Page 34 of The Fete of Summer (Tales of Crumbington #1)
Launch
Two weeks later, half an hour before the doors opened to the press and public for the calendar launch, Nathan moved slowly down the length of the village hall, assessing preparations.
Along the far wall, regiments of various-sized glasses stood next to bottles of alcohol, with an assortment of platters of cling-wrapped finger foods still being brought in by caterers and arranged on tables.
Free-standing boards with the official calendar pictures stood at the far end of the hall.
Two hundred chairs had been arranged for the official opening, facing the projector screen.
However much a person disliked or doubted Arlene Killroy, the woman knew how to put on a show.
For Nathan, the evening’s highlight had to be the entire wall on the opposite side of the hall.
Jenny was still putting the finishing touches to boards containing unofficial and candid photos from each of the players’ photo sessions.
Some informal shots included the player’s partners, such as Mikey’s wife smirking as she held a small bottle of baby oil in one hand and applied a handful to Mikey’s muscular arm and shoulder.
Someone Nathan assumed to be Ken Mills’ partner, good-looking and significantly older, laughed happily with Ken, the thick gym rope Ken was about to use tied with a hangman’s noose and placed around his neck.
Benny Cheung’s new girlfriend spread what appeared to be dark motor grease over his face, biting her lip in concentration, her eyes betraying the fact she was trying hard not to laugh.
George Collier’s larger-than-life wife, in a horizontal-striped white and navy top, modelled the postman’s hat he was about to wear and looked like a saucy seaside postcard.
If any of the team had been nervous about tonight, one look at those unposed, natural photos, and Nathan just knew the laughter in the room would become not only infectious but positively endearing.
When Nathan’s gaze landed on the pictures of him and Jaymes at the end of the row, his heart gave a tug, a combination of affection and yearning.
He’d had no idea Jenny had taken them. In one picture, Jaymes smiled affectionately, tucking a lock of hair over Nathan’s ear while Nathan stared nervously off into space.
The expression in Jaymes’ eyes was nothing short of adoration.
Another had him and Jaymes kissing chastely, clearly convinced nobody had seen. So much for discretion .
“All the way back then?” Polly’s voice sounded next to him as she nudged her shoulder into his.
“Yes. Only just, though. Saturday before the photoshoot. But, yes.”
“Aren’t we the dark horse?”
“Sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
Polly linked her arm with his, and Nathan felt tears burn his eyes. For all his recent bravado and self-control, certain things still managed to pierce his armour.
“I miss him so much it hurts.”
Transferring her arm around his waist, she pulled him against her.
“You’re allowed to. I bet he’s missing you, too.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
Nathan believed her. Jaymes’ daily messages and regular calls told him as much. Even without those updates, he knew in his heart Jaymes missed him just as badly.
“Jenny’s done an amazing job, don’t you think?” he said.
“Totally. What time’s she coming tonight?”
“She’s here already. Who do you think arranged all this? Probably powdering her nose before members of the press are let in the doors to grill her.”
“Good. I need a quiet word before the kickoff.”
“Me too. I want to tell her how brilliant these are. And try to get copies to send to Jaymes.”
“You’ll have to wait. My need is more pressing, but I’ll pass your message on.”
“What could be more pressing?”
“Nothing you need to worry your pretty lovesick head about,” she said, releasing him after a hug and giving him a cryptic smile. “Just make sure you’re there—front and centre—at the next committee meeting.”
Without elucidating more, she strolled off like a proud peahen.
On any other day, he might have been irked or tempted to push her for more information.
But he decided to hold his tongue, ignore his irritation and simply enjoy the evening.
As Polly disappeared into the restroom, he noticed Father Mulligan opening the double doors to the hall.
A crowd of people had already gathered outside.
Nodding once, Father Mulligan stepped out of the way, allowing Clifton and Raul to enter the hall, shepherded in by Clifton’s manager, Giorgio.
None of them were supposed to attend the calendar launch.
Raul spotted Nathan first, and they both headed his way.
“What the hell are you two doing here?” Nathan asked with a smile of relief.
“Giorgio’s instructions,” said Clifton as, in turn, they hugged him. “To give you full support. Bet nobody told you there’d be television crews here tonight?”
“Seriously?” said Nathan, astounded. “Does Arlene know?”
“She does now, doesn’t she, love?” said Clifton, turning to Raul, whose gaze appeared hypnotised by the photographs on the wall behind Nathan.
“We gave her a lift. Giorgio and I were having a meeting with her husband when she burst into his office to tell him. Poor thing was in such a state that she left her laptop with the presentation on his desk. She only realised once we were in the car on the way. Otherwise we’d have arrived earlier. ”
Arlene had called Nathan the previous day, feeling anxious about the number of attendees expected at the launch. She had rattled off a lengthy list of questions regarding the football team and the village, facts she might choose to include in her introduction.
“Nathan, these shots are amazing,” said Raul, heading straight for the wall and carefully scrutinising the unofficial photographs. “The two of you are adorable.”
“Thank you,” said Nathan, smiling, remembering a similar comment made by a girl at the airport coffee shop. “We had no idea Jenny was taking them.”
“I might need to have a word with her,” murmured Raul. “See if we can employ her amazing talents.”
“She’s here tonight. And I’m sure she’ll be happy to chat with our guest celebrities.”
At that moment Father Mulligan opened the doors to the press, allowing camera crews to set up equipment and press members to take seats towards the front. Fifteen minutes later, he admitted the rest of the waiting public.
Once everyone had settled, Arlene stepped up to the front—freshly styled hair and somewhat overstated make-up—and the anticipation in the hall felt almost tangible.
People crowded the room, with every seat taken up and many other attendees forced to stand along the walls.
Like a firing squad, professionals with cameras on tripods or holding heavy-looking cameras lined up behind the last row of chairs.
As Father Mulligan had informed Nathan during their earlier meeting, the official hall capacity stood at two hundred and fifty.
Nathan estimated they had that number, perhaps a few more, crammed inside the four walls.
Most importantly for Nathan, all of the football squad and their partners had turned out and sat in reserved seats in the first two rows.
As part of the committee, Nathan stood at the front with Polly, Father Mulligan, Clifton and Raul.
Only Doris hadn’t shown up. Father Mulligan had relayed her apologies about her being a bit under the weather.
Nathan wondered if she might have an aversion to large crowds.
When Arlene walked to the centre and waited, everyone slowly quieted.
“Ladies and gentlemen, members of the press, welcome to the launch of Crumbington’s very first official calendar to mark our annual garden fête.
Maybe this is not a completely original initiative in the grand scheme of things, but for the villagers of Crumbington, this has been something extraordinary.
Special because those involved form an integral part of our village community.
The players in our small football team are not only passionate about the team they play for but also contribute to our little community in their day-to-day occupations.
That’s something we aim to showcase tonight.
All of the squad of eighteen handsome gentlemen sitting here at the front wanted to take part in my initiative, but sadly, there are only twelve months in the calendar year, so we could only take the better-looking among them. ”
At first there came polite but muted laughter, until Mikey guffawed loudly from the front like a braying donkey. His outburst prompted a second wave of much louder, widespread laughter from around the room, especially from the rest of the players.
“I know there has been substantial publicity about this venture in the media, and while I would never downplay anything that brings the world’s attention to our little corner of the world, I do want to focus you tonight on these real heroes of this piece.
Soon to be in the finals against Bosworth Heath in the Southdown Cup, after their one-nil win against Middlehampton Wanderers, nobody can accuse our players of just being pretty faces.
This is the first time in fifteen years our team has performed so well and the first time we’ve reached the final.
Each of them is a real person, with a real job, who earns a modest living and has agreed to do the calendar out of sheer love for their community. ”
Arlene stopped to take a sip of water, which prompted a polite round of applause instigated by villagers in the room. A couple of the players looked around, startled and Nathan felt equally moved by the words of support.