Page 13 of Home This Christmas

‘Not anymore. Sadly, a lot of people don’t like children having Bible stories read to them, even though they teach good morals. Goodness knows we could do with some, the state the world is in.’ She shakes her head.

‘You’re not wrong there.’

‘I did marry the vicar, though,’ she tells me casually.

‘You did! Do you mean Gerard?’ I ask. He was known as Father Johnson when I was growing up. ‘Assuming he is still the vicar here?’

‘He is indeed, and yes, he is now my husband.’ She beams at me.

‘Well, that is good news. I always liked Gerard.’

‘Me too. I think it’s the uniform.’ She winks mischievously and has me giggling.

I recall Marilyn always having a twinkle in her eye.

I’m pleased to see it hasn’t diminished over the years.

I am also surprised that she has married, after being sworn off men for many years, following a disastrous engagement where her partner disappeared overnight, never to be seen again, according to my mum.

‘Anyway, regarding Will’s building projects, you are right in saying they have been welcomed in the past, that’s true enough,’ she explains as we slowly walk along. ‘But there are rumours that his latest venture might not prove to be quite so popular.’

We have stopped outside the toy shop, and I glance at the wonderful display in the shop window.

Doll’s houses, toy trains and old-fashioned wooden pull-along toys grace the window display, the glass edged with bright red tinsel.

There are even a few sledges propped up against a wall, and I have a vision of children whizzing down the nearby snow-covered hills.

‘What do you mean, with this latest venture?’ I ask, intrigued.

‘There have been rumours that the local library might be under threat. Apparently, the council are suggesting that the library is not being used enough. And with a limited budget, it might have to go.’ She sighs. ‘The land would be up for grabs.’

‘So the library really could be closed? Surely not.’

‘I’m afraid so, and the word is, the council are not opposing the idea. It is no secret that they are keen to have more housing in the village. Will Sutton is very interested in buying the land, so I hear.’

‘Land? The village would lose its library and the building itself?’ I’m shocked. Surely Will would not be interested in having any part of that?

So I could have been spot on sensing the café owner giving Will a strained smile earlier.

‘I’m afraid so. As well as the children’s playground next to it. Nothing is set in stone yet, but apparently the wheels are in motion.’

I’m completely shocked by this news. Will never mentioned the land for the proposed housing being on the site of the library, when I asked him if it was around here.

And the little park too, where me and my friends would spend many an evening as teenagers, hanging out and having a laugh, sometimes furtively sharing a bottle of cider.

‘But he will have a fight on his hands, that’s for sure,’ Marilyn says firmly. ‘Along with the village hall the library has been the hub of the village for as long as I remember.’

‘Gosh, yes I remember it growing up too.’ I nod. ‘Surely the village needs a library? The nearest one is miles away in Skipton.’

‘Exactly. Anyway, I have already been in touch with the council, but they are saying very little… Our local councillor did say that a few libraries in the area are closing down due to lack of funding and under-usage, which I find hard to believe. The government say they worry about the standard of literacy in this country, but if kids cannot access free books from libraries, then things are hardly likely to improve, are they?’

‘I couldn’t agree more,’ I say.

Story time was such a big part of growing up as a young child.

Picture books would be read to us, fuelling our imagination, as we sat cross-legged and completely absorbed in the story on Saturday mornings.

When I left school, I would ask the librarian to order in some study books for my college course, which she happily did.

Marilyn is right, access to books is essential.

Surely Brindleford can’t lose its library?

‘Anyway, are you coming in?’ she asks, gesturing to the door of the toy shop. ‘I want to grab one of those sledges before they sell out.’

‘Who for?’

‘Myself, who else?’ She chuckles. ‘There is no better way to remind yourself that you are not past it than whizzing down a hill. And then the best bit? A big slug of brandy afterwards.’

‘I am almost tempted.’ I smile as we head inside and the familiar smell and layout of the shop takes me back to my childhood.

There are teddy bears, and stuffed toys lining shelves alongside board games.

Several prams stand in a corner, complete with sleeping dolls.

Vintage-style wooden toys take up the rest of the space, although a small section of the shop is home to Barbie dolls and electronic gadgets, bringing it into the twenty-first century.

My instinct is to cancel my evening with Will and take Marilyn up on her invitation to dinner at the vicarage. She is such engaging company, and it has been a long time since I had a proper conversation with the vicar, who was so kind to me and Mum after Dad died.

I even ponder purchasing a sledge and joining her on the hills.

But I would like to know a little more about Will’s plans to build houses on the site of the village library.

And why on Earth the local council is prepared to even consider them?

Despite Will being such charming company, surely I owe it to the villagers to try and find out a little more about his proposed building plans whilst I am here?

‘Red or blue?’ Marilyn asks, eyeing the sledges with a grin on her face.

‘Definitely red!’ I reply instantly. ‘I’d say it matches your energy.’