‘’Tis the season,’ James says simply.
‘You don’t understand. My husband walked out, and I’m trying to raise two children, but I can’t work as much as I was because I can’t afford childcare, and they need clothes and school uniforms and school trip money, and all their friends have got the latest technology and it’s Christmas next week and I don’t have a penny extra …’ She’s trying to fight the tears but they spill over again. ‘Thank you. Thank you, thank you. This is so wonderful.’ She glances down at the tree leaning against her car. ‘I couldn’t even afford a tree and they keep asking when we’re going to get one.’
I have to bite my lip to stop myself crying as she thanks us again and again and hugs us both, making James wince. He steps back as I help her get the tree into the back seat and we stand together and wave as she reverses out and drives away.
‘You need to start wearing a sign that says: “My ribs are broken, don’t hug me”.’
‘Ah, it keeps me on my toes. Every day is a constant roulette of “will I get my lungs punctured today?”’ He nudges his elbow into my arm. ‘And there are some people I don’t mind hugging me.’
I don’t know if that was a hint or not, but I’m not missing an excuse to hug him. I lean up and settle my arms around his shoulders and pull him against me gently. ‘You’re lovely, you know that, don’t you?’
‘Oh, if only you knew.’ He lets out a bitter laugh. ‘And that was your idea.’
‘I didn’t run two streets and get her a gift voucher. This was never supposed to be about real money.’
‘I know. I just saw a way I could help so I did. Believe me, Nee, I don’t help many people in my normal life, and this is …’ I feel him shake his head against mine.
I’m waiting for him to say something cynical about people coming here to see what they can get out of us, but he doesn’t.
‘We need to do more,’ he says as he pulls away. ‘People are struggling all over the country. So many other people must be in the same boat. It makes you realise how lucky you are if you can afford food every week. How lucky we are to work here with all these amazing people who are going out of their way to grant wishes. We could use this place to do something good.’
‘They used to …’
‘… but the budget was cut.’
‘Exactly,’ I answer, even though he doesn’t phrase it as a question.
‘You’re right when you say everything feels nicer at this time of year. There’s just a touch more kindness in the air, but people who need help need it more than ever. Helping people is the legacy I want Nutcracker Lane to leave.’
‘I don’t want it to go. I want it to be its own legacy for many more years than this. This place is amazing and no part of it deserves to be sold off for factory space.’
‘Guess we’re just going to have to answer some more wishes then …’ He holds his hand out and I slip mine into it as we walk back across the car park, and I can’t help thinking that one of mine has already been granted. Whatever it was that sent such a kind, sweet, and generous man into my life, there had to have been some magic involved somewhere, because for the first time ever, I think I’ve found a good one.
Chapter 15
I jump at the knock on my door on Monday night and glance at the clock as I get up to answer it – gone 8 p.m., cold, dark, and I wasn’t expecting anyone, but I can’t help the little flutter when I see James on the doorstep.
‘I thought you were busy tonight.’ I’m grinning because of how glad I am that he’s not. It sounds ridiculous to say I was missing him, because I saw him as I left Nutcracker Lane two hours ago, but I was missing him. It’s the 21st of December now and Christmas Day is on Friday. It’s too late for online orders to be posted before Christmas, and all the gift orders have already been sent, so I’d just put the TV on and flopped on the sofa in front of a rerun of a Christmas edition of a game show, but the other half of my sofa feels empty without James here.
He hands me a bunch of festive flowers that he must’ve got from the florist – red and white roses interspersed with sprigs of blue spruce, pinecones, and stems of red berries and mistletoe. They’re so beautiful and I inhale them gratefully while trying not to impale myself in the nose with the spruce needles.
‘I am – hopefully with you. I had to check something first. And I have a question … Have you bought this year’s nutcracker to add to your collection yet?’
I shake my head. ‘I still haven’t found the shop open. At least I have the one you gave me. And a box of about four hundred more in the spare room.’
‘Good.’ His grin is brighter than my porch light shining down on him. ‘Do you fancy walking up to the lane with me?’
‘Right now?’ I ask and he nods. ‘It’s closed.’
‘Ah.’ He taps his nose, his cheeky grin saying he’s not about to elaborate.
‘Sure.’ I shrug because I’d walk up to Orion with James if he asked.
He waits inside so he doesn’t freeze while I get my coat, and once outside, he offers his arm and I slip mine through it, letting my fingers sink into the soft fabric of his mid-thigh-length black coat.
Christmas lights are shining from every window and twinkling in garden hedges and outdoor trees as we walk along my street and turn up at the corner where
