Page 70 of The Christmas Fayre on Holly Field

‘Do a twirl for me,’ Harriet instructed. Sara was standing in the middle of Harriet’s bedroom, a big grin on her face. She looked absolutely gorgeous in her party dress.

Sara slowly turned around, twisting her head so she could watch her mother’s reaction. ‘What do you think? Do I look OK?’

‘You look beautiful,’ Harriet said, pride swelling her heart so much that she thought it might burst. Although Sara had tried the dress on before, it had just been a quick check to make sure it fitted. Today, though, was Darlene’s birthday party and Sara was fully kitted out with navy ballerina pumps on her feet, and holding the bag that went with the dress. Her hair was gathered up on the top of her head with little strands falling softly around her face, and Harriet choked up as she thought how lovely her daughter looked, and how grown-up. Sara had suddenly gone from being a little girl, to almost being a teenager. It was thrilling and terrifying at the same time.

‘Yes, but do I look OK?’ Sara asked again.

Harriet knew what she meant. ‘You’ll fit in perfectly. It’s not too babyish but it’s not too grown-up either, and it’s dressy enough to wear to Deri Castle.’

‘Do you think I should have my hair down?’ Sara was looking in the mirror, the beaming smile replaced by a frown.

‘Not to a makeup party. It’s best to keep your hair out of your face.’

Sara nodded, the frown disappearing. ‘That makes sense.’

Harriet pressed her lips together to hold back a laugh. ‘Come on, let’s get a move on. You don’t want to be late.’

‘Are you going to go like that?’ Her daughter glared at her.

‘Why?’ Harriet asked. ‘What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?’ Harriet had on jeans, trainers and a sweatshirt. She thought she looked perfectly respectable.

‘Everyone else’s mam will be dressed up.’

‘That’s as maybe, but I’ve no intention of coming in.’

‘Why not?’

Harriet wrinkled her nose. She wanted to tell Sara she couldn’t afford it and the prices in that place were astronomical, but it wasn’t fair to lay that kind of burden on her daughter’s young shoulders. ‘I thought I’d sit in the car and read my book, or if it’s not too cold I’d take a walk around the grounds.’ Being the middle of November, it probably would be too cold, so she would most likely remain in the car.

‘You’ll look like a weirdo.’

‘Thanks.’

‘You know what I mean. Everyone else’s mam or dad will be inside. You can’t just wander around – they’ll think you’re odd.’

‘I don’t care what anyone else thinks—’ she began, but before Harriet could say any more, Sara leapt in with, ‘Ido. Please, Mam.’

‘Oh, OK. If you insist.’ Darlene’s mother was laying on some refreshments, so Harriet would just have to make a single cup of coffee last a couple of hours. She could maybe stretch to buying another if she had to. But only the one. And she usually kept some biscuits in her bag in case the kids got a bit peckish when they were out, so she could always have one of those. ‘What do you suggest I wear?’

‘Yay! Wear a dress,’ Sara instructed.

‘I’ll have time to change, but I’m not going to be able to do anything with my hair or put any makeup on,’ Harriet warned as she got off the bed and opened her wardrobe. She had a few nice dresses, although they were several years old, and she grabbed one at random. ‘Will this do?’

Sara nodded. With the embarrassing-mammy crisis over, she quickly lost interest, and turned her attention to what was in her bag. ‘I’m taking tissues and deodorant,’ she announced. ‘Do you think I’ll need anything else?’

Harriet didn’t think she’d need even those things, but she didn’t say so. ‘I think you’ve got it covered,’ she said. ‘Can you do my zip up, please?’ Harriet swept her hair to the side and turned her back so Sara could do her up. ‘There, will I do? Wait a sec, I need to put on my shoes.’ She wrestled her way into thick woollen tights and stuffed her feet into a pair of ankle boots. ‘I’m ready. Don’t forget the present and the card.’

‘I won’t.’ Sara rolled her eyes.

‘Right, let’s go.’

Harriet went downstairs, grabbed her winter coat off the peg in the hall, and picked up the car keys. She wasn’t looking forward to this little outing at all. Once upon a time she might have been thrilled to visit Deri Castle, because it would have been a right treat and she would have enthused over it for days. But all she could think about now was how many weekly shops she might be able to do with the amount of money that Darlene’s mother was spending on her daughter’s birthday party. Harriet didn’t know the exact amount, of course, but she had been on the venue’s website and she had seen the starting prices for wedding packages, and she had also taken a look at the prices of rooms and the lunchtime menu. It had made her eyes water.

As she slid into the car, her phone pinged, and she smiled when she saw it was a message from Owen.

Hope you have a good time today.

What are you doing?

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