Christmas Magic at the Tenby Crystal Shop

by Kelly Matthews

  ‘Auntie Tina!’ She exclaimed as she flung open the door.

  The tall, brunette woman wearing a pink smock top with her cafes name emblazoned across it, reached out for a hug.

  ‘Sorry I couldn't pop in sooner. I've been up to my bloody eyeballs.’

  ‘No worries,’ Zoe moved aside to let her into the shop. She hoped she would approve of her attempt at decorating. It wasn't something she had done for a long time.

  ‘It's looking festive in here, so you've been busy then?’

  ‘With decorating, but if you mean sales. Nope. Not had a customer yet, apart from Eileen next door. I guess she doesn't count.’

  ‘I don't suppose your mother told you about…’

  ‘Their financial problem? No, they didn't. I found out myself. It's why I'm determined to turn things around for them this Christmas.’

  Tina gave Zoe a sympathetic pat on the arm. ‘I'm here if you need me, alright? Is everything okay in London? Job wise, I mean.’

  ‘That's another story. I may swing by the cafe later if you're not too busy?’

  ‘Absolutely. We can discuss this Christmas thingy then. I missed the meeting last night so you can fill me in.’ Tina headed for the door. ‘I'd best be off. I'll see you later then.’

  ‘See you,’ Zoe said standing on the doorstep, rubbing her hands for warmth. She quickly glanced up and down the street, saw that there weren't many people about and ran to the coffee shop. Pushing open the door, the smell of coffee permeated the air. Rachel was behind the counter serving a customer.

  ‘I'm glad you came by,’ she said to Zoe while handing over the customers change. ‘I've done my first batch of gingerbread latte. Fancy one?’

  Zoe headed to the counter covered in green and red twisted tinsel. A figurine of Father Christmas on his sleigh sat proudly next to a charity collection tin.

  ‘Best to make mine a large then.’

  ‘You left early last night, is everything okay?’ She asked taking a coffee cup from the stack.

  ‘Yeah, I think so. Well, no to be honest. I've only gone and been lumbered to search for a Father Christmas with that Aidan,’ she said scathingly.

  ‘Oh, I see you've met our Aidan then.’ She found it hilarious for reasons Zoe couldn't fathom. ‘He’s a mystery, that one. Don't let him get under your skin. Here, this will take the bad taste out of your mouth,’ she giggled.

  Zoe mockingly laughed. ‘Thanks, how much do I owe you?’ She dug her hand into the back of her trouser pocket for change.

  ‘I'll put it on the shop's tab if you'd like?’

  Zoe didn't know the shop had one. ‘Okay, thanks. I'll settle the bill ASAP,’ she wondered how much debt was owed to the coffee shop and hoped she could keep her word and pay Rachel back.

  ‘No hurry at all.’

  A family walked into the shop and Zoe said her goodbyes and left.

  On her way back to the shop, Zoe noticed a stationary store had opened opposite the coffee shop. The red, shiny gift bags piled into a metal basket struck her with an idea. Thinking about the beauty boxes she’d receive monthly, Zoe wondered if it could work for the spiritual too. With an excited spring to her step, she entered the shop, almost scaring the shopkeeper behind the counter.

  ‘Hi, how much for fifty red gift bags?’ She asked the woman. Zoe recognised her from last night but couldn’t recall if they were introduced.

  The woman did a calculation in her head. ‘Call it fifteen pounds, love.’

  ‘I’ll take them,’ she said and opened her bag for her purse.

  ‘Were you at the meeting last night?’ She queried walking around the counter with a carrier bag.

  ‘Yeah, my parents own The Broom, Spell, and Candlewick. Do you know them?’ she asked, following her out of the shop to the metal basket by the door.

  ‘Know them? I go to bingo with your mother,’ she replied. ‘She's a lovely lady, your mum. She suggested I'd try something to help with my cold once. Worked a miracle. So how many do you need again?’ She began counting and putting them into the bag.

  ‘Fifty. Although I'm not quite sure yet, I could use more if my idea works.’

  ‘Well let me know if you do. I'll order more in for you,’ she handed her the bag.

  ‘Thank you, I will do. Oh and was it ginger root tea she gave you? If you'd like I could make you another batch. I think you’re going to need it.’

  ‘Yes, it was, thanks. My husband is home sick right now and could use some. How did you know?’

  ‘It's all part of the service,’ Zoe shrugged; smiled at her and went back inside the shop to pay.

  Chapter Seven

  Zoe drained the last of her coffee. Her enthusiasm for her gift bag idea waned when a group of people came into the shop, browsed and then left without buying anything.

  ‘I need a sign that it will work,’ she said nobody in particular and rested her head in her hands on the counter. She eyed a packet of tarot cards on the table and felt tempted to see if they could offer her insight; but then thought perhaps she'd better not.

  It was then the door chimed. A delivery man walked in with a large cardboard box and put it on the counter. ‘I need you to sign for this, please,’ he said passing her a pencil to sign on the device.

  Zoe wasn't expecting anything. The stockroom was already full to the brim with boxes of stuff that probably wouldn’t see the light of day.

  ‘Thanks,' she replied, bewildered.

  She scribbled her name, said goodbye to the man and pulled the box toward her. She took a pen from the pot by the till and ripped open the brown tape. The address label was made out to her, which she thought was odd considering the shop was in her parent’s name.

  She flipped open the lid of the box to find a pink note on top of the white shredded paper.

  ‘Hope you'll find some use for these.’

  She put the note aside and rummaged through the paper. She didn't know what she expected to find and almost fell about laughing when she found it was full of snow globes.

  ‘Mam,’ she smiled, knowing she was the one who had ordered them. She picked one out admiring the Tenby harbour covered in snow. As a child, Zoe loved snow globes and kept a collection of them. ‘I think this is just what I needed.’

  Someone polity coughed. Zoe hadn't heard anyone come in. She snapped out of her thoughts and looked up.

  ‘Is this a good time?’ Aidan asked standing in the doorway with his hands tucked in his grey woollen jacket. Struck by how good looking he was without his hat and sarcasm, Zoe was at a loss for words for a few, painfully embarrassing seconds. It was only when he smiled at her did she regain her composure and look in the direction of the teas on the shelf.

  ‘Yeah, sure,’ she gestured him into the shop.

  He pushed back his dark tousled hair and came to the counter, leaning his arm on a pile of books by the till. His cologne, woody with a hint of citrus, wafted her way and she cleared her throat. She wasn’t sure if he came to start another sarcastic conversation or if he really needed her help.

  Zoe figured she'd better be the first one to diffuse any misunderstandings between them. ‘Look, I think I need to apologise for the car incident the other day,’ she noticed his pearly white smile and the crinkling of his grey eyes as she spoke. It only rendered her a little weak at the knees and she felt thankful she was standing behind the counter.

  ‘Thanks but it's me that should be apologising to you, especially for my rudeness at the pub last night. There was no need for it. It’s no excuse, I know, but I was having a bad day. I promise you, I’m not usually like that.’

  Surprised at his sincere apology, Zoe thought he wasn’t so bad after all and proffered her hand.

  ‘Apology accepted. Well, I'm Zoe, it's nice to meet you properly this time.’

  He extended his hand. ‘And I'm Aidan the owner of The Seashell. It’s nice to meet you, for the third time.’

  ‘Let's hope it's third time lucky. So, Aidan, what can help you with today?’
r />   He casually looked around the shop. Zoe had a feeling it was too awkward for him to ask and decided to step in. She had an idea of what he was after when her eyes locked onto the jars of teas. She understood he had difficulty sleeping.

  ‘Did you used to buy something from my mother?’ She asked walking towards the teas in jars.

  ‘Yeah, I did. I've run out and need some more. How did you know?’

  Zoe selected blackberry tea with honey and put it in his hand. ‘I have a knack of knowing.’

  Aidan raised a thick, dark eyebrow clearly impressed. ‘Thank you. You’re just like your mother. She always seems to know what people want without speaking a word.'

  ‘That’s what everyone keeps telling me. I take it you don't usually buy from a shop like this, do you?’

  ‘Not usually, no. I also wanted to ask if you were free one night so we can discuss the Christmas thingy. My friend's father is the mayor and Christmas is his thing, you know. If I don't comply he'll go nuts with me,’ he laughed. 'I could do without his wrath right now, so what do you say?'

  ‘Of course, I'll come around to The Seashell on Friday?’

  'Great. It'll give me a chance to properly apologise for my appalling behaviour.'

  The door chimed and a family walked in with two young, excited children who began to run around the shop. Aidan took it as his cue to leave and slowly backed his way from the counter.

  ‘I'll see you at eight.’ he said as he was leaving.

  'I'll be there.'

  Chapter Eight

  It was almost six. Zoe put the gift bags into the box of snow globes and pulled on her jacket. The last of the November sun shone through the window, reflecting off the wind chime. It threw dancing rainbows around the shop that made her stop and pay attention to how special it was.

  She knew deep down that she loved the place, but right now her future was up in the air. She still had to make a decision about what she was going to do after Christmas. She picked up her keys from the counter, lifted the box off the stool and tucked it under her arm while she opened the door with the other.

  Walking back to the house down a quiet street, she remembered she promised her aunt she'd call in to talk about the meeting. Heading towards the seafront of her favourite beach, she caught a whiff of vinegar and her aunt’s famous battered fish lingering in the air.

  Her belly growled with hunger and her mouth began to salivate, so she crossed the road catching a glimpse of the sun setting behind Caldey Island and the silhouette of boats bobbing on the ocean.

  ‘Coming in?’ Called her aunt.

  Zoe turned back and saw her aunt standing in the doorway, the light of the shop reflecting on the road and the car parked by the curb.

  ‘Yeah, I was just admiring the view,’ she said walking across the road.

  ‘It's the best, isn't it? Come on, I'll get you your favourite, on the house.’

  Zoe walked into the cafe. The cream tables were almost packed and the sound of laughter permeated the air.

  ‘Thanks. If there’s one thing I've missed being in London it's your mushy peas, chips, and sausage,’ she said, putting the box down on an empty table near the window.

  Tina went behind the counter and shouted the order into the kitchen.

  ‘You've been busy?’ She asked, taking a seat.

  ‘Surprisingly so,’ she lifted the coffee pot. ‘Fancy a cup?’

  Zoe pulled off her coat. ‘Love one, thanks. Have you heard from Mam yet?’

  ‘No, not yet, have you?’ she brought the coffee over and said to one of her staff to look after the customers who walked in.

  ‘No, but wait until the plane lands, I'll never have a moments peace,’ she chuckled.

  Tina was looking at the box. ‘What have you got in there?’ she asked.

  ‘Well I've been trying to come up with ideas for festive gift sets, you know, to entice people into the shop and I came up with a gift bag idea. The idea is that the contents are a surprise but are exactly what you need at the time. They’ll contain a crystal, tea, handmade soap… you get the idea.’

  ‘I love that idea. They would sell well at the market I'm sure. Put me down for a few for presents.’

  ‘Talking about the market, I've been lumbered with organising the Father Christmas grotto with Aidan from The Seashell,' she rolled her eyes. The waiter came over and set her plate down on the table. Zoe inhaled the aroma. ‘I've missed this.’

  ‘Aidan? From The Seashell?'

  Zoe wondered why she sounded so surprised and swallowed a mouthful of peas.

  ‘Yeah, do you know him? What's his story?’

  ‘Yeah, I know him and his family. To be honest, I'm surprised Aidan even showed up at the meeting,’ she said, picking up her mug of coffee.

  Zoe poured vinegar over her chips, and looked at her aunt, intrigued and eager for local gossip. ‘Do tell.’

  ‘Aidan has looked after his parent's hotel since they passed on. After they died, Aidan has been pretty much a loner, so I was surprised when you said he's working with you on the parade.’

  ‘Poor guy. I almost ran him over when I arrived the other day.’

  Tina spat out her coffee, laughing. ‘Did you really?’

  ‘It was an accident and not entirely my fault, okay. He stepped out when the lights went red. Then he had the bloody cheek to blame me.’

  ‘He does exude a little arrogance, but I think that's kind of sexy, don't you think?’ She smiled behind her coffee cup.

  ‘Moody. And rude. And I'm sure there are a bunch of other words I could think of. I'm not sure sexy is one of them,’ she scoffed and jabbed the fork into a pile of chips. ‘Okay, maybe a little.’

  ‘I knew you'd agree. There’s not many women in these parts that don’t.’

  ‘Why am I not surprised to hear that,’ she laughed.

  Walking back to the house on a full stomach Zoe figured that being back in Tenby wasn't so bad after all.

  Chapter Nine

  Zoe kicked off her shoes, thinking she ought to buy a pair of trainers and switched on the light in the hallway. Her phone buzzed in her pocket with a message. She dashed into the living room, dropped the box on the sofa and sat down as she pulled her phone out of her pocket.

  ‘Hi Zoe, this is Sam, we'd like to discuss a job opportunity for you in the New Year. Please call me back to arrange a meeting. Thanks.’

  ‘Wow,’ she exclaimed, not seeing that coming. Excited with a chance to head back to London after Christmas, she went to get a bottle of wine from the kitchen to celebrate the fact that she was still employable. It was only until she read the entire message did she realise it was from a rival gift firm that put her out of business. Mildly depressed, she slumped down on the sofa, filled her glass to the brim and decided not to answer him back.

  ‘Bugger.’ she woke the following morning on the sofa with an aching back and pounding head. On the coffee table was the fifty gift bags already stocked with crystals, soap and snow globes each tied with a fancy green ribbon.

  ‘Hell's spells, maybe I should drink more often,’ she groaned and went into the kitchen clutching her head. It was already seven, but the shop didn't open for another two hours. It wasn't as though she had to traipse halfway around London to get to work. She admitted to herself that was one advantage the place had.

  She switched on the coffee machine and stepped out the back garden to admire her father's garden. He was proud of his garden and the herbs he grew and sold in the shop. ‘It’s cold,’ she shivered, noticing a black cat sitting on the garden wall. ‘Hello Kitty,’ she stepped around a bed of poppies to pet him.

  ‘You know what they say about black cats and witches.’ came a familiar voice from over the garden wall.

  ‘Aidan? You live here?’ She reached on tip toe to get a look over the wall, but she was far too short to see anything but the rose bush. ‘Hey! Hang on, are you calling me a witch?’ She laughed, unsure if she should actually be honoured or insulted.

  Ai
dan popped his head up from behind the wall giving her a fright.

  ‘No, it was my family home for the last three years. I'm just here to make sure everything is okay for the new tenants I've got coming this week.’

  ‘Oh, right, well I hope they'll be happy here. I see it comes with a cat,’ she rubbed its chin.

  ‘That's Sooty and he belongs to the neighbours that way,’ he pointed over her shoulder with a grin.

  ‘Ah, well I hope he pays me lots of visits while I'm here,’ she petted him.

  ‘I’m sure he will. I can’t get rid of him. So how has your morning been?’

  ‘I’ve been busy, you know, with things,’ she lied, aware she was hungover and that he could probably tell by the look he gave her.

  ‘I'm heading back to the hotel in half an hour if you want a lift to the shop. It's on my way.’

  Remembering she was out of petrol and she had boxes to carry, she agreed.

  ‘That's nice of you, thanks. I'll take you up on that. I’ve got a box of gift bags I didn’t fancy carrying,' she gave the cat another rub and waved goodbye to Aidan.

  ‘I didn’t think you could after a heavy night drinking, that’s why I offered,’ he replied cheekily as she was about to walk back into the kitchen.

  Zoe popped her head around the door. ‘Well it’s nothing you probably haven’t done before,’ she shouted back and heard him laughing.

  ‘Could I put this lot in the boot?’ She asked, barely able to see what was in front of her.

  ‘These look nice. Are they for the shop?’ He questioned taking the box from her.

  ‘Yeah, if they sell I may consider making more for the market.’ She lifted the latch of the door and got into the front seat.

  Aidan got in and turned on the ignition. ‘I've been thinking about this Father Christmas business,’ he shook his head. ‘I've got to be honest, I'm not much of a Christmas kind of guy.’

  ‘I'm not much of a Christmas kind of gal, but we've been asked to do something important so I suppose it's only right we give it everything we got. In fact…’