Snowflakes at the Little Christmas Tree Farm by Jaimie Admans

Author:Jaimie Admans
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2019-08-28T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

‘Now, we’ll have one here and one there.’ Fiona points to a pillar on either side of the entrance to the market building. ‘Oh, and we could do with a couple outside too to draw attention. Not quite as big as the one in the main entrance, but big enough to see. Seven foot should do it.’

Noel laughs at how thorough she is with her commands as we both follow her around the market and I scribble down notes about her list of tree demands. It’s early and we’ve left Fergus watching the pumpkin stall while he sets out his biscuits, although all he seemed to be watching when we left was his fingers in the jar of Glenna’s pumpkin marmalade that Noel gave him.

‘One could go here.’ She points to a space between the used bookseller and a stall that’s reserved for handmade decorations closer to Christmas. ‘And another over there by the craft beers, and one there by the festive food from around the world stall …’

‘We’re going to have more trees than stallholders soon,’ Noel says.

It’s a quiet Tuesday morning and there will definitely be more trees than customers at this rate. ‘Maybe the trees can take over the stalls and give the workers a break.’

‘As long as they haven’t been out on the lash the night before. You can never get trees with hangovers to turn up on time, and no one wants them puking pine needles over the produce and snaffling up fried breakfasts all morning.’

It makes me giggle and me giggling sets him off too, and we don’t realise we’ve missed Fiona’s latest instruction until she stops in her tracks and turns to face us with her arms folded and a pinched look on her face.

‘Sorry, Fiona.’ Noel tries so hard to adopt a serious face that it makes me laugh even more.

‘Sorry, Fiona.’ I giggle and it makes him start up again too.

Fiona raises an eyebrow, but her face changes from annoyed to knowing, and she gets the same look she always gets when she hears a bit of gossip.

Suitably scolded, I take more notes as she walks us through the market, pointing out where she wants the smaller trees, and saying hello to all the stallholders as we pass.

Fiona stops for a chat with her friend at the candle stall, and I take the opportunity to dash towards the back of the market and collect my business cards, flyers, and postcards from the printing stall. They were ready to collect last week, but I’ve been so busy with the farm that this is the first chance I’ve had to get back here and pick them up. Weeding has been top of the agenda. I reasoned that the seasonal workers who have started now will be experts at shearing trees, but it would help if they could actually get to them first.

I squeak in delight when the lad hands me a box and inside is the most beautiful set of marketing materials I’ve ever seen.

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