Page 60 of A Christmas Celebration
‘Santa!’ I then heard Saffron shout. ‘Come on, Mum!’
‘Father Christmas!’ yelled someone else.
While we had all been admiring the town lights and fireworks, Santa himself had climbed into his sleigh and was now waving at the crowd who rushed to form an orderly queue to meet him. I felt quite emotional as the sleigh bells rang out and for a moment, I almost forgot that it was my godfather inside the suit and not the man himself.
‘I’ll see you again soon,’ said Alice as she rushed to join the queue.
‘He really looks the part, doesn’t he?’ said Archie, coming over to me and Molly. ‘You could almost believe it was him.’
‘For a moment there,’ I admitted, shaking my head as my eyes swept again over the glossy red sleigh which looked even better under the lights. ‘I did.’
Flanked by two elves, Santa called the adoring crowd to order and a steady stream of children took their turn to meet him and receive a small gift. It was a truly joyous sight and I was so happy to have had the opportunity to see it.
‘Come on,’ said Archie, after we’d been watching for a few minutes, ‘let’s go over to the pub. There’s been a change of plan regarding getting home. Mick is going to run Mum and Dorothy back and then come and pick Dad up later, so we can be as long as we like now. That is, if you still don’t mind driving and not drinking, Paige.’
‘Not at all,’ I happily agreed, wondering if I’d find Brodie in The Mermaid.
As much as I was enjoying watching Santa make wishes come true, especially those of a very happy looking Alice and her brood, the cold was beginning to get to me and I willingly followed Archie and Molly over to the pub. It was standing room only and I was introduced to so many people my head was soon spinning even though I’d drunk nothing more potent than a glass of Coke.
Brodie wasn’t among them, but there was Beamish and Hattie, then Lottie and Will, who I did know of course and was happy to tell that Bella was doing fine. Then came Amber from Skylark Farm and Fliss and Eli from Fenview Farm, along with Ruby and Steve from the market.
‘I hope no one’s planning to test me on names later,’ I shouted to Molly, who raised her glass in response, having clearly not heard what I’d said above the cacophony of laughter and chat.
It was like that for about an hour and then folk began to drift away. I gratefully flopped down on a chair the second one became available and only then noticed that Brodie was sitting all alone at a table next to the fire. He had receded so far into the shadows he reminded me of Aragorn fromThe Lord of The Ringswho could make himself disappear in just a few well-placed strides.
I was just wondering how long he’d been there, when he looked up and our eyes locked. I felt my face flush and turned away. I twisted around to talk to Molly to hide my discomfiture at being caught staring but she was still standing with Archie and they were engrossed in conversation with another couple. Feeling further exposed, my gaze flicked back to Brodie and found his was still trained on me.
There was nothing else for it and so, while trying to suppress the memory of his body moving close to mine lest my legs give out, I picked up my glass and walked over.
‘Hey, Brodie,’ I said, ignoring the speedy thump of my heart. ‘I was wondering if I might see you tonight.’
‘You were?’ He frowned.
‘Yes,’ I said, feeling awkward. ‘We said about having a drink tonight the day we met in the opticians, remember?’
‘Oh, yeah,’ he said. ‘We did, didn’t we? But of course, that was before the dance.’
‘Yes,’ I said, ‘I’m sorry you got roped into that. You obviously didn’t want to be there and you took off before I could apologize that Kathleen…’
‘It’s fine,’ he cut in. ‘Although I’m sorry I wasn’t as muchfun as Jack to dance with. Everyone has been telling me all day what a laugh you had with my brother.’
‘I think we were laughing more to cover up our ineptitude than anything else.’ I smiled. ‘I… I much preferred my waltz with you.’
Brodie’s frown was replaced with a look of surprise.
‘Well, that’s a first,’ he said.
‘What is?’
‘Someone preferring me over him.’
I got the feeling we weren’t talking about being dance partners anymore and guessed that Jack hadn’t mentioned anything about having worked out that I had the hots for his brother. I was grateful about that.
‘Oh, I can’t believe that,’ I said, the words catching.
‘It’s true,’ he said, pushing out the seat opposite him with his foot. ‘Do you still fancy that drink?’
I sat down, my jelly legs grateful for the intervention.
