“Okay, so we’ll arrange the mulled wine tasting in the middle of October, that gives us time to make another batch before the Christmas market if this one doesn’t turn out well. Or if it does,” Linn concluded.
She found a roll of cling film, covering the blanket and then made lots of little airholes in it using a sharp knife. Emelie sat down on the sofa with her computer, taking notes on who to invite for the mulled wine tasting in October. While Linn was cleaning up the kitchen, she checked the Facebook event and saw that even more people were excited about the return of the Christmas market. She smiled, it seemed like the market would be a success, even if it meant a lot of work for her. Not that she had much else to do, except for cleaning the house, but it was okay.
Her inbox was blinking with a red light: ‘Private message’. The picture next to the message showed a woman in her sixties and next to the picture Emelie read her name: Carina Millby.
“Hello! My name is Carina and I used to live ion Sardinön. I wonder if Christer is still a part of the committee? This might sound odd, but I wonder if he is single? I understand completely if you don’t want to answer! Kind regards, Carina”
“Listen to this,” Emelie said with a smile, reading the message out loud to Linn who froze while drying off the kitchen counter.
“Isn’t Christer’s last name Millby? It’s rather unusual, isn’t it? It must be his ex-wife,” Linn said.
Emelie nodded.
“I think so too, I don’t know more about what happened than what Birgitta has told me. That a town man showed up at the Christmas market and she fell head over heels in love with him and left Christer there and then. That’s why he hates city people. Especially the ones from Malmö. And he also hates golf,” she said, laughing. “But does this mean she is coming back? What should I answer?”
“I guess you could tell her that he is single, that’s hardly a secret?” Linn said.
“No, I don’t think so,” Emelie answered, writing a message to Carina.
“Hello! Nice to hear that you are interested in the Christmas market. As far as I know, Christer is single. Are you related? I noticed that you share the same last name ? Emelie”
She responded immediately.
“I’m Christer’s ex-wife. Would it be possible for me to book a table at the market? I sell spices.”
Spices? Yes, they didn’t have anyone selling that, and since she used to live on the island Emelie put her directly into the ‘okay’ pile. Also, she was very curious about Christer’s old missus. She sent a positive response to Carina and sent her the price and account number and got a thumbs up in return.
“This Christmas market just got more exciting. I wonder if Carina is going to spice things up at the market,” Emelie said to Linn, grinning.
Chapter 20
“Hello there, Christer, how are you?”
As usual, Emelie was sitting with the computer in front of her when the phone rang, and Christer’s name popped up on the screen. Christer told her that all the tables for the market had been repaired and that he had ordered a couple of new ones that were going arrive before the end of the week.
“So, my dear project leader, how are things on your end? Do you have everything under control?”
“Yes, all the tables are booked, and I even have a couple of names on the backup list in case we have any cancellations. But I think we have managed to get a great mix of different items.”
“Sounds good, do you want us to go over the list again?”
Emelie was about to say that it sounded like a great idea, and that she would send him the list, when she realised that he would then see Carina’s name on it. It might be better to make him deal with the fact that she was there on the day of the market? Otherwise, she would risk him making a fuss and forcing her to cancel on Carina, and she didn’t want to do that.
“We were very thorough last time, so I don’t think it will be necessary, but it would be great if we could give the tables different numbers, so we are sure to split up the salespeople in a good way. Do you want me to stop by, then we can look at it together?”
“Sounds good! The door is open, so just come on in.”
When Emelie got to the community centre and opened the heavy doors, she instantly caught sight of Christer in the big hall.
“Hello there”, she called, and he waved for her to come in.
Emelie stopped on the carpet inside the door and, while stomping the gravel off her feet, she imagined what it would look like here on the day of the market. Lots of people, gravel and melting snow on the floor, a happy buzzing and the smell of Christmas trees, mulled wine and gingerbread cookies. She smiled with anticipation. The sound of furniture being pulled across the floor and Christer’s voice brought her back to reality.
“Where did you go?”
She stepped into the big hall.
“I just got stuck in the hallway, daydreaming about the market. I think we can expect a lot of people. What do you think about creating the atmosphere of an outdoor market by leaving the doors in open so you can walk freely between the outside and in here? Then we don’t have to worry about taking care of people’s coats either.”
