Page 30 of Christmas in Mistletoe
Fran exhaled, then did the same.
Chapter 12
Ruby walkedup the farm drive the next day. The pile of snow was still there, but the imprint of Fran’s body where she’d fallen had gone. It had snowed again overnight, and the air was icy on Ruby’s face. She could still picture Fran’s piercing blue eyes. The beat of her own heart. Had the surprise of her emotions shown on her face? She hoped not.
Ruby was still trying to work out her feelings towards Fran. It had been on her mind this morning, all through the voice coaching lesson she’d given on Zoom. Ruby had gone from being irritated and annoyed, to now sad she’d left? That was even after Fran kept pressing her to play some gigs. Ruby hated being challenged about that. She should have got straight back out there and played bigger venues. She knew that. Now, every year that went by, the fear just got bigger.
Ruby shook her head, and walked down Farm Lane. It was a lot quieter today after the hustle of the contest over the weekend. Now, the roads were clear, and the sky a brilliant white. When Ruby breathed out, she could see her breath in the air. Their gritting efforts over the weekend were already snuffed out with a new layer of fresh snow coating the village. It looked gorgeous, but it wasn’t good for business. Ruby had spent a lonely morning in the cafe with a steady trickle of customers. Still, it was only a Monday. Hopefully the week would pick up.
She breathed in the smell of Mistletoe Stores’ Christmas tree as she passed it — the Elvis Nordmann fir. Ruby waved hi to Henry who lived down the road, walking back with a bag of firewood. The bell over the shop rang as Ruby walked in.
Victoria popped up from under the counter.
Ruby let out a yelp as she clutched her chest. “What the hell are you doing, scaring me like that?”
Victoria grinned. “I didn’t mean to. I was trying to rescue a 10p, but it’s gone to the under-counter god, and shall never be seen again. When I die and they take this counter out, you’ll find riches underneath. It could pay off your mortgage.”
“Like I’m ever going to have enough money for a mortgage.” Ruby walked behind the counter and gave Victoria a hug. While Ruby had fiery-brown hair and emerald eyes, Victoria was fair-haired and blue-eyed. Nobody could ever believe they were related and came from the same parents, but they were. They shared the same wide mouth, inherited from their mother, but apart from that, the two sisters looked nothing alike. Plus, at 5ft 3, Victoria was a short-arse.
“To what do I owe this honour? I thought your plan today was to flog Christmas trees?” Victoria asked.
“That’s still the plan, but we need milk. We’ve run out at home, and Mum doesn’t want to eat into the cafe stock, just in case we have a mad dash on coffee later. I can’t see it happening, but Mum doesn’t want to tempt fate. Plus, we’re out of cheese. Which is an emergency in our house, as you well know.”
Victoria walked around the counter and to the fridge, bringing back a four-pint of milk and some Cathedral City, their dad’s favourite cheddar. “Do you have a lot of collections tonight?”
Ruby nodded. The farm had a couple of open days during November, where customers could walk the tree fields, then tag and pay for the one they wanted. They then arranged to pick it up on a specified date. The first week of December was a popular collection week. “A fair few. But we also need to shift the potted trees, plus all the mistletoe, wreaths, all that gubbins. You’d think people would want to come to Mistletoe Farm for their mistletoe, but when Sainsbury’s sells it for a quid a sprig, it’s tricky to compete.”
“I’ve been sending people your way this morning, so fingers crossed it picks up.” Victoria put the groceries on the counter, then glanced at Ruby. “While you’re here, can you give me a hand putting up the Christmas stuff in the window? I need to get up on the ladder, but you know I hate doing that.”
Ruby grabbed the stepladder from the back. This had always been her job in the family ever since she was little. Chief getter of things from up high.
Victoria pointed. “I want to put up a display with panettones, crackers, and Christmas puddings. The hampers are selling like hot cakes, so they were a great idea.”
“Good.” Ruby steadied the ladder. “You got the stuff to give me?”
Victoria disappeared, before reappearing with boxes of Christmas supplies.
Ruby climbed four steps, then turned around, bending her knees carefully, hands out.
Victoria began passing mini Christmas puddings up for the festive shelf, which was suspended over the window display with two chains, like a massive swing.
Ruby took three puddings and began to juggle them. She was a champion juggler. Also, a champion sibling annoyer.
Sure enough, Victoria tutted. “No theatrics, thank you. I’d like the display finished today.”
“Where’s your sense of adventure?”
Ruby juggled for a few seconds, then put the puddings on one of the ladder’s steps, giving Victoria a bow.
She got an arched eyebrow in return.
Ruby picked up the goods with a smirk, then missed her step on the next rung. Her heart dropped as she crushed her weight into the ladder to steady herself, the puddings clutched to her chest. She didn’t drop one. She never did. Ruby was rock-solid on a ladder. Even when she was a little too big for her boots.
Victoria gave her a stern stare. “Fucking hell, that was close.” She gestured with her hand. “Put it on the display shelf, please.”
Ruby’s heart was still racing. She did as she was told, then took four more puddings and did the same.
“The contest went well, didn’t it? Dragged the crowds in, despite the snow.”
