Winter Wishes Read Online Free Page A

Issie. She shook her head. “Did you know that she even says the fishermen are making too much noise on the quay in the morning? According to Nick she’s going to speak to the council about it. Unhappy, my arse! She’s just a nasty old bag!”
    Jules wasn’t surprised; this sounded exactly like the kind of petty thing Ivy would do. But as for not being unhappy? She didn’t agree with Issie on this. And neither did Jules think that Ivy was as old as she appeared, even if bitterness had twisted her face into a scowl and set her mouth in a permanent expression of disapproval. Her age and history were enigmas, however. Since her arrival Ivy had, complaints aside, kept herself to herself. Jules was convinced that there was more to her than met the eye, but she was at a loss as to what this could be. She guessed that, as with all her flock, only time would tell.
    “Isabella Tremaine, I didn’t bring you up to be rude about your elders,” Alice said firmly. “No matter what you think of Mrs Lawrence, I want you to show her some manners and respect next time you see her, because that’s how you were raised. Never let it be said that the Tremaines behave badly.”
    Issie looked as though she was on the brink of retorting when, right on cue, Ivy appeared at her gateway. Brows drawn together in her habitual scowl and looking as disagreeable as always, she waved across the street at Jules.
    “Reverend! Come here a moment, will you? I need some help.”
    “Manners and respect,” muttered Issie. “Keep walking, Jules. Pretend you can’t hear her.”
    But Jules couldn’t do that. For all her faults, Ivy was still one of her parishioners, and Jules could no more walk past her now than she could tell herself that it was fine to let Danny Tremaine give up on his marriage. Sighing inwardly, she pasted a smile onto her face and waved back.
    “Good evening, Ivy.”
    “It’s not good at all,” snapped the older woman, her thin lips pursed and her hands on her hips. “Young hoodlums have been banging on my door all afternoon and evening, and when I came out to tell them off, they ran away. I’ve a good mind to call the police!”
    “There’s no need to worry. That will only be the youngsters trick-or-treating. I usually have a bowl of sweets by the door, and when they knock I give them a few. They go away then. They’re no trouble at all,” Alice explained. Her attempts at reassurance fell on deaf ears, though. Ivy looked at her as though she was insane.
    “I’ll give them trick or treat, all right. How dare they trespass on my property, harass me and have the nerve to demand sweets? Sweets in return for criminal behaviour? Over my dead body.”
    “The village children are very good-natured. Please don’t be worried about trick-or-treating here,” Alice began, but Ivy wasn’t listening. She was too busy complaining and threatening.
    Issie, catching Jules’s eye, pulled a face. “See?” she mouthed. “Horrible old bag.”
    Jules ignored her friend. Having lived and worked in big cities she understood only too well just how worrying Halloween pranks were for some people – especially those who were elderly and on their own.
    “How can I help, Ivy? Do you want me to tell everyone to leave your house out?”
    Ivy snorted. “It’s a bit late for all that. Anyway, that’s not what I need you for. When I came out to give those brats a piece of my mind the front door slammed behind me and now I’m locked out. I need you to help me get back inside.”
    Jules glanced at the door. It was solid wood with some serious-looking security fittings. The power of prayer was strong but she wasn’t sure it could overcome a deadlock.
    “I think you need a locksmith then, Ivy, not a vicar,” Alice said gently. “Why don’t you come up to Seaspray for a cup of tea while we call one out? It’s getting cold and you haven’t got a coat. I could even send one of my grandsons to see if they could help?”
    “I haven’t got time