Christmas Magic at the Tenby Crystal Shop

by Kelly Matthews

  Zoe was about to say something but got distracted by the council workers putting the Christmas lights up. Their van was blocking the road.

  ‘You're right. It's to help the people out round here, so I shouldn't be grumbling, should I?’

  ‘It's fine, I'll come up with a list of businesses and schools who’d want to take part and we'll go from there.’

  ‘Thankfully you turned up when you did,’ he said, taking a different route. ‘I don’t think I could’ve managed this myself.’ He parked on the street. ‘This is the closest I can get you,' he undid his belt.

  ‘No bother, it's not like the shop is a million miles away.’ she replied as she closed the door.

  Aidan laughed at her comment. 'That's the beauty of living here. Everything is on your doorstep.' He got out of the car and opened the boot. As he reached for her stuff, Zoe made a grab for it too. For a brief moment their hands touched. .

  'Sorry,' Zoe said and pulled away.

  'That's quite alright, you have beautiful hands,' he winked. ‘I'll carry them down for you.’

  Embarrassed, Zoe looked away to avoid the intensity of his eyes.‘Its fine, I suppose you've got to get to work too?’

  ‘I do, but it's absolutely no bother.'

  'No, I don't want to make you late.'

  'If you're sure,’ he passed her the box, and she groaned from the weight of it.

  ‘Absolutely. Thanks for the lift,’ she stepped off the pavement only to feel someone grab her arm pulling her back the second a car whizzed by.

  ‘Oh my god,’ she said, her heart thumping mad. She turned to her rescuer, not at all surprised at who it was. ‘Thanks, Aidan, I owe you one.’

  ‘No, we’re absolutely fine. Just keep off the booze in the nights for me, okay? I may not be here to save you again,’ he laughed and went on his way.

  ‘Very funny,’ she yelled as she crossed the road.

  ‘You know I mean it, witchy,’ she heard him shout back.

  Chapter Ten

  ‘It's starting to look a lot like Christmas, isn't it?’ Eileen commented walking through the door of the shop.

  Zoe was standing on a chair stringing white fairy lights along a shelf that was full of old, leather bound books her mother had found on her travels.

  ‘It most certainly is, Eileen. Maybe we'll have snow.’ Zoe thought about the Christmases when she was younger. She remembered how fascinated she had been by seeing snow on the sand for the first time. She hadn’t experienced it since and hoped she’d get a chance too before she left.

  ‘Don't say we're expecting snow for God sake. I can't stand the stuff,’ she enthused, waving her arms around as though she was pushing imaginary snow away.

  ‘I love it,’ she got down from the chair and happened to notice the council fixing the Christmas lights outside her shop. ‘It's the same old lights, year after year. You’d think they could afford to buy new ones. I remember these from when I was a kid.’

  ‘It’s better than nothing, I suppose. Oh, that's right, I remember what I wanted to ask you. We need an extra pair of hands to wrap up the Christmas gifts for the Grotto. I was hoping you may be free tomorrow?'

  ‘Yes, no problem. Do you know we've only got about a week left to get things organised? I'm freaking out here.’

  ‘Sorry, love. I'm sure you can do it. Oh, what're these?’ She asked, picking up a gift bag, inspecting it closely.

  ‘Do you like them? I came up with the idea yesterday. They each contain a crystal, an essential oil, handmade soap…’

  ‘I think they’re splendid. Put some aside for me. I have a few girlfriends who would love them.’

  ‘Aw thanks, Eileen.’

  ‘You should try selling them online too, on one of those shop things I keep hearing about from my granddaughters.’ She shrugged. ‘I’m no good with the internet but I think you know what I mean. I'm sure they'll be a hit on there. Right, I'd best get back to it. It looks busier today.’

  ‘It sure does. I’ll see you later.’

  Zoe walked Eileen to the door and saw a steady flow of people walking about, in and out of the shops. She folded her arms, feeling a slight chill in the air.

  ‘Hopefully, it'll be a good day for us.’

  Eileen had one foot in her door. ‘Fingers crossed, love. We need it.’

  Zoe sat behind the counter, tapping away on her laptop trying to catch up with emails. A young couple browsed the shop, occasionally commentating on the goods. She loved to hear customer’s reactions to the products they sell and smiled happily to herself as opened up Sam’s email. Thinking she didn’t want to interrupt them as they browsed, she read the email about the job offer again and thought she ought to talk to her mother about it.

  ‘Excuse me, what is this crystal for?’ The woman asked holding a large, pointed smoky quartz. ‘I'm looking for something to help with anxiety.’

  ‘Ah, then you'll need a Lepidolite. Here, I'll get one for you,’ she said and walked around the counter.

  The man that the woman was with hid a snigger but Zoe heard it anyway.

  ‘Shut up, Shaun, just because you're closed-minded about these things.’

  Zoe smiled, she'd heard all this before. She went to the table and plucked a purple stone from a basket. ‘This may help,’ she handed the stone to the woman and noticed a rash on the man's hand.

  ‘Does that hurt?’ She asked with a nod to his hand.

  ‘A bit.’ he exchanged an embarrassed glance with the woman

  ‘Then try this.’ Zoe went to a large chest of drawers and pulled out a tub. ‘It's camomile lotion. It will help calm the inflammation.’

  ‘Thanks,’ he replied, unsure and took the tub.

  ‘Consider it a gift. Try it and see. If you need any more, you know where to come.’

  The woman had noticed her gift bags on the table and picked one out.

  ‘These look lovely, what's in them?’

  Zoe was ecstatic someone besides Eileen had noticed them and couldn't resist the opportunity to tell her all about them.

  ‘They sound unusual, but I think it’s a fantastic idea. Could I have two? I'd like to give one away on my blog.’

  ‘A blog? How cool. What's it about?’

  ‘It's a lifestyle blog. I get a lot of views, so I'm sure you'll be inundated with orders.’

  ‘Thanks, well, you have to pick your own bags, it's sort of like a lucky dip, but you can be assured that whatever you get is what you need.’

  ‘Wow, I’m sure my friends would love one, I'll take these,’ she said plucking two from the back. ‘And here's my card with my blog details, check it out in a week or two.’

  ‘Brilliant, thanks,’ she put the card in the back of her jeans, rung up the total on the till and took her money. ‘Thanks for stopping by,’ she waved as they left. Rachel, who was just about to open the shop door, stepped aside for them to pass.

  ‘I hope they bought something from you.’

  ‘They did, even though her partner was a little sceptical.’

  ‘Aren’t most people like that anyway until they try it. I wanted to ask if you'd like to come round mine for dinner tonight My husband is back from visiting his family in Scotland, so I thought I'd throw a little welcome home dinner party.’

  ‘I'd like to, thanks for asking. Text me your address and time.’

  ‘Will do. Um…’ Rachel walked towards the incense sticks, pick up a box and sniffed it.

  ‘You should try them,’ she said sensing she hadn't a clue about any of the stuff she sold. ‘As you said, many people are sceptics until they try. Go on, take this,’ she handed her a vanilla flavoured box of sticks. ‘I think it'll be a nice touch to your party. Consider it thanks for your coffee.’

  ‘Vanilla is my favourite too, you are very good at this. It’s almost scary.’ She said as she left the shop.

  Zoe smiled, closing the door behind her. ‘Yep, I am good,’ she said to nobody in particular. She had forgotten her magic touch, living in London an
d working a corporate job. Being home almost felt freeing.

  After closing for the day, Zoe set off home admiring the decorations and lights in the windows. It was then she saw Felicity walking up the street, huffing, and puffing carrying bags of shopping.

  ‘Someone has been busy spending money,’ Zoe nodded towards the bags.

  ‘It's just my weekly shop and some Christmas gifts. Do you want you to come to dinner tonight?’

  ‘Oh, I can't tonight. I've promised Rachel I'd popped around hers.’

  ‘Rachel Summers from the coffee shop?’

  ‘Summers you say?’ She said, perplexed. She hoped the name was merely a coincidence but it was such an unusual name for these parts. What if there’s a link with him, she thought and began to feel the rising panic.

  ‘Yeah, that's right. Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?’ She laughed.

  ‘No reason at all,’ she shrugged, putting on a fake smile. ‘Well, I'll catch up with you soon, alright. I've got to get home to change.’

  She waved Felicity goodbye before the girl had a chance to talk even more and power walked down the street. The name Summers whirled around her head. It couldn't possibly be any relation, she thought. It had to be a coincidence. A very big coincidence.

  She turned the key in the lock, went inside and headed straight down the hall to the kitchen. Feeling famished, she opened the fridge grateful her mother stocked up before she left. Tapping her fingers in the door while she looked for something light, she heard a cat meowing by the back door.

  ‘Hello,’ she said, dropping to her haunches. The cat rubbed its head on her legs.

  ‘We've got to stop meeting like this,’ said Aidan popping his head up from behind the wall.

  ‘You're back here again?’

  ‘Yeah I'm just cleaning the garden and the house is good to go. I think Sooty here likes you.’

  ‘I've always attracted cats. Much prefer them to the opposite sex at the moment.’

  ‘We're not all bad, you know. Still on for tomorrow? I heard they've forwarded the time of the parade, so I managed to get the list of businesses involved and sorted the paperwork for insurance.’

  ‘Wow is there anything left for me to do?’

  ‘I'm sure I'll find you something. If you don't mind me saying, you look like you've got a lot on your mind. Do you need to talk? I’m a good listener. One of the perks of being a barman.’

  ‘Oh, it's nothing, honestly,’ she said, really hoping there wasn't. ‘I'd better get ready actually, I'm off to Rachel's for dinner.’

  ‘Rachel Summers? What a coincidence, so am I. I'll give you a lift if you want?’

  ‘Really?' Rachel didn't mention that she invited anyone else.'

  'Charming, aren't you,' he laughed. 'I don't think I make a bad dinner guest, so what do you say?'

  'You know what I meant. I assumed it was just myself. But if you can pick me up, then that’ll be fab.’

  'No problem at all, witchy,' he winked. ‘I’d love to be your chauffeur.’

  Zoe rolled her eyes at his remark, thanked him and went indoors.

  Chapter Eleven

  Finishing off her casual jeans and black blouse look with a touch of red lipstick, Zoe heard her phone ringing from downstairs. Thinking it might be important news about her business she thundered down the stairs to answer it, swung around the balustrade and just reached her phone on the kitchen table as it rang off.

  ‘Bugger.’

  It was her mother but she didn't want to call her back in India. She could barely afford a taxi a few streets away. She slipped the phone into her back pocket, picked up her handbag from the countertop when it rang again.

  ‘Mam, how's India?’

  ‘Fab, love, more importantly, how's the shop?’

  Zoe walked down the hallway, her dolly shoes clapping on the tiled floor. ‘Not too bad, mam. I do have something exciting to tell you though, I've started making crystal gift bags for Christmas and they’re doing quite well. Also, I've been sorting out the Christmas parade…’

  ‘Sounds good, love. I love that idea. Send me a picture of the bags. Listen, sorry, but your Dad is calling me for something, you'll have to text me everything…’

  ‘Mam, do you know Rachel from the coffee shop?’

  ‘Aw, yeah she's lovely…’ her voice crackled.

  ‘Who is she married to?’

  ‘Sorry love, you're breaking up…’

  ‘Who is she married to?’ She shouted down the speaker.

  ‘Robert. James's brother. Didn't you know?’

  Rachel resisted the urge to scream. ‘No, I didn't.’

  ‘James moved to Scotland so I heard, so you'll be okay. I actually liked his brother more. He was a bit more down to earth than that scumbag you were going to marry.’

  ‘Yeah, he was fab when James and I split so I can't not go,’ she said, walking into the front room. She stood by the window and drew back the curtains.

  ‘Go and enjoy and don't forget to decorate the house for Christmas, too.’

  Zoe saw Aidan turn up in his car. He waved at her from the window.

  ‘Mam I'll text you later, I need to get going.’

  ‘Speak to you soon.’

  The doorbell rang just as she was about to open it.

  ‘You’re bang on time…’ she pulled open the door and their eyes met. Without taking her eyes off of him, she moved aside to let him through. It was at that moment, she really felt the stirrings of something she wasn't quite ready for.

  ‘You look lovely,’ he said with sincerity. ‘I’d like to come in, but I think we should get going,’ he gestured her to his car.

  'Just let me switch off the lights,' she said and hurried down the hall to the kitchen.

  ‘Please allow me to be your chauffeur for this evening, madam,' he put on a posh voice that made her laugh.

  Zoe locked the door feeling slightly better now she had Aidan for company.

  ‘So have you known Rachel long?’ she asked, buckling her seat belt.

  ‘Yeah, since we were young. We’re cousins.’

  ‘Oh. She didn't say.’ Zoe was shocked as she would never have guessed.

  Aidan laughed. ‘I can't say I'm surprised. I do get on her nerves a bit. You look like you’re worried about something.’

  ‘I do?’

  ‘Yeah, you do. You’re a little tense. We’re just going to dinner with friends,’ he nudged her arm, ‘you’ll be fine, I got you.’

  ‘To tell you the truth there is something the matter, but I hope I'm wrong.’

  ‘Well, you can tell me now or let me know when you’re ready. I'm all ears, witchy.’

  Aidan drove past the caravan site, took a turning and the arrived onto a steep street.

  ‘And here we are,’ he pulled up onto the drive. ‘I hope she's made my favourite. I swear that's why I only pop around,' he laughed. ‘No, I'm kidding. Rachel is the only real family I have left here.’ He turned off the engine.

  ‘Is she?’

  Aidan unbuckled his belt. He was silent now and Zoe understood not to prod any further. She knew his feelings about his parents were still raw.

  ‘Come on, then. I'm famished.’ He opened the door.

  Walking down the garden path, Zoe felt a knot in her stomach. When this had happened in the past it always followed a disaster of some kind. Her mother used to tell her it was her intuition talking to her and that she should always trust it. Except, tonight, she had nowhere to run, so she took it as a sign that she had to be prepared.

  Aidan tapped the glass on the front door and a silhouette appeared walking down the hall. Zoe braced herself and stood behind Aidan.

  ‘Hi, Aidan, glad you could make it.’ Rob pulled him in for a man hug and noticed Zoe standing, frozen to the spot by his side. His eyes widened with shock.

  Zoe half smiled at him. Robert backed away from Aidan.

  ‘Zoe, I wasn't expecting you.’

  ‘Really? Yeah, well not a lot of people are so
it seems. It’s nice to see you again, Rob. I thought Rachel told you who she was inviting.’

  ‘Wait a minute, so you two know each other?’ Aidan asked, confusion on his face.

  ‘Yes, we do. It’s a long story, but Rob was almost my brother in law.’

  ‘Wait. What? Really?’ Said Rachel walking down the hallway.

  ‘Yeah, a long time ago now, eh, Rob?’

  Rob snapped out of his thoughts. ‘Yes, a long time ago. Sorry, come inside. How long has it been now? Almost four years?’ He said, leading them into the living room.

  ‘About that. It's the first time I've been back since… You know.’

  Robert exchanged an awkward glance with Rachel. ‘Zoe was nearly married to James. But uh, stuff happened…’ he cleared his throat.

  ‘It's the past now, so don't feel awkward on my part. I could leave…’

  ‘No you won't, you're my guest,’ said Rachel.

  ‘But…’ Rob pulled Rachel aside.

  ‘He's back isn't he?’ Zoe said.

  ‘He is,’ Rob replied cautiously.

  Rachel nudged his arm. ‘Rob… ‘

  ‘He's coming here? Now?’ Pain stabbed her chest at the memory of their time together. She didn't want to look pathetic and say she had to leave. A feeling of claustrophobia came over her. ‘Could I have a glass of water, please?’

  Rachel dashed to the kitchen and poured a cup of water. ‘Zoe, if it's too much I can cancel for another day.’

  ‘No don't you dare. I'll just… I think it's best if I do leave. I'm sorry,’ she directed it towards Rachel. ‘I thought I could do this but I… I'm not ready.’

  Rachel drew her in for a hug. ‘That's alright, I understand. I only wish I had said who I was married to.’

  ‘I'll drive you back, come on,’ said Aidan; car keys in hand at the ready.

  ‘You don't need to… ‘

  ‘I insist, come on.’

  Zoe slumped down in the passenger seat unable to think of anything but the last time she saw him. Before she knew it, hot tears began rolling down her cheeks.

  ‘You're going the wrong way,’ she said looking out the window.

  ‘Yeah, I thought it'd be nice to get away for a bit. When I need time to think things over, I go to South Beach. I’m guessing that’s something you used to do, too, huh?’