Page 59 of I’ll Be Home for Christmas

Thankfully, at that moment, Father Christmas emerged from the direction of his grotto and Krampus arrived at the same time from an alley running down the other side of the hardware store.

Fred’s foibles—good and bad—were forgotten.

The choir began to sing “Carol of the Bells” as the two festive spirits stood on either side of Mrs. Christmas, Krampus snarling and gesturing at the crowd, and Father Christmas (aka Diggory) ho-ho-ho-ing and blowing kisses.

Benj and Rab—dressed as elves, which got a good laugh, especially from the children who attended Rab’s school—brought out Father Christmas’s throne for Diggory to sit in; he was, after all, supposed to be taking it easy.

And then an old threadbare carver chair, decorated in cobwebs and skulls, was brought out for Krampus (aka Bettina).

Benj handed Martha the scroll containing a collated list of all this year’s good deeds and charitable efforts, which had been posted into the green box outside Frost Hardware. She unrolled the scroll and began to read.

“When Hassan and Asma’s baby was up every night with colic, Judith offered to sit up with him so that the new parents could get a much-needed night’s sleep.”

This incited “ ahhhhhs ” all around. Somebody shouted, “Everybody needs a Judith in their life.” And someone else piped up, “Be more Judith!”

Martha smiled and continued to read. “When Trudy and Alanna’s house got flooded, everyone chipped in to empty and clean it and had a whip-round to pay for anything that was damaged beyond repair.

” Claps and cheers for this one. “Person or persons unknown cleared the scrap of land near Bridge Street overnight when the council refused, so that the children’s community gardening club could begin their planting… ”

The list was long, with good things both great and small having been noted throughout the year.

The Pine Bluff Jezebels got several mentions for their good deeds, and Fred wondered how they found the time.

The collective joy of the crowd seemed to swell as each act of kindness on the list was declared.

The world could be an ugly, coldhearted place, and it was easy to feel dispirited, but here was a reminder that people could be caring in myriad tiny ways.

It was just the thing after a long year to buoy the spirits, ready for the start of the next one.

The reading of the list had always been the boring part when Fred was little; she’d get antsy and want to go to the Christmas cookie stall.

Now she got why the grown-ups had all been so enthused by it; these kindnesses were cookies for the soul.

When Martha finally rolled the scroll back up, the crowd were drunk on good vibes.

“The results speak for themselves,” Martha began. “In the light of the indisputable kindness that runs like a river through this town, I now pronounce Pine Bluff to be alive and kicking with the spirit of Christmas! Krampus, you are hereby banished from this place for another year!”

As the cheers went up, Bettina played her part as Krampus, shaking her fists and writhing, as Rab and Benj—with choreographed perfection—picked her up by the elbows and carried her off back down the alley, Krampus’s legs kicking out comically before disappearing from view.

Fred knew from experience that they’d all three be clinking bottles of beer behind the grotto in no time.

The choir sang “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” as the crowd began to disperse, and Liam and Bella excused themselves to go back to his hut. “I’ll go and start clearing down the cracker stall,” said Fred.

But her mum waved her off. “Let’s leave it for today, love. I’ll lock it all up, and we can come down in the morning to clear it out before the crew begin dismantling the market. You two go and have some fun.”

“You don’t need to tell me twice!” Fred grinned.

“Are we still doing Christmas evening at Hallow House?” asked Ryan.

“Of course!” said Bella. “The aunts have planned this year’s buffet around the theme of ‘Boozy Gastronomy.’?” She rolled her eyes.

“All I’ve managed to garner thus far is that there’ll be fondue, drunken prawns and grasshopper pie; they’re keeping it all very close to their chests.

But you might as well all plan to stay over, as I don’t think anyone will be fit to drive after it. ”

“Fine by me,” said Ryan. And then blushing, he added, “In the spare room, of course.”

Bella turned to go, laughing, calling, “Whatever, Ryan!” over her shoulder.

“Honestly,” Ryan said to Fred, “I didn’t mean to presume…”

“Relax,” Fred soothed him, reaching up for a kiss. “You’re sleeping in the cottage with the aunts.”

Ryan pulled a face in mock horror.

“So, where do you want to go now?” Fred asked. The snow was still coming down, depositing an extra layer on the already white roofs of the huts and the tops of lamp posts.

“Why don’t we grab a couple of hot chocolates and wander down to the beach where it’s quieter, so that we can talk.”

“Talk about what?” she asked.

He slung his arm around her shoulder, a mischievous grin on his face. “It’s high time we discussed what we’re going to put in our next time capsule; the things that reflect us right now, so that when our kids dig it up…”

“Wait a minute.” She laughed. “ Our kids? ”

“We can work out the details later,” he said, with a grin. “What’s important is what they find when they open it. Now I’ve already got pictorial evidence of your name all over the Naughty List, so that is definitely going in…”

They went on like this, bickering and bantering their way through the market and out of the town toward the sea, their laughter ringing out loud in the snow-muffled lanes, their breath forming clouds of white mist in the darkness, and their kisses warm and sweet like the love blossoming in their hearts.