Page 134 of A Christmas Celebration
‘It’s more than all right,’ I told him, feeling excited for the time when I could tell him the plan I’d been cooking up for myself.
‘That’s the spirit.’ He beamed, giving me a tighter squeeze before letting me go. ‘Right,’ he then said, ‘we’d best get back. Tomorrow’s going to be a busy day.’
‘It is.’ I nodded. ‘And we still need to work out how we’re going to keep this party a secret from Catherine when we’ve got so much setting up to do.’
‘Oh, don’t worry.’ Angus winked. ‘I’ve thought of a way around that too.’
It seemed to me that the only thing I had to worry about was Brodie, but that was more than enough.
Having thought over what Albert had said about Brodie coming up to a boil, I decided it would be best if I left him to simmer and focused my attention the next day on getting my deliveries finished early so I could be back at the hall in time to welcome and meet everyone.
It turned out to be quite a race against the clock as there had been far more library books than usual to deliver and the vast majority of them were festive fiction titles. Multiple Sarah Morgan and Trisha Ashley paperbacks filled the boxes and there were plenty bearing Milly Johnson’s name too.
‘Did you get any lunch in town?’ Dorothy asked once I’d finally made it back and flopped down into a chair.
‘Not a morsel,’ I told her as my tummy loudly rumbled, confirming exactly how hungry I was. ‘There was no time.’
‘I did tell you to take something with you,’ she scolded. ‘Here,’ she added, handing me a bowl. ‘There’s soup on the Aga and I’ll pop one of those part-baked rolls in to warm.’
Dorothy usually made all of the hall bread, but with so many visitors poised to descend she had to cut a few corners and laid in supplies of the part-baked baguettes and rolls amongst other things.
‘What time did Mick leave for the airport?’ I asked, ladlingthick chicken and tarragon soup and hearing my tummy rumble again as the delicious aroma filled the air.
‘Getting on for three hours ago, I reckon,’ she said, glancing at the clock next to the advent calendar. ‘They should be back about three.’
I sat at the table again and tucked into my belated lunch.
‘My tummy still feels a bit funny,’ I said, once I’d finished.
‘There’s cake in the tin,’ Dorothy automatically responded.
‘I don’t think it’s hunger,’ I told her, with a smile. ‘It’s excitement. Christmas is really going to begin once everyone gets here, isn’t it?’
‘You’re not wrong,’ said Angus, rushing through the door wearing a Santa hat at a rakish angle.
It wasn’t hisproperFather Christmas hat as that only came out when the real Santa was in residence.
‘Here you go, you two,’ he said, pulling another two hats out of a bag. ‘Get these on and we’ll be all ready to line up outside when everyone arrives.’
I was happy to wear mine, but Dorothy wasn’t at all keen.
‘I only washed my hair yesterday,’ she tutted.
‘If I have to wear one,’ said Catherine, following Angus in, ‘so do you, Dorothy.’
I looked at my godmother and chuckled.
‘It suits you,’ I told her.
She was definitely one of those women who could pull hats off. Even white faux fur-trimmed ones with bells on the end.
‘Whereas I look hideous,’ moaned Dorothy, as she resignedly pulled it on and too far down.
I straightened it for her and we posed as a group as Angus insisted on taking a selfie.
‘Afternoon clan,’ laughed Archie, who then arrived with Molly.
They were both wearing hats too, but Molly’s was dark green and matched her newest cloak which had tiny tinkling silver bells sewn on to the ribbon ties. The colour set off her hair beautifully.
