One Christmas Star by Mandy Baggot

Author:Mandy Baggot [Baggot, Mandy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781789544282
Publisher: Head of Zeus

Thirty-Five

Crowland Terrace, Canonbury, Islington

‘And I still don’t know what you’re doing here.’

Jonah was holding Ray’s hand underneath the tap in Emily’s kitchen. It seemed he had grabbed Mr Jackson hard enough to inflict an injury to himself. His finger joints were red and a little puffy. He was still wearing the Santa suit, but minus the beard now he was away from the school and didn’t need disguising. Although he had considering hanging on to the outfit for avoiding the press the next time they were stalking him.

Emily had barrelled him out of the hall, and the situation, before he had even had time to process what had actually happened. He shouldn’t have reacted like that, but what was the alternative? See Jayden get hit by his father? What then? What course of action was there after that? A boy would have been hurt and emotionally traumatised. Far better for him to take the rap, despite the shit he was in already. Besides, no one knew it was him. Except Emily… and Jayden… and now Jonah and Allan. OK, so, Father Christmas giving a parent a Chinese burn at a primary school wasn’t the best thing that could have happened, but it was preferably to the world finding out Ray Stone had assaulted someone. And he hadn’t answered Jonah’s question.

‘I thought you were very gallant,’ Allan said. He was leaning against the worktop in the tiny space, pulling apart a clementine and popping segments into this mouth. ‘That man was an animal. And did you smell him? He didn’t just smell like he’d been to the pub. He smelled like Guinness had distilled him for thirty-odd years.’

‘I don’t know what Emily’s going to do,’ Jonah admitted. ‘She’s been trying for forever to impress her boss so she can get the Deputy Head position and now this!’

‘Ow!’ Ray grimaced as Jonah pressed down on his hand. ‘Watch it. I’ve got to play the piano and the guitar you know.’

‘Is it broken, Jonah?’ Two L’s asked.

‘It’s not broken,’ Ray said immediately. It might have been broken if he’d actually hit the guy like he’d wanted to. But he could move everything independently. It was just sore and a bit swollen. The likelihood was it would be worse tomorrow but, after that, hopefully it would start to loosen up a bit.

‘Unlike Mr Jackson’s wrist,’ Jonah remarked.

‘His wrist isn’t broken!’ Allan exclaimed. ‘Is it?’

‘Listen,’ Ray said, taking back ownership of his hand and turning off the cold tap. ‘I get this situation is unusual, but, believe me, I was there to help Emily. She asked me to be there, to play the piano and help her with this show she’s got going on.’

‘And the reason that she said for me to “take you home” and “home” appears to be her flat?’ Jonah queried. ‘What’s that about?’

‘We were hoping she would get another housemate,’ Allan piped up.

‘You’ve read the papers, right? Looked through Twitter? I’m a bit down on my luck right now. I needed a place to stay.

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