Page 13 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
I sat back in the chair and fixed him with a look.
‘Oh dear, look at that. Can’t really sell that one, can you?’ Before I could move the gingerbread man was headless and half devoured.
I switched my look to Giselle. ‘Honestly, I don’tknow how we put up with him.’
‘Think yourself lucky you’re not married to him.’
I did a theatrical shiver and Xander flicked me on the ear my hair was tucked behind.
‘OK. Ow!’
‘Honestly, I really hope this baby is a boy. I need some backup around here.’ He pulled out a chair next to Giselle who had now sat back down opposite me and he placed his hand on the ever-growing bump. I watched fora moment and then lowered my eyes back to my task. Even though these two were like family, I still felt a little intrusive in such moments and rather like one of the big, fat gooseberries Giselle currently had thawing in a bowl, destined for some delicious culinary fate.
‘Right. That’s the last one,’ I said, putting the final biscuit on the tray and standing up to lift it.
‘Here,’ Xander said,getting up and coming over. ‘I’ll put it up here, just in case the dog ever discovers any energy. She’ll have the lot of them.’
‘Thanks.’
‘Dinner’s ready,’ Giselle declared. ‘Xander, would you pour the wine, please?’
Xander set about pouring wine for him and I and a soft grape drink for Giselle as she dished up the chicken. I sat at the table again, having been told there was nothing I coulddo, and enjoyed the smells swirling around me. The delicious aroma of dinner mixed with ginger and baking, plus the faint tang of soft roses from Giselle’s perfume. I absent-mindedly thought about the expensive bottle Dan and Claire had bought me, which usually languished in a dark drawer, hoping to prevent evaporation. I really ought to get it out and actually use it, now that I wasn’t wearingEau d’Engine Oil every day.
I watched my friend as she expertly dished up the food, not splashing a drop, or missing a plate. Everything was perfect, elegant, beautiful. Just like her. I smiled and she caught me.
‘What are you smiling at?’
‘You.’
Giselle laughed. ‘Why?’
‘Because we’re so different and I love that but I also wish I could be more like you. If I was doing that, half the Agawould be covered and the dog would be having a field day.’
‘Oh rubbish. You’re perfect as you are. And you’re totally capable of dishing up food neatly. I’ve seen you.’
Xander opened his mouth and then shut it as Giselle shot him a glare.
I laughed. ‘It’s fine. Whatever he was going to say was probably true.’
‘Anyway, you have your own talents. Look at that time you fixed your date’s car,even though it pretty much ruined that beautiful dress. Did you ever replace that by the way?’
I shook my head as I took another sip of wine. ‘Nope. Not a lot of call for it in my life right now.’
Or any time soon.
‘And yes, I did fix his car, which resulted in him never contacting me again.’
‘Oh, I’m sure that wasn’t the reason,’ Giselle said, then realised she was in a sticky position. ‘Imean …’ She put the plates down on the table and pulled a face.
‘It really was the problem.’ I waved her awkwardness away, filling her in. ‘I ran into him a few months later in a pub. His very pretty, very feminine, then girlfriend nipped to the loo and he mentioned that he had been planning to see me again right up until the moment I fixed his car. It was a “turn-off”, I believe was the phrasehe used.’
Xander shook his head. ‘Idiot. Didn’t deserve you then anyway.’
‘No. Exactly,’ I agreed with as much emphasis as I could before thanking Giselle and tucking in to the meal in front of me.
