A Very Irish Christmas Read online

  There’s silence at first, as they all look at each other, wondering if this can really be Carole the Rottweiler speaking. Then a warm ripple of applause breaks out and it does my heart good.

  ‘Wow,’ I hear Tom the cameraman saying in astonishment. ‘You think you know someone, then they go and surprise you like this. Amazing.’

  ‘I can’t believe she said all those nice things,’ Scary Make-Up Artist mutters, not realizing I’m within earshot. ‘Maybe, just maybe we were all wrong about her.’

  I’m alone in the production booth not long after, right before broadcast, when Maura knocks on my door and comes in.

  ‘I just want to say thank you, Carole,’ she says with a big warm smile. ‘Just knowing you appreciate us is … well, it’s lovely. What you said meant a lot to me and I just wanted you to know that.’

  ‘I never thank you,’ I tell her. ‘You work here tirelessly and I don’t think I’ve ever once thanked you. So go on home now, and I’ll see you bright and early in 2018!’

  ‘In 2018.’ She whistles. ‘Who knows what it’ll bring for all of us?’

  ‘Who indeed?’ I say as she gives me a spontaneous hug goodbye. And then it’s just me on my lonesome, up in the production booth.

  I think for a minute, as my hand wavers over my phone, then hesitate. I had a tough job tracking down the next person I want to get in contact with, but thanks to Facebook and social media, I did eventually find who I was looking for. I think about what I’m about to do for a moment, then remember my dad’s wise words from that insane dream I had.

  ‘He’s separated now, I think you’ll find.’

  So I send a quick little message, saying that he was on my mind and wishing him the happiest of Christmases. Within an hour, there’s a return message waiting for me.

  Carole, can it really be you after all these years? It was a joy to hear from you and thanks so much for your lovely Christmas wishes. It took me back, seeing your name after all this time! I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Zoe and I are separated now so it wasn’t the easiest Christmas I’ve ever had. But hearing from you out of the blue really brightened up the day. So, if you fancy meeting up for a little Christmas drink over the holidays, I’d love nothing more.

  Warmest wishes, Carole. And see you soon, I hope.

  Love, Jack. X

  And just like that, my Christmas wish came true.

  If you loved A Very Irish Christmas, you can pre-order Claudia’s new book Our Little Secret

  Click here to buy now

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