Carole Singer's Christmas (17 page)

She gave him a sideways glance. ‘Another time perhaps. Thanks for listening.’

‘Any time.’

She stopped and looked up at him. ‘You know ... he is just like a serial killer, isn’t he? Mr Jarvis, I mean. He only goes after a certain type.’

‘But thankfully he doesn’t try to kill any of them,’ Nick added, grinning.

‘He tries to kiss them and grope them.’ Carole hunched her shoulders and shook them for even greater effect. ‘And believe me, from where I’m standing, that’s almost as bad.’

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Carole and Josie arrived at the village hall around six p.m. for the ongoing rehearsal of
A Christmas Carol. To Music. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas. As Performed by The Jutsdown Village Players.
This new title for the Christmas musical had been agreed and adopted just the evening before.

Oddly enough, the new title was the suggestion of Mr Jarvis who had insisted it should be as close to Dickens’ original as it could possibly be. Carole, Josie and Nick had opted out of the ensuing long and heated debate, preferring to make tea instead. In the end, Mr Jarvis got his way.

It therefore came as quite a surprise to everyone except Carole and Josie when Sebastian announced that, unfortunately, his dad had pulled out of the event for health reasons.

‘Yes,’ Josie said as she and Carole walked into the cloakroom to hang up their coats, ‘he probably knew I was thinking of repeating my performance of last night, just to make sure he’d received
my
message.’

‘It seems he got it loud and clear the first time around,’ Carole added. ‘I wonder if Sebastian knows the truth. Nick said that it was obvious that ... oh, hello Nick.’

Nick stepped into the tiny cloakroom area and grinned. ‘Talking about me?’

‘No,’ Josie said. ‘About Justin Jarvis, JP ... and jerk. I can’t think of any other words to describe him. Well, not beginning with a ‘j’ anyway. Carole told me you know all about it.’

Nick smirked. ‘I do. Are you okay?’

‘Yeah. I was hoping he’d be here tonight so that I could ... have another word with him but Sebastian’s just announced his dear dad has health problems.’ She grinned broadly. ‘Perhaps his wife’s found out about it – Justin’s wife that is, not Sebastian’s. Oh, you know what I mean.’

‘I was rather hoping to have a word with him myself,’ Nick said. ‘I don’t like to see my friends upset. Another time perhaps. So … who’s taking over from Justin then? For the musical I mean.’

‘Sebastian, I expect,’ Josie replied.

‘You’re quiet, Carole,’ Nick remarked. ‘Everything okay?’

Carole simply nodded.

‘Don’t worry about her,’ Josie said, linking her arm through Carole’s. She’s still sulking because she’s not Justin’s type.’

Nick grinned. ‘I’d think she’d be glad about that.’

‘Actually,’ Carole said, ‘I was just thinking how awful it would be to discover your own father is a lech. Poor Sebastian.’

Josie huffed. ‘Yeah, especially when he’s such a saint himself. Dear Saint Sebastian who can do no wrong in your eyes.’

‘Josie! Sometimes you can be really mean, you know. And Sebastian hasn’t done anything wrong.’

Carole felt a little uncomfortable defending Sebastian within Nick’s earshot but she thought it was necessary.

‘Unless you count proposing to a woman who is dating another man, when you’re still married to someone else, as wrong,’ Nick said. ‘Which clearly you don’t.’

‘And let’s not forget emptying that woman’s bank account and running off on your wedding day. Then marrying someone else,’ Josie added.

‘That’s enough!’ Carole interjected. ‘You’ve made it perfectly clear, Nick, that you find the way I conduct my love life distasteful but it’s
my
love life and I’ll thank you to remember that, and as for you Josie, well … I’m beginning to think it’s Mr Jarvis who had the lucky escape!’

Carole untwined Josie’s arm and stormed off towards the makeshift stage at the back of the hall. She was absolutely furious. How dare they both gang up on Sebastian? What had he ever done to them?

And why did Nick think it was okay to constantly criticise her? Well, perhaps not constantly, she reasoned. He had been a godsend this afternoon when he’d listened to her ramblings about Mr Jarvis and he’d been so eager to avenge her. Why was that? Probably because that was just the sort of self-righteous person he was. Protector and champion of damsels in distress, be they young or old.

She squeezed herself between the stage and around the stacks of chairs, piled one on top of another, in order to get to the very back of the hall. This was where various sized slabs of MDF and hardboard were waiting for her to turn them into Scrooge’s bedroom or his office or his nephew, Fred’s, house, or some other backdrop from the story.

So far, she’d finished three but there were still the Cratchit house, the Fezziwig’s Christmas party and a London street to do, together with a few other bits and bobs she had up her sleeve. Several of the backdrops could double up for other scenes by adding curtains or various pieces of material here and there and some scenes would be brought to life by adding stage props.

But this wasn’t the West End of London so the more she could bring the story to life with her artwork, the happier she would be. Tonight though, as she was feeling far from happy, she decided to work on the graveyard scene. 

Her mobile rang and she pulled it out of the pocket of the pair of old trousers she was wearing; one of the pairs that Nick had lent her, belonging to his sister. Dominic’s smiling face greeted her.

‘Hi babe. How’s things?’

‘Hi Dom. Fine thanks. Where are you? I can hear really loud music.’

‘Yeah. I’m still in the City, hun. I’m not going to be able to get down there tonight, I’m afraid. One of the partners insisted my department stay and work through the night to finish a big merger we’re working on. A few of us have just popped out for a beer and a bite to eat. Then it’s back to the grindstone, unfortunately. I’m so sorry, hun. I did try to call you earlier but it’s been manic here.’

‘You’re joking?’ Carole said even though she knew he wasn’t.

Dom often had to work through the night; that’s what young lawyers in the City did if they wanted to rise up the career ladder. Those who didn’t went home to their families.

‘I’ll definitely be down tomorrow though. I’ll nip home first thing and grab a shower and then I’ll be on my way. I should be there by nine at the latest. I can’t wait to see you, babe. I ... I’ve really missed you.’

Carole wondered why that seemed to surprise him so much but then she realised, hearing him saying it, it had surprised her.

‘I’ve missed you too, Dom although it has been so busy here I haven’t really had a minute to myself.’

‘I’ve missed having sex more than I ever thought I would. We are going to be sharing a room, aren’t we, babe? You have got the old ... your gran to agree to that, haven’t you?’

‘Er ... let’s discuss that when you get here, shall we? We haven’t finalised the sleeping arrangements yet.’

‘Well, we’d better be or I’ll be sneaking into your room in the middle of the night, regardless. I haven’t had sex since you left and that was nine days ago! It’s weird, isn’t it? When you’ve got it on tap, it doesn’t seem to matter but as soon as it’s gone, well, let’s just say you’d better get a good night’s sleep tonight because you won’t be getting much over the weekend. Sleep that is. Sex, you’ll be getting plenty of!’

‘Oh! Well I have to say, I’m not sure I like the idea of being referred to as ‘sex on tap’ and if you’re working all night tonight, sex will be the last thing on your mind tomorrow anyway. It’ll be you who’ll need a good night’s sleep and there is no way we’re having sex in gran’s house during the day. That’s one thing I
can
assure you!’

She turned to see where she had put the black paint she’d need for the graveyard scene and was mortified to see Bert Threadgold and his wife, Ivy, together with Nick, standing just a few feet away. From the horrified expressions on Bert and Ivy’s faces they’d heard every word of that last comment, and clearly so had Nick, although as he turned and walked away, it was difficult to see what he thought.

‘Not even a quickie?’ Dom was asking.

‘I ... I’ve got to go. We’ll discuss it tomorrow.’

‘But–’

Carole pressed the end call button and smiled sheepishly at Bert and his wife. ‘That ... that was my boyfriend,’ she said.

‘Really, dear?’ Ivy asked, giving her a curious look. ‘Which one?’

Carole opened her mouth to reply but thought better of it. There really wasn’t any point. Instead, she smiled back and continued her search for the tin of black paint whilst Ivy Threadgold regaled her with reminiscences of her own ‘wild’ days and Bert went off, he said, to see where young Nick had got to.

***

‘Peace offering,’ Josie announced an hour later, holding out a cup of tea and two chocolate digestives.

Carole smiled. ‘Get me two more choccie biccies and you’re forgiven.’

‘Consider it done. I’d offer to buy you a drink in the pub but I know you’ve got to get back for Dom so maybe one day next week instead.’

‘Sure. I can’t remember the last time I went to the pub. It’d be fun even if only to see your competition.’

‘My competition? Oh! Jenny, the barmaid, I assume you mean.’

Carole grinned and bit into one of the biscuits. ‘And Dom’s not coming down tonight,’ she said through a mouthful of crumbs.

‘Why not?’

‘He’s working.’

‘Did I just hear you say your boyfriend won’t be down, after all?’ Sebastian asked as he squeezed past the pile of chairs. ‘Working again? He was away on business last weekend, wasn’t he? I hate to say this, Carole but are you sure he’s telling you the truth?’

‘He ...’ She was about to say that he wasn’t working last weekend and that it was she who had lied about it, not Dom, but she realised that by saying he’d gone to see a band without her was probably just as bad in Sebastian’s mind. ‘Yes, Sebastian, I am. He works really long hours. All City lawyers do. It goes with the territory.’

‘Well, I know where I’d rather be, given a choice between you and a stuffy old office, and it wouldn’t be the office.’

‘And I’m sure Dom would rather be with me too, Seb, but if you want to get on and make a real career for yourself, you’ve got to put in the time. And Dom does want to make a career for himself. He’s hoping to be offered a salaried partner position in the next year or so and after that, if he can keep up his billable hours and bring in new clients, he may be offered an equity partnership.’

‘It sounds like hard labour to me,’ Sebastian said. ‘Anyway I came to say that Bert has decided he wants to add a Christmas carol to the list of songs – and I mean an actual Christmas carol as opposed to the book. He’s looking for you, Josie.’

‘Oh joy! Perhaps I’ll suggest
Silent Night
,’ Josie quipped. ‘Let’s face it, by the time we get round to singing a carol, that’s what everyone will be praying for – a very, very, silent night. See you in a mo.’

‘So,’ Sebastian said, moving closer to Carole after Josie had gone, ‘do you fancy doing something tonight?’

‘Like what?’

‘Like ... anything you fancy. I know what I fancy.’ He reached out and ran a finger down the row of buttons on her blouse.

‘Sebastian!’ Carole backed away. ‘Dom may not be coming down tonight but he will be here tomorrow. I can’t do this. Not now. Not ... not until I get things straight in my own mind. Despite what some people in this village may think I’m not the sort of girl who cheats on her boyfriend.’

She saw the look of disappointment in his eyes.

‘What do you mean by “get things straight” in your mind? Are you ... are you saying that there’s a chance you may not ... that you may decide to stay with him?’

‘Well ... yes. Yes there is. Of course, there is. Come on, Sebastian. I haven’t seen you for ten years. Ten whole years and the last time I did, I thought we were getting married ... until you ran off. I’ve been with Dom for three years now and despite what you say, he won’t run off and leave me, I’m fairly sure of that. He may take his time to actually propose but I honestly think he’ll be around for the foreseeable future. Can I say the same about you, I wonder?’

‘Yes! Of course you can. Look Carole, I made a mistake. People make mistakes. All I want is a chance to make it up to you. To show you how much you mean to me. I’ll marry you next week if that’s what it’ll take. Tomorrow even. I’ll prove to you that you can rely on me. I mean it, Carole. I want you to be my wife. That’s why I proposed!’

‘Er ... aren’t you forgetting one teensy-weensy thing?’ Josie chipped in from the other side of the pile of chairs. ‘Sorry, Bert’s gone walkabout so I was bringing more biscuits to Carole and I couldn’t help but overhear. I hate to be a fly in the ointment, Sebastian, but don’t you have to get divorced first? I don’t know how long it takes to get divorced in Oz but over here you may recall, it takes a while.’

‘Semantics,’ Sebastian said, scowling at Josie.

‘I don’t care what religion you are,’ Josie said, giggling at her own joke, ‘it still takes a while.’

Sebastian sneered and stood his ground. Josie shuffled past the pile of chairs, grabbed one off the top and sat down.

‘Well, I’ll leave you to think about it then, Carole. I don’t want to rush you. You obviously need time to come to the right decision and I’m not going anywhere so that’s okay with me. I’ll see you later.’

He turned and gave Carole a lingering kiss on her cheek before smiling broadly at them both. They watched in silence as he marched off.

‘I thought he just said he wasn’t going anywhere,’ Josie joked as she bit into one of the biscuits.

‘And I thought you said those biscuits were for me.’

‘Oops! It seems you can’t trust anyone these days.’ Josie stuffed the rest of the biscuit in her mouth and smiled as broadly as Sebastian had just done.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Carole heard the shrill ring of the doorbell and realised she’d overslept again. She didn’t know what the matter was with her lately; she just seemed so tired all the time. She tried to get up but her head was swimming and when she suddenly sneezed, a piercing pain shot through her throat and chest. She’d got a cold – and a bad one.