by Nell Dixon
The carollers entered the pub and sang whilst the band accompanied them from the door. The singers finished O Little Town of Bethlehem and launched into Hark the Herald Angels Sing as the collection bucket came round the tables.
“It’s so lovely and Christmassy.” Erin snuggled closer to Dan.
Etty’s eyes shone as she smiled at Adam. “This is so great. Thanks for bringing me.” She leaned across and kissed his cheek. Nice as the gesture was, he wished the kiss had been from Meg.
Meg turned her head and pretended to concentrate on the Christmas tree. With the carolling over and the quiz at an end, Adam helped Etty on with her coat ready for the walk back through town. Brad secured a ride home with Erin and Dan.
“Will you walk with us?” Adam asked Meg as she slipped her hands into her gloves.
For a minute, he thought she was about to refuse.
“Oh yes, walk with us, please. It’s so nice to meet Adam’s friends. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you all letting me come out with you tonight.” Etty smiled at Meg.
They set off side-by-side through the narrow streets of the small town. Above their heads red, green and yellow Christmas lights twinkled in the inky darkness while only the sound of their footsteps broke the silence.
Etty tucked her hand under Adam’s arm when they paused at Meg’s door. “It’s been such a nice night. I can’t wait for the carnival tomorrow.”
In the dim light from the streetlamp Meg seemed to force a smile. “I’ll see you both tomorrow night, then.”
CHAPTER THREE
Meg dragged herself out of bed the following morning. It had taken her hours to fall asleep. Etty and Adam had looked so comfortable together as they’d walked off down the street. She’d tried not to think of them spending time together at Adam’s mother’s beautiful white painted home on the edge of town.
The streets were already busy as Meg walked through the town to her shop. The carnival weekend always attracted a lot of tourists providing a welcome out-of-season boost to the town’s economy. Beach Diva’s would be open an hour longer than usual to take advantage of the extra trade.
Meg opened the shop door, turned off the alarm and walked into the backroom to deposit her coat and bag. She’d barely had time to turn on the kettle to make her morning cup of tea when the shop bell pinged.
“Anyone home?” Erin called.
Meg walked back out to find her friend admiring a pretty red sweater patterned with tiny white stars which suited her blonde hair and fair complexion perfectly.
“You’re out and about early.” She smiled as Erin held the sweater against her body and studied her reflection in the mirror.
“Kelly’s expecting to be busy at the café today so I’m going in early to help with the food prep.”
“That sweater suits you.” Meg knew Erin loved clothes.
“It’s to wear tonight at the carnival.” Erin placed it on the counter for Meg to wrap.
“Dan will love you in it,” Meg assured her and rang a discount code into the till before Erin could stop her.
“Were you really okay with Adam bringing Etty to the quiz last night?” Erin asked as she fished in her bag for her purse.
Meg bit her lip. “Of course. He’s a free agent.” She wished she could convince herself that she didn’t mind.
“I don’t understand. Adam is crazy about you, and I know you like him, yet you keep turning him down whenever he asks you out.” Erin placed her change inside her purse.
“We’re fine as friends. He asked me for a date, and I said no, so if he wants to see Etty then I can’t really complain can I?” Meg’s cheek muscles ached from trying to appear bright, chirpy and unconcerned.
“Dan said Adam told him Etty had recently broken up with someone. That’s why she’s here, to get away from her ex for a while.”
“Then I guess she’s free to date too, then.” She ignored the spear of jealousy jabbing her in her ribs. It was becoming too familiar a feeling.
“Well, I think you and Adam are crazy. You are so right for each other.” Erin tossed her blonde hair as she collected her purchase from the counter.
“As friends,” Meg said.
She waved cheerily as Erin left the shop still shaking her head. As soon as her friend was out of sight Meg allowed her shoulders to slump. She had absolutely no right to feel jealous of Adam’s friendship with Etty. She’d been the one to turn him down when he’d asked her out.
Meg wandered into the back room and finished making her cup of tea. A chocolate biscuit would have helped to lift her spirits, but when she checked, the tin was empty.
The sound of the shop bell dragged her out of her reverie, and she was soon too busy to dwell on Adam.
The shop had just quietened down when the door opened once again. Etty smiled at Meg as she walked through the door.
“Hello, Meg. Adam said you’d got some lovely things for presents here.”
Colour flooded into Meg’s face. She hadn’t expected Etty to visit her shop. “Oh, that was kind of him. Were you looking for something for someone in particular?” Flustered by the other girl’s unexpected appearance, she slipped into her standard shopkeeper role.
Etty stroked a delicate floral silk scarf. “I wanted to get Adam’s mum a little gift to thank her for inviting me for the weekend, and I need to find something for my sister for Christmas.”
“If your sister likes jewellery, then I’ve some nice bracelets and necklaces.” Meg pointed to a display stand.
“Great!” Etty wandered over and began to examine the pieces. “I’m really looking forward to seeing the parade tonight. Adam said the lifeboat crew are going as Baywatch. The coxswain is dressing up in a red swimsuit and a blonde wig.”
Meg tried and failed to imagine burly bearded Brian from the garage dressed as Pamela Anderson.
“Yes, the floats are always good and it looks spectacular with all the lights.” She wished she could dislike Etty, but she seemed too nice.
Etty selected a necklace and bracelet from the stand before returning to the display of scarves. “I’m so glad to be here for the carnival. I needed a bit of cheering up, and Adam has been so kind.”
“That’s Adam for you.” Meg struggled to sound chirpy.
Etty chose the silk scarf she’d been considering earlier and took it to the counter.
“He’s been a good friend to me.” She placed the jewellery on top of the scarf. “I, um, thought maybe there was something between you and Adam?”
Meg looked up from where she had been gift-wrapping Etty’s purchases, conscious that her face was now as red as the sweater Erin had bought earlier.
“No.”
Etty flushed. “I’ve offended you, I’m sorry. It’s just I wouldn’t want to—”
“We’re friends, that’s all,” Meg interrupted her before she could say any more. She didn’t think she could bear to hear Etty telling her that she and Adam were dating. And it would kill her to have the other girl feeling sorry for her. “There, all wrapped for you.” She forced another smile.
“Oh, that’s lovely, thank you so much.” Etty inserted her credit card into the machine while Meg placed the gift-wrapped boxes in a bag.
“I expect I’ll see you later at the parade.” Meg tore the receipt from the machine and handed the bag of gifts to Etty.
“Yes, we’re going to watch from by the lifeboat station.” Relief flashed across the other girl’s pretty face. Etty’s mobile buzzed, and she glanced at the screen before returning the phone to her pocket. “Oops, late for my lunch date.”
“See you later, then.” Meg swallowed down the lump in her throat as Etty left. No doubt she was off to meet Adam for a cosy lunch for two.
Meg wondered if she could get an award for acting by the end of the day. First Erin, and then Etty, now she only had to convince herself that she was fine.
* * * *
The darkened streets along the parade route were already filling with people when Adam left
the medical practice. He’d arranged to meet Etty near the boathouse so they would be able to secure a good position to view the parade as it passed along the seafront.
He quickened his pace when he caught sight of Meg locking her shop.
“Meg!”
She turned her head at the sound of his voice, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink when her gaze met his.
“Oh hello, have you come from the practice?” She tested the door to make sure it was locked before placing the keys in her bag.
“Yes, I was just walking down to meet Etty at the lifeboat station. Have you been busy today?”
The crowd jostled against them knocking Meg off balance. Adam automatically placed his hand under her arm to steady her, drawing her towards him as a large group of people surged past.
“Are you all right?” He glared at the backs of the departing strangers.
“I’m fine.”
He kept his arm under hers as they began to make their way along the promenade towards the lifeboat station.
“I think the police have closed the road to traffic. Everyone’s walking this way now to get places for the parade start.” He steered her deftly through a gap in the crowd.
She tightened her grip, clinging on to him as she was buffeted again by people pushing through. “It’s busier than ever this year.”
“Most of the hotels seem to be full, and the guesthouses have no vacancy signs up,” he agreed.
A group of excited teenagers came by carrying glow-sticks. Adam guided Meg across the road onto the side bordered by the sea.
“I take it you didn’t want to be part of the Baywatch float?” she asked as they reached the pavement.
“Red trunks aren’t really me.” He grinned at her, enjoying the intimacy of being able to hold her so closely. “You didn’t want to be a prawn for SpongeBob?”
Now it was her turn to laugh. “No, I’m not really a Pepto-Bismol-pink kind of girl.”
His heart skipped a beat as she gazed up at him with mischievous laughing eyes. Her laughter stopped and the world stood still for a second as her eyes locked with his. He stepped a little closer and took her in his arms. His mouth closed on hers and her lips parted. She tasted exactly the way he’d always imagined she would as sweet as honey.
A woman with a stroller rammed the back of his heels, breaking the spell.
“I, um, you should go and find Etty.” Meg broke away from him, her eyes huge in the dim light.
He stared at her for a second trying to gather his thoughts. Before he could speak, Meg had plunged away from him into the crowd. She was swallowed up by the darkness before he could catch up to her. He could have kicked himself for letting her get away.
He tugged his coat collar higher up his neck with short jerky movements, a defence against the chill creeping in from the sea. He carried on walking towards the boat house. Meg would probably never want to speak to him again. The way she’d bolted meant he must have misread the tender sweetness of her kiss and the urgency of her mouth on his. How was that possible?
The lighting around the lifeboat station was brighter. Beryl and Maud, two of the fundraising volunteers, were doing brisk business selling trinkets from a small pavement stall next to a giant light-up Rudolph. He looked around hoping to see Meg amongst the crowd.
Instead he spotted Brad leaning on Etty’s shoulder waving his crutch in the air to attract his attention. Adam managed to fight his way through to join them on the edge of the pavement where they would be able to see the torch-lit parade of floats as they passed by.
“Hey dude, we thought you weren’t going to make it. New Bay is jumping tonight.” Brad grinned at him as he settled his crutch back down.
“I didn’t think it would be this busy.” Etty’s eyes were wide as she looked around her.
“I thought you would have had Meg with you, dude?” Brad asked.
Adam frowned. “I lost her in the crowd.”
Etty’s eyebrows lifted a little. “Well, it’s busy enough. I expect she’ll try and find us, she knows where we’ll be standing. Erin and Dan are in the parade aren’t they?”
Brad laughed so hard he wobbled on his crutch. “There’s a rumour that Erin is playing SpongeBob and Dan is Patrick.”
“Oh, I can hear the band!” Etty clutched at Adam’s arm as she craned to see around the street corner. The sound of Christmas music grew louder and the musicians rounded the corner onto the sea road.
Adam scanned the crowd looking for Meg. She never missed the parade and always watched from near the lifeboat station. Etty squealed with laughter as the lifeboat crew followed the marching band.
Adam couldn’t hide a smile as his colleagues walked by wearing foam muscle suits bearing Brian, resplendent in a long blonde wig, on a sedan chair draped in lights. Dan and Erin came next with their youth group. The children all carried glow sticks and were dressed as sea creatures.
“Man, wait till I see Dan afterwards. That outfit really suits him,” Brad smiled.
The next float was New Bay’s fire crew representing Hawaii Five-O. Etty blushed as she was presented with a garland of flowers and a kiss on the cheek by one of the fire crew dressed in a grass skirt.
“Oh, this is so much fun. I haven’t laughed so much in ages.” Etty stood on her tip-toes and kissed Adam briefly on the lips. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Hey, if you’re being free with the kisses.” Brad nudged Etty and her already rosy cheeks flamed scarlet.
Adam was left feeling like a gooseberry as Brad claimed his kiss from Etty, ignoring the float from the local operatic society portraying the children’s cartoon, Noggin the Nog.
CHAPTER FOUR
Meg shivered inside her coat. Adam must think she was a real idiot running away like that. She pushed her hands deeper inside her pockets. She and Adam had never kissed before. Not like that. There had been a polite social peck on the cheek at birthdays and Christmas but not a proper kiss.
Up to now it had been relatively easy to compartmentalise her feelings for him and place him firmly in the friend box. Now, though after that kiss, everything had changed. She’d had other boyfriends, shared other kisses but never one like that. One that had seemed to touch her soul and turn the blood in her veins into liquid fire.
She’d had to get away, to take a few minutes to breathe and somehow try and put her feelings back into their rightful place. Except they wouldn’t go back. Everything had flipped around and Adam wouldn’t return to the friend box.
The last float in the parade passed by, an impressive structure painted and lit to resemble a galleon that had been featured in a period drama. The crowd began to move and dissipate. Meg stamped her feet on the pavement trying to restore the circulation in her toes.
Sooner or later she would have to search for Adam and talk to him. She trailed miserably along the pavement wondering what she would say when she did find him.
“Meg!”
She turned around to find Brad hopping towards her accompanied by Etty.
“Where’s Adam?” Meg’s heart jumped into her throat as she scanned the crowds, expecting to see his tall figure.
“We were going to ask you the same question, dudette.” Brad’s brow furrowed into a frown.
Etty looked confused. “One minute he was with us then he said something about going to find you.”
“I’m not too fast on these sticks, so we lost him,” Brad explained.
“I haven’t seen him since before the start of the parade. Maybe he’s gone to meet Erin and Dan at the park thinking we’d be there.” Meg couldn’t think where else he might have gone.
“Good thinking, it’s time for the presentations for best float soon.” Brad shifted his weight on his crutches and winked at Meg.
“I’ll walk with Brad,” Etty offered.
“I’ll go on ahead and see if Adam’s there,” Meg volunteered. She had seen Brad move pretty fast on his sticks so guessed he was up to something.
However, it would still take him a while to walk to the field where the judges were awarding prizes to the best three floats.
“If I find him, I’ll meet you by the big Christmas tree near the market.” Meg left them to follow behind as she set off towards the park.
The crowd grew denser the nearer she got to the field where the presentations were being made. The festive music from the band competed with the chatter and noise of the people.
The floats and their bearers were all gathered in the centre of the field ready for the judges to announce the winner. There was fierce competition for the honour of being holder of the small, silver ‘Best Float’ trophy. The operatic society had won three years in a row and stood a chance of making it four with their Viking costumes. Meg worked her way to the front of the crowd.
Erin and Dan were with their excited group of children on the far side. Meg scanned the faces in the crowd searching for Adam. The band ceased playing and a ripple of applause rang out into the chill night air swiftly followed by the crackle of a tannoy.
The judges, two men and a woman, stepped forward with the cup as the announcer broadcast the winner to the crowd. Applause broke out once more as Brian from the lifeboat crew, still bewigged and swim-suited, collected the trophy. Meg stretched up on her tiptoes trying to spot Adam. Surely he hadn’t missed this? The youth group and the fire crew also won prizes.
Presentations complete, the crowd began to move across the park towards the fair on the far side. Meg made her way across to where Erin and Dan were shepherding the youth club kids back towards the hall.
Erin waved to her as she saw her approach. “Hey Meg, where are Adam and Etty?”
“She’s walking up with Brad. I don’t know where Adam’s gone. I wondered if you’d seen him?”
Dan waggled one of his pink foam rubber starfish arms at her. “No, we haven’t seen him all evening.”
“See you at the Mermaid later, help celebrate our third place?” Erin asked.
“Maybe. I need to try and find Adam.” Meg walked away across the park, retracing her steps towards the seafront. The road had been reopened to traffic now the parade was over. A few cars passed her as she walked back towards her shop. Maybe Adam had gone to try and find her back there.
