‘Everything okay?’ Kaisha was ringing up another order at the till.
‘Absolutely fine.’ No need to worry anyone else with her troubles. ‘Can I help you?’ She served the next customer in line, wondering if she was the only one who wouldn’t be with someone she loved this Christmas.
Once the rush died down, Kaisha took a break and Cleo replenished some of the yarns near the cash register. She’d even sold a few more hanks of the vicuña, which she was pleased about. She’d bought some of it herself last week in a last minute decision to make a gift for Kaisha. She’d been planning to buy her a little something but couldn’t think of what to get and remembering how Kaisha had stroked the vicuña when it came into the store, and knowing how her student life would never allow for such a luxury, Cleo had got started making her a pair of socks. She’d enlisted some help from one of their former regulars, Betty, an expert in knitting, but a woman who had been with her son in Florida for the last eight months. She’d come in to say hello the day Cleo had plucked the vicuña yarn from the shelf and she’d instantly given her help in Kaisha’s absence. They’d stayed out back long after closing and Cleo had got those socks looking so good. She couldn’t wait to give them to Kaisha later.
When Kaisha returned, they worked through the next wave of customers together and even with her feet begging her to sit down, Cleo was loving every minute of this. The last Christmas in the Little Knitting Box and she never wanted it to end.
The bell above the door tinkled again as Cleo wished a customer Happy Holidays and they went on their way, and when she looked up, a much shorter customer appeared at the cash register and she recognised the face instantly.
‘Ruby?’ She couldn’t help but smile.
‘Hi, Cleo. We came to get a new stocking each. Daddy said we could choose!’ Her eyes bulged with excitement.
‘Is that so?’ She met Dylan’s gaze when he appeared, Jacob on his hip, behind the two women making their way out of the store. ‘Well, check out the shelving at the front, on the left.’ She pointed to the area. ‘I know for a fact that there are some very special designs, as I made them myself and they’re exactly what I would’ve chosen as a little girl.’
Ruby ran over to the area and Jacob wriggled off his dad to do the same.
‘Hi.’ When she spoke to Dylan her voice came out weak and a zing went up her spine.
‘Hi.’ Dylan didn’t break the stare between them.
It was only when a customer cleared their throat that Cleo remembered they weren’t alone. ‘I’m sorry, can I take that for you?’ She rung up the purchase and when the customer went on their way and Kaisha reappeared, Cleo and Dylan joined the kids at the front of the store.
‘How have you been?’ he asked as the kids flipped through the stocking selection. Ruby was busy bossing Jacob about, telling him to be careful.
‘I only saw you a few nights ago.’ She grinned.
‘Yes, you did.’ His face turned serious. ‘But since then, I hear Prue has been to see you.’
Her smile faded too. ‘Did you know?’
‘About the lack of lease extension? No. The first I knew of Prue’s involvement was when she told me the details of her new job. I mentioned the extension and she told me it wasn’t going to happen.’ He ran a hand across his jaw. ‘Cleo, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I was off my game, not paying attention, and I didn’t think about the extension as I read through the contract. I’d meant to check, but with everything going on, somehow I didn’t.’
Ruby came over to show them her choice of stocking. It was red with a snowman and Christmas tree embroidered on it. ‘That’s one of my favourites.’ Cleo crouched down to Ruby’s eye-level. ‘And it’s plenty big enough for Santa.’
‘It’s huge,’ claimed Jacob. ‘I’m sure our stockings last year weren’t as big. Santa will be able to fit plenty in it this year.’
Dylan laughed and checked out the green stocking his son had selected. This one had a fireplace and a Santa in a rocking chair embroidered on the front. ‘I think Santa will do his best.’ He ruffled his son’s hair and then, as he left the kids looking through some of the Christmas sweaters on display, he took out his wallet and headed to the cash register to pay for the stockings. ‘For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.’
She took his credit card to process the payment and pushed the stockings into a brown paper bag.
‘You’re very talented,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t know one end of a knitting needle from another.’
‘It’s simple once you get the hang of it.’
‘I want to learn to knit!’ Ruby claimed, joining them at the counter.
‘You’re six years old.’ Her dad cuddled her to him as Jacob reached his small hand up to take the bag from Cleo.
‘Never too young to start,’ said Cleo.
‘Will you teach me?’ Ruby’s fingers found the hank of yarn sitting beside the cash register waiting to be returned to the display.
‘Of course I can, but the store is too busy right now. Are you hanging around in the city?’ She looked at Dylan. ‘We shut in just over an hour and I’ve got a bit of time before I have to be anywhere. I can show Ruby the basics.’
‘That’s incredibly generous of you.’
‘I’d like to, really.’
