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She recognised Darcie from the village grocery shop where Darcie had been chatting to another woman and asked for Flora’s opinion on the best kind of chocolate chips for baking.
‘That’s right. Flora!’
‘Yes, that’s me.’ Flora nodded.
‘Are you looking for anything in particular?’ Darcie asked.
‘I am actually but I thought I’d have a browse too.’
‘You want a Christmas party outfit?’ Darcie gestured at a circular rail at the centre of the shop. ‘We have some beautiful dresses that would look lovely on you.’
‘I’ll take a look,’ Flora said, aware that she was allowing herself to get distracted from the real reason she’d come in here.
‘Let me know if you need any help,’ Darcie said. ‘I’m going to make a hot chocolate; do you fancy one?’
Flora thought for a moment. ‘I would love one, thank you.’
Half an hour later, she’d found exactly what she was looking for and with Darcie’s help, she now had a beautiful green velvet dress too. It was a simple dress with long sleeves, a V-neck and a swing skirt and she loved the colour of it. She had some boots that it would go well with and thought she could wear it to her work Christmas party or at any time over Christmas.
‘Right, I should get going,’ Flora said after paying for her purchases.
‘Lovely to catch up.’ Darcie handed Flora the recycled brown paper bag with the shop’s name on the front. ‘Hope to see you again soon.’
‘Oh you will!’ Flora laughed. ‘I’ll be back for more beautiful vintage items.’
She headed out into the cold, dark evening. The air was icy and the sky was flawless black, the moon an ethereal crescent casting its silver glow over the roads and making them gleam.
She’d pop home and change out of her work things then head to Victor’s where she was meeting Leif. He was cooking this evening, and she was looking forward to it. She did like her own space and always had done but knowing that she had company for the evening and wouldn’t be spending the weekend alone lifted her spirits. After Hunter had hurt her and she’d left him, she’d thought that this Christmas would be a lonely one when she’d spend time wishing life was different, but that hadn’t happened because of her new companions. She was lookingforward to Christmas now, not dreading it and she wondered if it was the same for Victor and Leif. They might make an unlikely trio but in one another, they’d found friendship and comfort, compassion and acceptance, and who could ask for more than that?
Chapter 19
Leif
After they’d eaten the spaghetti bolognese that Leif had cooked for them, Flora helped him load the dishwasher and clear everything away then they sat in the lounge and had a cup of tea. Magnus had taken his seat next to Victor, and Leif and Flora were on the other sofa. She looked tired but relaxed, like she’d had a busy week but was where she wanted to be now. They hadn’t kissed since the previous weekend but they had hugged a few times and spoken every day. It was almost like they were athletes warming up for a race, Leif had thought more than once that week, and he was looking forward to seeing what direction things went. He liked Flora a lot and hoped she felt the same but the last thing he wanted to do was to scare her away. He might not have any trauma in his romantic past but Flora did and so she would be more likely to be wary. Leif could understand that and so he’d take things as slow as she needed to, although he hoped that she’d be able to learn to trust him because he would never do anything to hurt her. He knew deep down that she was special and that he’d never met anyone like her before.
‘Right then… I have a surprise for you, Leif,’ Flora said. ‘Wait there and I’ll go and get it.’
She got up and left the room and Leif looked over at Victor.
‘Don’t look at me,’ Victor said. ‘I don’t know what it is.’ He laughed. ‘But I’m sure it’s nothing bad.’
‘I hope not,’ Leif replied. ‘But I do have a feeling it has something to do with our plans for the gifts.’
When Flora returned, she said, ‘Can you stand up Leif and close your eyes?’
If they’d been alone, he might have found this question more exciting, but as it was, they were in company and so he did as Flora asked without any cheeky remarks. Even though his mischievous side wanted to say something a bit naughty.
He smelt Flora’s fresh, floral perfume, felt her fasten something around his neck then place something on his head. Victor started chuckling and Magnus made an excited squeaking sound.
‘One more thing,’ Flora said as she hooked something over Leif’s ears. ‘Now you can open your eyes. What do you think, Victor?’
‘I’m wondering where Leif has gone because it seems that Santa Claus is standing in my lounge.’
Leif looked down at himself and saw something white spreading from his chin and down over his chest. He moved his arms and a red cloak billowed around them then he touched his head where he found a velvet hat with a fluffy pompom at the top.
‘Come and see,’ Flora said as she took his hand and led him to the hallway.
In the mirror he saw Santa Claus, but taller and slimmer than the way he’d always imagined him. The fake, white beard that Flora had hooked over his ears covered his own blond beard and the hat covered all of his head and drooped down over the sides of his face so that only his eyes were visible. Next to him, Flora was smiling and he turned and gazed down at her.
