About twenty-five people had gathered in the Mountain Breeze café. June and Niall were delivering plates of cookies and pitchers of fresh coffee to each table as Bonnie and Debbie entered. Bonnie immediately recognised several people, including Jason the reindeer handler, the three elves, Gene, in his woodland gear sitting with one huge, booted leg hooked over the other as he sucked on an empty pipe, and an old lady dressed rather like an Eskimo, whom Bonnie took to be Belinda.
Brendon came over to meet her, then introduced her to those people she hadn’t yet met. Several were staff, others were leaseholders of various shops, restaurants, and attractions.
‘Right, I think everyone who said they’d come is here,’ Brendon said, leading Bonnie to a stool next to the café counter. ‘Would you li
