Christmas Bizarre by Emma Nichols

Author:Emma Nichols
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: J'Adore Les Books
Published: 2019-12-09T23:00:00+00:00

16.

Delia opened her front door, signed for the small parcel, smiled at the delivery man and closed the door. A wave of electric energy tickled her at the thought of needing to hide the gift for Sarah until Christmas. The last time she had needed to hide presents was when the children were in their early teens. She hoped Sarah hadn’t read the book she had found for her. 1898 Spirit Slate Writing and Kindred Phenomena. It was a very rare vintage psychic book for collectors, and worth every penny of the one hundred and sixty pounds she had spent on it.

She carefully eased the tape off the brown packaging and revealed the contents. She removed the red-cloth, hardback book and studied it closely. Gently she brushed her fingers over its surface and turned the cover. The aroma of earthy-wood and old print ink struck her, and a shiver of excitement raised the hairs on the back of her neck. Sarah is going to love it. Unable to wipe the smile from her lips and the sparkle in her eyes, she went upstairs and hid the book in the top of her wardrobe, right behind the wand.

Grabbing her coat, she left the house, crossed the road, and entered the shop.

‘Mirror, mirror on the wall, the fairy of them all has just walked in,’ Doug said from behind the counter, and chuckled.

‘Morning, Douglas,’ Delia said and grinned. ‘I need, milk, coffee, sugar, and a bag of ice. I hear Dickie has to go to London for a while,’ she said. She wandered up and down the aisles.

‘Yes. Sad news. His friend died suddenly.’

‘Dreadful business.’

‘Grace is going with him.’

‘That’s nice of her.’ Delia approached the counter with her full basket.

‘Sarah arriving later, then?’

Delia flushed and cleared her throat. ‘Yes, she is.’ She dodged Doug’s gaze.

Doug reached across the counter and squeezed her hand. ‘I like Sarah. I’m pleased you get on so well. It’s nice to have a close friend.’ He let go of her and started ringing the items through the till.

Delia’s immediate response was to protest, but something stopped her. Maybe, it was better to avoid any conversation about her feelings for the American writer, since she hadn’t quite worked out what exactly they meant yet. Or, maybe it was the warmth of Doug’s acceptance that silenced her. Either way, it was reassuring that Sarah was liked and welcomed.

‘That’s seven pounds twenty,’ he said.

Delia handed over the money and wandered out of the shop. She stood for a moment, taking in the cool, clear air, then walked back across the road, feeling giddy with joy and excitement.

She had to concentrate hard, reminding herself, to put the ice in the freezer and the milk in the fridge. She removed the pack of mince that she would use to make a Cumberland pie for their supper. She plucked an onion and a large carrot from the larder and placed them on the kitchen surface, then went back to the fridge and took out a pat of butter.

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