Page 37 of The Christmas Fayre on Holly Field

‘I know, right?’ Harriet tutted. ‘I wouldn’t buy one for my own daughter, let alone a child that she’s only just made friends with.’

‘Haven’t they known each other long?’

‘Only since they started secondary school in September. Darlene is one of the “popular” girls.’ Harriet air-quoted the word. ‘If you ask me, she sounds like a right little madam, a real queen bee, and all the rest of the kids are buzzing around her.’

‘And you don’t want to risk Sara being singled out because she gave this girl a crappy gift – yet you also don’t want to spend a great deal of money?’ Owen guessed.

‘Got it in one! And don’t forget your challenge,’ Harriet reminded him.

‘There will be times when it won’t be possible to stick to it,’ he said. If she failed occasionally, it would add a certain piquancy to the blog thread. Not that he wanted her to fail, but it wouldn’t be a disaster if she did. Owen suspected that anyone who set themselves this kind of goal would crash at some point, and he didn’t want Harriet to beat herself up over it.

‘But I want to stick to it,’ she said. ‘I’m not going to lie – it’s saving me money.’

‘Have you bought anything else since the boot sale?’

‘Nothing,’ she said, proudly. ‘But then again, I haven’t needed to. The crunch will come when I do.’

Owen smiled. She was right. Taking the high ground was all well and good until you were expected to act on it. ‘How is the pre-loved enamel pot working out?’

‘I haven’t used it yet, but we’re having a casserole tonight so I’ll let you know.’ She paused, and an expression that he couldn’t read flitted across her face. ‘Why don’t you join us?’

‘Um…’ Wow, he hadn’t expected her to say that! He desperately wanted to accept, but he was worried about what she was going to put in that pot.

Harriet must have sensed his concern. ‘Oh, I forgot – you’re a vegan, aren’t you? Is that why I haven’t seen you in Pen’s Pantry lately – because you’ve sampled everything vegan on the menu?’

‘Not at all. I’ve been earning a crust up at Aled’s farm. He’s had me moving tons of rubble from the farm down to the field, because he’s hoping to be able to hold boot sales on it all year round.’

‘I hope he’s paying you,’ Harriet said.

‘Funnily enough, everyone asks that question.’

‘Everyone?’

‘I met the vicar and his wife in The Jolly Fox the other Sunday, and they wanted to know the same thing.’

‘And is he? Paying you, I mean.’

‘He is. Not much,’ he added with a grin, then shrugged. ‘But it keeps me in groceries, so I can’t complain.’

He was aware of the curiosity on her face and guessed she was wondering if he had to rely on taking odd jobs for a living, but he didn’t want to enlighten her as to where the majority of his income came from. In fact, just last night he’d completed an extensive article on regenerative farming, which he had sold for a tidy sum, although his idea of a ‘tidy sum’ was probably considerably less than most people’s idea – but that was because he needed so much less to live on.

‘I suppose I can do a vegan casserole,’ Harriet said. ‘I’m no stranger to vegetarian meals, so…’

‘How about butternut squash casserole?’ he suggested. ‘I’ve got a squash in the van that I was going to make soup with, but if I do, I’ll be forced to eat soup for every meal for the next three days so it doesn’t go to waste. I’ve only got a tiny freezer compartment, you see.’

‘I’m not sure… I’ve never made a butternut squash casserole before.’

‘It’s easy,’ he said. ‘I’ll send you the recipe.’

‘Why don’t you come to mine early and you can help me make it? Bobby will be delighted to see you. He hasn’t stopped talking about your van.’

‘If you’re sure?’ Owen was thrilled, but he didn’t want to put her out.

‘I’m sure. Let me have a list of ingredients, though, in case I need to buy anything. What would I serve it with?’

‘Rice is good.’

‘I have some in my cupboard. What else do I need?’

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