Page 52 of Under the Mistletoe with You

Shaz shoots her hand up.‘I’ll have to go back and forth to my house, but I can definitely help with organising.’

Ursula raises a hand.‘Same.’

The hot drinks lady also gives a little wave.

‘Good, between us we can take shifts so there’s always someone covering.’Tamara ticks something off the list in her hand.‘My next concern is the vulnerable members of the community and making sure that we aren’t leaving anyone alone.’

Shaz raises her hand, and Tamara nods for her to speak.‘Myffy Evans has authorised for me to speak for her here.Her partner Mohan is stuck in London due to the weather, and one of her PAs was sick today and unable to visit, so she might need some extra help over the next few days.I’m sure there’re a few people in a similar boat.’

Priti raises her hand.‘Yes, we should definitely try and find out if anyone’s care needs are being dropped.’

Tamara nods and makes a note.‘Let’s make that priority number one.’

‘We’re taking Myffy a care package this evening of easy meals,’ says Christopher.

Priti turns in her seat to face Christopher.‘I’ll come with you tonight if that’s all right?I’m a nurse at Myffy’s GP surgery.I can speak to her and see if I can get some emergency provision for her – it might be a quicker response from social services coming from me, but no promises.Either way, she might be happier to talk to me if there’re any issues.I can always go and help, but I don’t have a car.’

‘Sounds great to me,’ says Christopher.

Priti gives him a spindly thumbs up, and Shaz texts them both each other’s phone numbers.

Tamara leads a discussion on plans to get groceries up to those who need it – luckily the corner shop is fully stocked with the usual canned necessities, but also bread and milk and butter, unlike the supermarket – as well as setting up a group of people to walk around and knock on doors.Using printed-out maps of the town that Tamara’s office usually use for election canvassing, the group split up the town into zones for people to check on the residents.

‘Everyone, wrap up warm.Please write down your phone numbers and emails here on the sign-up sheet before you go,’ says Tamara.‘Right.Let’s get going.’

The community centre very quickly feels like a real centre of operations.As the meeting ends, everyone helps to put away the chairs.In their place, people gather supplies on a couple of spare tables – first-aid kits, spare food from the little kitchen, and a fresh round of substandard tea and coffee.From one of the huge cupboards come a number of snow shovels, ancient-looking things that possibly haven’t been used in years, and a selection of unmatched hi-vis vests and helmets.

Once things are set up, Christopher gets ready to leave and get cooking, but to his surprise, Nash dons a hi-vis waistcoat and helmet.

‘I thought I’d clear around the community centre now before it gets colder and this stuff freezes under new snow.That’s lethal.’

To his surprise, Christopher feels disappointed.He can see the logic in Nash helping out now, even if some small part of him feels aggrieved at the change of plans.They need to get cooking, don’t they?Shouldn’tthatbe the priority?

He shrugs the confusing feelings off, and nods.‘Okay.See you in a bit.’

Chapter Thirteen

Christopher

By the time he gets home, Christopher is almost grateful for a few minutes to himself, but the moment he gets inside the bakery, the notifications on his phone start buzzing again.

He scrolls through the main Spanks Squad group chat, mostly just nice messages from everyone hoping he’s okay and asking him to check in.Clearly, his mother has told Kit that they’ve spoken, because there’s a brief back-and-forth of irritation that he’d answered the phone to her but not his favourite people in the world.He’s almost finished catching up on messages when a new set of notifications appears, from his separate group chat with Laurel and Ambrose.

Laurel:Toph, who is that absolute dish in the photo with you?

Ambrose:omg what

Laurel:He got tagged in something on Facebook.Hang on.

Ambrose:why are you on facebook??

What follows is a screenshot of a post in a group calledPen-y-Môr Community Actionthat includes a photo taken in the community centre while they were rearranging the main hall.In the background, Christopher can be seen carrying a stack of chairs.Next to him, with his back mostly to the camera, is Nash.

Christopher lets out a slow breath.It wouldn’t be ideal if the entirety of Facebook, and perhaps the world, worked outthat Nash Nadeau was here thanks to a well-meaning photo in a Facebook group.He must tell Nash, and perhaps have a word with Tamara, or whoever took the photo.He doesn’t really know how to handle the privacy of a famous person but an accidental public photo leak seems avoidable.

Christopher:How do you know he’s dishy?He’s not even facing the camera.

Laurel:I don’t need to darling.What a pair of peaches he’s got.