‘Scared of ghosts as well as cat burglars are you?’
‘Again, that wordscared. It’s not what usually springs to mind when I think of my disposition. It’s a good job you’re not in PR. Although you do a top job of selling the benefits of living in this village.’
‘Actually, I know you’re not big on the community thing—’
‘Hey, I did pumpkin day and Halloween. I should definitely be off the hook for community stuff for the rest of the year. And I should probably get some sort of prize or a badge at the very least.’
Christmas swam into Blythe’s mind but she ignored it. Whatever Leonora said, or more accurately growled, it wasn’t doing any good to keep badgering Sam about Christmas. Blythe had a more subtle plan, which was to gradually introduce him to village life – a bit like Turpin and the indoors.
‘Sure. But it’s bonfire weekend and I know the fireworks might not be your thing but we could really use your skills when it comes to building the bonfire. I’m guessing you’re good with your hands.’ He grinned at her. ‘Because of the thatching,’ she explained. ‘It was like a toppling Jenga tower last year.’ She hoped appealing to his expertise might be a good approach. She waited. He was mulling it over. ‘It’d be a few hours on Saturday and you get a free jacket potato and entry to the event for your trouble. What do you think?’
He ran his lip through his teeth. ‘I think you’re very persuasive.’
‘I think that describes my disposition perfectly.’ She grinned. She’d make Sam Ashton a part of this village if it killed her.
*
Saturday was the day the village were having their bonfire and Blythe’s plan to avoid Leonora lasted for all of five minutes. Blythe and some others had cordoned off the end of the school field and were marking out the base of the bonfire when someone shouted her name and everyone turned to see Leonora marching over wearing her first aider tabard. ‘Blythe, I urgently need an update on the Sam Ashton situation. He’s on my critical path.’
Blythe didn’t like the image that conjured up but tried to ignore it. ‘Leonora, I know the situation with Sam isn’t ideal but I know for sure that if we push him on this he definitely won’t cooperate. If we are too forceful he’s just going to dig his heels in.’
‘But the Christmas display must be a priority. We have to—’
Blythe held up her hands to try to avoid a Leonora rant. ‘I completely agree that we don’t want any issues this year so I have a plan for how to get Sam on board. He is slowly getting involved in village life and he’s even planning on coming to help us with the bonfire today. I think we need to build on that bit by bit. Ease him in gently.’
Leonora fixed her with a steely stare. ‘We don’t have time for easing anyone in. Tomorrow we go full steam ahead on Christmas. We have to.’ Her voice went up a couple of octaves at the end of the sentence.
‘Then Sam will retreat and we’ll have a big gap in our Christmas display.’ Blythe folded her arms. She’d put a lot of effort into encouraging Sam to join in with the community and she wasn’t prepared to let Leonora steamroller all over it.
Leonora pursed her lips. ‘I won’t be blackmailed.’
‘Nor will Sam.’ The two women stared each other down.
‘Fine. But I’m making a diary note for two weeks’ time because that is an absolute backstop to get decorations up on his cottage.’
‘And you promise not to mention Christmas to Sam today?’
Leonora’s eyebrows danced. ‘Well, I don’t think—’
‘Promise,’ said Blythe, with a tilt of her head.
‘Ridiculous. But if you insist.’
‘Thank you,’ said Blythe. Leonora muttered something and went off to badger someone else.
‘Blythe!’ called Eden, as she barrelled into her.
‘Hey, you, have you come to help?’ she asked, as she hugged the little girl. ‘All helpers get a free hot dog or jacket potato at the fireworks tonight.’ Eden screwed up her features. ‘I thought you liked hot dogs?’
‘They’re okay.’
Blythe could give a very long list of reasons why Bonfire Night hot dogs were a lot better than okay. She wasn’t a big junk food fan but there was something about a hot dog around the bonfire that whisked her back to her childhood. Or at least to a view through one of the windows onto happy times. Her, her mum and Greg all eating their hot dogs in between oohing and ahhing at the fireworks.
‘Can I help make the bonfire?’ asked Eden.
‘I’m afraid not, but there are lots of things you can do to help instead.’ Blythe could see it was a nice idea but they didn’t let children help with the bonfire because a lot of the build involved rough pallets that were full of splinters. ‘I hear that the plan is to build the biggest bonfire ever…’
‘Wow!’ said Eden, clearly impressed.
