Background: Angela is shocked when William, an old friend from her past, who she hoped never to see again, comes back into her life, after he applies for a role at her work and successfully secures the job. William’s sudden reappearance puts Angela on edge. She’s terrified he’s discovered her secret, which she needs to protect her family from. William’s convinced Angela knows what happened to his former girlfriend, Caz, who hasn't been seen for twenty years, and that something terrible happened to her. The only person, who can help Angela, is her once best friend, Michelle, but Angela hasn’t seen Michelle for more than a decade. Faced with the threat of William’s return, they know they’ll need to work together to save their future, even if this does mean reopening old wounds, and revisiting a past they'd rather keep buried.

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December 1999

‘Are you certain you don’t want to come home for Christmas, Sweet Pea?’ Mum’s saying on the phone. Her voice is almost like a whine in my ear, which makes me hold the phone away.

‘I just fancied doing something different this year, Mum. I’ll pop over to see you guys over the Christmas period, but the four of us just fancied spending Christmas here. This could be our last chance before we all go off to do our separate things.’

God I knew this was going to be a hard one for Mum to bear.

‘But it’s not every year you get to ring in a New Millennium. I think for something as momentous as this we all should be together. It’s what we’ll all be talking about in years to come. The boy’s will be very disappointed their Auntie Angela won’t be there.’

I curl my fists. She’s using my nephews to try and guilt trip me. They’re five-year-old twins. I’m sure they aren’t going to be too bothered, so long as they’ve got a new Game Boy or something like that, to keep them amused. My sister’s going to be annoyed with me for not coming home for Christmas, but she wouldn’t use her children to make me make up my mind. I love them to bits, I do, but I want to do something for myself this year. That’s not too much to ask, is it?

‘Well, I’ll give it a think, and I’ll let you know closer to the time what I’m definitely doing,’ I say, even though I know I’ve already made up my mind, I’m just saying that to appease Mum. I just hope she doesn’t hear the bitterness in my voice.

‘You’re not still mad at us are you for not giving you any money towards that course, are you?’ Mum’s voice has turned sour.

‘Of course not, Mum. Blimey that was nearly a year ago now anyway. I wasn’t mad at you in the first place. I’ve managed to get the money together myself now so it’s fine. This is nothing to do with that, I promise.’

Mum murmurs something, but I choose not to ask her to repeat what she’s said. If I do, I’m sure I’ll be on the phone to her for another half an hour and then we’ll end up having an argument which I don’t want to have just before Christmas. I place the phone back down.

‘You’re going to have to say her to sooner or later that you’re definitely not going home this year,’ Hayley murmurs from the sofa.

‘She tried to make me feel guilty using my nephews,’ I say.

‘Bloody hell, that’s a bit low,’ Hayley says, straightening herself up. ‘You do loads for them throughout the year, don’t you? All the books you buy and send them. And plus not to mention after everything you went through when you had cancer. That’s actually a real shitty thing for her to say, I’m actually shocked.’

I rub my forehead. ‘I know. I knew Mum would be upset, but . . . I don’t know. Do you think we ought to stay here?’

‘Angela, we’ve no idea how much longer we’re going to be here. We’ve been here, what, eighteen months now? It isn’t going to last forever. We might as well enjoy it while we can. Plus we’ve already told a few people to come over for New Year’s. My parents are fine with me not going home. In fact, they’re now going off to France to spend Christmas there.’

I nod. Of course, she’s right. Mum will just have to accept I’m not coming home this year.

‘Do you reckon Caz will insist on bringing William for New Year’s?’ I ask, flopping onto the sofa beside Hayley.

Michelle’s still at work, so at least she can’t hear us chatting about him.

Hayley shrugs. ‘Depends if he’s got anything arranged. If I had a boyfriend I’d want to spend New Year’s with him, definitely,’ she says. ‘Is there a problem with him coming then?’

‘No . . .’

I haven’t told anyone that Michelle told me to practically choose between him and her the other week. It shouldn’t matter if he’s just coming along to our party. There’ll be loads of people here. If I’m honest, I’m surprised Michelle actually agreed to allow us to host it. Perhaps even she’s thinking this might be our last year here.

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Character List:

Angela Watkins - Protagonist 

Paul Watkins - Angela's husband

Rebecca Watkins - Angela's daughter 

Michelle Blake - Angela's former best friend 

Kirsty - Receptionist (Angela's friend) 

Olivia - Angela's boss

William Harris - Angela's former friend 

Caroline (Caz) - Angela's friend 

Hayley - Angela's former friend

Lauren - Angela's former friend