Page 25 of The Christmas Fayre on Holly Field

‘Thanks, Pen.’ Harriet shot her a grateful look. ‘So, you see, you’ve got me all wrong. I bought that casserole dish not because of your stupid challenge, but because I wouldn’t have been able to afford one otherwise. And don’t youeverquestion me about wanting the best for my kids. And if that includes buying my daughter a new dress for a party so she doesn’t feel embarrassed, then so be it. So there!’ she added, for emphasis. Then she wished she could take that last bit back, as she realised she sounded like Bobby when he was cross.

She also realised that Owen had stopped eating a while ago and had put his spoon down, the soup growing cold in the bowl.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I had no right to assume or to judge. I’ve been on the tail end of that kind of thing enough times, so I ought to know better.’

‘Because you live in a van?’

He nodded.

‘Here, let me warm that up for you.’ Pen darted between them and whisked his meal away before either of them could say a word.

‘Is she always like that?’ he asked, jerking his head towards Pen.

‘I’m afraid so. Her heart’s in the right place, though.’

‘I noticed. She brought me a leftover pasty the other night.’

‘You do realise she only did it because she was being nosy, and that the pasty wasn’t leftover at all. We always sell out, so she must have put it to one side especially.’

‘I did have my suspicions,’ he replied with a grin. ‘I am sorry, though. I shouldn’t have set you such a stupid challenge.’

Harriet winced as she heard her words echoed back at her. ‘It’s not silly,’ she said. ‘In fact, it’s incredibly worthwhile. I just don’t think I can stick to it when it comes to this blasted birthday party.’

‘You don’t have to stick to it at all,’ he told her gently.

‘I want to,’ she said. ‘But I may need some help.’

She noticed the way his eyes lit up as she said those words, and her heart melted a little. He really was incredibly passionate about the environment, wasn’t he?

‘I’ll help in any way I can,’ he said. ‘What do you need?’

‘Advice, mostly, I suppose.’ Apart from the charity shop on the high street, Harriet wasn’t sure where to start when it came to sourcing pre-loved purchases (she much preferred that term to second-hand); she had no experience of eBay or Vinted, or any of the other second-hand sites.

When she said as much to Owen, he explained roughly how they worked, but Harriet wasn’t totally convinced.

‘What if I buy something and it doesn’t fit, or Sara doesn’t like it, or…?’

‘That’s the chance you take.’

Harriet frowned. ‘I honestly don’t think it’s a good idea. I like to see what I’m buying before I buy it, or at least I’d like to be able to return it and get my money back.’

The cafe was filling up around them, but Harriet was only vaguely aware of it – she was far too wrapped up in what Owen was saying.

‘If that’s the case, these sites aren’t for you,’ he told her. ‘You’ll be better off going to charity shops or boot sales.’

Harriet pulled a face. This was getting far too complicated and seemed an awful lot of effort when she could just pop into Dolgellau instead.

But – and this was the problem she kept returning to again and again – she simply didn’t have the money to pop anywhere. Yet the children were in desperate need of new clothes. They were growing so fast, it was frightening, Bobby especially. He was shooting up at a rate of knots, so she didn’t have any choice other than to buy second-hand if she didn’t want him to walk around in half-mast trousers and too-small jumpers.

‘I suppose I’ll have to give the boot sale on Holly Field a try,’ she said, sighing loudly. It wasn’t something she was looking forward to in the slightest, but at least Sara wouldn’t be with her on Saturday, so that was some consolation.

‘I’m going to be there,’ Owen said.

‘Buying or selling?’ Harriet wondered: he hadn’t appeared to have a lot of excess stuff in the van.

‘Neither. Aled Harris asked me to help.’

‘I hope he’s paying you.’ Harriet was well aware of the farmer’s reputation for meanness.

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