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‘You should buy it,’ Daisy said, next to her, twirling back and forth in a gorgeous red velvet floor-length dress.
‘It’s over five hundred pounds. I ca
‘Why, brides do that all the time. Besides, can you imagine Dad’s face when he sees you in it? I think he might just drop to one knee and ask you to marry him there and then, you look so beautiful in it.’
Pe
‘I’m totally serious.’
‘And how would you feel about that?’ Pe
‘I think you’d both be really good for each other, if he can get past his fear of letting anyone in. I don’t want him to hurt you and I told him that but he really likes you and I’ve never seen him that way about any woman before. Maybe you can be the one that changes him. But if you do end up married you have to promise me that you’ll let me be bridesmaid.’
Pe
Pe
‘Are you getting the red one?’
Daisy pulled a face. ‘I’ve already spent all my pocket money on the green one.’
‘Well, let me treat you to that one. It’s loads cheaper than the silver dress and then you have a choice come Christmas Eve.’
‘No, I can’t let you buy it for me.’
‘Consider it your Christmas present. Come on, we need to get back home so we can pick up the freezer van before the ice carving workshop.’
‘Are you getting the silver dress?’
‘No, I have a lovely little black dress which I wear every year to the ball. I have some new shoes to go with it, that’ll have to do.’
Pe
‘Oh look, there’s A
Bea waved hugely at her when she saw her and Pe
‘Hello Bea.’
‘Hi Pe
‘Are you looking forward to Christmas?’
Bea nodded. ‘Can you teach me how to say “Happy Christmas” with my hands?’
‘With sign language? Yes I can.’ She carefully signed the two words and Bea copied her. ‘That’s it. Now you can tell Tilly in the bakery what your name is and wish her a happy Christmas.’
‘Thank you. Will you teach me more words?’
‘I tell you what, every time I see you, I’ll teach you something new. Do you want another one before you go?’
Bea nodded keenly.
Pe
‘What does that mean?’
‘Chocolate.’
Bea giggled.
‘Tell you what, Bea,’ A
Bea nodded enthusiastically and A
Pe
‘I’ve been watching you and Daisy for the last hour,’ A
‘You’ve been following us?’ Pe
‘Spying would be a more accurate description,’ A
‘Is that your version of an apology?’
A
Pe
A
‘Soon I hope, she wants us to get together too so I hope Henry tells her soon, maybe after Christmas. It’s been a pain in the arse hiding it.’
A
‘Did you two get on as children?’
‘Yes. Well not always, we used to have the best time playing together, but we’d fight like cat and dog too. Still do actually, although we get on really well most of the time.’
‘Is it true that you still have food fights?’
‘Ha, yes we do, but only when he a
‘I don’t know, it’s certainly one way to sort out any disagreements without resorting to violence and swearing and shouting.’
They turned to wait for Daisy and Bea and watched as they came ru
‘I think Bea might be a good judge of character too,’ A
‘Because she likes me?’
‘Because she talked to you. She never talks to anyone outside the house. Not even me.’
Pe
‘Maybe you could teach her some more sign language. If she isn’t brave enough to talk to people at least she can communicate in a way that a lot of other people in the town can understand, even if she’s only signing with you.’
A
‘Oh you should,’ Daisy said, biting into her cake. ‘We always play games in the evening.’
‘Thank you, that’s very kind. I may be at my brother’s but I might visit him late afternoon and then maybe come to you in the evening.’
‘You’d be welcome any time.’
Pe
‘Come on Daisy, we’ll be late for the ice carving workshop and, trust me, Maggie is not the sort of person you ever get on the wrong side of.’
‘I’m really excited,’ Daisy said as she jogged up and down on the spot to keep warm.
Pe