12. Madison
MADISON
“Oh, we should totally get Kenna a little knitted hat!” I said, spotting a display at a booth called Knit-Knacks.
“Look how adorable that hot pink one is.” Princess surged across the slushy street.
I tightened my hold on her leash, latching onto Alistair’s coat with my other hand as I dragged him and Kenna toward the vendor.
“She has hats,” Alistair insisted.
I honestly hadn’t expected much of the winter festival after learning how small Braeburn was, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the high street decked out with at least two dozen booths selling handmade wares as well as sweet and savory treats.
There was also a giant tent where members of the town council were doling out mulled cider, hot chocolate, or Bovril—a hot beef drink that Alistair said was popular at football games.
“But not one with these adorable axolotls on top like a pom pom,” I said, pointing them out.
Kenna jumped up and down at my side. Princess barked excitedly. “I need one, Daddy.”
Alistair sighed. Behind him, the sky was gray, a few flurries twisting through the air. “What about the perfectly lovely unicorn hat on your head?”
Kenna wrinkled her nose. I tutted teasingly at him. “Everyone knows unicorns are on their way out. Axolotls are the new thing.”
“Axo—what?”
I gave him a flat look. “Oh, come on. You have to have seen them in the stores.” I gestured to Kenna. “She has like four stuffies that are axolotls.”
Alistair pursed his lips, shrugging. “I have no idea what you’re on about.”
“The aquatic salamander with the cute little face?” I said, imitating the smile. “They’re critically endangered.”
He rolled his eyes, his gaze landing on Kenna. “We’re not putting an endangered lizard on your head.”
Kenna giggled.
“It’s an amphibian,” I corrected.
“My point still stands.”
“What point?” a voice called, and Alistair’s expression brightened.
I turned around, spotting Weston coming up the road, his wife Lena right behind him with their adopted daughter, Aisling.
I’d met the family a couple weekends ago when the friends got together to finally exchange Christmas presents.
Like Alistair, Weston was a businessman, running Kincaid Energy with Lena’s help.
They’d just returned from Texas and had brought Kenna a cute, pink cowboy hat.
Apparently, they were coming up on two years of marriage this summer, and any time they remotely glanced at each other, it became clear just how much they adored each other.
Kenna surged in Aisling’s direction, the girls hugging and squealing. Aisling was a few years older than Kenna, but you could hardly tell the way they were attached at the hip.
“We were discussing the downfall of unicorns in favor of the axolotl,” I said.
Lena smiled warmly as she stopped next to me. “I know, right? Aisling says they’re very popular at school.”
“Is this the lizard thing?” Weston asked, exchanging a confused look with Alistair.
“Amphibian,” Lena and I corrected. She shot me a wink.
“Daddy?” Kenna said, tugging on Alistair’s pant leg. Princess jumped up to paw at his knee. “Can I go look around with Aisling?”
“We’re looking for some jewelry,” he said, leaning down to talk to her. “Remember? To replace the pieces Madison took apart for your crafts.”
Kenna pouted, her bottom lip pooching out. I had to turn away to hide my smile. The kid really knew how to work it. “But Aisling is going for hot chocolate. Princess and I want to get hot chocolate too.” She wrapped her arms around herself, pretending to shiver. “We’re cold.”
Lena stifled a laugh with her hand.
“Cold, huh?” Alistair said. “Well, Princess isn’t allowed to have chocolate. It’s not good for dogs. Maybe we should go back to the car.”
“I’m not cold,” Kenna declared at once.
“Ah, let her and Princess come,” Weston said, nudging Alistair playfully. “We can take them around with us.” Kenna and Aisling started dancing around in celebration.
Alistair snorted. “I would not wish this dog on my worst enemy.”
“She’s not that bad,” I said. “She’s just easily excitable.”
Weston nodded to the girls. “Then she’ll fit right in with this lot.”
“We can look after her,” Aisling insisted. “I take care of Milo all the time.”
“You certainly do,” Lena said, holding her hand out for Princess’s leash. I passed it over as Weston checked his watch. “Meet you two back here in about…thirty minutes?”
“Fine,” Alistair relented, and somehow the girls shrieked even louder.
“You and Princess be extra good for Uncle Weston and Auntie Lena, okay?” He nudged Kenna, giving her a wicked grin.
“No throwing slushy snowballs at Uncle Weston.” A lot of the snow from the massive Christmas storm had melted away, but there were still softening piles hanging around, topped by the latest flurries.
Kenna’s little face broke into a conspiratorial smile.
“What are you two whispering about?” Weston asked.
“Nothing!” Kenna said. She kissed Alistair on the cheek before racing off with Aisling and Princess. “Bye, Daddy.”
“She’s got that pout down to a science, huh?
” I said as the two of us continued down the street.
The community was out in droves today. It was the most people I’d seen in weeks, and I was surprised to see a couple of the locals smile in Alistair’s direction or wave when they recognized him.
I wasn’t sure how he knew them, since other than going over to Weston and Lena’s, he didn’t seem to ever leave the house.
“I fear it’s only going to become more powerful,” he said.
A dusting of snow settled on a pop-up tent selling chunky tartan-patterned wool socks.
Next to it was a vendor selling gorgeous leather wallets and journal covers.
Another tent was filled with all-natural soaps and skin care, while further down there were art prints, homemade beeswax candles, and, of course, jewelry.
“Hold that pose, you two!”
Alistair froze for a beat, his shoulders hunched up by his ears as a camera shutter clicked.
Before I could check to see if he was okay, he realized the photographer was Isla, and he relaxed.
She waddled over, her coat stretched over her pregnant belly.
Locke came up behind her, eating something that steamed from a foil wrapper.
“What’ve you got there?” Alistair asked him.
“Hot haggis, neeps, and tatties. Isla keeps ordering stuff and deciding not to eat it.”
She wrinkled her nose. “The baby decided he didn’t want it. Is it my fault your son is picky?” Locke wisely chose not to answer.
I chuckled, nodding to Isla’s camera. “Are you on picture duty?”
“I usually do photography for the festivals,” she said brightly, showing me the photo she’d just taken of me and Alistair. It was two of us grinning at each other in a way that made my heart race for some silly reason.
“Where’s Kenna?” Locke asked, giving me time to fight the blush in my cheeks.
“With Weston, Lena, and Aisling,” Alistair said. “The girls wanted hot chocolate.”
“Ooh,” Isla said, perking up. “Me too, actually.” She latched onto Locke’s hand, dragging him away.
“Catch you guys later!” he called over his shoulder.
I laughed. “What do you want to bet the baby has changed his mind by the time they get there?”
“I think the baby would much prefer chocolate over haggis. Have you tried it yet?”
“Yeah, actually, when I was passing through Edinburgh. There’s a cute little place called the Haggis Box. They also do a vegan version, but I braved the original and just tried not to think about what was in it.”
“And?” he asked.
“A lot better than I expected.”
Alistair hummed and inclined his head toward a nearby jewelry vendor. “What about here? See anything you like?”
I turned to the stall, making my way over to inspect the displays. The young woman behind the table jumped up from a chair, eyes wide, almost like she hadn’t expected to see anyone.
“Oh, hi,” she said. “Can I—” She waved her hand, accidentally knocking over a stand of rings. They clattered to the ground by my feet. The woman raced around the table, muttering. I bent down to help her pick up the jewelry.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “Silly me. I got excited by a potential customer.”
“That’s okay,” I said. “No harm done.”
“It’s just been slower than I anticipated today. I hauled my things all the way here from Glenby early this morning, and the roads weren’t great.” She sighed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to complain. It’s just nice to have someone at my table.”
It was strange that she hadn’t had more business because the market was packed. I helped her set the rings back on the table. “Did you make all these?” I asked.
She nodded. “My grandad taught me how to metalsmith. I used to collect silver spoons when I was a girl. Now I use them to make rings.”
“That’s so cool,” I said, starting to reach out to arrange the display better—but catching myself before I made contact.
After all, it wasn’t my display to mess around with.
The young woman wrung her hands together, looking a little awkward.
“Maybe if you just…rearranged stuff a bit?” I suggested.
“Some of these bigger displays are pulling the focus and blocking view of these other pieces.”
“Oh!” she said. “Right, er…I’m not great at this part. Leave me in my workshop all day, and I have no issues. Tell me to actually sell my products,” she laughed, scrubbing a hand over her face, “and I’m rubbish.”
“You’re an artist,” I said. “You just have to make people see that. Can I try something?”
The woman shrugged. “At this point, I’ll take all the help I can get.”
“What’s your name?”
“Leah.”
“Okay, Leah, one second.” I turned back to Alistair, who was frowning at the interaction, clearly confused. “I need ten minutes,” I told him. “Why don’t you go have a look around those stalls over there and come and collect me after?”
“I think I’d much rather watch whatever is happening here.”