Page 7 of A Merry Little Christmas
‘The effect on his bank balance.’
I laughed and glanced at Caleb. He’d ended his call, although he was still looking a little preoccupied. ‘Maddy’s saying Jack’s worried about her spending too much at the Christmas market.’
He smiled at Maddy as he pocketed the phone and slipped his arm around me again. ‘You’ll be needing a spare suitcase for all the snow globes you’ll be bringing home.’
‘That’s a distinct possibility.’ Maddy grinned. ‘See you in half an hour in the Swan, Katja?’
I nodded happily and we waved her off. Then I glanced back at the glowing lights of the café, not wanting to let Caleb go. ‘Got time for a quick coffee?’
It had been so lovely, our evening babysitting for Penny, snuggled together on the sofa. After the ‘cooling off’ period I’d instigated, in which we hardly saw each other, it had felt as if we were right back to the way we were at the start ofour relationship. We needed more nights like that and I was planning on taking Caleb out for a romantic dinner. My treat.
But he was glancing at his watch and hesitating.
‘Was that a problem at work?’ I asked. ‘On the phone?’
‘What?’ He looked quizzical. ‘Oh, yes. Yes, it was work. And in fact, I really need to dash just now. I’m needed in Guildford for a meeting. All very last-minute, but it’s important I be there.’ He glanced at his watch, the frown line between his eyes a deep groove. ‘If I leave now, I should just about make it in time.’
‘Right.’ I nodded. ‘How about dinner later, when you get back?’
He grimaced. ‘It’s going to be a long meeting. Sorry.’
‘That’s fine. We can do dinner some other night.’
‘Absolutely.’ He gave me a wistful look and kissed me firmly on the mouth. Then he was striding away across the green, calling back, ‘Text me and let me know when you’re free?’
‘I will. ’Bye!’
*****
Feeling at a bit of a loose end, I wandered back to the café.
There was no point walking back to the flat. I’d just have to leave again almost immediately to meet Maddy. So I’d grab a coffee on my own to fill in the time until I was due at the Swan Hotel bar.
There were only a few customers left in the café, and Ellie was wiping tables and getting ready to close up when I entered.
‘Back so soon?’ She looked surprised to see me.
I explained the situation and she abandoned her cloth and brought two coffees over. We sat at a table in the window, and we talked about Maddy and Jack’s trip to Salzburg.
‘I do so love a Christmas market,’ said Ellie, a wistful look on her face. ‘But when do I ever have the time?’
‘There are Christmas markets in this country. You don’t have to go abroad,’ I pointed out.
‘That’s true. But still . . .’ She frowned. ‘Unless . . .’
I smiled. ‘Unless what?’
‘We could have one here. At the glamping site. We’ve got plenty of room.’
I nodded. ‘You’ve got all that green space at the far end of the field.’
‘It could be great, couldn’t it?’ Her eyes were sparkling at the very thought. Like me, Ellie adored the festive season.
‘Itcould. But won’t you have enough to do, what with baby Isla and the café and getting ready for Christmas?’
She laughed. ‘What is it they say? If you want something done, ask a busy person? You know me, I need to have a project on the go and a Christmas market here would be just perfect! And it’s not as if we’d be starting from scratch – the Winter Wonderland the Christmas before last was a great success and we did lots of the preparatory work then, so it’ll be easier this time around. There’ll be plenty of local craftspeople willing to take a stall and sell their wares again, I’m sure – maybe one weekend in mid-December?’ She sighed dreamily. ‘I can just picture it. Stalls festooned with fairy lights selling mulled wine and mince pies, with festive songs playing and everyone milling around buying their last-minute Christmas gifts. It could be wonderful. I could even have a stall myself.’
‘What would you sell? Christmas cakes and mince pies?’
