‘Mimi! A Christmas miracle has happened.’
Freya called through to the office from the Cottage Angels reception area. A large package had just been deposited at the desk by the couriers.
‘The banner’s come!’ she declared.
Mimi heaved a massive sigh of relief. ‘Phew! I was beginning to think it wouldn’t arrive in time for the concert. Let’s have a look at it, then.’
The two of them managed to open the large canvas banner, checking that there were no faults or typos on it. It was their showcase item of promo for the carol concert, specially commissioned to be hung in front of the stage.
Held on December 23rd, the concert was always a highlight of the Bannerdale festive celebrations and, Freya thought, heralded the moment when you really felt as if Christmas had arrived. She’d always enjoyed going along, first as a child with her mum and friends and even in her teenage years, though she’d affected a blasé attitude to it, claiming she only went along for her mother’s sake.
Even when she’d been away at uni, she’d made a point of always being home and going to the concert with her mother. In fact, this might be the first time Sandra Bolton had missed it.
Freya didn’t have time off until the office closed on Christmas Eve afternoon and she could finally meet up with Travis at her place and they could both relax.
She got home from the office late and flopped onto the sofa with a hot chocolate when a WhatsApp call came through from her mother. Bronzed, and with a glamorous updo, she was wearing a sleeveless cocktail dress and chandelier earrings.
‘Hello! Hope you can hear me, there are so many people on deck, only I thought I’d call before the fireworks went off!’
Freya turned her phone volume up so she could hear her mother better.
‘You’re very glam,’ Freya said, thinking how happy her mum looked.
‘Oh, yes, we’ve just been to the captain’s gala dinner and we were invited onto his table. The food was amazing and now we’re all outside waiting for the firework spectacular over Cozumel.’
‘I saw the photos of you snorkelling on Instagram. It looks amazing and warmer than here.’
‘It’s glorious. The sea temperature was like a warm bath and you should see the coral … We’re having a wonderful time.’ Her enthusiasm tailed off. ‘But I keep worrying about you. Neil and I both do. You’re not on your own on Christmas Day, are you? Because Auntie Hazel emailed me the other day and I said we’d left you behind and she said you’d be very welcome at hers.’
Left you behind? Even though her mother and Neil meant well, Freya felt like a puppy that had been abandoned.
‘Mum, I am absolutely fine. Work’s super busy what with people arriving for Christmas, and Cottage Angels is sponsoring the village carol service so there’s loads to do with that and er, the usual Christmassy stuff. I’ll be fine.’
‘OK but your Auntie Hazel will be thrilled to see you. Uncle Graham has dug out some old videos of you and your cousins when you were all tiny. She says there’s a hilarious one of you all splashing each other in the paddling pools and then your cousin decides to water the garden, the little horror …’
Great, the option of watching videos of herself, probably naked, and her cousin doing a wee on the roses, in front of a bunch of distant relatives.
‘It’s very kind of them to ask, but I’ve plans!’ she said, only slightly hysterically. For some of it, Freya thought, with mixed feelings.
‘So you’re going to Mimi’s after all?’ Her mum heaved a sigh.
‘Um—’ Freya was saved from an outright lie by a loud bang.
‘Sorry, darling, that was a massive rocket! But you’ll have a lovely time at Mimi’s …’ Loud pops and crackles drowned out the rest of her mother’s words, then Freya saw her wave her hand and a grinning Neil appear behind her, waving madly.
‘Have to go,’ her mother trilled. ‘Call you from our next port. Your Auntie Hazel will be disappointed but it’s a weight off my mind that you won’t be alone on Christmas Day.’