Page 60 of The Merry Christmas Project

‘Yes,’ Nell and I agreed.

From nowhere my eyes filled with tears and it hit me that maybe it was time to think about what I really wanted from a partner. Giving and accepting love required honesty and openness. If I was to find the stability my heart demanded, it was only going to happen within a relationship built on truth and trust. Was I ready for that so soon after Daniel and I had broken up ? Maybe I was being too intense, but I wasn’t interested in a no-strings fling, I wanted the real thing : hearts, flowers, commitment, a future together. Was Cole interested in the same thing, I wondered ? Was he ready to move on after his divorce ? The app on his phone would suggest he was ready to date again. Perhaps that was all he wanted for now. He seemed very committed to his children, but did that leave room for a relationship, for me ? I took a deep breath, my mind whirring. As much as I’d enjoyed having Astrid and Nell here, now I was ready for them to leave. I wanted time to think : what was it I really wanted ; or should that be, who ?

‘Time to get back to my stall,’ said Nell, as if reading my mind. She stood and cleared our lunch things away.

‘I’d better be going too,’ said Astrid, ‘poor Otto will be crossing his legs before long.’ She stood up and slipped her arms into her coat, wrapping her scarf around her neck.

‘Astrid, I notice you haven’t got a job for Christmas Eve and I’m sure you’d want to help,’ I said breezily. ‘Shall I put you down for making mince pies ?’

She opened her mouth to argue but I held her gaze until she caved in.

‘OK, OK, I will do that,’ she laughed and patted my cheek. ‘And now my work here is done, Liebling. Bis bald.’

I crossed ‘mince pies’ from the list. One down, approximately ninety-nine to go. If Cole’s sister could be so easily persuaded, it just might make the Christmas Project that little bit more merry. My fingers were well and truly crossed.

Chapter 19

Cole

21 NOVEMBER

‘Thanks, but no thanks !’ Hester yelled from the kitchen, where she was making her brother and father tea. ‘Not if you paid me. Were they planning on paying me ?’

Cole had just sprung his favour on his sister ; her reaction was exactly what he’d expected. He didn’t have a clue about the money side of it ; he hadn’t thought to ask. But he suspected the budget would be somewhere around zero. ‘Think of it as an investment in your profile. You’ll be in all the local press, not to mention being the talk of the town.’

He winked at Fred, who chuckled, used to hearing his two children bickering.

It was early evening ; he and Hester normally came separately to see their dad so he’d have more visits, but he’d been very quiet when Cole had called in yesterday, so they’d agreed to come together to cheer him up. He’d been hoping to pop in with the stepladders to change the bulbs in the old bank before coming over to see his dad, but he’d run out of time and had had to come straight here. He felt bad about letting Merry down but if he could persuade his sister to help her out, then he was pretty sure it would make up for not having hung the new whiteboard for her.

‘My profile ? The Wetherley Christmas lights switch-on ?’ Hester scoffed, carrying through a tray with three mugs on it. ‘It’s hardly the Rockefeller Center.’

‘Then think of it as doing your bit for the community,’ he tried. ‘Please. Hester, do this for me.’

‘I’m supposed to be on a girls’ night out on the first of December,’ she grumbled, handing Fred tea in his own special mug.

‘The more the merrier,’ Cole replied, undaunted, ‘bring them along.’

‘Ask my friends to stand around in the freezing cold, sipping lukewarm mulled wine while I flick a switch ?’ She gave him a dubious look.

‘And you say I’ve got no Christmas spirit,’ Cole said drily.

‘My daughter,’ Fred marvelled, pausing to take an enthusiastic sip of tea, ‘doing the Christmas lights. Wait until I tell the others at Rosebridge. They’ll all be wanting to meet you. Your mother would be so proud.’

Cole’s ears pricked up : the others. Was Dad finally venturing out and making friends ? This was real progress.

Hester’s face softened. ‘Oh, Dad, thank you.’

Cole held his breath; there was no way she could say no to his request now, could she ? Not when it would mean so much to Fred. He couldn’t wait to tell Merry ; he sneakily glanced at his watch and wondered how soon he could leave. He’d love to see her face when she got the news. He couldn’t wait to tell Freya and Harley either ; they both loved Christmas. He suppressed a sigh, thinking how much more he’d be looking forward to Christmas if he was spending it with them.

‘Fine, I’ll do it, but only if you’re there too.’ She flopped down on the sofa beside him and shot him a dirty look. ‘I’m sure I can rearrange my night out.’

‘Have I told you lately that you’re my favourite sister ?’ He couldn’t help but laugh ; she’d been pulling that face since they were kids.

‘Oh, shut up,’ she said, unable to stop her lips twitching into a smile. ‘You’ll come, I hope, Dad ?’

‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world,’ said Fred, after slurping his tea.

‘How did you get roped into this anyway ?’ Hester asked, tucking her feet under her and making herself comfortable.