Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
CAROLINE
C aroline was buzzing. The entire town had come out to play. Considering she’d only announced the event a couple of days ago and no one other than Milly knew who her super-special guest was – she had to say, she was chuffed.
The only grumble she’d received was from Geraldine in the antiques shop – and that was only because she’d had such a busy lead-up to Christmas already, she was concerned she didn’t have enough trinkets to fill her stall with last-minute gift options. Caroline had simply herded the woman back inside her cave of a shop. Within five minutes, she’d helped to gather enough jewellery, vintage baubles and other assorted white elephants to fill not just one but three tables.
Every single shopkeeper in Crumbleton had agreed to join in the fun – as long as the weather held – and at last, the weather gods had been in Caroline’s favour. They’d been blessed with a chilly but clear night. Somewhere, far above the gleaming Christmas lights, Caroline knew the stars were peeping through the darkness of the December night sky.
‘I’m loving this!’ called Milly, as Caroline ambled towards her little stall at the top of the hill.
‘Isn’t it cool?’ said Caroline, her eyes scanning the crowd, watching as everyone’s breath plumed in the frozen air.
Crumbleton’s residents were already out in force, milling up and down the cobbles, sipping hot chocolate or mulled wine, and buying all sorts of knickknacks as they went. But Caroline wasn’t focussing on the usual suspects. She was looking for someone else - one face in particular – one that everyone here would know the minute they spotted him.
The weird thing was, Caroline felt like she’d been keeping an eye out for Jack all week – which was completely ridiculous. She knew for a fact that he wouldn’t dare to venture into town before he had to. Still, ever since her unexpected sleepover at his place, Caroline had lived in a strange little bubble of hope that he might turn up in her office, or that she might spot him in the aisles of Bendall’s.
No such luck.
There was something bittersweet about the fact that she’d fallen a little bit in love with her celebrity crush.
Or – a lot a bit!
But… she couldn’t let herself think like that, could she? The man in question was due to turn up at any moment to do the honours with the Christmas lights… but then he’d be gone… and not just back to Crumbleton Sands.
Caroline sighed. She had no doubt that Jack would see sense about the role he’d been offered in that new movie franchise. His agent would make sure of it. He’d be on his way to New Zealand before she knew it… winging his way out of her life.
Caroline wasn’t delusional enough to think that their little interlude had meant as much to him as it had to her. It was just a strange bit of Christmas magic - something she’d always hold close to her heart, even if it barely registered as a blip on Jack’s radar.
‘Your man not here yet?’ said Milly, lowering her voice.
Caroline shook her head. ‘Shhh!’ she said automatically.
Milly giggled, adjusting a couple of the stunning wreaths she’d whipped up for her stall.
‘I think the cat’ll be out of the bag in a few minutes, anyway,’ said Milly, ‘given that the poor bloke is going to have to make his way up the high street through this lot! Did you even tell him about the back steps?’
‘I… oh!’ Caroline pulled a face. ‘I didn’t think to.’
‘Meany!’ chuckled Milly.
The reality was, Caroline had been so excited to have an excuse to speak to Jack when she’d called to fill him in on the details of the event, she’d ended up getting strangely tongue-tied… something Jack had found ridiculously funny.
Caroline had promptly paid him back by roping him into join the carollers for at least a couple of songs. In fact… they’d just been settling back into their easy banter when Jack received another call – this time from his agent. One hurried apology later and the line had gone dead.
‘Earth to Caroline?!’ said Milly.
Caroline gave herself a little shake. ‘Huh?’
‘Hadn’t you better stop mooning around and go down to the Gates to rescue the poor guy?’
‘Erm… actually, good plan,’ said Caroline, glancing at her watch. ‘Though I might be a bit late for that…’
‘Yep, you are!’
The deep voice behind her made Caroline whip around. She came face to face with Brian Singer, who was wearing a seriously cute jumper with a stuffed figgy pudding right over his belly.
‘Brian!’ she said with a broad smile. Then she frowned. That hadn’t been Brian’s voice.
Caroline glanced at the tall figure next to the friendly cabby and let out a loud hoot of laughter.
‘What on earth are you wearing, Mr Film Star?!’
‘Shhh!’ growled Brian, shooting a furtive look around them. ‘You’re spoiling his disguise!’
Jack didn’t seem to mind though, as he was grinning down at her from beneath a towering Christmas tree bonnet. Layer upon green layer of stuffed crochet, complete with coloured baubles added about a foot to his height.
‘Told you it’s a rubbish disguise!’ he laughed.
‘Well, it’s all I had in the cab,’ huffed Brian. ‘Other than the reindeer headband.’
Jack nodded and pulled option b out of his coat pocket. Before Caroline knew what was happening, he reached out, brushed her hair back off her face with gentle fingers, and popped the felt antlers on her head.
‘Tell me I look as cute wearing my disguise as you do right now,’ he said, grinning down at her.
Caroline swallowed. A Christmas miracle seemed to have just happened – she’d lost the use of her voice.
‘Sorry mate, but nope,’ laughed Milly. ‘Yours just looks like a big, green, woolly arrow pointing right at your head!’
Jack snorted.
‘So… you recognise him?’ said Brian.
‘Of course!’ said Milly, rolling her eyes. ‘I mean, it’s not like I’m going to miss it when Ryan Reynolds rocks up to my market stall, is it?’
‘Told you it worked,’ said Brian, looking smug.
‘I’m not sure that counts!’ laughed Jack. ‘Can I take it off now please?’
‘Aw,’ said Caroline, finding her voice again – though it was decidedly husky. ‘Why don’t you want to stand in front of Crumbleton with a Christmas tree on your head?’
‘What can I say,’ laughed Jack, ‘I’m a total diva!’
‘Yeah, you are,’ said Caroline with a grin.
She was having a hard time stopping herself from reaching out and wrapping her arms around the man. She could still feel a light tingling on her cheeks where he’d touched her – like tiny traces of magic were at work on her skin. He was… delicious. No one should look that cute in a crotchet Christmas tree hat!
Blimey!
She needed to get things rolling, otherwise she was going to do something stupid right in front of the entire town.
‘Right… are you ready for it?’ she said, doing her best to pull herself together.
‘As ready as I’ll ever be,’ said Jack. ‘Nice to meet you, Milly.’
‘You too, Ryan!’ said Milly with a grin.
‘Oh… can you reserve that wreath for me, please?’ he added quickly, pointing at a large one dotted with tiny red roses and pinecones. ‘And one of those potted Venus Flytraps too?’
‘You’ve got it!’ said Milly, looking thrilled.
‘Okay,’ said Jack, sounding nervous. ‘Let’s get this over with.’
‘Yeah – then you can make a start on the carolling!’ said Caroline.
‘Damnit, I thought you’d forgotten about that!’ huffed Jack.
‘He didn’t,’ said Brian as Caroline took Jack’s hand and started towing him through the gathering crowd towards the little podium she’d set up outside the museum. ‘In fact, he told me he’s looking forward to it.’
‘Traitor!’ huffed Jack, and Caroline saw him shoot a wink at Brian before he was swallowed up by the crowd.
‘Right, let’s do this,’ she said, leading Jack towards the stage. She rather liked the feel of his large, warm hand in hers... so much so that she didn’t want to let it go. But considering they were about to have the attention of the entire town on them, she thought it might be for the best.
‘Aw,’ said Jack as their fingers parted. ‘I was kind of hoping you were going to hold my hand through the whole thing.’
‘Baby,’ she chuckled.
‘Nope – you’re just lovely and warm,’ said Jack.
Caroline had a hard time tearing her eyes away from his smile… and for a moment she wished they were standing somewhere a little bit less conspicuous than on the makeshift stage in front of dozens of people who’d known her since she was in nappies.
‘Alright!’ she yelled, breaking the spell and making Jack jump in the process.
Heads turned towards them. Here and there, Caroline caught little gasps as the locals started to recognise the special guest she’d managed to rustle up for the big occasion.
She grabbed the large, brass handbell she’d left next to the microphone stand, and gave it a hefty shake. The ringing echoed down the high street, booming through several strategically placed speakers.
‘Who’s ready for our Christmas lights?’ she shouted.
There was a loud cheer, and the crowd in front of the stage thickened as more people joined them.
‘I’ve got a very special guest for you this year,’ she said, shooting a smile at Jack. He looked very much like he’d quite like to disappear through the platform. ‘I am thrilled to welcome Jack Jones to Crumbleton!’
‘Who?’ yelled a voice from the crowd. It sounded suspiciously like Brian Singer.
Everyone erupted with laughter, and Caroline saw Jack grinning back at them – the ice well and truly thawed.
‘So!’ said Caroline, glancing back into the darkness inside the museum, ‘are my little elves back there ready?’
She got a disembodied thumbs-up from Harold Pottinger, who’d been loitering inside, waiting for her to give the sign. Suddenly, the street was plunged into gloom as the lights were turned off. There was a collective “ awwww” of disappointment from the crowd.
‘Ready for your big moment?’ muttered Caroline with her hand over the microphone, as she handed Jack a comically large light switch that had a lead trailing from it.
‘Ready,’ he said, taking hold of it.
‘Three!’ yelled Caroline into the microphone.
‘Two!’ cheered the crowd.
‘One!’ Jack shouted into the microphone, flipping the switch.
A massive cheer went up as light flooded the street again, golden and twinkling on the happy faces below as they all raised their cups of mulled wine and hot chocolate in celebration.
‘Speech!’ yelled someone.
Caroline peered out at the crowd and saw the culprit grinning back at her. It was Milly.
Jack shot her a look, and she nodded encouragingly.
‘Merry Christmas, Crumbleton.’ He paused while everyone cheered. ‘Thank you for letting me share this evening with you.’
As he continued to talk, Caroline realised she had her eyes fixed on his face. She wasn’t listening to what he was saying… just soaking in the way he was saying it. His face was alive, and his eyes were full of fun as he held the crowd in the palm of his hand.
Caroline swallowed and did her best to tear her gaze off him, before everyone in town managed to clock the adoring look that was probably plastered across her face right now.
‘There’s not much more to say,’ said Jack, surprising her out of her daze by grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze. ‘Other than – enjoy!’
The crowd cheered again, and Jack stepped back from the microphone.
‘Nice job,’ said Caroline with a smile.
‘Ta,’ he said, leaning in close and kissing her cheek.
It took a few moments before Caroline realised that the simple kiss had just earned a bigger cheer than the Christmas lights.