Page 16 of A Christmas Celebration
‘You won’t be able to take him into the café,’ Archie said, having handed over a water bottle and Bran-sized bowl as I unwound the windows because the dog’s panting had startedto steam them up. ‘But if you open the door and shout, I’m sure Jemma will come running.’
‘Especially when she realizes what I’ve got,’ I said, patting the envelope with the precious contents on the passenger seat.
‘Exactly,’ Archie agreed.
He handed me Bran’s lead and waved us off. However, I had barely reached the start of the drive before Mick flagged me down again.
‘Jump cables.’ I frowned as he bundled the tangle through the window and into the passenger footwell.
‘Just in case,’ he said. ‘She has been fine, but you can never tell at this time of year. Do you know how to use them?’
I gave him a look and he chuckled.
‘I know how to use them,’ I told him. ‘But I’ll need to find something with enough heft to give her a jump.’
‘Wynbridge is a rural market town,’ he said. ‘You won’t be short on heft, should you need it. There are always at least three farm trucks milling around the market square.’
The town was short on parking though and I had to leave the Land Rover a few streets away from where we needed to be, not that Bran or I objected to having a bit of a walk. As much as I loved the hall, it was good to get away for a while, especially after the interest I’d raised by throwing myself on to the studio floor commando style.
‘I’m not sure this is necessary, Bran,’ I said, clipping his lead to his collar as we got into our stride, ‘but we’ll use it just in case you turn out to be a flight risk.’
He wasn’t bothered either way and loped along beside me,kindly matching his lengthy strides to mine so I wasn’t too out of puff when we reached our destination. The café bell tinkled as I pushed open the door and waited patiently on the threshold in the hope of catching someone’s eye.
‘Are you coming in or not?’ asked the customer closest to the draught my lingering was letting in.
‘Not, I’m afraid,’ I apologized. ‘But I’ll only be a minute.’
‘Can I help?’ asked a waitress, who then fortuitously spotted me.
‘I have a delivery for Jemma,’ I told her. ‘But I can’t come in to drop it off because I’ve got a dog with me.’
The woman quickly stepped outside and closed the door behind her.
‘Hello, Bran,’ she said, giving him a fuss, which he willingly soaked up. ‘You must be Paige,’ she then said to me.
‘I am,’ I confirmed. Familiar with how quickly word spread in a small town, I didn’t bother asking how she knew. ‘And I have this envelope from Hayley to pass on.’
‘Her designs at last!’ said the woman, sounding delighted. ‘Jemma’s not here, but you’ll find Lizzie in the gallery next door. You can leave them with her.’
I looked down at Bran.
‘No one will mind if you take him in there,’ she smiled. ‘We all know who he is and what wonderful manners he’s got.’
I thanked her and headed to the gallery. I peered through the window before going in and hoped she was right about Bran because it looked as though a class of some sort wasset up at the back. I wondered if it was one of Lizzie’s crafting sessions.
‘Come on then,’ I said to Bran, who had chosen that moment to flop down on the pavement.
He hauled himself up, looking slightly damp underneath, and we ventured inside. The front half of the gallery was full of shelves packed with beautiful wooden turned bowls, hand knitted scarves and more than a sprinkling of products showcasing Hayley’s cheeky feathered flock. The walls were covered in different size canvases, many of them featuring the striking local landscape and wildlife.
I slowly turned my attention from the gallery walls to the class and realized it wasn’t a crafting session after all. Some easels had been set up and standing beside them were a group of women, and one man, all wearing the most rapt expressions.
Heads tilted to one side, they were nodding and looking serious and I got the impression that eyelashes were actually being batted in the direction of the person addressing them. There was even a yearning lower lip bite going on and I was consequently intrigued to see the face of the person who was the cause of so much intent interest.
I was just about to clear my throat in the hope that the person facing the group would turn around, when Bran chose that moment to give an almighty shake.
‘Oh, Bran,’ I loudly admonished.
He had made me jump and I realized I had been as spellbound by the rear view of the man as everyone else was with the front.
