Page 7 of Yule Party on Sunflower Street

‘Oh…’ Tara didn’t really know what to say to that, so she rolled her lips together and said nothing while she admired the lights.

When she turned back to him, though, he was smiling as he gazed at the tree. Perhaps, she thought, Seth was not as much of a Scrooge as he wanted people to believe. Or perhaps he didn’t realise how much he could enjoy Christmas if he just let himself relax a bit. He seemed quite uptight, like someone who was all work and no play. And that was never a good thing as far as Tara was concerned.

While Sadie queued for mulled wine, Seth talked about the lights he’d seen one year in a Christmas market in Bath. Tara listened, her eyes drawn to a couple walking their dogs across the green. The woman was wearing a bright red down jacket with black jeans and heeled boots. She had long black hair and perfect makeup, and the silver-haired man holding her hand was very handsome. The dogs were small, a fawn pug and a tiny black one with lots of fluffy fur. They wore matching red coats with white faux fur and their leads sparkled with tinsel.

‘Got any ideas for our house lights now, Roxie?’ the man said as they walked past.

‘I do think we need more lights, Fletcher. I mean… we simply must have the best lights in the village.’ She flashed a dazzling smile at the man.

‘Anything for you, my love,’ he said.

‘Stinky! No!’ Roxie stopped walking and crouched down next to the tiny black dog and removed something from its mouth.

‘What did she have this time?’ Fletcher asked.

Roxie held out her hand and Fletcher grimaced. ‘I can’t even make out what that is, but it should go straight in the bin.’

‘I agree.’ Roxie dropped the offending item into her husband’s outstretched hand then picked the dog up.

‘She’s not a good girl like you, is she, Glenda?’ she said to the pug. It peered up at her then barked as if in agreement.

‘Come on then before Stinky finds something else unsavoury to eat,’ Fletcher said.

As they walked away, Tara smiled. They were likely members of the community and hopefully people she’d come to know during her time here. As for their house, she wondered what the lights would be like and looked forward to taking a walk one evening soon to see if she could guess which house was theirs.

Sadie returned with the drinks and Tara took a sip, keen to warm up a bit. Waiting with Seth, she’d got a bit cold, and the wine was warm and fragrant.

‘Right then… I’d best be going,’ Seth said. ‘Early start tomorrow.’

‘Have a safe journey home,’ Tara said.

‘It’s only a short drive, but thanks. You too.’ He grinned. ‘Although you don’t have far to go at all.’

‘We don’t.’

‘See you soon.’ He inclined his head at them then walked away.

‘Everything all right?’ Sadie asked.

‘Yes. Why?’

‘Well, when I glanced over at you, it seemed like he was chatting away and you looked a bit fed up.’

Tara shook her head. ‘No, not fed up. I was just distracted by a couple who walked past.’

‘The catalogue models with the toy dogs?’ Sadie said.

‘Long black hair and⁠—’

‘Silver fox?’ Sadie giggled.

‘That’s the ones.’

‘They were very glamorous and seemed very much in love.’ Sadie sipped her wine.

‘I think they live in the village because they were talking about having the best lights here,’ Tara said.

‘We’ll have to take a walk around soon and see. I love when villages make an effort with their Christmas lights.’