Page 92 of The Merry Christmas Project

1 DECEMBER

Hester pressed down on the plunger and with incredible precision, Nigel pressed down on the real electricity supply in perfect synchronisation. The crowd cheered as our Christmas tree came alive with thousands of jewel-coloured lights. As the applause and cheering continued to echo around the marketplace, I exhaled the breath I’d probably been holding for weeks. We’d done it ! For days I’d been reading disaster stories of trees which didn’t light up, or lit up five seconds before the official switch-on, but here in Wetherley our Christmas Project team had smashed it and the relief was immense.

I looked down from my position on the edge of the stage into the happy faces below and a feeling of euphoria rippled through me. This event and the school Christmas Fair earlier had kicked off the Christmas season for so many people, and I had played a part in both. I’d achieved quite a lot in the last few months since that first committee meeting : grown my business, moved on from my sadness over Daniel and turned our relationship into a real friendship. I smiled, remembering how he’d eyed up Cole, assessing him as boyfriend material, just like a big brother would, and how he’d secretly winked and given me a thumbs up when Cole wasn’t looking. Yes, I thought, I had every right to feel proud.

I spotted Nell in the crowd and waved ; she blew me a series of big kisses and I smiled back, feeling a wave of love for my oldest friend. Next I searched for Cole’s handsome face, but couldn’t see him in the throng. I’d seen him only moments ago standing by Fred and Astrid. He’d been holding his phone in the air videoing his sister, which I’d thought was so sweet.

Where had he gone ? I felt a tingle of disappointment, a longing for our eyes to meet, a chance to share a celebratory smile with him. I frowned, my eyes roaming the various stalls, trying to spot his broad silhouette, but to no avail. Love was a stealthy emotion, I mused ; it had a way of creeping up on you so gently that you barely noticed. It was a bit like watching the sun rise : one minute it was barely there, just a possibility, a shimmer on the horizon, and the next it was so big and bright you couldn’t fail to be caught up in its dazzling light.

The feelings I had for Cole had been there from the first moment I’d seen him shopping at Nell’s Nuts. I’d been attracted to his eyes, his laugh, his sense of humour. Now, whenever I thought about him, a fierce flame warmed me from within. Maybe I was thinking about love too soon, but I didn’t care. I’d had enough of squashing down my emotions and being worried about other people’s opinions about me. If I’d learned anything about my break-up with Daniel, it was that the truth will out eventually, so why not sooner rather than later ?

The applause was gradually dying down now and Daniel stepped forward to relieve Hester of the microphone. She held onto it for a few more moments, thanking everyone for being such a lovely crowd and then Nigel got back into his stride as Wetherley’s resident DJ and the crowd started to disperse.

I took a step towards Hester to lead her down from the stage but Pam Dunford pounced on her first, looping an arm through hers and regaling her with tales of Benny’s online shopping adventures after watching Hester’s show, recounting a miscalculation of knitting yarn which had turned up on their doorstep.

My phone buzzed again for the fifth time in as many minutes and I took it out of my coat pocket to look at the screen. More Etsy orders and a screenful of notifications to say I had new Instagram followers. I’d hoped for a quiet day tomorrow, showing Fred how candles were made, but it seemed I’d be busy after all. I often got a handful of enquiries over the weekend , but it was most unusual to get a cluster of them like this. How bizarre.

Over Pam’s head I noticed Hester signalling with her eyebrows to be rescued.

‘He thought he’d ordered forty-eight balls, but he’d clicked on forty-eight cartons ! We declared it a right balls-up,’ Pam chuckled, shaking her head fondly. ‘I knitted enough baby bonnets to last the neo-natal unit for a decade.’

‘Easily done,’ said Hester kindly. ‘I’ve done the same with crates of wine. At least that’s what I tell my husband.’

Pam giggled and asked Hester if she could have her autograph, which of course, Hester supplied.

‘Talking of drinks,’ I said, seizing my opportunity to butt in, ‘can I get you anything, Hester ?’

She shook her head. ‘Thanks, I’ve got a bottle of water in my bag. But could you find Cole for me ? If you don’t need me for anything else, I’d like to go home – I’ve got an early start in the morning.’

‘Of course, and thanks again, you’ve been a big hit with Wetherley, thanks so much for doing this.’ I was about to head off the stage when I felt my phone vibrate with an Instagram message. I looked at the screen and suddenly realised what was happening. ‘Hester, how many followers do you have on Instagram ?’

‘Twenty thousand.’ A knowing smile spread across her face. ‘Why do you ask ?’

‘It might be a coincidence …’ I shook my head, unsure whether I was being foolish in my assumptions. ‘I’ve had loads of new followers and a flurry of Etsy orders since you posted that picture of my candles.’

‘Yes !’ Hester punched the air and then pulled me into a tight hug. ‘I’m so pleased for you. Most of my followers count shopping as their number one hobby. Whenever I post something I love, there’s usually an uplift in sales. This was precisely what I hoped would happen.’

‘So this is the Hester Smart effect !’ I stared at her, my stomach fizzing with delight.

‘Nonsense.’ She waved a hand modestly. ‘I’m no Kylie Jenner, but if I can help a friend out, I will.’

I was touched that she counted me as a friend. ‘Well, thanks again, I really appreciate it. I might even get Fred to help me make them when he comes in tomorrow.’

‘Thanks so much for sorting that out,’ she said, eyes twinkling. ‘You’re quite a big hit with the Robinsons. Senior and junior.’

‘No trouble,’ I said, wondering if she was referring to herself or Cole as the junior Robinson. ‘The feeling is entirely mutual. Now let me go and find your brother and you can be on your way.’

I left the stage and set off down the steps. In the distance I spotted Nell and Olek in the middle of a group of people cooing over a new baby and I saw Audrey tipping her hip flask into Nigel’s hot chocolate.

Astrid and Fred were waiting at the bottom of the steps, looking every inch as if they’d been a couple for ever.

‘Well done, mein Schatz.’ Astrid kissed both of my cheeks. ‘I am so proud of you.’

‘You did good, lass,’ Fred agreed, taking my hands in his. ‘I’m so glad I came tonight, this has set me right up for Christmas. Astrid and I are going to get the Rosebridge lot whipped up into action ready for Christmas Eve, aren’t we love ?’

‘We are. Our Weihnachtsbaum will be the envy of the town.’ Astrid tucked her arm through his as they swapped fond looks and I don’t think I could have been more delighted for her.

‘I’m looking forward to it. Have you seen Cole ?’ I asked.