Alan, don’t you think it’s time you got cleaned up? Grantham’s coming to tea.” Helen looked at her sixteen-year-old son’s filthy overalls and grease-streaked arms. “I wish you wouldn’t get quite so di

Please leave a message after the tone.” Millie listened to the impersonal female American voice in frustration. It would have been comforting to at least hear Mark’s voice, but he’d never bothered to

JENNA had a length of Christmas-themed fabric. She had used it previously to cover the table of her market stall, and was willing to sacrifice to help beautify Santa’s Grotto. It was patterned with al

LITERALLY no jobs come in over the Christmas period,” Jenna said. Lola Everett looked into her sister’s face, which was like her own but six years younger. “But is that true?” she asked. Jenna had a h

TO Jon’s surprise, Mr Pringle agreed to speak to him in the snug. Once they were seated there, Jon spoke quietly. “I’m a stranger here, and I want to keep an open mind. “So it would help if you could

JESSIE didn’t bother to knock before entering her parents’ house. “Hello, I come bearing gingerbread men! Call me the gingerbread woman.” The hallway was strung with fairy lights and colourful paper c