‘Only until eight. We’ve only got four dinner bookings and Danny said he can deal with that. We’ve taken on a couple of new bar and waiting staff to get ready for the Christmas rush and help with the grotto. So, I will have more time for fun.’ Lucas winked at Davina. ‘Drink?’
‘Yeah, I’ll have a gin and tonic, please. Make it a large one.’ Davina winked back, before adding casually, ‘Actually, I’m glad you mentioned the grotto because I’ve found our Father Christmas. Seeing as I took on the big, bearded man myself, I’m also happy to sort the financial side of stuff if you like. You are going to be so busy running the hotel and I’m on a four-on-four-off shift pattern through December, so I will have plenty of time to help. I’ve sourced a reindeer too! Just one though, but that’s better than nothing. He’s very placid, evidently, and you’ll never guess his name: he’s called Rudolph – how imaginative.’
‘The kids will think that’s magical.’
‘Yes, so could I have four hundred pounds upfront for Rudolph, please? That covers the four December weekends we can have him.’
Lucas frowned. ‘That seems a lot, but I guess it’s not, at fifty quid a day. OK. Is that with a keeper too?’
‘Er no, I am going to look after him.’
‘You’re not just a pretty face, are you? You can add Reindeer Keeper to your CV after this.’ Lucas then went serious. ‘We are going to make some money out of this, aren’t we?’
‘Of course, or I wouldn’t have organised it. There’s been so much interest. It’s all everyone is talking about at the moment.’
Lucas wasn’t sure what kind of chill pill Davina had been prescribed but he was liking this change of attitude very much. ‘You have taken the pressure off already, thank you.’ He kissed her on the forehead. ‘We are fully booked from December the first so yes, if you’re sure you can fit it all in, what with you being Mrs Plod an’ all, that will be such a help.’
‘Come here.’ Davina checked the bar was empty, pulled Lucas towards her and then rubbed herself against him, whispering in his ear, ‘I’ve been thinking about this all day.’
‘Have you now?’ Lucas could feel himself quickly hardening to her touch.
Just then, his mobile rang on the side of the bar. Davina was next to it, and on seeing Rosa’s name flashing up, she quickly pressed decline and switched it off. ‘They hung up; it can’t have been that important,’ she lied. ‘Certainly not more important than me taking you upstairs for a quickie to show you just how sorry I am.’
Rosa’s heart was beating fast as she walked down to the bottom of the garden, big torch in hand, baby monitor in her pocket so as not to miss even a murmur from her son. Hot, at her heels, eager to follow, could not be deemed any kind of guard dog but she was happy to have him with her, nonetheless. She stood still for a second to see if she could locate any noise. The light crash of waves on the shore and a lone caw of a seagull making its way through the misty November skies were now the only sounds she could hear. She waited, holding her breath. Then, hearing a slight rustle in the hedge that surrounded the fence, Rosa shouted, ‘Who’s there?’ Nothing, but then the muffled cries of a baby became audible. Barking, Hot scampered over to where the noise was coming from. Quivering, Rosa shone the torch into the hedge – right into the terrified eyes of a brown-eyed woman holding a baby so tightly to her chest in a hand-made papoose that Rosa was worried she might smother it.
‘It’s OK,’ Rosa said gently, her fear now completely gone. ‘There’s nothing to be afraid of.’
The woman began to whimper like a puppy. Rosa could see that her jeans were ripped, and her knee was bleeding.
‘I’m so sorry,’ the woman sobbed.
Rosa could detect an accent but had no idea where from. ‘It’s fine,’ she soothed again. ‘I’m Rosa and this is Hot.’ She pointed to her little sausage companion and smiled warmly.
‘Amira.’
‘That’s a pretty name.’ The woman must have been in her late twenties, but at this moment all Rosa could see in front of her was a frightened child. ‘Can you walk, do you think?’
The woman nodded.
‘What I’m going to do is take your baby from you and you follow me into the house, OK?’
CHAPTER 29
‘There is a never a dull moment in your life, Rosa Smith.’ Titch reached for a fig roll from the biscuit tin, dipped it into her tea until it went soggy then slurped it into her mouth. ‘Mmm, luverly. Did you see Theo when you dropped Little Ned off?’ she asked indistinctly.
‘Yes, he was just about to poke a bread-stick up Pablo Escobar’s arse until Gladys stopped him.’
‘That’s my boy.’ Titch laughed and sprayed bits of fig seed.
‘As for never a dull moment, I think I may have to correct you there.’ Rosa sat down next to Titch at the shop counter. ‘It hasn’t exactly been show tunes and jazz hands for at least a year since I got pregnant and became a slave to love and the laundry basket.’
Titch nearly choked. ‘You know what I mean,’ she managed. ‘Anyway tell me the whole story, I want to know all the details. Then I really must tidy up Christmas Corner. The second-homers will be descending on us soon and I want to be ready.’
‘Basically, the person who broke in was a woman called Amira – it means Princess in her language, so she told me. She is the sweetest person. She managed to escape from Syria on her own and got to England. You’d think that would be the hardest bit. Anyway, she ended up in Stanley’s Point – you know, the bay on from Polhampton Sands. Met a guy down here, who promised her the world. They had a baby. But unfortunately he turned out to be a drunk and a bully. One night he beat her so badly that she stole his boat and has been living on it ever since.’
‘No!’
‘Yes, that was how she got into the Bay. She saw from my window that I had Little Ned and was so desperate that she broke in purely for milk and nappies.’
‘Oh my God.’ Titch shivered. ‘That’s terrible – and in this weather too.’
‘I know.’ Rosa blew out a breath. ‘I am so relieved now that I didn’t call the police, especially as she stole his boat.’
‘Are you angry with her?’
‘Titch, mother to mother, I’d do the bloody same if my baby needed food.’
‘She could always get a job, sort out benefits?’
‘She probably can’t until she gets her stay finalised officially. She didn’t know where to turn for help.’
‘Please don’t tell me you’ve taken her in, Rose.’
‘Like I did for you, all those years ago when you were pregnant, you mean? Come on, Titch. Yes, I am going to help her get everything sorted.’
Titch bit her lip. ‘Sorry, what am I like? I have been there too. Shit. How far we have both come.’
‘So all the more reason for me to want to support someone else in need. Especially this close to Christmas. However, I can’t have her living with me. Josh wouldn’t have it.’