Page 3 of The Silent Appeal

We’ll meet you at the hall this evening and will dig out all the old tweeds and twin sets. See you soon, Marianne

Message exchange between Kevin and Sarah-Jane MacDonald on January 2, 2025:

5:20 p.m. Kevin wrote:

Well, that’s just perfect.

5:29 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

I’m trying to get Sammy settled with Mum, what is it? Be quick.

5:37 p.m. Kevin wrote:

Sent out the email inviting one and all to audition for the next play. Putting my arse on the line with a tricky murder mystery and devoting six months of my precious, depleting life to direct—with no hope of personal glory even if it’s a massive hit (thanks to NADA always awarding “best director” to a Shakespeare)—and not one of the Fairway Players so much as says “happy fucking birthday” to me!

5:38 p.m. Kevin wrote:

Fifty years on earth for this.

5:48 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

Happy fucking birthday, Kevin. Meet me at the hall and bring the folders—we’ll need to list everything Mick needs from Wickes and whatever Denise and Marianne should look for in the charity shops. If we don’t do it now, we’ll soon be wrapped up in rehearsals and it’ll be too late.

5:50 p.m. Kevin wrote:

Yes, yes. Got the folders, got the script, got the lists. See you there.

To: Kevin MacDonald

From: Joyce Walford

Date: January 3, 2025

Subject: Your face was a picture

Your face was a picture, Kevin. Did you not know Sarah-Jane had organized a surprise party? She’d done the hall up a treat and even after Woof chewed the “Happy 50th Kevin” sign you could still tell what it said. Nice of her to get Nicky-Rose back from abroad too. That was a surprise for everyone. They say shock can cause cancer now. Joyce

To: Kevin MacDonald

From: Celia Halliday

Date: January 3, 2025

Subject: Nicky-Rose

It’s funny, but I’d forgotten Carol had another daughter. I’d not long had Beth when Nicky-Rose took off, so she must’ve been gone TWENTY years at least. She couldn’t wait to leave Lockwood, could she? Makes you wonder why she’s back.

It seems she didn’t send so much as a text to warn you she was arriving. We couldn’t help laughing at the shock on Carol’s and Sarah-Jane’s faces. I bet you didn’t even know who she was, did you, Kevin?

Someone will have to fill her in on all that’s happened in Lockwood since she left, like Joel’s OBE. Celia

To: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

From: Carol Dearing

Date: January 3, 2025

Subject: Nicky-Rose