Page 28 of New Beginnings at the Little Christmas Inn
‘I’m really sorry, Livvy.’ Karl wrinkled up his nose. ‘He was shunting round some muck on the farm and a whole load fell into the bucket. He didn’t have time to clean it out.’
‘Muck?’ Livvy wailed. ‘You mean–’
‘Gross.’ Stewie hooted. ‘Oh, Liv, we’ve got cow manure all over us.’
Livvy was about to tell Karl she’d changed her mind when the bucket began to rise, taking them with it. ‘Oh fuck,’ she swore uncharacteristically and hung on for grim death, to the teenager. She began to giggle again. Never, in her wildest dreams, did shethink owning a seaside pub would involve standing in a shit-smeared cherry picker being raised eleventy-million feet.
The cherry picker wobbled to a halt. Stewie waved at Ernie to move them closer until they were near enough to the guttering for Livvy to begin to attach the lights. Livvy had to force herself to let go of Stewie and had a bad moment when she looked down at the expectant faces below but then got herself under control.You’re up here now, Livvy, girl. And besides, who else have you got to do it? It’s your pub!
Stewie unravelled the lights and passed the plastic ties over as needed. They worked methodically until shouting down to Ernie to shunt them along to the next section. Once her legs had stopped shaking and she’d got used to the height, Livvy even began to enjoy herself. The view, over the rooftops of the town was fabulous. She could see the line of lights leading downhill on the main street, the white lights along the promenade and even the lit up RNLI station on the harbour. The harbour wall curled round and the sea shifted and gleamed against the dark sky in the bay beyond. It wasn’t something many would be privileged to see.
An inquisitive seagull swooped low, cackling. It brought her back to the task in hand and Stewie waiting patiently to pass over another rope of lights. ‘Sorry, Stewie. I got distracted.’ She chuckled. ‘It’s not bad up here once you get used to it. And just as well Darrell fixed the security lights, eh? Otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to see a thing.’ Then she noticed how he was shivering with the cold, his nose and ears pink. ‘Best get on, though. Pass me the next set of lights.’
Three-quarters of an hour later, she was lifted out of the cherry picker by Gerry, Eli’s drunken uncle. He and his cronies, having caught wind of the excitement, had gathered to watch the fun.
‘Ooh, girl, you don’t half stink.’ Gerry belched and handed her to another man, standing in the gloom of the cold December evening. Much as Livvy had ended up enjoying it, she was very glad to have her feet firmly back on terra firma.
‘It may be ungallant in the extreme to agree with Gerry but I’m afraid you do.’ It was Mark. He steadied her as she wobbled violently. ‘What you need is a stiff drink. For one thing, you’re absolutely frozen.’ Throwing an arm around her shoulders, he began to guide her back inside.
‘Just as well I run a pub, then,’ Livvy managed through chattering teeth.
‘Indeed,’ he replied cheerfully.
The Wiscombe crowd followed them to the bar. Mark settled Livvy on a stool and ordered a whisky, and coffee. The carol singing began in earnest again. This time, ‘Little Donkey’ thundered out.
‘Fabio or myself would have been happy to help, you know. You only had to ask,’ he murmured on a smile.
‘I had my intrepid helper at my side.’ As Stewie passed, Livvy caught him by the arm. ‘Get yourself a hot drink.’
‘Thanks, I’m frozen.’ He grinned and nodded. ‘Never thought I’d be doing that on a Sunday shift.’ Blushing crimson, he added, ‘I love working here, Livvy. Never know what to expect next.’
She smiled at him. ‘Make some hot chocolate and sit by the radiator and then get yourself home. You should have finished hours ago.’
Aware of Mark’s eyes on her and the fact she hadn’t answered, she turned back to him and said, ‘Can you see Fab in a tractor bucket up fifteen feet?’ Grinning she sipped her whisky. ‘And Eli had his hands full in here. I seized the moment. I know I said I didn’t want to go full-on Christmas too soon but even I’ve got to admit the lights have gone up late. Most of the rest of the town is decorated already.’ She felt the fire of the whisky stealthrough her. ‘And actually, it was great fun.’ She shivered. ‘Once I got used to it. And learned to duck the seagulls.’ She leaned over the bar and ordered drinks for Karl and the silent Ernie. ‘On the house,’ she told Eli.
‘Good. If that’s how you feel about it, just as well I took some pictures.’ Mark withdrew his phone from his jeans pocket. He flashed a grin.
‘Oh, I’d love to see those!’ He handed over the phone and Livvy scrolled through them, laughing. ‘That’s a brilliant one,’ she said and shared the shot of her clambering out of the cherry picker. It wasn’t flattering but Livvy had never taken herself all that seriously. The picture of her being hoisted around the waist by a red-faced Gerry was hilarious. Hair tumbling any old how, sticking out an all angles and filthy jeans, she wore a triumphant grin. Who needed Gavin?
‘What about sending them to the local rag? It’s the sort of storyThe Lullbury Bay Echowould lap up. Great publicity too. That’s if you don’t mind your dignity being injured.’
Livvy laughed again. She plucked at her filthy jeans. ‘No dignity left. None whatsoever.’ She winced at the particularly raucous chorus of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ coming from behind her.
Mark peered round her to check on them. ‘It’s all right, they’re being loud but Eli’s coping.’
‘Thanks,’ she said, gratefully. ‘He came across as being confident at the interview, too much so but I think that was nerves talking. He’s not half as cocky as he seems and he’s a bit young to deal with that sort of crowd even if most of them are his relatives.’
Mark checked again. ‘Actually, I think the only Wiscombe is Eli’s Uncle Gerry.’ He pulled a face. ‘You might want to keep an eye on that one. He got banned from The Old Harbour lastwinter. The Wiscombe family are well-regarded in Lullbury but he’s the exception.’
‘Consider me warned. Did you enjoy the fireworks? I didn’t see much of you.’
‘Me and Pete were being conscientious about our bonfire duties. Have to take that role seriously.’ He smiled, the warm twinkle in his hazel eyes belying his stern tone. ‘It was a great night. I didn’t see much of you either but presumed you were busy. I saw you with Simona and Fabio,’ he added lightly. ‘Watching the fireworks.’
‘Oh yes. He’d just finished in the kitchen and came to gloat about all his satisfied customers.’ Livvy remembered Fabio’s casual arm around her shoulders and felt an urge to explain. But why should she feel the need to explain a friendly gesture? She gazed at Mark, her cheeks heating. Probably the whisky, or the heat from the wood burner in contrast to the chill outside. She thanked Eli for the coffee he brought her, grateful for the interruption. ‘I’m thinking of setting up a board games afternoon,’ she said, deliberately changing the subject. ‘With tea and cake maybe, plus anything anyone wants from the bar.’
‘Sounds a good idea,’ Mark said neutrally. ‘Do you think Pete will join in?’
Livvy laughed. ‘He may just about tolerate the interruption, but it’s Skip I’m more worried about. Daisy Wiscombe has a knack with him but he’s my only customer so far who I haven’t won over.’
