by Syd Moore
Ben laughed, partly in confusion, but also at his mother’s genuine affection. It seemed a very long time since she had been pleased to see him. ‘No, you haven’t missed it, Mum. But you are late. Kieron called me over. There was no sign of you downstairs and the pub’s almost ready to open.’
‘And it’s Christmas Day?’
‘That’s right.’
‘Then bless you, Ben. You and me we’re going to have a slap-up meal. In fact, tell Kieron to stick a closed sign on the door. We’re having ourselves a little staff party. On me. You deserve it. I ain’t been the best of . . . whatever . . . but I’ll make up for it now, my son.’
And Ben did as he was told.
And so did Kieron.
And Carole?
Well she was as good as her word that day and every Christmas after, of which there were many. Over time it became a saying in Damebury that of all the village it was Carole Christmas who knew how to keep the holiday. New friends believed she had taken the surname to mark the Yuletide festivities, as each year her generosity knew no bounds. Though she remained no stranger to Sainsbury’s Basics brand for her own shopping (old habits die hard), she lavished both time and money on family and grandchildren. Indeed, it was fair to say from that year on, Carole Christmas blessed each and every one.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
For Sean and Riley.
Big thanks to the ladies, all the ladies: Jenny Parrott, Thanhmai Bui-Van, Margot Weale, Harriet Wade, Juliet Mabey, Francine Brody and special agent Sandra Sawicka.
And to the gents: Novin Doostdar and Paul Nash.
Big cheesy thumbs up to Mum, Ernie, Dad, Pauline, Josie, Arron, Samuel, Arthur, William, Richard, Jesse, Kit and Obie, Joanne, Lee, Ronnie, Harry, Matty, John, Jess, Effie, Anais, Rye and Isla.
People who helped me with these stories are Xosé and Tatiana, Kate Bradley, Steph Roche, Sadie Hasler and Sarah Mayhew, Josie Moore, Sean Groth. And my gratitude also extends to superfan, the splendid Dr Twisselman, who told me what not to include!
Hello and thanks to all my lovely friends, too many to mention individually.
I also would like to acknowledge all my readers, especially the ones who get in touch on Twitter and Facebook. I struggled with Cornish names for my housekeeper and driver in ‘She Saw Three Ships’ until Rob Tripp and Heather Henthorn came to the rescue with ‘The Trevelyans’ – so big thanks to you two. The housekeeper became Gertie, a suggestion put forward by the lovely Antonella Gramola Sands. And Merryn Trevelyan owes his name to Ellen Przybylska. So huge clap hands to all of you lot.
I really hope you enjoy the stories.
A Point Blank Book
First published by Point Blank, an imprint of Oneworld Publications, 2019
Some of these stories were first published in the ebook The Strange Casebook, 2018
This ebook published 2019
Copyright © Syd Moore 2018, 2019
The moral right of Syd Moore to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
All rights reserved
Copyright under Berne Convention
A CIP record for this title is available from the British Library
ISBN 978-1-78607-680-9
ISBN 978-1-78607-681-6 (ebook)
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Oneworld Publications
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London WC1B 3SR
England
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