Page 24 of The Little Shop on Silver Linings Street
8
Monday 9th December
Sixteen shopping days until Christmas
As soon as they emerged from the other end of the park, Daisy could hear the noise swelling around her. The crowds were growing thicker almost with every step they walked and, as they came to the end of a road, Daisy could see why.
‘Oh, my word!’
A sudden cacophony of noise and light hit her as she stared out across the market square ahead of her. Everywhere she looked were strings of lights, dancing in the breeze. Ribbons of green and red entwined lamp posts and two golden angels with flutes hung suspended above their heads. Huge neon stars flashed on every corner.
Right in the centre, towering above it all, was the biggest Christmas tree Daisy had ever seen. As a child she had longed to go to Trafalgar Square to see London’s famous tree but, despite all her pleading, she had never got to go. And then it wasn’t long after that that the thought of going there, to that huge city, with all those millions of people, mingled with Daisy’s worst nightmares. Here, though, was a tree that fulfilled all of her childish dreams and more. Even in the daylight it glowed with myriad sparkling lights, so many the tree beneath was scarcely visible, but it seemed to Daisy symbolic of something that she had forgotten long ago.
She could feel her heart begin to beat faster as everything else came rushing in at her; the good-natured shouts from the market traders, the hum of cheerful chatter, piped music and something undefinable that just felt like energy, as if the very place was alive with it. Perhaps it was; Daisy had never seen anywhere so vibrant before. Her eyes darted one way and then the other. She lifted her head, smelling something intensely savoury, smoke, and then… something so very familiar to her, something from her childhood that she could scarcely remember. It tugged at her memories and she had to put out a hand on Bertie’s arm to steady the swirl of sensations and emotions. It was sweet, so very sweet…
‘Isn’t it amazing?’ he said, his voice raised against the clamour.
She nodded, feeling the infectious excitement of the crowd around her, almost overwhelming her.
Seemingly without thinking, Bertie grabbed her hand. ‘Come on!’
He led her straight through the middle of it all, not stopping until they were standing in front of a building that looked as if it had been transplanted from Switzerland. He pointed up at the huge expanse of wood and glass above them, like a chalet on stilts.
She stood, gazing up, her breath coming in pants; a reaction to the speed with which they had rushed through the market. Bertie was like an overexcited schoolboy, grinning from ear to ear.
‘I take it that’s the Altitude Bar,’ she said, smiling as he nodded enthusiastically.
‘And we’re just in time for our table. Wait until you see the view from the other side…’
It took a moment to get through the throng of people milling about but they had only just stepped inside when there was a loud shout from in front of them.
‘Bertie!’
An enormous man completely blocked Daisy’s field of view before lifting Bertie clean off the ground in an enormous bear hug.
‘It’s so good to see you again, my friend.’
The man settled Bertie back down and she was able to look properly at the giant for the first time. His face was almost hidden by a huge bushy black beard and thick curly hair which, had it been white, would have given Santa Claus a run for his money. Piercing dark eyes twinkled with amusement and the roundness of his apron-clad stomach was matched only by the width of his beaming smile.
‘Luka!’
Bertie was equally delighted to see his friend and, still grinning, waved Daisy forward.
‘Daisy, this is my good friend, Luka, who has always been this size, even when we were at school together. And now, having been thrown out of countless bars in his youth, has decided to run one… Luka, this is Daisy.’
‘Ah, the English rose…’ He lifted her hand in his huge paw and kissed it softly. ‘I have heard so much about you.’
Daisy faltered, unsure what to say, confused and more than a little embarrassed by Luka’s comment. She looked at Bertie, but his expression gave nothing away and then she realised that if Luka was the friend he seemed to be, then he would know everything about the competition.
‘Ah yes,’ she said, smiling. ‘I can only imagine what Bertie’s been saying about me; the pain-in-the-bum shop assistant who’s making his life a misery…’
It was Luka’s turn to look confused. ‘I can assure you I’ve heard only good things about the beautiful young lady who knows so much.’ He reached forward to pummel Bertie’s arm. ‘I love this man, but, sheesh… he has much to learn.’ His laughter boomed around the room as Bertie blushed bright red.
‘Don’t you start, I can get this kind of abuse at home,’ he quipped.
Luka bowed. ‘Then I will show you to your table, and the drinks are on the house of course…’ He held up his hand. ‘And I will hear no argument,’ he said, firmly.
He led the way up a long flight of wooden steps whose glass sides caused the staircase to seemingly float up the middle of the room. Above them Daisy could see the criss-crossings of wooden rafters that twinkled with tiny white lights, but it wasn’t until they neared the top that she got her first inkling of what was ahead. She took in a sharp breath.
