A Mistletoe Kiss by Katie Flynn Page B

boys to come down to the wharf and have supper with the Heskeths.
    Since it was a weekday, Uncle Alf would certainly be working, though he might get home in time to join them later in the evening. Aunt Phoebe would be working as well, of course, but Hetty knew that she would cast aside her ironing in good time to join her parents and niece on board the Water Sprite . Like Hetty’s mother, Aunt Phoebe had been brought up on the canal and thoroughly enjoyed visiting the barge when she was in Liverpool.
    Hetty’s thoughts were interrupted by her grandfather’s voice addressing her. ‘Hetty, my love, get ready to moor up as soon as we near the wharf. You go to the bows and my engineer here will see to the stern.’ Gramps grinned cheerfully at his youthful crew. ‘Harry, you’ll know best when to cut the engine so we don’t ram the boat in front, because there’s bound to be a queue waiting to unload. I dare say you’ll want to visit your mam and dad if they’re moored up ahead of us. Want to go along and take a look?’
    Hetty saw Harry pull a face and guessed that he had no desire to find his parents, but as soon as the boat was moored he jumped on to the towpath and walked slowly off towards the wharf. Hetty was about to follow him, since she was curious to see what sort of greeting he would receive from his family, when Gran called her. ‘Hetty love, I’ve a letter here for your Aunt Phoebe. We’ll be here a while – you know what it’s like when we’re changing cargo – so I’d be much obliged if you’d take this note along to Salisbury Street right away.’ Her grandmother nipped nimbly off the boat and thrust the letter into her granddaughter’s hand, along with a number of pennies and ha’pennies. She beamed at Hetty. ‘You know what’s in the letter because it’s the same as always. I’ve made a rabbit stew, something you don’t get often when you live in Salisbury Street, and I’m asking the family to come down to the old Water Sprite and share it. Your aunt and uncle are both rare fond of rabbit stew, and there’s Bakewell tart for afters.’
    â€˜And the pennies? What’s the pennies for?’ Hettyasked, though she knew perfectly well, for this had also become a ritual when she was leaving the Water Sprite .
    Gran chuckled and dug Hetty in the ribs. ‘As if you didn’t know! It’s to buy some sweeties for your cousins. It’s a good job Bill and Tom aren’t really interested in the canal, otherwise we’d have to take them to Leeds and back instead of you,’ she added teasingly. ‘Now off with you, girl, and don’t linger, because the stew will be cooked to a turn in an hour. Since it’s a fine bright evening, we shan’t all have to cram into the cabin, but can eat our food sitting on the decking.’
    â€˜I’ll hurry,’ Hetty promised. ‘I know Bill and Tom are more interested in cars and buses than in barges, but they enjoy visiting the Sprite. ’
    Gran smiled and nodded. ‘Oh aye, mebbe you’re right, but there’s plenty of time for that. Now off with you, and don’t go handin’ over the sweets the minute you see your cousins, else they won’t have no room in their stomachs for my rabbit stew.’
    Hetty hurried off and was soon entering the familiar kitchen, which was redolent with the smell of freshly ironed linen for, as she had guessed, her aunt was working. As soon as Hetty appeared, however, Aunt Phoebe stood her irons carefully down on the hearth, gave her niece a hug, and took the folded note. ‘Make a pot of tea, chuck, and gimme a cup,’ she said, unfolding the pages. ‘I’m that thirsty wi’ ironing all them tablecloths on such a hot day I could drink the Mersey dry.’
    â€˜Where’s the boys? Gran’s asking you all to the Water Sprite for supper,’