Page 110 of The Village Inn of Secret Dream

‘This place just needs a bit of festive spirit,’ carried on Del, frowning.

‘That’s in your gin,’ said Tom, nodding at the double gin and tonic that Del had ordered.

Pete moved along the bar to check on the number of glasses that they had under the counter. When he straightened up, he found Josh standing next to him with a serious look on his face.

‘What’s up?’ asked Pete. ‘Is everything okay?’

Josh nodded. But he hesitated before he spoke again. ‘I just miss Dad sometimes, especially at Christmas.’

‘That stupidly enormous Christmas tree,’ said Pete, with a smile.

‘The year he bought us all a dinghy and tried to get Grandma Tilly in it on Boxing Day,’ said Josh.

Pete laughed. ‘I’d forgotten about that,’ he said.

‘Most of all, I miss him playing his guitar,’ said Josh.

Pete took a deep breath. ‘Me too.’ He looked into his brother’s eyes. ‘Do you think Mum misses the music as well?’

Josh nodded. ‘I know she does,’ he replied.

Pete stared at his brother for a long time, wrestling with his decision.

‘You could do it,’ said Josh. ‘If you really wanted to.’

Pete gulped. ‘I’m not sure I’ll be up to much,’ he said. ‘It’s been so long.’

‘Like riding a bike,’ Josh told him. ‘Besides, it’s Christmas. It’s a time for miracles, isn’t it?’

Pete nodded. ‘Let’s hope so.’

Before he could talk himself out of it, he turned and headed upstairs to the apartment to pick up his guitar.

Josh was still standing at the end of the bar when he returned and his big brother gave him a nod of encouragement as Pete stepped out holding the guitar.

‘Now that’s what I’m talking about!’ shouted Del.

His loud voice carried across the inn, causing a few heads to look up, including Belle. Pete looked at her as her mouth fell open in shock at seeing the guitar in his hand. After all, he had told her that he couldn’t play any more.

But as their eyes met across the room, she too nodded her encouragement for him to play.

With the support of Josh and Belle, Pete sat down next to the fireplace on an empty seat and placed his hands in the right position. Then, with one more glance at Belle, who was smiling softly at him, he began to play.

His emotions were too huge for him to have any kind of voice that night so he just played the chords of ‘Silent Night’ instead.

The inn fell silent as he carried on, but Pete hardly noticed as he became lost in the music instead.

It was only when he finished the carol that he woke up from his semi-dream and looked around him. Everyone clapped and cheered, including his brother nearby.

He looked over to where Ned too was clapping and nodding his approval. He was even smiling, which was a Christmas miracle in itself.

His mum came up to him, the tears streaming down her face as he stood up to give her a hug.

‘It’s so wonderful to hear the guitar again,’ she told him, clinging onto him tightly.

He looked over her shoulder to where Josh was standing and also looking highly emotional.

Finally, he looked at Belle whose dark eyes were glittering with tears.