Chapter Twenty-Five

Evie loved shopping. Especially Christmas shopping. With the family finances looking bleak this year, she had thought she would have to tighten her belt and only buy small gifts and absolute necessities. The Thorn booking had changed that. She still couldn’t go mad, but she could spend a few more pounds than expected and possibly buy a couple of little luxury gifts for her family, and for Juniper, too. Her mum had been happy for her to go into town and Juniper was waiting for her in the office doorway of Miranda Bradley Recruitment. Evie waved and the moment Juniper saw her, she turned off the office lights and locked the door.

‘I’ve put the phones on divert,’ she said, hugging Evie. ‘So if Miranda calls to check up on me, she’ll think I’m still at work. But let’s face it, no one is going to be looking for a job at four p.m. on the last Friday before Christmas, are they? And if they are, they’re bloody idiots. They should be out enjoying themselves.’

‘I suppose it depends on what they did at the office Christmas party. They may suddenly need to find a new place to work. But that’s their problem. You couldn’t have suggested this at a better time. I need to buy presents for the guests.’

‘Eh? I thought you’d got them those snow globes.’

They walked towards the High Street on a flattened path of pale grey snow. Banks of white were squashed up against the buildings but where a steady march of feet had trodden it down, it was just a thin, discoloured layer. With the temperature dropping, it was gradually turning into a sheet of ice and the soles of their boots slipped beneath them as they picked their way through the crowds, to the shops. The roads were fairly clear. Gritters had been out in force, along with the one and only snowplough in Michaelmas Bay. Zachary had been right. Traffic had ruined the picturesque look of a snow-covered town. He and his team had spent an hour filming in Snowflake Cove before heading into town as soon as that was done.

‘Yes, I did. But they’re spending a fortune with us. We’re charging a mint for the accommodation and meals, and then they put in that wine order I told you about. We’re making a massive amount of money out of that. Plus last night in the bar, money was flowing faster than the beer and liqueurs. I sort of feel they deserve more than a snow globe each, don’t you?’

‘It’s a lovely snow globe. But yeah. You’re right. But as I think I’ve asked before, what do you get rich people for Christmas?’

‘Your guess is as good as mine. We need to look in as many shops as possible until we find the perfect gifts. And I think we should start with this one.’ Evie stopped outside Michaelmas Bay Books. ‘Everyone likes a book.’

‘Ah, but what kind of book? I think we should start with a cocktail and make a list. It’s late night opening. I know I said we’d be back by six but if we’ve got lots of gifts to buy we’ve got until eight. Some are open later. Although I suppose you have to get back to help with dinner.’

‘I do. So let’s say seven. OK. Cocktails it is. Then the shops.’

‘If the bookshop has a book entitled ‘How To Be The Perfect P.A.’, I think we should get that for Felicia. That should wind her up.’

Evie grinned. ‘We’re looking for nice presents. We need to find something she’ll like.’

‘There aren’t enough shops and they don’t open late enough for that. Does the woman like anything?’

‘I don’t know. I’ve yet to see her smile at her boyfriend. I have no idea why he’s with her. They don’t seem very happy.’

Juniper pushed open the door to the cocktail bar. ‘I spoke to Darren and told him what the tarot woman said. He didn’t get home until five this morning apparently. He was in bed when I went home to change and I’m not convinced he took in what I was saying. He said we’ll talk tonight.’

‘That’s good then.’

They each ordered a Merry Mistletoe Kiss, containing vodka, Baileys, amaretto, hazelnut liqueur, cream and nutmeg, before flopping onto one of the sofas near the window. From here they could watch shoppers hurrying by, laden down with presents. Several were dragging sobbing children no doubt keen to go to Santa’s Grotto, but their parents not so eager.

‘It is good. But I told him I have a snowball fight to get to and that we should come over to you and talk later.’

‘Are you sure that’s wise? Don’t you want to find out what’s going on first, and then come over. Your relationship is far more important than a snowball fight.’

Juniper sipped her drink. ‘Good grief. That’s more of a slap than a kiss. It’s yummy though.’

Evie agreed. ‘We’ll have to order another of these.’

‘I do want to know,’ Juniper said, pushing her straw up and down in the heady concoction. ‘But on the other hand, I don’t. What if it is bad news? What if something is going on?’

‘Then surely it’s better to know now. And it might not be quite as bad as you think it could. Just out of interest … what would you really do if he has been seeing someone else?’

‘Oh God.’ Juniper sat bolt upright. ‘You think he is, don’t you?’

‘I didn’t say that. I said what if?’

‘But it’s the way you said it. As if you know he is but don’t want to tell me. Christ, Evie! Do you know something I don’t?’

‘Hello, lovely ladies. Fancy seeing you here.’

Startled by the interruption, Evie and Juniper looked up and saw Brandon Carr standing a few feet from them. No more than a second later, the door flew open and Zachary and the rest of his team piled in behind him.

‘Hello!’ Zachary said. ‘This is a pleasant surprise. And before you say a word, we’re here working. We’ve been told this is the best cocktail bar in town.’

‘It’s the only cocktail bar in town,’ Evie replied, shooting an anxious glance at Juniper.

‘May we join you?’

‘Of course,’ Juniper said, clearly putting on a brave face.

‘Great.’ Zachary smiled. ‘What are you drinking? We’ll get you another.’

‘A Merry Mistletoe Kiss,’ Evie told him.

‘I like the sound of that. You haven’t got any mistletoe at the inn, have you? I haven’t seen any.’

‘No.’

He grinned. ‘I’ll have to remedy that.’

He turned away and as he and Brandon headed to the bar the whole place erupted with screams and shrieks. Zachary Thorn had been recognised. No surprise there. A crowd quickly gathered around him and his team, and Evie took the opportunity to talk to Juniper.

 ‘I don’t know anything, Juniper. If I knew that Darren was definitely seeing someone else, I would tell you. Honestly, I would. But only if I was absolutely certain. Sometimes things aren’t what they seem.’

Juniper nodded. ‘I know you would. I didn’t mean to accuse you of keeping something from me. I’ll talk to him when I get home.’ She took another sip of her drink. ‘I think the snowball fight might be off anyway. It’ll take them all night to get away from that crowd.’

‘And I think we can kiss another drink goodbye. He’ll never make it to the bar.’