36.
Jingle bells and cockle shells
‘Santa and his elf and his pony and cart? Was this you or Libby?’
I’m looking at Bill, we’re out in the crisp afternoon sun, and if I thought the snowy castle couldn’t be any more pretty, I was wrong. Santa arriving with his little pony stamping his hoofs and tossing his head with bells jingling on his reins, and the cart twinkling with fairy lights, just made it even more magical.
Bill’s cheeks are creased where he’s smiling. ‘I have to put my hands up, this one’s down to me, with a lot of help from Keef, obviously. Definitely no reindeer, I thought you’d like it.’
‘It’s perfect. But how did you know? Two weeks ago you didn’t have the first clue about Christmas, and then you pull this off?’
‘I’m a fast learner, I had this ace instructor who showed me how worthwhile it was to go the extra mile every time when it comes to Christmas.’ He gives a smug smile as he swings first Tarkie then Solomon up onto the cart as the older ones scramble into the back of the cart themselves.
Tansy’s looking at me as she rubs the pony’s nose. ‘Do you think it’s okay, Ivy, is it kind to animals?’
Bill smiles. ‘This pony is called Nutty, short for Nutella. He’s very well looked after, he has a stable with lots of sweet hay to eat, and carrots and pony nuts.’
Santa’s elf leans over. ‘But not too much, it’s not good for him to get fat.’
As the elf was rubbing his rather large tummy earlier, I don’t think he has any room to talk.
I smile at her. ‘From the look on his face, I’d say he loves pulling the cart as much as you like laminating and I like making things look pretty.’
She’s taking that in. ‘In that case, I’ll go for the ride.’
Santa leans down. ‘Why don’t you come up on the front between us, and you can have a go taking the reins.’
Tiff’s mouthing at me. ‘Has Santa got eyeliner on?’
I go in for a closer look and nod at her. ‘I think he has. And Mr Elf too.’
Tiff’s grinning at me. ‘Nice job.’
Bill’s hissing at me from behind his hand, ‘That’s not Mr Elf, that’s actually Santa’s husband – so he’s technically MrSanta.’
Willow’s standing next to me and she lets out a gasp. ‘HasScoutgot eyeliner on?’
I grin at her. ‘Forbidden things are fascinating and compelling, Willow, available things aren’t. Once she knows what it is and how to use it she’ll be able to make an informed choice for herself.’
Willow sniffs, and then she smiles. ‘Well said, Ivy. It’s wonderful how far everyone’s come this holiday, especially you.’
‘I’m working on it,’ I laugh, but at the same time I’m bursting with pride inside.
Mr Elf leans forward. ‘Hey, you down there in the blue coat with the very cute dog … Ivy, is it?’
Willow gives me a nudge. ‘That’s you …’
As I turn to look up I could hug him. Because he’s just shown me, I’m not defined as the woman with the cut up face who had the accident any more. Somewhere in the last two weeks I’ve left her behind and gone back to being my plain old self in the blue coat again. And if it’s taken Santa’s elf to make me finally see that, I’m happy to go with it.
‘Yes?’ As I turn my face up to him I’m not even thinking about my scar.
He’s nodding. ‘We heard Bill spent years lusting after you, now we completely understand why.’
My mouth’s fallen open. ‘Excuse me?’
‘Bill’s been a favourite heart throb of ours ever since he arrived, it’s lovely to see someone finally put a smile on his face.’
Bill’s hissing in my ear. ‘We all go to the St Aidan Chamber of Commerce, if I’d known they were going to be this rude and outrageous, truly I’d have brought in the real guy with the reindeer instead.’
