‘Don't worry, Mam.’ She rolled her eyes at them both as they got into the car.
It was barely six thirty and chilly out, so she was surprised to see people already walking up the street pointing at the Georgian town houses on the opposite side. They were obviously tourists, she thought. She could spot that kind a mile off as they usually had their noses in the air, looking up at buildings and taking pictures.
‘Text me when you land,’ she waved and then wrapped her dressing gown tightly around her. There were only two hours until she had to open the shop but already she had an inkling it wasn't going to go according to plan.
She checked her watch that had struck 9.00 a.m. and walked around the counter to change the sign to open. She unlocked and opened the door and stood in the doorway, peeking up and down the street, but it was fairly quiet unlike how she remembered it in the summer season.
‘Hello, love,’ said a woman about to turn the key into the lock of the shop next door.
‘Hi there, are you Mrs. Morgan?’
‘Yes, Zoe, I thought it was you. Long-time no see. So you're looking after the shop for your parents are you?’
‘Yes, they've gone to India until January. What do you know about this Christmas Market? Mam only sprung it on me this morning.’
‘I'm glad you asked. There's a meeting about it at the pub later on, you should come and meet all the locals.’
She didn't really want to as she was hoping for a night in front of the telly watching whatever Netflix had to offer but she couldn’t be rude. ‘I'll try, Mrs. Morgan,’ she said about to head into the warmth of the shop.
‘It's Eileen, dear. If you need any help, pop in.’
Grateful for the support, Zoe relaxed a touch. ‘That's so kind, thank you.’
‘We shopkeepers need to stick together. Especially this time of year.’
‘Yes, we do. Have a good day.’
Once she was inside the shop, Zoe realised that she needed to familiarise herself with the stock. It had been a while since she had picked up a box of tarot cards or crystals. She closed the door, shrugged off her coat and walked around taken in by all the trinkets. She felt as though she was a kid again. There was a shelf dedicated to tarot and oracle cards she'd been fascinated by as a youngster. She used to give readings in the shop but gave it up when one of her clients was bowled over by her accuracy. Her mother said she had a gift but it scared her and she refused to do it anymore. She dropped to her haunches to look on the shelf below. It wound around the entire wall that was full of scented candles in jars and various size geodes sparkling in the sunlight beaming through the door. The Christmas spice smell of the candles drew her in and she picked it up to have a sniff.
The wind chime jingled, slightly startling her. She put down the candle she was holding and looked over her shoulder.
‘Can I help you?’ She asked the woman holding a large box with strings of lights spilling over the edges.
‘Zoe, is it?’ said a woman with long brown hair wearing a pair of black glasses.
Zoe raised a brow, wondering who it could be this time.
‘Yeah, and who may you be?’
‘I'm Rachel,’ she stuck out a hand while grappling a box in the other. ‘Your mother said you'd be taking over the shop for the holidays. I own the coffee shop a few doors down.’
Coffee. Zoe made a mental note to head to the shop for one later. ‘Nice to meet you. Mam did mention you actually. So has your shop been here long?’ She asked, putting the candle back on the shelf and then walking around the counter.
‘My shop has only for about a year. Oh, before I forget, these are yours.’ She dropped the box on the counter. ‘Your mother asked me to ask you to put up the rest of the Christmas lights.’
Zoe stared at the box of mangled lights. It looked like it'd take her until next Christmas to detangle. ‘Did she now?’ She sighed deeply, thinking why they couldn’t have done it before they left. ‘Right, okay, thanks. I'll get around to it,’ she replied, inwardly groaning at the extra work Christmas created.
‘Well, we, the shopkeepers agreed to decorate early this year, so…’
‘I see, well it's about five weeks away for Christmas, so I'll do it when I have a spare moment. I promise.’ It seemed as though she'd have plenty of spare moments if the shop remained empty. Besides, she thought, hanging the Christmas decorations wasn't a priority on her list.
Rachel smiled. ‘Thanks. Do you want a coffee? It's on the house.’
‘I'd love one thanks. Does it get busy here at this time of year?’ Zoe asked, expecting a deluge of customers.
‘Not so much, unfortunately. People mainly head into the cities to do their shopping. It's why the mayor wants us to go all out for Christmas. I suggested we'd do a Christmas Market. So we want to get the town into the Christmas spirit as early as possible.’
‘Ah, now I see. I think it’ll be a big boost for business,' she replied wishing she didn't have to do it all on her own.
Chapter Four
Zoe stood on a rickety stool, dusting a shelf of crystal balls with a feather duster. It was then she heard the shop bell chime. The first since Rachel had left.
Customers at last.
‘Hello Eileen,’ said Zoe without turning around to see who it was.
‘Yes, what a good guess,’ she replied, the shock evident in her voice.
Zoe looked over her shoulder, laughing at the confused look Eileen had on her face. ‘I saw your reflection,’ she pointed to the crystal ball. ‘I may be like Mam in some ways, but I’m not that good.’
‘Ah,’ Eileen chuckled and then remembered why she came. ‘Have you had many customers in?’ She asked, offering her a cream cake from a box.
It was only until she saw the delicious looking cream cakes she realised she hadn’t stopped for a break. Zoe put the duster down. ‘I'd love one, thanks. Sit down,’ she offered her a stool that was draped with silk scarves. Zoe removed them out of the way and pulled herself a seat from behind the counter. ‘I'm going to be honest with you, Eileen,’ she sat down and took a custard slice out of the box. ‘I haven't had one customer all morning. Is this normal around here or what?’
‘Not really, love.’
Eileen winced with pain as she sat down on the chair. Zoe noticed her rubbing her knee and went to the shelf behind the counter where her mother kept her teas.
‘Try this,’ she handed her a jar. ‘It's great for arthritis.’
‘How do you do that?’ She exclaimed. ‘Your mother has that knack too, you know.’
‘Yeah, I've inherited a lot from my mother except her love of Christmas.’
‘Talking of Christmas and presents, I wonder if you could help me with another problem. I have no idea what to get my sister for a birthday this weekend. Any suggestions?’
‘Hmm.’ Zoe thought for a moment and looked around the room, but all she could think about was the blue scarf slipping off the counter. ‘Your sister likes blue, doesn't she? So how about this scarf. Mam brought them back from India last year.’
Eileen was impressed. ‘Her favourite colour is blue. My, you're good. I'll take it. How much?’
Zoe didn’t have a clue what to charge. ‘Ten pounds, is that okay?’
‘That’s a bargain, thanks.’
‘No, thank you, you're my first sale.’ Zoe smiled thinking she still had her magic touch when it came to selling.
‘Would you happen to know what I can get my husband for Christmas while you're at it?’ she laughed. ‘I like to do my shopping before the big rush. At least then I can sit down and relax while everyone else is running around like headless chickens.’
‘Golf clubs?’ She offered her suggestion and took a bite out of her cake.
With her cream cake mid-way to her mouth, Eileen sat back in shock. ‘I think that's an excellent idea, thank you. He used to play golf when we first got married. Ever thought of becoming a psychic gift buying consultant?’
Zoe tried desperately not to lau
gh while she chewed but she couldn’t help it. ‘I am already. It’s my day job. Or was. But not the psychic part.’
Later that afternoon, Zoe looked at her watch and realised it was time to close for the day. It had been a disappointing day for sales and she wasn’t looking forward to coming back. It was then she remembered that she had a meeting at the pub. Not that she wanted to go. She switched off the lights, locked the door and made her way back to the house.
Her parents were keen collectors and had all sorts of paraphernalia from their travels that took up most of the space in the living room. She kicked off her shoes and moved aside a pile of her fathers’ books off the sofa. An envelope dropped out and she stooped down to pick it up. The envelope had been opened and looked official, so she took out the letter inside and read. Struck by the contents she flounced down on the sofa with her mouth wide open. Did she just read that her parents were in huge debt and might have to sell their business? No, she couldn't believe it. The shop was their life, so how come they didn't tell her before they left? She had so many questions, her head began to spin. She threw the letter on the coffee table when her mobile rang. She hoped it would be her mother so she could ask what was going on.
‘How's the job going?’ Asked Jessica. Zoe let out a heavy sigh, not really wanting to talk about what she had found. ‘It's taking some getting used to again, but all good. Did you get the job you wanted with the cosmetics firm?’
‘I did, I start after Christmas.’
There was a tap at the front door. ‘I'll call you back later, alright? There's someone at the door and I've got to go to a meeting tonight. Don't ask,’ she grumbled and said goodbye as she went to answer the door.
‘Hi,’ said Rachel holding two coffee cups. ‘I thought you'd like some company to go to the meeting.’
‘Is that now?’ she asked, surprised how quick the time had gone. She wasn’t expecting Rachel to show up at the door either. In fact, she wasn't sure she knew where she lived. ‘Sorry, I didn't know you were coming. Let me grab my coat.’
‘I've just finished work and so I thought I'd stop by. It got busy after five. Typical when I was getting ready to close.’
Chapter Five
Grateful for the company, Zoe and Rachel walked up the street clasping warm cups of coffee tightly in their hands. The air was cool with a hint of the sea, a smell Zoe had always associated with home.
‘Are you from around here then?’ Zoe asked, interested to know. For all she knew they may have been in school together. She thought she would look like an idiot if it turned out that they were.
‘No, I’m from Cardiff originally. I came here as I fancied a different pace of life. So how was your first day?’
‘Truthfully? Rubbish. And then I found out… Oh doesn't matter. I’m sure things will pick up in time.’
‘Hopefully, the Christmas meeting will give us a boost of energy. So don't worry so much at the minute. Things are usually up and down for businesses.’
‘Don’t I know that one,’ Zoe said and blew the coffee before she drank it.
They waited on the curb for the van to pass by and then crossed over the road to the pub. Music blared from the open doors and Zoe thought it was the liveliest she had seen the place since she arrived.
‘Hello, love,’ said Eileen, sitting around a table with a bunch of other women. ‘Come and join us.’
Zoe looked for a spare seat in amongst the tight throng of people standing around, sipping drinks. There wasn't a familiar face in the crowd and part of her wanted to go home and hide under the duvet.
‘Here you go,’ said a man approaching her with a chair.
‘Thanks,’ she gratefully took it and set it down by Eileen.
One of Eileen's friends offered Rachel her chair. ‘I'm just off to the bar,’ she said. 'Take it.'
As they both sat down and Eileen began introducing Zoe to her friends. ‘You know Libby’s daughter, don't you?’ She directed it towards the woman sat opposite.
‘Ah yes, I do remember you. You don't remember me, do you? I'm Frances from the grocer's at the bottom of the street.’
Zoe immediately recalled her son, Ben, who she was good friends with at school. ‘Sorry, Frances, I didn't recognise you. I thought Mam said you'd moved.’
‘For a year but I missed this place too much I came back.’
Someone banged their hand on the bar trying to get everyone's attention. Zoe looked at Rachel, wondering who he was.
‘The guy who runs the committee, Mr. Hayes,’ Rachel rolled her eyes. 'A pain in the backside,' she whispered.
The pub hushed down and the jukebox switched off.
‘We all know why we are here…’
A few people murmured with agreement.
’Get on with it,’ Eileen shouted, ‘or we'll be organising an Easter parade.’
Laughter broke out around the room.
‘Alright, alright, calm down the lot of you. What I was going to say before I was rudely interrupted?’ He cracked a smile at Eileen. ‘We need to go bigger and better this year. The market will be held on the 22nd so I hope you're all prepared for that. Don't forget the parade, too with the light switch on which will be on the 1st. And before I forget, it looks like we have a new shop owner this year, Zoe Merrygale. I’m sure you all remember her. Her parent's own The Broom, Spell, and Candlewick.’
Taken by surprise, Zoe reluctantly got off her seat to a round of applause. ‘Nice to meet you all.’
While Mr. Hayes continued talking, Zoe had a sudden realisation about the dates he gave for the parade. Somehow, it didn't feel right to her, but what could she say to him? Nobody would take her witchy ways seriously anyway.
‘Rachel, has the parade always been held on the first of the month?’
‘I think so, why?’
‘Oh. Nothing, just wondering.’
It was then Zoe set eyes on the man that she almost ran over sat on his own with a pint of beer in his hand. ‘Who is he?’ She asked Eileen, trying not to make it obvious she was looking at him.
Eileen looked in his direction and chuckled. ‘The Grinch we call him.’
‘Really? I can't say I'm surprised,' she scoffed.
‘His real name is Aidan. His parents left him their hotel, and for the past two years, he has run it on his own. He's also my Godson.’
Zoe remembered her mother telling her about the place but couldn't recall the Evans’ having a son. Mortified, as she didn't know he was Eileen's Godson, she apologised for causing any offence.
‘He is? Oh, I didn't mean…’
‘No worries, love. I'll be honest and say he needs to start living his life. He's had a terrible few years.’
Zoe felt awful. The music came back on and she got up from her seat to head to the bar, hoping he wouldn't notice her.
‘Can I get anyone a drink?’ She offered.
‘No, it's okay, love,’ said Eileen holding up her half a glass of red. ‘If I have anymore, someone will have to carry me home.’
Zoe laughed to herself as she stood by the busy bar waiting to be served when a leaflet slipped across the bar in front of her.
‘It's for your shop window,’ said a voice she recognised.
Zoe picked up the leaflet, turned to her left, locking eyes with Aidan's.
‘So, it's you again,' she spat. 'Thanks for this,’ she folded the leaflet firmly and stuffed into her back pocket. She had no intention of starting a conversation so she stood there willing the barman to hurry up.
Aidan ignored her reproach and flipped open his wallet as the barman appeared to serve them. ‘A pint and whatever the lady is having.’
Shocked by his kind gesture after she almost ran him over, Zoe opened and closed her mouth like a fish in water. She wasn’t expecting that to happen.
‘Thanks will do,’ he winked as he left with his pint. ‘By the way, we've both been lumbered together to find a Father Christmas and a tree for the parade. I'm Aidan by the way.’ He gave her a crooked smile an
d raised his glass. ‘Nice to meet you, partner.’
‘What are you having?’ Asked the barman.
‘Just a white wine, thanks,’ she said and then cleared her throat. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, but she couldn't resist a sneaky look at him as he walked towards a crowd of males by the dart board.
Chapter Six
Zoe woke, shivering under her thick duvet while her father's alarm clock radio blasted out Radio 4. She slipped a hand out and reached for the curtain and lifted it up. There wasn't any snow yet, but she was sure it was coming. She could feel it in the pit of her stomach. But she couldn't understand why she was worried, it made no sense at all. At least not yet, anyway. Even though she was reluctant to get up to start the day, she had no choice but to switch off the annoying radio. ‘I know you did it on purpose, Dad.’ She grabbed her woolly cardigan at the foot of the bed, put it on and went to make a hot coffee before heading to the shop.
Before she opened the shop for the day, she had to put up the Christmas decorations, a task that was more burdensome than looking after the shop. She moved the table toward the shelf to give her space and sat on the floor. She took a pen, stabbed it into the box and ripped it open.
'Bloody hell,' she cussed and saw that it came in pieces that she had to put together. ‘You’re kidding me?’ She pulled out a branch, thinking it was way too early for this malarkey and chucked it aside. She dug deep in the box, hoping there were instructions but she couldn’t find any. It was then she noticed each branch was colour coded and of different lengths. After setting up the main stand that the branches hook onto, she pushed the tree next to the counter where it towered over her by about a foot. As much as she wanted to leave it for another day, she began untangling the string of lights that were left in a box. Already bored and done with Christmas, she was relieved when there was a knock at the door.
Peering through the glass covered with flyers and notices, Zoe saw her auntie's smiling face beaming back at her.
Christmas Magic at the Tenby Crystal Shop Page 2
