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‘I don’t know … a brand name?’

‘Actually, it doesn’t say anything because it’s just a generic paper cup, but that’s not my point. My point is that you can’t see the whole cup unless you look at it from both sides.’

‘I get your point, Pete.’

‘Think it over while you digest this bacon bap and a nice strong coffee on your walk over to work. By the way, do you reckon I should go for fairy lights around the van window, or just some little tree to stand out the front there?’

Jacob smiled. ‘Both.’

‘That’s my lad. You have a good day.’

‘I’ll try.’

‘The paper cup, Jacob. Think about the paper cup.’

By the time he had made it over to the tearoom, he had cheered up a little. Not much, to be fair, but it was easy to use his cold as an excuse in front of Aunt Marjorie.

‘We’ll keep you out the back today,’ she said. ‘Can’t have you dripping on the customers.’

‘I’m not that bad.’

‘Bad enough. Daphne dropped in some spices just before you showed up, so I’ll give her a call and see what we can use to make a little sinus clearing poultice. Use a bit of that hippy magic to clear you out.’

‘Please don’t mention magic.’

‘Have you had a run in with your stepbrother?’

Pete had opened the floodgates, and the river of Jacob’s misery was now in full flow. ‘Yeah, kind of,’ he said.

He gave her a brief overview, then tacked on Pete’s advice at the end.

‘You’ve got to love Pete Markham,’ Aunt Marjorie said. ‘Even if you don’t like his coffee. He knows what he’s talking about.’

‘What would you suggest?’

‘I would do exactly what Pete says. Go and talk to her. He might have just been giving her a lift home. You said she sounded nice to you on the phone, didn’t you?’

He sighed. ‘She sounded lovely. Like she was actually looking forward to seeing me. Do you think she was faking it?’

‘Something you need to learn about women, Jacob. If we like you, we might not tell you. But if we don’t like you, you’ll know it. If she sounded like she liked you, then believe me, she likes you.’ She gave a little squeal. ‘Oh, this is so exciting. Can I leave you to deal with the next couple of deliveries while I conference call Daphne and your mother? We’ll need to discuss this at length, work out a strategy.’

‘Please don’t tell my mother. At least not about James.’

‘He who should not be named. It’s Christmas. Positive news only.’

Jacob sniffed. ‘I might drip on the delivery drivers.’

Marjorie grimaced. ‘Yes, perhaps I’ll have to wait until tonight. You really must go and talk to her, Jacob.’

‘I was planning to go over to the school this afternoon to talk to her about Clarice Toad.’

‘So why change your plan? You made it; you do it. Just ignore everything that came in between.’

‘You think so?’

‘Yes.’ Marjorie put up a hand. ‘But one thing. If you get close enough to talk to her, don’t drip on her.’

Jacob forced a smile. ‘I’ll stick tissues up my nose if necessary.’