‘That’s true.’ Merri glanced towards the large Christmas tree, which had been delivered half an hour ago and which Brooke had been tasked with decorating. ‘Do you know what style you’re going to decorate it in yet?’
Pulling the gold tinsel from her neck, Brooke looked at it. ‘Nope, no idea. I’d planned just to throw everything we have at it and hope for the best.’
‘Good idea.’ Merri smiled. Ian and Brooke had carried three large boxes stuffed full of decorations from the loft already, and Elsie was adamant they’d left one up there. She’d never seen so many decorations. Touching the silver snowflake pendant on her necklace, Merri twisted around between the pads of herthumb and forefinger. What would she know about decorating a Christmas tree, anyway? The only times she’d really celebrated Christmas as a child had been twice, both times at her grandparents’ house when her dad had been working away, and then they’d already decorated the tree before she’d arrived. Of course, she’d had her own tree when she’d moved out. In fact, before she’d moved into the flatshare with Aggie, she’d lived with her ex, Nile, and although he’d never been bothered about going over the top at Christmas time, they’d had one of those real little trees bought from a supermarket which had sat on the dining table until withering and dying during the first week of January. However much Merri had watered and nurtured them, they’d always faded. Still, this was why she was here now, to experience a proper Christmas, to experience the excitement of Christmas for the first time as an adult.
‘I need to try to get it decorated by the time Diane’s shift finishes though, and then this evening Ian is going to start putting the grotto up.’ Brooke smiled.
‘The grotto?’ Merri glanced over at the small space beside the tree and the tables. ‘How will he even fit a grotto in? And why?’
Grinning, Brooke leaned her hip against the counter and pointed towards the tables closest to the tree. ‘We’ll bunch the tables and chairs up a little and make the space. It never looks as though one will fit in, but it always does. And then on the day of the light parade, Ian will dress up as Santa.’
Widening her eyes, Merri shook her head. Santa? ‘Wait? What? They’ll be a real-life Santa in here? And what’s the light parade?’
Turning around to face her, Brooke’s eyes shone with memories. ‘Oh, it’s brilliant. The whole of Penworth Bay comes out for the light parade. People decorate paper lanterns in here and in Penny’s cafe next door, and then we all congregate at the bandstand, where the pub landlord, Gerald, and the bay’sbrassbound lead the way down to the beach whilst everyone sings Christmas carols. Once at the bottom of the hill, we’ll all sing to the residents of the local care home before descending on the beach, where they’ll be hot chocolate stalls, fire pits to roast marshmallows and all sorts.’
‘Wow, that does sound amazing.’ It really did. Of course, she’d heard about other towns and villages having sweet Christmas traditions, in fact, they’d had a light switch on and Christmas market where she’d lived and as she’d got older, she’d gone down to the centre of town with her friends to join in the festivities. Although she’d always been left with a warm and fuzzy feeling, as soon as she’d stepped through the doors back home again, the dim undecorated house had reminded her of her dad’s hate of the celebrations and any joy she’d felt about the time of the year had instantly drained out of her. Not that he blamed him.
‘It is. It’s one of the things I love most about living in the bay.’ Brooke frowned and reached across towards Merri, plucking something from her jumper. ‘Careful. You almost lost this.’
Looking down at Brooke’s hand, Merri bit down on her bottom lip as she picked up the small snowflake pendant and necklace. ‘Thanks, it’s got a dodgy clasp. I really need to get it fixed.’
‘There’ll be a place in Trestow.’ Brooke nodded towards where Merri held the necklace in her hand. ‘In fact, there’s a lovely jeweller in the centre who will be able to fix it for you, no problem.’
‘Thanks. I’ll have to pop over there.’ She glanced behind her as the kitchen door swung open and Elsie walked in carrying two trays full of steaming hot pasties.
‘Has Diane arrived yet? This is supposed to be her first day back from maternity leave today.’ Walking behind the bakery counter, Elsie slid the trays into position behind the glass screen.
‘Umm, there she is. She’s just coming down the road now.’ Placing the tinsel she’d still been holding onto the counter in front of Merri, Brooke weaved her way through the tables and chairs and pulled open the front door to the bakery just in time for Diane to slip inside out of the rain.
As soon as Brooke had closed the door behind her, Diane shook herself out of her coat. ‘It’s freezing out there.’
‘Never mind the weather, love. How are feeling about being back? Did Esme settle at the childminders okay?’ Hurrying towards her. Elsie drew Diane in for a hug.
‘Yes, she’s fine.’ After hugging her back, Diane pulled off her scarf and gloves before placing them in a heap on the table closest to them along with her coat. ‘In fact, she seemed happy.’
‘Oh, I am glad. I know how much you were worrying about it all.’ Picking up Diane’s scarf, Elsie began folding it neatly.
‘Umm, well, I needn’t have been. She was as happy as Larry when I left.’ Diane crossed her arms and pouted. ‘Not even one single tear for the mum who has hardly left her side these last few months.’
Shaking her head, Elsie chuckled. ‘There’s no pleasing you, is there? If you’d left her upset, you’d have been fretting about her all morning, and now that she’s happily settled, you’re upset. It doesn’t mean she’s not missing you, it just means you’ve done a grand job of teaching her you’ll always keep her safe, whether she’s with you or not, you’ll always make sure she’s with someone you trust.’
‘I know.’ Shaking her head, Diane rolled her eyes. ‘I guess I just thought she’d been even just a smidgen as upset as I am at leaving her.’
‘Oh, love. Aren’t you ready to come back to work? If you’re not, you don’t have to.’ Elsie rubbed Diane’s shoulder.
‘Nope, I need to. I won’t ever be ready. And Esme is happy. She’ll be having the time of her life with the other kids fussingover her. You know what she’s like; she loves being the centre of attention.’ After picking up her coat and gloves, Diane held her hand out for her scarf.
‘I wonder where she gets that from.’ Grinning, Elsie passed over Diane’s scarf.
‘Yeah, exactly. Harry has a lot to answer for.’
Chuckling, Elsie shook her head. ‘That’s not who I was thinking of.’
‘Me?’ Gasping as an expression of mock-shock covered her face, Diane tried her best not to laugh. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘Go on, get your apron on so we can open the door.’ Shaking her head, Elsie smiled before turning to Merri. ‘You remember each other, don’t you? I know Diane wasn’t working here when you volunteered, Merri, but you remember each other from the bakery family dinners, don’t you?’
‘And the pub quizzes.’ Diane hung her coat up before holding her hand up in a wave towards Merri. ‘Good to see you again, Merri.’
