Read an Excerpt

Having politely escaped her third ‘So what are you doing for Christmas?’ conversation of the day, Megan Johnson was retreating back to the counter when she spotted Pickwicks’ most regular customer sit up from her work and brush a stray red hair from her eyes.

Knowing it had been at least half an hour since Kit’s caffeine addiction had been attended to, the waitress swiped up the percolator jug and headed in her direction.

Without bothering to ask if it was required, Megan poured the steaming liquid with practised care, before taking advantage of the lull in Christmas shopping trade and sitting down opposite her friend. ‘Going OK?’

Swivelling the laptop round to face Megan, Kit rubbed the back of her neck, ‘I’m sure I’ve missed something. What do you think?’

 

Pickwicks Festive Fundraiser!

Spoil Yourself With An Afternoon of Pickwicks’ Finest Festive Fare.

In Aid of the Royal Free Hospital’s Spinal Ward.

Saturday [GR1] 22^nd[KB2]  December from 2pm.

Deluxe Buffet and Festive Fundraising Fun!

Tickets are ONLY £25 per person

Don’t miss out!

Book your place at Pickwicks Coffee Shop, Richmond – NOW!!

 

Megan scanned the poster. ‘Oh, that’s fabulous! I thought you were writing your latest novel.’

‘To tell you the truth, that’s exactly what I should be doing, but Peggy asked me to do some publicity for the fundraiser and I thought I’d better get on with it. Time seems to be dissolving. It’ll be the 22nd before we know it.’

‘I know what you mean.’ Megan started to collect the dishes left by a couple who’d just vacated a nearby table. ‘The next three weeks are going to fly by.’

‘Two and a half weeks!’

‘Oh, hell! Really?’

‘That’s why I want to get these done; otherwise everyone will be too booked up with their own celebrations to have time to come.’ Gesturing towards the kitchen, Kit asked, ‘How’s Scott doing out there, or shouldn’t I ask?’

Megan’s permanent smile widened further across her lightly freckled face. ‘He’s amazing. I have no idea how he does it. The temperature in that kitchen is tropical, and yet Scott’s still beaming that massive toothy grin of his. I’m seriously beginning to think he is physically unable to stop cooking! Surely he must have pre-prepared as much as he can for the fundraiser by now?’

Kit nodded. ‘He probably has, but Peggy is getting paranoid there won’t be enough food.’ Glancing around, checking that Megan wasn’t needed by a customer for a moment, Kit pointed to a fresh pile of abandoned cups. ‘If I clear those, will you have a proper read of the poster? I’m sure I’ve missed something obvious but I can’t put my finger on it.’

Kit was already standing up and taking a tray from Megan’s hands before the waitress said, ‘On one condition.’

‘Which is?’

‘I can check my emails? I’m supposed to be liaising with the hospital about this for Peggy, but we’ve been so busy over the last few days I haven’t had time to see if Nick has got back to me about how many of the ward staff are coming.’

‘Nick?’

Megan silently cursed her inability to prevent the involuntary warm pink blush that hit her pale cheeks, ‘Yeah, he’s the admin guy for the ward that cared for Scott after his accident.’

‘Nice, is he?’ Kit gently teased the petite blonde waitress, wondering, not for the first time, why someone as kind and pretty as Megan hadn’t been snapped up years ago.

‘I’ve never met him, but he seems friendly. Well, he does via email and over the phone at least.’

‘You’ve spoken to him then?’

‘There are loads of things to sort out.’ Megan, knowing that the crush she’d developed on Nick’s Irish accent was utterly ridiculous, turned her full attention to the poster on the screen before her.

The tempting aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg wafted over the wooden tables and chairs, and wrapped itself around the tastefully decorated Christmas tree which stood in the old-fashioned bay window. As Kit reached the counter laden with dirty crockery, she could hear Scott humming away to the music in the kitchen, where he was cooking up mini Christmas cakes and puddings, the vast quantity of which could rival the shelves of any supermarket.

Peggy glanced up from where she’d been scribbling at speed onto an order pad as her friend arrived on her side of the counter, ‘Can you check this? Do you think I’ve remembered all the extras for the event?’

Kit listened as the café’s manageress read out her list. ‘After dinner mints, turkey, ham, pigs in blankets, stuffing balls, crackers, mixed fruit, and champagne.’

‘Champagne? There’s posh!’ Kit grinned, ‘Will we have to curtsey when we serve it?’

Peggy gave a tired smile, ‘Maybe we should! At £25 a ticket folk will expect something special. We have a heap of orange juice to make Buck’s Fizz, soft drinks, wine, and beer already ordered.’ Peggy dropped the pad with[KB3]  a sigh, ‘I’m beginning to think we’re mad. Are enough people going to come to make it worth our while?’

‘Of course they will!’ Kit, who’d been thinking the same thing, added, ‘Who could resist a festive party, with Scott’s fantastic cooking, in the best coffee shop in Richmond? The fact it’s for such a good cause, too, will clinch it for everyone!’

Reading the list for herself, Kit asked, ‘Do you have extra fairy lights to go around the counter for extra sparkle on the day? Oh, and festive tablecloths and candles for the tables?’

‘Yep, all that’s in hand, although I haven’t actually arranged the candles into table decorations yet.’ Peggy flipped over another pad, and Kit saw the world’s longest list of jobs awaiting her attention, to which she now added, ‘Table decs’.

‘Look, Peg, why don’t I do those for you? I can do them at home. I’m sure Phil and the twins will help.’

‘But you’re so busy with your own work. You’re already doing the posters. And call me a cynic, but I can’t imagine two 13-year-olds wanting to twist florist’s wire, tinsel, and holly into interesting shapes for the evening, even for a good cause!’

‘You may be right about the twins, but I’d be glad to do it. I want to help as much as I can. And anyway, you know the saying, “Want a job done, give it to a busy person!” A phrase which goes double for you and Scott!’

‘You aren’t kidding. Why was I so stupid as to do this at Christmas? It seemed such a good idea at the time.’

Seeing panic start to rise in her normally calm friend’s eyes, Kit reached out a reassuring hand. ‘Peg, this is absolutely the perfect time. It’s the time of year for  “thank yous”. Sometimes, when I see Scott dashing around like a lunatic in that kitchen of his, I can’t believe it ever even happened.’

 [GR1]Check year.

 [KB2]Happy to make this Sat 2012

 [KB3]Overuse of the word counter on this page