The money I’d made from crafting had been saved in a separate account ready for when it was time to file my tax return, but with overtime hours at the office and some hardcore eBaying, my debts no longer scared me shitless. The amount I owed had halved within the past eight months thanks predominantly to my selling sprees (my clothes acting as an investment of sorts). As my thirty-first birthday approached I was feeling confident about the future.
“We’ll be opening up to the public in five minutes,” called the efficient gent with a swirling grey moustache who was organising the event. “If you want to go to the loo or grab a cup of tea, now’s your chance.”
“Do you want a drink?” Max asked, placing a cake iced with yellow frosting and a small purple flower on top of it in front of me. “I can go and get you one?”
“No,” I replied quickly. “Stay here with me for a bit, just until the doors open. I’m getting nervous now.”
“Stop it,” he said, kindly but firmly gripping my wrists as he looked me in the eye. “I’ve seen what other people are selling here and it’s all right, but your stuff blows it out of the water. Believe in yourself, Sophie. You can do this, because I believe in you.”
“I know you do, and I’m grateful, but–”
“Ssh,” he said, placing his index finger against my lip. “No buts. You’ve got this, Sophie Drew. Do you hear me? You’ve got this.”
And as the doors swung open, the chatter of potential customers filling every corner of the large hall, I started to believe him.
Chapter 34
“Hector! Hector!”
I battled to stifle a smile as Andrea beckoned her husband. Max’s dad was carefully carrying a cardboard box filled with cakes bought for the next day’s family get-together. It was heartening to see him looking good and moving, albeit slowly, without his stick. “Look at how talented Sophie is. Aren’t these beautiful?” she said, fingering at a beaded bracelet that was a particular favourite of mine.
Hector nodded politely. “Very nice.”
“I think Mum’s hinting, Dad.” Max laughed. “Christmas will be here before you know it.”
“Oh, don’t.” Andrea pulled a face. “I’ve got so much to do between now and then. I don’t want to think about it. I’ve got a list that I’m working my way down to make sure I don’t forget any of the essentials. First thing tomorrow I need to call the butchers to order a bird, then I must make a start on the cards going overseas.”
“It’s not last posting day yet, is it?” I asked, flustered. “We’ve got family friends in Adelaide to send to.”
“Mum always likes to make sure she gives it plenty of time,” Max explained. “There’s probably another fortnight before the actual final day.”
Andrea threw Max the death stare, but it wasn’t long before her face cracked into her usual warm affectionate smile.
“There’s nothing wrong with being organised,” she pointed out. “Speaking of which, I wondered if you were planning to come around at all on Christmas Day, Sophie? I wouldn’t ask, but I’m going to do the food shopping online this year except for the meat and the fresh veg.”
Hector raised his eyebrows. “She means she’s ordering the booze online.”
“Not just the booze, Hector,” Andrea chided fondly before looking at me. “There’s all the nibbles as well. Cheese and biscuits, chocolates… He seems to think they magically appear in the cupboard ready for when he’s flaked out on the sofa in front of the big Christmas film on BBC One.”
“I hadn’t thought about Christmas Day,” I admitted. I’d been so consumed with planning for fayres that the day itself hadn’t even crossed my mind. “I’d love to see you at some point, but I’ll be at my mum and dad’s in the morning with my brother and his wife and their children.”
“Well, you’ll be very welcome to join us in the evening if you want drinks and board games,” Andrea offered. “Although you know my boys are very competitive, so it sometimes gets a bit out of hand.”
“It’s you who causes the arguments with your cheating,” Max said lightly.
“Nonsense!” But Andrea discreetly winked at me.
“That sounds lovely. Can I let you know for sure when I’ve spoken to my mum about her plans? She’s coming here later, I think.”
“Absolutely,” Andrea nodded, “and if you can’t come Christmas Day then you’re welcome Boxing Day or whenever else suits. I know Max wants you around.”
“Thanks, Mum.” Max rolled his eyes. “I’m sure if Sophie wants to come then she will.”
“I wasn’t meddling,” she insisted, picking up the bracelet and folding it into his palm. “I just wanted to make sure Sophie knew you’d want her there.”
“I’m sure she knows that already, Mum.”
“Now, seeing as your dad isn’t taking the hint, you can buy this bracelet for me for Christmas,” she said to Max, nodding to the bracelet in his hand. “It’ll go perfectly with the dress I’m wearing on Christmas Day. It’s exactly the same shade of green.”
We were interrupted by the squawky cries of two tiny babies – my nieces – who were strapped into a double pram and wrapped in matching crocheted blankets made by their loving Auntie Sophie. Nick, pushing the girls, was with Chantel, Noah and my parents.
“Hi!”
I wrapped my brother up in a hug, then my sister-in-law before ruffling Noah’s hair as he started touching my wares.
“How’s business?” Dad asked, bending down and kissing my cheek, after I’d introduced him to Max’s family.
“She’s already sold a bracelet to me because Mum was dropping endless hints,” Max said.
“And I’ve sold a few felted Christmas decorations,” I said proudly. “Hopefully it’ll get busier as the day goes on.”
“It will,” Mum said, picking up a knitted Santa that Noah had taken a shine to. “I’m going to buy this Father Christmas toy for Noah, for starters,” she said, rifling through her purse for change. “I’m really proud
