Page 5 of Yule Party on Sunflower Street

‘Where did it go?’

They peered through the doorway into the kitchen, but they couldn’t see anything. Tara stepped through the doorway and looked around but then a shape darted out from under a shelf and ran through her legs, through Sadie’s and back into the shop.

‘Aha!’ Tara said, ushering Sadie back into the shop then closing the kitchen door. ‘Now we’ve got you.’

They walked around the shop and Sadie braced herself in case the cat jumped out again but then she spotted it.

‘Look.’ She pointed at one of the Christmas trees at the front of the shop. They hadn’t turned the lights on yet, as the shop wasn’t open for business, but they had decorated the trees ready and set one in each bay window. And there, underneath the one tree, was a fluffy black-and-white cat. It was lying on its back toying with a glittery bauble. ‘Awww…’

‘Hey, kitty kitty,’ Tara said, crouching down near the tree and holding out a hand.

The cat blinked then rolled over and crept out from under the tree, tail swishing from side to side. When it reached her, it flopped onto its side and exposed its belly.

‘I think it likes you,’ Sadie said.

‘Hello there.’ Tara gently stroked the cat’s head and it purred contentedly. ‘Aren’t you adorable.’

‘It’s wearing a collar.’ Sadie crouched down and read the tag on the collar. ‘Willy.’

‘Willy?’ Tara crinkled her face.

‘Short for William, perhaps?’

‘There’s a number on there anyway.’ Tara got her phone out of her pocket. ‘And it’s the plumber’s.’

‘You belong to the plumber, do you?’ Sadie stroked the cat’s silky head, and it rubbed against her palm, purring loudly.

‘Nice to meet you, Willy.’ Tara stood up. ‘Right, I’m going to get our hot chocolates.’

She crossed to the door and opened it and Willy got to his feet, stretched, then trotted through the open doorway and ran off along the street.

‘It seems like even the cats are friendly around here,’ Tara said. ‘Be right back.’

Tara closed the door behind her, leaving Sadie alone in the shop. The café was only next door, so she knew Tara wouldn’t be long, but it suddenly felt very quiet. She pulled out her phone and opened the photos app, then scrolled to her wedding photo taken the previous Christmas. She had married Sander in a pretty hotel in the Lake District. It had been a quiet ceremony with just the two of them, her parents, Sander’s best man, Tara, who had been her maid of honour, and Tara’s then partner, Paul. It had been magical.

That night, alone in a pod with a glass roof, they’d drunk champagne as they gazed up at the stars, and talked about their plans for their lives together.

Studying the photo of her and Sander as they stood in front of the hotel, she ran a finger over his face and love swelled in her chest. She was lucky to have found such a wonderful man, even if she didn’t like how his job often took him away for long periods of time. But the bonus was that she got to spend lots of time with Tara, so she was determined to see the silver lining in every cloud.

‘Love you, Sander.’ She blew a kiss at the photo then put her phone away. ‘Right then, let’s get another box open, shall we?’ she said to herself as she went to the stockroom.

At least the shop would keep her busy. She wasn’t sure what came next yet, but for now there was Christmas to focus on, and then she’d be reunited with the man she loved.

4

TARA

After a day in the shop, Tara had soaked in the bath. It had been a busy week getting everything ready, but tonight they were off to watch the switching on of the village Christmas lights and she was looking forward to it.

Sadie was ready when she went downstairs, wearing her coat, hat and gloves.

‘Have you got your gloves?’ Sadie asked.

‘I have.’ Tara patted her coat pockets.

‘Well come on then, let’s go and see some lights.’ Sadie opened the door and they stepped out into the cold November evening.

They walked arm in arm to the green and chatted about the day in the shop, how prepared they felt for opening day and what else they might need to do.