Page 41 of Not Just for Christmas

Chapter 20

At the end of the Nativity show, my beautiful boy walked to the front of the stage and bowed to the audience. I had sore hands from clapping, an aching face from smiling, and my pockets were stuffed with damp tissues. Sam caught my eye and puffed his little chest out. I hadn’t seen him look as proud as this since he made it once around the children’s play area in Croyde on his bike without stabilisers, with Jack and Dylan running behind him.

Beside me, Heather blew her nose. ‘He’s done us proud.’

‘He has,’ I agreed, putting an arm around my mother-in-law.

‘They all have,’ Caroline sniffed, as Tilly and the other angels took a bow. She leaned in to me. ‘Your hair looks gorgeous, by the way. You’ve been to the hairdresser’s, haven’t you?’

‘Might have,’ I said, not meeting her eye. She’d been hinting for months that I’d feel better for a trim, but I hadn’t had the motivation to do anything about my appearance until Dylan’s imminent arrival. ‘I couldn’t have him thinking I’ve gone completely feral.’

Her eyes widened. ‘Him? As in Nick? I heard you’ve been in contact.’

‘News travels fast.’ I blushed, realising we were talking at cross purposes.

‘And?’ she probed excitedly. ‘How did it go?’

‘Fine,’ I replied. ‘He’s nice.’

‘Nice,’ she parroted dryly. ‘It’s a start, I suppose.’

‘He’s just …’ I thought back to last night. ‘There wasn’t a spark. If I’m going to get back in the saddle as you put it, I need some excitement.’

‘What a wonderful show!’ Mrs Wheeler appeared, dabbing a tissue to her eyes. ‘Let’s have another round of applause for all our talented children.’

We all clapped enthusiastically, and Sam gave me a little wave as the children sat down in neat rows on the stage.

‘And of course it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible talents of Miss Cooper, who not only put on today’s marvellous production, but wrote the whole thing too! And today, she even managed to play piano one-handed, with a little help from Dylan Wilde, Thank you both.’

‘And that is possibly the only Alice Cooper featuring Dylan Wilde collab the world will ever hear,’ Dylan announced, pulling Sam’s teacher to her feet to accept her applause.

‘Now there’s your excitement,’ Caroline murmured slyly, as the audience erupted with laughter, while camera flashes popped and phones were held aloft.

Jack would have loved this, I thought, ignoring my best friend. He’d have been on his feet, giving Sam and his best friend a standing ovation. Laughing his head off at seeing Dylan sharing a piano stool with his son’s teacher.

I sent him a silent message. Didn’t our boy do well, darling?

Then the strangest thing happened. I got a sudden sensation of pure peace, as if someone had wrapped themselves around me, their arms holding me tight. As if Jack was really there, at my side, being part of the moment.

Caroline passed me another tissue. ‘You OK? You look miles away.’

‘I’m here, we’re both here,’ I replied softly.

She wrapped her arm around me. She didn’t understand, how could she? But in that second it felt like Sam had both of his parents in the audience to cheer him on and I wanted it to last for ever.

‘Dylan has kindly agreed to draw the raffle,’ Mrs Wheeler continued. ‘So if you haven’t got your tickets, there will be a few minutes to do so, while we invite you to come forward and take photos of your children in their very special outfits.’

There was a stampede towards the raffle table, Caroline included among the throng. Heather joined the queue for refreshments, and I headed towards Sam to take his picture.

There was a crowd of people surrounding Dylan for selfies, but he excused himself and found his way to us.

‘Good job, Sam,’ he said, grabbing Sam’s head and kissing the top of it. ‘You smashed it.’

‘I got my words wrong.’ Sam wrinkled his nose. ‘I said Mary’s bit. I’m going to say sorry to her.’

Dylan and I watched him tap the little girl on the shoulder and apologise; she gave him a hug.

‘That was sweet of him,’ I murmured.