The Christmas Spirit

by Susan Buchanan

  Rebecca stopped dead. She couldn’t move. They had just split up for God’s sake. He’d moved on quickly enough. The girl eventually disentangled herself from Ethan, saw Rebecca standing stock-still in front of her and said, ‘Christ, she’s stalking us now, Ethan.’

  Ethan mumbled something which sounded like Sorry? and turned around. The colour drained from his face when he saw Rebecca and in that moment she knew. He had been right when he said they wanted different things, or in his case different people, one person in particular. He’d told her there was no-one else, but he had lied. It was all becoming clear to her now. This celebrity wannabe who he’d been wrapped around, was so far from being her, it was risible. What had she said, she’s stalking us now? So, they were a couple, and from her comment it appeared not a recent development either.

  Through gritted teeth, Rebecca ignored her perma-tanned replacement and turning to Ethan, said, ‘How long?’

  Avoiding her eyes, Ethan said, ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

  ‘Don’t insult me any further, Ethan. You owe me that. How long has it been going on? I know you were with her when we were still together. How long?’

  Seeing the determined set of Rebecca’s jaw, he said in a low voice, ‘Seven months.’

  ‘Thanks. That’s all I wanted to know. You’re perfect for each other, by the way,’ and she turned on her heel and left, Hannah following close behind her.

  ‘Oh God, Becks, I’m so sorry. I had no idea he knew Stefan.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter. Jesus, she could have been Jordan’s twin sister. What is it with men?’ Then Rebecca burst into tears.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  23rd December

  Rebecca’s weekend had been spent in a drunken haze, mainly accompanied by Hannah, who felt responsible, although Rebecca kept telling her not to be daft. On Monday morning she still had a stonking sore head, self-inflicted, of course, but she’d blame Ethan for it anyway. She remembered leaving an irate voice message on Ethan’s mobile, containing as many expletives as she could fit in. So much for maintaining her dignity, but that’s what a quarter bottle of Jägermeister will do to you.

  She was dreading the conversation with Henry, who she expected would be very upset at her imminent departure. At least he would know it was purely career advancement which had torn her away. She loved working for him. There were simply no prospects for career progression.

  Everyone was busy at Sugar and Spice, as Jacob had roped in Tabitha, too. Well, she may as well do something useful whilst she was there, he said. She had virtually taken up residence in the bakery, reading and sipping lattes, whilst Jacob and Natalie worked. Now she was measuring sugar and butter into the much lusted over BakeMaster 2000 food mixer, as Natalie folded flour into her sponge mix, whilst Jacob managed the front of the shop. With a sense of excitement, Jacob daydreamed of the changes he would like to make when he became manager. He hoped Mrs Williams would allow them, but he already had a vision of a bakery-cum-café-cum-bookshop.

  The morning had been quieter than expected; they guessed most people were holding off until the afternoon. The cynical side of Jacob thought this was so they wouldn’t have to pay, but the generous side thought they were doing some last minute Christmas shopping in the morning.

  Trestle tables had been set up so it would be easier for patrons to sample the goodies Natalie and Tabitha were preparing. Tabitha had suggested they listen to Radio 1 and whichever Christmas classics they were playing, to get them in the party mood.

  Party mood, thought Jacob, we’ve had it since the Christmas season began.

  As well as her entire repertoire of Christmas cakes from around the world, Natalie had baked snowmen with white icing and black jelly tots for buttons; reindeer with cinnamon flavoured ears, chocolate sponge bodies and a cherry for their noses, and carol singers with maple syrup flavoured halos. The arrangement of novelty cakes would easily entice the public in, placed as they were in the shop window - they were hard to miss.

  It wasn’t long before the café was filling up in anticipation of the party starting. The savvy clientele and the regulars had the intelligence to show up a bit earlier than the one o’clock start, grab a table, and not move from it, even to go to the toilet, for fear someone might steal their place. They didn’t mind parting with the one pound fifty for a cup of tea. Many would be staying at the party until it finished, whereas others would only be able to nip in during their lunch hour and enjoy what little they could.

  Rebecca was one of the first to arrive, although it turned out she hadn’t known about the party. She told Natalie she’d just handed in her notice and that as she’d expected, her boss was gutted, but delighted for her. He was a sweet man and Rebecca hoped that she would be as happy at The Melbourne Gallery. She had been a little bit emotional, said a lot had happened over the past few days, including her giving her ex-boyfriend what for, especially when she met him and his new girlfriend in a club together. She didn’t elaborate further, but Natalie got the impression it had not been a satisfactory encounter.

  As Natalie and Tabitha busied themselves taking cakes and sausage rolls out of the ovens, Jacob asked Rebecca what she was up to over the next few days.

  ‘I’ve an appointment with a letting agent tonight at six, to sign a lease for a soulless new-build property which costs the earth,’ then realising where she was and that a party was about to start, she said, ‘Sorry, just a bit out of sorts today. I’m going to miss my boss, Henry, who’s lovely and I feel bad for letting him down. That, on top of having to face up to the fact I’m losing my flat has been a wee bit too much.’

  ‘No need to apologise,’ Jacob assured her. ‘It’s no wonder you’re fed up.’

  Meanwhile a thought had begun to germinate in Jacob’s mind.

  Just then a group of people entered the café, laughing and asking if the party had started.

  ‘Yes, in you come, take a seat,’ Jacob welcomed them, as he smiled at Rebecca. ‘You better grab one yourself if you plan on staying. I reckon it will get busier in here in no time.’

  ‘I think you’re right, and thanks for listening to me droning on and on.’

  ‘Don’t be silly, that’s what friends are for,’ said Jacob.

  As Rebecca sat down at a corner table, it occurred to her she might have made a mistake turning Jacob down. He really was a gem and good-looking, too. But no, she had done the right thing. The timing was wrong. He couldn’t be her rebound guy. He was too good for that, but who knew what might happen in the future?

  Natalie passed Jacob carrying cake stands featuring a whole host of heavenly offerings, iced to perfection. They wouldn’t have looked out of place on The Great British Bake Off. She mingled with the early partygoers, making suggestions in keeping with their tastes and signalled to Tabitha which drinks to bring over, including a non-alcoholic fruit punch and a non-alcoholic Gluhwein.

  Returning to the kitchen to ensure her latest batch didn’t burn, Natalie was waylaid by Jacob.

  ‘You know when you leave in a few days?’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘What’s going to happen to Rose Cottage?’

  ‘I don’t know. Mrs Williams hasn’t had time to find a tenant yet. She’s been too poorly to let it bother her.’

  ‘And it’s a nice place?’

  ‘Oh yes, quaint and traditional, but it’s all been done up inside, so modern, too.’

  ‘Right.’

  ‘Why?’ Natalie asked, curious.

  ‘Nothing, just thinking about something. Could you give me Mrs Williams’ number?’

  ‘It’s by the phone,’ and she drew his attention to a number scrawled haphazardly on a piece of paper secured to the wall by a drawing pin.

  ‘Great. Do you mind if I make a quick call?’

  ‘Not at all, but I suggest you keep it short.’ Her head inclined towards the door, which had just pinged the arrival of another five or six people, wiping their feet on the mat and starting to take off their coats, as thei
r eyes cast around for a free table.

  Jacob was beginning to think Mrs Williams wasn’t in when a voice said, ‘Hello? Winstanton 420620.’

  He always found it endearing that older people tended to answer the phone this way. Soon his generation would only have mobile phones, so they would never do that, as the number would be way too long. It was definitely a generational thing. His father, on the odd occasion he was home, did the same.

  ‘Mrs Williams, this is Jacob from the bakery.’

  ‘Oh hello, dear. Is everything OK?’

  ‘Yes, everything’s great. More importantly, how are you feeling?’

  ‘Still a bit achy, dear, if I’m honest, but better than I was a few weeks ago.’

  ‘Well, I’m glad to hear you’re getting better. The reason I was phoning is I wondered if you had a tenant for Rose Cottage yet.’

  ‘Oh no, dear, I haven’t had a minute to think about that.’

  ‘Well, I have a friend who’s interested in moving. I haven’t mentioned Rose Cottage to her yet, but I thought I could ask you for the rent costs, things like that, so I can pass the details on to her.’

  Jacob chewed his lip as Mrs Williams relayed to him the information for Rose Cottage.

  ‘That’s great, Mrs Williams. If my friend’s interested either she or I will call you back. Take care of yourself. Got to go and deal with the customers.’

  ‘Oh yes, it’s the party today. How’s it going?’

  Jacob inspected the scene in front of him. ‘Let’s just say it’s already standing room only.’

  ‘Right, dear, well you go and help Natalie.’

  ‘I will, and Mrs Williams?’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Thanks for trusting me with your bakery. I won’t let you down.’

  ‘I know you won’t. Natalie and the customers have told me great things about you. Bye, Jacob.’

  He said goodbye, hung up and returned to the front of the bakery, where laughter could be heard and the music had been turned up just a smidge, at the special request of one of the customers, who loved Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.

  Jacob had no possibility to talk to Rebecca straightaway, as the door opened again and a group of young mums with toddlers entered. Wondering where they were going to put their buggies, Jacob was relieved to see they’d felt it safe enough to leave them under the shop awning, where they could keep an eye on them through the window. The toddlers were either on their mums’ hips, in their arms, or being towed by the reins.

  Once the queue had dissipated, Jacob made a move towards Rebecca. He didn’t want to miss her leaving and her in turn, miss out on Rose Cottage, which he thought could be just what she was looking for.

  ‘Rebecca,’ he interrupted her talking to an old lady who had asked if she could share her table. ‘Sorry to interrupt, but have you got a second? I think I might have an answer to your flat problem,’ he said.

  Rebecca’s face lit up. ‘Really?’

  ‘Really!’ Jacob grinned, and he told her all about Rose Cottage, how he’d already asked Mrs Williams about the cost and the lease conditions, in case she was interested.

  ‘You’re a treasure,’ she said, standing up and kissing him on the cheek. ‘I really appreciate it. Can I see it?’

  Jacob explained that Natalie was currently living in it, but why didn’t she ask her if she could view it.

  Unbeknownst to Jacob, Sophie had entered the bakery just then with Meredith. Her happy expression turning to one of sadness for an instant, then she quickly planted a fake smile on her face, when Meredith turned to her and said, ‘Look at the tree, it’s almost iridescent, from all those baubles.’

  ‘Hello, Meredith, how are you feeling?’ Natalie welcomed her with genuine pleasure.

  ‘Much better, thanks. Not well enough to drive myself around yet, but hopefully after New Year. I won’t be back at work until at least the middle of the month, though. Doctor’s orders.’

  ‘I’m glad you’re listening to them,’ Natalie said, clasping Meredith’s black-gloved hand in hers. ‘So good to see you up and about again.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Right, where can we sit you?’

  Natalie asked a young couple if they would mind sharing a table with Sophie and Meredith. They were happy to, but explained they had to leave in five minutes, anyway.

  Now that Natalie was free again, Rebecca saw her opportunity. ‘Natalie?’

  ‘Yes, Rebecca, enjoying yourself?’ she asked, as she topped up the trestle table with marquesas.

  ‘Yes, thanks. What are those?’ Her curiosity got the better of her.

  ‘Spanish Christmas sponge cakes made with almonds and lemons.’

  ‘Mmm, sounds delicious,’ Rebecca practically salivated, even though she’d had two small cakes already.

  ‘Try one,’ urged Natalie. ‘You’ll enjoy it, I promise.’

  Rebecca regarded her waistband and bit her lip. ‘I’m not sure if I’ll still be comfortable in these trousers if I eat another.’

  Natalie laughed, then said, ‘Take it home, then.’

  ‘Interesting you should say home, that’s exactly why I wanted to speak to you.’ She then explained to Natalie about her housing situation.

  ‘Give me just a second.’ Natalie went through the back and picked up her bag. ‘Here are the keys. Sorry it’s not as tidy as I would have liked if I’d known anyone would be viewing it, but here, I don’t need them back until five.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Absolutely. You have an honest face,’ she replied. ‘And, I have nothing worth stealing,’ she joked.

  ‘Thanks ever so much.’ Rebecca was elated.

  Natalie put the cake in a bag for her and said, ‘Don’t forget this and feel free to have a cup of tea when you’re there, take in your surroundings properly.’

  Rebecca shot her a huge smile and waved goodbye to Jacob as she left.

  Jacob was circulating, ensuring each table had enough drinks and that their cake stands were replenished. He also topped up the trestle tables with supplies.

  ‘Hi, I didn’t see you two come in. How are you, Meredith?’ Jacob asked politely.

  ‘Feeling much better, thanks, and thank you again for calling the ambulance.’

  ‘You’re welcome. Anyone would have done the same.’

  ‘Nonetheless, I wanted to thank you.’

  Jacob acknowledged her continued thanks by a slight raise of his head, then he turned to Sophie and asked her how she was doing.

  ‘Not bad,’ she said, not quite meeting his eye.

  ‘What do you think of the cakes?’ Jacob asked, wondering why he had the feeling something was amiss.

  ‘Lovely, especially the coconut one.’ Sophie took a bite, which rendered her unable to say any more.

  ‘That’s lamington, an Australian cake. Strictly speaking it’s not just a Christmas cake, the Aussies eat it at other times, too, but Natalie wanted to include it. I can see why.’

  ‘Mmm,’ said Sophie, enjoying another mouthful.

  ‘Well, I’ll leave you girls to it, must offload these,’ and Jacob moved off with his cake stands.

  ‘Do you want to tell me what’s going on?’ Meredith asked Sophie.

  ‘Sorry?’

  ‘With you and Brad Pitt there.’

  ‘He looks nothing like Brad Pitt.’

  ‘He does, well, a younger Brad Pitt, but let’s not split hairs,’ Meredith went on.

  Sophie realised this was the first conversation remotely resembling a girly chat she had ever had with Meredith. Funnily enough the thought no longer unsettled her, apart from for the obvious reason that she didn’t want to talk about Jacob.

  ‘So what’s going on between you two?’

  ‘Nothing.’ Sophie found the tassel on her handbag scintillating, all of a sudden.

  ‘Don’t give me that,’ Meredith said, not unkindly, ‘There’s definitely something going on between you.’

  Knowing that Meredith was tenac
ious as hell, Sophie caved in. ‘Nothing’s going on between us, seriously. Anyway, he has a girlfriend.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ Meredith’s eyes bored into Sophie’s.

  ‘She was in earlier. You must have seen her; beautiful, with fiery red hair, a bit like a Renaissance Madonna.’

  ‘As opposed to the pop star with conical underwear?’ Meredith made an attempt at humour. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Yes,’ Sophie replied, her voice flat. ‘I saw her kissing him earlier.’

  ‘Hmm, well that puts paid to that then. I’m guessing you’re not the type to go after another girl’s man.’

  ‘Correct.’

  ‘Well, in that case, bad luck. Why don’t we drown your sorrows with some alcohol-free Gluhwein?’ Meredith raised her glass.

  ‘Oh what a beautiful tree,’ Catherine exclaimed when they were barely in the door. They were lucky to get in the door; the bakery was absolutely heaving.

  Stanley oohed and aahed at the glittery and unusual baubles on the tree. He, too, had ordered a tree once he knew Thomas and Catherine were coming, as he didn’t want to greet them in a house devoid of festive atmosphere, particularly as they had chosen this season to get married. But his tree bore no resemblance to this vision before him, which looked truly magical. He felt silly thinking this, but he could just feel the goodwill in the air, in this room, with these people; he was starting to look forward to Christmas.

  Natalie came forward to greet them and Stanley proudly presented his grandson and granddaughter-to-be. What a mouthful that was, he thought. Next time he would just say granddaughter. Natalie wanted all the details of the wedding, and congratulated the happy couple on having chosen such a fantastic venue, particularly with all the snow lying, their big day was bound to be spectacular and their wedding photographs amazing.

  Meredith saw her chance, whilst Natalie was otherwise engaged. Gesturing with her empty glass she said, ‘Actually this Gluhwein without the wine in it is quite good, I’m going to get another. Do you want one?’