Page 42 of A Merry Little Christmas

‘Mondays are quiet.’ Merry popped the last of her pastry in her mouth and chewed. ‘Online orders keep us busy, but the shop itself? Dead as a dodo except for the lunchtime moochers.’

‘You are so right,’ Nell agreed. ‘In fact, I wanted to suggest we don’t—’

‘Open on Mondays?’ Merry put in.

‘Yes, we could trial closing.’

‘At least for January.’

‘And see how it goes.’

‘Precisely.’

They both exhaled with relief and shared a smile.

Nell felt a weight lift from her shoulders; she’d been worrying for nothing about working with Merry, it was all going to work out fine. ‘We’re on the same page again.’

‘Feels good, doesn’t it?’ Merry’s eyes sparkled.

‘Right.’ Nell eyed up the remaining pastries. She shouldn’t really, but today felt like a day for celebrating. She cut one in two and put half on Merry’s plate. ‘So, on that note, our festive shopping evening is next week. Discuss.’

‘I have had an idea about that …’ Merry began.

‘Course you have,’ Nell laughed. ‘Go on.’

It was to be the first time they’d had an after-hours event. As well as gift wrapping and special offers and candle-making demos, there’d be Christmas refreshments and Harley had persuaded some of the kids from his school choir to perform a few festive tunes to add to the ambiance.

‘Assuming this baby doesn’t have other ideas, I’m planning on being here, so …’

Over the last of the pastry and a top-up of coffee, the two of them planned out how they would split the evening, each of them taking over responsibility for separate areas, and, as a special occasion, draft in Fred to help in the studio and, if he was willing, Woody to handle the gift wrapping.

‘Brilliant,’ Merry beamed. ‘And now that’s sorted, I guess I should start replenishing all the stock you’ve sold while I’ve been gone.’

The door opened, signalling the arrival of customers. Nell left Merry preparing the wax melter for making a batch of new candles and for the next hour, they busied themselves in their own part of the shop, as they’d been doing successfully for the last year.

Nell was packing an online order when Merry came to join her on the shop floor, while she waited for a batch of wax to cool.

‘I hesitate to tell you this,’ said Nell, tucking tissue paper into a gift box. ‘But we are almost out of Home scented candles.’

‘Give me an hour to finish the Winter Wonderland,’ said Merry, stifling a yawn, ‘and I’ll be on it.’

Nell had already seen her rub her back as if she was easing the pain. She should be thinking about going home, not working for longer.

‘Why don’t you leave it for today?’ she suggested. ‘But we should probably talk about what’s going to happen when the baby comes.’

Merry pulled a face. ‘Cole keeps saying the same. I’ve been in denial about it. And I suppose I thought a solution would present itself. Most things usually have a habit of working out in the end.’

Nell shook her head fondly. If she had been the one about to head off on maternity leave, she’d have had a plan in place by now. She’d have worked out when she’d realistically want to return to work and, with Merry’s agreement, she’d have already started the recruitment process for her temporary replacement. Everyone would know where they stood and could plan accordingly.

‘You’ve lived your life making spur-of-the-moment decisions and acting spontaneously, it’s part of what makes you such a fun person to be around. But I’m not sure you can run a business that way, not if you want it to stay successful,’ she said, her tone tempered with diplomacy.

Merry sat on the stool behind the counter. ‘I’d hoped to get ahead with production, so we’d have plenty to see us through for at least January. But now I’m behind. Fred might come in and help, especially as Astrid is preoccupied with her German project. And I thought I could do the accounts and stuff from home, when the baby naps.’

Nell adored Fred, and she knew Merry was reluctant to take on unknowns, but they needed a more formal arrangement if the shop was going to operate efficiently. ‘Or …’ She took a deep breath. ‘We employ someone.’

Merry opened her mouth to argue and closed it again. ‘I know you’re right, but … ughhh.’

‘I get it,’ Nell said. ‘You’re worried no one will do as good a job as you.’