Page 78 of In Just One Day

Flora looked again. ‘Oh, yes, of course it is. How brilliant!’

‘Look what I’ve got!’ Tom pulled at Flora’s coat on the other side. He held a tiny eggshell cupped very gently in one hand.

‘Oh, look at that. Where did you find it?’

Tom looked serious. ‘I found it near the bushes over there at break time. I thought it meant the bird had died but Miss Scott told me it just means it hatched and flew away, probably a long time ago. And it’ll be having a lovely time by now, flying about high in the air.’

Flora gently stroked Tom’s hair. ‘I think she’s absolutely right. Come on, let’s get you home so we can get food inside you all before we take Pip to gymnastics.’

‘Oh, no, please, not gymnastics,’ Tom wailed. ‘It’s so boring.’

‘Well, maybe it’s not so much fun to watch, but I keep telling you to give it a go. I think you’ll love it. Think how high you bounce on that trampoline at home. The ones at gymnastics are bigger and better and way, way bouncier.’

‘But gymnastics is for girls.’

‘Says who?’ Flora looked at her boy, cheeks pink with cold.

‘I don’t know. It just is.’

‘Rubbish. Gymnastics takes real skill and determination, not to mention strength.’

‘Can you win money doing it?’

Flora laughed. ‘Well, I’m sure you can but I don’t think that’s the point. Why, is that a deal-breaker for you?’

‘Well, if I can make money doing it then I can go on holiday to Venice, too.’ He looked at her solemnly.

‘Oh, I see. You’re still cross we didn’t take you to Venice.’ She laughed. ‘In that case, yes, you can win money if you’re really, really good at it.’

‘I’ll think about it, then.’ Tom nodded thoughtfully.

34

‘There you go, Mrs Russell. I think you’ll love that one, I know how you like your Gavi.’ Mack wrapped the bottle in tissue paper.

‘Oh, I do, Mack. Reminds me of holidays many years ago.’

‘And isn’t that one of the best things about wine? Even on a chilly day like today it can take you to sunny places.’ Mack put the bottle carefully into a bag. ‘Thank you. See you next week?’

‘Yes, I’m sure I’ll need topping up before Christmas. Bye!’

Mack waved. Mrs Russell had always been one of his favourite customers, not least because of her fairly expensive taste for good Italian wines. He called out to the back of the shop, where Flora was busy packing up orders to go out later that day. Johnny was already out and about making deliveries to local restaurants. Business had really picked up over the last month as people geared up for the festive season. Everyone seemed to be in the mood to celebrate a little more than usual.

‘Hey, Mack. All well?’ Flora’s flushed face appeared at the door.

‘All good, Flora. That was Mrs Russell, she’d come in for more Gavi. Do you need a hand?’

‘No, I’m nearly done, thanks. We’re shifting a lot of wine this week. I think preparing those mixed festive cases was a great idea. People don’t even have to think about it.’

‘Yes, they’ve been a success. And how’s the take-up been for the wine courses?’

‘Pretty good, actually. We should be able to run a full four-week block in the new year. I’ve roped in a couple of my friends for the first one but hopefully once word spreads, I won’t have to rely on them every time.’ Flora smiled at the thought of Tilda’s face when she’d reassured her she wouldn’t have to spit the wine out if she didn’t want to. Flora pushed her hair back from her face and put her hands on her hips, packing tape in one hand, scissors in the other. ‘It really does look brilliant, you know.’ Strings of tiny lights hung across the ceiling and down the sides of the shelves, and the window display was a wonder, boxes of wine peeping out of a giant fake snowdrift. She had mentioned the idea almost as a joke, but in no time Johnny had located a source of fake snow from a company that made it for film locations. Biodegradable, of course. Flora and Mack had overruled the request for an inflatable reindeer, much to Johnny’s dismay.

‘Are you back here after deliveries?’

‘Yes, I’ll pop back but I won’t be in tomorrow, if that’s OK? Johnny will be, obviously.’

‘No problem.’ Mack took a sip of his coffee.

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