The Little Christmas Teashop of Second Chances by Donna Ashcroft

Author:Donna Ashcroft
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781786816009
Publisher: BOOKOUTURE
Published: 2018-10-01T23:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-TWO

‘How are you getting along with the show?’ Marta asked Josh, bending to pick up a stick from the beach and throwing it for Chester.

‘The show’s fine,’ Josh said, as the dog looked at Marta and then at the stick before sniffing a piece of dried seaweed.

‘It’s almost uncanny how alike you are,’ Marta snorted, shaking her head. ‘Think he’s any good at photography?’

Josh fought a smile as he walked beside her, taking in a deep breath of sea air. ‘Chester will do anything for food – give him a biscuit and a camera and you might find out.’ The Labrador began to chew the seaweed. ‘Of course, he might just eat them both.’

‘I’ll risk it if you don’t show me the rest of your photos soon.’

Josh chuckled. ‘If we walk a little further I’ll show you my newest model. I’ve caught quite a few shots and I’ll definitely use some, but I haven’t taken the one yet.’

‘Don’t tell me that, Josh,’ Marta protested. ‘We’ve got less than two weeks and I’m beginning to panic. I’m used to your unorthodox ways. I’ve given you more time to put this show together even though every other photographer I’ve worked with had theirs finalised and planned months ahead. But I can’t wait forever, even for you.’

‘It’s not like you to stress.’ Josh stopped walking and turned to face his friend. ‘What else is going on?’

Marta glowered. She’d tied her hair up to keep it out of her eyes but the wind whipped it around her face. She looked tired and her skin was dull. ‘The electricity’s been playing up at the gallery. I’ve got someone coming to fix it but it’s been a stressful afternoon. Simon keeps popping in to check on me and I’m…’ Marta ran a hand through her hair, pulling it out of her eyes. ‘It’s annoying.’

‘You don’t like him?’ Josh turned to walk along the beach again. He knew from experience that Marta shared best while walking.

‘He’s irritating and totally fixated on profit and money,’ Marta moaned. ‘He argues about everything and I’ve no idea what he’s thinking half the time.’

‘You do like him.’ It wasn’t a question.

Marta sighed. ‘I’ve no idea why.’

‘You like irritating men?’ Josh joked, but Marta didn’t answer. ‘If it’s any help, he likes you too. I probably shouldn’t say, but I don’t think he’ll mind. He told me the other day on the beach.’

‘You were talking about me?’ Marta shrieked.

‘Not how it sounds.’ The log came into view and Josh pointed to it. ‘That’s the picture, or it will be – I know it’s in there somewhere. The log was in the sea and Simon helped me pull it out. In return he wanted to know if you were single and how he should go about asking you on a date.’

‘And you told him?’ Marta’s eyes widened.

‘I told him to ask you, to be honest and that you’d been hurt,’ Josh replied, undaunted by the murderous look in his friend’s eyes. ‘Nothing you wouldn’t tell him yourself.

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