Chapter 20 #2
Cheering and clapping rang out, accompanied by whistles and whoops, the sounds bouncing off the buildings and filling the square.
Laughing, Jack raised his palms in a bid for quiet, but it was met with yet more whistles and cheers.
‘Sorry I’m late.’ Nate’s voice in Lark’s ear startled her and the feel of his hand on her shoulder set off an unexpected tingle.
She turned to see him gazing down at her, making her stomach loop the loop.
The shadows under his eyes weren’t so pronounced in the half-light and she was glad to see he looked more like his old self.
‘Nate!’ A wide smile spread across her face. ‘No worries, you’re here now. Had a busy afternoon?’
‘Put it this way, it’s been eventful.’ He pulled a face for emphasis.
‘Oh? Not in a bad way, I hope.’ She was half-aware of Jack’s voice in the background, asking for the children to be brought to the front of the gathering to ensure they weren’t stuck behind the taller grown-ups who would block their view of proceedings.
‘I’ll explain later. How’s your dad?’
‘He’s good, thanks. Been looking forward to having a catch up with you.’
Nate looked genuinely pleased to hear that. ‘The feeling’s mutual.’
‘So, good people of Micklewick Bay, without further ado, it’s time for me to reveal the first of The Happy Hartes Bookshop festive window displays.
And what a great honour it is!’ Jack’s voice brought an end to Lark and Nate’s conversation as he drew the crowd into an enthusiastic countdown.
‘Please feel free to join in with the countdown. Five! Four! Three! Two! One!’
Magical sounding music filled the air as the curtain eased back, revealing a sparkling winter scene set against a stunning Alpine backdrop complete with bright-blue sky.
A collective gasp ran around the crowd as they looked on, enraptured to see miniature hand-crafted rabbits, mice and red squirrels dressed in an array of colourful woollen jumpers, bobble hats, scarves and ski goggles whizz down a faux snow-covered mountain.
While above, a cable car transported skiers back up the slope.
At the foot of the mountain, woodland creatures skated on a mirror-like frozen pond as glittering fake snowflakes floated down.
More clapping and cheering ensued before a second countdown struck up and the curtains opened on another festive scene.
This one was set against a starry, moonlit sky with Santa Claus driving his sleigh, the legs of the reindeer moving as they raced above snow-covered rooftops.
Lark noted the miniature town below bore more than a passing resemblance to the huddle of cottages in Old Micklewick, with fake smoke curling from their chimney pots.
The stars started twinkling as the moon began to shine.
But it was when Rudolph’s nose glowed red that the younger members of the audience went into raptures.
‘Oh, wow! That’s stunning!’ Lark clapped her hands excitedly.
She knew behind the scenes Ed, who was working the controls, would be enormously relieved it had all gone off without a hitch.
He created everything himself and Florrie had told her how he spent hours crafting the various characters and components, working on the moving parts until everything was perfect.
‘I think we can all agree Ed’s created another couple of festive masterpieces for us to enjoy,’ said Jack.
Another appreciative round of applause went up.
The author waited for it to settle. ‘Now, those of you who’ve come for the reading, if you’d like to form an orderly queue at the right just here, then we’ll start taking tickets and you can get in out of the cold before you get frozen to the spot.
As soon as everyone’s in, those of you who’re left can start queuing to take a closer look at the displays.
In the meantime, thank you all for coming and supporting The Happy Hartes Bookshop this evening. ’
The crowd were clearly in high spirits as yet more cheering and applause followed before they started to slowly disperse, filling the square with the sound of their excited chatter. It mingled easily with the music that floated from the bookshop speakers.
‘Nate, lad! It’s grand to see you,’ said Silas, who’d suddenly clocked the younger man. He went over and gave him an affectionate clap on the back.
‘Silas, it’s grand to see you too. Feels like ages since you were last here.’ Nate’s expression said he was genuinely pleased to see Lark’s father.
‘It has been ages. Lark’s been telling me all about Crayke’s Cottage and the interesting items you found there.’
‘Aye, it’s not what we expected at all. Mind, Louisa, the curator at the heritage centre, was really helpful in shedding light on what some of the items were.’
‘So Lark was telling me. And I’ve brought a couple of books from home that have a bit of info about the cottage and some of the other properties in Old Micklewick. It was quite the smugglers’ paradise by all accounts, what with all the tunnels and secret cellars.’
‘So it would seem.’
A nearby bark drew Silas’s eyes downwards. Lark followed her father’s line of sight, her gaze settling on a black Labrador with a greying muzzle. She couldn’t remember noticing it there before. It took a couple of moments for it to dawn on her that Nate was holding the Labrador’s lead.
‘Who’s this fella, then?’ asked Silas, bending down and offering his hand for the dog to sniff. That done, he smoothed his hand over its ears, which if the tail wagging was anything to go by, was gratefully received.
Lark’s brow crumpled as she wondered why Nate had a Labrador with him, and why he would bring it to the reading. Her next thought was that maybe he wasn’t going to hang around for that.
But Nate answered her questions before she could vocalise them.
‘I don’t know who he is or who he belongs to.
He just turned up outside the workshop this morning, looking cold and hungry, and wanting to come in.
He had no collar on him, so there was no name tag, or owt.
I didn’t have the heart to leave the poor lad shivering outside so I let him in, gave him a couple of digestive biscuits which he wolfed down then sat himself down by the heater and made himself comfortable. ’
Lark bent to give the dog a quick ear tickle as Nate went on to say how he’d spotted the Labrador lingering around Endeavour Road earlier in the week and had assumed it belonged to someone local, but after making enquiries nearby no one seemed to know who the dog belonged to.
‘The vets very kindly squeezed him in this afternoon so they could check if he was chipped but that came up blank. He had a quick going over while we were there. From his teeth and grey muzzle, the vet thought he was about eight or nine years old. And other than being a bit underweight, she said he seemed to be in good health and had a gentle nature. Poor lad took all the prodding and poking without grumbling – though he wasn’t too happy about having his temperature taken.
Looked like he thought that was a step too far. ’
‘Can’t say I blame him.’ Bear gave a hearty chuckle. He’d joined the conversation along with Alex.
‘He seems a pretty good-natured fella,’ said Silas, pulling himself upright.
Nate nodded. ‘Aye, from what I’ve seen of him so far, I’d say he is.’
‘And he seems to have taken a real shine to you,’ said Alex.
‘That’s just what I was thinking,’ said Lark. The dog hadn’t taken his eyes off Nate. ‘What are you going to do with him?’ She knew her friend had a kind heart, and she couldn’t see him taking the dog to a rescue centre, especially this close to Christmas.
Nate crouched down, ruffling the Labrador’s ears. He was rewarded with a lick across his cheek.
‘Thanks for that, lad,’ he said, with a chuckle, before turning his attention back to Lark.
‘Well, he’s staying with me for the time being.
We’re going to try to find out who he belongs to – apparently there are databases that have lists of missing dogs.
I’ll check if anyone’s reported him missing on the town’s social media pages, and we’ll see what happens from there.
The vet mentioned a woman who takes in rescue dogs and fosters them out until new owners can be found, but I’m happy to keep him till we know the score. ’
‘He looks like a grand lad,’ said Bear.
‘He does, and his coat looks shiny and clean which suggests he’s cared for. I reckon someone out there’s really missing him.’ Maggie crouched down and smoothed her hand over the Labrador’s head. ‘I’d definitely miss you, lad.’
The dog rested his paw on her lap.
‘Ah, well, the reason he’s looking all groomed is because he had a bath this afternoon.’
‘Oh?’ Maggie quirked an eyebrow. ‘You don’t hang around.’
‘Wasn’t my suggestion, though it was pretty obvious he was badly in need of grooming and his coat was really grimy to the touch. On top of that he smelt pretty ripe – no offence, fella.’
The Labrador blinked up at him.
‘It was so bad, the vet asked if the dog groomer next door could fit him in for a quick spruce up, which she did. He came out all glossy and smelling like a baby.’
‘Ahh, bless him.’ Maggie gave the Labrador a sympathetic smile and ruffled his ears.
‘And the vet let me borrow a collar and lead they had spare, a food bowl, too. And here we are.’ Nate shrugged.
‘So, what happens if you can’t find his owners?’ asked Silas.
‘Ah, well, I reckon we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, won’t we, lad?
’ Nate gave the Labrador a pat. ‘But right now, I’m happy to look after him for as long as necessary.
And, since we don’t know his name, I’ve decided to call him Buddy for the time being.
Thought it suited him and he seems to respond to it. ’
‘Buddy does suit him,’ said Lark.
The Labrador jerked his head in Lark’s direction.