Page 101 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
‘Thank you for asking her to come and check on me. That was kind of you.’
I shook my head. ‘I don’t know how you coped without having someone. I always knew I was lucky with my family but you’ve helped me see just how much. And as I was responsible for you feeling … sad, I just thought youmight feel a bit better if you knew you weren’t alone.’
‘I know I’m not alone, Lexi.’
‘Oh! No, I mean, of course you have George. I just meant …’
‘Like a mum. Or dad.’
I nodded.
He reached around me and took one of the stuffed turkeys from the shelf and began turning it over in his hands. ‘It was nice. I … I guess I always thought I was OK. That I’d coped this long. Whatever came along, Icould deal with it. On my own. And for the most part, I have.’
‘She said you were a little reluctant to let her in.’
‘It was getting late and it was Joe’s birthday.’
‘Joe was past knowing who his mother was by then, let alone where she was.’
‘Yes, that’s pretty much what she said.’ He smiled. ‘And she can be pretty persistent.’
‘This is very true.’
‘Are you having that?’ I said, pointingto the turkey.
‘Yes. I think so. There’s something oddly endearing about it.’
I took another off the shelf and handed it to him. ‘On the house. You can’t just have one. It’ll be lonely.’
Cal raised an eyebrow. ‘Have you been sniffing the cinnamon sticks?’
‘No. Not today.’ I smiled, shoving my hands in my pockets, glancing over at where Claire was ringing up items on the till for a couple ofcustomers. The last few days had seen her colour improve more and I was happy to see her back taking part in the bustle of the shop, not just because it helped ease the load but because I loved spending time with her. I looked back up at Cal. ‘I’m sorry I hurt you. You don’t know how much I wish things were different but they’re not. And I can’t make them different. But Mum and Dad love you andGeorge as if you were their own, and my brothers think the world of you. I don’t want … us … to mess up the rest of it. So, please don’t let it. Don’t stop seeing them just because you might not want to see me, will you?’
He reached out and brushed my fingers with his own, before shaking his head. ‘No. I promise.’
I let out a breath I didn’t even know I’d been holding. Cal glanced over to hisson, checking he was OK. Having found a Santa hat, George was now riding the rocking horse and holding out the hat like a rodeo rider, and letting out whoops of “yee ha” every so often. We watched for a moment as though both trying to absorb George’s joy in order to dull our own sadness.
The door tinkled again and a large family hurried in, chill air blowing across the shop as the gusting windfought to whip the door from their grip. I gave them a practised smile and turned back to Cal.
‘I really ought to get on.’
‘Yes. Of course.’
George, having now finished his rodeo, came running up to us. ‘Lexi. Will Father Christmas know where to find me on Christmas Day?’
I smiled down and ran my free hand over his silky hair. ‘Absolutely. I have it on very good authority that he has youraddress written clearly on his Good Little Boys list.’
‘But we won’t be at home,’ he sighed. ‘We’re going somewhere else … Anti … goo? What if he can’t find me?’
‘Oh!’ I glanced at Cal but he was looking down at George and doing a stellar job of avoiding eye contact. ‘Well. Father Christmas is very good at stuff like that. And if you like, I can get word to him and make sure he knows exactlywhere you are in …’
I looked up at his father for a confirmation, doing my best to keep my face blank. From the look on his, I hadn’t achieved it. A flash of guilt crossed his own. ‘Antigua.’
‘Right. Of course.’
‘It was a spur-of-the-moment thing.’
George’s eye was caught by something in the shop and he walked off to investigate.
