Free Carole Singer's Christmas by Emily Harvale Page A

believe,’ she said, scrutinising his clean-shaven, blemish free skin.
    ‘It’s true. I grew out of it, thank God. Although to be honest, I don’t think it was just the spots that put Lucia off. I was also stick thin and a bit of a wimp.’
    ‘Now I know you’re lying!’
    ‘I’m not. Honestly, I’m not. You can ask my sister when you meet her. It’s all true.’
    ‘When I meet her?’ The idea of that seemed strange to Carole.
    ‘Yep. She’ll be down sometime in the New Year. Assuming you’re still around here then.’
    ‘Gran said she’s invited you for Christmas dinner! Why aren’t you spending it with your family?’
    He shrugged. ‘Mum and Dad will still be travelling. They’re not big on the whole Christmas thing and Mary and Harry are spending this Christmas in the States with Harry’s folks. Mary’s just found out that she’s expecting their first child and they want to tell the family the news in person, assuming everything’s okay. It’s early days yet and she’s superstitious about telling too many people too early. So it’s just me and Nicodemus this year.’
    There were a hundred and one things Carole wanted to ask him. Things that were probably far more important than where he planned to spend Christmas but she was still coming to terms with seeing Nick in a family context and everything else just went out of her head.
    ‘I’d better go,’ she said suddenly. ‘Gran’s been left on her own for over an hour now.’
    She headed towards the door, stopping to stroke Nicodemus on the way.
    ‘Does Nicodemus just sit in here and sleep while you work?’
    ‘No, sometimes he serves the customers but he’s not very good with the card machine. Cash, he’s fine with.’
    Carole grinned. ‘He probably tells better jokes too.’
    Nick grinned back. ‘That’s not difficult. Sometimes my neighbour, Albert looks after him. Albert’s elderly dog died just after we moved here so he loves having Nicodemus. Feel free to pop in anytime,’ he said, stepping aside to let her pass. ‘You’ll need to learn a few of the ropes before Monday if you’re still going to be taking over from Mitsy.’
    ‘Taking over from–?’
    ‘See you later. I’ve got to dash.’
    A delivery lorry had pulled into the parking bay and Nick ran out to meet it before Carole had a chance to ask him what he meant. She considered waiting until he returned but two young lads cycled in and Nick waved them over. They were clearly the staff and what had been a relatively peaceful place just a few short minutes ago had now turned into a hive of activity. She decided she’d better get out quickly before she did get roped in to help.
     
     
     
     
     

 
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
     
    ‘Did you apologise?’ Mitsy asked the moment Carole entered her bedroom. ‘Oh! Good heavens! What on earth has happened to you?’
    For a split second, Carole was tempted to say that Nick did it – which in a way was true, but she could tell that her grandmother was genuinely concerned and this wasn’t the time to be facetious.
    ‘It was my fault. I wasn’t looking where I was going and I tripped and fell in the garden centre. I’m fine though and so is Nick although we’re both a bit battered and bruised. When I fell, I’m afraid I knocked him down too.’
    To Carole’s surprise, her gran sniggered.
    ‘It’s not funny, Gran. That place is an absolute death trap not to mention it’s filthy.’
    Mitsy tutted good-naturedly. ‘It’s a garden centre, dear. It can’t possibly be pristine. As for it being a death trap, I’ve managed perfectly well without tripping over anything, almost every day for the last few months, and my eyesight is nowhere near as good as yours.’
    Carole’s head shot up at that. ‘Almost every day for ...! Gran, I really think it’s time you and I had a serious talk. Okay, I’ll admit that I may have got the wrong impression of Nick but how exactly did you meet him and why are you apparently working for him?