Page 51 of Every Christmas Eve
‘Ava, darling, why don’t you give your special customerssome space,’ he says, coming closer. ‘I apologise. My daughter is helping here today and is perhaps a little too keen.’
‘She’s fine,’ Beth says quickly. ‘Honestly. And besides, I’m not hanging around, as much as I’d love to. I only wanted to drop by to say thank you, Lou, for all you’ve done for Danny and me over the past week or so with your exceptional writing talent, not to mention the stunning flowers. I think you might have started a craze.’
‘There’s just no end to your talents, is there, Lou?’ says Ben with a smile.
‘She’s like a marriage mender,’ says Beth. ‘I ordered flowers for my husband after we’d had a row about what gives me the ick, and Lou thought of telling him all the things I loved about him in a letter, which she read out. It worked a treat.’
I decide to take the compliment wholly, rather than brush it off like I usually do.
‘I always did say she was magic! Lou, we’ll catch up later when I come back for Ava,’ says Ben. ‘I’ll text you the plan for dinner before then, OK?’
‘Great, see you soon,’ I call after him, before getting back to Beth and Crumb. ‘Sorry, this place is crazy today. Can I get you a coffee or anything?’
Beth is barely listening though as her eyes follow Ben through the window until he gets into the car and drives off.
‘I know I shouldn’t be passing remarks as a happily married woman, buthubba hubba,’ she says with a cheeky smile. ‘There’d be no ick with him, I bet.’
I’m suddenly aware of Ava, but she’s being kept busy by Mum and Nana, thank goodness, lifting empty cups fromtables with a very important air about her. I notice she’s wearing a little mascara and lip gloss and how she sings while she works. She’s a sociable little thing, much more so than her sometimes quiet and reflective father. My throat stings when I think of how strange it is that here we all are, watching and admiring her, praising her efforts, yet the one person who should be cheering her on, isn’t.
‘Ben and I are very good friends,’ I say to Beth. I don’t know her very well yet, so I don’t need to tell her any of my business, as much as she seems a very affable young woman. ‘He’s only human, so I’m sure he has icks aplenty like the rest of us.’
‘True,’ she says. ‘Well, I’ll be off then. I posted on Insta about your service like I said I would. I hope you don’t mind?’
‘Well, that explains a few things,’ I tell her, patting the little dog before they leave. ‘I’m sorry I’m distracted right now. I’ve so much on my mind. But it means a lot that you called in today. Thank you, Beth. And thank you for bringing Crumb in to brighten our day too. She’s a very cute puppy, and so well behaved as well.’
Beth smiles, her red hair bouncing as she walks towards the door, before Ava stops her one more time.
‘Is she a sausage dog?’ she asks Beth, who seems more than glad to take questions about her precious pooch. ‘I have a very old Labrador called Roly who is my best buddy.’
Beth leans forward to let Ava rub the puppy’s head again.
‘Yes, a ten-week-old dachshund, so she’s still very brand new to me,’ she says. ‘Her brother was meant to goto a neighbour of ours, but they changed their mind, so I’m tempted to take him too if no one else does.’
My eyebrows raise and my ears prick up. My mother’s do too, even though it looked like she was in a deep conversation with another customer by the counter.
‘Would you mind giving me the owner’s details, please?’ Mum asks. ‘I might know someone who would be interested, once they’ve thought it through properly.’
I take a deep breath, knowing I’m going to have to dig deep for self-control over this one.
‘Are you going to get the boy puppy, Liz?’ Ava asks my mum, clasping her hands while balancing on her tiptoes. Beth is scribbling down details on a napkin.
‘Not me,’ Mum replies. ‘Just someone else I know who might need a friend. I’ve done enough research to know that these dogs are very adaptable, and they adore one-to-one company, so it’s certainly worth an enquiry. Thank you, Beth.’
‘You’re most welcome,’ she says. ‘But remember, a dog is for life, not just for Christmas.’
‘I couldn’t have put it better myself,’ I call after her, wondering who she reminds me of with her confident stance and natural beauty. ‘Right, kids, let’s get back to work. Are you having fun, Ava? Don’t let them boss you around too much while I’m busy down the back.’
Ava giggles, already wiping down tables. She is loving this, I can tell.
‘When I’m older, maybe I can work here for real?’ she asks me. ‘Dogs and hot chocolate and Christmas treats. I love this job.’
I feel like giving her a hug, but I know I don’t know her quite well enough just yet. Nana Molly is busy cleaning cups in the back room, unaware of the party proposal that’s coming her way, Mum is gaga over a puppy, and little Ava is singing as she works.
With Cordelia home early, and Ben’s dinner invitation, so far today has been full of surprises.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Ben
