Ping!
Everyone turned to see Louise in the centre of the room, holding up a fork and a wine glass.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, can I please have your attention for a moment!’
The chatter in the room faded away as if someone had turned down the dial on a radio.
‘Thank you, everyone!’ Louise called. ‘I promise this isn’t a speech. I only want to thank you all for coming. It’s a very busy time of year. This year has been tough for many of you, I know that …’ She hesitated for a moment. ‘We’ve lost people we love, and this time of year always makes us think about those who are no longer with us, no matter how many years have passed since they left us.’
A soft murmur of agreement rippled through the guests.
‘So tonight we raise a glass to their memory, and we also look forward to the future. It’s a testament to the strength of this wonderful community that so many of you gather here once again to celebrate our achievements and strengthen our connections. I’m so grateful to you all for your support through foot-and-mouth, fire … and floods.’
Groans rang out at the hardships they’d faced during the year.
‘Especiallyfloods, considering the damage done to many businesses at the start of the year,’ she went on, reminding Sophie of the torrents that had caused such havoc in the January before she’d arrived at Sunnyside.
Sophie looked at Brody, arms folded, watching his mother tensely.
‘Our business wasn’t the only one inundated. For some, it was the last straw.’ She paused again and there was a stillness in the room. ‘But enough of the doom and gloom. We are all here and, thanks to us all pulling together, everyone is still going.’
‘Just about still going, Louise!’ the vicar quipped.
‘You’re the fittest of the lot of us,’ Louise replied.
Laughter rang out and Louise raised her glass. ‘To buggering on, despite everything, and a happy Christmas to us all!’
Glasses were raised and everyone toasted to that.
Brody held his drink high and as soon as his mum had finished her speech, he gave her a big hug.
Louise kissed his cheek and hastily wiped her eyes, before fixing her hostess smile back in place. Sophie felt a new-found sympathy and respect for her, even if she did think Louise was a little too protective of her son. Brody clearly cared for his mother and must have felt obliged to be the male support in the family from a very young age. No wonder they were close.
The music was turned back up and the chatter resumed.
Finally Brody carved a path over towards Sophie.
‘Phew. Sorry I couldn’t get away to talk to you earlier, and I’d no idea Mum was going to give a speech.’ He gave a lopsided grimace.
‘It was very heartfelt. I hadn’t realised it had been such a hard time for her and the business.’
‘It’s been a difficult year,’ he admitted. ‘The premises were totally flooded and it’s taken months to properly clearthem out. It was before you got here, so how would you know? As for losing people, Mum probably means my auntie – Mum’s younger sister – who died back in May.’
‘I’m so sorry.’
‘It was horrible for Mum. I have to be honest, I didn’t expect her to get emotional this evening. It’s normally her favourite night of the year.’
‘Painful memories have a habit of surfacing when you least expect them. Your mum’s been under a lot of pressure too.’
‘We all need a break. Apart from you, of course,’ he said, sounding brighter again. ‘As this is your busiest time of year.’
‘But after my guests leave, I plan to spend the twenty-seventh collapsed in a heap with the cats.’
‘You never know, there might be something better to do …’ he began, before adding hastily, ‘I mean, we’ll all need some fresh air by then, and some alone-time to recharge. Maybe we could take Harold for a walk. If we’re both around, that is.’
‘Maybe,’ Sophie said, sensing Brody’s reluctance even to commit to a walk, perhaps because he was wary of making plans that he couldn’t keep at such a busy family time. ‘Though you said you might have plans, or other people might have plans for you? Won’t the surgery be open by then too?’
‘My colleague’s on duty after the holiday, so I’ll have Boxing Day and the day after off. I volunteered to be on emergency call over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.’ Hesmiled. ‘I’ll need my own Christmas escape by then … and I bet you will?’
