Page 50 of A Merry Little Christmas
Telling Ellie what had happened would soothe the pain a little. She’d put her arm around me and tell me everything would be all right.
A painful lump rose in my throat and tears started spilling down my face. Suddenly, I was a mess of emotions. It was official. Caleb and I were over.
Pulling into a lay-by, I broke down and sobbed my heart out until there were no tears left.
*****
It turned out the café was really busy when I arrived and I was plunged straight into the mild chaos, helping with a spillage of orange juice on the floor.
After that, with a queue of eager customers waiting to be served, I didn’t have a chance to break the news about Caleb to Ellie and Maddy, and on reflection, I thought that was probably for the best. Talking about it would only make me cry and I didn’t want to be greeting customers with mascara all over my face, looking like a witch who’d slept in and missed Hallowe’en.
But when Maddy came into the kitchen, where I was emptying the dishwasher, she peered at me, hawk-eyed as usual. ‘Are you okay?’
I pasted on a smile. ‘Yes, I’m fine.’
‘Things okay with Caleb? You don’t seem as loved up as you were.’
Typical Maddy. She really didn’t miss a trick. She was so sharp she could have sliced bread before it was even invented.
I nodded, smile still in place, although it probably looked more like a grimace now. ‘We’re good... all fine, thanks.’
She nodded, although I wasn’t sure she was convinced. I’d tell her what had happened when we finished our shift.
‘Are you still on for later?’ she asked.
‘Later?’
‘Operation Chutney Grab?’
‘Oh. That’s tonight, is it?’ My heart sank.
I’d been planning a night alone in front of the TV with a bottle of wine to dull the pain of losing Caleb. The last thing I felt like doing was driving over to Ellie’s house to take part in this mad chutney heist! But I’d already said I’d go with Maddy, Fen and Jaz, so I could hardly back out now.
So I stretched my mouth into an even wider smile and said, ‘Yes. Absolutely. Count me in.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Operation Chutney Grab was underway.
But not everyone was feeling optimistic of a good result.
‘What if there’s a security light that goes on automatically when intruders approach?’ whispered Fen, as we crept up to the side gate of Bogg House, guided by the light from our phones. (I’d brought a small torch in my jacket pocket, just in case we needed to shed more light on the situation.) We’d left the car at the side of the road and walked the hundred yards or so along the lane so as not to wake the family.
‘I don’t think they’ve got round to doing security stuff yet,’ said Maddy.
‘You’re just saying that to make me feel better.’
‘I’m honestly not,’ promised Maddy, opening the gate, just as a light at the front door flicked on, catching us all in its glare.
‘Shit! I thought you said –’
‘Shush.’
‘Oh, hell, why did I let you talk me into this, Maddy? It’s all going to go wrong and the last thing I want to do is fall out with Ellie.’
‘We’re doing thisforEllie, remember?’ Jaz whispered. ‘She’d never forgive herself if she made the village ill with her chutney just in time for Christmas.’
‘I suppose so.’
