‘Blythe! Drowning here!’ yelled Vicky.
‘Sorry,’ said Blythe. ‘Bye.’ And she hurried across the road and into the Christmas fayre crowds.
‘Thank goodness you’re back,’ said a flustered-looking Vicky. ‘I’m rushed off my trotters here.’
‘Where’s Owen?’
‘He got waylaid by Norman’s monster sausage.’
Sam was making his way around the throng of people. ‘Actually, hang on. I’ll be back in a mo,’ said Blythe.
‘What?’ But before Vicky could protest Blythe slunk into the crowd and headed for Sam.
She darted around the back of the stalls, and popped out by the toffee apples. ‘Hey, you,’ she said, walking in step with Sam.
His beaming smile told her he was pleased to see her and that made her heart give a happy skip. ‘Hello. I was just thinking about you.’
‘All good I hope,’ said Blythe. She gave a cursory glance at Vicky’s stall as they passed at a safe distance and was pleased to see Owen had now turned up.
‘I was thinking maybe we could grab a bite to eat this evening?’
‘Ah.’ Blythe pointed at the Christmas fayre. ‘I’m going to be a bit busy until late as I promised Vicky I’d help her out. I could ask Norman to save us a couple of his monster sausages. The fayre closes at ten o’clock if you can wait until then.’
He checked his watch. ‘No problem.’
The Holly Cross brass band started up, which drew everyone’s attention. The children were all rowed up and looked rosy-cheeked as they broke into song. Blythe couldn’t help her grin – it was such a cute thing. Sam leaned into her ear. ‘Too festive for me. I’ll see you later.’ And he strode off.
*
Blythe was taking down the signs from Vicky’s stall and Vicky was selling off the last of her pom-poms at a discounted price when Sam strolled over. He was freshly showered and she got a whiff of aftershave as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. ‘Are you all done here?’ he asked. ‘Because I’m starving and all I can think about is Norman’s monster sausage.’
‘Oh man,’ said Owen, appearing with a cardboard box. ‘Norman’s sausage is the best.’ He put the box down. ‘It’s like this big, man,’ he said, holding his hands about eight inches apart. ‘The thing is huge.’
‘Okay,’ butted in Vicky. ‘Enough about Norman’s monster sausage.’ She linked her arm through Owen’s. ‘We will finish up here,’ she said. ‘Go on. You two love birds can clear off now.’ She gave Blythe her bag of things she’d bought from the fayre as well as a big hug. ‘Thanks for your help tonight.’ She whispered in Blythe’s ear, ‘I bet Sam’s sausage is even bigger than Norman’s.’
Blythe snorted a laugh. Vicky was incorrigible.
*
There was a buzz of tired happiness as they weaved their way between people dismantling stalls and packing up their Christmassy contents. Sarvan was handing out free mugs of hot chocolate to the remaining helpers and waved Blythe and Sam over.
‘Here you go,’ he said, handing them two steaming mugs. ‘How did Vicky get on tonight?’
‘She pretty much sold out. Only a few pom-pom sprouts left.’
‘Did you bag some bargains?’ he asked nodding at her bag.
‘Penguin slippers for Greg but shhh they’re a surprise.’
They waved their goodbyes and walked on cupping their drinks. ‘Guess who turned up this evening?’ asked Blythe.
‘Santa. The real Grinch. Elvis?’ suggested Sam.
‘Even more unlikely than them. It was the woman who was snooping around your cottage and you’ll never guess who she is.’
‘A Jehovah’s Witness on overtime?’
‘Nope. She’s Murray’s daughter!’ Blythe was expecting a suitably shocked response from Sam but he just nodded. ‘This is huge,’ she said, lifting her arm and almost spilling her hot chocolate. She brought Sam up to speed on what she had learned from Dawn. ‘You see,’ she concluded. ‘He was living a lie this whole time.’
