Page 58 of The Cornish Christmas Book Clu
‘Oh, ye of little faith,’ Tamara murmured. ‘And with the vicar standing next to you too.’ She snuggled into him and Gage kissed the top of her head.
Karen’s crystal-clear soprano voice rang out and soon others started to join in. He left the singing to them and gave himself up to recognising the feeling of contentment that had settled around his heart.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Gage snatched the foaming pint from Nathan and took a large gulp. ‘Boy, you’ve no idea how I needed that.’
‘Your undue haste is something of a clue.’ Nathan dropped into his seat and grinned around the table at their friends. ‘That’s what Book Club Refugees night is for.’
Even before Gage had arrived in the village, it had become a habit for the abandoned spouses and partners to meet in the pub while their other halves attended the monthly meetings, and he’d become part of it now. The only one missing tonight was Tessa, who was stuck at home with a stinking cold.
Tamara had prickled like a threatened porcupine and snapped when he’d asked if she’d mind him coming for a quiet pint or two. Her tart response had been that he didn’t need her permission for anything.
It didn’t help that they were both on edge about Victoria, who still hadn’t responded to his calls or texts, despite being so insistent on hearing from him when she’d come to the shop on Saturday. It was still only Tuesday and she might be busy with work, so he was trying to cut her some slack.
‘Busy day?’ Quinten asked and went back to munching contentedly on his cheese-and-onion crisps. Evelyn had a violent dislike of them because they made his breath stink, so as a compromise he only indulged on rare occasions. He was on his second bag already.
‘Yeah, but that’s good. Four blokes drove all the way from Bristol to check out the military transport section. They left loaded with far more than they intended buying.’
‘So, has everyone done their Christmas shopping?’ Nathan chuckled. ‘No escaping it, you know. We’re into December.’
‘No escaping it anyways with this place decked out like Santa’s grotto.’ Harry gave a good-natured chuckle. Pixie didn’tdo minimalist, so every inch of the pub sparkled with tinsel, lights and shiny glass balls. ‘Not that our Greek friend looks full of the festive spirit.’
Up at the bar, a grim-faced Christos was scurrying madly from one end to the other.
‘Having to work for a living doesn’t suit him,’ Harry continued. ‘I reckon he’s in the doghouse with Pixie for some reason and on a short leash.’
Gage kept his mouth shut.
‘Nathan will hate me for this.’ Quinten’s boast came with a cheeky smile. ‘I’ve bought a signed first edition of one of Daphne du Maurier’s lesser-known books —Mary Anne— for Evelyn. It’s one of the few she doesn’t have in her collection.’
‘That must’ve cost a pretty penny.’ Nathan sighed. ‘Ah, well, I might get invited to come and look at it if I’m lucky.’
Gage’s heart sank. Maybe it was just him? He seemed to have landed in the middle of a bunch of men who actually bought gifts for their significant others before Christmas Eve. During his brief marriage, Victoria would buy something she wanted, wrap it up and give him the bill. His only job was to stick it under the tree and hand it over on Christmas Day so she could pretend to be surprised.
‘You aren’t saying much.’ Harry nudged him. ‘Tamara’s easy, surely. All you’ve got to do is buy another of those ugly pigs she’s crazy about.’
That’d be easy. But predictable. Did she expect a surprise?
‘I’d better be off.’ Barry lumbered to his feet. ‘Laura’s mum likes an early night.’
‘I’ll head out too.’ Quinten crammed the last handful of crisps into his mouth and screwed up the bag. ‘The girls will be home soon, so I need to brush my teeth a couple of times first.’ He shrugged on his long tweed coat, settled the familiar blackfedora on his head and adjusted his dark-red silk scarf. ‘See you, gents.’
‘Ready for another?’ Gage gestured at Nathan’s empty glass. ‘My round.’
‘Cheers. I’m in no hurry.’
That struck him as odd. Nathan always made a point of being home when Melissa returned so they could dissect the book-club discussion together.
‘Have you eaten? I didn’t have time myself.’
‘Uh, no. I told Melissa I’d make myself something before I came here, but I never got around to it.’
‘Will a pasty suit you?’
‘That’s fine.’ Nathan sounded indifferent.
Gage could do with his friend’s opinion on a couple of things, but considered he might not be the only one who needed to talk.
