Page 82 of A Merry Little Christmas

There was a moment’s silence and Emily seemed to understand that Merry didn’t want to talk about Nell.

‘What shall we do with Dad’s ashes?’ she asked.

‘Good question. Did he have a favourite place? We could do it there,’ Merry suggested.

Emily grinned. ‘You might freak out at this, but how about taking him to Glastonbury next year?’

‘Dad’s ashes?’ Merry frowned. ‘I’m not sure …’

‘You just said you’d never been; this would be a once- in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to all go together.’

‘I’m not sure you can use “lifetime” when you’re referring to someone in an urn.’

‘At least he won’t need a ticket,’ Emily sniggered. ‘He’d have loved that.’

‘But what about the baby?’

‘He or she won’t need a ticket either,’ she teased.

‘That wasn’t what I meant.’ Merry gave her a playful shove. ‘I was thinking of changing nappies and making up bottles in a tent, et cetera.’

‘Don’t worry about that, there’ll be enough of us to help with the baby,’ Emily said dismissively. ‘Will and me, you and Cole, and I bet Harley and Freya will want to come too. We can make it a real family occasion.’

That was enough to grab Merry’s interest; anything family oriented, a chance to make new memories and traditions, and she was there. ‘We could sneak up to the VIP area and sprinkle the ashes through the wire fence.’

‘Ray Meadows finally makes it in with the celebs,’ Emily gave a snort. ‘It’s perfect. Bloody perfect.’

‘Knock, knock!’ came a voice from the door, and in walked Cole and Will.

‘We’re going to Glastonbury next year,’ Merry announced, as Cole stooped to press his cold cheek to hers.

‘Are we?’ he retorted. ‘What about the baby?’

‘It won’t need a ticket,’ Merry replied swiftly.

She and Emily fell about laughing and Cole and Will exchanged bemused looks.

‘I’m up for it,’ said Will.

‘Correct answer.’ Emily beamed at him. ‘Because Merry wants you to be in charge of nappy changing.’

‘Happily,’ said Will, whose expression said the exact opposite.

‘He’s a keeper.’ Merry got to her feet and gave him a hug. Her sister had chosen well.

‘How are you getting on?’ Gail had come to check on them.

‘Almost done,’ said Emily, unwinding the lights from the bed frame.

‘Excellent,’ said Gail, ‘Now, in terms of post and whatnot …’

While Gail explained that they’d forward any remaining mail on to her address, out of the corner of her eye, Merry saw Emily pull Cole to one side and whisper something in his ear.

‘Thank you,’ Merry murmured distractedly, trying to listen in on Emily’s conversation.

‘What’s going on?’ she demanded once Gail had left. She stuffed the mail in her handbag.

‘A surprise,’ said Emily, tapping her nose.