Aidan locked arms with hers. 'Sounds good to me,' he chuckled. 'I'll keep you warm, come on.'
Zoe playfully nudged his arm. ‘So now do you believe me about the weather?’
‘Of course, maybe you could work as a weather girl,’ he chuckled. ‘No, I’m only joking, witchy. I think you’re very intriguing. Certainly a lot more interesting than some girls I’ve met.’
‘Well, thank you, I guess.’ Zoe found it hilarious.
‘No, I mean it. Take it as a compliment.’
Zoe opened the cardboard door of her chocolate advent calendar her mother had left, popped the chocolate in her mouth and propped it against the side of the till. The shop was bustling with people, many of whom were taking a keen interest in the lucky bags. Remembering Sam’s message, Zoe mailed him back. She guessed there was no harm in listening to what he had to say.
‘Excuse me.’
Zoe hit send on the email, inwardly groaning at the voice she recognised. She wished there was a trap door under his feet so she wouldn't have to deal with him.
‘What can I help you with?’ She smiled, determined not to show him she cared.
‘Zoe, I come in peace. I want to speak to your parents, are they here?’
‘They're away until the end of December so I'm in charge. Whatever you've got to say to them you can say it to me.’
‘I'm not sure I should, I mean… it's their personal business.’
‘Shut up, James. You're talking to me, their daughter; the woman you were going to marry… I know about your offer and,’ she crossed her arms, ‘I'm not happy.’
‘I can see that, but what your parents decide to do is really none of your business.’
‘Well my parents are away, so you'll either deal with me or be on your way.’
He reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope.
‘My father's final offer and a contract. I'm sure they'll find it agreeable.’
Zoe seethed and snatched the letter from him. ‘Could you leave now, please?’
The shop door chimed.
‘Problems?’ Aidan probed.
‘No, he's just leaving.’
James cleared his throat and then straightened his jacket. ‘Morning,’ he said in passing to Aidan as he left the shop.
‘What did he want now? Why hasn't he left?’
Zoe waved the envelope. ‘He brought a contract.’
‘That man has a nerve. He knows your parents are away. Don't let him spoil your day. How's your day going anyway?’ He leaned on the counter.
‘Fine until he walked in. Oh, I've just mailed about that business opportunity so at least something is going my way today, anyway. Is there anything I can help you with?’
‘There is. One of my customers have been asking for green tea and immediately thought of you.’
‘You do know they sell that in a supermarket, too, right?’
‘Yeah, but I like the service here.’
Zoe shied away, smiling as she went to the tea shelf. ‘How much do you need? Or I can sell it to you in tea bags?’
‘Tea bags, please. I’ve never had such a fussy customer.’
‘I had one of those. He totally dismissed my advice but he still ended up buying,’ she handed him the box. ‘I find the ones who are sceptical are the most curious.’
‘Well, this customer isn’t a sceptic, alright.’ He handed her the cash and was about to leave. ‘Zoe. Are you doing anything this evening?’
‘No.’
‘I have a band playing tonight at the hotel for the light switch on, I wondered if you'd like to come?’
‘I'd like to, thanks. I'll see you at six for the parade then?’
‘Perfect.’
Chapter Seventeen
‘So he's your date tonight, is he?’ Felicity asked, helping Zoe fill the gift bags. She walked around the table picking out crystals.
‘No. He's just a friend,’ she blushed, tying the green ribbon. On her desk, there was a box full of prepared bags that she had to ship but it was nowhere near enough to help pay back the loan.
‘For now.’
‘We'll see,’ she grinned finishing off the bow. ‘Right, that's my last one. You know, I feel like this is turning into a full-time job. Fancy being my assistant? I'll pay you in cake and coffee.’
‘Thanks, but I'll have to pass.’
‘What time is it?’ Zoe asked, lifting the box of packages she had to take to the post office.
‘Four.’
‘Could you look after the shop for ten minutes?’
‘Of course, but if I were you, I'd get a coat on, it was freezing when I walked up earlier.’
‘Can't be as bad as Preseli yesterday.’
‘That's right, you went with moody,’ she teased.
‘Give over, nothing… happened,’ she thought back to the moment she was sure he was going to kiss her. Part of her wished he had.
‘Zo, that's not very convincing.’
Zoe shrugged. ‘Nothing happened, honestly,’ she headed to the door. ‘I'll see you in a bit.’
Felicity was right. Being cocooned in a warm shop since eight that morning, she hadn't been aware of the change of weather. She hunched her cold shoulders against the wind and walked up the road. A council van was parked on the roadside and two workers in luminous jackets were shovelling grit on the pavement. The tree they had picked was placed in a large bucket at the top of the road already decorated with lights and oversized green and red baubles.
‘Looking forward to the light switch on?’ Asked the woman behind the glass.
‘Surprisingly so. Could I post this lot, please?’
She put the box down on the counter hearing her phone buzzing with a message.
‘Hi, Zoe,
Nice to hear from you. We'd like to partner up with you to sell your gift bags. I think we'd make an excellent team. I've enclosed the paperwork in an attachment. We are offering £25.000 upfront.
Look forward to hearing from you.
‘Oh my God.’
‘Is everything alright?’
‘More than alright, thanks, Mrs. Evans.’ She paid the postage fees, beaming madly to herself. ‘I think I’ve just got myself out of a major pickle.’
The moment she stepped out of the shop, she took a deep breath knowing everything was working out as it should. She could pay off her parent's debt so they kept the shop and James would be out of her life forever.
It was then she saw Aidan waving her over to look at the tree they brought back from his uncle’s farm.
‘What do you think of it in all its glory?’ He asked, pulling her in at the waist.
‘It looks like it was worth getting stuck in that snowstorm,’ she felt his hand slide away.
‘I was thinking the same. Did you manage to get rid of James?’
‘No, but I may have found a way. I'll see you tonight and tell you about it. I best get back to the shop, I've left Felicity in charge.’
Aidan laughed. ‘You'd better run then.’
Zoe shivered as she pushed open the shop door. The shop was busy and Felicity was talking to a customer by the Tarot section.
‘Zo,’ Felicity turned around as she entered. ‘You know more about these cards than I do, can you help?’
‘Of course. What can I help you with?’ She asked the young woman holding several packs of cards.
‘I’m just starting out and I’m not sure which one to buy.’
‘Ah, well, the trick is to pick the one you’re most drawn to. That’s what my mother always told me.’
‘Do you read?’
‘Many years ago.’
‘Would you mind giving me a reading? I’ll pay you.’
‘Um…’
‘Go on,’ Felicity said. ‘I bet you’re really good.’
‘Alright then.’ She selected a packet of the traditional Rider Waite cards off the shelf and went to sit at the table in the corner of the room where her mother would read the cards for customers.
After the las
t customer had left, Zoe changed the sign and locked the door. The packet of tarot cards was left on the table. Strumming her fingers on the counter, she chewed her lip wondering if she should have a sneaky look at what cards had to say. It had been a long time since she used them for herself.
‘Oh why not,’ she said and scooped them off the table.
She shuffled the cards several times and then took one from the top.
‘The Tower,’ she said. In her mind’s eye, she saw the beach and a feeling that something bad was about to happen. She took another card and flipped it over and then another until she had a sense of what they were saying. When all the cards were on the table, it only confirmed what she had been feeling since she arrived in Tenby. It wasn’t the snowstorm she had to worry about, it was the one that was on its way. But what it could mean, she wondered. Why was she getting a sense of it? She turned another card over.
‘The Lovers.’
She understood that it could mean several things, but the word she kept hearing was Aidan. Was something going to happen to Aidan, she thought. She pushed the chair back and went to get a drink from the stockroom. Whilst she guzzled the bottle of juice down, she felt that she should head on over to the pub to warn him. But how? The cards only showed one possible timeline. It didn’t mean that it was definitely going to happen. She went back to the table, sat down again and pondered over the cards. Part of her regretted pulling them for herself, but as she knew, deep down, she was guided to do so and for a very good reason as she could see. The pile of cards sat there under the glow of the salt lamp. She stared at them for several moments as the temptation gnawed away inside of her to pick another. As her hand cast over the cards the phone rang.
‘Bloody hell,’ she jumped, startled in her chair. She moved her hand away, taking it as a sign that she wasn’t meant to pick another. She grabbed her phone, saw a message from Eileen asking where she was and then pulled on her coat, leaving the cards as they were on the table.
‘What? Are you serious?’ Aidan exclaimed, passing her a glass of red wine.
‘I think the storm is headed this way. I have a feeling it's going to be the worst we've seen here.’
‘No, I told you the worst storm we ever had here was back in the mid-1800’s. But if you’re worried that much, I'll check the weather online.’
The sound of excited chatter could be heard outside. People from all over had come especially for the parade.
Aidan showed her the screen on his phone. ‘Nothing. Look, I trust you but try to relax. It may never happen.’
‘Yeah,’ she sipped her wine unconvinced. If only she could mention the cards, but as much as Aidan was coming round to the idea of her spiritual ways, she thought the cards were a bit too much for him to handle right now.
‘What did you want to tell me about James anyhow? You mentioned something when I was showing you the tree this afternoon.’
‘It's more about me, actually. I've been offered a deal to sell my gift bags with one of the largest companies online. So I may have the money to pay off my parents debts.’
‘That’s brilliant news, well done. That'll boot him out of Tenby for sure.’
‘That can't come quick enough. Has he been around?’
‘No, the last I heard he was taking a cruise around the harbour tonight. My mate hired him a boat. Begrudgingly, I may add.’
‘At least he won't spoil the switch on.’ Zoe pulled on her gloves. ‘Are you coming out, it's about to start?’ She pulled up her fur lined hood and fastened her scarf inside her jacket. She gulped down the last of her wine while she waited for Aidan to get his coat.
‘Okay everybody, let’s go out for the switch on shall we,’ Aidan hollered as he walked around the bar. ‘You ready?’ He asked Zoe and slipped a hand in hers as they walked out of the pub together.
‘Bloody hell, it is cold, isn't it? ‘He said as they joined a large crowd of people standing around the tree. Felicity and Eileen pushed through the crowd, giggling excitedly.
‘I love this time of year, don’t you,’ Eileen said and handed them a small glass of mulled wine.
‘I’ll be drunk if I drink anymore tonight,’ Zoe said but sipped it anyway.
A group of school children were standing in front of the tree and began singing when Zoe noticed a few specks of snow landing on her nose.
‘I was right, it's snowing.’ Her heart thumped madly in her chest.
‘It’s not a storm,’ Aidan whispered in her ear, doing his best to reassure her.
Zoe gazed up at him and smiled. ‘I know.’
The snow was welcomed by everyone as they all started cheering. Zoe felt she could breathe easily now, thinking that the cards were showing her one outcome. But why? What was the point? She tried to figure out.
‘Cheer up, Zo,’ Felicity said above the music.
‘Yeah, you're right. It's just a few specks of snow, right?’
‘What?’ She shouted, straining to hear?
‘Nevermind,’ Zoe mouthed.
The mayor stood on a podium and gave a speech, thanking everyone for their help with the Christmas festivities. The countdown begun for the light switch on and Zoe felt Aidan squeeze her hand tightly. She thought she heard him say something but she couldn’t quite pick up what. She was sure she heard the remnants of “I love you,” but she couldn’t quite be sure.
‘What was that?’ She shouted and looked up at him, smiling down at her.
He tugged her hand and nodded for her to follow him away from the crowd.
‘You didn’t catch that, did you?’ He said softly as they stood outside the pub.
Someone tapped Aidan on the shoulder and whispered something in his ear.
‘Are you sure?’ He asked, and then turned to Zoe.
‘I have to go a minute,’ he said rather urgently and kissed her on the cheek.
Zoe wondered what was wrong and went into the pub to find Eileen. She plopped down on the chair and took off her gloves.
‘One more event to get through and Christmas is done as far as I'm concerned.’
‘You don't mean that,’ Eileen said. ‘Not now you and Aidan are... you know,’ she winked.
‘Nothing ever gets past you, does it? I don't even know what we are to tell you the truth.’
Aidan came over to the table. ‘I've got to go out on the lifeboat. A heavy wind has picked up and somebody has gone overboard.’
Zoe gripped his arm.’ Are you sure about this, it’s dangerous.’
Aidan kissed her on the lips. ‘I know what I’m doing, don’t worry about me.’
Zoe stood up to get a look out of the window. The snow flurries were coming down heavier. ‘I knew it,’ she said under breath. ‘Be careful, won't you?’ she pleaded, thinking now may be the best time to tell him how she really felt about him.
‘I always am.’ He zipped up his jacket. Two other men came running through the pub.
‘We need to go,’ said one of them pulling him by the arm. Before she could muster the words he was out the door. She flopped back down on the chair.
‘Don't panic, they're the best,’ said Felicity who could see the worried look on Zoe’s face.
‘But the cards,’ she muttered.
‘What cards?’
‘I pulled the cards earlier and it wasn’t good news.’
‘You pulled them for yourself?’
She nodded. ‘Stupid, huh?’
‘No, of course not. I mean, it’s not like they actually predict the future, right?’
‘I don’t know about that, I’ve always found them to be pretty spot on.’
It was almost eleven and the barmaid rang the bell for last orders. ‘Just to let you know that it's snowing like mad out there. Be careful on your way home, guys.’
‘Any news yet?’ someone shouted.
Zoe swiveled around in her chair with bated breath.
‘Nothing.’
‘I wonder who it was stuck in that boat,’ said Eileen getting up and putting
on her coat.
‘It had to be an idiot that’s all I can think of.’
Zoe thought she'd better get home too. She was sure she'd hear from him when he got back.
‘He's fine,’ said Eileen as they walked down the snow-covered street. The Christmas lights twinkled overhead, lighting their way. ‘He's very good at what he does. One time he saved this kid who had floated out on this giant pink flamingo. I know I shouldn't laugh, but that was the talk of the town for weeks after.’
Zoe smiled behind her scarf that was tucked up to her nose. ‘You'll give me a call if you hear anything, won't you?’ she asked as they arrived outside Eileen’s house. The front lights automatically came on, basking them in a soft glow..
‘Absolutely. I just wonder what silly bugger decided to go out there on a boat putting these guy’s lives at risk.’
It was then Zoe remembered that Aidan had told her James had loaned a boat from his friend. ‘James,’ she muttered angrily.
‘What was that, love?’
‘It’s James. He borrowed a boat from one of Aidan’s friends to sail around the harbour tonight. That’s who they are saving.’
‘That little swine? Oh dear, oh dear. After everything he’s put you both through. Look, why don’t you come inside for a hot drink.’
‘No, its fine, Eileen. I want to get back to the shop for a bit. I think I may have left some lights on. I was in such a rush when I left earlier.’
‘See you tomorrow. That’s if we’re open.’
‘Yes, see you tomorrow.’
Chapter Eighteen
A persistent knock on the door woke Zoe with a start. She wondered if she dreamt it and was about to crash back on the sofa when she heard it again. She threw off the blanket wondering who could be knocking at such an early hour. The sun wasn’t even up yet. She scrambled around the sofa for her mobile when the door banged again, this time; even louder.
‘1.35 a.m.,’ she gasped. ‘I'm coming,’ she hollered, draping the blanket around her shoulders. She undid the latch and opened the door. A gust of frosty air nipped at her face.
‘Eileen?’ She blinked the sleep out of her eyes.
Christmas Magic at the Tenby Crystal Shop Page 7