Page 42 of All Wrapped Up

‘I just don’t want everyone missing out,’ he said and I took my hand away now he’d stood down. ‘Not after so many people bothered to vote.’

‘They won’t miss out,’ I said, as a possible solution fortuitously sprang to mind. ‘I’ve got an idea that will mean it can still happen.’

‘What are you thinking?’

‘How about,’ I suggested, ‘we award our winners today as planned, then make an announcement about the ballot box being stolen and set up a new one somewhere else for safekeeping—’

‘Like in here or in the café, you mean?’

‘Yes.’ I nodded. ‘That’s it. The café would probably be best as so many families go in there and maybe we could change the vote slightly,’ I carried on, feeling further inspired to make the most of the horrible situation.

‘We could ask people to only vote for windows that haven’t been placed by us and that way, the rest of the shops will get another chance. ’

‘That’s a great idea,’ Ash agreed. ‘Everyone’s bound to be disappointed about what’s happened, but this is a brilliant solution, Clemmie.’

‘As long as Jemma is happy to look after the ballot box.’

‘I’m sure she will be.’

‘In that case,’ I said, as my stomach growled, ‘let’s quickly grab some lunch and then get the new plan underway.’

‘I’m up for that,’ Ash said, picking Pixie up and readjusting her coat while I quickly finished my coffee and then put my own coat back on. ‘There’s a wood-fired pizza stand set up on the market today. Can I tempt you to something from that?’

‘You certainly can,’ I confirmed keenly. ‘It’s ages since I’ve had one of those.’

We both picked the same toppings and the pizzas were delicious. Generous amounts of mushrooms, pancetta, Gruyere and caramelised onions covered the thin, crisp bases and we ate them on one of the benches that had been arranged where the stage had been on the day of the launch.

It was the perfect spot to people-watch from and we were on the lookout for any shady characters who might know something about the case of the disappearing ballot box. Being Wynbridge though, of course, and with Jason still in the pub, there were none.

‘I didn’t expect you to eat all of that,’ said Ash, when I handed him my empty box.

‘You sound disappointed,’ I laughed.

‘I am,’ he said. ‘I was hoping for a nibbled edge at least.’

‘I’m not sure that’s the sort of thing you say to a friend,’ I pointed out and then wished I hadn’t because it caused a blush to bloom.

‘Oh crikey,’ said Ash, also turning rosy. ‘Not friendly territory at all. While I go and recycle these boxes, you can completely forget I said that.’

I was more than happy to oblige.

We’d printed certificates and had them framed for the winning shop owners to either add to their window displays or hang in the shops.

Second and third place had been awarded to the delicatessen and jewellers respectively, and the overall winner was Hardy’s, the art supplies and stationery shop which had used Keats’s poem, ‘To Autumn’, as its inspiration.

All of the windows were beautiful, but that one was especially lovely with a wonderful display of many of the seasonal treasures Keats described and the poem copied out on a piece of parchment in the most exquisite calligraphy, and suspended amid flying paper swallows, at its centre.

Quite a crowd had gathered to follow Ash and I about as we did the rounds and unbeknown to me, Jemma’s husband, Tom, had called the local press and a photographer turned up to listen to what was being said and take photographs.

Again, I hoped I wouldn’t get a mention, but as festival organiser I supposed it was inevitable that my name was going to feature more at some point.

The photographer certainly seemed to being taking a lot of photographs in my direction, but perhaps I was just being paranoid.

Given the invasive media interest following Callum’s death, I still wasn’t much of a fan of the press and was very aware of him as a result.

Between us, when we had finished in Hardy’s, Ash and I took the opportunity to explain to everyone who had gathered about why the public vote couldn’t also be announced.

In the face of my reprised anger and frustration over the ballot box, I forgot about the photographer and wasn’t nervous about addressing everyone either.

‘But who would do that?’ someone at the front of the crowd asked angrily and lots of other people joined in. ‘Who would be that mean?’

‘That’s what we’d like to know,’ Ash sighed. ‘So, if you have any information at all, do please let either myself or Clemmie know.’

Happy smiles had been replaced with furrowed brows and, as furious as I still was about what had happened, I quickly moved the announcement on in the hope that it wouldn’t bring down everyone’s mood and spoil the day.

‘But not to worry,’ I said robustly, ‘because we’re having another vote to make up for it and today’s winners have agreed to not be included, so all of the other shops are in the running for this one.’

‘And we’ll be keeping the ballot box somewhere else,’ Ash added. ‘We’ll let you know where as soon as we can.’

‘Jemma has said you can put it in the Cherry Tree!’ Tom shouted from the back.

‘Fantastic!’ Ash called in response, giving him a thumbs up. ‘Thank you.’

We hadn’t had a chance to talk to her yet, but Tom obviously had and she had kindly stepped up.

‘Let’s not let one naysayer spoil everyone else’s fun!’ someone else piped up.

‘Hear! Hear!’ was the rousing reply and I felt delighted to see everyone coming together to make the most of the horrible situation.

Once the crowd had dispersed, Ash insisted he was hungry again, so we headed over to the café to fill him up on cake and thank Jemma personally for offering to keep the ballot box.

‘Can we come in with Pixie?’ Ash asked, as we lingered on the threshold.

‘Of course you can,’ Jemma insisted. ‘Get in quick. It’s freezing out there today. How did announcing the winners go?’

Both the café and the gallery hadn’t been included in mine and Ash’s deliberations. They both had stunning seasonal displays set up, but Jemma and Lizzie had asked not to be considered as they had both been involved with the festival’s inception and felt they had a vested interest.

‘Really well,’ I told her. ‘Though, as you know, we couldn’t announce the public vote.’

‘Yes,’ she said, with a shake of her head. ‘Fancy stealing a ballot box! I told Tom it should be reported to the police. You won’t have to worry about me losing sight of it in here, because I’m chaining it to the counter!’

‘Thank you, Jemma,’ I gratefully said.

‘How long is the vote going to be running for?’ she then asked.

‘How about a week?’ Ash and I said together, then smiled.

We hadn’t discussed it, but both had the same timeframe in mind.

It felt good to be on the same wavelength as my deputy and now we were back on a proper footing, I wouldn’t feel awkward if I needed to call on him for support.

With so much of the festival still to take place, that would be more of a possibility than ever.

‘That should be long enough,’ said Ash. ‘We can’t really leave it any longer, because the winners won’t have time to make the most of it.’

‘I’ll have to quickly get more ballot papers printed…’ I said, pulling out my phone to make a note. ‘If we find out who the culprit is for stealing the first lot, we’ll bill them for ink, paper and wasted time.’

‘I’ll sort the forms,’ said Ash. ‘That sounds like a deputy’s job to me.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Absolutely.’

‘Thank you, Ash.’

‘And I’ll sort another box, too.’

‘Oh crikey,’ I huffed. ‘I hadn’t even thought of that.’

‘Have a word with Tom, Ash,’ said Jemma. ‘He’ll be able to source another box.’

‘Great,’ I said, making a note of that, too.

Jemma then gave me a look I couldn’t fathom.

‘What?’ I awkwardly laughed, feeling taken aback by the change in her, now the business of the day had been organised and discussed.

‘You need to talk to Joanne,’ she said, after a moment had passed. She sounded nothing like she had before, which was disconcerting. ‘She thinks she might have put her foot in it about something.’

‘Oh, crikey,’ groaned Ash. ‘What’s she done now?’

‘It won’t be anything horrendous,’ I told him. ‘Because I know for a fact that she’s turned over a new leaf.’

Jemma said nothing.

‘Nonetheless, I think I’ll wait for my cake,’ Ash sighed reluctantly. He obviously didn’t have the same faith in Joanne that I did. ‘I’ve suddenly lost my appetite.’

‘In that case, why don’t you go to the gallery?’ Jemma then suggested. ‘It’ll be quieter in there and I’ll send Joanne round.’

‘Hello, you three,’ Lizzie greeted us when we walked in. ‘I was hoping to see you, Clemmie, because I was going to ask if you fancied volunteering to help with the lantern-making workshop next weekend?’

‘Oh, yes, please,’ I said, still feeling unperturbed by whatever it was Joanne thought she’d slipped up and done because I didn’t think it could be anything that bad. ‘I’d love to.’

‘I thought it might help you make up your mind about my offer,’ Lizzie smiled. ‘Not, as you know, that I’m trying to rush you.’

‘Offer?’ Ash asked.

I then realised that I still hadn’t shared with him what it was that Lizzie had suggested.

‘I’ll fill you in later,’ I told him.

‘I’m intrigued,’ he smiled.

The shop bell rang out before I could give him a clue and Joanne walked in looking red eyed and awful.

‘Whatever’s happened?’ Ash gasped, the moment he looked at her.

‘It was the flowers.’ She swallowed, looking at me. ‘It was the photo of the flowers.’

‘Flowers?’ Lizzie frowned, as she rushed to lock the door. ‘What are you talking about, Joanne?’

‘I was in the café,’ she carried on, still looking at me, ‘and it was my break, so I thought I’d have a quick look online.’

I felt the cogs in my brain start to turn.

‘And I saw this photo of the exact flowers I’d given you, Clemmie, posted on my favourite Insta account, Autumn Everything.’

‘Ah,’ I said and Lizzie groaned. ‘I see.’