Page 100 of A December to Remember
Just after half pasteight on Friday morning, the door to North Novelties & Curios crashed open, slamming against the wall and causing multiple wind chimes to jangle.
“Blimey, Patrick!” Star exclaimed. “What did that door ever do to you?”
Betty was bent over Simone’s massive to-do list for the evening’s events, making appreciative noises at the spreadsheet. She’d left Doreen in charge of the café while she came over to check the running order for the day. The folk band had arrived in the early hours in two camper vans, had taken up residence in Betty’s café as soon as it opened, and looked set to stay for the foreseeable future. There was a general feeling of excitement and expectation in the village, despite the early hour.
“Is your mum okay? Something was off with her last night and she’s not returning our calls. Is she coming over?”
“I was just about to go over and check on her,” added Simone.
“I’ve messed up,” said Patrick. His eyes were wide. “I’ve really messed up. I don’t know what to do. You’ve got to help me.”
Simone and Evette immediately took control of the situation.
“Okay, first things first. Is anybody hurt?” asked Evette.
“Define ‘hurt.’ ”
“Do we need the emergency services?” Simone snapped. “Is your mum in mortal danger?”
“No.”
“That’s a start, then. Come and sit down,” Star soothed, taking his arm and leading him to the chair that Evette had pulled out for him. Patrick allowed himself to be pushed down into it. “Now, what’s the problem?”
“It’s Joe. Well, it’s Mum but it’s Joe. I got it all wrong and I’ve messed it up royally and now Ma’s heartbroken. She’s trying to pretend she’s okay, but I know she isn’t and it’s all my fault.”
Evette had her head cocked to one side and was nodding calmly, a look of concern and non-judgment on her face; Star surmised this was her professional expression and she was grateful for it.
“Okay, Patrick.” Evette’s voice was smooth like the sea on a calm day. “There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s take one thing at a time and then we can see how best to help you. Why don’t you start by telling us what happened with Joe?”
Patrick nodded, clearly soothed by Evette’s calm demeanor. He took a deep breath and began.
“You know we’re going to lose the house, right?”
“Did your mum tell you that?” asked Star.
“No.” Patrick looked down at his hands. He was picking at his nails, which were already bitten down to the quick. “I found the eviction letters. I was angry and confronted Mum about it.”
Star whistled out a breath at the ceiling. “Your mum was trying to protect you and Verity; you do understand that, don’t you?” She had a horrible feeling that Patrick would not have taken Maggie’s deception in the way it was intended.
He squirmed on the chair. “I do. Now. I didn’t at first. I don’t need to be treated like a kid.”
“Perhaps you should stop behaving like one, then,” said Simone.
Patrick looked up at his aunts, and for a moment Star wondered if he might take offense, but he only nodded and went back to his stubby fingernails.
“That’s pretty much what Ma said too,” he said.
“What happened when you confronted your mum about the letters?” Evette asked, her voice soft.
Patrick avoided eye contact. “I didn’t handle it as well as I could,” he replied.
“That would explain why Maggie was a no-show last night,” said Simone, looking at Star.
“We argued and I blurted out what I’d found out about Joe.”
“Wait, what you’d found out about Joe?” Simone asked, puzzled.
Patrick sighed. “Our landlord is Joe’s uncle. Joe works for him. Or he did until a few months ago.”
