Page 58 of A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street
‘A film set, for example,’ Scarlett says. ‘Look at Highclere Castle andDownton Abbey. There must be loads of film and TV companies who would love to film at a place like this.’
‘And events like corporate retreats. Festivals. Honeymoons. Shows. It has its own theatre – what companywouldn’twant to put on a Shakespeare play in a Tudor castle?’
‘Hair shows,’ Scarlett suggests. ‘A dramatic setting for some dramatic ’dos.’
Witt and I have both migrated onto the shop floor again, my pattern pieces abandoned as I go over to the door and look out, trying to think of ways the castle could help everyone on Ever After Street.
‘Book festivals,’ I suggest, looking at Marnie’s A Tale As Old As Time bookshop across the street.
‘Fashion shows.’ Scarlett holds her hand out towards me. ‘Cinderella dress displays in an actual Cinderella castle. They have dress displays at the V&A; they must be popular.’
‘Food festivals.’ I look towards Lilith’s tearoom and then point at the Beast’s Enchanted Rose flower shop. ‘The gardens and grounds could host flower shows. Picnic areas for visitors. Live music events.’
‘Outdoor cinema screenings,’ Scarlett suggests.
‘School trips. Historical re-enactments. Craft fairs. Workshops.’
‘Holiday accommodation.’
‘Ghost tours. Halloween night sleepovers.’
‘A Christmas wonderland! Pantomimes!’
‘Escape rooms. Those murder-mystery weekend things.’
Scarlett and I go back and forth until Witt’s doubled over with laughter and holds a hand up to stop us. ‘I apologise, I truly did underestimate how muchsomepeople love the castle.’
His laughter is contagious. The joy on his face lights up the entire room, and he looks less weighed-down than he did earlier, and when his eyes catch mine, it’s impossible not to laugh with him.
‘I get carried away with possibilities, sorry.’
‘Don’t be.’ He comes over and takes my hand. ‘Thank you for making me believe anything’s possible. Do you think people would support events like these? I mean, the turnout for the ball was amazing, but no one had topayfor tickets. It might be different if there was an entrance fee.’
‘People on Ever After Street realise how important the castle is to our businesses. We’d all get behind anything and everything that went on there and hopefully persuade our customers to as well.’
‘Anything that wasn’t a supermarket, right?’
‘Don’t even mention those ruthless beasts in this shop. This is hallowed ground for all things supermarket.’
Even though Iamserious, he laughs. ‘Speaking of work, I should go. Scarlett’s right, I haven’t been getting enough done. The second-chance ball is only a week away and I’m putting the decorations up myself this time, and that’s without having to do my actual work.’
There’s a shot of disappointment that I need to have a word with myself about. I like him being heretoomuch. It’s too easy to spend time with him. He isn’t from here. As soon as the castle’s done, he’s leaving. I cannot be disappointed about not spending extra time with him, because pretty soon I’m going to be spendingnotime with him.
‘You are coming to the ball, right?’ His dark blue eyes bore into mine.
‘Wouldn’t miss it.’ I paste on a smile that covers a deluge of terror. Weneedto get things out in the open, but at the same time, I’m terrified of him never forgiving me, and there’s that constant feeling of time running out. I cannot let him go back to Scotland without telling him.
‘Good.’ Somehow, he’s holding my hand again, and he seems reluctant to let go. ‘Will you save a dance for me?’
My breath catches at the intensity in his eyes, and I nod, suddenly incapable of words.
‘Good,’ he says again, giving my hand one final squeeze before letting it go. That man and his hands. A wave of butterflies swishes through me. No matter the consequences, hehasto know who his missing Cinderella is. Whether that ball gives us a second chance with each other, or if it’s the end of our… whatever this is… for good.
16
The following day is a Monday, six days before the second-chance ball, and when I get downstairs that morning and walk round the corner to open the shop, Witt’s waiting outside and I jump in surprise. ‘Good morning. What are you doing here?’
After the hint yesterday that he hasn’t been getting enough work done, I didn’t expect to see much of him for a while.
