What if no one arrived? The whole video, the whole party, would be a flop!

I sat on the stage drumming my feet against the front of the cracker, bits of glitter shimmering down. It was dark now and with everyone inside grabbing food it was weirdly quiet.

But when five thirty hit, not one person had turned up. I sat staring left, staring right, waiting for a single car, a single new person to appear.

And fifteen minutes later, there was still not one arrival. And less than an hour till I’d asked Grace to come down. I looked at the poster of Grampy G. Please let this work! Please let any of the people I’d invited arrive?! Please let Grace turn up!

But by six p.m. my hope had disappeared and panic had taken its place. My nightmare was coming true. I’d messed up my last chance to save Grampy G’s party.

It was time to put Elijah on alert. There was no massive crowd.

Although, where was Cara?!

A loud honk rang out.

IT’S CHRIIIIISSSTTTTTMAAAAASSSSS.

Cara?

I spun round! There she was! Dad behind the wheel, Billy next to him, Cara’s lights flashing as she beeped her way down the street. Dad screeched up on to the pavement and jumped out.

“Bit later than planned.” He slid the door open. Squished together like sardines, but with loads of grey hair and tinsel, were all of Grampy G’s very best friends from Holly Hospice. “Had to stop and get Maude some Baileys. Said George, sorry Grampy G, wouldn’t approve without.”

Maude waved two bottles in the air, not even flinching at being greeted by an elf. But maybe when you’ve been driven by a parsnip and a reindeer you stop caring. OH, JINGLE BELLS. Had Dad gone into Tesco dressed as a parsnip?

“Where do you want us to stand?” Maude’s hair was shimmering with gold glitter. “Somewhere near the front please. I’ve got my hopes set on getting a call from that lovely Rock fellow and getting whisked away for some senior shenanigans,” she chuckled. “Oh, and my best side is my left.”

And out she climbed. Followed by seven more elderly people, all excitedly chatting away, dressed in the most amount of sparkle – flashing earrings, deeley bopper headbands – you name it, if it was a Christmas accessory, they had it. And a car full of carers had just pulled up to make sure they were safe in their wheelchairs and frames. Michelle, who had been so amazing at looking after Grampy G, was just standing, taking it all in. The set, the poster of Grampy G, the lights, the arches, the cameras, the snow machines. When she saw me she came straight over, putting her hands either side of my face.

“He would have LOVED this, you know. Every bit of it. Finding out it was going ahead after all put such a spring in their steps.” We looked over to the Holly Hospice crew gathered around the stage, waving their props and even dangling fake mistletoe. “Honestly. With this, and all the money you’ve raised, you and Grace,” she said, her voice breaking, “you just don’t know what you’ve done for us.”

And she hugged me. Hard. And as she did, more and more cars started to arrive. And people started tottering in heels down our little village road all ooooohing and and taking photos as they saw the set for the first time.

People WERE coming! This WAS working.

For once, I’d managed to organize something that had actually gone to plan!

Now all I needed was Grace and her dad to turn up.

“Sorry we’re late.” Dad’s friend from aqua aerobics waved at me. “I know you said six, but all the traffic on those country roads? Hope we haven’t missed anything.”

I’d said SIX? Not half five?!

Yup, I was never organizing anything again.

But there were so many faces I recognized. And … wait…

Was that … Simon?

A really grumpy Simon? Being forced into a Christmas tree suit by Elijah? Yup, I was starting to love that man. Next to him was someone fussing around, brushing down his hair. Brenda, Simon’s mum, who worked with Dad. My parents must have invited her, and she must have dragged along Simon. And he was hating every second. How brilliant.

I smiled and waved as Jack clipped on bauble earrings to a protesting Simon. “Remember, more is more, Jack!” I yelled.

“I’m not going to say anything about how evil that laugh was,” a voice said behind me, with a very familiar laugh. I turned round.

“You’re here?!” I gave Harry the biggest hug.

“Where there’s a worried little elf, there’s a way…” He grinned, but he was scanning over my shoulder.

“No sign of her yet.” I crossed my fingers. “Harry. What if she doesn’t show?”

It was only ten minutes till she was due, and Grace was never late.

“She will.” I really hoped so. Especially now. Earlier I’d asked Elijah to dangle the largest bunch of mistletoe they could find above the bench where Grace and I always hung out, just in case Harry did turn up, and just in case Grace took him there. Because just in case she had started to feel different about him, it could be my little helping hand for her own movie-perfect Christmas moment. I’d ruined mine, but I still had hope for hers.

But we were being called into positions, ready for one last rehearsal.

And I finally got a response from Grace.

Grace: Hi Molly. So you know, we’re not going to be able to get to yours

CHAPTER

27

My stomach twisted. I’d failed. Big time.

It was great we were raising more money for Holly Hospice, but there was no Grampy G’s Grotto without Grace and her dad.

I put down my guitar and walked to the edge of the stage. I couldn’t do this after all. My phone vibrated again.

Grace: sorry, pressed send too soon. I meant can’t get to yours cos there are too many cars everywhere. Weird. Just walking past the post office now.

So she WAS coming!

WHOOP!

I punched the air like a cheesy sports coach.

“She’s here!!!!” I yelled to anyone – to everyone! “Harry! I’ll give you a missed call when we’re at the corner and you give the cue.”

“Roger,” he said with a firm nod. But I was already running down the street.

And when I got round the corner, I spotted Grace and her dad. It was so good to see her, even if we only greeted each other with an awkward wave and “hi”.

“Mols.” Grace looked at me suspiciously. “I want to say ‘you haven’t done anything weird, have you?’ but the fact you’re the colour of a blade of grass is making me worried…”

“My new Christmas look…?” I said, convincing no one. My voice was shaking with nerves. “Anyway, follow me.” I started to walk towards my house, my legs trembling. I didn’t just want to tell Grace how sorry I was, I wanted to show her. “And happy birthday, Mr W.”