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Lucie spluttered. ‘Such a great name for them. Ninja Knitters. Brilliant. Love it.’
Honor began to sip the hot chocolate Tracy had brought over. ‘Thanks, Tracy, I need this.’
‘You’re welcome. It’s on the house. I’ve cashed up and I’m so zonked I can’t be bothered to open the till again.’
Honor clasped her hands around the hot mug and shivered. ‘It’s so cold out there tonight. I think it might even snow.’
‘Snow?’ Merryn said excitedly. ‘We hardly ever had snow in London!’
‘Sorry to disappoint you, my lovely, but we don’t often get it by the sea either,’ Tracy said to her, ‘but when we do, we really do. It’s a fair sight to see snow on the beach. All very odd. I can remember one year when I was a kid in Cornwall going on the beach in all the snow. Building snowmen right by the sea was great fun. We gave them seashell eyes. Now, come on, young lady, you can help me fill up the sugar dispensers ready for tomorrow.’
‘What, the ones shaped like little pink scallop shells?’
‘The very ones. And then we have to count out some serviettes. How good at counting are you?’
‘I’m nearly nine. I’m not a baby,’ Merryn answered scornfully.
Tracy chuckled and led her away, saying, ‘I never for a moment imagined you were.’
Honor fixed Lucie with her fiercest year six on a triple-wet-play-day look. ‘What have the Ninjas done now then? And why are you looking so cagey and pleased with yourself about the group? Oh,’ she said, on a long breath. ‘Of course. The Knit and Natterers are the Ninjas and you’re part of the group.’
‘Well, I only went a couple of times. Couldn’t squeeze any more visits in.’ She leaned forward. ‘But don’t tell anyone.’
‘Oh come on, Lu. It’s easy to guess. I’m surprised the Lullbury Bay Echo hasn’t run an exposé already. You know how it likes to sniff out a story. Why all the secrecy anyway?’
‘Just makes it all the more fun, I suppose. And that’s what it’s all about. A bit of silly fun to cheer people up.’
‘So, as well as the postbox topper here and the garlands along the prom, which look fabulous by the way, what’s new?’
Lucie’s eyes went huge. ‘One of the beach huts has been made into Santa’s workshop, complete with Father Christmas in his shirtsleeves and braces, Mrs C, toys, wrapped presents and a bunch of elves. All knitted. There’s even snow on the roof. It’s brilliantly bonkers.’
‘I’ve just been to have a quick look at the beach huts,’ Honor said, puzzled. ‘I didn’t see that one.’
‘It’s the very last one, right at the end.’
‘Ah. I gave up before then. Decided there were too many people about and I was frozen.’
‘Did you see the one with all the blow-up stuff in it?’ Lucie pulled a face. ‘Gave me the right wiggins when they all blew about in the wind.’
‘Ooh, me too. I’ll go back and have a look at the Ninjas’ beach hut. It sounds hilarious and I hope it wins.’
‘It had better. The ladies put in an awful lot of work on it.’
‘Why do they do it?’ Honor asked curiously.
‘No idea. One or two of them are obsessed. They sneak out in the middle of the night to put the postbox covers on so it’s a surprise. It’s team work too. Each person knits a part and then it’s all sewn together. Clare Cheney, you know, from Cheney Garden Centre over Bereford way, does nothing but crochet the bases which get stretched over the top of the postbox. She says it’s easier for her to concentrate on that as she lives in Italy for part of the year and can’t make all the meetings. They’re a great group, I know Mum loves going. Just wish I had more time.’
‘You’ve got a lot on, Lucie.’
‘Tell me about it,’ she said, moodily. ‘I’m going to have to make a decision soon. If I really want to concentrate on my degree and do well, I think I’ll have to give up working at the estate agents. I can’t do both at the same time.’ She pulled a face. ‘It’s just as well our landlord hasn’t put the rent up. Money’s going to be short.’
‘What does Jamie think?’
‘Jamie wants me to be happy, bless him. He’s so supportive. I couldn’t do any of this without him. And, to think, I nearly blew it with him.’
‘I remember.’ Lucie and Jamie had split up, having been going out since school. They’d parted ways more times than Honor could remember but this break-up had been for nearly a year. She and Lucie had become close during that time. Luckily, Jamie and Lucie had reconciled after Honor had sat them both down and given the pair a good talking to, forcing them to see sense. ‘You two are made for one another,’ Honor said kindly. ‘Anyone can see that. Speaking of which where is he?’
‘Oh, didn’t you hear? He had a Santa Claus crisis.’
