Page 33 of The Secret Christmas Bookshop
He ignored her pointed words. ‘I know it’s a kid’s thing, but—’
‘It takes pressure off the parents, too,’ Sophie finished.
She remembered Santa coming to Mrs Fairweather’s house, how at first she’d decided she was too old, but had enjoyed the excitement of the other children. And then, later, her foster carer handing her the slim, beautifully wrapped package; her delight when she’d unwrapped the pale green notebook inside, along with a slim, maroon hardback ofA Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens. There was something magical about Santa Claus, even if you were an adult and knew it was someone wearing an itchy suit and a beard.
‘It’s a brilliant idea,’ she told Harry. ‘Whoever we get to do it.’
‘Good.’ He exhaled. ‘And I thought we could get Dexter to make mince pies.’
‘I’m sure he’d be happy to. I’ve set up a meeting with Annie.’
‘Maybe we could run a Whack-A-Crab tournament?’ Harry suggested.
‘You love Whack-A-Crab?’ It was Penny For Them’s version of Whack-A-Mole, but with a distinctly Norfolk theme.
He frowned. ‘Don’t you?’
‘Of course I do! It’s the best thing in there.’
‘What’s your highest score?’
‘Thirty-six,’ she said proudly.
His eyes widened. ‘In aminute?’
She nodded, gleeful.
Harry rubbed his jaw. ‘Shit. I’m going to have to practise.’
‘Come on then. What’s yours?’
‘Twenty-nine,’ he admitted. ‘But I don’t get to the arcade very often.’
‘So ready with the excuses.’ Sophie folded her arms, shivering slightly in the wind.
‘Do you want to go back?’ he asked. ‘Anything else we need to discuss that you don’t want Fiona to overhear?’
‘She wants to knoweverything,’ Sophie said with a groan. ‘She’s like a hawk, watching my every move.’
‘She likes being in control,’ Harry said, more kindly than Sophie would have expected. ‘She and Ermin do a lot for the village, and maybe it’s harder than they thought: they’re used to Winnie being in charge, knowing exactly what she’s doing.’ He frowned. ‘The last couple of years, it can’t have been easy …’ His words trailed away, and Sophie wondered if he was beginning to realize what his sanctions had cost them.
‘And now they’ve given responsibility to a couple of unknowns,’ she said.
‘Right. The black sheep and the … what did you call yourself? Temporary outcast?’ He emphasizedtemporary, and Sophie winced.
‘Do you likeJane Eyre?’ she blurted.
‘I do,’ he said, after a moment. ‘It’s very, um … romantic. The relationship between Jane and Rochester. Gnarly and intense and a bit desperate in places, but ultimately, very romantic. Why?’
Sophie stared at the wind turbines rotating on the horizon. ‘No real reason. Just … you know, thinking about Christmas presents.’ She hoped he wouldn’t ask her who she was buying for.
‘It’s not easy to get present-worthy editions locally any more,’ Harry said, and Sophie watched a series of emotions play across his face. She couldn’t help it: she squeezed his arm. His gaze shot to hers, surprised.
‘Hey,’ she said gently. ‘You’re helping with the festival now. People can’t talk nonsense about you for ever.’
He raised an eyebrow, and it was such a haughty, attractive expression that Sophie squeezed him tighter. ‘Are you sure about that?’ he murmured. ‘Or will they just come up with new rumours, perhaps about who I’m spending my time with? Why I’m finally talking to people, instead of being—’
‘The Dark Demon Lord of Mistingham?’ Sophie finished.
