‘I’ll need more than a rain cover Pete! It’s sleeting out there, the pavements will be treacherous.’
‘It’s not too bad - but, yeah, take your point. It’s meant to brighten up for a patch this afternoon,’ he replied looking at the weather app on his phone.
‘I’ll see how I go and if I can I’ll pop up to the Orangery later if the sleet stops - if I time it with the afternoon nap she should drop off in the pram and then I can pop her in the corner and start going through a few things I need to do for the competition. And I guess the naming ceremony will be off now, won’t it?’
‘It sure will - even if Nina’s out of hospital by then, I can’t see her being up for anything like a naming celebration,’ Pete replied, a grave look on his face. ‘It takes months, even longer to recover from a stay in hospital like that.’
‘I know.’ Sallie nodded her head in agreement.
‘It’s so funny, life, isn’t it? Well, not funny but you know what I mean. One minute and it can all be changed in an instant. I was only sitting here on this very sofa last week - Tillie was upstairs asleep and we’d put out a new food for the birds and saw the most beautiful Robin come in and documented it right there in that logbook and now boom, Nina’s in hospital... it doesn’t seem real.’ He indicated to a thick, beautifully bound book sitting right in the middle of the coffee table.
‘Not real and not right - being on her own and with Tillie so tiny.’
‘Yup, said the same thing to my son - ain’t nobody up there looking after us that’s all I can say.’ Pete crossed his huge, long legs over and rubbed his forehead, sighing, ‘Rightio Sallie, I’ll be off, I’ve lots to sort out at the cottages. Just message me if you need anything.’
‘All good, Pete, thanks for everything.’ Sallie said.
‘When’s Ben back?’ Pete asked, heaving himself up off the sofa.
‘Just working it out now - the consultancy finishes soon and he was going to stay on, but with all this he’s going to just come straight home now.’
‘Yeah, I suppose that would be better - it’s not easy looking after a little one, even with Lilly around. I’d forgotten how tiring it can be. Even after a couple of hours, it’s all go.’
‘Tell me about it! Everything takes so much time - I’ve streamlined all my work and I’m still chasing my tail.’
Pete nodded, said goodbye and let himself out of Nina’s cottage.
***
A few hours later, Tillie had eaten her lunch like a dream, sat under her mobile and Sallie had popped her in her little baby swing and put it on the sway setting. She’d managed to do two loads of baby washing, sprayed and disinfected the kitchen and sorted out the fridge.
As Sallie plumped all the base cushions and fluffed up the cushions on the sofa, she looked out the doors at the end of the room and up at the sky. The sleet had gradually stopped and far off in the distance, over near the lighthouse tiny fragments of blue sky were desperately making an effort to appear. Every now and then the odd ray of sunshine filtered down onto the terrace outside and glints of ice in the puddles shone in the light. She checked the time and then turned to the bouncy chair where Ottilie seemed engrossed in a pink unicorn above her head.
‘Right Miss Tillie, I think we might venture out. Get some fresh air. What do you think?’ She looked at Tillie and wiggled her tiny little foot in its pale pink sock. Tillie looked back at her and smiled.
‘I’ll take that as a yes then.’ Sallie laughed to herself and continued chatting away to Tillie as she got her snowsuit on and popped her into the pram, got her own boots, coat, beanie and scarf and put her bag over the handle of the pram. She checked Pete had put the rain cover on as he left and looked in her bag to make sure she had an umbrella just in case the rain came down again - it was a short walk but she wasn’t taking any chances of getting caught in another downpour.
She bumped the pram out of the front door, walked down the road and as she was turning the corner into the road to the Orangery, Juliette drove past, indicated to pull in, reversed into a space outside her cottage and got out of the car. Sallie saw her from a distance open the boot and start unloading parcels from the back, carrying them into the little cottage.
‘Hey, how are you?’ Sallie said as she approached.
‘Hi, I’m fine, busy. How’re you getting on? How’s Nina today?’ Juliette asked.
‘No change really. I’m taking this little darling to the Orangery. I’m really on a deadline now.’
‘Oh, you and me both - so many babies at the moment in Pretty Beach, then I’ve got extra shifts and my little sideline business.’
‘What’s all that there then?’ Sallie pointed to the boxes in the back of Juliette’s car.
‘It’s a load of stock for the shop,’ Juliette said leaning into the boot and pulling the cardboard boxes towards the front.
‘Ahh, I completely forgot you told me about your shop, I seem to be so forgetful since I took on the Orangery - I guess you’re getting really busy now then at this time of year, are you?’
‘Yeah, well it was a few months ago we spoke about it. It’s always been a bit of a hobby and then in the last few years it’s really taken off, and, well, now that I need every penny I can pull together I really go for it at this time of year... obviously.’
‘Sorry, yeah you must be manic. What’s it called again?’ Sallie asked, opening her phone to type the name of Juliette’s online shop into her phone.
‘Not sure if I mentioned the name before. It’s called A Christmas Sparkle and it’s not so much a regular shop, more that I deal really, in vintage Christmas decor.’
‘How fabulous - not a bad little sideline to have. Love how you added your name in there too,’ Sallie said as she typed the name of the shop into her phone.
‘Yes, it is. Hard work though - I started it about fifteen years ago when I was at home on maternity leave. I’ve collected Christmas decor for years and it went from there. Then when, well you know that story, I decided to put in as much spare time as I could, which wasn’t much, and now, well if you include Australia and other Southern Hemisphere places who do Christmas in July and then the hardcore collectors it brings in quite the nice little income. Initially the plan was to go part-time with the midwifery for just a few shifts a week and concentrate on this - but, you know, the divorce put paid to that idea.’ She rolled her eyes.
‘Wow that all sounds brilliant - how interesting. Vintage decor is the look I’m going for in the Orangery too,’ Sallie said looking at the vast amount of boxes piled in the back of Juliette’s car.
‘You’ll have to come in and have a root around in my stuff then - I’ve got a lock-up over on the industrial estate down at Seafolly, packed to the rafters it is. I can barely get in there to pick out my stock these days.’
‘I might take you up on that actually - we’re just off to the Orangery now to do a little stocktake of what I need where and how much I’ll need to get,’ Sallie said, wiggling the handle of the pram.
Juliette pulled another of the boxes out of the car. ‘I’ve just had a very nice shipment from Oklahoma of vintage bits. I’m going to do a shoot at the weekend - pop over if you like. Don’t suppose you’ll have time with all this on your plate though, will you?’
‘I’ll see, thanks, that sounds great. I’ll have a look through the website too.’
‘Yep ok, it’s A Christmas Sparkle - go to the main site, that’s the nicest to have a poke around.’ Juliette said as she looked over the top of a huge box and pressed the button to shut the boot on her car.
‘When will you know more on Nina?’ Juliette asked as they stood on the pavement.
‘They can’t say - she’s stable at the moment though. They think it may be some sort of virus that affects the respiratory system.’
‘Right - doesn’t sound good. Look give her my love. Sorry, I’ve got to rush in, I need to collect Maggie. Let me know if you want to come over at the weekend, or if you need a hand.’
�
�Okay, will do. I’ll text you if I can make it.’ Sallie replied.
‘Great, and look, just shoot me a message if you need any help with Tillie and everything too.’
‘Thanks, I’ll let you know - see you at the weekend hopefully.’
Chapter 40
Sallie opened the gates to the Orangery, pushed the pram into the courtyard trying not to disturb Tillie and carefully walked down towards the doors. A furious dog barked a few houses down and Tillie shook her head as the barking stirred her, but her eyes stayed shut and Sallie crossed her fingers that she would stay asleep.
She pushed the heavy glass door of the Orangery open and was hit by the strong, earthy, sweet botanical aroma of the building - now that it was clear and spruced up, all the old musty rancid smells seemed to have evaporated and it was welcoming, luscious almost. It wasn’t warm though, even with some sun peeking through the heavy clouds. After the disaster with the first boiler engineer Sallie said a silent thank you for the plumber who had been brilliant utilizing some of the old piping Lucia’s dad had installed and designed a heating system which was never going to be budget, but was always going to be extremely effective. It was timed to run constantly to keep the place from getting too cold and stop anything from freezing up - all she had to do when there was a function or wedding was crank it up beforehand.
She pushed the pram in, ensured Ottilie was snug and warm under the hood of the pram and parked her right in the corner of the room next to the wall where it was most warm and most quiet. Tiptoeing past Tillie who was now snoring ever so gently, she took her tablet and planner out of her bag and opened up Lucian’s spreadsheet.
The decor would need to be sorted and ready for the first shoot which was going live on social media, she needed to double-check with the catering company that they’d re-tested the chicken recipe she’d brought back from her trip to Paris with Ben and she had to order the trees.
Sallie checked all the way down the list and started going through the list of Christmas tree farms within a 100-mile radius, opened up their websites and calculated the sizes and prices. After half an hour on the phone, one grumpy, not very Christmas-like tree shop owner and not feeling sure if she was going to get what she was after, she called another number.
‘Hi, I wonder if you can help me - I’m after a fairly large tree for a marketing shoot and then I’ll be looking for another two. I’m hoping for some which I know may sound quite odd, but that are quite wide.’
‘Hello, my lovely! Well if it’s a wide Christmas tree you’re wanting, I’m your man. I’ve got trees coming out of my ears this year - which is a welcome place to be in after the shortages and price rises of the last few years. Funnily enough, I have a very wide tree that I didn’t think I would ever be able to shift and it’s earmarked for my workshop but if you’re wanting it, I can do it.’
‘Ahh, thank you! I’ve a big space to fill - it’s a large sort of conservatory-greenhouse and we are hosting a Christmas wedding but it’s also for a competition - Where the Heck is Pretty Beach? the podcast, have you heard of it?’
‘My lovely, I certainly have - not that I listen to it very often but I’ve seen it come up in my podcast recommendations many times,’ the man on the end of the phone replied.
‘Well, I’m part of that and we’re doing a worldwide competition for a Christmas Wedding and so, yeah, obviously I’ll need a tree, in fact, I think I’m going to need three trees.’
‘If you need three, you’ll be needing a tidy old discount too, won’t you?’ He chuckled down the phone.
‘Oh, that’s fabulous - music to my ears, especially after a most disagreeable conversation with the last place. Strange way to run a small business when you’re rude to people who are your customers.’
‘Tell me about it my lovely! It’s what I tell my staff all the time - you never know who you’re speaking to down the end of the phone or on the end of an email. Just let me know what you want - I can send you pictures or you can come down or I can send you up a few and you can choose but obviously that will cost you more. Tell you what though, the weather’s a bit rough to go out looking at trees at the moment.’
‘Hmm, I would have said I’ll come and have a look but I’ve got a bit of a family emergency so maybe if you could send me some pictures that would be great.’
‘Absolutely. Tall and wide - I’ll get them to you after I’ve done my rounds this afternoon. Not sure what the quality will be like in this weather, though it’s brightened up a bit in the last hour.’
Sallie put the phone down and closed up her planner as Tillie began to stir from her sleep - that was hopefully one thing ticked off the list.
Chapter 41
Sallie pulled her coat tighter around her and stuffed her gloved hands into her pockets as she walked up the narrow flagstone path to Juliette’s cottage and rang on the old ship's bell hanging outside. A little lamp glowed in the window and a Swedish St Lucia candle twinkled next to it on the windowsill.
The door opened and Juliette, standing in a pretty ruffled dress, and thick grey cable knit tights came to the door. As she opened it a rush of warmth hit Sallie compared to the cold outside.
‘Come in! Goodness, it’s chilly out there today - shame the snow didn’t come before I got the Christmas stuff set up. It would have looked fabulous as a backdrop in the conservatory.’ Juliette said, taking Sallie’s coat.
‘I still can’t believe you deal in vintage Christmas bits and love Christmas more than me - I thought I was the only strange one around these parts.’
‘Yeah, the more I’ve got into it and since the internet made the world smaller I’ve learnt I am certainly not in a minority. There are people out there who would make you and I look like Christmas amateurs Sallie. I’ve got customers whose houses are decorated for Christmas all year round and not only that they change it on a weekly basis.’
‘Sounds like taking it a bit too far to me, but then again I really love Christmas and who knows what I’ll be doing this time next year - you just don’t know what’s around the corner!’
‘I really love Christmas Sallie, so we’re a good match,’ Juliette laughed and pushed her hair behind her ears.
Sallie agreed, they walked through the tiny little sitting room, up the small step into the hallway and back down two small rickety steps into the cosy kitchen with the low-ceiling.
‘Cup of tea? Or I do a mean cup of frothy coffee? Or, in fact, how about a Bailey’s coffee? It’s the right temperature for it... a bit cheeky at this time of day, but I’m not on call and Maggie is at her dad’s all weekend so I’ve got a pass.’ She laughed at her own joke.
‘Absolutely - I’d love a Bailey’s coffee. I never say no to one truth be told. Thank you.’
‘Another thing we have in common then,’ Juliette noted as she got the coffee and cups out.
She made two mugs of coffee, poured in two little lugs of Baileys, topped the whole lot with large swirls of whipped cream and sprinkled on some brown sugar and presented Sallie with the mug.
‘Now that’s my kind of coffee!’ Sallie exclaimed.
‘Ha, right, come on, come and have a look at what I’ve set up so far this morning - I think you’re going to adore the vintage baubles... I’ve been after them for ages and finally they came up on an online auction. Now they’ve finally arrived and what’s even better, I wasn’t hit by customs charges to get the things into the country.’
They walked over to the left side of the kitchen and Juliette opened the old engraved door handle into the tiny lean-to toasty warm conservatory.
Over in the corner a small Christmas tree in a white flowerpot sat on an upturned vintage fruit crate next to a beautiful rustic white French-style chair. A large fresh garland full of bay, firs and greenery sat on the paned windows behind and vintage baubles were popped into it here and there.
‘Oh my! It’s delightful Juliette.’
‘Thanks, I’m really pleased with it in here. The colours you painted it are just rig
ht. Since I left Jeremy let’s just say that finding somewhere to get good photos has been a challenge.’
Sallie walked over to inspect everything closer - the vintage baubles twinkled in the light from a cluster of fairy lights above and a tiny little professional ring light setup adjacent to the scene was bouncing light off everything. A pair of white vintage ice skates balanced casually on a thick cosy striped rug beside the chair and a white faux fur throw was draped artfully over the arm. On the back of the chair a red tartan rug folded up neatly popped against the lights and neutral colours.
‘It’s all gorgeous. You’ve got a real eye for it. Though I could tell that from the way you’ve decorated the cottage.’ Sallie said, as she sat down.
‘Thanks - it’s taken a little while to get my look right and if I’m trying to sell things with a different colour theme or from a different era then I change it up a bit - but overall it’s a neutral colour, some greenery and then a pop of tartan, some fairy lights and then whatever the product is added in,’ Juliette explained, adjusting the tartan rug ever so slightly.
‘Right, yep, so there’s almost a process?’ Sallie asked.
‘Yeah there is, and it keeps the same branding overall if I do it that way. My customers like to buy a look and the look they like is simple, vintage Christmas - I guess the name says it all really.’
‘It’s great. Sort of the same as the boathouse theme really - old oars, vintage boats, hammocks, etcetera. I used that look and then rinsed and repeated it in the marquee.’ Sallie said sniffing the beautiful fir garland behind.
‘Yes, only mine’s this neutral vintage-y Christmas backdrop that gets rinsed and repeated.’
Sallie got up and stepped closer to the tree and the casual pile of faded vintage baubles, ‘They’re stunning - you don’t see them like that anymore, do you?’
‘Not often - I’ve been on the lookout for these for a very long time.’
‘Such a coincidence. I was going to go for a faded gold theme in the Orangery - with I think three trees, and then a huge garland along the back wall and wreaths in each window, depending on the budget and how it goes,’ Sallie said.
Winter at Pretty Beach Page 14