Page 5 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
‘It’s good news,you’ll be glad to hear. Definitely nothing serious. He’s already had some excellent surgery.’ George giggled and beamed at his dad. Cal’s face remained impassive but I saw his Adam’s apple bob briefly. ‘He really only needs a tiny bit more. If you two want to have a look around the shop, he’ll be fully recovered and waiting for you when you come back. If you want to go ahead of course.’
‘Canwe, Daddy?’
Cal gave me a look and a tiny shake of his head, but I could see the faintest of smiles on his lips.
‘If Lexi doesn’t mind, then yes, of course. As long as you’re going to help me choose the decorations now. I’m not sure I can decide all by myself.’
‘Of course I’ll help you. Don’t worry.’ He kept hold of his dad’s hand as he looked at me. ‘You’ll look after my teddy, won’t you,Lexi?’
‘As if he were my own, I promise.’
‘Come on, George. Surgeons need peace and quiet to work in. Let’s start with finding you an advent calendar, shall we?’ Cal led George away, throwing me a quick grateful glance over his shoulder as he did. I gave him a quick nod and reached into the drawer of the old wooden desk I was sat at and pulled out a biscuit tin. Opening it, I rummaged aroundin the sewing supplies it stored to find a cotton that matched the fur of the bear and then set about threading up a needle. Steadily I worked around the bear’s neck, squinting at him occasionally and trying to ensure his head was level so that he wouldn’t be for evermore looking askew at the world.
Finally, I gently took out the larger, uneven stitches that had been put in at the time of theoriginal incident, the love that they clearly represented more than making up for what they lacked in skill. By the time Cal and George came back to the desk, laden with items, I’d not only repaired Bear but also whipped the scarf off a toy we had on sale to finish him off properly. Luckily, I knew the maker of the scarves and would put in an emergency order by text once my customers had gone.
‘Bear!’ George cried as he saw his teddy casually lounging on the table that held the till. ‘Daddy, he’s got a scarf too, and it’s the same colour as mine!’
Cal smiled. ‘You really shouldn’t have. How much do I owe you?’
‘Ha! I’m good, but I’m not that good. I’ll have to ring them up first,’ I said, pushing my chair out to get to the till, leaning over for his basket as I did so.
‘No, I meantfor the repair –’ he tilted his head ‘– and his new scarf.’
‘Oh!’ I shook my head, frowning. ‘Nothing.’
‘No. I must. It’s taken your time when you obviously have plenty to do anyway. I’d like –’
‘Really. It was my pleasure. There’s no charge.’
Cal was a good head and half taller than me but I’d grown up with three brothers and spent my entire career in a male-dominated world. I knew how tomake a point when I needed to. Matt called it ‘The Tone’. Even without this inside knowledge, Cal clearly got the idea I wasn’t prepared to argue the point any further.
‘Well then, thank you. Sewing, admittedly, is not my forte.’
I smiled. ‘Then that makes two of us. You did a great job, honestly. There are plenty of people who wouldn’t even know where to start! And George thinks you’re a superheroso don’t be too hard on yourself. Honestly, I’ve just tidied it up a bit, that’s all.’
Cal tilted his head at me. ‘I’ve a feeling you’re being more kind than honest but I’ll take it. Thank you, again.’
‘You’re welcome. OK, let’s get your purchases sorted, shall we? I think all this shopping has tired someone out.’
Cal turned in the direction of my nod to where George was now curling up on oneof the faux fur beanbags, his fingers wrapping around the bear’s scarf distractedly as his own eyelids drooped heavily.
‘Oh crikey, hang on, I’ll just get him –’
I caught Cal’s sleeve. ‘Don’t. He’s not doing any harm. Just leave him whilst we’re sorting this out.’
‘But isn’t that your stock?’
‘Yep. But it’s made for sitting on.’
‘Yes. Once it’s paid for.’
‘Look.’ I turned George’s dad aroundby his arms. ‘You’ve clearly taught him well. He’s even taken his shoes off. He’s fine. The stock is fine. Relax!’
Cal looked down at me and I realised I was still holding his arms. I dropped my hands quickly and shoved them into the pockets of my jeans.
‘Things are very different here from London,’ he said, his expression relaxing.
‘Yes. They are. Which is a good thing, I think.’
