“It’s a deal,” Olivia answered. “But I’m hoping there won’t be anything left over.”

A little before six o’clock everyone filed out of the shop for the lighting of the Christmas tree; Olivia had been planning on staying back but Ellie protested that she should come and close the shop for a few minutes, and then her mum insisted she’d stay.

“I can keep things going here for a little while,” she said firmly. “And I don’t fancy walking on those uneven cobbles in the dark. Go on, Olivia. Have some fun. I’ll enjoy being in charge for a little bit.”

“All right, then.” Olivia untied her apron and grabbed her coat, glad to see her mother looking a bit more lively. “Thanks, Mum.”

Outside people were heading in a steady stream towards the village green at the bottom of the high street. The air was full of excitement, children skipping ahead and parents laughing, everyone bundled up in bright coats and mittens, hats and scarves. The air felt crisp and cold, with a hint of the promised snow. As Olivia was pulled along with Ellie, Oliver, Abby, and Mallory, she found herself getting into the festive spirit of the thing.

She’d been so busy running around trying to make the shop look Christmassy and inviting that she hadn’t actually had much time to feel Christmassy herself. Now, digging her hands deep into the pockets of her coat as she traded cheerful quips with Mallory and Abby, a happy excitement burst in her heart like a sunbeam or a snowflake. It really was the season.

On the village green everyone assembled around the massive tree; with a very small pang of uneasy guilt, Olivia noted the food stall that was doing a fairly brisk business in the same sort of fare she was offering back at the shop, with all proceeds to benefit the village cricket club. All her proceeds were going directly into her pocket. Still, her shop was halfway down the high street, a good distance from the green, and she decided there were enough pedestrians for both of them.

“Are we ready to get this party started?” someone shouted, and someone official—the head teacher of the school, Mallory said—made a big show of turning on the switch. A second later the tree lit up with an electric rainbow of colours, and the fairy lights spangling the high street lit up as well, making it look like something out of a fairy tale.

“All it needs to do is snow and everything will be perfect,” Ellie said with a smile. She tilted her face to the sky, scanning for snowflakes. “It’s certainly cold enough.”

“Yes...” Olivia gazed around the crowded green, smiling at the sight of so many happy families, couples hand in hand...and she was happy, too. She might need a bit of forceful reminding of the fact, but it was still the truth. Her oh-so-brief fascination with Simon Blacklock had been nothing more than a blip.