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‘No, she’s gone off to do something. She wouldn’t tell us what. She was very mistress-y.’
‘Mistress-y?’
‘Big secret,’ she said.
‘Oh,’ Honor twigged. ‘Mysterious.’
‘Probably gone to buy my present.’ Merryn glared at Tamara. ‘I get one from Father Christmas, of course, therealone, but I get my main one from Mum.’
‘Ah there you are.’ Jago jogged up to them. ‘Don’t run off, Mer, I couldn’t see you anywhere. Oh hi!’
‘Hello, Jago. Good to see you again. This is my friend Tamara. She’s a singer on cruise ships.’
‘Are you?’ Jago looked interested. Honor didn’t blame him. Tamara was drop-dead gorgeous. ‘What sort of music do you sing?’
Tamara shrugged. ‘Everything really. I’d really like to get into a girl group. I adore the Puppini Sisters.’
‘Oh yeah. I saw them at Ronnie Scott’s a while back. I love all that close harmony stuff. Are you both walking down to the tree in the square for the light switching on ceremony? I was planning on standing at the top of the steps overlooking the corner of the prom, we should get a great view of Santa when he comes. Come on, munchkin,’ he said to Merryn, ‘and no, you can’t have a glow stick. I’ll treat you to a burger instead. Look, there’s not much of a queue at the moment, here’s a fiver. Knock yourself out.’ He handed over a note and Merryn ran to the stall.
As they passed the alleyway leading to The Ship, he added, ‘What I wouldn’t give for an excuse to get in there and warm myself by the fire. I had a really good time the other night, Honor. I’d love to do it again sometime.’
Honor felt her face heat and sensed Tamara’s eyes on her. ‘Yes maybe.’ Her throat closed. Partly in panic, partly with longing. She most definitely couldn’t have a meal with him again. At least not without his wife and child coming along.
‘You’ve got to love this town,’ he continued. ‘When we walked past the beach huts on the prom earlier, they were all open and being decorated. Fairy lights, baubles, the lot. One even had a mini train track inside. What’s all that about?’
Honor managed a laugh. Thank goodness the conversation had moved on from their cosy evening in the pub. ‘They’re getting ready for the competition. The RNLI put on some carols by the lifeboat station and there’s a competition for the best-decorated beach hut. Then they all get closed up again until the spring. It’s mad, I agree. Some owners really go to town. One year someone set up a fireside with stockings above it and someone playing Father Christmas. He was one of those mime artists, you know, the ones who stay absolutely still and people think they’re a statue until they move to a different pose? Frightened the life out of some teenagers when they went past as he called out, “I hope you’ve been good this year!”’
‘Now that I would have liked to see. Do you join in with the carols?’
‘Of course. It’s another Lullbury Bay tradition. And I like to support the RNLI. I know Jamie, one of the crew. He’s Lucie Wiscombe’s husband. Lucie from the estate agents, that is. She’s a good pal of mine.’
Jago nodded. ‘I had a chat with Jamie outside the station. And Wiscombe? I met a Dave Wiscombe over at the Art School when I was looking into renting some space.’
‘That’s Lucie’s uncle. The Wiscombes are a big local family in town. I’ve taught at least three.’ She was distracted as someone called out her name and she waved back at them.
‘Another ex-pupil?’
‘Alice Ruddick. A girl in my first class at school here. I taught her in Year Six. She’s at university but you’ll see her working at the café during her holidays.’
‘Can it be difficult working and living in the same community?’
Only when you have the hots for one of the parents.‘Erm, occasionally but, when you see a girl like Alice blossom into the clever, confident young woman she is, then it has its rewards.’
Jago looked at her for a second. ‘I can imagine,’ he said, admiringly.
‘Jago, Jags!’ yelled Merryn from the burger stall. ‘Come and have a burger. Two for six pounds so I need more money.’
‘Duty calls.’ He raised one sardonic brow. ‘She’s obviously been paying attention in numeracy! Can I get either of you anything? I’m assuming these burgers are safe to eat?’
‘Nothing for me, thanks, although the smell of fried onions is tempting. And yes, they’re great burgers. From Sid’s Farm Shop. Organic beef,’ Honor added, as if to seal the argument.
‘Can I tempt you, Tamara?’
‘Not with a burger, no,’ she said coquettishly, only to receive another elbow in the ribs from Honor.
He joined Merryn at the burger van and tried to stop her squeezing the entire bottle of tomato sauce onto her roll.
Tamara turned to Honor. ‘One. Will you stop poking me in the ribs, it’s painful! Two. Who is that gorgeous man who was eating you up as if you were the burger slathered in fried onions and slapped between a bread roll?’ She fanned herself. ‘Jago. What a name. He looks as if he’s just stepped off a pirate ship. All those dark curls and lean muscles.’
