Page 67 of The Christmas Fayre on Holly Field

‘No, actually, I bought it ages ago, so it’s brand new.’

‘I wouldn’t mind if it wasn’t,’ Pen said. ‘I think what you’re doing is great. I’ve decided to have a go myself, but there’s this gorgeous pair of shoes I’ve seen and…’ She let out a sigh. ‘Still, it is a damn good idea. Having to stop and think about whether you really need to buy something or not is sensible. It certainly prevented me from buying a hideous blouse the other day, just because it was reduced to less than half price. I asked myself whether I needed it and of course the answer was no, because I’ve got tonnes of clothes. Then I asked myself why I was buying it, and the reason was that it seemed like a bargain. But that’s false economy, isn’t it?’ she said to Owen.

‘Happy birthday,’ he said. ‘Yes, it is. Buying something you don’t need, don’t want and don’t particularly like, just because it’s a bargain…’ He ground to a halt.

‘But those shoes,’ she drooled. ‘I’ll open this later, shall I?’ she said, referring to Harriet’s present. ‘I think we should order before Dai runs out of roast beef.’

‘I thought I’d give the borlotti and red wine pie topped with kale mash a go,’ Harriet mused.

‘Please don’t do that on my account,’ Owen said. ‘If you want the beef, have the beef.’

‘No, I think I will have the borlotti pie. I’ve been doing a bit of research on environmental issues, and I’ve read that a vegan diet is better for the planet.’

‘That’s true,’ he said, and she could tell he was surprised. She could also see he was pleased.

Harriet had no intention of giving up meat completely, but as she’d lain in bed last night, thinking of Owen just a few feet below her – sprawled on the sofa, so near yet so far – she had arrived at the conclusion that if she wanted a relationship with him (she did, she really did), it might be an idea to delve a little further into the way he lived his life.

Of course, that was assuming the relationship would continue past Christmas. Heck, she hadn’t even kissed him yet, although they had come close on a couple of occasions. Besides, she had been seriously impressed with how tasty vegan food could be, and if it got the kids to eat more vegetables, she was all for it.

All through lunch she was conscious of Pen’s eyes on her and the questions they held, and she knew she was in for a grilling as soon as her boss got her on her own. She was also very aware of Owen’s presence. It felt so natural and so comfortable to have him by her side; it seemed as though he had always been there, and she warned herself not to get too accustomed to it. He claimed he would stay in Foxmore, but there were no guarantees that he would. He might go to visit his parents at Christmas and decide he wouldn’t come back. It was a risk she would have to take if she wanted him in her life.

‘Ready for school tomorrow?’ Pen asked Sara and Bobby, as they were eating their dessert.

Neither child looked enthusiastic – Sara even less than Bobby. ‘I’ve got maths,’ she said.

‘Don’t you like maths?’ Owen asked.

‘She loves maths,’ Harriet said, wondering why Sara seemed so down. Her daughter was a bright child, equally good at the humanities and the sciences. The only subject she didn’t seem to like was PE, but Harriet suspected that had more to do with the fact that Sara had had swimming the previous term, and hadn’t liked getting her hair wet and then having to go to class afterwards.

‘I hate it. And I hate school,’ Sara announced.

Uh-oh, this was new. ‘I thought you liked school?’ Harriet said.

‘Not any more. It’s stupid.’

Pen said, ‘You have to go to school to get a proper education so you can do whatever job you want when you leave. What do you want to do when you grow up?’

Sara pulled a face. ‘I want to be famous.’

‘For doing what? You can’t just be famous for the sake of being famous,’ Harriet pointed out.

‘Darlene says the Kardashians are. I want to be a Kardashian.’

‘Do you actually know who the Kardashians are?’ Harriet asked her.

‘Darlene showed me on her phone. When can I have a phone?’

Oh dear, not this again. ‘I told you, you’re too young for a phone.’

‘I’m nearly twelve. You said I could have a phone when I’m twelve.’

‘You’ll just have to wait until then, won’t you,’ Harriet told her. That would be another expense she wasn’t looking forward to. Neither was she looking forward to her daughter having access to so much of the internet. But on the other hand, she couldn’t prevent Sara from growing up, and she knew that even if Sara didn’t have a phone of her own, other children in her class did: children who would be more than happy for her daughter to see things that Harriet would prefer she didn’t. Like the Kardashians, for instance. Not exactly good role models, were they?

‘I wanted to be a detective,’ Owen said.

‘A policeman?’ Bobby asked, licking ice cream off the back of his spoon.

‘No, a detective like Sherlock Holmes.’

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