‘Who says?’
‘You do.’ She showed him the screen.
Mark groaned. On it was an interview where he had given advice to new authors. He remembered stressing how important research was when it came to writing.
‘Just for today?’ she pleaded. ‘Three hours, at the most. Please?’
And that was how Mark Stafford, successful children’s author, came to be dressed in a Grinch costume, trying his best to entertain small children on the farm on Muddypuddle Lane.
Beatrice was so busy she didn’t know what to do with herself and was loving every minute of it. The hampers were flying off the shelves, as were the gift boxes of soaps, and every time the door opened she caught a whiff of mulled wine along with a blast of cold air, which made her thankful for her many layers and for the electric heater behind the counter that kept her legs and feet warm.
Things appeared to be going equally as well outside the shop. Although Beatrice didn’t have a view of the barn, from the snippets she’d overheard from her customers, there was a queue to see the Grinch, the petting area was popular, and the food was going down a storm. In order to encourage repeat custom over the next few weeks, Dulcie and Otto were varying the food on the menu, hoping to tempt visitors back, and there was also a selection of today’s offerings in the shop, so if people wanted they could purchase some to take home.
Beatrice didn’t know how Dulcie and Otto managed to fit it all in, although they had some help in the form of Dulcie’s mum Beth, and Otto’s dad Walter, plus Nikki, one of Dulcie’s sisters, and a couple of others. But it was still a lot of work, and whenever she glanced out the window she saw Dulcie dashing around in her pixie outfit.
Between serving customers, Beatrice filled the ‘smelly socks,’ and made up more hampers, and as she worked she kept an eye on the time.
Her parents were due to arrive shortly with the children, and she couldn’t wait to see her girls’ faces. Sadie had been so excited this morning at the prospect of meeting the Grinch, that she hadn’t stopped talking. Mind you, she was also thrilled at the thought of stroking a goat, petting a rabbit and having a ride on a Shetland pony. Taya hadn’t been quite as enthusiastic, but she was nearly ten, which was almost a grown-up as far as Taya was concerned, and such childish things were beneath her.
Beatrice was gift-wrapping a box of soaps when she noticed her dad peering through the window, waving to catch her attention.
‘Two minutes?’ she mouthed, and as soon as she’d served her customer, she sent a quick message to Dulcie to alert her.
Dulcie, bless her, arrived in seconds.
‘I won’t be long.’ Beatrice assured her.
‘Take as long as you need. You’re due a break.’
Beatrice removed her apron. ‘It looks busy out there.’
‘It is!’ Dulcie beamed. ‘The Grinch is a big hit, and Otto can’t keep up with the mince pies.’
‘I’ve made up more socks,’ Beatrice told her. ‘Do you want me to take them to the grotto?’
‘It’s okay, I’ll take them later,’ Dulcie said. ‘You’d better go, I think someone is getting impatient.’
Beatrice saw Sadie jumping up and down outside, tugging on her nana’s hand.
‘Mummy!’ she cried, letting go of Deborah and barrelling towards Beatrice as soon as she stepped outside.
Sadie grabbed her around the waist and buried her face in Beatrice’s stomach. Beatrice hugged her back. She would have liked to cuddle her eldest child too, but knew that Taya would hate it. Cuddles in public had become a no-no recently.
As the five of them headed towards the Grinch’s Grotto, Beatrice took the opportunity to look around the yard. Several families were queuing at the kiosk for tickets, and more were waiting to enter the grotto itself. There was a steady trickle of people in and out of the petting area, and the tables in the makeshift cafe were all occupied.
No wonder Dulcie was pleased. This first Saturday was proving to be a runaway success, and Beatrice was thrilled for her.
Before long, Deborah was handing their tickets to the elf on the door and they went inside. Although Dulcie had shown Beatrice the entrance to the Grinch’s Grotto when she’d come for the interview, none of the Christmas lights had been lit, and she gasped at how pretty it now looked.
Beatrice wasn’t the only one who was impressed. Sadie was gazing around in awe, her cheeks glowing, her mouth open. Even Taya’s eyes were wide, and Beatrice smiled: her little girl was still there, hidden beneath the urge to grow up as fast as she could.
They shuffled forward slowly, and Beatrice used the time to remind her daughters of the story ofThe Grinch Who Stole Christmas, even though it was a tradition that they watched the film every year, so they knew it inside out.
After ten minutes or so, the family in front of them were summoned into the cave by a cross face and a claw-like hand, and Beatrice’s children were next in line.
‘Mummy, look!’ Sadie pointed to a black and white sheepdog lying next to the entrance to the Grinch’s cave. It was happily gnawing on a chew, and there was a bowl of water beside it. But what made Beatrice smile were the felt antlers it wore, not on its head, but attached to a harness around its chest.
Sadie frowned. ‘That isn’t Max. Max is brown.’ She was quite indignant.
