear for tomorrow. Now Pearl isn’t so sure. ‘Thanks for all that digging, though,’ she adds, aware of Frida’s rising agitation.
‘We’re the ones with something to get back to,’ she retorts, and Lena appears from the lounge. Her hands are filthy with ash and soot from cleaning out the fireplace.
‘What d’you mean?’ she asks Frida.
‘Well, Christmas!’
‘Weallhave Christmas coming,’ Shelley points out. ‘We all have things to do and people back home…’
Niall disappears briefly and returns brandishing a basket of logs from the woodshed. ‘Let’s try and stay positive,’ he says. ‘Ifthere’s a thaw tonight, then we can all leave first thing in the morning, can’t we?’
‘In time for Christmas!’ Frida announces.
‘But what about Stan and the hens?’ Niall turns to Shelley. ‘With Michael not being here, who’ll look after them if we leave?’
