The Christmas Spirit Read Online Free PDF

his owner’s feet but remained always on the
alert and pre-empted his owner’s every move.
    Natalie stood back for a moment and admired how the bakery
café was filling up. Jacob was chatting with the latest customer, a young mum
with a baby in a sling. She guessed the baby to be around four months old. The
baby girl was trying to grab Jacob’s finger, although her attention appeared to
be temporarily distracted by the pink iced cakes he was packing into a bag for
her mum.
    The bakery’s five tables were occupied. At table one were
Mrs Gardiner and Mrs Seymour, table two had been nabbed by the young mum who
had just come in; a changing bag sat atop it, a muslin cloth draped carelessly
over the chair. At table three were three teenagers - Natalie didn’t mind
teenagers coming in, as long as they bought something and didn’t cause any
disruption. These kids were genuine, each scoffing a different type of muffin
whilst simultaneously texting on their phones. Every so often they would giggle
at something and hold their phones up to each other, laugh some more and then
resume texting. Natalie had always thought she was pretty open-minded. She had
seen a lot in her time, but this variant on conversation went against everything
she had ever learned. But progress was progress, for good or for bad. Two young
women, presumably in their late twenties, sat at table four. They were deep in
conversation and only picked at their slices of carrot cake and sponge cake
occasionally. At the final table sat a man with his laptop, who had been polite
enough to ask if Natalie minded if he charged his laptop on the bakery’s
socket. ‘As long as you’re a paying customer, you can hoover up the
electricity,’ she’d said.
    The man’s relief was apparent and thanking Natalie, he said,
‘I left my charger at home and I need to send my boss this report as soon as I
finish it. It was due this morning. I’ve been typing faster, trying to finish
it before my battery dies on me.’
    ‘No problem. Now, what can I get you?’ Natalie had said,
waving her hand towards the bakery’s offerings.
    Everything was going OK so far, both the bakery and her
project in general. Natalie had made contact with two of the four and had
already been instrumental in Jacob getting a job, so things were going in the
right direction. He seemed a nice boy, too. She had chosen well. He was already
proving to be a hard worker and a definite asset to the bakery. He’d upsold
several customers who had only come in for a cup of tea, to tea and cake,
commenting on the great opportunity to sit and enjoy the view from the bakery
café.
    The door opened again and a harried-looking girl rushed in,
talking quickly into her mobile phone. ‘Yes, Meredith, I’ve got it. I know what
the order is. It’s always the same. I’m not likely to forget.’
Self-consciously, the girl brought her hand to her mouth in shock. Recovering
quickly, she said, ‘Sorry, the line’s breaking up. I’ll see you when I get
back,’ and hung up. ‘Phew!’ she said, almost to herself, but Jacob heard her.
    ‘Tough day?’ he asked.
    ‘Tough boss.’
    ‘Oh dear. I know what you mean,’ and he winked at Natalie.
    ‘Really?’ she asked, ‘I’ve always thought Mrs Williams
really nice.’
    ‘Oh, not Mrs Williams, this one here, battleaxe,’ he
confided in her.
    Natalie turned away and stifled a laugh.
    The girl studied Natalie, then said, ‘Appearances can be
deceiving. She seems...normal. My boss acts the part of superbitch. She makes
Cruella De Vil look like Bambi’s mother.’
    Jacob burst out laughing. ‘You’re painting a great picture
of her. Does she ever come in here, then, so I can make sure I go into hiding
or take the day off?’
    ‘No, she’s ‘too busy’ to do menial stuff like fetch her own
cakes. That’s why she sends me, her gopher.’
    ‘Well, I’m glad she did send you. Sounds like I’ve had a
right lucky escape. She might have skinned me and made me into a