Christmas Magic at the Tenby Crystal Shop

by Kelly Matthews

  ‘I've taken this trip many times, don't worry it may just pass us.’

  ‘Who said I'm worried?’ She shrugged and sipped on her coffee.

  Aidan gave her a sidelong glance, grinning from ear to ear. ‘You did, in not so many words.’

  ‘Whatever. So who is this guy we’re meeting?’

  ‘My uncle, Richard. He owns a Christmas tree farm and used to do the grottos but lately, he's been a recluse. It'll do him good to get out doing the thing he loves again.’

  ‘Poor guy. Well, I'm looking forward to meeting him,’ she looked out the window, noticing the dark clouds looming over the hillside. ‘Hope you’ve brought your brolly.’ Zoe laughed, but inside she felt nervous and couldn't understand why. ‘Gosh, we’re out in the sticks, aren’t we?’ She pulled out her phone, but as she figured, there was no signal bars on the screen.

  ‘Yeah, it’s very remote here,’ Aidan said, looking straight ahead at the narrow road. Trees towered overhead, forming an arch. And on the left, a wooden sign welcoming them to the Christmas Tree Farm came into view with an arrow pointing right. ‘I must warn you, he speaks his mind and may come across as offensive, but he’s really harmless.’

  ‘Nothing wrong with speaking your mind, is there?’ Zoe held on to her seat as he took a sharp turn onto a gravelly lane. A large three storey house was set back surrounded by trees. Old cars were parked next to a garage whose door was open. A man emerged wiping his oil-stained hands with a cloth and when he saw them, he waved.

  ‘Alright?’ Aidan stuck his head out of the window as he pulled up.

  Zoe unbuckled her belt and then waved. ‘Nice to meet you.’

  ‘New girlfriend, Aidan?’

  ‘Unc, this is Zoe. She’s a friend who has come along to pick a tree.’ He gave Zoe a sidelong look and rolled his eyes. ‘Sorry,’ he whispered but Zoe found it funny.

  ‘Is that’s what you call your girlfriend’s now, Aidan? Hello, Zoe, welcome to Hollyvale Farm.’

  Zoe laughed at Aidan who went red in the face. She reached over the seat and shook the man’s hand through the window. ‘Nice to meet you, too.’

  ‘I’ll be in a bit,’ he said to Aidan. ‘Go and make some food if you want.’

  ‘Thanks, Unc.’

  Zoe got out of the car taking in her surroundings. ‘I can totally understand why you wouldn’t want internet here.’

  Aidan joined her by the car. ‘It’s not completely off the grid. You can get internet in certain spots, but it’s unreliable. Shall we get something to eat? I’ll show you the farm later, then.’

  Glad to get out of the cold, Zoe agreed and walked beside Aidan up the garden path to the red door decorated with a Christmas wreath.

  ‘All ready for Christmas, I see,’ she commented on the decorations as Aidan opened the door.

  ‘It’s not just for Christmas.’

  ‘You’re kidding, right?’ She asked, stepping into the hallway. She gasped with shock when she saw dozens of wooden toy soldiers in boxes.

  ‘My uncle makes them in his spare time. He’s a carpenter by trade.’

  ‘I’d love some for the shop,’ she gushed picking one out from a box. ‘This place feels sort of magical. I can’t wait to see the farm.’

  ‘A bit like your shop then,’ he said gesturing her towards the kitchen at the end of the hall. ‘Make yourself at home,’ he pulled out a wooden chair. The table was full of baskets of fruit, jars of sweets and chocolates. He noticed Zoe’s surprised reaction. ‘My aunt’s side business. She sells them on the farm. Do you want a coffee or tea?’ It was then he noticed a pot of hot chocolate on the stove. ‘I don’t think I need to ask,’ he chuckled and took two large mugs from the wooden rack.

  ‘Where is your aunt?’ She asked.

  ‘She’s around here somewhere. This place is so big, it’s easy to get lost. Here,’ he put a mug on the table. ‘So, how are you feeling now about the shop?’

  ‘I don’t want to see it in the hands of Summers and Son, that’s for sure. But I’m broke. My gift business failed and I have no real job.’ She shrugged. ‘If my parents can’t figure anything else out then, I suppose it’s goodbye.’

  Footsteps could be heard coming through the back door.

  ‘What’s goodbye?’

  ‘Hi, Maude, how are you?’ Aidan got up from his seat. Maude was carrying a basket of holly and smiled in Zoe’s direction. She had a kind face with blue eyes and curly auburn hair.

  ‘I didn't know we were having guests.’ She put the basket on the counter and wiped her hands on a tea towel.

  ‘I told you I was coming.’

  ‘I don't mean you, you silly sod. I meant this young lady.’ She extended a hand to Zoe who got up from her seat and shook it.

  ‘This is Zoe. She runs The Broom, Spell, and Candlewick in Tenby. She's come with me to pick out a tree.’

  ‘So you say, Aidan. Nice to meet you, love.’

  Aidan rolled his eyes. ‘Sorry,’ he whispered to Zoe.

  ‘It’s nice to meet you, too. Your hot chocolate is the best, I must say.’

  ‘Thank you. I always make a batch when I know Aidan is coming. So you run The Broom, do you? I've bought quite a few things from there over the years.’ She went to the stove, pulling out a tray of muffins. The aroma of vanilla and chocolate filled the kitchen.

  ‘Yeah, well actually it's my parent's shop. I'm just looking after it while they're away.’

  ‘Business is good?’ She asked, pulling out a chair and sitting down opposite them.

  Zoe looked up at Aidan. ‘Not really.’

  ‘Hopefully, the Christmas Market will help. I've heard lots of good things about it. Oh, Aidan, do you want to find a tree now while I cook you both lunch? Richard is out there.’

  ‘Sure. Do you want to come?’ Aidan asked, pulling on his back beanie hat.

  ‘Yeah, would you mind if I took this with me?’ She picked up her mug.

  ‘Of course, enjoy. I may give you the secret recipe before you go home.’

  ‘The one I've been trying to get out of you for years?’ Aidan laughed and opened the back door.

  Zoe pulled on her gloves and followed Aidan out into the back garden. Beyond the wooden fence was trees as far as she could see.

  ‘Your aunt is lovely.’

  ‘She is. She was a godsend when my parents went.’

  He pushed open the gate.

  Zoe sensed his mood had changed and didn't think it was a good idea to ask further questions. They walked in companionable silence up a country road, the woods on their left. Large candy canes led the way with glittery signs saying “Santa's Grotto,” and “North Pole.”

  ‘This is amazing,’ Zoe mused and took her phone from her pocket to snap pictures. It was then she saw she had three bars on her phone and an email came through.

  Chapter Fifteen

  ‘This tree is a beauty,’ Aidan enthused, stroking the brilliant green branch of a Silver Birch.

  Zoe was staring at her text message and didn’t hear him.

  ‘Hey, what happened to not needing internet?’ He joked.

  ‘It's a message from my mother,’ she walked up to him. ‘Summers and Son have offered them more money. Damn. What's going on, Aidan? Why do they want it so bad?’

  Anger flashed across Aidan’s eyes. ‘They won't do anything while they're away, so calm down. We'll figure something out.’ He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

  ‘You think?’

  ‘Of course. Now let's get back to the trees and allow nature to absorb all of our worries,’ he smiled.

  ‘That's my mother's saying. Don't tell me she fed you that line, too?’

  ‘Your mother fed me a lot of lines like that and I think she is right though. I often take off into nature when I need to think, or I need a break from people.’

  ‘You think a lot about my mother, don't you?’

  ‘I do, she's been a big help to me in ways she doesn't know since my parents passed. So… how about this tree?�
��

  ‘That's a fine tree,’ said Richard walking towards them. He had a kind, friendly face with light brown hair. ‘Sorry about earlier, I've been trying to fix the snow plough. They said we should expect at least six inches of the stuff by tomorrow.’

  Zoe gasped with shock. ‘Tomorrow? Aidan, we need to get back on the road as soon as possible.’

  Aidan scoffed. ‘Oh come on you two. You don't actually believe that, do you? They say we’re going to get a snowstorm every year and does it happen? No. Nine times out of ten, we get a flurry that barely covers my windshield.’

  Richard nodded, agreeing with him. ‘I suppose you’re right. Don’t worry too much,’ he said to Zoe.

  Zoe was annoyed. She knew she could trust what her intuition was telling her. ‘I had a feeling we were headed for snow. Remember the dark clouds we saw looming toward us?’

  Aidan laughed. ‘Rain you said. And no I don't keep a spare brolly in the back of the van either.’

  ‘No, you're going to need a bloody shovel now, aren't you?’ Zoe replied

  Richard laughed. ‘It's like listening to a married couple,’ he passed Aidan a saw. ‘I'll give you a hand, come on. Maude has dinner ready and I’m bloody starving.’

  ‘I'll go and help her.’ Zoe headed back to the house and instinctively, she pulled out her mobile and saw that she had a signal. She took one step back and lost the signal so took one step forward again when dozens of notifications came through. ‘Jackpot.’

  Hi, Zoe, It’s Sam again. I have an opportunity I'd like to talk to you about, regarding your crystal gift sets. Please get in touch when you see the message.

  Zoe felt a pang of excitement in her chest as she knew Sam’s company was huge even though they had once been rivals. She texted him back.

  Hi, Sam, thanks for mailing. I'm excited to hear what you have to offer. Can I call you tomorrow?

  She switched off her phone much more relaxed than she'd been in a while. It was looking as though she may save the shop from closure after all.

  Maude waved at her from the kitchen window and she went inside, shivering and hoping for more hot chocolate.

  ‘You seem a lot happier. What happened on the farm?’

  ‘I may have found a way out of the mess I was in. Sorry, I meant to say it's a business opportunity.’

  Maude took a cup of the rack. ‘That's great news,’ she picked up the ladle and poured thick, hot chocolate into the mug.

  ‘Thank you. Although I shouldn't drink so much as we'll be leaving soon.’

  Maude turned sharply toward her. ‘Why? You haven't long got here and there's so much for you to see.’

  Zoe didn't like to disappoint the woman but she also had a business to run. What if they got stuck in the snow?

  ‘You haven't heard about the snow forecast, then?’

  ‘No.’ she switched on her mint green, retro radio.

  Zoe heard a raised voice from outside and exchanged a curious glance with Maude who fell about laughing.

  ‘My husband isn't as fit as he likes to think he is.’

  They both went to the window and looked outside at the two men lifting a tree onto the back of the van.

  ‘I reckon we could've done better,’ Maude joked.

  Zoe laughed. ‘Most probably,’ she looked at Aidan.

  ‘Well, have some hot soup before you go. Oh, wait, the weather report is on.’ she turned the radio up as far as it could go. Zoe leaned on the table, listening intently, hoping they were wrong.

  ‘This is a weather warning for West Wales. Snow is expected in the next few hours…’

  Zoe took a deep breath. ‘They were right.’

  The back door opened, bringing with it a gust of cold air. Zoe stood up. ‘You were right, snow is expected in the next few hours.’

  ‘I won't say I told you so,’ he winked at her. ‘But, I can't resist. I told you so,’ he hovered above the stove, sniffing his aunt's soup.

  ‘Get your nose out of there. It's almost ready. I'm sure you'll have time to have a bowl, so make yourselves comfortable in the sitting room.’

  Aidan gestured Zoe into the sitting room that had a large fireplace with a roaring fire next to a Christmas tree already decorated with red and green baubles.

  ‘It’s so cosy,’ she beamed walking towards the mantel. She lifted the photo frame, gazing at the picture of Richard as Father Christmas. ‘He looks like the real deal, doesn't he? Did you ask him?’

  ‘He said he will. Is it just me or do you look a little happy? As I recall you were annoyed about the snowstorm and wanted to go home.’

  Zoe shrugged. ‘Things may be turning around for me. I got a business opportunity so that might mean I'll get to go back to London.’

  Aidan’s smile faded. ‘You're thinking about going back?’

  ‘Who is going where?’ Cried Maude, placing bowls of soup on her dining table that overlooked the mountains in the distance.

  ‘It’s nothing, really.’ Zoe rook a seat.

  Aidan sat opposite her. ‘Zoe may have a job in London.’

  ‘So you're not staying in Tenby That's a shame, isn’t it Aidan?’

  Aidan wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked at Zoe. ‘It is, but she has better things to do than hang around boring old Tenby, right?’

  Maude was waiting for an answer.

  ‘Yeah.’ She picked up her spoon, feeling a little awkward. ‘I’m not saying the place is boring, it’s just that I have a lot I want to do. One life, right?’ She said to Aidan who seemed to have understood her.

  Aidan ate the rest of his soup in silence while Maude chatted away about her plans for the farm. Zoe couldn’t help but think he was saddened by the news of her leaving and suspected he had feelings for her.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The first specks of snow began to fall as they got into the van. Zoe held out a gloved hand, catching one in her palm.

  ‘I thought you didn't like the stuff?’

  ‘I never said I didn't.’ she turned to face him. ‘I just don't want to get stuck in it.’

  ‘Well stop playing with it and get inside.’ He waved to his aunt and uncle and buckled his belt. ‘Thanks for coming with me.’ He turned on the ignition. The engine spluttered and cut out. ‘Don't panic. She gets like this sometimes.’

  ‘Who's panicking?’

  ‘You. I feel it.’

  ‘Oh you do, do you?’

  His steel grey eyes locked on hers. Zoe could barely breathe and it wasn't due to the closeness either. She shied away, letting out a breath she didn't realise was holding. ‘Give it another go.’

  ‘Yes, ma'am.’

  He tried again and the engine was fine. Soon they were heading back down the country roads singing along to cheesy 80’s tunes that were blasting through the radio.

  Now and then, she caught Aidan looking her way. She had to admit to herself that she liked him, but now that she had a chance to go back to London she didn't think it was such a good idea to get involved with anyone.

  ‘So what are you doing for Christmas?’ She questioned him, taking another sip of Maude’s hot chocolate. It definitely warmed her inside and out.

  ‘I don't do anything these days,’ he shrugged. ‘Usually, I'm in the hotel by myself with a bottle of whiskey.’ Aidan took a deep breath. ‘I'm an only child. Since my parents died and my girlfriend left, I find it difficult to get too close to people. It's hard… loving someone and then having to watch them leave your life for good.’

  Zoe was surprised by how open he was being, especially with her. She wanted to reach out and hug him but thought better of it when he was driving, so she gently patted his arm. ‘I understand completely but as I found out you can’t shut yourself off forever. It’s not healthy.’

  ‘I know. Thanks. You're very easy to talk to, has anyone ever told you that?’

  'My customers,' she said. ‘Look, why don't you come along to my aunt's for Christmas lunch. She's already taken in this stray. I’m sure one more won’t hu
rt.’

  Aidan laughed. ‘Tina? I think she hates me.’

  ‘No she doesn't. You'll be my guest.’

  ‘Alright, you've got a deal. Oh no,’ he slammed the steering wheel with his fist. ‘Look,’ he pointed, and slowed the car.

  ‘You've got to be kidding me.’

  About a hundred yards in front of them was a fallen tree, blocking the entire width of the road. Zoe suppressed a scream and balled her fists in the pockets of her coat. She thought it had to be a joke as the snow began falling thicker and heavier.

  ‘What are we going to do?’

  ‘How strong are you?’

  ‘Let's be serious shall we?’

  ‘There's only one thing I can do. I'll l have to call Richard to help haul this thing. One minute,’ he reached for his phone on the dashboard. ‘Shit, there's no signal.’

  Zoe leaned forward to check out the screen. ‘Stop messing. Oh, this is great, just great…’ she huffed when she saw that he wasn't lying.

  ‘It’s about a twenty-minute walk back to the house. Do you think you could manage it?’

  ‘Manage it? I walked from Paddington to Islington once, or maybe twice. Twenty minutes is nothing.’

  ‘Did you walk it during a snowstorm though?’

  ‘It may have rained a bit.’ she bit her lip.

  Aidan found it funny and lifted her chin with his finger. Zoe felt her heart pounding in her chest as he came closer and closer until their lips were a hair breath away.

  ‘You're gorgeously funny, Miss Merrygale but you're disastrous at lying.’

  Just when she thought he was going to kiss her, he pulled back with a lopsided smile. ‘We'd best start walking. Make sure you're wrapped up warm.’

  Aidan got out of the van and Zoe sat there, head spinning, and heart beating crazy wishing he had planted a kiss on her lips. She snapped back to reality and pulled on her beanie hat. As soon as she opened the door, a sharp bitter wind slashed across her legs.

  'It's so cold,' she moaned.

  'Come on, witchy,' he said. 'Maybe you should've fetched your broom.'

  Zoe rolled her eyes at him. 'To whoop your ass with? Or to burn as firewood? I think I like my first choice better.'