Read The Night Before Christmas for Free Online

between Vincent’s teeth, sure that he was only attempting to chew a hole in it by way of a greeting.
    ‘There’s no need to sound surprised about it,’ Lydia said, rubbing Vincent’s muzzle as she looked happily around the impressive hallway. It had been converted into a lobby, complete with shiny leather chairs and areception desk, the cosy area accessorised with a little brass bell and a Christmas tree, sitting in the crook of the sweeping staircase, that would put the one in Trafalgar Square to shame. ‘I shouldn’t miss me at all if I lived here,’ Lydia breathed, squeezing her friend. ‘Oh, Katy, it’s
wonderful
! This house was built for Christmas.’
    ‘I know!’ Katy exclaimed. ‘Brilliant, isn’t it?’
    The heavy door creaked open behind them, and Stephen staggered in, his hair and shoulders encrusted with snow, his arms weighed down by all of their bags and presents.
    ‘Oh, Stephen, you poor love, come in,’ Katy said, taking one of the bags from him.
    ‘Seriously, Lyds, what have you got in these?’ Stephen asked her, depositing the bags on the tiled floor with relief. ‘Did you feel the need to bring a kitchen sink?’
    ‘Wish she had.’ Katy smiled as she kissed Stephen in greeting. ‘We actually could do with one.’
    ‘All I brought was, you know, just the essentials.’ Lydia grabbed another bag from Stephen, who winced, putting his hands on the small of his back and making what sounded distinctly like an old man noise.
    ‘Although many people might question whether four pairs of high-heeled shoes are strictly essential for a few days in the Lakes,’ he said dryly, winking at Katy.
    ‘Only four? Lyds, you are calming down! Is it the recession?’ Katy joked, suddenly feeling compelled tohug her friend again, and kiss her once more too, for good measure.
    ‘Goodness, I don’t think anyone’s ever been so pleased to see me since … I don’t think anyone has ever been that pleased to see me,’ Lydia said. ‘So do we just arrive, or are you going to officially check us in like an official lady hotelier?’
    ‘What? Oh yes – yes, right.’ Katy gave a mock bow to her guests and bustled efficiently behind the tiny reception desk, where she was rather dwarfed by what must have been fifteen feet of Norwegian spruce. The staircase, Lydia noticed happily, was
exactly
the sort of staircase for sweeping down in a red velvet dress, Scarlett O’Hara style, which was exceptionally fortunate as she had just happened to pack such a garment for Christmas Day. Granted, it was only knee length, and lacked any sort of bustle, but it was quite the statement dress and would go brilliantly with a statement staircase. Lydia resolved to ask Katy to video her on her phone as soon as no one else was looking, especially not Stephen. Or Joanna, who probably would bring a floor-length dress with a bustle and train to boot.
    As they waited for Katy to play hotelier and shuffle various bit of headed paper, Lydia felt Stephen find her hand and hold it, squeezing her fingers gently. Lydia smiled at him, Christmas warmth spreading through her as she looked up at the tree. Katy and thechildren had certainly gone to town on it; not a single needle had been left unadorned. It was garlanded with yard upon yard of tartan ribbons, and every branch was laden with a glittering array of ornaments, ranging from a selection of somewhat macabre robins that looked to be fashioned out of actual feathers, complete with beady eyes, to homemade salt-dough stars, some lacking what might be considered the conventional number of points, and a few with considerably more. She knew Katy could be relied upon to give her children a conventional, old-fashioned Christmas, and Lydia’s inner child, who’d never had a real Christmas at all, gave a happy sigh.
    Finally, Katy seemed to be ready to greet them officially.
    ‘Welcome to Heron’s Pike Hotel,’ she recited carefully, treating them to a fixed grin, which she snapped on and