Page 50 of Yule Party on Sunflower Street

‘Can you tell who I am?’ Darcie held out her arms and smiled.

‘The Winter Queen?’

‘Spot on!’ Darcie preened and Tara welled up. ‘Hey. What is it?’

‘I’m just… so happy at how it’s turned out. Everyone has made such an effort.’ Tara sniffed.

‘That’s what a proper village community does. We gather together and make an effort because we want to succeed together. We look after each other and work together so people feel they’re a part of something.’

‘That’s so true.’ A tear trickled down Tara’s cheek and Darcie squeezed her arm.

‘Tara, are you sad?’

The concern in Darcie’s eyes made Tara want to sob. ‘N-no. I just… I’m so happy here and I-I…’ She pressed her lips together and tried to focus on slowing her breathing and swallowing against the lump in her throat.

‘You like it here, don’t you?’

Tara nodded.

‘Would you like to stay?’

Tara nodded again.

‘Then why don’t you?’ Darcie pulled her into a hug and Tara rested her head on her friend’s shoulder. ‘There’s nothing to stop you, Tara, sweetheart.’

Tara sighed then lifted her head and met Darcie’s eyes. ‘There’s no shop for me.’

Darcie shook her head and placed her hands on Tara’s arms and held her back so she could look at her properly. ‘Honey, just speak to Seth.’

‘But what if he doesn’t want me having the shop? And I need to prove that I can pay the rent throughout the year. And he might already have someone else in mind and not want me there and I⁠—’

‘Tara!’ Darcie said. ‘Stop. Please stop. If you never ask, you’ll never know, and if I’ve learnt one thing in my time on this planet it’s that asking is worth it. What’s the point in not saying anything to Seth then just walking away in January and never knowing what might have been? A wise soul once said to me that you only miss the shots you⁠—’

‘Don’t take.’ Tara laughed. ‘Someone said that to me too.’

‘So go take the shot, girl!’ Darcie grinned. ‘Or this Winter Queen is going to be mad at you.’

‘I will. I just need to pluck up the courage.’

‘Well, my Christmas wish is that your wish comes true, so go wish on a star and let me know how you get on.’ Darcie touched a hand to Tara’s cheek and wiped away a stray tear with her thumb.

‘I will.’ Tara smiled. ‘Thank you, Darcie.’

Before she walked away, she glanced at the merchandise on Darcie’s stall. It was all winter-themed vintage, from silver shoes and sparkly scarves to sequinned bobble hats, wool coats with diamante buttons and jewellery that sparkled and shone like stars in a winter’s sky. Tara hoped Darcie would make a lot of sales today and that this would be a good Christmas for her and her family.

As she walked back to the shop, a few coaches drove past on their way to park near the boating lake where a temporary car park had been set up. She spotted a little girl gazing out of the window at the green, her eyes wide and her mouth open. She tapped the woman next to her, and they both looked out together, excitement written all over their faces. It made tears leap into Tara’s eyes again, so she hurried back to the shop before she completely broke down in happy tears.

When she reached Tinsel and Twine, Sadie was talking to a man at the door, her expression serious. Tara’s heart dropped for a moment but then Sadie’s face relaxed and Tara exhaled in relief. As the man walked away, Tara asked, ‘Who was that?’

‘I’m not sure but he told me he’s a local. He said to hang this in the shop.’ She opened her hand to show Tara a sprig of mistletoe.

‘That’s so pretty.’ Tara peered closely at it.

‘It’s solstice mistletoe. It came from the old woods at the edge of the village, and he said it will bring good luck.’

Tara took the mistletoe from her sister and held it up. ‘That’s so kind.’

She peered out onto the street after the man, but he’d already disappeared like the ghost of Christmas Present.