Page 70 of Christmas Wishes at Pudding Hall
‘Well, what do you think?’ Marc felt frustrated at the lack of response from his friend and business adviser.
‘What does it matter what I think, you will do what you need to do.’
‘What sort of a stupid answer is that?’ Marc was frustrated now. He wanted Adam to tell him what to do so that he didn’t have to make the decision himself. And Adam always chose business, which would mean Marc would be back in San Francisco for the start of the next year.
‘You are asking me if you should go back to America or stay here and pursue the spark you have with Christa?’
‘Yes, yes I am,’ Marc said.
‘I am not telling you what to do about that. That’s a personal issue,’ said Adam.
‘You had no qualms four years ago, when you told me that you thought Avian and I should separate.’
‘Because she’s abusive – to you, to the boys, to people she works with. She’s an awful person who hasn’t changed at all since you divorced. In fact, I think she’s become worse. You see how different the twins are around her compared to when it was just you and Christa spending time with them.’
Marc was quiet now. Everything Adam said was true. Avian was toxic and nasty and he might have escaped it but the boys hadn’t. They had changed and he worried for them.
‘I can’t take them away from their mother.’
‘I’m not saying you should, I am merely pointing out you have an opportunity to explore things with Christa and can keep the boys here for a while longer and let them decide where they want to be.’
Marc sat back at his desk and stared at his computer screen.
Adam was right, as usual.
‘Did you look into the other thing I mentioned, in town?’
Adam nodded. ‘Yes I emailed the papers to you this morning.’
‘Great, now let’s get back to this deal. I want it sorted by Christmas, which is only a week away.’
*
After Adam had finalised the paperwork for the offer for the network, Marc walked through the house looking for Christa but she was nowhere to be found, and we looked outside he saw her car was gone.
He wondered where she was and called Peggy, even though it was her day off. What if Christa had gone?
‘Mr Ferrier?’ Peggy answered. He could hear music and talking in the background.
‘I am sorry to call. I know it’s your day off but do you know where Christa is?’
‘She said she was going to the Shambles Market.’
Before she could say any more, Marc had shoved his phone into his pocket, pulled on his coat and grabbed his keys.
He had no idea where Shambles Market was but he could find it, he was sure.
York was busy when he arrived and he saw people milling around with baskets and trolleys of food and more.
‘Excuse me, which way is the market?’ he asked a man with a baby in a carrier on his chest.
The man directed him while his hand caressed the baby’s head and Marc tried to remember whether he had been that tender with his sons. They had been raised largely by nannies because he was working and Avian was working on a career, which he respected, but he wished he could do it all again and make it better. Love the twins better, tell Avian to be a better parent. Tell himself to be a better parent.
He walked the streets towards the market, noticing every family, every couple of every age. People enjoying their time together, having coffees and laughing and looking at the market stalls. He wanted to be a part of it all and he wanted one person with him.
As he walked past a stall, he saw Peggy in an apron offering a plate of something to passers-by.
‘Peggy?’ he said.
