Page 78 of Knots About You
Owen looked up from the distillery stand, still currently surrounded by boxes. His eyes grazed my outfit, and he broke into a huge grin.
‘Well now,’ he said, strolling over with the breeze in his hair and those thick shoulders making him look like he’s fallen right off a catwalk. ‘Did we plan this?’
‘We did not,’ I hissed. ‘I was going for Autumn chic.’
‘Nailed it. Me too, obviously.’ Not caring who saw, he planted a quick, yet swoon-worthy kiss right there in the middle of the square. A ripple of delight swirled through the square.
‘Owen!’ yelled Isla from somewhere beyond the tower of crates. ‘Less canoodling, more lifting crates. The fair opens at eleven, and if I’m photographed for the magazine looking like I’ve been pulled through a hedge backwards, I will hold you personally responsible.’
Jean appeared with a no-nonsense expression. Behind her, Jim was attempting to shift a barrel with all the stealth of a horse raiding the apple cart.
‘James Elliot Harris, don’t you dare,’ Jean said through clenched teeth, looking every bit ready to breathe fire. ‘Sit your backside down before I send you home.’
‘I’m only tidying,’ Jim muttered, snatching his hands back and looking the picture of innocence. Colour had returned to his cheeks, but he still looked frail.
‘Sit,’ Jean repeated, pressing him onto a seat and slapping a granola bar into his hands. He looked at it as if it might poison him. ‘Eat. Do notmove.’
‘Aye, okay.’ Jim’s shoulders sagged in the chair, clearly uncomfortable with being sidelined.
The square bustled with busy charm. Pumpkins in ridiculous sizes huddled in little packs, strings of festoon lights and bunting creating an interspersed, swaying set of beams across the square, gazeboes dancing in the breeze. Jeff stood atop a ladder, holding an instruction leaflet upside down, looking puzzled. I handed Isla the updated cocktail menu cards from my purse. And took her arm to calm her for a moment.
‘Tell me the stall doesn’t scream manly whisky stuff here,’ she begged.
‘The stall is perfect.’ I said. ‘And you’ll have your lovely brother mixing cocktails to butter everyone up. With him as tartan eye candy, and you as the excellent salesperson you are, it’ll be great.’
‘Bless you, Claire,’ she said, briefly smiling before Jeff’s struggles caught her eye. ‘Oh, honestly, that husband of mine.’
She scurried off, clipboard flailing.
‘Hold this,’ Owen said, bracing the banner pole as the wind buffeted. I grabbed the other end. ‘I’m changing after set-up, by the way.’
‘Into what? A menace to my loins?’
‘My kilt. Legs out is practically my job title these days. But I’d happily match with you any day. I think it’s cute you want to copy me.’
‘I did not copy you.’ My city self, who once colour-coded her life, would sooner die than wear the same jumper as a boyfriend. But when the man was as charming as Owen, I guess I could live with the twinning.
‘I bet you looked out of your window, spied me, and rushed to dress just like me.’ Owen grinned, two little dimples appearing on his cheeks. I nearly passed away on the spot. How did he become more attractive every day?
We heaved the banner up, ‘KILTS AND COCKTAILS WITH OTTERLEIGH BAY WHISKY’, with a series of grunts from my end, and barely a sweat from his. The wind, being a disrespectful cow, chose that exact moment to flex her muscles. It yanked the canvas backwards. Owen held his side; I, however, lost my battle with mine.
‘I’ve got it!’ I lied, as the banner rocked, flinging me back, my feet discovering flight. I staggered back, let go of the pole, and tripped right over a crate of whisky bottles.
The world slowed so I could really wallow in my despair. The crate groaned under my weight. I windmilled my arms like a cartoon character. Bottles clanked and I feared that I’d destroy hundreds of pounds worth of stock.
Owen lunged for me, dropping the banner.
‘Claire!’
Too late.
I lost my fight with gravity and tipped back, landing square in Jim’s lap. His granola bar went flying. So did my dignity.
Silence.
Then the square with laughter.
‘The English have fallen.’ Jeff yelled before slapping his knee in delight with himself.
