Page 85 of The Merry Christmas Project

We held each other’s gaze for a second, and a feeling of contentment washed over me.

‘It did,’ I said softly.

‘There you are !’ came a tinkling voice from across the hall.

Both of us looked up to see Tasha making her way towards us. She looked absolutely gorgeous in a tightly belted red wool Mrs Christmas outfit edged with white fur around the hem, cuffs and hood. I’d have looked like a comedy mailwoman in that, but she looked like a Rockette straight off the set of New York’s Christmas Spectacular.

Apart from when we’d been setting up, I’d hardly seen her. She’d been stationed at Santa’s grotto all afternoon, organising the queue of eager children. According to Tom, ten men had offered to be Father Christmas this year after Tasha had announced her intention to dress up as Mrs Christmas. Last year apparently only Brian the caretaker had volunteered and the children had struggled to understand him due to his lack of teeth.

‘Hey, Merry!’ Tasha stood, hands on hips, surveying my stall. ‘Looks like you’ve sold loads !’

‘I have,’ I said. ‘Thanks for suggesting I take a stall, it’s been really enjoyable. And the children are a credit to you.’

‘They’re adorable, aren’t they ?’ She pressed a hand to her chest and sighed. ‘How are the raffle tickets doing, Danny ?’

Danny ? I almost choked. He normally hated it when anyone shortened his name.

Daniel went a bit pink. ‘I’ve been round everybody at least twice; I think I’ve fleeced people as much as I can.’

‘I’ll buy some,’ I said and pulled a handful of coins out of my cash tin to pay for them.

Daniel tore some tickets off for me and I tucked them into my bra so I didn’t lose them.

‘You’ve done so well with your candle business,’ said Tasha, looking genuinely impressed. ‘Daniel told me how you started up after being made redundant. You’re a real inspiration.’

‘Agreed,’ said Daniel, sliding a sideways glance at me. ‘It was quite a shock at the time, wasn’t it ?’

‘It was always a hobby I loved,’ I said, ignoring his jibe. ‘I’m lucky I had the chance to turn a passion into a job.’

‘We have a gifted and talented art club at school,’ Tasha continued. ‘Perhaps you could come and visit them one day, run a workshop ? You might even sell more candles if we give the parents some notice.’

‘I’d really like that,’ I said, genuinely touched.

Tasha put a hand on Daniel’s arm. ‘The staff are flagging ; I think it’s time to do the raffle – will you help me ? Five minutes ?’

‘Sure,’ he said, covering her hand with his for a second.

We both watched her walk away, stopping almost every few steps to speak to a child or greet an adult. She had star quality, no doubt about it ; no wonder Tom had said the staff all loved her. And maybe, I thought, watching his lovestruck expression, Daniel did too.

‘I’d better go and do as I’m told.’ He stood up and then hesitated. ‘Merry, I meant what I said about being an inspiration. One day, you’ll make a great mum too.’

‘One day,’ I echoed, holding up my crossed fingers as I watched him walk away.

I hoped he was right, and I hoped I got the chance to find out. There was just the small matter of getting the man of my dreams to agree.

Chapter 26

Merry

1 DECEMBER

At twenty past six I walked from my parked car at the back of the bank to the market square.

I was running late. Not unusual for me, but this time it wasn’t really my fault. The Christmas Fair had overrun by half an hour because there were still so many people milling about and by the time Astrid and I packed up to leave I’d sold all but two candles, which I gave to her as a thank-you for coming with me. Then, once back at Holly Cottage, I’d run a bath, intending to have a quick reviving dip but I must have been more tired than I’d realised because I’d dropped off, only to wake when my head had slipped underwater and I spluttered back to consciousness. But there was still forty minutes to the lights switch-on, and another ten before I’d arranged to meet Cole and Hester. My stomach fizzed with a mix of anticipation and nerves at the thought of seeing him again, and meeting Hester of course.

Night had fallen, the air was as clear as crystal and a slender crescent moon hung delicately in a star-studded sky. The temperature hadn’t lifted much above freezing all day and tiny ice particles on window ledges and pavements made the whole town sparkle. As my breath formed clouds of air in front of my face, I congratulated myself on remembering to put thick socks on inside my boots and I shoved my gloved hands into my pockets for extra warmth.

I rounded the corner into the marketplace and gasped with surprise. The residents of Wetherley had come out in force ; there were people everywhere. I’d never seen the square so packed. Wetherley, it seemed, was ready to get Christmas underway.