Page 24 of The Merry Christmas Project

‘Apologies for my friend,’ I added, ‘who thinks that every conversation with a stranger must be a prelude to a full-blown romance.’

‘You two ladies are quite a double act,’ he said, retrieving his wallet from an inside pocket of his coat. ‘And actually, we might not have met, but I think I saw you both at the meeting about the Christmas tribute for Mr Dunford recently.’

Nell narrowed her eyes as if trying to place him. ‘I don’t remember seeing you there.’

A sudden image flashed into my head of a man in a yellow coat sneaking in.

‘I do !’ I said. ‘You arrived a bit later and sat at the back.’

‘Guilty,’ he said sheepishly. ‘I got held up at my dad’s.’

‘So you’re local ?’ Nell looked surprised. ‘I haven’t seen you at the market before.’

He shook his head. ‘I live in Bakewell at the moment. My dad lives in town though. I’m trying to encourage him to get out and about a bit more. He’s become a bit of a recluse since my mum passed away. I thought if I came to the meeting, he’d come with me because he knew Mr Dunford. But it didn’t work.’ He gave a small sigh. ‘Parents, eh ?’

I smiled in response. ‘Sorry about your mum.’

He scratched his forehead self-consciously. ‘No, I’m sorry. Giving my life story to strangers instead of paying and getting out of your way.’

‘Not at all,’ said Nell. ‘And we’re no longer strangers. I’m Nell, obviously ; this is Merry, and you are ?’

‘Cole,’ he said with a grin. ‘Pleased to meet you both. Now at the risk of holding you up even longer, I do actually want something for myself because I’m trying to eat less chocolate and I thought nuts would be a healthy alternative.’

‘That sounds very virtuous,’ I said, ‘although Nell is the expert, being Wetherley’s queen of nuts.’

Nell inclined her head graciously, accepting my compliment. ‘You can’t go wrong with an almond. It’s your classic all-rounder …’

I took a step back – this was her specialist subject. While Cole listened to her spiel I studied him surreptitiously. Late thirties, rugged and tanned as if he spent a lot of time outside.

‘Eat two or three Brazil nuts and you’ve got a whole day’s worth of your selenium requirements,’ she continued.

‘Thank goodness I stopped by, I wasn’t aware I even needed selenium – I must be dangerously low,’ Cole said, deadpan. He caught my eye and we shared a conspiratorial smile.

‘You’ll thank me one day. Now, if you like chocolate, I’ll give you a tip.’ Nell leaned over the counter towards him as if she was about to impart a state secret. ‘If you stuff a Medjool date with some peanut butter and dip the end in some very dark chocolate, you’ll have a healthy version of a Snickers bar.’

‘Good tip,’ he said, tapping his nose. ‘I think I’ll go for the Brazils. Two hundred grams please. That should sort out my raging selenium deficiency.’

I got to the nut scoop before Nell.

‘Good choice. These are my favourite kind of nut,’ I said, popping some into a paper bag for him. ‘Especially when they’re covered in chocolate. Mind you, cover it in chocolate and I’ll eat anything.’

‘Really ?’ He raised a dark eyebrow.

Beside me I could tell Nell was doing her best not to laugh.

Cole patted his stomach. ‘I’m trying to cut back. I’ve been living on junk food for too long.’

‘You look OK to me,’ I said automatically.

‘Only OK ?’ His lips twitched in amusement as he pulled himself up tall. ‘That settles it : I’m on a new mission to shape up. Next time you see me I’ll be aiming for good at the very least.’

‘Well …’ I felt tongue-tied all of a sudden, wondering when that might be. ‘It’s always good to have a goal in life.’

‘Thanks.’ He chewed his lip as if holding in a smile. ‘I’ll bear that in mind.’

‘Don’t take any notice of my friend,’ Nell said smoothly. ‘She’s newly single and has forgotten how to talk to the opposite sex.’

‘Nell !’ I gasped. ‘Cole’s not the opposite sex, he’s a customer.’