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As the carol came to its final verse, voices became louder, penetrating into the cold, quiet air around them.
A round of applause filled the courtyard as the music faded and people began folding up their song sheets and pulling their scarves up to their chins.
Flora clapped her hands together and stood up with the help of her crutches as the crowds, now settled, looked towards her. ‘I just want to say a huge thank you for choosing to spend your Christmas Eve here with us at Wagging Tails. It’s a true honour to have you all here on this special day. And, of course, a huge thank you to Nick, who has kindly donated this beautiful tree to us…’ Flora paused and looked towards the reception area. ‘Did I hear something?’
People looked around the crowd.
Flora held her hand to her ear. ‘I’m sure I heard something. Does anyone else hear that?’
A gentle tinkling of bells sounded from behind the building.
‘What’s that, children? Who do you think could be visiting?’ Flora grinned.
The bell tinkled again, louder this time, and a chorus of excited exclamations rose through the group. Children paused; the snow forgotten as they eagerly looked towards the building. As silence fell over the courtyard, the bell tinkled again, this time as Santa stepped out from behind the building, red suit, white beard and a huge black sack behind him.
‘Ho ho ho. I wondered if I might find you all here.’
A loud cheer rose as children rushed forward, surrounding Santa.
‘Go on, off you go, boys.’ Mack pointed towards Santa. ‘Gus, why don’t you take him?’
‘Okay. Come on, Spencer.’ Gus held his hand out for his younger brother and they both made their way towards the growing crowd.
‘He’s always been a little scared of the big man.’ Mack grinned as he watched Spencer reach Santa, emboldened by the confidence of having his brother by his side.
Poppy smiled as Mack squeezed her hand quickly.
* * *
‘You’re not?’ Poppy laughed as she looked at Alex’s guilty-looking face.
‘I am. I forgot to buy tape. I only realised this evening before coming back here for the carols.’ He shrugged as he pulled red and green tartan wrapping paper over the box on the counter and secured it with some tape.
Laughing, Poppy shook her head as she carried a full bin bag of recycling through the reception area. ‘How much have you got to wrap?’
‘Not much.’ Alex kicked at a collection of bags behind the counter.
‘Not much? There’re loads there! You’ll be here all night. Why don’t you take the tape home and do it there?’
‘Nah, it’s not my wrapping paper either. I forgot that too.’ He dropped a now-wrapped gift into a bag and picked up the next, a box of chocolates.
‘I’m sure Flora won’t mind you taking it. She’s probably already done all her presents.’ Poppy opened the door out into the courtyard.
‘Umm, I might do. I’m happy wrapping here at the moment though.’
Poppy stepped out into the cold courtyard. The snow was still coming down and in the half an hour since the carol singers had left a blanket of fresh snow had already settled adding at least a couple of inches to what had previously been there. She looked towards the tree where Mack, Mrs Moreton, Susan and Malcolm were standing chatting whilst Gus and Spencer helped Percy build a wooden sledge.
‘You all right, lovely?’ Flora hobbled towards her on her crutches.
‘Yep, this is the last bag.’ Poppy gestured to the recycling she was carrying, opened the large bin and tipped the bin bag out, the cardboard takeaway cups and lids falling in.
‘Thank you for that, lovely.’
‘Has everyone else gone home?’
‘Yes, Ginny and Darryl left to go and spend the rest of the evening with Darryl’s dad, and I think Susan and Malcolm are off soon too.’ Flora looked across at the tree. ‘It’s been a pretty perfect Christmas Eve, hasn’t it?’
‘The best one I’ve had.’ Poppy grinned.
