Page 48 of The Merry Christmas Project

I shook my head. ‘It’s very kind. But I need a lot of space, now more than ever. Did I tell you Sally called me yesterday about the Christmas school fair ?’

I held up my turquoise jumper and shook it to get the creases out.

‘Tell her you can’t do it, change of circumstances. She’ll understand,’ Nell said. ‘I like you in that one.’

Astrid always said the same. The colour made my green eyes pop. And if you knew you looked nice, it helped you feel more confident in meetings. Absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the meeting was with Cole.

‘Do you ? Thanks,’ I said innocently. ‘I’ve already said yes to Sally. Mind you, I did nearly drop the phone when she told me that the person they had selling candles last year sold almost one thousand units.’

Nell widened her eyes. ‘That works out at over three hundred sales of scented candles an hour. Not to be sniffed at. Sniffed ?’

‘Very good,’ I grinned. ‘I can’t turn down that sort of money. I’m going to get in, sell my stuff and get out as quickly as possible and laugh all the way to the bank.’

‘Good to know that your Christmas spirit is still alive and well,’ she said, with a snort.

‘So, in the run-up to that, I’m going to go up a gear production-wise,’ I continued, ignoring her jibe. ‘I’d employ someone if I had the money but as it is, I’m just going to have to put in longer hours, and don’t warn me not to burn the candle at both ends because that joke has been done.’

I zipped past her into the bathroom.

‘Oi !’ She knocked on the door. ‘I thought I was going first. You’re getting on my wick.’

‘You snooze, you lose,’ I called back gleefully. ‘Mine’s toast with peanut butter, please !’

Chapter 16

Merry

15 NOVEMBER

I arrived at the market with fifteen minutes to spare and used the time to wander around with my Christmas Project hat on. The storm two days ago had washed the sky clean, and it was that beautiful crystal blue unique to winter. The sun was out, dazzlingly low and the overnight frost was still lingering, sparkling on pavements and rooftops as if they were sprinkled with glitter. There was a sharp nip in the air and I was glad I was wearing a scarf and gloves.

With just under six weeks to go to Christmas Day, Wetherley was already starting to prepare. The local council had already strung up the lights, which criss-crossed the two main streets leading to the centre and around the market square, from lamp post to lamp post.

Despite my misgivings about Christmas this year, I couldn’t deny that I was looking forward to seeing Wetherley in all its festive finery.

The tree hadn’t been delivered yet. It was always situated at the edge of the marketplace, directly opposite the old bank where it would be plugged in until early January. Now that I knew Cole was in charge of that building project too, I’d have a word with him, maybe see if the scaffolding could come down in time for the Christmas lights switch-on. There was a lot to be done, and not a lot of time to do it, and I was working hard to ignore the panicky feeling in my chest. I might be leading the Christmas activities, I reminded myself, but it was a town effort; I’d just have to plan it carefully and learn to delegate.

Cole was waiting for me when I got back to Nell’s stall. I was intrigued about what he had got to show me. I’d sent him a text back saying that I was free at ten and asked if he could give me any more details in the meantime. He’d simply replied with a thumbs-up emoji.

His face lit up with a smile when he saw me. Nell was serving a customer but still managed to waggle her eyebrows at Cole’s back suggestively.

‘Hi,’ I said. ‘Sorry for keeping you waiting. I was just working out how to arrange all the Christmas trees around the marketplace next month.’

‘There’ll be more than one ?’ he asked, bemused.

‘A lot more,’ I replied. ‘You should come to the Christmas Project meetings and you’d know what we’re planning.’

‘Ah, yes.’ He nodded. ‘The Benny Dunford tribute. I did mean to come to that, but I was busy and then … If I’m honest I’m not feeling Christmas this year, so I’m keeping a low profile on that score.’

‘Same here,’ I said, ‘but somehow I just get sucked into these things.’

‘I can imagine.’ He laughed at my mystified expression. ‘Thanks for meeting me and sorry to be vague and not give you any more details but I was worried you’d have preconceptions about what I’m about to show you, and it would put you off.’

‘OK,’ I said warily. ‘I’ll try and keep an open mind. But you’re not selling it.’

‘Have a little faith,’ he grinned. ‘I know you didn’t have too many specific requirements, but this solution is a bit unconventional.’

My eyes slid to the empty stall next to Nell’s where Twiggy’s Bonsai trees used to be. ‘As long as it’s warm enough to work in.’