Page 157 of A Country Practice Christmas
A shout came from the barbecue a couple of tents over as flames rose above the hotplate at an impressive height.
Stef grabbed a small red pack with a white medical cross on it. ‘I’ll go.’
They watched her progress as more men gathered around the barbecue. Piper hoped their intention was to save the sausages not laugh at the amount of flame.
‘Look, Piper …’ Emmett ran a hand across his stubble. Why did he have to do that? It was so incredibly hot. ‘About before, in the kitchen. I didn’t mean it like a bad thing. I don’t just think of you as Carter’s little sister. I mean you are, but you’re also more than that.’
Piper raised her brows. ‘So, you do think of me as Carter’s little sister?’
‘Yes … no … shit. I’m doing a terrible job of this.’ He took a breath. ‘You are Carter’s sister but that’s not the only way I see you—’
‘Piper!’
She turned at Maddie’s call.
‘We’re back on.’
Piper flicked her gaze to the darkening sky above her. Saved from further rejection by Maddie. ‘Maybe we should pick this up later? I’ve gotta go.’
‘Yeah.’
Chapter 13
The sun had dropped out of sight, but the night only brought an increase in humid stickiness made worse by the insects that seemed to completely disregard personal space. Emmett’s skin prickled with unease. Last time he’d had this feeling it was before the storm in May that caused flash flooding that cut them off from the highway and isolated properties. Was a storm brewing? It wouldn’t surprise him with this humidity. He just hoped it stayed away until after the concert. Emmett glanced around at the medical supplies they had, satisfied that they’d been packed away in the two bags as they’d finished with each item, keeping the first aid tent tidy and allowing them to respond at the drop of a hat if an emergency sprang up somewhere else around the hall.Or if a storm hit.He shook his head.Not tonight.He needed the night to go smoothly so he could get Piper home and show her the surprise he’d set up. Emmett had already treated a four-year-old’s nauseous stomach from too much sugar with a cold bottle of water and slathered antiseptic cream over another child’s cut from a stick, which she’d been brandishing like a sword. He wasn’t complaining about the slow pace of the evening. It gave him plenty of time to watch the show, although he was sure he was missing most of it. His eyes were glued to Piper.
She was swaying, smiling and singing as if she were born to be on that stage. Maybe she was? He wasn’t the only one enjoying the music and picking up on the fun that was being had before them. The slope up from the stage was covered with families sitting on rugs and camping chairs, candles poked through cardboard cups to catch the wax glowed impressively against the night. Parents sang along with the carollers, cuddling children in their laps, and elderly couples held hands as one song ended and another began. The gentle pace of ‘Silent Night’ morphed into something quicker, and feet bounced and heads bobbed to the beat of ‘Joy to the World’.
The wind picked up its pace, whipping up some dust and sending the flames dancing. The music blaring from the speakers drowned out any howling but it didn’t cool things down.
Emmett waved to a couple of families he recognised heading for the car park on the other side of the hall pushing snoozing toddlers in prams with tinsel wrapped around the handles. It was rarer to see someone without a Santa hat or reindeer antlers than with one. Some of the teenagers were wandering around with both.
‘This town could make anyone believe in the joy of Christmas,’ Stef said, as if reading his mind.
Emmett smiled at her. ‘Like nowhere else.’
Except maybe ten years ago at the Hendrix house.
‘Joy to the World’ wound down and Emmett clapped along with the rest of the crowd. His attention was drawn to movement in the choir as Piper was shuffled past her peers and took up the spot behind a single microphone in the middle of the stage. Her gaze flicked to Maddie a couple of times before her shoulders moved with the big breath she took. She gave Gloria a short nod. Holy crap, she was going to solo!
The wind whipped at the loose strands of his hair, but Emmett barely noticed. ‘Come on, songbird,’ he murmured to himself.
The pianist, Robbie, hit a solitary note. Emmett held his breath.
Then, as if a switch had been flipped, rain started pouring from the sky.
Stef gave a squeal and Emmett’s view of the stage was gone behind the torrential flow. Wind and water pushed at the first aid tent as chaos broke out around them. People were running, and screaming could be heard as families passed the tent in an attempt to make it to their cars. The cries of children pierced the wind gusts, chilling Emmett to the core. Lightning streaked across the sky and, milliseconds later, an almighty clap of thunder threatened to burst his eardrums as the floodlights went out. Another loud crack boomed as car horns blasted and yells cut through the rain. What the hell was that?
‘Tree down!’ a voice yelled.
‘It’s blocking the car park!’ someone else screeched.
‘Shit!’ Emmett dived into the bag stashed under the table and found the pocket where he knew two torches were kept. He flicked them on, handing one to Stef. Trepidation laced her eyes, but she kept it from the firm line her lips were pressed into. Good. He couldn’t do this without her.
‘We need to get everyone into the hall,’ he called over the soundtrack of the storm.
‘Okay,’ she called, letting him put one of the medical bags on her back. ‘I’ll start down the hill.’
‘Don’t be a hero. If it gets too dangerous, take cover!’
