‘Let’s start again,’ Silas said grumpily. ‘And this time we’ll get it right.’
Everyone groaned. Brooke loved to hear Danny sing, but even she was getting fed up now. They’d been at the vicarage for hours.
‘Oh, come on, Silas,’ Aubrey said. ‘We’ve already had one rehearsal this morning and we’ve been here again this evening for so long we’re in danger of losing our voices.’
‘And what a tragedy that would be,’ Silas said sarcastically.
‘What’s going on?’ Sam asked the other vicar, Amelia, who shrugged.
‘Immi! What’s happening?’ she asked.
Immi threw up her hands in confusion. ‘No idea. The Reverend wants us to sing it all through again, but most people think they’ve had enough for today, so I’m not sure what’s happening now.’
‘I think,’ Amelia said, closing the lid on the piano, ‘that we’ve had enough practice for one day, and frankly I have a stack of work waiting for me so I can’t really spare any more time tonight.’
Brooke would have kissed her if it were possible. She’d had more than enough herself and it clearly wasn’t only the ghosts who were feeling the strain.
‘Thank goodness for that,’ Sam said, sliding the strap of the guitar off his shoulder and yawning. ‘I’m off home to watch the next episode ofStranger Things. We’re binge-watching it,’ he explained to Amelia. ‘I’ve already seen it, but Lucy hasn’t and I’ve finally persuaded her to give it a go. It was the Kate Bush song that did the trick.’
He laughed, while the ghosts stared at him in bewilderment, not having the first idea what he was talking about.
‘So I’m to be overruled – byherof all people?’ Silas demanded.
‘We’re tired,’ Ray said. ‘We’ve had enough. We’ll be back here tomorrow morning.’
‘Not here,’ Silas said hastily. ‘We shall meet back at The Magic Lantern.’
There was a showing ofCasablancaat the cinema that evening, and the function room at the inn would be no good as a substitute rehearsal room as there was a danger – however remote – that Callie or Brodie might pop in and overhear the song, so Amelia had offered the use of the vicarage, much to Silas’s annoyance. After all, as he told anyone who’d listen, it was his home, too, and he liked to keep his home life and work life separate.
‘Keep the riff raff out, more like,’ Ronnie had muttered, and as annoying as he was, Brooke thought he probably had a point.
‘I suppose you can go then,’ Silas said reluctantly. ‘But if at all possible, make sure you practise at home. You must try to remember the words.’
‘I think you’ll find that Aubrey is word-perfect anyway,’ Agnes said. She gave her husband a doe-eyed look. ‘You sound so beautiful, my dearest. It made me shiver just listening to you.’
‘Mother, Poppa, is it okay if I go to Immi’s room when we get home to watch a film with her?’ Florrie asked.
Aubrey and Agnes exchanged meaningful glances and Brooke smirked. Their chocolate addiction was still going strong then!
‘Of course, dear,’ Agnes said. ‘Stay as long as you like. Your poppa and I will watch something in our room, so don’t feel any need to rush back.’
‘Ooh, ta very much,’ Florrie said, giving Immi a gleeful look.
Brooke couldn’t help wondering what it was they were planning to watch, and why Agnes, of all people, hadn’t bothered to ask. Better things on her mind she thought wistfully. Lucky sod!
‘Not long now,’ Polly said, wearily rubbing the back of her neck as the two of them headed towards the door. ‘Friday tomorrow and then it’s the party. I’m so excited, aren’t you? I love a good knees-up.’
‘I might love it a lot more if I could dress up and do something with my hair,’ Brooke said. She tugged at a strand of it, amazed that it didn’t snap in half, given how stiff it was. Nothing was going to change it. She’d had eighteen years to get used to that fact but she still kept hoping, deep down, that one day a miracle would happen and she’d wake up to find she had her old hairstyle back.
‘Aw, I can imagine how awful it feels,’ Polly said sympathetically. ‘Chin up, my lovely. At least there’s going to be music and dancing. That’s something, eh? And it will be nice to see Callie and Brodie celebrating. Our Shona’s made them a beautiful cake, you know. I saw it this afternoon. Stunning it is. The Quicken Tree’s going to be absolutely buzzing!’
Brooke nodded, but a sudden sick feeling swept over her as she realised that The Quicken Treewasgoing to be buzzing, and that Kirsty and Rory were staying there until Sunday.
How had she not put two and two together before now?
With Danny one of the lead singers of the song there was no way she could keep him away from the pub, and what if Rory and Kirsty wandered into the function room and Danny set eyes on his former wife? Rory would have to come clean and Danny would be heartbroken.
Maybe Danny had told Rory about the party and Rory had already made up his mind to keep Kirsty as far away as possible from the inn that evening. But what if he hadn’t? What if he’d decided that it was time to be honest?
