Page 70 of Twilight at Croftwood Library
‘Brilliant! The more the merrier. Come in, sit down.’ Steph was thrilled that Eunice and Bill were still going strong.
‘Is the book club carrying on over Christmas?’ asked Dottie.
‘Yes, here are the choices.Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm, a classic, although they’re not all Christmas stories.Twas the Nightshift Before Christmasby Adam Kay andThe Christmas Secretby Karen Swan for you romantics.’
Bill blushed and chose the Adam Kay book while Dottie and Eunice went for the romance as they tended to do.
‘I love a Christmas romance,’ said Dottie.
‘Speaking of romance, is Tom your new chap, Steph?’ Eunice was straight to the point. Steph only wished she or Dottie were as brave when it came to finding out what was going on between Eunice and Bill.
‘He is,’ said Steph, finding herself feeling unusually proud of her partner which made a nice change from cringing every time they opened their mouth. ‘He’s a teacher at St. Hilda’s.’
‘A teacher?’ Eunice looked surprised and impressed, as well she might. She had heard Steph recount tales of bad dates and bad boyfriends often enough to know that a teacher was a very different prospect. ‘Well, he’s a very nice young man. I wish you all the best.’
‘What are you doing over Christmas, Eunice?’ asked Dottie.
‘I’m spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my son and his family in Bristol. He’s coming to fetch me in the car and then will take me to Bill’s on Boxing Day.’
‘Oh, lovely,’ said Dottie. She stole a glance at Steph who winked back while Eunice and Bill were busy looking at each other. They were getting along well. ‘How about you, Steph?’
‘I’m taking Tom to my parents in Warwickshire. Baptism of fire for him but he seems to be keen anyway.’
‘That’s a good sign,’ laughed Bill.
They chatted and laughed together until Steph had to leave. The mobile library always got emptied and spruced up over Christmas, so she had to deliver it to the Hive before the end of the day.
‘Shall we go to the book club again in the New Year?’ Dottie asked Eunice and Bill. ‘Nick is home for the whole of January so I can drive us and not worry about having to get a babysitter.’
‘That sounds like a very good idea,’ said Eunice. ‘We will see you both next year.’ She gave Dottie and Steph a kiss on the cheek and then Bill escorted her out of the van.
‘Oh, it’s so lovely, isn’t it? For them to find romance at their age,’ said Dottie with a whimsical look in her eye.
‘It’s a flipping miracle at any age.’
‘Have a lovely Christmas, Steph.’ Dottie hugged her, then skipped down the steps.
That was it. Another whole year over. And for once, Steph could say it was ending in a much better place than where it had started.
39
It was so cold on the platform of Foregate Street station that Lois was considering opening her case and putting some extra layers on. It had been snowing for a couple of hours now and not wanting to sit on a train for four hours freezing and wet, she had taken a taxi to the station.
‘We are sorry to announce that the ten-fifty service to Birmingham New Street has been cancelled.’
Lois dragged her case along the platform to join the small crowd of passengers that had gathered around the information screen. All the trains were cancelled, not just hers.
‘Anyone interested in sharing a cab to New Street?’ someone called.
It was a tempting offer but as she needed to get a connection from there to York, she thought that being stranded in Birmingham with no way to get home or to York would be much worse than having to go home now. Given the weather, it probably wasn’t worth the risk.
Her phone started vibrating in her pocket. It was her dad.
‘Lois? Have you left yet, love?’
‘My train to Birmingham’s been cancelled, Dad. What’s the weather like up there?’
‘Blooming dreadful. Your mum and I think it’s too risky for you to come. I don’t think we’ll get the car out to be able to meet you at the station if it keeps on like this for much longer.’
