The Garden of Stars Read Online Free Page B

mayor’s development plans will not only turf out all of us but they’ll jeopardise the beautiful natural world that envelops and protects Ivory Meadows,’ I said, my voice quivering ever so slightly. Barbara nodded, urging me to continue.
    Â â€˜This town has a lot to offer. We just need to let people outside it know that it exists. We need to re-invent it as a tourist attraction while maintaining its traditional charm as its selling point.’
    Â â€˜You’re no better than the mayor,’ snarled Gillian, flicking her long blonde hair over her shoulder, ‘you just want to make money out of us, too.’
    Â Bill butted in. ‘Listen, Vivian has a point. We can’t survive as we are. We all know the community isn’t getting any younger, and young lasses like Janice here rarely want to stay once they’ve passed their teens.’
    Â Janice blushed at the mention of her name.
    Â He continued, ‘If we do what Vivian says, we’ll be able to develop Ivory Meadows but on our terms rather than them pantomime flattening it and making it faceless.’
    Â â€˜That’s exactly it,’ I said, spurred on by his lead. ‘And the way to do it is to think of new ways of bringing life to the town. We could offer nature trails and craft workshops, perhaps even a festive market in the run-up to Christmas. We could make Ivory Meadows the place to visit to get into the good old-fashioned spirit of the season!’
    Â â€˜Yes, maybe a Santa special riverboat cruise?’ offered Dennis. Barbara patted his arm, a broad smile across her face.
    Â â€˜Ghost hunts?’ whispered Janice, blushing further.
    Â â€˜Christmas karaoke?’ said Ian, the landlord of The Mason Arms, at which everyone laughed.
    Â â€˜How about gourmet festive food evenings, and maybe even cookery classes?’ suggested Mick, the restaurateur.
    Â â€˜A Christmas carnival at the start of advent?’ said Gillian.
    Â I beamed at her enthusiasm. She scowled as if she’d never meant to open her mouth.
    Â Before she changed her mind, I continued, ‘And we’d let people outside the town know by producing leaflets and posters about everything we have to offer.
    Â â€˜Then, in the New Year, we’d carry on doing all the activities in different themes to match the seasons.’
    Â â€˜Then the mayor would never get permission to bulldoze Ivory Meadows!’ shouted Barbara, triumphantly.
    Â â€˜So you’re in?’ I asked, looking around me.
    Â Everyone was nodding, excitedly.
    Â â€˜It’s a bit of a leap of faith,’ said the elderly lady, ‘To turn our backs on the vicar in favour of the mad woman on the hill.’
    Â â€˜Mrs Donaldson always speaks her mind,’ said Barbara, gently, ‘take no notice, Vivian.’
    Â â€˜I hadn’t finished,’ said Mrs Donaldson, taking her stick and pointing it at me. ‘I like this girl’s style. She reminds me of myself when I was a young girl. Just try stopping me joining your blessed campaign.’
    Â â€˜Me, too,’ quipped Gillian.
    Â â€˜Really?’ I said, surprised after she’d been so critical earlier.
    Â â€˜There’s one thing you can be sure of with Gillian,’ said Barbara, ‘and that’s that she’s always earnest – just not always to one man at a time!’
    Â The whole kitchen erupted in laughter, even Gillian breaking into a smirk.
    Â â€˜There is one problem,’ said Bill, stepping down from the work surface to take to the floor. ‘I don’t want to pantomime on anyone’s bonfire but the minute Johnson gets wind of this, he’ll do everything in his power to stop it.’
    Â â€˜He’s right, Vivian.’ Barbara frowned. ‘Walls have ears in this town. Ever since he arrived, he made sure he was always one step ahead of everyone else.’
    Â â€˜You mean