Page 37 of Christmas Games
She shrugged. ‘Who knows? Pregnancy sucks and I could have another six weeks of it.’
‘Well, there’s a special carol service in Kinloch this evening and I really want to go.’
‘Carols?You?’
‘I think your love of Christmas has rubbed off on me.’
‘I’m not in love anymore. It’s all a load of consumerist bollocks. You were right. It’s just another made-up holiday to be endured.’
Rory ran a hand through his hair. ‘Zoe, I’m sorry I couldn’t do more to take the strain off you. But I do want you to remember why you love Christmas.’
‘And a carol concert will do that?’
‘You never know. There’s going to be candles. And mince pies.’
She rolled her eyes.
‘Please? For me?’
She threw up her arms. ‘Okay, okay. I’ll do it. Can I get away with putting a coat over my pyjamas?’
He hesitated. ‘If you don’t mind the village seeing them?’
‘I don’t care right now. I’ve been trying for perfection, but everything’s gone tits up no matter what I do.’
Throwing on her coat, hat and boots, Zoe followed Rory out to his truck, Bandit following. He’d been especially attentive recently and now wouldn’t leave her side.
Rory drove them into Kinloch, parked in the back courtyard of the castle, and led her through the building into the great hall. It was already full of people, and everyone was holding a candle. With the main lights turned low, Zoe had to admit it was a beautiful sight.
Rory led her to the front, where one of the castle’s wooden thrones had been placed.
‘Are you sure I can sit?’ she whispered. ‘Everyone else is standing.’
‘It’s your castle, and no one else is eight and a half months pregnant,’ he whispered back.
Zoe sank gratefully into the chair as the Kinloch community choir filed onto the raised dais at one end of the hall and began to sing.
‘The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
“All hail,” said he, “thou lowly maiden Mary,
most highly favoured lady.” Gloria.’
Zoe held her breath as the music filled the space. In the half-light, she could imagine this scene taking place hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago.
The carol ended, and Brad’s voice rang out. ‘And in the sixth month, the angel Gabrielle was sent from God into a city of Galilee called Nazareth.’
The choir parted, and a figure stepped forward, dressed all in white, with fairy wings and a tinsel halo.
Zoe’s mouth fell open.Sam?But wasn’t she meant to be working abroad?
Sam raised a magic wand in Zoe’s direction and a spotlight suddenly shone on her chair.
Huh?
‘Hail Mary, full of grace,’ Sam declaimed. ‘The Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou amongst women.’
