Page 99 of A Christmas Celebration
‘What about you, Albert?’ asked Dorothy. ‘Has Paige sorted you out with a tree yet?’
‘She has.’ He nodded. ‘A wonderful one. Although it is a little on the large side. I reckon we’ll have to lop the top off to get it in the cottage.’
Dorothy rolled her eyes.
‘She’s getting as excited as her godfather, this one.’ Dorothy nodded at me which made my cheeks flare. ‘They’re going to be as bad as each other by the time it’s the Winter Wonderland weekend.’
I hoped Angus would be sticking to his promise not to do anything untoward that weekend, especially if we’d had words by then.
‘Look at her,’ Kathleen teased, misinterpreting my reaction. ‘You’ve gone bright red just thinking about it, Paige!’
‘Have you dropped your cakes off?’ I asked Dorothy to draw attention away from my glowing complexion.
She had been in a bit of a flap when I left the hall, worrying that she wasn’t going to get them to the bake sale in time.
‘Mick and I have just done it,’ she said, ‘which is why I’ve come in here for a restorative cuppa. I honestly didn’t think we were going to make it.’
‘Dorothy has made the prettiest Christmas cakes for the bake sale which is happening in the town hall,’ I explained to Albert.
‘And don’t worry, Albert,’ she said, patting his arm. ‘I’ve got a smaller one back at the hall with your name on it.’
‘Now that is kind.’ He smiled. ‘Thank you. I’m partial to a slice of Christmas cake and I reckon yours will be top notch.’
Dorothy grew a couple of inches taller when he said that, no doubt pleased her new friend was in earshot to hear the praise and I realized I hadn’t introduced Albert to Kathleen. With that soon remedied and Kathleen making me promise to add Albert officially to the delivery rota, I paid our bill and vacated the table so she and Dorothy could secure it.
‘Is that the gallery you were talking about?’ Albert asked, when we were out in the busy square again.
‘Yes,’ I said, ‘that’s the one. I’ve only been in a couple…’
The words died in my throat as I spotted Brodie coming out of the door.
‘Shall we go and see if we can find you a wreath, Albert?’ I brightly suggested, turning us in the opposite direction, but it was too late.
‘Paige!’
My heart sank. Obviously, I needed to talk to Brodie, but not with Albert in tow.
‘Brodie.’ I swallowed, turning back again. ‘Hi.’
Looking between me and Albert, he didn’t seem to know what to say next and was probably wishing he hadn’t called out as much as I was.
‘It’s lovely to see you again, Albert,’ he finally said, in a surprisingly familiar tone.
‘Likewise, young man,’ said Albert, taking me further aback.
‘I was hoping I might see you,’ Brodie then said to me.
‘You were?’ I croaked.
‘Yeah,’ he said, shoving his hands through his hair. ‘I really need to talk to you. Any chance we could go for that drink we haven’t managed yet?’
I bit my lip. The pub was far from ideal for what I had to say.
‘Brodie!’
‘I think Jack wants you,’ I said, as he called out again. ‘You’d better go. If you ring the hall, we’ll sort something out.’
‘I’d rather arrange it now,’ Brodie said, ‘because I can never seem to get you at the hall, but you’re right. Jack’s going to burst if I don’t get over there.’
