Read The Reluctant Elf (Kindle Single) for Free Online

exhibits and things like that?’
    ‘Yeah, but like I said, I can’t support myself yet. One day, maybe. What do you do for work?’
    ‘Oh, it’s boring. I’m a software programmer, mostly for games.’
    His eyes light up. ‘That doesn’t sound boring. Do you like it?’
    ‘Well it pays the bills and I don’t mind it. And I guess it’s only boring if you’re not a gamer.’
    ‘What about you? Are you a gamer?’
    I shrug. Despite working in the industry for five years, the gaming bug never really took hold. I much prefer curling up with a good book or crap telly.
    ‘Mummy, look!’ Mabel runs to a pretty pine and hugs it. ‘Ouch.’
    ‘Mind the needles.’
    Her eyes widen at my caution.
    ‘I don’t mean real needles,’ I add. ‘The pine tree’s leaves are called needles. I think that one might be a bit small.’
    It’s exactly Mabel’s height.
    ‘How about this one?’ I say of the one beside it. ‘It’s pretty straight. What do you think, Danny?’
    ‘Your job is to choose, mine is to chop. Say the word and it’s ours.’
    ‘Speaking of ours, are we trespassing?’
    ‘Probably, but this seems like the kind of an emergency where trespassing’s okay. So, will this be our Christmas tree?’
    ‘I think so. It’s tall enough. And that other one would work for the parlour.’
    ‘Then stand back, ladies.’
    Mabel springs to my side.
    ‘Mabel,’ he says. ‘You’ve got the most important job. I’m going to saw and when you see it start to tip, you have to shout timber . Okay?’
    She giggles.
    ‘I’m not kidding. It’s critical, so get ready.’
    She giggles again and whispers, ‘Tell me when, Mummy, okay, so I don’t miss it?’
     
    An hour later the Christmas trees are up in the hall and the parlour, thanks to Danny’s handy homemade tree stands. They’re bare of ornaments though.
    ‘Let’s have a look around for Aunt Kate’s Christmas stash.’
    We’ve already found decorations for Easter, Valentine’s Day and the Queen’s Jubilee squirrelled away in the many cabinets in the house. If the worst comes to the worst we can hang the trees with bunting and call it a patriotic Christmas.
    I don’t believe in ghosts but I swear the house retains some of the character of its past inhabitants. It’s easy to imagine women of a certain age in full stage makeup and flowing gowns draped on the sofas and chaises longues while Ivan plays host, tipping ice cubes into gin and tonics.
    Of course they probably wore tracksuits to the Tesco and did Zumba in the conservatory but I prefer the romantic ideal. It’s not like they’re around to tell me I’m wrong.
    ‘Lottie, I found them,’ Danny calls as he staggers downstairs with a large cardboard box. ‘There’s another one up there. It’s not heavy, just awkward to carry. This one has the lights. If you want to check them I’ll go get the other box.’
    Mabel and I begin plugging in each of the dozen strings to make sure they work.
    ‘This should be enough for both trees,’ I say, winding the first string around from the top.
    ‘If we space them carefully,’ she adds.
    I look at her. ‘Do you remember Granddad saying that every year?’
    ‘No, but you say it every year,’ she says shyly. ‘And then you say that Granddad always said it. Does it make you sad?’
    ‘No, honey, it makes me happy to remember him.’
    We’ve just put the lights on the first tree when Danny brings the other box down. ‘Sorry for the delay but I had to take a phone call.’
    I keep forgetting that he has his own life outside Aunt Kate’s B&B.
    ‘I think we’ve got plenty of decorations. Some look like antiques,’ he says.
    ‘I’m not surprised. Aunt Kate loves Christmas. She’s going to be so unhappy to miss this one.’
    I feel a little stab at my words. As I sat by her hospital bed last night, I kept wishing she’d open her eyes. It was very hard to remember that the drugs were keeping her in the coma. She’ll sleep as long as the doctors