Will’s throat caved immediately, so he did what Jed had suggested. He mimed. Swinging his storm lamp and trying for festive cheer, he made his way through two songs before spotting Ginny in the crowd, watching him.
Her gaze quickly diverted as soon as he locked eyes with her, so he lowered his head a touch, thinking the cobbles friendlier.
Lottie swayed some mistletoe along to the melody, which was the last thing Will wanted to see. The kiss he had sharedwith Ginny at the hotel was sure to stay with him forever, never mind anything else they shared.
It seemed like a million lifetimes ago.
Will chanced a look at the crowd. Ginny was gone, along with his spirit. He faked his way to the end of the performance, bowing and waving like the others while thanking folk for putting money in their collection buckets. At least he’d helped buy chickens.
Chickens and a donkey. Perhaps a cat. Worked for the Henshaws.Will groaned inwardly at the thought. Maybe that could be his Christmas tree wish.
He marched over to the table to scribble something on a star about wiping his memory of Ginny Dean, but as soon as the pen hit the paper, he wrote something entirely different.
I wish for all of Ginny’s dreams to come true.
He sealed the bauble, then went over to the tree to find the highest available branch.
‘Lovely,’ said Luna, passing by.
Will frowned, then smiled when he saw Mabel struggling to reach the branch she wanted for her wish. ‘Here, let me help.’ He pulled it down for her, then gently put it back in place once she was done.
‘Ooh, thanks, lovey. The kids touch all the ones down the bottom.’
‘What do they do with the wishes after the tree comes down?’
Mabel pointed at the cobbles. ‘Firepit. Not everyone bothers turning up for that part though, and Father Stephen reckons it’s dangerous, but Councillor Seabridge won’t back down. Stubborn as a mule, that one.’
Will wasn’t too bothered what happened to his Christmas wish, as long as it came true. What a thought. And what if somehow Ginny read his wish? He didn’t sign his name, soall should be good in wish world. He laughed to himself, then sneezed.
‘You should be in bed,’ said Mabel. ‘I’ll make you some chicken noodle soup tomorrow. That’ll see you right.’
He thanked her, then watched her walk over to her friends sitting down to make Christmas wreaths with Lottie and Spencer.
A rumbling stomach told Will dinner was due, so he browsed the food stalls, deciding on burger and chips.
He took his food into the park and sat by the pond, away from the children’s small funfair rides. The back of his eyes still twinkled from staring at the Christmas tree; he didn’t need to add creepy tinkling music into his aching eardrums.
The ducks huddled on the other side of the water, showing no interest in burger bun crumbs or dropped crisps.
It was nice sitting alone in the dim light of a park lamp while gentle snowflakes continued to fall. The noise around him was muffled and the air not so stuffy from a hundred different scents.
Maybe it was staring at the water that calmed him, or perhaps it was feeding his weary body that relaxed him somewhat. All he knew was, for the first time that day, he felt settled.
‘Mind if I join you?’ asked someone behind him.
Yes, actually. I want to be alone.
He glanced over his shoulder to see Robson, holding a cardboard box filled with fish and chips. ‘Sure.’
Robson sat down, offering a chip.
Will raised his biodegradable box. ‘Got my own, thanks. You after a bit of peace as well?’
‘Hmm,’ replied Robson, snaffling a hot chip. ‘Might as well put my feet up while I can. Gets busy at the pub this time of year.’
‘Yeah, I can imagine. Let me know if you need an extra set of hands for anything.’ Will lifted his half-eaten burger. ‘I’m sure I can pull a few pints or something.’
Robson laughed. ‘I might hold you to that.’
