Catherine Ferguson - Humbugs and Heartstrings - A gorgeous festive read full of the joys of Christmas!

‘Don’t you mean ‘cougars’?’ I chuckle, as she stands up and shrugs on her strawberry mac.

She spins round and points at me. ‘That’s it! I knew panthers didn’t sound right. By the way, bach, I forgot to say. The first messenger will arrive tonight.’

I nod sagely. ‘I’ll get the kettle on, then.’

She winks at me, slings her bag over her shoulder – almost swiping the vase of fake sweet peas from the next table – and bustles off. Colliding with an elderly couple coming in, she steps back and waves them in with an extravagant flourish.

I sit for a minute, slightly dazed. It’s a bit of an anti-climax now that she’s gone. I imagine she has that effect on everyone she meets.

A genuinely lovely woman.

But Carol and I friends again?

And a ‘lovely man’ on the horizon?

I really don’t think so.

She got the turkey spot on. But that’s hardly genius. It’s Christmas in less than two months’ time.

I peer into the darkness to check if the rain has stopped. It has, so I go over to the counter and pay for my tea. As I’m leaving, I happen to glance over at my table in the corner.

On the wall behind my chair is a poster advertising the local amateur dramatics’ production of A Christmas Carol . There sits Scrooge, looking spooked in nightcap and gown, a motley crew of phantoms at his back.

I leave the café, chuckling to myself.

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