A Christmas Kiss

by Anna Samuels

  ‘Well I do, yes…but the thing is, Alex already has a girlfriend sweetheart. She’s taken.’

  ‘Oh…maybe you could take her back?’ he suggested.

  I ruffled his hair affectionately. ‘If only…’ I murmured quietly. ‘Hey, do you want to see my gallery? Where it will be?’ I asked him, keen to distract him from his musings about Alex.

  ‘Yes please!’

  ‘Okay…come on, I have the key now.’

  I unlocked the gallery door and pushed the buggy inside. I turned on the light and the room stood, empty and quiet.

  ‘Wow,’ Zachary murmured. ‘This is going to be cool!’

  ‘You think?’

  ‘Yeah! When you put all your cool stuff in here, it will look wicked!’ he exclaimed.

  ‘Oh thanks, Zachy! I feel even more excited hearing you say that!’

  ‘Oh good. Shall I help you to get it made?’ he asked.

  ‘You can help me with lots of things, yes. We’ll come back in a few days because I need to get a sign up anyway.’

  ‘What kind of sign?’ he wondered.

  ‘A sign which says the name of the art gallery. And also a ‘coming soon’ notice to tell people that soon, they can buy lovely things from me in my shop.’

  ‘I get it,’ he nodded. ‘It’s like advertising.’

  My eyebrows rose, ‘That’s a big word for a little boy,’ I commented.

  ‘Oh we did it at school in English. I know loads of stuff now, Ally. I’m not little anymore, you know.’

  ‘Yes…I should have known, and you’re right. You are a big boy now. Sorry for not remembering.’

  ‘That’s okay. Mummy forgets all the time!’

  ‘Does she?’ I laughed.

  ‘Yeah…shall we go to the shop now? I have a £1!’ he exclaimed.

  ‘Good plan! Let’s go and buy you and Katie something nice.’

  ‘She doesn’t have any money though. She didn’t do any work today.’

  ‘Well, I’m giving you both £1 to spend. You already have £1 as well so you can choose something for £2 and Katie for £1.’

  ‘Good plan,’ he smiled.

  We locked up the gallery and headed for the shop.

  The shop was a success. Zachary found some sea creatures he liked and Katie bought a small pony to play with. We walked home and relaxed for the afternoon while a film played in the background.

  Laurie arrived back at 4pm and spent time with the children. Zachary told her excitedly about his adventures with Alex in the kitchen and Laurie listened attentively as they gave her a rundown of their day.

  It wasn’t until much later, when the children were in bed asleep, that Laurie sat down to talk with me.

  I sat cross-legged on the sofa, tapping away on my laptop. I had just finished ordering the sign for the gallery. It was available for next-day delivery so would be with me tomorrow. I had also ordered a board to arrive and coming soon signs created too.

  ‘Hey you.’

  ‘Hey,’ I said, setting my laptop aside.

  ‘I’ve realised something,’ she told me.

  ‘What’s that?’ I asked.

  ‘You have to be a Mummy someday,’ she smiled. ‘You’re an absolute natural.’

  I grinned happily. ‘Thanks. I enjoyed every minute of it, Laurie. They’re great kids, you’ve done an amazing job.’

  She smiled at me, ‘they are great, but don’t deflect the point I’m making…do you think you want to have kids one day?’

  ‘Oh absolutely! I can’t wait to! If they’re anything like your two, it would be a joy!’

  She smiled, ‘So, what are you doing about finding the right one? It sounds like Zachary has some ideas on that one!’ she chuckled.

  ‘Oh he told you about that did he?’ I asked, feeling embarrassed.

  ‘Oh Alex is his number one choice, Ally! He was raving about her at bedtime.’

  ‘She was great with him,’ I conceded, ‘and she’s a fantastic woman…’

  ‘But?’

  ‘But,’ I sighed heavily, ‘she’s already attached.’

  ‘She is?’

  I nodded glumly, ‘believe me, if she wasn’t, I would be asking her out!’

  ‘I knew you liked her!’ Laurie exclaimed gleefully.

  ‘Yeah, well who wouldn’t?’ I murmured. ‘But it won’t do me any good because she’s in a long term relationship. It doesn’t look like I stand a hope in hell!’

  ‘Never say never!’ Laurie mused. ‘But maybe don’t pursue it if she’s involved with someone else.’

  ‘Oh I would never do anything like that,’ I told her. ‘It’s not right.’

  Laurie nodded. ‘So, any progress with the gallery? Zachary said you showed him inside.’

  ‘Well I have the key now. I need to get the signs up advertising this week really so that I generate some interest while I’m setting up.’

  ‘Oh right! Good plan! Well, I’m sorry about you having the kids, otherwise you could have got on with it.’

  ‘No problem! I love having the children…you’re off Friday and the weekend aren’t you? I can do it then!’

  She nodded, ‘absolutely…and then what about when you have to go back?’

  I sighed, ‘I’ve been trying not to think about it…I know it’s only seven weeks of teaching but right now that feels like a lifetime. I can’t imagine staying in the Travelodge four nights a week.’

  ‘I know. I hate to think about you doing that too…maybe you could break it up…like come home one night in the week?’

  I nodded slowly. ‘That might actually work,’ I mused. ‘Say Monday and Tuesday stay up there and then Wednesday night when there’s no meeting I could come home…then back up for Thursday, stay the night and then I’m home on Friday. Three nights wouldn’t be so bad.’

  ‘Exactly…and if you make them nights where you’re occupied, it’ll soon fly by. You could be working on art for the gallery.’

  I nodded, ‘That was my thinking precisely,’ I told her.

  ‘Great minds,’ she murmured.

  ‘Yeah,’ I smiled.

  ‘I’m glad you’re going to be home for good, Ally.’

  I smiled back at her fondly, ‘me too…me too.’

  Chapter 10

  The Art Gallery

  My days with the children passed quickly and soon it was the weekend. I busied myself with my mother’s house and getting the gallery essentials ordered. By Saturday afternoon, I was ready to go to the beach to hang the sign.

  After putting the step ladder in the back of the car and filling it with all the tools and essentials I would need to finish the effect, I drove down to the gallery and parked outside my new building.

  After erecting the step-ladder, I began my task of putting up my sign. Passers-by and visitors stopped to look at me work. I noticed them out of the corner of my eye and inside felt pleased. If lots of people took note of what I was doing, surely I would generate some custom.

  I had already hung the ‘Hope Beach’ section when a familiar voice startled me.

  ‘Ally?’

  ‘Hey!’ I said, grabbing the top of the ladder for support.

  ‘You crazy lady! You should have come and got me! Don’t you know you shouldn’t go up a ladder without someone holding the base?’ she argued.

  ‘Oh it’s not high,’ I replied. ‘And it’s only a step-ladder, not a full on big one!’

  ‘Still, I’ll be holding it for you now.’

  ‘You don’t have to do that!’ I said, frowning down at her.

  ‘That’s what friends are for!’ she grinned and took hold of the ladder with both hands.

  I gave in and turned to finish the section I was applying. I was onto the word ‘art’ now and found with the addition of Alex nearby feet, my hand weren’t quite as steady as they had been before.

  ‘It’s looking good,’ Alex commented from my feet.

  ‘Thanks! It came quickly, which was good. I designed it online and then got it the next day. I
’m going to paint around it too which will add to the seaside effect.’

  ‘That sounds cool.’

  ‘It may take me a while, though,’ I told her frowning. ‘You shouldn’t have to stay there holding the ladder.’

  ‘If I get bored I’ll tell you,’ she murmured. ‘Something tells me I won’t with you for company.’

  I didn’t look down at her when she said the words. If I had I knew it would only result in more yearning and need emanating from my body.

  ‘This is good timing, Ally,’ she commented.

  I glanced down this time. ‘It is?’

  ‘Yeah…you’re getting a load of attention…people are curious.’

  ‘I know,’ I smiled. ‘I thought it would be good to do at a weekend when lots of people are around…this way I might generate some custom.’

  ‘Exactly…and more reason for me to stay here…if I see any regular customers, I can introduce you to them!’

  ‘Oh yeah! Great plan!’ I smiled.

  I turned back to the sign and continued putting up ‘gallery.’ When I was done, I climbed down to look up at the words emblazoned across the white strip above the shop. It looked good, but unfinished.

  ‘I love it!’ Alex smiled.

  ‘Yeah…it’s a start,’ I told her.

  ‘What next then?’ she asked frowning.

  ‘You’ll see,’ I told her, and retrieved the box I had brought from the car.

  I re-climbed the ladder and got to work again, using my paint pallet to add to the design with images of the sea making a background to the lettering. Alex didn’t comment this time and let me work in peace, lost in thought as I created scenes where the white background had been.

  I worked steadily for some time and then stopped to look at what I had created. I climbed down and stood back, surveying my work with a critical eye.

  ‘Ally…’

  I looked up at Alex, wondering what her reaction would be.’

  ‘What do you think?’ I asked worried.

  ‘It’s…it’s…incredible! You’re so talented!’ she exclaimed.

  ‘I am?’ I asked, pleased.

  She nodded slowly. ‘It looks amazing! What a great way to sell your talent!’

  ‘I’m not done yet,’ I told her. ‘I have a board to put out the front if you don’t mind?’

  ‘Let me see?’ she asked.

  I lifted the board carefully from my boot and placed it open in front of the shop. It had the name emblazoned on the front, along with opening times and opening date displayed. It also had additional flair as I had painted the background and even added starfish, shells and sea glass to make it look attractive. The result, I thought, was good.

  ‘This is amazing!’ she exclaimed when she saw it! ‘Wow! Ally!’

  I smiled, looking at the board I had created.

  ‘I wondered if you’d mind putting it out when you’re here and back away inside when everything closes up…when I’m not here that is.’

  ‘Of course I don’t mind! This is going to be great!’

  I smiled. ‘Now I just need to hang a few pieces in the window to make a display and I’ll leave it at that for today…I won’t be using the ladder anymore, but thank you for staying to help me.’

  ‘It’s been a pleasure…and wonderful to see you work first hand!’

  ‘Well don’t feel like you have to stay…like I say, I have to do the window display now.’

  Just as she was turning to head back to the café, an irritated voice called her name.

  ‘Alex! There you are!’

  I looked up at the source of the voice and watched as interest as an older woman walked towards Alex.

  ‘We were meant to meet twenty minutes ago!’ she accused. ‘Did you forget?’

  ‘Sorry, Jenny…I got distracted…’ Alex murmured.

  Jenny followed her line of vision back to me and frowned. ‘Oh…excuse me, you must be the woman with the art?’

  ‘That’s right…Ally. Ally Durrington,’ I told her, extending my hand.

  She shook it but her eyes narrowed and she seemed to be analysing me.

  ‘It’s my fault Alex is late. I was up the ladder and she helped by holding it,’ I apologised.

  ‘Well be that as it may, you’re late!’ she said, turning back to Alex. ‘Come on! I have to be back at work in half an hour!’

  ‘Excuse us,’ Alex said, and then took Jenny’s arm, clearly leading her away.

  ‘Nice to meet you!’ I called at her retreating form.

  She didn’t glance back and they seemed to be deep in frustrated conversation with one another. I watched them go with interest. It seemed a weird dynamic between the two of them. Not one which I had pictured in my head. When I imagined Alex in a long term relationship, the scene I had in my mind was of idyllic married bliss, not bickering and irritation.

  I shrugged to myself, telling it was none of my business anyway and turned back to the job at hand…getting the window display up.

  I unloaded the art work from the boot of my car and piled it on the floor of the gallery. I then went about arranging the display from front to back. What I wanted to create was a scene of the sea…but based around the pieces of art I had created. There were treasure boxes, jewellery, paintings and sculptures. The backdrop would be created by a huge painting I had done a few years ago when I was missing home. It was a sunset, the landscape of Hope Beach. I had framed the canvas in an expensive and tasteful frame and the effect was breath-taking…in my mind. I hoped others would think the same.

  As I busily constructed the scene, I popped in and out to see what the image looked like from outside the window. As I did so, I noticed an older couple had stopped their walk and were watching with interest as I went about my work. I wondered what had captured their attention but decided not to address them unless they spoke to me.

  I didn’t need to wait long. I was just beginning to hang the huge framed sunset when they walked over, hand in hand.

  ‘Excuse me?’ the woman addressed me.

  I put down the painting carefully and stood. ‘Hello,’ I said, smiling warmly.

  ‘Hello,’ she smiled. ‘I couldn’t walk on by, my dear…are you the artist?’ she asked, leaning forwards.

  ‘I am,’ I nodded. ‘Ally Durrington,’ I said, introducing myself.

  ‘Lovely…your work is just lovely,’ she smiled. ‘My name is Margaret…and this is my husband Keith…we live locally.’

  ‘Well, it’s nice to meet you,’ I replied politely.

  ‘I’m ever so interested in your painting, Ally,’ she told me. ‘You see, I’m having the bedroom redone and it would work just perfectly as the main focus on the wall. I know you’re not open yet, but could I enquire as to its price?’

  I felt stunned. She had taken me completely by surprise. ‘Uh, well, it’s £300,’ I told her without thinking. I had worked out everything’s price previously based on other local galleries and the prices they were charging.

  ‘Ooh well, I must have it! If I pay you in cash today, will you allow me to take it off your hands?’ she asked.

  ‘I uh…’ I couldn’t think of any reason why I wouldn’t accept. ‘That would be wonderful!’ I exclaimed, smiling.

  ‘Lovely…I’ll have Keith got and get the money out and then bring the car around. Will an hour be okay?’ she asked.

  ‘An hour would be fine,’ I nodded.

  ‘Wonderful,’ she said and shook my hand. ‘Nice doing business with you. I’ll be down again when you’re open. I love local artists…such lovely pieces!’

  I smiled. ‘Well you’re more than welcome any time.’

  She smiled. ‘We’ll see you in a bit!’

  ‘Bye!’ I waved.

  I stood watching them leave, my system buzzing with excitement. I couldn’t believe it! I had just made my first sale and I wasn’t even open! Margaret had loved my work and was determined to have it. I felt happiness fill me with the knowledge that my idea could work and with hard work and
effort, would work.

  ‘Ally?’

  I looked up to see Alex again, frowning at me.

  ‘Are you okay?’ she asked. ‘You’re staring into space!’

  ‘I’m not staring into space,’ I told her, ‘I’m staring at that couple heading up the beach! They just bought my painting, Alex! £300!’

  ‘No way!’ she exclaimed happily. ‘Way to go!’

  ‘Thanks! I can’t believe it!’

  ‘Well you should! You’re clearly very talented.’

  ‘I just…’

  ‘Didn’t want to believe it?’ she asked.

  ‘I didn’t dare hope that it would go so well, so soon!’

  She smiled. ‘I know that as soon as you have this place open, you’re going to be doing just fine!’

  I grinned back at her.

  ‘Actually that’s a point…if the art sells well, what will you do to replace stock?’ she said frowning again.

  ‘I’ve already thought that one through,’ I told her. ‘I’m going to set up an easel and work station in the shop because I won’t have customers in 24/7. When I’m not with customers, I’ll be working on something new…that way, I’ll constantly have new work to sell.’

  ‘Oh I see! Good idea,’ she said nodding.

  I watched her closely as she looked off towards the café. ‘Are you okay?’ I asked her then.

  She looked back, ‘Me? Yes, why wouldn’t I be?’ she said, frowning yet again.

  ‘Oh just the frown…I’m not used to seeing it on your face,’ I told her. ‘You’re usually really smiley.’

  She looked at me for a long moment, seemingly considering what to say. ‘Oh I’m alright really…aside from being in the dog house…again…’

  ‘Oh,’ I said, realisation dawning on me. ‘Jenny is upset?’

  ‘She most certainly is…and boy do I know it! Lately, I can’t seem to put a foot right!’

  ‘Oh…I’m sorry,’ I murmured supportively.

  ‘Oh don’t worry on my account…it’s just annoying really.’

  I nodded slowly.

  ‘Hey, this is looking good!’ she said, turning to the shop window.

  ‘Do you think?’

  ‘Yeah! It’s amazing!’ she told me.

  ‘Well, I’m going to have to rethink the background now…I was going to put the sunset there but I’ll have to find something else now.’