Out of the mouths of babes, as the saying goes.
But at least he’d told her about me.
‘What did he say about me?’
She looked up and met my eyes as if she knew I was asking something that she probably shouldn’t tell me.
‘You can have that reindeer decoration for free, if you tell me. It’ll be our little secret.’
Had it come to this? I’d resorted to bribing a child. Were there any depths I wouldn’t sink to?
She beamed at me. ‘Truly?’
‘Yes.’
She leant forward and so did I.
‘He said that he’d met a very pretty lady that he liked, and that he was hoping she might become a special friend, and he asked how I would feel if he asked her to join us for ice skating next week when the ice rink opens. I said that would be nice.’
‘For skating? That would be nice. How do you know he was talking about me?’
‘He said the lady’s name was Noelle. Your name is Noelle. I’ve never met a Noelle before. Would you like me to tell you why he thinks he was mistaken?’
She had popped the reindeer decoration in her little rucksack, and now she was fiddling with another reindeer one. This kid was smart. I might be being played.
‘If you want to.’
She met my eyes and hugged the second reindeer. I smiled and waited and she eventually let out a sigh. Kids can’t keep secrets. I knew she wanted to tell me.
‘It was on Tuesday. He wasn’t as happy as he was on Monday and when I asked why he was sad, he said it was grown up stuff but nothing for me to worry about.’
She kissed the reindeer and made a little face. I remained silent and she gave an even bigger sigh.
‘Then when I asked if his special friend might want to come to the tree lighting with us next Saturday, he said that he was mistaken about her and that she might not be a special friend after all.’
She placed the reindeer gently back on the table as if she knew she’d lost her leverage.
‘You can have that one for free too. But don’t tell your dad, okay?’
She nodded madly and her smile was huge. ‘Thank you, Noelle. I won’t say a word. Bye-ee.’
‘Bye, Melody. Wait. Let me take you back to your … friend. You shouldn’t be running around here on your own.’
I walked her back to Berry’s stall and Melody pointed the woman out.
‘I think you might’ve lost someone,’ I said.
The woman gave me an odd look and then glanced at Melody and shrugged.
‘Don’t wander off again, okay,’ I said to Melody. ‘Your dad would be worried if he knew. Promise me, Melody.’
‘Okay. I promise. Thank you for my reindeer.’
‘You’re welcome.’
I really liked that kid.
I spent the day feeling depressed that I was no longer considered suitable to be Alec’s special friend, and that I’d missed out on what might’ve been a wonderfully romantic Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony next Saturday, and also an equally romantic evening skating on the ice with Alec holding my hand and Melody holding his.
