Page 32 of All We Want for Christmas
They reached the front of the queue.
‘This is so nice,’ Jazz said, with a dreamy sigh as they headed for the bar and kiosk. ‘Obviously, I love the kids to bits, but it’ll be nice to see a film that doesn’t involve talking animals, talking cars or witches having an existential crisis.’
They collected their drinks and popcorn from the bar and took them into the cinema, an arthouse place with small screens and plush red seats. It was great to be away from the castle and from the drama around the Winter Spectacular, the chalice, and Flynn.
The latter, however, proved to be a distant hope, because they hadn’t long taken their seats when Jazz mentioned the man himself again.
‘How do you think our new techie is settling in? Seems like he knows what he’s doing.’
‘He does …’ Lara said, and not only with his job, Lara thought, recalling being in his arms with an electric thrill. ‘He certainly seems to have found his feet quickly.’
‘He definitely has. The catering team are impressed, and not only at his expertise with a screwdriver.’ Jazz smirked.
Lara didn’t want to go there but was too intrigued to change the subject. ‘Oh?’
‘Yes. He’s caused quite a stir. One of the café team dropped a whole tray of crockery when he walked into the café for his bacon butty.’
‘Now you’re joking!’
‘Only half joking. He’s a popular customer when he comes in. Is he single?’
Lara shrugged. ‘I think so, but I couldn’t say for sure. I don’t know him any better than you or anyone else at the castle.’
‘Oh, come on. After being trapped in a lift with him, I thought you’d have had plenty of time to chat …’
‘We were only stuck for half an hour,’ Lara protested.
The cinema screen sprang into life and the speakers boomed out with music for a car ad. Jazz spoke loudly into Lara’s ear. ‘But you must have beenclosein that confined space.’
‘We werefine,’ Lara said, refusing to rise to the bait and even hint at what actually happened – and what almost had.
‘He is very handsome, if you like that Mr Rochester-slash-Heathcliff kind of vibe,’ Jazz said, during an ad with soft classical music. ‘I bet he’s left a trail of broken hearts from Land’s End to er … wherever the top of Cornwall is. Maybe that’s why he took the job here – to get away from someone.’
Lara wouldn’t have been keen on dating either of those fictional heroes. ‘I – don’t think him leaving was anything todo with a relationship. I just think he wanted the job. And it’s Launceston,’ Lara added. ‘The top of Cornwall.’
Jazz ignored this and her eyebrows lifted in delight. ‘So, youhavetalked to him – about his past, I mean?’
It was natural for her friend to want to know about their newest member of staff. He was probably the most intriguing and exciting character to have joined since they started working there. ‘Yeah, we’ve talked.’
‘And?’
‘He was seeing a woman a while ago but it fizzled out. He hasn’t mentioned being involved with anyone else recently. That’s all I know,’ Lara said, hoping she’d satisfied Jazz’s curiosity without breaking Flynn’s confidences. ‘I’d appreciate it if you didn’t share that with anyone. I’d hate for Flynn to think I’d been discussing his personal life with all and sundry.’
‘I’m not “all and sundry”, but of course I’ll keep it to myself. But I asked because I’d also heard something about him.’
‘What?’ Lara blurted out, just as an ad ended abruptly.
The sharp-faced woman behind them, who’d been kicking the back of her seat, tapped Lara on the shoulder. ‘I do wish people wouldn’t talk through the film.’
‘Actually. These. Are. Just. The. Ads,’ Jazz enunciated, without turning round. She shared a grin with Lara, who, although a little embarrassed, was also highly amused.
‘I’ll tell you more later,’ Jazz whispered, plunging her hand into her popcorn and crunching it noisily.
Lara settled back and the film, a new adaptation ofJamaica Inn,began. She was ready to banish all thoughts of a certain brooding colleague from her mind right until the anti-hero, Jem, appeared, and she couldn’t help wondering how perfect Flynn would have been in the role.
After the warmth of the cinema, the biting cold outside made Lara catch her breath. It was dark now and the Christmas market was in full swing. It was the first time Lara had been and she was blown away by the atmosphere, the aroma ofglühwein, and a choir singing carols. Even though she was surrounded by it at work, experiencing the season as a ‘layperson’ rather than a professional made Christmas suddenly feel very close and real.
‘Wait,’ Jazz said with a hiss. ‘Isn’t that him over there?’
