Carole Singer's Christmas (9 page)

‘Gran! You’re not telling me that ... that ...’ She couldn’t bring herself to say it.

‘Good heavens, Carole! Are you suggesting ...? How could you think such a thing? I know I told you that he’s gorgeous and that if I were forty years younger you’d have to fight me for him but I’m seventy-six years old and I’m not about to have nooky or whatever you young things call it these days with a man less than half my age! Really, Carole! And as if he would either.’ Mitsy tutted loudly. ‘I’m very glad he didn’t hear you say that, my girl.’

‘I’m sorry, Gran but ... well … it sounded as if that’s what you were leading up to.’

‘Well, I wasn’t. So let me finish. We had dinner and some wine and he said that he’d better find a hotel for the night and I suggested he stay here. He said he couldn’t impose. He stayed at The Manor Court Hotel and invited me to breakfast the next day.’

‘Oh. And ... and then he bought the nursery and started work on it and I suppose you decided to go and help out.’

Mitsy sniggered. ‘Something along those lines dear, yes. Although it wasn’t quite that straightforward.’

‘Why?’

‘Well – and don’t get up on your high horse before I’ve finished. Nick got the nursery very cheaply because it’d been for sale for such a long time and there are restrictive covenants on the land, as you probably remember, so it can’t be used for residential development, but the surrounding land can. He didn’t have the money for that land so he wasn’t thinking of buying it yet. I offered to lend it to him by way of an investment – but that’s not public knowledge.’

‘What? He told me he got it cheap! And he never mentioned that he’d borrowed money from you! I knew it! I knew he was after something!’

Mitsy smacked Carole’s hand. ‘Stop it, Carole. You’re getting the wrong end of the stick again. He didn’t mention it because I’ve made him promise not to. I said I’d tell you in my own time, which I am doing now. And believe me, it was a battle to get him to agree. He said that he’d let it go and hope he could work around it or raise the money via his family later. I told him I’d buy it and he could accept me as a partner or I’d sell it on to him later. And that’s what happened.’

‘So he’s now bought the land from you ... at the price you paid for it at least, I hope.’

‘No. He offered to. He raised the funds about a month ago but ... well, you are so busy these days and Sarah had just moved up to Scotland to be with Jamie. I really needed something to get my teeth into. I persuaded Nick to let me remain a partner and help out in the garden centre for a few hours a day. He agreed and that, as they say, was that.’

‘So you’re actually a joint partner in the garden centre!’

‘Yes. And I’ve never been happier. I pop in and out when I feel like it.’

‘But it’s been making you ill, Gran! You said yourself that you’ve been going through a bad patch. How could he let you run yourself ragged like–?’

‘Do stop jumping to conclusions, sweetheart. The garden centre is what’s been keeping me going. I planned to tell you all about it but for some reason, it never seemed the right time.’

‘Why not? And why didn’t you tell me how you were feeling? I didn’t think we had any secrets, Gran.’

Mitsy raised her eyebrows as if she had some doubts about that. ‘Perhaps not in the old days, sweetheart but since you’ve moved in with Dominic, I’m not sure you tell me everything quite like you used to. And that’s fine. We’re all entitled to keep our own counsel. The health issues weren’t serious, and as for not telling you about the garden centre, I think I wanted you to meet Nick first. Perhaps because I thought you might get the wrong end of the stick,’ she said with a sardonic smile.

‘Now what makes you think I’d have done that, Gran?’ Carole said, shaking her head. ‘I’m so sorry. I’ll try to think things through before I jump to conclusions in future. But you have been unwell?’

‘Yes. I started to get some pain in my stomach. I ignored it at first, of course. I wasn’t eating properly and that was adding to my dizziness. I kept having silly little accidents and Nick noticed there was something wrong and insisted on me calling Dr Edwards. I had a stomach ulcer and I was also anaemic. I’m much better now. I’ve been on a course of treatment for a few weeks and everything is almost back to normal.’

‘Gran! You really should have told me.’

‘There was no point, Carole. And I didn’t want to worry you.’

‘And your leg? How did that happen?’

‘My fault entirely. Nick has told me a hundred times that I am not to climb up ladders or lift anything heavy and such like but I wanted a box of labels and I knew they were on the top shelf in the office. I used the stepladder. It was only two steps but I missed my footing and slipped. I just landed awkwardly, that’s all. It’s only a fracture but they did have to reset it.’

‘Oh Gran.’ Carole kissed Mitsy on her cheek.

‘I know you’re really busy with your own work, sweetheart and if it’s really too difficult then please do say so but I did suggest to Nick that you might be able to take my place at the garden centre – just for a couple of hours a day – or whenever you have a spare moment. Because of this,’ Mitsy said, tapping her leg, ‘I’ll be out of action for at least a few weeks and Nick has rather come to rely on me, even if I do say so myself.’

Carole’s head shot up. ‘So that’s what he meant by me helping out. Oh, good grief!’

‘You’re right. It’s too much to ask, dear,’ Mitsy said. ‘You’ve been good enough to come and take care of me. I can’t expect you to step into my job as well. I’m sure we’ll be able to sort something out. Perhaps Sarah would be prepared to come down for a few days.’

Carole’s mouth fell open in surprise. ‘Mum! You’d ask Mum to help out in the garden centre. Gran, the place is a bit of a mess already. If Mum got her hands on it, it’d look more like the local refuse tip than a garden centre. I’ll do it. I suppose I should anyway. After all,’ she added, grinning, ‘someone needs to protect your investment.’

***

‘So when do you want to start?’ Nick said, leaning against the kitchen door frame after depositing Mitsy on the sofa bed in the study. ‘It would be really good if you could drop in for an hour or so either tomorrow or Saturday. It’s the 1
^st
of December on Sunday and people will be coming to order their trees and holly and mistletoe, so it’ll be a bit too busy for you to get the hang of the tills and such like then. Mitsy usually works for a few hours in the morning but obviously, as you’re doing me a huge favour I can work around whatever suits you. I realise you’ve got your own business to think about, so if it’s really too much, I’m sure I can manage.’

‘Well, I can come in early tomorrow if you like and we’ll take it from there.’

He raised his eyebrows and grinned. ‘By early, you mean after nine-thirty, I take it.’

She grinned back and handed him a mug of tea. ‘No, I was thinking around seven-ish, if that suits you.’

‘I thought you weren’t a morning person?’

‘I lied,’ she said, adding under her breath, ‘I seem to be doing rather a lot of that lately.’

‘Sorry?’

‘Nothing. Is seven okay?’

‘Great. Do you have any old clothes that you’re happy to get dirty?’

‘I’m never happy to get my clothes dirty, old or otherwise, but I’ll see if I can find something ... suitable.’

‘I may have something at home that will fit you.’

She was horrified. ‘If any of your clothes fit me, Nick, I’ll kill myself.’

‘Still being a drama queen, I see.’ He grinned and tilted his head to one side. ‘I didn’t mean my clothes. Mary left some of her old things at my place last time she was down. I’m sure they’ll fit you and let’s face it, she won’t be able to get into them for several months. I’d say you’re almost exactly the same size as her. Thirty-six, twenty-six, thirty ...’ He hesitated.

‘Be very careful,’ she said, blushing. He was spot on so far.

His grin widened. ‘Seven.’

‘Eight. And you were obviously being diplomatic, so thank you.’

‘I wasn’t actually.’

His eyes focused intently on her hips and she could feel her cheeks growing redder by the second.

‘You don’t look like a thirty-eight.’

‘Really? Because an inch makes such a noticeable difference, does it?’

His dark eyes held hers and his grin widened even further. ‘Some women say an inch makes all the difference.’

Carole sucked in her breath, not absolutely certain whether they were still talking about her hips or something else entirely. Her temperature shot up several degrees, giving the oven containing the casserole she was making for dinner, a run for its money.

‘Mary’s thirty-seven,’ he continued, ‘or at least she was, but I’m sure they’ll fit you. I can bring them round this evening if you like when I come back to take Mitsy up to bed. And before you start thinking it’s weird that I know my sister’s precise measurements, it’s because I’ve had them drummed into my head. The last time she stayed was when she’d just found out she was pregnant and she measured and weighed herself every ten seconds to see if she’d gained an inch or put on any weight.’

Carole couldn’t think clearly. ‘That would be good,’ she said, ‘if Mary wouldn’t mind.’

‘She won’t. Okay, I’d better get back. What time do you want me this evening?’

‘What? Oh, to take Gran up. Er ... whenever it suits you both.’

She suddenly remembered that she had been thinking of inviting Sebastian round for a chat. She obviously couldn’t do that if Nick was going to be popping in, although just as he’d said he would, he had rung the doorbell this lunchtime. It was probably just as well anyway, she thought. Her gran disliked Sebastian after he ran off to Australia; possibly more than she disliked Dominic.

***

‘You’ll never guess who’s in the pub talking to Sebastian,’ Josie said as soon as Carole answered her mobile.

‘Who?’

‘Nick! They’re standing at the bar, chatting as if they were long lost buddies.’

Carole felt the colour drain from her face. ‘Really? Who started the conversation?’

‘No idea. I’ve only just got here. I’m tempted to go over and say something.’

‘Like what?’

‘Just, hello or something, and that I didn’t know they knew each other.’

‘It’s the village pub, Josie. The only pub. And Nick and Seb are about the same age so I suppose it’s only natural that they’d strike up a conversation. Don’t start making me get paranoid about it. Oh by the way, I’ve got some news for you.’

‘Dom’s proposed at last.’

‘What? No, of course he hasn’t ... I mean. It’s nothing to do with Dom. I’m going to be helping out in the garden centre in place of Gran. I start tomorrow.’

‘What? How did you wangle that?’

‘I didn’t wangle it, Josie. Gran asked me and I naturally said I would. He’ll be very short- staffed otherwise and what with Christmas coming and everything.’

‘Wow! Um ... I’d be happy to offer my services. He doesn’t have to pay me – well not in money anyway. I’ll take payment in kind.’

‘I bet you would. I could put in a good word for you, if you like. He’s coming round later to take Gran to bed.’

‘I think you may want to rephrase that statement. I take it you didn’t invite Seb round then?’

‘No. You’re right, it would upset Gran, and what with Nick coming back here and Dom calling me later, I think it’s best if I take things slowly as far as Sebastian’s concerned.’

‘Bloody hell, Carole! I think that’s the most sensible thing I’ve heard you say in months.’

***

Carole was working on one of her designs when she spotted Nick walking up the path at around ten-thirty that evening. Arkenarten was curled up on his usual cushion on the window seat and Mitsy was dozing on the sofa bed, her large-print book hanging loosely in one hand.

Carole dashed to open the door before he could ring the bell. She put her finger to her lips.

‘Gran’s dozing,’ she said. ‘I didn’t want you to ring the bell and startle her.’ She caught a whiff of aftershave again as he stepped into the hall. ‘Did you have a good evening?’

‘Yes, thanks. I went to the pub. How about you?’

‘Working. Would you like some tea or coffee or ... hot chocolate?’

He smiled. ‘Chocolate would be good. I brought a few of Mary’s things as promised. See what you like and what you don’t.’

‘Thanks.’ She took the small holdall of clothes and tossed it onto the bottom stair, grinning as she turned back to face him. ‘Nothing breakable, I hope?’

‘Only the glass slipper, Cinders,’ he replied. ‘I saw a friend of yours this evening.’

She held her breath but he didn’t continue so she had to ask. ‘Really? Who was that?’

‘Josie. She’s often in the garden centre. She says she loves plants but personally, I think she probably buys so many because she keeps killing them. Sorry, I suppose I shouldn’t call one of your friends a plant murderer should I?’

‘As opposed to me calling one of my Gran’s friends a brute and a criminal, you mean?  Josie will be the first to admit she’s not very good with plants but she’s eager to learn. Actually, that brings me nicely to a suggestion I have for you.’

‘Oh?’ He looked anxious.

She headed for the kitchen and he followed her.

‘You said that you were short-staffed and although I’m happy to help as much as I can, I do have to look after Gran and I also have quite a bit of work on at the moment which I need to get finished in the next couple of weeks. Josie finishes work around four each day. She’s a music teacher and she works part-time at the village school. She does have other pupils but she did happen to mention that she has a few hours most days and would be happy to volunteer her services in exchange for ... some free expert knowledge.’

‘Oh, did she? What sort of expert knowledge?’

‘What?’ There was no doubt about it, this guy could definitely read people’s minds. ‘Oh, um ... the green-fingered variety. I mean plant knowledge. Stuff about plants.’

She could feel herself blushing and turned away to make the hot chocolate.

‘I’ll have to check with Health and Safety. There’re all sorts of regulations regarding employees – paid or otherwise. In case there’s an accident or anything.’