Page 26 of Yule Party on Sunflower Street

‘Girls?’ Seth frowned.

‘I know they’re women, but when you get to my age, everyone under fifty seems like a girl or boy.’ Frank chuckled. ‘Even you seem like a boy in many ways.’

‘Really?’ Seth laughed now. ‘And there was me thinking my thirties are flying past.’

‘Wait until you reach sixty,’ Frank said. ‘I have no idea where the years have gone.’

‘No plans to hang up the tape measure and drill yet though?’ Seth asked.

‘Absolutely not! My wife won’t be quitting her job anytime soon and I’d get bored home alone so I’m planning on working for another decade at least.’

‘I can’t say I blame you. Life is too expensive to retire young these days, right?’

‘I agree! If I retired now, how would I keep my dogs in the luxury lifestyle they’ve grown accustomed to?’ Frank’s laughter filled the small flat and made Seth smile too.

While Frank checked a few details and recorded the information, Seth tried not to look at the personal items belonging to Tara and Sadie. The flat smelt of perfume — a light, floral scent he recognised as Tara’s, underlaid with something warm like cinnamon or ginger. It was stronger in the bathroom; feeling like he was intruding, he went back to the lounge to wait.

Back downstairs, Frank shook his hand then said, ‘I’ll be in touch next week.’

‘When do you think you’ll be able to start the work?’ Seth asked at the door.

Frank frowned then checked the calendar on his phone. ‘In January when I get back from Scotland.’

‘You’re away for Christmas?’ Seth asked.

‘Boxing day to the second week of January. We’re going to visit our daughter in Perthshire along with our new grandson.’

‘Congratulations!’ Seth said.

Frank’s face glowed with happiness. ‘I can hardly believe my baby girl has a baby of her own now. I can’t wait to spoil the little chap.’

‘Well have a wonderful time and I’ll see you in January.’

‘Merry Christmas, Seth. Thank you, ladies.’ Frank waved at Tara and Sadie then left the shop.

Seth turned around to see the sisters leaning over something on the counter. Tara had a pen in her hand and every so often, she wrote something on the pad then Sadie either nodded or shook her head.

‘Planning world domination, ladies?’ he asked, walking over to them.

Tara lifted her head. ‘Hardly.’

‘We’re trying to work out what we need to do for a village party,’ Sadie said.

‘Oh?’ Seth asked.

Tara put the pen down. ‘You might be able to help us, actually,’ she said.

‘I will if I can,’ he replied, resting his hands on the counter.

Tara turned the notepad around and he read the heading. ‘Yule Party.’

‘That’s right.’

‘What’s a yule party?’

‘I’m glad you asked,’ Tara said and Sadie giggled. ‘So… opening day was great and we’ve had some business but nothing like we’d hoped for. We’ve been brainstorming ways to get footfall up and wondered if a Christmas party could help. We thought late night opening, food, drink, music, festive activities, lights and so on.’

‘OK.’ Seth nodded slowly. ‘When?’