“Antonia, when it comes to men you don’tdoanything.” She gave me a knowing look. “Carry on the way you’re going, and you’ll end up like that old man you told me about. The one with the chair.”
A picture of Ted Sharples sat scowling at everything and everyone in his immediate vicinity popped into my head. “Jules,” I said. “I thought you were meant to be my friend?”
She carried on, regardless. “You’ll be grumpy and unapproachable. And people won’t want to share a table with you because you’re too miserable to associate with.”
“What? If I don’t find a man, I’ll turn into some cantankerous spinster?”
Jules laughed. “Of course not. What century do you think I’m living in? I’m talking about you not mixing with people in general. You might like your own company now, but there could come a time when it’s no longer through choice. It’ll be because you’ve turned into the female equivalent of old whatshisname. It’s what loneliness does, you know. It sucks every ounce of joy out of you.”
“Not long ago you were telling me he’s entitled to be grumpy,” I said. “Anyway, Ted Sharples aside, you’ll be pleased to know I visited the Christmas market you recommended.”
“You did?” Clearly surprised to hear that Jules’s eyes lit up.
“I certainly did.”
My friend clapped her hands in excitement. “I can’t tell you how jealous I am. I’m desperate to get out and about. Did you have hot chocolate and marshmallows?”
“No.”
“A glass of mulled wine?”
“No.”
Her enthusiasm appeared to dwindle. “You must have eaten chips out of a cone?”
“No.”
“But you bought yourself a Christmas gift, right?” Jules asked. “Like a tree decoration or a nativity set?” She stared at me, evidently anticipating at least one affirmative answer.
“No,” I replied. “Why would I?”
“The real question is whywouldn’tyou?” She sighed. “I suppose there’s no point me even asking if you sat on Santa’s knee?”
I let out a laugh. “Definitely not.”
“Of course, you didn’t.” She sighed again. “So, whatdidyou do?”
“I picked something up for you and Harry.”
Jules’s smile returned. “Really? Can I see?”
“Nope. It’s for Christmas. Besides, it came wrapped. Oh, and I offered to do some childcare.”
My friend wrinkled her nose, as if I was suddenly talking in another language. “You did what?”
I told her about Seb and how his mum hadn’t been there to meet him off the school bus, before explaining how I’d kept him company until a distressed Lizzie arrived.
“The poor little mite,” Jules said. “As for his mother, no wonder she was frantic.” Jules put a hand up to her chest. “Imagine if that happened here, Antonia.” She shuddered. “He might never have been seen again.”
“That thought had crossed my mind.”
“Hang on a minute.” Jules’s confused expression returned. “How does any of this relate to the Christmas market?”
“I saw them there. Seb and Lizzie.”
“And?”
“I offered to step in if Lizzie needed me to watch Seb again.”
