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‘I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS’ – THE JACKSON 5
Honor asked if she could leave her books at the desk.
‘Of course you can,’ Avril replied. ‘I’m finishing at seven but don’t worry, Bee will still be here.’ She leaned nearer. ‘If you ask me, she works too hard.’
‘I know! I keep telling her. She’s lucky to have you. I hope the job works out.’
‘I think it might. I’ve really enjoyed today, even though it’s been so busy. Before I came on the till, I was recommending hardback reads for presents. It was great fun. It’s lovely to be busy and feel appreciated again.’
Honor thought it an odd comment but didn’t pursue it as there was a queue behind her waiting to pay. She passed on Jago’s message and said she’d see them all at the carol singing.
‘I’ll be there. See you later, my lovely. Now, who’s next please?’
As Honor buttoned up her coat and fished out her gloves before going out into the cold, she smiled fondly at the sight of Avril serving at the till. The woman looked to be having a ball. She frowned. It was sad she didn’t feel appreciated. Whenever she’d come across the Pengethley family, they’d seemed a closely-knit, loving trio. Maybe there was trouble in the marriage? She hoped not. The unsettling image of Jago kissing her at the German Market rose in her mind giving her a hot flush of guilt. He had always given off such strong flirty vibes. Maybe he was like that with all women and that was the source of Avril’s dissatisfaction? He’d been extra friendly to Tamara too, but Honor had put it down to the woman’s glamour. Tam drew men to her like a siren. Pulling on her woolly hat and dismissing the horrible idea of Jago being a serial philanderer, she opened the door and went out into the crowded street.
The lifeboat station was situated at the beginning of the harbour and had a steep slipway leading into the water. The tide was in and the red-and-green flashing lights decorating the lifeboat building reflected sparkles in the dense, black water. As well as being decorated, both station and slipway were lit and ready for business. Just because it was Christmas didn’t mean there wouldn’t be a team on standby for a shout. At one side was a small shop which usually sold RNLI merchandise but tonight it had been converted into Santa’s Grotto. Red paper blocked out the windows, there was a beautifully decorated Christmas tree to one side of the entrance and Welly Dog Major and Minor, the station’s mascots made from yellow welly boots, stood to attention, complete with Santa hats and cheery red jackets. Two elves stood talking to the parents and children in the queue. Honor recognised the curves of the one nearest to her in a second.
‘Hi, Tamara,’ she said on a giggle. ‘Nice costume but aren’t you cold?’
The elf whirled round. ‘Hi, Honor! It’s great, isn’t it? Ellie couldn’t make it and Lucie’s up at the café so me and Maisie are doing the honours.’ She did a twirl and then stuck her behind out and twerked. Straightening, she added, ‘I borrowed it from the depths of the community theatre’s costume department. Not sure what sort of panto they had in mind but it’s so sexy I think I’ll keep it.’ The green velvet dress flared out over her hips barely concealing bright red knickers worn over sparkly green tights. Tamara wore a jaunty hat perched on her blonde hair and a pair of fetching suede ankle boots on her feet. Her only concession to the chilly night was a white fake fur mini cape. She was, as usual, immaculately made up with a slash of vivid red lipstick and flicky eyeliner.
‘You look great,’ Honor answered truthfully. ‘How’s it going?’
‘Been really busy now we’ve got a Santa Claus. Eric Snead, who was supposed to do it, came down with flu, poor thing, so we had to get a replacement at the last minute.’ She said it loudly and one or two parents looked alarmed and shuffled their children away, covering their ears. ‘I mean, we had to ring the North Pole and ask Santa to get a shifty on if he was going to give out all these presents tonight.’ She put a hand over her mouth. ‘Whoops. Nearly gave the game away there. Better go, the natives are getting restless. I’ve been leading impromptu sing-alongs to take everyone’s minds off the cold.’
She went back to the queue and bellowed, ‘Right, who’s ready for another singsong? What about Rudolph the Red-nosed reindeer? What colour nose did he have?’ She cupped a mittened hand to her ear. ‘Was it red?’
The children yelled back, ‘Red!’
‘I didn’t hear that and all the elves back at the North Pole working hard on getting your presents wrapped are so far away, they need bigger voices. What colour nose did Rudolph have?’
‘RED!’
‘That’s better. Your bestest voices then, all together, Rudolph the Red…’
Honor, smiling, turned away. Tamara had missed her vocation; she should have gone into teaching. To kill time before the carols began, she pushed through the crowds and strolled along to the beach huts to admire their decorations. She wandered past one with a miniature train set puffing round and one with a bed, stockings hanging over the fireplace and a jolly Father Christmas face peering in through a fake window. As she got further along the row it became more crowded with people, so she decided to turn back. The sharp wind whipping off the sea and a beach hut full of weird blow-up Santas, trees and snowmen, had her hurrying to the café in search of something hot to drink.
Lucie, Tracy and Merryn were obviously having a breather and sitting at the table in the window drinking hot chocolate. Lucie was also tucking into an enormous slice of rich fruit cake.
‘Miss Martin, Miss Martin!’ Merryn shouted. ‘I mean, Honor.’ She got up, ran to her and threw her arms around her waist. ‘I sold all the mince pies!’
‘Good going, Merryn.’
‘This one,’ said Tracy as she hauled herself to her feet, ‘is a one-woman selling machine. She could sell snow to Eskimos. We’re about to close up but I can do you a hot choc.’
‘Ooh yes please, if it’s not too much bother.’
‘No bother at all, maid. Sit yourself down.’ Tracy disappeared into the kitchen.
Honor sat down. ‘It’s looking lovely in here.’ It was. A real Christmas tree stood in one corner, so tall its top was bent against the ceiling, making the fairy in her gold fluffy outfit lean perilously. Great swathes of silver and blue tinsel covered the ceiling and there was a mass of twinkling lights. ‘I like these.’ She picked up a giant troll. Or it was possibly a gnome, Honor couldn’t tell. Consisting of an oversized hat reaching down to a stumpy body, the only facial features were a pink nose and a huge beard frothing down its front. One stood in the middle of each table.
‘They’re great, aren’t they?’ Lucie said. ‘Courtesy of the Knit and Natter group. Speaking of which, have you seen the latest?’
‘Latest what?’
Lucie winked and polished off the last of her cake. ‘The latest knitted graffiti.’ She looked extremely pleased with herself and Honor couldn’t work out why.
‘Knitted graffiti?’ she asked, puzzled. ‘Oh, you mean the Ninja Knitters? That’s what I call them.’
