Page 43 of New Beginnings at the Little Christmas Inn
‘I’m not entirely sure,’ Mark admitted. ‘Think the base is a flatbed lorry and then they build the float on and around it and add the trailers at the back. A lot of hard work. Glad you enjoyed it, maybe we’ll make it to the Bridgewater Carnival? That’s the big one, with loads of street entertainment.’
‘You’re on.’ Livvy finished her coffee and started on her mulled wine. She inhaled the scents of hot wine, orange, cloves and cinnamon. ‘Mm. Christmas in a glass,’ she said as she sipped. ‘And thank you for leading me down to the seafront to look at the decorated beach huts. It’s shocking. I’ve been in Lullbury Bay three months now and I’ve only got to the sea once. That’s where I met Austin.’
‘That is truly shocking. Did you enjoy the beach huts? And the window display competition?’
‘I’m glad Bee’s Books won. Good old Bee. The dancing penguins with their little reading specs all holding a children’s Christmas book were a joy. The beach huts were,’ Livvy paused to find the right words, ‘let’s just say I’ve never seen anything quite like it ever. I mean, one had a model railway running all round it and onto the outside. And one had a swimming pool with real water, and polar bears. And what was the knitted one all about?’
Mark laughed. ‘Lullbury Bay’s resident Ninja Knitters. They’re responsible for the bollard coverings too. Last year was Santa’s Grotto, this year they dedicated their entry to the RNLI.’
‘I know but who knits a lifeboat? It was nearly life-sized! Did it win?’
‘Think so.’
‘Mad.’
The choir’s carol came to an end to thunderous applause, after which they began to sing ‘Silent Night’.
‘Oh,’ Livvy said, on a sigh. ‘This is my favourite although I like it sung in German best.’ She closed her eyes and listened. The hectically busy pub hushed, the magic of the words casting a spell. Opening her eyes as the carol finished, she was aware of Mark’s gaze on her. ‘What?’
‘Nothing. Only sometimes you surprise me. You surprise me a great deal.’
Livvy blushed at the intensity of his statement. ‘You know what?’ she blurted out, in an attempt to diffuse the heat building between them.
‘What?’
‘It’s a Late Night Shopping Event, and we’ve not done any shopping!’
Mark pulled a regretful face. ‘I was going to buy you the life-sized knitted lifeboat, but you didn’t sound very keen.’
‘It would make an excellent talking point in the bar.’
‘It would.’
‘But…’
‘But?’
‘I’d bet good money that Skip would cock his leg all over it.’
For some reason, they both found this the funniest thing ever and laughed like drains.
CHAPTER 25
Glühwein – the perfect drink for after-ski. Use chianti and the juice of a fresh orange. A cinnamon stick and brandy make it extra warming.
Mark picked Livvy up to view Angel the following morning. The sleet of the previous day had hardened into a hoar-frost, coating trees and hedges into a sparkling icy white. The sky, a vibrant blue, dazzled.
‘This is very good of you,’ she said as he indicated to turn the Mercedes onto the A35.
‘No problem. If she’s going to be half my dog, I need to like her too,’ he answered.
‘We seem to be spending a lot of time together.’
He smiled easily. ‘I’ve no complaints.’
‘Me neither. And I really did enjoy last night.’
‘It was fun, wasn’t it? I enjoyed it too. Who’s looking after the pub today?’
