‘Yeah, Shoreditch.’
‘How are you settling in?’ asked Jassi.
Blythe was quite keen to hear his response. Despite everything, she very much wanted Sam to feel at home in the village.
‘Fine, thanks.’ Sam concentrated on his pumpkin while Jassi and Blythe exchanged looks.
‘We moved here from Sparkhill, Birmingham. It’s a big change coming from a city to a little place like this. We weren’t sure if we’d like it or if the locals would like us, but it’s been brilliant. Everyone’s been so supportive. Kal has congenital nephrotic syndrome, which is long hand for dodgy kidneys.’ Jassi ruffled the hair of the nearest twin.
‘Sorry to hear that,’ said Sam.
‘This year HCCC are raising money for the renal department at our local hospital to help Kal and people like him.’
Jassi squeezed Blythe’s hand ‘The villagers are lovely, the kids are happy and business is booming.’ Blythe was very grateful to Jassi for trying to engage with the newcomer.
Sam nodded but said nothing. ‘Sam runs his own business too,’ said Blythe, desperately trying to keep the conversation going.
‘What do you do?’ asked Jassi.
‘Film props,’ said Sam.
‘Must be interesting,’ she said, intercepting a scoop of pumpkin seeds one of the twins was wielding in Sam’s direction.
‘I like it,’ said Sam.
Blythe was inwardly rejoicing at him uttering a whole sentence. Was this progress? ‘He’s got a warehouse near here,’ added Blythe.
‘I rent one,’ corrected Sam. Maybe she didn’t need him to speak whole sentences. As long as he was there that was the important thing.
They settled down to carving their pumpkins and Blythe felt that although it had all been a little stilted Sam would hopefully be picking up on the community vibes. Sarvan was collecting in bowls and receiving lots of compliments about the soup and was imparting that he never measured his spices so it was different every time he made it. Arthur was diligently collecting waste pumpkin in buckets and ferrying it out to his waiting wheelbarrows to add to the pigs’ tea and was talking to people in between trips. And the children were chatting and giggling excitedly as their creations came to life. Blythe started to relax.
They carved in silence for a while. Blythe helped the twins with some tricky bits and Sam quietly chiselled away. She wanted to see what he was carving on his pumpkin but didn’t want to put him off so she kept to her side of the table.
The chair next to Blythe was hastily pulled out and someone sat down. It was Christmas Carol. Blythe was instantly on edge as Sam glanced up and locked eyes with the smiling reindeer on Carol’s jumper.
‘Hello, you must be the elusive Mr Ashton. I’m Carol,’ she said, offering a hand for him to shake. ‘Everyone calls me Christmas Carol.’ She chortled at her own joke and gave a shimmy so that the tiny bells on her jumper jingled. Blythe’s shoulders tensed.
Sam wiped his hands on a cloth and shook with Carol. ‘Sam. Pleased to meet you.’
‘We are all very pleased to meet you.’ Sam smiled but went back to his pumpkin. Blythe was about to breathe a sigh of relief but Carol spoke again and Blythe froze. ‘You’re a difficult man to track down. I’m sure Blythe here has explained all about Holly Cross Christmas…’ She paused to look at Blythe.
‘Well, I’ve mentioned it but Sam’s a very busy person. And today we’re just doing pumpkins so—’
‘We’re all busy people,’ said Carol. ‘Next HCCC meeting is Thursday at seven o’clock. Leonora has a long list with your name on, so you’d better show up this time. No more excuses or we’ll think you don’t want to take part.’
The tension in Blythe’s shoulders was spreading up her neck. She watched Sam slowly look up from his pumpkin. ‘Sorry,’ she mouthed.
Sam put down his carving tool and put the lid back on his pumpkin. ‘I won’t be at the meeting next Thursday, Carol. Or any other Christmas-related gathering. I don’t celebrate Christmas. I’m sure you’ll all respect my decision.’ He shot a warning look at Blythe before picking up his pumpkin and leaving.
*
By Thursday night what Sam had said on pumpkin day was all around the village and from the look on Leonora’s face it had also reached her. She stormed into the village hall as if her brogues were on fire. She wrestled her flip chart over to the table and sat down with a thud. ‘I’m sorry I’m late but I’ve been trying to get a response from Sam Ashton. I needed a definitive answer to all the rumours currently circulating the village.’ Blythe was wishing she hadn’t gone to the meeting but everyone knew where she lived so she’d figured she would only have been delaying the inevitable confrontation.
‘I finally got to speak to the man and do you know what he said?’ She scanned the table and her eyes fixed on Blythe, making her feel even more uncomfortable.
‘Ooh,’ said Phyllis. ‘Did he give you Sean Connery’s phone number?’ There were awkward looks around the table. ‘Wouldn’t that be something if we could get him to switch on the Christmas lights this year,’ she added.
‘It’d be a miracle,’ muttered Vicky through her jam tart.
