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‘Surely not,’ Seren teased. ‘You make a fetching Father Christmas. I think it’s the beard.’
‘You like beards, do you?’ he teased. ‘Long, silky ones? I can grow one, if you want. What about some bushy eyebrows to go with it?’
He stood behind her and slid his arms around her waist, pulling her gently into him. His chest was solid against her back and she snuggled in deeper as he nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck. The feel of his lips on the delicate skin there sent shivers of delight along her nerves and she shuddered with pleasure, wanting to turn around to kiss him.
However, this was neither the time nor the place.
‘That’s right, wrap her up and keep her warm,’ an old gent said, peering up at them through Dippy’s side window. ‘I used to cuddle my Bertha like that.’ His voice wobbled and his rheumy eyes filled up. ‘She went last winter.’
Seren stepped forward and leant on the counter, bending down to speak to him. ‘I’m so sorry. How long were you married?’
‘Eh? We weren’t married.’ He used a grubby hankie to wipe his eyes. ‘Bertha was my dog. A ruddy great big Irish Wolfhound. They don’t live long, you know. She was only eight when she went. I’ve got a Sheltie now, but it’s not the same. I love her to bits, but I can’t cuddle her like I did Bertha.’
‘Ah, I see.’ Seren was lost for words, and she could feel Daniel trying to control his laughter. ‘There’s nothing like the love of a dog,’ she said, fishing around desperately for something to say.
The old man wrinkled his face. ‘Yes, there is – the love of a good man. You want to keep hold of him. He’s looking at you like he’s won the lottery.’ He nodded at Daniel, and it was Seren’s turn to try not to laugh.
‘I can’t stay here yakking all day,’ the gent said. ‘I’ve got to get home; there’s snow forecast and I don’t want to get caught in it.’
‘It’ll only be a few flurries,’ Seren said. She’d checked the weather forecast last night and again this morning, hoping it wasn’t going to rain, and she’d been thrilled when she saw they were due to have the odd snow shower. A smattering was what the telly had said, and she thought how Christmassy and seasonal the market would look if there were snowflakes in the air. It would certainly add to the festive atmosphere and would hopefully increase sales as people got in the mood for the big day.
Seren loved snow, especially when it was falling, and even as she was thinking about it, she saw a lone flake drift idly down from the heavens.
‘Ooh, look, it’s started snowing already,’ she said, her eyes alight with wonder.
The solitary flake disappeared as soon as it touched the ground, melting instantly, and Seren thought that if it continued to snow and melt like this, they would have the best of both worlds – flakes falling but without any build-up underfoot to put potential customers off.
When she heard the first line of the Shakin’ Stevens song, ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’, being played by someone with a sense of humour, she clapped delightedly. This market was turning out to be the best one yet. Not only was she selling loads, and the atmosphere was one of Christmas anticipation, but it was also snowing and she had the most gorgeous man by her side. One who, the old man had said, looked at her as though he’d won the lottery.
Seren had a feeling this Christmas was going to be the best one ever, and she couldn’t wait to share it with the man she was falling in love with.
