I’m not sure I should have said all that, especially when he starts shaking his head, but his mouth tips up into a smile. ‘I’ve known you for eleven days and you already know me better than my own family do.’
His eyes are sparkling, dancing under the warm orange glow of the lamp above our heads, and I think it’s best to change the subject quickly. ‘Thank you for the nutcracker on the tree.’
‘It’s been years since I made one. I can’t even remember how to. Feel free to laugh.’
‘You said you like working with your hands. If you ever want to play around in my shed when your arm’s better …’
‘Is that like The Wizard inviting Dorothy behind the curtain?’
‘Well, you would look rather fetching in sparkly red heels.’
He laughs so hard that he ends up pressing his upper arm against his ribcage in an attempt to cushion the broken ribs.
‘We should get back,’ I say, kind of hoping he can hear how reluctant I sound. Standing under the mistletoe with James for the rest of the day would be fine by me, but judging by the state of his shop when I went in, there’s a lot more decorations to get out, and the fact I’ve left Stacey by herself again in our shop.
‘Yeah, I know.’ His voice is low and husky and despite his words, he makes no attempt to move. Instead, he reaches out so his fingers drag down the sleeve of my gingerbread woman jumper and he lifts my hand. ‘Nia, I need to—’
‘There you are!’
I hadn’t realised how quiet it was in this part of the building until Carmen’s shriek makes us both jump and James drops my hand like we’ve been caught doing something unthinkable.
‘Hubert said he’d seen you come this way. She wants a polar bear!’
‘Who?’ James looks as confused as I feel. ‘Hubert?’
‘Noooo, a darling young girl making a wish. I think she meant a real one but there’s only so far we can go. You’ve got cuddly polar bears, haven’t you? Come on, quickly. Mrs Brissett’s keeping an eye so we don’t lose her!’ She takes hold of his arm and physically hauls him away. ‘And you look just the ticket in that hat, a perfect Nutcracker Lane elf! Come on, Nia, you too!’
James rushes to keep up with her and I realise she doesn’t even know his ribs are broken because I’m pretty sure I’m still the only person he’s told.
When we get back onto the main part of the lane, Carmen invites herself inside James’s shop and we watch from the doorway as she starts rooting through the basket of soft toys, digging through them and discarding them like a cartoon mole burrowing through a lawn. I go to check on Stacey and then stand next to James, watching Mrs Brissett surreptitiously stalking a young girl walking down the lane hand-in-hand with each parent.
‘Where are you going?’ I ask as Hubert races past.
‘A scooter! He wants a scooter! They’ve got one in the window of that toy shop three streets away. He’s gone to see Santa! I’ll make it before he leaves if I rush.’
I look pointedly at the wallet in his hand. There’s no way Nutcracker Lane has a budget for scooters. ‘You’re not supposed to be spending your own money on this.’
He stops, even though he’s obviously in a hurry and already out of breath. ‘It’s just a little expense, Nia, but it’s worth it. I’m not made of money, but I can afford a little extra here and there. We have a chance to save Nutcracker Lane. You two have given us a chance. If it’s not worth a little investment by the people who love it most, then what hope have we got?’
He doesn’t give me a chance to protest any further as he rushes off. When I look up at James, I see the same feeling reflected in his eyes. I’m not sure if I feel uncomfortable or touched by shopkeepers spending their own money. That was never the intention, but it’s heart-warming they want to.
‘This one!’ Carmen emerges from the shop victoriously, a fluffy white polar bear clutched in her fist, and charges off up the lane, leaving James and I to hurry after her.
Mrs Brissett meets us and we all huddle behind one of the pillars. Carmen thrusts the polar bear at James. ‘You go.’
‘Why me?’ He says, half-laughing.
She shrugs. ‘Your shop. Your polar bear. You’ve got an elf hat on. Go on, quick!’
Surveillance mission complete, Mrs Brissett departs for the magical nutcracker, and I watch with Carmen as James intercepts the family and explains who he is.
Carmen nods to where he’s kneeling on the floor so he’s the same height as the little girl. ‘Nothing’s going to show him the true meaning of Christmas faster than seeing children believe in magic. ’Tis the season of giving, after all. That’s what Christmas is all about.’
The little girl clutches her polar bear happily and waves to James until she and her parents are out of sight.
‘I’m never wearing an elf hat again,’ he says with a groan as I hold my hand out to pull him up and his fingers slot around mine.
‘Oh, I assure you, you are.’ I haul him back onto his feet even though I don’t think he needed
