A Christmas Kiss

by Anna Samuels

  ‘What theme?’

  ‘The sea…the beach…’

  ‘Oh right! So it would fit in then,’ she murmured.

  I nodded, ‘I can see it working well here…I mean you have the café, the restaurant and a shop selling snacks and small gifts. What better than an art gallery selling work from a local artist?’

  ‘I didn’t think you were local anymore?’

  ‘I uh…well I am now. I’ve moved back…or I will be back permanently very soon.’

  ‘I see…well, what kind of art is it? I mean, can I see some?’

  I had predicted she would ask this so I retrieved my phone from my bag and pulled up the pictures I had stored on there. ‘Of course. I took photos of loads of pieces so you could see if you were interested.’

  She leant closer to look down at my phone as I scrolled through the photos for her. Her nearness made me nervous and yet again I felt incredibly aware of her.

  ‘These are great!’ she murmured, after a while.

  ‘You think?’

  ‘Yeah! You’re very talented,’ she told me.

  ‘I…thanks,’ I said, accepting the compliment.

  ‘I can see this kind of work selling down here actually.’

  ‘Oh really?’ I questioned.

  She nodded and sat back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. ‘I’ve been thinking and mulling over what kind of business we need in the shop and I couldn’t come up with a good answer. This is unexpected and yet perfect in many ways. I think it could be a success,’ she said thoughtfully.

  ‘Really?’ I said brightening.

  She nodded.

  ‘So, I uh…well, what’s the rental amount?’ I asked, waiting for the answer anxiously. The number she gave me would determine whether it was an affordable option for me to do.

  Alex named a figure per month which was below what I had been expecting.

  ‘Oh right! And what about percentage of sales going to you?’ I continued.

  ‘No, what you make is yours…the rental payment is the only thing I would be looking for…well, that and a commitment to this business. I want someone who is all about making Hope Beach a success…someone who will go the extra mile, open on special occasions and put in everything they have to make it workable.’

  ‘I’m the right woman for you,’ I told her and then realised what I had said. ‘I mean, I’m the right person to do all those things,’ I corrected, stumbling over my words a little.

  ‘Well, I think you could be,’ she mused. ‘Do you want to look at the place properly?’

  ‘I’d love to!’ I exclaimed.

  ‘Okay…come on then.’

  We exited her office and went out the back door. We walked along the outside of the building, past the toilet block and then reached the empty shop. Alex unlocked it and I followed her in.

  The shop was one main, large room. I stared into the distance as my imagination ran wild with possibility. I could picture where certain paintings would hang. I could see how it would look. I lost myself in thought for a few moments and was only stopped by Alex clearing her throat.

  ‘Ally?’

  I swirled around, shocked that she was there. I had become lost in my own musings for a while.

  ‘Well?’

  ‘I can see it,’ I told her.

  ‘You can?’

  ‘Yes! And that’s the first step!’ I told her excitedly.

  ‘What is?’

  ‘Being able to picture what you want in your own mind,’ I told her enthusiastically.

  Alex frowned at me in confusion but I just smiled back. ‘I’ve been reading a book all about the power of positive thought. See it, believe it and achieve it,’ I told her.

  She looked at me still confused, but she didn’t push for more information.

  ‘So, what would the terms of the rental be?’ I asked.

  ‘What do you mean, specifically?’

  ‘I mean, I know I have to pay the rent on the place but anything else? Any stipulations.’

  She thought for a moment. ‘I don’t think so…well, only the name I guess.’

  ‘What about the name?’ I frowned.

  ‘I just was thinking I would have a problem if you were planning on calling it something random or weird like ‘Bugaloo’ or ‘Fairy dust designs.’

  I laughed out loud. ‘Bugaloo?’

  She smiled, ‘I have to check!’

  ‘I was thinking I would keep it in synch with your business. ‘Hope Beach Art Gallery.’

  ‘Perfect!’ she exclaimed.

  ‘You think?’

  She nodded. ‘I do! I think that sounds wonderful!’

  ‘Well…where do I sign?’ I grinned.

  ‘Come back to my office. We’ll figure out the nitty gritty details.’

  We went back to the office and sat down once more in the small room. Alex loaded up the computer and turned to me while it worked.

  ‘So, when are you thinking of starting up? When could you open by?’ she asked.

  ‘Well, I was thinking of starting setting up from now onwards at the weekends…opening wise, I was hoping for around December 17th.’

  ‘Okay…’ she murmured, her intelligent eyes meeting mine. ‘Why weekends and why the 17th?’

  ‘Well, I have to finish my current job first…I’m working my notice until the 17th December. I plan on coming home for each weekend though from London so I wanted to start getting things ready before Christmas.’

  ‘I see. So what’s the job?’

  ‘It’s a teaching job…in London.’

  ‘Oh right…can I ask why you’re leaving?’ she said looking at me curiously.

  ‘Essentially because I want more from life than being unhappy in a job I don’t like. I never wanted to be a teacher and I want to change that before it’s too late. I also had a breakup so I have no reason to be in London anymore. I want to be home.’

  ‘I see…sorry if it sounded like I was prying…I just wanted to know a little more about you if we’re going to be in business together.’

  ‘No, I don’t mind at all…I’m completely willing to be open and honest about everything,’ I told her, whilst thinking that the only thing I would not reveal was how incredibly attractive she was to me.

  Alex nodded. ‘What about staff?’ she then asked.

  ‘Staff? No, it’ll be just me?’

  ‘Working how much?’

  ‘I…well I’ll open as much as possible at first…’

  Alex sat drumming her fingers on the table. ‘No…it won’t work. I’ve tried it. You’ll burn yourself out…and what if you want to take a break?’

  ‘I’ll take breaks while I’m in the shop and if I need to leave, I will just out a five minutes sign on the door to say I’ll be back. Once I’ve opened for a while, I’ll get to know when busy times are…if say Monday mornings are quiet, I can start a little later on that day.’

  She nodded slowly, ‘Well, let’s maybe see how that one goes…review it after a while.’

  I nodded, smiling to myself. This was really happening! I was making it happen!’

  ‘What?’ Alex asked then, making me look up in surprise.

  ‘Oh, I just…I’m just happy,’ I told her.

  She smiled back softly, ‘You are?’

  I nodded. ‘This couldn’t have gone better…’

  She nodded, ‘I agree…I can see real potential for this to work.’

  ‘Me too…it better had!’ I said chuckling ruefully. ‘This is me putting all my eggs in one basket.’

  She regarded me in that quizzical way of hers. ‘Something tells me it’ll be what you want it to be.’

  I nodded slowly. ‘I agree…which means it’ll be a success.’

  Alex smiled. ‘Shall we draw up a contract then?’

  ‘Yes, lets,’ I agreed.

  Half an hour later, I walked out of the office, contract in hand. I headed back along the path by the beach and then up the steps to the clifftop.

  As I
walked, my mind was buzzing. There was a spring in my step and I felt alive and excited. The deal had been done and it was signed and agreed. I would be opening my art gallery at Hope Beach and something told me that it was going to be the best career move I could ever have made.

  I walked jauntily back to Laurie’s house and let myself into the house. It was quiet and still, a little eerie as I was used to such noise from the family of four. I headed upstairs, set up my easel and began working away busily on a project I had started a short while ago.

  Later that afternoon, I took a break for lunch and then returned to paint my work. Hours later I finally stopped when I heard the door downstairs. Realising they were back, I turned the painting around so Laurie wouldn’t read into it too much and headed down to say hello.

  ‘Hey! How was the wedding?’ I asked, reaching them.

  ‘Beautiful!’ Laurie gushed. ‘So lovely. The bride was stunning.’

  ‘Oh that’s nice.’

  ‘How was your day?’ she asked.

  ‘Incredible!’ I told her, ‘but I’ll fill you in later.’

  ‘Ooh! I’m excited now!’ she smiled.

  I grinned back. ‘Do you want me to help get them to bed?’ I asked.

  ‘Yes please!’ she replied.

  Laurie went ahead with Laurie, getting the little girl to bed first. While she did that, I got Zachary into his pyjamas and sat with him on his bed.

  ‘Did you enjoy the wedding?’ I asked him.

  ‘Yeah…it was okay.’

  ‘Just okay?’

  ‘Yeah…I don’t know about all of that stuff anyway,’ he told me frowning. ‘It was so gross when they kissed. And they did it in front of everyone!’ he told me amazed.

  ‘That’s what happens at weddings though, Zachy.’

  ‘I suppose so…but I don’t like it!’

  I patted his hand. ‘No…I don’t think I did either when I was your age. Now, how about a story?’

  ‘Yes!’ he said with a hand to the air. ‘Can we have the pirate one?’

  ‘Yep,’ I smiled.

  We settled down together to read about pirates. When we were done, he was almost asleep so I tucked him in and turned off his light. Leaving the landing light on, I crept down the hall. Laurie was waiting for me in my room.

  ‘So?’ she asked excitedly.

  ‘So…I’m opening an art gallery!’ I told her.

  ‘You’re what?’ she exclaimed, her eyes bulging.

  ‘You heard me!’

  ‘No way!’

  ‘Yep,’ I smiled. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘I think…I think…what an absolutely wonderful and perfect idea!’ she exclaimed. ‘It’ll be incredible!’

  I smiled. ‘I think so too.’

  Chapter 8

  Revelations

  ‘What made you think of this idea?’ Laurie asked, climbing onto the bed to sit with me.

  ‘Well, it started when we were down the beach last week. I saw the empty shop and my mind began whirring. I was dreaming about it and picturing what it might look like.’

  ‘I can’t think of anything better for you, Ally! But how will it all work? How will you afford it?’ she asked.

  I sighed. ‘Well, the rent is my only outgoing…the success will be apparent, only if I sell stuff regularly. I will need to start selling stuff regularly if I’m going to turn a profit. The thing is, I‘ve thought it through, and it won’t be busy there all the time. I’ll work on new paintings and new works while I’m there each day. When one piece sells, I’ll be there and ready to replace it with another. The raw materials will be there for me because I’ll be by the sea…it’s potentially something that could work.’

  ‘You know, I kept all your old work in the attic at Mums.’

  ‘I know,’ I grinned. ‘I went in search of it yesterday.’

  Laurie smiled. ‘You’ve thought this through…’

  ‘I have. I spent today talking to Alex about it all.’

  It was Laurie’s turn to grin. ‘Oh yeah? Alex again, eh?’ she said, teasing me.

  ‘Laurie!’

  ‘Well, you were the one drawing her…and telling me all about how you thought she was gay.’

  ‘Yeah well…this is about business,’ I told her.

  ‘All business?’

  I frowned at her, ‘Of course!’

  She smiled at me. ‘You never were a very good liar, Ally…it’s okay to like someone, in fact it’s reassuring that you do. It means you’re getting over your break-up.’

  I frowned again, ‘Oh believe me Laurie, I’m well over that already. I can’t believe I stayed for so long actually. Why did I bother? I wasn’t happy!’

  ‘Maybe you didn’t recognise that until she broke it off.’

  I nodded slowly, ‘Or maybe I was just stuck in a comfortable rut…’

  ‘Maybe…not anymore! These new plans are so exciting!’

  ‘I know,’ I said, as nerves skipped through my stomach. ‘I can’t believe it’s happening.’

  ‘So, is it all arranged and planned?’ she wondered.

  ‘Yes,’ I nodded. ‘We drew up a contract today.’

  ‘Goodness me! I go away for one day and you’ve sorted your life plan! Get you!’

  ‘I’ve been thinking and planning for longer than that. The thing is, I need to get something sorted and planned for when the teaching job ends. I don’t want to sit around at Mum’s, mulling over my lack of job. I wanted to get started on something new and this seems to be the perfect venture. If it fails, well so be it…but at least I will know I’ve tried.’

  ‘You can but try,’ she murmured, addressing the old saying. ‘I’m so proud of you, honey.’

  I smiled at her, ‘Thanks Laurie.’

  ‘Well, I’m going to go to bed because it’s been a long day. See you in the morning?’

  ‘Bright and early!’ I smiled.

  Laurie left, and I went back to my canvas. When I turned the easel around, a familiar face stared back at me. I smiled at her.

  For the next few days, I shared some family time with Laurie and the others. When Tuesday arrived, it was time for Laurie to go back to work. I was looking after the children between nine and four while she was at the hospital.

  Once Laurie had said goodbye to the children, I was left alone with two over-excited little ones who were bouncing off the walls. I decided to take them out and tire them out a little bit.

  ‘Right you two! We’re off for a walk. We’ll go to the beach, and the park and have some lunch at the café.’

  ‘Oh yay!’ Zachary said, dancing around like a puppy.

  ‘Katie come?’ the little one asked, tugging on my jeans insistently

  ‘Of course Katie is coming too!’ I told her, lifting her into my arms. ‘Shall we find some lovely shells? And play on the slide?’

  ‘Sells!’ she agreed happily. ‘Me like swing too!’ she told me.

  ‘I know you do! We can play on all of it!’ I told her. ‘Let’s all get our shoes on and head on out.’

  We all put on shoes, coats and gloves and then I loaded Katie into the buggy and put my bag on the back of the handles. After locking up the house, we left.

  For a cold, winter day, it was beautiful outside. The sun was shining brightly, making me smile with pleasure. I was free and out with two wonderful little people. My mood and spirits were high.

  Zachary chatted away merrily as we walked down to the sea. I felt like a Mummy for the day and I was definitely enjoying it.

  When we reached the beach, we headed down to the sand but I suggested we stay closer to the café front this time as then I wouldn’t need to move the buggy so much. We settled on the sand and the buckets and spades got put to good use. I was busily making a sandcastle with Katie when a voice startled me.

  ‘Ally?’

  I whirled around and lifted my hand to shield the sun in my eyes. When I could see, a figure loomed above me. A figure I recognised well. ‘Alex!’

  ‘Hey,’ she sa
id, and to my surprise, sat down beside me in the sand.

  I met her eyes and felt a familiar clench in my stomach as awareness hit me hard. She was smiling my way, her expression light hearted and happy. A longing filled me which I hadn’t felt in a very, long time.

  ‘I saw you down here and thought I’d come and say hello,’ she smiled.

  ‘Ah that’s nice. Kids, this is Alex. Alex, this is Zachary and Katie…Laurie’s children.’

  ‘Yes, I recognise you both,’ she told them.

  ‘I know you!’ Zachary announced. ‘My Mum talks to you. You’re the café lady.’

  ‘That’s right,’ she smiled warmly, her eyes shining with pleasure. ‘What are you making, Zachary?’

  ‘It’s going to be a castle,’ he told her. ‘We have treasure too!’

  ‘Ooh, I love treasure!’ she smiled.

  ‘Well, it’s not really treasure,’ he told her in a conspiratorial way, ‘but we pretend…for Katie,’ he said in a loud whisper. ‘She’s only little and thinks it’s real you see.’

  ‘Ah! Well, it sounds like a lot of fun whether it’s real treasure or not,’ she smiled.

  He grinned at her before returning to his digging with a look of concentration. Alex looked down at Katie and smiled. Katie grinned back toothily and then returned to flicking the sand around haphazardly with her spade.

  ‘So, you haven’t changed your mind then?’ Alex asked, turning to face me.

  ‘No!’ I exclaimed. ‘Why have you?’ I said worried, my tension rising.

  ‘No, not at all…I was just thinking over the last few days and it seemed to happen so quickly.’

  I nodded. ‘I suppose some things do…if they’re meant to be.’

  Alex’s eyes held mine and she nodded slowly. ‘So, you’re on babysitting duty today?’

  I smiled. ‘Yes. Laurie has to work and as I’m here, I volunteered.’

  ‘You like kids then?’ she asked.

  ‘Oh, I love them. Especially these two,’ I smiled. ‘It’s been quite an eye-opener living with them for a while actually.’

  ‘How so?’ she asked, looking at me interested.

  ‘Well, I knew I wanted children at some point in my life but I hadn’t realised quite how strong that desire was until I started staying with Laurie’s children again. It makes me yearn for that bond, you know?’