Chapter 2

TWO

Florrie was giving the arrangement of children's festive books a final tweak when her phone pinged. She made her way over to the counter and scooped up her phone to see a message from her closest friend, Maggie Marsay. Florrie smiled as she swiped it open.

Hiya Florrie, hope the festive decorating's going well. Can't wait to see it! The town's buzzing with chat about Ed's window displays!! Forgot to ask earlier but can you put that book on Landies away for me? Am pleased to say Bear doesn't have it! Another Christmas pressie sorted! Phew!!! I'll pop in and get it tomorrow. Thanks, flower! Don't work too late!! Mxx

She ended the message with a stream of cheery Christmas-themed emojis.

Florrie fired off a quick text back, pleased by Maggie's mention of Ed's window display; it really was generating a buzz of anticipation in the town.

Hi Mags, don't worry, it's already tucked away under the counter. Didn't want to risk anyone else snapping it up in case I couldn't get another one in time for the big day! How're you feeling? Fxx

Maggie and Bear's first baby was due later that month and when Florrie had last seen Maggie at The Jolly Sailors, where their group of friends met every Friday evening, she'd complained vociferously about her baby bump. She declared it was so huge it was now making it difficult to sit at her worktable and reach her sewing machine where she made her exquisite keepsake teddy bears for her cottage business The Micklewick Bear Company. ‘Honestly, I could do with adding an extra metre to my arms so I can reach the dratted thing,' she'd said, demonstrating and making the friends chortle.

Seconds later, a reply landed.

Like a beached whale that looks as if it's got a serious case of trapped wind doesn't come anywhere near to how I'm feeling – or looking for that matter! I'm even more ENORMOUS than I was on Friday!!! How is that even possible? I need to have this baby SOON!!! Mxx

Florrie laughed out loud at the long line of whale, wind and outraged face emojis Maggie had added at the end of the text.

Maggie and her husband Bear had been trying to start a family for several years, their attempts peppered with false alarms and heart-breaking miscarriages. But this pregnancy had surprised and thrilled the couple whose greatest wish was to become parents. As far as they were concerned, the much-anticipated arrival of "Baby Marsay" couldn't come soon enough.

Bear was an ardent Land Rover fan – or a "Landie Anorak" as Maggie had recently taken to calling him on account of his growing interest in them. Teasing aside, she'd been thrilled when Florrie had told her they'd taken delivery of a much sought-after book dedicated solely to the iconic vehicles, knowing how much Bear would be delighted with it. Though Florrie had told her friend she'd probably better check their bookshelf and make sure he didn't already own a copy.

Florrie had just sent off a quick reply when Ed returned from putting the vacuum cleaner away in the store cupboard that doubled up as a small kitchen area in the room at the back of the shop.

‘Phew! I'm not sorry that's done.'

She glanced up to see him walking towards her, a familiar easy smile on his face. ‘I thought I was never going to see the end of those snowflakes – I was beginning to think they'd been breeding.' While Ed had been wielding the vacuum cleaner, Florrie had busied herself rearranging the baubles on the Christmas tree and making sure everything was shipshape with Santa's Grotto at the rear of the shop before moving on to the book displays at the front. She was a perfectionist and wasn't happy until everything looked just so.

She set her phone back down on the counter and laughed. ‘I've got a feeling we're going to be finding them long after the Christmas displays have been dismantled.'

‘I reckon you could be right.' He came to a halt beside her, throwing his arm around her shoulder.

The pair took a moment to survey their day's work. Along with the festive garlands strung above the bookshelves, there was a traditional-style Christmas tree beside the counter which Florrie had decorated with book-themed baubles, while a smaller one sat on the table in the central display. This one was made entirely from books, albeit fake, and both trees were trimmed with twinkling fairy lights.

A warm glow filled Florrie's chest. The shop was positively brimming with festive cheer. ‘It looks amazing,' she said, giving a wistful sigh, thinking how thrilled Mr and Mrs H would have been to see it.

‘It does,' said Ed, smiling down at her. The look in his eyes and subsequent squeeze of her shoulders told her he knew what she was thinking.

‘It's all thanks to you, Ed.' Her eyes landed on the little grotto he'd constructed for last Christmas. It was enchanting, and looked every inch like the one in her childhood dreams.

‘There's no way I'm taking all the credit – it's teamwork.' He beamed at her. ‘We've done it together, you and me. Our combined efforts have come together to create the whole Christmassy effect, which I have to say does look pretty awesome.'

Teamwork. Florrie liked the sound of that, and what she liked even more was being part of a team with Ed. His recent secretive trips to the attic back home shot through her mind, momentarily discombobulating her. Not that she had any problems with him venturing up to the room, he had as much right as she did – when he'd moved in with her, Florrie had told him the cottage was his home now, too, that he should treat it as such, and she'd meant it – but the way he was going about it, sloping off when he thought she hadn't noticed, almost lent an air of sneakiness to it which had started to trouble her. But this evening, she didn't want any negative thoughts to spoil their happy moment and she chose not to let them linger.

Florrie locked the bookshop door, and the evocative scent of conifer, eucalyptus and rosemary drifted into her nose from the wreath she'd fixed there earlier that afternoon. She smiled at how pretty the decoration looked, with its fairy lights and berry-red bow, as she stowed the key away in her backpack while Ed clipped the lead onto Gerty's collar.

‘Brrr! It's freezing!' She pushed her hands into her gloves, her words coming out in a cloud of condensation. The plummeting temperature contrasted sharply with the warmth they'd left inside, making her glad she'd worn her thick duffle coat and woolly bobble hat.

‘It's a perfect night for snuggling in front of the fire,' said Ed, his breath floating out around his face. He was equally well wrapped up in his navy peacoat and checked scarf.

Florrie couldn't argue with that; it was one of the things she loved most about winter evenings, especially since Ed had moved in with her and they could snuggle up on the sofa together.

‘Mmm, sounds good, especially if it's with a mug of gingerbread hot chocolate topped with cream and marshmallows.' She slipped her arm through his and tucked her chin into her scarf as they set off down Victoria Square. Gerty trotted ahead at the end of the lead in her usual jaunty manner.

‘Now you're talking.' Ed smiled down at Florrie. ‘I think we're in for a few frosty evenings; according to the weather forecasters, our part of North Yorkshire's going to be hit with a hard frost and snow's predicted for the end of the week.'

‘Ooh! How exciting.' Florrie's eyes shone. She loved how snow transformed the town into a scene straight from a Victorian Christmas card. She glanced around her, happiness filling her chest. Victoria Square couldn't have looked more festive if it tried, even without a dusting of the white stuff. The storekeepers had gone to great efforts to make their businesses look ready for the season, with Christmas-themed displays in their windows and large wreaths hanging from their doors. Small Christmas trees were fixed above each doorway, laced with warm white lights that twinkled softly, while further lights were festooned from shop to shop. A long sandstone planter, filled with seasonal plants, ran down the centre of the square, dividing the road and ending at the bottom with a small roundabout where a clock stood proudly, its face beaming out in the dark. While at the top end of the square, a tall, plush Christmas tree stood, white lights twinkling from its great boughs.

Florrie found her gaze being drawn to Lark's Vintage Bazaar, a shop over on the other side of the square that was owned by another one of her best friends. ‘Ooh, look! Lark's finished her display,' she said. ‘Let's go and take a closer look. It's bound to be really special.'

‘Looks good even from here,' said Ed. He clicked his tongue for Gerty as Florrie made to tug him across the road. ‘Come on, Gerty-Girl, this way.'

Florrie's eyes swept over the scene before her, the glow from the hundreds of fairy lights illuminating her face. Lark had clearly let her creative side loose on her festive display. The window was framed with thick, frost-covered faux Christmas tree branches, trimmed with silver baubles, fir cones and large white feathers. Standing in the centre, to a backdrop of a night sky studded with a scattering of tiny blinking stars, was a mannequin wearing a vintage white maxi dress shot with strands of silver.

‘It's stunning!' Florrie gasped.

‘It is,' said Ed, sounding suitably impressed. ‘It's going to give our displays a run for their money, no doubt about it. And don't you think the mannequin looks a bit like Lark herself, with its blonde hair and serene expression?'

‘Ooh, yes, I see what you mean.' Florrie gave a warm smile at the thought of her sweet-natured friend. ‘I bet you won't be the only person who says that. Actually, now I think about it, I can see Lark in that dress, too – it's very her.'

‘Yep, me too. Maybe she'll sneak in the window and create a live display.'

‘I wouldn't put it past her,' she said, chuckling. Florrie felt the fizz of excitement in her stomach as she turned and gazed around the square. Everyone seemed to be making more of an effort this year; even Cuthbert, Asquith she was eager to see the Christmas trees in the large windows of the Victorian houses that lined the road. Their occupants always went to town big time with the decorations, trying to outdo their neighbours. Festive wreaths were the latest thing that had become a focus of neighbourly competition – the bigger and more opulent, the better. Florrie wasn't disappointed by what she saw as they made their way along the broad sweep of the prom. More trees had gone up since the previous evening, shining out and joining the glow from the lights that had been strung between the vintage streetlamps. Florrie's heart lifted at the sight – it was as if the residents of the little seaside town couldn't wait to embrace Christmas. She caught Ed's eye, exchanging a smile with him. He squeezed her arm, making her smile grow wider.

They strode along, the salty air blowing in off the sea stinging her cheeks as they chatted away, only pausing for Gerty to have a quick sniff at whatever pungent aroma caught her interest. Florrie gazed up at the clear inky-blue sky. It was splashed with millions of tiny stars, in the middle of which sat a pale moon, quietly casting its luminescent glow. On the beach below, waves crashed against the line of pebbles on the shoreline, mingling with the odd cry from a solitary seagull. Out to sea, a solid wall of darkness was punctuated only by the clusters of lights from ships making their way along the busy shipping route to and from Teesside further up the coast.

They only encountered a handful of people on their way home, mostly dog walkers and the odd car driving by. At this time on a Sunday evening, everyone would no doubt be hunkering down in readiness for their favourite TV drama, kids doing last-minute homework.

As they walked on, Florrie wondered if her old boss was looking down, a fond twinkle in his eye, revelling in his role that had brought her and Ed together, and the resultant renaissance the bookshop was enjoying. She hoped he was.