Page 88 of Kiss Me at Christmas
Harriet and James walked over to where Billy andGideon were standing. Mallory held her phone to her ear, frowning.
“Her mobile’s going straight to answer machine. I’ll try her landline.” She pursed her lips. “It’s just ringing and ringing.”
“We need her address,” said Billy. Sid had come to stand by his side, his eyes wide as he picked up on his big brother’s concern.
“Do you think that’s really necessary?” asked Gideon condescendingly. “She’s probably stopped off to do some Christmas shopping.”
“Not when she’s expected here, you know what she’s like about bad manners.”
He had a point. Mallory dug about in her carpetbag and pulled out a brown folder.
“It’ll be in here,” she said, flicking through the pages. “Ah, here it is.” She held out the page with Grace’s details and Billy—quick as a flash—snapped a photograph of it on his phone.
“I’m going over there to check,” he said.
James glanced over the file. “That’s the other end of town. If you’re really that concerned, I’ll drive you.”
“I’ll come too,” added Harriet.
“Can I come?” asked Sid.
Billy ruffled his brother’s hair. “Not this time, buddy, you need to stay here and practice with the others.” He looked over to the other members of the famous five and gave them a nod. They returned it and hurried over.
Sid, crestfallen at being left behind, was about to argue when Ricco said, “Do you know what would help you learn your lines, Sid? Maccy-D fries and a chocolate milkshake.”
“Yep, that’s what it is!” agreed Isabel.
“Mind if we join you, Sid?” asked Carly.
“Honest?” Sid asked, his grin returned. “Can we, really?”
“Really truly,” Leo confirmed. “Chocolate milkshake is famous for helping actors remember their lines.”
With Sid’s bribery in place, Harriet, James, and Billy exited the theater. The town was busy, but soon they had left the main roads behind and were driving up and down quiet residential streets.
“Can I ask why you’re so worried?” asked James.
“It’s just a feeling,” Billy said, chewing on his thumbnail. “Last night she said, ‘See you tomorrow’—why would she have said that if she wasn’t going to be there?”
“Isn’t that just a figure of speech? Like ‘see you later’?” James suggested.
“Not for her. She’s…”
“Exacting?” Harriet offered.
“Yeah. That.”
“Of course, she could simply be running late?” Harriet added.
“Nah. You’ve heard her moaning on about ‘tardiness.’ If she was gonna be late, she’d have sent an official telegram or something.”
After another five minutes, which seemed to have shredded Billy’s very last nerve, they pulled up outside a three-up-two-down terraced house, with a neat front garden and a holly wreath on the front door. The street was lined both sides with cars parked bumper to bumper.
“You two jump out, and I’ll try and find a place to park,” said James.
Billy was out of the car before James had finished speaking. Harriet followed him down the path to Grace’s house as he began ringing the doorbell and calling through the letterbox.
“Maybe she simply forgot there was a rehearsal today,” Harriet offered hopefully. Billy’s nerves were rubbing off on her.
