by Clare Revell
He stood. “I’ll let you rest. I’m heading back into town. Soon as I know anything I’ll text you.”
Hector had a brief word with his father, who told him Brie was waiting outside the main entrance, before heading down the stairs and out into the chill night air.
Brie sat on the wall next to the huge Christmas tree. The multicolored lights twinkled, reflecting in her hair.
He sat beside her. “Hi, Cutie.”
She shivered. “Here comes Santa Claus,” she sang. Then she coughed.
“Thought you were coming up to CCU.”
“I did, but it just seemed awkward with your parents waiting as well. I was going to call a taxi, but I have no money for that or a bus. My bag is still in the store. Well, probably nonexistent by now.” She looked at him. “Part of the frontage collapsed. They’ve got pictures on the news.”
Hector closed his eyes for a moment, grief piercing him. Then he looked at her. “But we’re alive and that’s more important. Bricks and mortar can be replaced. People can’t.”
He reached into his trouser pocket. “I found this on the floor in the offices. It must have come loose.” He held out the necklace.
Her eyes brimmed with tears. “Oh, I thought I’d lost it. I didn’t know how to tell you.”
He put it around her neck. “If the catch comes loose again, let me know and we’ll go get it fixed. Dad’s gone to get the car. He’ll drive us home. I can break into your place for you.”
She shook her head. “I keep a spare key with a neighbor. How’s Mr. J?”
“Doing okay. We’ll know more in the morning. But he’s awake and spoke to me.” He paused.
“I’ve got something to tell you,” they both said at the same time. Then both laughed awkwardly.
Hector pointed to her. “After you. Ladies first and so on.”
“I rang my parents. You don’t want to know how many missed calls and texts there were on my phone.” Brie bit her lip. “They see the fire as God telling me I should pack it all in and move up north with them. Paris is picking me up at four on Christmas Eve. He and his wife have seats on the same plane as me. Dad is meeting us all at the airport.”
Hector’s heart sank. She was leaving after all. He cleared his throat. “I should probably head over to the store. See what’s left of it.”
“What’s your news?”
He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter now. I’ll get Dad to drop you off and I’ll go back to the store. Find out what’s happening.” He rubbed his arms. “Might have to borrow his coat if he has one in the car. I seem to have mislaid Santa’s jacket.”
Brie brought up the news on her phone and showed him the footage. She touched his hand. “I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. His eyes smarted, but he was not going to cry in front of her.
“What were you going to say just now?”
Hector hesitated. As he was about to speak a car horn sounded. “There’s Dad. Come on, before you freeze.” He rose and jogged over to the car. “Can you take Brie home? I need to go into town and check on the store. I might have to borrow your jacket. I’ve lost mine.”
“There’s a spare sweatshirt and coat on the back seat. I’ll drop you off in town on the way. Get in.”
“Thanks.” He opened the door for Brie, then climbed in beside her.
She wrapped her arms across her middle.
“Hector, I should come with you.”
He shook his head. “I have to do this alone. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Brie arrived at the store just after nine the following morning. The fire engines were still there. Smoke and steam spiraled upwards. The back wall still stood along with the walls where it adjoined the buildings on the left and right. The front wall and all the floors were completely gone.
Bereft, Hector slouched on a bench just outside the perimeter tape.
Brie popped into the coffee shop and picked up coffee and a bagel, then headed back over to the bench, sitting beside him. “Morning. Got you breakfast.”
Cold hands took the coffee and sipped it. “Thank you. You’ve no idea how good this tastes.” The hand holding the cup moved towards the remains of the store. “It’s all gone. One hundred and thirty firefighters. Nine hours simply to get it under control. They’re damping down now. That’ll take most of today, possibly tomorrow as well.”
He closed his glistening eyes. “Oh, I know I said Jennings would go out with a bang, but I sure didn’t mean this.”
“Do they know how it started?”
“One of the escalators. Could be electrical. Could be something else. It’s all in the hands of the fire investigation team and the insurance companies. Of course all those files are gone too.” He rubbed a sooty hand over his eyes. “A hundred years, gone up in smoke.”
“Those files might not be gone,” she said.
Hector looked at her. “The computers and papers no longer exist.”
“Mr. J had me back everything up at the end of each week. It would take forever to get it all onto a USB flash drive.”
His eyes sparkled. “Do you have that flash drive?”
“No, but I know where he keeps it. It’s in the safe.”
Hector groaned. “Brie…”
“In his house, if you let me finish. You know that painting he has in the den. That hideous triangle, multi-colored thing? Well, the safe is behind that.”
Hector set the coffee down and beamed. “Brie, I love you!” He hugged her and kissed her cheek.
She quivered, wanting him to say it and mean it.
He pulled back, holding her gaze, then moved his thumb slowly over her lips. “I love you,” he whispered, before moving in and capturing her mouth with his.
For a moment nothing mattered. Warmth shot through her and she responded to his touch completely. Then he pulled away and she felt the cold creep in again.
“Rebuild the store,” she said quietly. “What other choice do you have?”
“You wanted to know what my news was.” His knuckles grazed her cheek. “Last night, Grandad told me he’s retiring. He wants me to take over. There’s so much I could do, implement all those ideas of yours.” He broke off. “Or there was.”
“There still is. Start over. Build on the store’s reputation of a family business that cares for its customers. Use online shopping until this store is rebuilt. Rent a temporary premises somewhere for now. Jeremiah 29 says “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you.””
Hector stared at her. “I had a verse in my head all night. Zechariah 13:9. This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” I think God’s trying to tell me something.”
She nodded. “This fire is your time in the wilderness. You need to turn the whole thing over to the Lord in prayer and go in the direction He wants you to take.”
“I can’t do it alone.” His gaze held hers, pulling her in. His hand tightened on her arm, fingers of the other hand entwining in her hair. “I need your help.”
“You want me to be your PA?”
“Yes. No. Not just that.” He paused. “PA. Soul mate. Wife.”
“Wife?” Her eyes widened.
“Yes, wife.” His fingers brushed her hair behind her ear. He wasn’t expecting the sudden thrill which ran down his spine. “You complete me. A total cliché I know, but it’s the truth. You already share my faith. I thought I’d lost you in there when I found your necklace. Utter despair filled me. I never want to feel like that again.”
Could she feel what he did? Wa
s he baring his heart and soul for nothing? What if she said no?
What if the lure of a new life in Scotland was more appealing than the little he had to offer her?
“I know I don’t have much,” he whispered. “A pile of ashes and glowing embers, actually, but I want so much more. If I could give you the world I would. I want you, Brie. Marry me.” He tilted her head to his and kissed her.
Chapter Fourteen
HECTOR PUSHED HIS GRANDFATHER’S WHEELCHAIR through the lobby of the Penta Hotel on the Oxford Road. He wasn’t sure how Brie had pulled this off with only a weeks’ notice, but she had begged, borrowed and called in favors or whatever it took, but she’d succeeded.
He glanced at Nan. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I’m fine. It’s strange the party being here and not at the store. Especially with it being our last one. The end of an era.”
“Or the beginning of the next. The temporary shop is up and running. Online sales are picking up.” He backed through the door of the function room. As he turned, his breath was taken away. The whole room was covered in balloons and fairy lights. The tables lined half the room, each set with party hats, crackers, and favors. A large space to one side was ready for dancing. A huge tree stood in one corner, positively dripping with lights, tinsel and ornaments.
Nan gasped. “The cake. Look at that cake.”
“Brie made it.” Hector grinned and wheeled Grandad over to the table. He knew she’d hunted everywhere before she found a cake stand with four separate levels large enough for what she wanted. Four tiers of cakes stood proudly, celebrating one hundred years of Jennings Toy Store. The top layer had the store logo and a photograph of the store on it.
The remaining three layers contained over one hundred and fifty miniature cakes, each themed to match the level of the store. At the bottom, a tiny Santa stood surrounded by several elves to mimic the grotto.
“It’s beautiful.” Nan’s eyes glistened.
Hector picked up two hats and handed them to his grandparents. “Don’t cry. It’s about the past, yes, but the future starts tonight.”
“Speaking of future,” Nan asked. “Has she given you an answer yet?”
“Not yet. I’m trying to be patient, but I’m not so good at that.”
Brie rushed over and pushed a Santa hat onto his head. “Hereeeee’s Santa.” She raised her voice. “Hey, everybody, Santa is in the building.”
“Yo, Santa!” came the reply.
Hector rolled his eyes. “Oh look it’s Cutie Tinsel-Shoes, my number one Elf.” He picked up an elf hat and put it over her hair. “Did you finish your packing?”
“Yeah.” She pointed to her shoes and held them out for him to inspect. “What do you think? I tinseled them especially for you.”
He chuckled. “Very nice. You could start a new trend in footwear.”
“The cake is lovely,” Nan said. “Thank you, Brie.”
“You’re welcome. Hector, can I talk to you a minute?”
Hector grabbed her hand. “Come get a drink.” He tugged her over to the other side of the room.
“I had a phone call when I got home from work this evening.”
He handed her a glass of orange. “Oh, yeah?”
“My father. Apparently, this nice sounding bloke from Reading called him this afternoon.”
Hector’s cheeks burned as he tried to act innocent. “Really? What did he want?”
Brie held his gaze. Fairy lights reflected in the clear blue. “He asked permission to marry his daughter.”
“Fancy that.” He sipped his juice, convinced his face was now the same color as his Santa hat.
The bells on her hat jingled as she nodded her head. “Anyway, Dad wants to meet him.”
Hector swallowed. “I see, I think.” He frowned in confusion.
“Why do you look confused?” Brie asked.
“It’s only that’s not what he said on the phone.”
Brie chuckled and put a finger on his lips. “So it was you. Anyway, he bought an extra ticket for the same flight as me and the others on Christmas Eve, if this bloke is interested in coming to Scotland.”
“But I thought you’d decided to go and stay there.”
She shook her head. “You thought wrong. I’m coming back,” she said. “Who else is going to help you run the business?” She stood on her tiptoes. “Besides I love you. And a wife’s place is at her husband’s side.”
Hector’s heart leapt. “Is that a yes?”
Brie grinned. “Yes. It’s most definitely a yes.”
Hector picked her up and spun her around, kissing her with sheer delight. “Brie, I love you.”
She kissed him back. “I love you, too.”
“You think you can cope with being Mrs. Clause?”
Her eyes twinkled. “There is one condition.”
He laughed. “Hey, all the Hector Clauses are mine.”
“Oh, no, mister. You are the one Hector Clause who is all mine.” She tugged off his hat and placed it firmly on her head. “This is a Brie clause actually. That’s clause with a small c not a capital c. Once we’re married, it’ll be a capital C but right now it’s a small c.”
He grinned at her. “Stop babbling, woman. A small c sounds infinitely worse. Should I be afraid?”
Brie kissed him and put the elf hat on his head. “Yes, you should. If I’m going to be Mrs. Clause, you get to be my number one elf.”
Hector hugged her. “For you anything.”
“Come on then, Nutmeg. Let’s go find our seats before the meal starts without us.”
Hector raised an eyebrow. “Nutmeg?”
“That is your elf name isn’t it?”
He tipped her face to hers. “I’ll give you Nutmeg, Cutie.” He kissed her with every ounce of passion he could muster.
As he broke off, the entire room broke into wolf whistles and applause.
“Now you have to marry her, Hector,” someone called.
Hector noted that Brie’s face was as red as his burning cheeks felt. “That’s the plan. And yes, you’re all invited.” He looked at her and winked. “Along with the entire cabinet.”
Brie laughed. “Assuming your mother does the guest list that is.”
He tweaked her nose. “Don’t worry, I shan’t let her anywhere near it. Come on then Mrs. Cutie Clause to be, we have a party to attend.” He grabbed two glasses from a tray and gave her one. “To the future of the toy store and us.”
THE END
Glossary
Gammon : Pork. It tastes much like bacon, but it's usually boiled before it's sold in large round steaks. It can be roasted or fried.
Going into administration : Effectively company bankruptcy. Your company is taken under the management of a court appointed administrator – who must be a licensed insolvency practitioner (IP) - appointed by the courts, your creditors, or your company directors.
Admin : The old name for HR- human resources. Or another word for paperwork.
A damp squib : A firework that fails to go off or just makes a dull thud rather than a nice big bang.
A tannoy : The loudspeaker system.
Stew : Yes, they really do eat stew on a plate. It’s a really thick gravy and mash, chunky veg, dumplings eaten with a knife and fork. Else it's a soup.
Christmas Cake
© Revell 2016/Sutton 1964 /Price 1935
The cake that Brie made is my grandmother’s Christmas Cake, which has been in the family for almost a hundred years now—three generations, hence the long copyright.
INGREDIENTS:
8oz self-raising flour
6oz butter
2oz sugar
3 eggs
6oz sultanas
8oz currants
4oz raisins
4oz glace cherries
Quarter teaspoon mixed spice
Pinch of salt
2oz milk
DIRECTIONS:
1. Line 8 inch cake tin with TWO layers of greaseproof paper. Tu
rn oven on gas 6/200C
2. Warm the syrup and milk gently. Set aside to cool. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time with a little flour. Mix. Add fruit, spice, milk and salt. Mix. Stir in remaining flour. Turn into cake tin. Place TWO layers of greaseproof paper over top of cake, taking care it won’t fall off onto the gas or heating element in the oven.
3. Place in oven. Bake 10 minutes gas 6/200C. Turn oven down. Bake 3½-4 hours on gas 3/160C.
4. Cool on wire rack. It can be made 6 weeks before Christmas and will keep in a sealed tin for several months.
I cover mine with marzipan and royal icing swept into peaks to resemble snow.
What’s Your Elf Name?
Just for a giggle, here is Brie’s list of elf names. It’s the first letter of your real name and your birth month. And just to prove I didn’t rig it to give myself an amazing name I’m Bright Pointy-Toes.
Excerpt ~ Down In Yon Forest
By Clare Revell
A Christian Gothic™ Christmas Romance
MEREDITH STOOD AND SLID HER BAG diagonally over her body before reaching for her new red cloak. It had been an early Christmas present from her grandparents. They always gave her the same thing, but she found cloaks far more comfortable than any coat or jacket she’d ever owned. This one was knee length and more practical than the full length one she’d had previously. Her fingers ran over the embroidered daisy chain that lay over her heart.
Gramps rose. “I’ll drive you home, Meredith.”
She shook her head. “Thank you, but there’s no need. It’s a lovely crisp winter’s afternoon out there, and I love walking in the forest. The main road is a fifteen-minute walk from here and then just twenty minutes home.”
“The woods aren’t safe—” Grannie began.
“There is no monster lurking around the trees to eat people, Grannie. That only happens in fairytales. I’ll be home well before dark. You worry far too much.” She leaned over and kissed her grandmother’s cheek. “Stay in the warm.”
