Page 57 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
Chapter Twelve
A few days later, Cal and I had both been up to our ears in work and helping out with the arrangements for the Christmas Festival. My own family had always been involved in a big way but Cal was kind of new at it all and had got roped in by Sasha to help out with a few chores. We’d chatted a little on WhatsApp and had grabbed a quick conversation or two in the village hall duringsome preparation time.
I’d found myself looking forward to every meeting, every conversation. And from the look he’d given me the last time he’d seen me enter the hall, I had an idea I wasn’t the only one feeling something.
As we lay together underneath the big old convertible Mercedes that had served as the basis for Santa’s sleigh for longer than I could remember, freezing our respective behindsoff, Cal rolled his head towards me.
‘I’m out of practice at lying on cold, draughty floors tinkering with cars. I’ve gone soft. I like a nice warm, clean workshop.’
‘Why do you think I’ve still not got around to doing up Dad’s old Jag since he gave it to me?’
‘I thought that was because you were never here long enough.’
I swallowed at the accuracy of his statement, and tried to ignore it.If I took this job, I’d be away again and the beautiful car that Dad and I had spent many happy hours together tinkering about with, and driving down country roads on, would sit and rot quietly even more.
‘I’m used to a lot more high tech than this too. This past year doing bits and bobs back in normal garages was a shock to the system! And not a pleasant one, that’s for sure.’
‘Then what arewe doing lying down here?’
I looked at him, my mouth forming an “o” of mock shock. ‘This is for Santa!’
I saw the smile and then the laugh burst from him as he shook his head. ‘You’re bloody nuts.’
‘Thanks. That might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.’
Cal laughed even more until a rather plummy voice cut through our giggles. ‘How are you getting on?’
We both looked back up towardsthe front of the car where a pair of slim legs topped off with five-inch heels stood. From this angle, I could see the red sole.
‘Yep. Not too bad, Sasha,’ Cal called out.
I widened my eyes. The truth was we hadn’t actually done very much at all apart from moan about the cold, and giggle.
Cal held up his finger to his lips, which only made me want to laugh even more. His eyes glittered withhumour as he waggled his eyebrows. I snorted as I tried to stifle a giggle and quickly turned it into a cough.
‘I think we’ve isolated what the problem is now,’ Cal said, giving a bit more flannel and seeing I was about to lose it, stuck one large hand over my mouth.
‘Do you want anything, Cal?’ Sasha asked.
I gave my own eyebrow waggle and got a warning glance. I had the full-on giggles nowand pulled at his hand but it wasn’t moving.
‘Ummm, no I don’t think so. But thanks.’
We all stayed still momentarily, and then Cal picked up a spanner and knocked on the chassis a couple of times with it. Tears streamed down the side of my face. The red-soled shoes turned and began click clacking across the concrete that separated the barn where the Merc lived from the village hall where allthe other prep was taking place. I managed to peel a couple of fingers off my face.
‘If you don’t move your hand, it’s in dire risk of getting something other than grease on it!’
Cal burst out laughing again, but removed his hand.
I fished around in the pocket of my overalls and found a tissue to blow my nose on. ‘Why does laughing make your nose run?’
Cal grinned and shook his head.
‘Well,I guess we’d better fix this now you’ve just told Sasha we’ve isolated the problem.’
His grin turned into a chuckle.
‘Oh wait. I think I know what the problem is.’
