Page 48 of Yule Party on Sunflower Street

Tara clasped her hands to her chest and sighed. ‘It was… magical. Like… I’ve never been kissed like that before.’

‘Hooray!’ Sadie jiggled in her seat. ‘That’s wonderful. You had a nice time together then kissed because you couldn’t keep your hands off each other?’

‘Basically, yes.’ Tara rested her chin on her hands. ‘He’s so kind and sweet and he made me feel really special yesterday.’ Then her face fell and a frown settled on her brow.

‘What is it?’ Sadie asked gently.

‘Well, I want to stay here and keep the shop going and I want to get to know Seth better…’

‘But?’ Sadie watched her sister carefully, worry filling her chest.

‘He hasn’t asked me to stay.’

Sadie sighed. That wasn’t great news but it was early days and perhaps Seth was waiting to see if Tara said something first. ‘Have you told him what you want?’

Tara snorted. ‘Of course not. He should just know.’

Now Sadie snorted. ‘Really?’

Tara shook her head. ‘I’m joking. But you know what I’m like and I don’t want to say how I feel in case it’s not how he feels. I mean, he knows I’m here on a temporary basis and perhaps that’s why he kissed me. I’m not a long-term problem for him so perhaps this is just a bit of fun under the mistletoe and when the snow melts, everything will go back to normal for him.’

‘You know Seth better than I do but he doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who kisses someone just for the fun of it. He’s quite serious and intense. I think if he likes you, and I believe he does from what you’ve said and from how he is around you, then he’ll be happy to know you want to stay here and make a go of things.’

‘Maybe,’ Tara said. ‘But right now I need to focus on the shop and the party, and only then can I allow myself to think about what could happen with him.’

‘Tara, realistically, can you really put Seth and your kiss out of your mind to focus on other things?’ Sadie winked and Tara laughed.

‘I don’t know but for now I’m going to try.’

‘Well, good luck with that, especially at Christmas.’ Sadie stood up and took their mugs to the sink. ‘I know if it was me that I’d struggle. I couldn’t pretend I didn’t care about Sander. Not in the beginning and certainly not now.’

‘But you two are perfect for each other,’ Tara said.

‘Perhaps the same could be said of you and Seth. But you’ll only find out if you take a chance.’ Sadie held out a hand and helped Tara up then she hugged her. ‘Whatever happens, I’ve got your back. Don’t forget that.’

‘I know that, Sadie, and it means the world.’

‘That’s what sisters are for.’ Sadie pointed at the doorway. ‘We’d better go and rescue Dad before he decides to put the Father Christmas outfit on then has some random person wanting to sit on his lap.’

Tara sniggered. ‘He’d be mortified.’

‘But too nice to decline.’

They went through to the shop and found their dad wearing a headband with reindeer antlers on and red tinsel around his neck. A woman was standing next to him holding up two nutcracker models. ‘I still don’t know which one to get,’ she said. ‘What do you think?’

Sadie nudged Tara then they went to join their dad, aware that while he could be helpful, he would struggle to close the sale if the woman didn’t make up her own mind. Tara persuaded the woman that she should treat herself to both and while she wrapped them in festive paper, Sadie handed the woman a flyer for the Yule Party.

‘This sounds wonderful,’ the woman said, tucking the flier into her handbag. ‘I’m definitely coming.’

‘We’ll look forward to seeing you there,’ Sadie replied.

And as the woman left the shop, Sadie caught Tara’s eye and said, ‘See, word is spreading.’

‘I hope so!’ Tara crossed her fingers.

Sadie hoped so too because with just over a week to go, the Yule Party was feeling less like a crazy idea and more like something that might actually work.

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