Page 98 of Christmas at Sturcombe Bay
Jess took her arm and they plunged in, wandering through the throng between stalls selling pottery, scented candles, jars of honey. Dozens of mingled aromas drifted on the air — spicy mulled wine and roasting chestnuts, crispy potato pancakes with melted cheese, sizzling bratwurst sausages slathered in honey mustard, and more.
“Oh, look at these!” Jess darted to one of the stalls which was selling carved wooden toys. She picked up a small puzzle box. “They’d be perfect for the kids.”
“Oh, yes.” Shelley bent to examine the display. “I was looking for something for Noah. This would be perfect.”
They strolled on, pausing from time to time to look at a display of silver jewellery or embroidered blouses. A little further along they came to a stall selling lovely hand-painted silk scarves.
“Oh, I want to get one of those for Helen Channing.” Shelley glanced quickly at Jess. “Do you think she’d like one?”
“Of course. They’re lovely.”
Shelley chose one in subtle shades of green, and handed it to the stallholder. “I’d like this one please.”
She wasn’t bothered by the cost — this was for Helen. The stallholder wrapped the scarf in tissue paper and handed it over as Shelley tapped her bank card on the terminal.
“Right. I don’t know about you, but I could really do with a sit down and a cup of coffee,” Jess declared.
“Good thinking. There’s a café over there. Let’s go and see if we can find a table.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
The sleek dark-green Aston Martin skimmed around the roundabout at the top of Haytor Avenue and continued along the main road, before turning left down Church Road.
After almost a month under the hot African sun, Paul was craving a nice cold English beer. The Smugglers would be just about closing, but he could get a bottle of Doom Bar at the hotel.
And just maybe, Jess might be around. He was a little surprised at how much he had missed her.
It had been a good trip — interesting and worthwhile — but as always, he was glad to be home. He turned into the hotel car park and switched off the engine, unfastened his seatbelt and climbed out.
Neil, the relief night manager, was strolling out of the dining room with a plate of sandwiches as Paul walked in. The sounds of festive fun were spilling out of the ballroom.
“Wow! This lot are certainly getting into the Christmas spirit,” he remarked.
Neil laughed. “And this is only their first night. They’re nearly all in there. There’s a few drinking coffee in the conservatory, and some have gone out for a walk. It’s the same every year — each crowd gets wilder than the last one as it gets closer to Christmas. Though I’m amazed they can move after eating all that dinner. I’ve got a bit of the sirloin in these if you want one, or there’s some of Chef’s spiced ginger pudding and toffee sauce left.”
“Mmm, I can smell it.” He sniffed the air appreciatively. “I’m surprised there’s any leftovers at all.”
He strolled over to the small bar in the lounge, nodded a greeting to the half-dozen guests still lingering in there, and grabbed a bottle of Doom Bar. Snapping off the top, he savouredthe spicy aroma of hops and malt as he poured the amber ale into a glass.
“Is this the last lot?” he asked Neil, returning to the reception desk.
“Last but one. These leave on Sunday, then the next lot are here Monday to Thursday of next week. Then that’s it.”
“And then it’s full steam ahead for the renovations. Thanks,” he added as he took the proffered sandwich. “How’s it going in the annexe?”
“Pretty much nearly done. It’ll be ready for Saturday.”
“That’s good.” His sister’s wedding. It would have been a shame if they’d had to hold the reception somewhere else, with the hotel full of excitable T’n’T guests.
Then Alex had come up with the excellent idea of getting the large upstairs room in the annexe — which was going to be the hairdressers, spa and gymnasium — finished except for the fitting-out, and using that.
There was another surge of hilarity from the ballroom. “They’re supposed to be going down to the Eden Project tomorrow,” Neil remarked dryly. “I wonder how many of them will wake up in time?”
“Or wake up with the hangover from hell.”
Neil finished his sandwich. “Anyway, I need to do the night audit.”
“Can I come and take a look?” Paul asked. “With Mike leaving I’ll be getting more involved, so it would be useful to see how it’s done, in case I need to step in at any time.”
