‘Yes, my love. Or they’ll keep us here to work for Santa forever…’ Finn gasped dramatically.
‘You’re mad, Finn,’ Titus said, shaking his head. ‘But come on then, let’s have a go!’
While they went to the door ready to begin, the kitchen door opened and Ellie emerged. ‘Hey there.’ She was also dressed as an elf and wearing the same costume of hat, tights, shorts and waistcoat, but she had a white jumper on under her waistcoat. Very wise, Thora thought, with the conditions outside close to freezing.
‘Santa is waiting in the kitchen,’ Ellie whispered.
‘Santa?’ Thora tilted her head.
‘Yes. You know … Santa.’ Ellie winked and Thora realised she meant Lucas.
‘Fabulous,’ she whispered back.
‘Right then,’ Pearl stood in front of the counter. ‘I’m going to start the timer. You have thirty minutes to work out a series of clues and to find the key to escape. Your time starts now!’
Titus and Finn hurried to find the first clue. There were wooden blocks with letters on them on the first table by the window. Titus read the card: ‘Use the blocks to spell the place, find your next clue there and start the race.’
Finn helped him to move the blocks around and soon they’d got them into a word.
‘Shopwork?’ Titus asked, scratching his head. ‘That doesn’t seem right.’
‘How about workshop?’ Finn said.
‘Of course!’ Titus rearranged the letters and then looked for the sign. ‘It’s over there, by the leather sofa.’
They hurried over and found an envelope on the table. Titus opened it and read the card. ‘Find the place where Santa’s helpers dwell, let them know you’re there by ringing the _ _ _ _.’
‘Hmmm…’ Finn said. He’d written the clues, so Thora knew he was trying to hold back unless he found Titus struggling, in which case he’d help more.
‘Bell!’ Titus looked around, then said. ‘There!’
They went to the Christmas tree in the corner by the counter where a large bell was hanging from a branch. Titus reached inside and pulled out a small velvet bag. He opened it and inside found a small object then held it up to the light. ‘What is this?’
‘It looks like an eye.’ Finn raised his brows. ‘But from what?’
Titus scanned the room again, his cheeks flushed and his tongue poking out of the side of his mouth. He was clearly enjoying this every bit as much as Finn had hoped. He stalked off around the room, looking for something missing a small glass eye and then he said, ‘Aha! This teddy bear only has one eye.’
He turned it over and said, ‘The back is open.’ He felt inside, then pulled out a small card. ‘You won’t find countries on this globe, but you will find Porthpenny and some snow.’
‘Porthpenny and some snow?’ Finn rubbed his chin, then grinned over at the counter where Thora was still standing with their children and Ellie. Pearl was staying out of the way by the front door, a stopwatch in her hands. ‘What kind of globe has snow but no countries, Titus?’
Titus frowned while he thought and then his eyes lit up. ‘I know! A snow globe.’
He located the snow globe on the bookshelf behind the sofa and looked on the bottom and found a small golden key taped to it.
‘Whatever could that be for?’ Finn asked. ‘Perhaps thatlockedchest underneath the tree by the window?’
‘Of course!’ Titus went over and tried the key in the lock, and the chest opened.
Inside was a small box, and he lifted it out, then looked up at Finn. ‘Did you … did you set this up?’
Finn smiled. ‘I did. I wanted it to be a fun date for us.’
‘It’s brilliant.’
Thora’s eyes stung as she watched them. They were such a loving couple, and she knew Finn had found his person in Titus. She was very happy for them and couldn’t wait to see how Titus reacted when he found the last clue.
Titus opened the box. Inside was a small scroll that he unrolled. ‘Before they leave on Christmas Eve, the reindeer will eat lots of hay and then they’ll pull Santa’s…’ Titus stood up and looked around the café. ‘They pull the sleigh but there’s no sleigh here.’
