Page 57 of Christmas off Script
Ella paused. The prospect of her father coming back to Foxbrooke with retribution on his mind made her want to be sick. ‘We have to trust the police and probation service. He can’t put a foot wrong or he’ll be straight back to jail.’
Leo nodded, a muscle ticking in his jaw.
‘It’ll be okay,’ she said, even though she didn’t believe it. ‘And we can’t let worries about a potential future take our minds off the most important things in life.’
‘Like winning the Christmas quiz?’
She grinned. ‘Absolutely.’
Entering the ballroom with Leo,Ella was relieved to see they were the last to arrive. The rehearsal could start without time for Zach to come and talk to her. She wasn’t ready for that yet.
‘Morning, Cinders and Buttons!’ Arthur boomed from the stage.
Ella raised a hand in return, keeping close to Leo as they made their way over. Libby had a script in one hand, a pen in the other, and was bouncing on the balls of her feet, her face alive with excitement.
‘Okay, everyone!’ she said. ‘Let’s have a quick catch up before we get down to it!’
‘I’ve alread—’ Arthur began.
‘Got down to it at least twice since sunrise?’ Libby interrupted.
‘How did you know what I was going to say?’ Arthur’s jaw dropped. ‘Was Deedee that loud?’
Leo exchanged exasperated glances with his siblings, and Dervla giggled.
‘I have no idea,’ Libby replied. ‘I just know if there’s an innuendo hiding anywhere, you’ll be the first to find it.’
‘Ha! Too bally right!’ He struck a pose. ‘And that’s why I make the best pantomime dame!’
Steve cleared his throat loudly.
Arthur turned. ‘On a par with you, Steve, of course!’
‘Grab a chair, everyone,’ Libby said, ‘and we’ll go through the plan for today.’
Leo dragged two chairs over, positioning them on the opposite side of the circle to Zach. Ella sat, sensing Zach’s eyes on her.
Be brave!Raising her head, she met his gaze.
Zach gave her a tentative smile and mouthed, ‘Hi’.
Ella forced her lips to curl upwards, even as all the upsetting memories he’d created spilled out of the boxes she’d put them in. Zach had betrayed her trust so completely, yet she could still see the person Leo had encouraged her to fall in love with. When Zach had turned on her, he’d acted from a place of deep anger and pain, and Ella knew how out of character that behaviour had been.
‘How many gifts in the twelve days of Christmas?’ Scott asked as he sat on the other side of her to Leo.
‘Three hundred and sixty-four,’ she replied without missing a beat, glad to have a reason to turn her attention away from Zach.
‘Where was the candy cane invented?’ Scott continued.
‘Germany. And why was it shaped that way?’ she countered.
‘Er…’
Finn leaned across Scott. ‘J for Jesus.’
‘And why are they red and white striped?’ Ella asked.
Silence.
