Page 26 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
‘Anything,’ I finished, weakly.
‘I know.’ He grinned. ‘Don’t worry about it. I think you brightened up the Warner sisters’ day anyway with whatever spin they were putting on it in their own minds, from that wink she gave you.’
I laughed, feeling anxiety releasefrom me. ‘I was hoping you hadn’t seen that.’
‘I don’t miss much.’
I made a mental note of that.
‘Actually I think it was George who brightened their day the most.’
Cal gave a wide smile and glanced to where George was now pressing his nose against the window, peering out into the dark and watching the snowflakes drift down.
‘And I don’t think you were too far behind in the stakes either.’
At my comment he turned back to face me. ‘Sorry?’
I shrugged. ‘Just saying.’
Cal laughed and shook his head. ‘I should get him home. He’ll keep fighting it otherwise and feel worse.’
‘Dan and I were the same when we were his age, apparently.’
Cal raised a brow. ‘From what I know of you now, I’d say not too much has changed.’
I gave a conciliatory shrug and smiled at George who was now drawinghappy faces in the steam from his breath on the window. ‘George,’ Cal called, gently. ‘Lexi’s going to have to clean that.’
George looked round. ‘Oops. Sorry, Lexi.’
‘Don’t worry about it, peanut.’
Cal mouthed the word “sorry”.
‘No, seriously. I have seven nieces and nephews. Believe me, if a window is the worst thing I have to clean up, I’m totally winning.’
Cal let out a laugh – deep andrumbling – and if I let it, I knew it would wrap itself around me like one of the cashmere blankets stacked up for sale, just as warm and just as soft. He cast his eye down at his son. ‘They can definitely be a challenge in that department.’ The love in his eyes as he said it showed he didn’t mind a bit. I felt the familiar twist in my stomach and squished it down, pasting a smile on instead.
‘Ready for home, then?’ Cal asked.
George nodded.
‘Say bye to Lexi then.’
I bent down and George flung his arms around my neck. ‘I love coming here. It’s like Christmas all the time.’
‘It is at the moment – you’re right. And you’re welcome any time you want, but you have to go and get into bed and get better first. OK?’ I gave him a little squish. He released me and I stood.
‘OK.’ George tookCal’s outstretched hand and waved as they headed to the door. Cal raised a hand and smiled as he turned, pulling the door closed behind him. The shop was once more silent, except for the Christmas music playing subtly in the background. Reaching under the desk, I grabbed a duster and the bottle of window cleaner and headed over to where George had been drawing faces. I crouched and huffed overthe same spot and the smiley face appeared again. I waited until it faded again and then cleaned the glass.
Calmly, I walked back to the desk and tidied the cleaning items away, before stepping into the back room to flick on the kettle. It would be time to go home soon but I needed something to do, to occupy my mind. I went through the motions but it wasn’t working. There were times when nothingworked. I only hoped that, one day, things might become a little easier to deal with.
