The Silent Appeal #2
I’m also delighted to confirm that we’ve raised ￡700. A decent 74 percent of our ambitious ￡1000 target. Only a measly 25 percent to go. Fairway Players, we can do it: Send out a quick email to your circle and let’s raise that grand and put a stop to homelessness.
It just remains for me to say a big thank-you to everyone who helped make the Big Sleep Out a night of fun and laughter.
To Joyce, Mick, Marianne, Denise, and Carol who all, at one point or another, cooked and served food.
To Celia and Joel, who ran the games and tournaments, and Emma, who held a very welcome yoga class.
To Denise and Marianne for their crafting expertise and to Fran for leading the singing and helping calm down the little ones after Father Josh’s ghost story proved more chilling than anyone anticipated.
However, I reserve my most boundless praise for my lovely assistant director, Nicky-Rose, who held a most productive word rehearsal and helped wherever help was required.
Last but not least, may I say a big thank-you to everyone who showed up and threw themselves into the evening, making it one of the Fairway Players’ most successful fundraising appeals. However, now it’s over we are free to concentrate exclusively on The Hollow, which is a mere six weeks away.
I’ll see everyone at rehearsal tomorrow night… sleep well! Kevin
To: Kevin MacDonald
From: Celia Halliday
Date: April 27, 2025
Subject: Re: Thank you
We’ve raised ￡735.00, which is 73.5 percent of our target, making the remainder 26.5 percent. I’m surprised you would get something so simple so wrong, seeing as the JustGiving page is quite clear, plus you have your own company and must surely do such calculations regularly.
Are we braced for a legal claim from Amelia? If a light had fallen on Beth’s leg, I would most definitely encourage her to pursue damages.
Whose idea was it for Rev. Josh to tell a ghost story?
I remember us Guides used to scare each other with tales of the Lockwood Lane Shadow Man back in the seventies, but I never believed it and have lived here all my life without noticing any ghosts flitting about.
I’m surprised a man of the church entertains such nonsense, let alone considers it appropriate entertainment for others. See you at rehearsal tomorrow. Celia
Message exchange between Sarah-Jane and Kevin MacDonald on April 27, 2025:
4:11 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
I’ve read your email.
4:13 p.m. Kevin wrote:
The percentages are wrong. I know. Celia informed me by return email, within five minutes. Almost a record.
4:14 p.m. Kevin wrote:
Tried to round things up and down to encourage more donations and got mixed up. Nicky-Rose does my accounts now and math was never my forte.
4:15 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
“I reserve my most boundless praise for my lovely assistant director, Nicky-Rose.”
4:15 p.m. Kevin wrote:
SHIT.
4:16 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
I made the posters, did all the shopping, liaised with everyone.
4:16 p.m. Kevin wrote:
Wasn’t deliberate, you just slipped my mind.
4:19 p.m. Kevin wrote:
Only singled out Nicky-Rose because, while we don’t know exactly what happened, she OBVIOUSLY has stuff going on in her life and the fact she’s committed to the play and is REALLY giving it her all meant I wanted to recognize her contribution.
4:22 p.m. Kevin wrote:
That’s not to say YOU don’t have a lot going on in your life too. There’s your important marketing work, the care you give to our wonderful son and beautiful daughter, and the selfless way in which you employ Excel to keep our lives shipshape and organized.
4:25 p.m. Kevin wrote:
All that, AND you’re a supportive sister to Nicky-Rose and a caring daughter to Carol. What you manage to do, and with scarcely a word of complaint, is AMAZING, and no thanks or trite mention in an email could ever express the thanks nor pay the debt we all owe you.
4:26 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
It’s a pleasure.
4:26 p.m. Kevin wrote:
Sorry.
Message exchange between Karen Payne and Mark Digworth on April 27, 2025:
5:36 p.m. Karen wrote:
Amelia’s gonna be better for the play
5:37 p.m. Mark wrote:
Worth a try though. Maybe next time you’ll be lucky, eh babe?
To: Nicky-Rose Dearing
From: Stuart Kinsella
Date: April 28, 2025
Subject: Re: Hi
You said not to reply, but how are you? Have you ended things with the married man? I don’t want to judge, but that’s not what anyone would want for you. They don’t leave their wives, and when they do, that just causes more problems. Seen it before. Not the way to start a new relationship. Stu x
To: Stuart Kinsella
From: Nicky-Rose Dearing
Date: April 28, 2025
Subject: Re: Hi
You sound like an old woman! Since when did you join the morality police? It’s not a relationship. Just having fun for a bit. Plans are in action, all good. Nix x
To: Isabel Beck
From: Mardien Chierakul
Date: April 28, 2025
Subject: Fran Elroy-Jones
Dear Issy,
How are you? I hope you’re well. I’m aware we haven’t been in contact since your case was closed in 2023, but something has been brought to my attention.
I understand you recently gave a gift to Fran Elroy-Jones, a friendship bracelet with the words “love issy” spelled out in beads.
The restraining order Ms. Elroy-Jones was granted back in 2021 has expired, but it can easily be renewed.
However, fortunately she has chosen to contact me before she takes legal action.
Fran wishes you to know that while she bears no ill will toward you and accepts that you are both part of the same community drama group, she does not wish to reestablish your friendship, and finds actions such as secretly placing a gift in her bag to be inappropriate and controlling.
I agreed to act as unofficial mediator so your roles in the upcoming play can continue. She has given me the bracelet and I will put it in an envelope and deliver it to your address, which I understand is the same as when I worked on your case.
Issy, I hope very much that you’re happy and managing to control the sorts of behaviors that got you into trouble before.
We spoke about recognizing red flags for limerent obsession and compiled a list of things you can do to minimize its impact on your life.
Are you keeping a journal? Do you still attend the support group?
If you’d like to organize a follow-up appointment with me, it can be arranged. Just call the office number above.
Best wishes,
Mardien Chierakul
Key social worker, Adult Mental Health
To: Rev. Josh Harries
From: Fran Elroy-Jones
Date: April 28, 2025
Subject: Fairway Players
Dearest Josh,
Hope you check your emails before work. I give them bland titles just in case she looks at your phone.
Feel really down today. It might be that I’m overtired, or the stress of what happened at the sleep out.
Amelia was discharged last night, but she’s exhausted and on strong painkillers.
Lucas had to carry her upstairs to the flat.
I worry about fire safety—how will she get down in an emergency?
She’s stuck in that room with Georgia, who’s surly and unhelpful at the best of times.
I wonder if I should offer them my flat while Amelia recovers? I could switch to the studio for a couple of weeks. It’s closer to the vicarage too, which would be a bonus. What do you think?
There was something else at the sleep out that sent me into a dive.
I got home Sunday morning and emptied my bag out, only to find a friendship bracelet at the bottom.
The children were making them at the craft table, but the beads spelled out “love issy” so there was no mystery as to who put it there.
I can’t let her get attached to me again, especially as she’s a very dogged “watcher” and would soon spot that I was slipping out of rehearsals to meet someone.
Anyway, fixations aren’t good for her and her former case lead ought to be aware.
Luckily her old social worker is an acquaintance who will email Issy about it. She suggested I give the bracelet to her so she can return it, so I drove round and dropped it off. By the time I’d sorted that out it was time to start getting ready for work.
Have you mentioned sending the girls to their grandparents while you speak to Elizabeth?
I know she’ll be upset, but she’ll come to terms with it.
She must have noticed the increasing distance between you.
Would divorce be such a problem? I’ve been reading every internet forum there is on the subject and it’s allowed.
People all over the world have made our situation work. I know we can.
Josh, what I feel for you is different to anything I’ve ever felt for anyone else before.
It’s powerful and all-consuming. Beyond a crush or infatuation.
This is love and I believe love conquers everything.
When we met in the lane last night everything else fell away, as if I shrugged off a heavy cloak, and there was just you and me in the whole world.
Thinking about it now makes me feel warm and peaceful.
I’ll slip into the church during our rehearsal break tonight, as usual, but will you be able to get round to mine this week? From tomorrow I’ll be in every night in case you can escape at the last minute. Love you xx
To: Fran Elroy-Jones
From: Rev. Josh Harries
Date: April 28, 2025
Subject: Re: Fairway Players
Dearest Fran,
Sorry. I couldn’t reply until now. Good idea to keep things bland just in case. I struggled so much to keep my tears at bay while you were singing. Your voice is beautiful, and I kept thinking of us both defying gravity together, against all the odds.
Divorce in my situation is allowed, but would be a huge problem, particularly because the fault would be mine.
If Elizabeth were to leave me for someone else, that would be different, but if I were to leave her for you, I’d have to resign and that would mean Lizzie and the girls would lose their breadwinner.