Page 63 of The Cosy Travelling Christmas Shop

‘While we’re here, shall we have a quick look?’ the woman said, picking the child up and balancing him on her hip so he had a better view, and Seren was thrilled when, after some deliberation, they bought a couple of items.

While they were looking, several other people had emerged from their houses and were also seeing what she had to offer.

A few more sales later, and Seren was starting to enjoy herself. Not everyone bought, some were merely curious, but she knew that word would get around, especially since much of what she stocked was handmade, well-crafted and unusual. It gave her even more hope when, two streets over, an elderly gent told her that he’d heard of her and her little van and was hoping she’d stop by.

She hadn’t made a huge profit this evening, but the future of her little business was beginning to look rosy. And it wasn’t just Serendipity that was starting to take off – her love life was, too.

For Seren, life was looking very rosy indeed!

For Daniel, the past couple of days had dragged, and it wasn’t just because he didn’t have much in the way of work. It was because he missed Seren. He couldn’t seem to hold a thought in his head without it having something to do with her.

Take breakfast this morning, for instance. It was a simple affair of two slices of toast with Marmite, and coffee. But as he tucked into his toast, he wondered whether Seren loved or loathed Marmite, and this thought was quickly followed by wondering what she’d had for breakfast. Which led to him trying to guess what she might be doing right now.

He knew she was at work, because she’d told him she was on earlies this morning, but what exactly was she doing right at this very minute? Was she stacking shelves, on the till, clearing up some split milk that a customer had dropped, or what? And as she was doing it, was she thinking about him?

He hoped she was. He hoped he was as much in her thoughts as she was in his, and he shook his head – crumbs, he had it bad. He was falling for her, as hard and as fast as a coin thrown down a wishing well. All he hoped was that she was as into him as he was into her.

He might not have much work on, but he could make himself busy by pottering in his mum’s garden and maybe he’d pop in to see Mrs Williams, too. There was always something he could find to do in a garden, no matter the season, and he had to keep himself busy. It would do no good to mope around all day, dreaming of the next time he could be with Seren.

Although, there was something he could do before he called to see his mum…

Telling himself that it would be better to wait until the hard frost had melted a little this morning before he tackled the dead foliage in his mum’s garden, Daniel decided to take a walk first. The temperature had dropped even further as winter’s grip intensified, and the air was chilly and dank. He wouldn’t be surprised if it snowed soon. It was certainly cold enough for it, and he burrowed deeper into his scarf and coat, as he strode along the pavement.

It would be good to stretch his legs and he could do with a brisk walk to sweep away the cobwebs and clear his head. That his feet led him in the direction of the supermarket where Seren worked was merely a coincidence.

Yeah, right. ‘You keep telling yourself that,’ he muttered under his breath.

There was no guarantee he’d see her – she might well be out the back – but he popped into the shop anyway, on the off chance.

He must have scooted up and down the aisles several times and was probably in danger of being asked to leave by a security guard because he was behaving so suspiciously, by the time he finally spotted her.

She was lifting bouquets of fresh flowers out of a huge bucket and placing them on a stand, and when he saw her, she was framed by the colourful blooms she held in her hands, and he was struck anew by how pretty she was.

No, not pretty –beautiful.

‘Hello,’ she said warmly, as she saw him heading towards her, and her face lit up with a beaming smile. ‘What are you doing here? On your way to visit your grandad?’

Heck, that was a thought – he hadn’t been to see Edwin in a couple of days.

‘Yeah, that’s right.’ Daniel decided he would pay him a visit, then he’d pop along to his mum’s afterwards. ‘I thought I might take him a… um… a bunch of flowers.’

‘That’s thoughtful of you. Not many people think to buy flowers for men.’

Feeling a bit of a fraud, he winced. ‘It was seeing you that gave me the idea,’ he admitted.

‘Want any help choosing a bunch?’

‘Thanks, I can manage. Maybe a plant would be a better option? Anyway,’ he gave the array of flowers and potted plants a dismissive wave. ‘What I really want is to take you for a coffee. Are you due a break soon?’

Her face fell. ‘Sorry, I’ve just had one.’

‘Never mind, it was just a thought. I’ve got another confession.’ He might as well come clean. Even if the lie was a small one, he didn’t want any untruths between them. ‘I came here just to see you. I hadn’t even thought of going to see my grandad.’

‘Then it’s lucky for Edwin that you called in,’ she shot back, but she was smiling, so he knew she was teasing him.

‘Seren,’ a voice called, and Daniel turned around to see a woman bearing down on them. ‘Haven’t you finished that, yet? Hurry up,’ she carried on without waiting for Seren to answer. ‘You’ve still got the fresh veg to top up. As nice as it is to chat with friends—’ the woman sneered the word ‘—you’d do well to remember you’re at work.’

Daniel was about to open his mouth and say something, but Seren caught his eye and gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head.

‘Sorry, Pamela, I was just helping this gentleman choose a plant.’ Seren turned her attention to him. ‘I recommend the money plant – it doesn’t grow too big and it’s easy to care for.’

‘OK, I’ll get that,’ he said, and picked one up. ‘Thanks, you’ve been incredibly helpful. I don’t know the first thing about plants, so I probably would have got the wrong thing.’

Giving Seren’s manager an innocent smile, he headed for the till, outwardly calm but inwardly seething. How dare that woman speak to Seren like that! It made his blood boil. He seriously wanted to give Pamela a piece of his mind, but he knew Seren needed the job, because it would be a long time before Serendipity was able to support her.

The knowledge didn’t prevent him from wanting to tear into the horrible woman though, and such a wave of protectiveness washed over him that he nearly dropped the plant.

Seren was such a sweet person, his heart ached at the way she was being treated and he vowed he’d do everything he could to ensure no one treated her like that again, if only he was able.

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