‘But that means it needs more than one Guy Fawkes because one little itty bitty guy would look silly.’ Eden giggled. ‘That means you need to join the other children at the village hall where they’re making them.’
‘What?’ asked a harassed-looking Vicky, as she finally caught up with her daughter. She had a rather tubby Labrador in tow who flopped down on the grass at the earliest opportunity.
‘We’re needed at the village hall. Come on, Mum,’ said Eden, taking her mother’s hand and tugging her back the way she’d come.
‘What?’ Vicky looked so confused. ‘Fernando might have a heart attack if he has to walk that far. Let’s give him a minute.’
Eden reluctantly let go of her mother and skipped off to greet some other locals. ‘Is she all right? She said she doesn’t want a hot dog.’
‘She’s had a bit of a tummy ache. If I’m honest I think she’s been eating too many Halloween sweets.’
Blythe nodded her understanding. ‘You okay?’ she asked.
‘This is my third dog walk today and I’ve four more to fit in somehow.’
‘That’s a lot for a weekend,’ said Blythe.
‘I’m doing a discount for weekends because I can’t fit them all in Monday to Friday around work. I have lots of plates spinning,’ she said, with a half-hearted grin. ‘Spinning might be pushing it a little. More of a wobble. I was late in yesterday so I got another warning.’ Vicky kissed her teeth.
‘That’s not good. Can’t you walk some of them together?’
‘It’s a nightmare trying to work out who will walk with who. Virginia Woof the irritable pug has to wear a muzzle if she’s with other dogs and that makes her look like Hannibal Lecter so she’s better on one-to-one walkies.’ Fernando looked up but it wasn’t a joyful look on his face. Vicky gave him a pat. ‘Unfortunately, most of the dogs I’ve got on my books are ones that are best walked alone. Like Fernando here who has his own pace, which is slightly faster than a lazy sloth.’
‘That’s tricky.’ Blythe looked around. They still had a lot of work to do. ‘I’m sure I’ll be able to help you later today. Have you asked Norman or Phyllis?’
‘I wasn’t fishing for help. I’ll be fine. Eden’s got a playdate later so I’ll be able to walk two then. Well at least one of them.’ Vicky’s expression didn’t look certain.
Eden came running back. ‘We need to go, Mum. I’ve got lots to do.’
‘See you later,’ said Blythe, waving them off and feeling pleased as she spotted the figure of Sam walking towards them.
‘Hi,’ said Sam to Vicky as she stomped past him. He turned to Blythe. ‘Everything okay?’
She gave him a quick scan. Hair damp from the shower. A shadow of stubble on a chiselled jaw. Dark winter coat with the collar turned up. ‘Yep, everything looks good to me,’ she said.
‘Where do you want me?’ he asked. Now there was a question she had multiple answers for. This Sam was really very alluring. They were definitely building a rapport and he was becoming more and more attractive the longer she spent in his company. And as long as they avoided the subject of Christmas— ‘You okay?’ he asked.
Blythe snapped herself out of the little fantasy she had wafted away on. Flirting was just creepy if it was only one way and from the frown Sam was giving her she was definitely going solo. ‘Yes. Let me show you what we’re thinking.’ She really needed to keep focused on the bonfire or they’d have another Tower of Pisa situation on their hands.
*
The morning flew by in a jolly bustle of stacking and building. Leonora hovered around them and Blythe saw the furtive looks she was giving Sam – obviously desperate to raise the question of Christmas with him. But true to her word, so far she hadn’t mentioned the C-word. Sam was quickly welcomed into the small throng of dad helpers, and the bottom half of the bonfire quickly started to take shape. However, the great breadth of the base and the quickly diminishing pallet pile had Blythe starting to feel that perhaps they had been a little overambitious. There was a toot of a horn as a low loader with a stack of pallets on board pulled up, which gave Leonora something to occupy herself with. Norman and Arthur appeared. Norman waved as Arthur pushed his wheelbarrow across the school field.
‘Refreshments!’ called Norman, and everyone stopped what they were doing and came to investigate, much to Leonora’s annoyance.
Inside the wheelbarrow were two catering flasks, a variety of green cups from the village hall and some cake boxes. Norman and Arthur set themselves up as an unconventional mobile snack emporium as everyone waited patiently. Blythe rubbed her hands together. ‘Ow,’ she yelped.
‘You okay?’ asked Sam.
Blythe studied her left hand. ‘Splinter.’ The dirty great thing was lodged in her middle finger.
‘I’ll get Leonora – she’s designated first aider,’ said Norman.
‘No thanks. It’s not that bad,’ said Blythe, wincing as she prodded it.
‘Let’s see,’ said Sam.
Blythe helpfully held up her middle finger and he smirked. ‘Charming,’ he said, taking her hand for a closer look. The sensation of his warm hand against her cold one made her start. At least that’s what she assumed was making her tingle.
