Page 21 of A Very Crumbleton Christmas
‘At least give me some credit for taste,’ huffed Caroline.
‘So… your husband’s cute then?’ said Jack, trying to make his tone light and failing completely.
‘Husband?’ hooted Caroline. ‘I’m not married. Or living with anyone. Or in a relationship… unless you count my ailing spider plant?’
‘I don’t think anyone would count that,’ said Jack, a broad smile spreading over his face. For some strange reason, his heart had just pogoed back into position.
This didn’t make any sense at all. Caroline was larger than life, stubborn, bossy… and… well… she was doing something to him. Jack hadn’t felt this giddy in… hell, he’d never felt this giddy! Not when he’d won his first award. Not even when he’d stepped onto his first film set.
‘So… what should we do now?’ he said, his voice strangely husky.
‘Got any more trees that need decorating?’ said Caroline. ‘I quite liked making myself useful!’
‘Sadly not,’ said Jack, ruffling his hair awkwardly. ‘You know, it’s a shame you’re not an interior designer. I’ve got no idea where to put the shelves yourboyfrienddelivered.’
‘Again – EEW!’ said Caroline with an exaggerated shudder before she pottered towards the new bookshelf and ran her fingers over the glossy wood. ‘So… is this your Christmas gift to yourself?’
‘Not exactly,’ said Jack, ‘but it’s much needed.’
‘To hold all the Christmas cards from your swooning fans?’ said Caroline.
‘No, smartass,’ said Jack. ‘To hold all my scripts. They’re getting everywhere… and I need to get them in some kind of order. I’ve already managed to cover them in coffee rings and goodness knows what else.’
‘Well, I’m definitely not an interior designer,’ said Caroline, ‘but I’m happy to help!’
‘You’re my guest,’ said Jack. ‘I’m not putting you to work!’
‘For one thing, you’ve already done that with your Christmas tree,’ she laughed. ‘And for another – I don’t mind. Besides, it’ll be easier to move it around with two of us.’
Jack nodded. He couldn’t exactly fault that logic.
‘So… any idea where you want it?’ she prodded.
‘Not too near the wood burner for obvious reasons,’ said Jack.
‘And I’d suggest not too near the windows either,’ said Caroline. ‘All those scripts will just remind you of work instead of letting you enjoy the view.’
‘Good point!’ said Jack. He hadn’t even thought of that. Work already took up more than its fair share of his life.
‘It would fit best just over there near the door,’ said Caroline.
‘What, right in front of the light switch?’ laughed Jack.
‘Oh… yeah,’ said Caroline. ‘Maybe not. Erm… how about we shift that sofa into the room by about two feet? You’ll barely notice it’s moved, but then you can pop the shelves against the wall over there.’
Jack stared at the spot and then back at Caroline. ‘You might just be a genius.’
‘Might?’ huffed Caroline. ‘It was proven years ago - you just need to catch up.’
She winked at him, and Jack felt something inside him melt.
‘Alright,’ he said. ‘Let’s give it a go.’
With more than a little grunting, the pair of them managed to slide the sofa away from the wall. Then they shuffled theheavy shelves into place before standing back to admire their handiwork.
‘What do you think?’ said Caroline, glancing from him to the shelves and then back again.
‘It’s perfect,’ said Jack with a little shrug. ‘Now we just need to fill it up!’
