Page 54 of Mistletoe and Mulled Wine at the Christmas Campervan

‘Well, yes, he did for the last bit. But I bet the reindeers dropped him off in the woods first. How else would he have got here?’

The little lad stood thinking for a few seconds. ‘Oh, do you think Rudolph was here too, then?’

‘More than likely.’

‘I bet he was. He likes the snow.’

The boy stood quietly for a few moments, evidently thinking, before he added, ‘I thought Father Christmas was fat.’

‘Hmm, maybe he’s thinned down a bit with all the work he’s got on,’ came the answer, drily. Lucy could see the tall chap giving a wry smile. He then continued, ‘He might put it back on again once he can stop and sit by the fire, and eat lots of turkey dinners and mince pies.’

‘Ah … yes.’ The little lad seemed satisfied with that response, adding, ‘And chocolate too.’

‘Did anyone mention chocolate? Here, I’ll add some of my choccies to the goodie selection to go with our drinks, seeing as we might be here a while. Would you like something, Jack?’ Chocolatier Emma opened up a couple of boxes of truffles and a packet of fudge, setting them out on the big wooden table at the centre of the room, alongside the plate of warmed mince pies, shortbread and brownies.

The little boy dashed forward to have first pick, diving in for some fudge and a chocolate brownie square.

‘Ah, that’s plenty, Son,’ Ellie gave a warning, as after wolfing down the huge piece of fudge, his hand was about to delve in again.

‘But Mu-um.’ He frowned as he crossed his arms grumpily.

‘Give everyone else a chance first, and remember to mind your manners. There might be a little something left for you at the end if you’re lucky. Come and help yourselves, everybody. We might well be here for a little while yet,’ Ellie called to the remaining stallholders. ‘And thanks, Emma.’

They tucked in, chatting between themselves as they continued clearing away and, all the while, outside the mullioned windows, the snow fell.

‘Any news?’ Ellie asked half an hour later, as Malcolm trailed into the hall, shivering, and with each step shaking off a heavy dusting of snow. ‘My goodness, it’s like the arctic out there.’

He was followed by a tall, dark-haired, rather handsome man.

‘Daddy!’ The little boy ran up to him.

He swept the lad up into his open arms, and gave him a snow-dusted twirl.

‘Father Christmas has gone now,’ the boy rushed the words out, mid-air, ‘but there are sweeties and biscuits, so it’s alright.’

‘Well, that’s good. And I could murder a hot cup of coffee.’

‘F-freezing out th-there,’ Malcolm’s teeth were actually chattering. He grabbed a mince pie and moved to huddle next to the fire. Derek, his partner, swiftly supplying him with a cosy blanket.

‘So,’ Ellie asked, ‘any luck with the road? We’ve got several people here, who’ve had a really busy day, waiting to get homeward bound.’

Joe shook his head. ‘Sorry, folks. We did manage to get the van out of the ditch, but it was hardly able to stay on the road, slipping and sliding everywhere. Anyway, it’s been towed by Simon from the farm, who made sure to get Alan safely as far as the village. But it’s lethal out there. The snow’s been relentless. The wind’s picking up now too, and it’s beginning to drift. Those roads are treacherous, even with a four by four. The tractor’s just about okay, but not a lot else. It’s not worth the risk.’

‘We absolutely couldn’t let you go out in that,’ Malcolm warned from his fireplace position.

‘Really?’

‘Oh, crikey.’

A swirl of wind-battered snow spattered the mullioned windows dramatically as if in confirmation.

The gathering stood taking it all in, seeming a bit shocked.

‘Oh, but I really need to get back, I’ve got a six-year-old at home,’ Rachel from the Pudding Pantry blurted out.

‘Don’t worry, love. She’ll be fine with Tom and Granny Ruth,’ Jill, her mother, soothed. ‘They’ll be spoiling her rotten, in fact. We can give them a call.’

‘True.’