The Mysterious Disappearance of Marsha Boden

CHAPTER 55

Hello and welcome and thank you for being here.

I hope you are having a great week – halfway through already!  If you missed my post about my book being available on Amazon, it’s on the dashboard.  It would make a great gift.

I hope you have enjoyed reading the Mysterious Disappearance of Marsha Boden as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Rosy

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Bonfire night was barely over when Christmas carols started playing in pubs, bars and restaurants.  Even the street musicians had started early this year with renditions of ‘Abide With Me’ wafting melancholily through the streets of Mudlowe, where a saxophonist had positioned himself outside The Butter Cross for best effect. 

Guy Boden was dreading the festive season this year.  It was just over six months since his wife had disappeared and he knew that the first Christmas without her would be difficult for him and the boys.  He wished he could close the door on Christmas Eve and not open it again until 2nd January and get the New Year underway without all the fuss and commercial nonsense that comes with it. 

People still died over the festive season and sometimes if there was a particularly cold snap, his business got extra busy.  Macabre thoughts rattled through his mind as he hoped for a bitterly cold spell.  That way, he could keep himself busy and get through this difficult time.

“I expect you’ll be going to stay with your boys at Christmas?” Ann asked as if she could read his thoughts.

“I haven’t thought about it yet, Ann.  They’re probably busy.  You know what youngsters are like,” he replied defensively.  “I think their wives do the organising at this time of the year so they have to do as they’re told.”

“Well!” Ann said, clearly affronted, “That’s as may be but surely they should be thinking of you…you know.  Being as you’ll be on your own.”  There was an awkward silence. “You can always come to us for Christmas dinner.”