She sighed, unlocked the door and opened it before walking back behind the counter.
'Hello Reverend. What can I tempt you with today?'
To her astonishment, he actually replied, although it did seem to take forever and his gaze darted around the bakery for a good few seconds before he took a deep breath and finally looked her in the eyes.
'Hello, Jenny. I'm rather hoping I can tempt you.'
And for one brief moment, the way he smiled at her and the way his blue eyes twinkled, she thought there was a very slight chance he could.
'Oh?' she managed, sounding more like him than he did.
'I'm reinstating the choir,' he said. 'From this Tuesday evening. And on Saturday we're going carol singing around the village for charity. Mia and Jet and Ella and Gill have said yes and I'm hoping you will too. It should be fun and it is for a good cause. Please say you will. We'll finish in the pub and we may even have a buffet there, but if not, I'll organise something in the church hall. Will you come with me? With us, I mean.' He gave a little cough and a slight frown as if he was displeased with what he'd said. 'Unless you already have plans, of course. I realise it's short notice and it's a Saturday and a girl like you probably has a date or something.'
'A girl like me? What does that mean, Reverend?'
He turned the colour of one of her raspberry cheesecakes. 'Oh! Um. A girl as beautiful as you, I mean. Um. You're young, you're attractive, you're single. You are single, aren't you?'
She glared at him. 'Yes, Reverend. And I plan to stay that way.'
'I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to offend you.' He looked genuinely concerned.
She gave him a small smile. 'I didn't mean to snap. Sore subject. But as for the rest of it, I'm not sure you'd want me either in your choir or at the carol singing. I've got the kind of voice that makes a dog sound like a prima donna. Believe me, no one wants to hear me sing. Although I could make you a fortune if people had to pay to get me to stop.'
He smiled and his eyes held a warmth that made her feel as if she were sitting in front of a cosy fire. 'I'm sure that's not true.'
She laughed and nodded. 'It is, Reverend. Believe me. I rarely lie.'
'Well, you could come along anyway, couldn't you? Just to join in with the festive spirit.'
'To be honest, I'm not feeling very festive. Christmas was never my favourite time of year and this year I … Well, that doesn't matter. Let's just say I'm feeling even less festive than usual. You really don't want me around.'
'I do want you, Jenny.' He said it so quickly and firmly that it seemed to surprise him as much as it did her. 'I do want you to join us, that is. We all do. Most of the village will be there, I'm sure of it.'
She met his eyes before turning away. 'Okay. I'll think about it. I was just closing up so unless there's anything else, I'll wish you a good Sunday afternoon, Reverend.'
'Actually, there is. Firstly, I'd really like it if you'd call me Glen instead of Reverend. Reverend makes me feel old and unapproachable somehow. Secondly, I'd like three of those, please. I'm going to see Hettie and Fred and I'm already late so one of your delicious treats may soften the glare dear Hettie will no doubt give me. What are they?'
Jenny smiled enthusiastically. She was always happy to talk about the things she baked.
'Cavallucci. They're a type of biscotti made with flour, candied fruit, anise, coriander, and mine have walnuts and almonds in. They usually only have one or the other but why have one variety of nut when you can have two? Would you like to taste one first in case you don't like it?'
He shook his head and smiled. 'No need. I've loved everything I've had so far and I'm sure these, cavallucci, did you say?' She nodded and he continued: 'I'm certain they'll be equally delicious.'
Jenny beamed at him. 'I think you're my biggest fan, Reverend.'
'You have no idea. And it's Glen, remember?'
The way he said that made her meet his eyes and although she hadn't meant to, she gave a little sigh. She quickly turned away and grabbed a paper bag and some tongs. She picked up three cavallucci and slipped them in the bag, twisting the corners as she handed it to him.
'Enjoy,' she said, avoiding his stare. 'And as I've already cashed up, they're my treat.' She hadn't cashed up, but he wouldn't know that.
'That's very kind. But I still haven't thanked you properly for that gift box you gave me the night I arrived. For some reason, I always end up sounding like an idiot whenever I come here. And I may as well do so again. Let me cook dinner for you one night this week. I'm a pretty good cook. Although not in your league, obviously.'
His smile lit up his entire face. A handsome, trustworthy face. But she'd been duped by good looks before. She wouldn't fall for that a second time.
'No,' she said, rather more abruptly than she meant to. 'I mean. No thank you. That's kind, Reverend, but I only gave you that welcome gift because you were the new vicar. I'm not looking for a relationship, or a date, or anything of that sort, thanks.'
'Sorry,' he said, a touch of sadness in his tone. 'What about a friend? I believe I can be a good one of those.' He gave an optimistic smile.
She didn't know what to say and he obviously took her silence as a rejection.
'And, I've done it again. Behaved like a complete idiot. I apologise. I'll leave you to enjoy your afternoon. But if you ever do need a friend, Jenny, I'm just across the green. Thanks for the cavallucci.'
He marched off before she had a chance to reply, and as she watched him go, the sun disappeared behind a bank of cloud and tiny flakes of white fluttered from the sky.
Snow.
That was all she needed.
She hated snow almost as much as she hated Christmas … and possibly even, men.
Chapter Four
'It's snowing!' Mia tipped back her head and closed her eyes, allowing snowflakes to land on her face.
'Wonderful,' Jet said, but he didn't sound particularly enthusiastic. 'Perhaps you could decide where on this roof you want the snowman, so that Gill and I can come down.'
'Where's your Christmas spirit?' Ella asked, grinning up at him as she linked arms with Mia on the front lawn of Corner Cottage.
Jet pulled a face. 'I left it on the roof of Sunbeam Cottage. I didn't think we were going to put anything on this roof other than a string of lights.'
'We weren't,' Mia replied, opening her eyes and smiling up at him. 'But as Ella said, if we do rent this cottage to the women and their kids, we've got to have a snowman or two. Put it on the right side of the chimney. We'll put the other snowman on the left side of the lawn and then you and Gill can put a row of the light-up candy canes along the front edge, and we'll fix the wreath to the door.'
'We'll do that,' Gill offered. 'I've seen you and Ella with a hammer and nails and it's not a pretty sight.'
Jet nodded. 'Leave this to us. You go to Hettie's and find out exactly what she wants to do for her place. Then, unless you plan to volunteer our services to anyone else in the village, perhaps we can spend the rest of the afternoon indoors, in the warm, roasting chestnuts on the fire and drinking hot, spiced cider.'
Mia laughed. 'Roasting chestnuts? I think I've made you watch too many Christmas movies over the last two weeks. And for a farmer and a rugby player, you're a bit of a wimp when it comes to cold weather. Plus, I didn't volunteer your services. You were the one who said you didn't want Fred climbing up any ladders at his age, and certainly not in this weather. You were also the one who said, before we left your house this morning, that you'd probably end up putting up other people's decorations, so it was best to leave Little M at home because you didn't want her chasing strings of fairy lights across the lawns.' They had recently changed the name of Jet's rescued dog, from Mattie to Little M because it was getting confusing. Whenever they mentioned Mia's great-aunt Mattie, the excitable little crossbreed would come racing up and bounce around like a wind-up toy. Although in fact, the change of name hadn't stopped her doing that.
Jet grinned. 'Th
at's true. But I do like roasted chestnuts. And Hettie makes a mean, spiced cider. She did say she'd have a batch of it ready for us this afternoon.'
'She's probably stirring her cauldron right now,' Ella joked. 'Not that I'd say that in front of her. Come on, Mia. Let's leave them to it. I quite like the sound of hot, spiced cider. Perhaps we can see how she makes it, and if she gives us the recipe, Gill can make some more for us.'
'I heard that,' Gill said, as Mia and Ella turned to walk away. 'Why can't you and Mia have a go at making it?'
Ella glanced over her shoulder and laughed. 'Don't be ridiculous, Gill. You know full well that Mia and I are even worse at cooking than we are at D.I.Y.'
Mia grinned at her. 'But I can make mulled wine. This cider thing can't be much different. All we probably need to do is chuck a few bottles of cider in a pot, add some spices and let it simmer. We can do that.'
They walked down the path of Corner Cottage and turned up Lily Pond Lane towards Hettie and Fred's. Hettie had waved at them as they had walked past earlier and said how much she liked the decorations they'd been putting up at Sunbeam Cottage.
'Fred's going to put a few up here this afternoon, my dears' she'd said, clasping her hands beneath her ample bosom. 'But we're waiting for the vicar. Fred's making some leaflets for him about the charity carol singing this Saturday. I'm sure you'll all be coming to that. I do like this new vicar but his time-keeping needs some attention. Said he'd be here at twelve and it's ten minutes past already.'
'He's just nipped over to the bakery,' Jet had told her. 'We saw him a couple of minutes ago. We're off to put some decorations up at Corner Cottage, but it won't take long, I hope.' He had glanced at Mia and grinned. 'Don't let Fred go climbing any ladders, Hettie. Gill and I will pop round when we've finished down the lane and we'll put up anything you want.'
'That's kind of you, deary. I'll tell you what. I'm making some of my special cider. The hot, spiced one you've always liked. I'll make an extra batch for all of you, my dears. Nipped to the bakery, you say? Hmm. I've seen him there quite a lot these last two weeks. Since the morning after he arrived, in fact, my dears. Either our new vicar has a sweet tooth, or he's sweet on something else, if you get my drift. Not that I'm one to gossip these days, as you know. But Jenny Lake's a pretty little thing, isn't she? And those hazel eyes of hers. So sad-looking. I was only saying to my dear Fred the other day that I'm sure that girl's got a broken heart. I know the signs. But then so do you, don't you deary?' She gave Mia a little smile. 'But look at you now. Head over heels in love with our Jet. And he's head over heels in love with you. And, as you know, that's something no one in this village ever thought we'd see. But here I go, talking ten chickens at a time. Better let you get on or it'll be dark before you know it. I don't like these dark nights. Apart from cuddling up on the sofa with my dear Fred, and Prince Gustav. Which reminds me. I forgot to ask the vicar if he likes rats. Perhaps I'd better put dear Prince Gustav back in his cage, just in case. If the vicar ever turns up that is, my dears.'
They'd finally managed to get away but Hettie's words had given Mia food for thought and now that she and Ella were alone, she brought the subject up.
'Do you think Hettie was right about Jenny?'
Ella glanced at her. 'About her having a broken heart? Possibly. When I first met her, back in November shortly arrived she arrived, I said that she must've had her pick of hunky, gorgeous, hot-blooded Italian men, and asked why on earth she left. She looked as if she'd seen a ghost. So I added, 'or beautiful women' because you never know, do you? And she smirked at that and said something like, “No. It's men. Or it was. I'm not interested in any of that now.” I asked why not and she simply said she had the bakery to run. I've tried to ask her personal stuff like that since then but she's always very cagey. She'll go on for hours about what's in her cakes but ask about her personal life and she shuts her mouth tighter than an oven door.'
Mia nodded. 'I've noticed that. A couple of times I've asked about life in Florence. She's told me about the galleries and museums, about the cafes and restaurants, about the smells from the shops and the colours of the sky and surrounding countryside. But the minute I ask how she spent her time and if there was anyone special, she clams up. I've asked her round for dinner a few times, too, and she's always got some excuse, like orders to place, or the books to do, or a recipe she needs to get right. She's polite and says, things like, “Thanks. Perhaps another time.” I've given up asking now. It's as if she wants to be left alone.'
'So if the vicar is interested, he doesn't stand much chance, does he?'
'I don't think so. But then again, as you said, you never know. And look at me and Jet. When I arrived here, no one would've thought for one minute that Jet and I would be together. But we are.'
'Except Mattie, who planned the whole thing,' Ella reminded her.
Not that Mia needed reminding. She had a great deal to thank her great-aunt Matilda for – in addition to the money and property she'd been left. If Mattie hadn't put that condition in her will which meant Mia had to come and live in Little Pondale to inherit Sunbeam Cottage, Jet and her may never have met. Mia possibly might have visited the cottage briefly to see what it was like but then she probably would've simply sold it and bought somewhere in London with the money. When she'd been told about the will and about the great-aunt she didn't know she had, leaving London to live in a tiny village wouldn't even have crossed her mind. She had only done so because she had to. Having been fired from her accountancy admin job, and been struggling with her rent, the chance to live rent-free in a cottage and have some cash to play with, was a gift from the gods. Well, a gift from her great-aunt. Now, she couldn't bear the thought of ever leaving. Not that she would. She intended to spend her life here, with Jet. And that was another little miracle. The fact that he'd now said she could move in with him. Even if it was just for Christmas.
Mia smiled and nodded. 'Yes. But look how much he's changed. Did you ever think you'd hear him suggest I move in with him? At least, so soon? Albeit temporarily.'
Ella shook her head. 'Nope. That was a complete surprise. But if I'm not mistaken, you have me to thank for that.'
Mia raised her brows. 'Really? How?'
Ella grinned. 'Because if I hadn't taken that other booking, and then forgot to tell you, the cottage wouldn't have been double-booked and you wouldn't need to rent out your own cottage, so Jet wouldn't need to have made the offer.'
'That's true.' Mia laughed and nudged Ella's arm. 'For once, your complete incompetence has done us both a favour.'
'Oi! I'm not completely incompetent. I'm a talented editor, a fabulous best friend, a wonderful sister and, according to Gill, a sex goddess.'
'Okay. Those are all true. And speaking of being a wonderful sister, do you have any more news about when the baby is due?'
'No. Garrick still says it's January but Fiona was huge when I saw them at Mum and Dad's last month and even Gill said he wonders if they've got the timing right. Not that we want to think about that, do we?'
'It's okay, Ella. I'm completely fine with it now. I love Jet more than I thought it was possible to love anyone and I could even chat with Garrick now, like we used to, and not feel the slightest pang of sadness or regret.'
'He'll be pleased to hear that. He always asks after you, every time we speak. Even Fiona sent her love when we chatted this morning. Now that you're so happy with Jet, she likes you again, I think. Oh, but I forgot to tell you that, too. We definitely must get some sort of message board and stick it in the kitchen.'
'What were you saying about not being incompetent?' Mia teased. 'Gosh. It's getting colder and these snowflakes are getting bigger by the second. Come on. Let's get to Hettie's and get warm.' She glanced back down the lane and laughed. 'Poor Jet and Gill. They'll be frozen to death by the time they've finished.'
'Yes. But we can warm them up later. If you get my drift, as Hettie would say.'
'God, Ella. Don't get me thinking about sex w
hen we've got to spend at least an hour with Hettie. You know the woman can virtually read my mind these days. She seems to know when I'm thinking about it.'
'That's because you're always thinking about it. You and Jet can't seem to keep your hands off each other. And I suppose it isn't really such a big deal that he's suggested you move in for Christmas. You spend almost all your time together anyway. Either you're at his place or he's at yours. Since Halloween, I don't think you two have spent one night apart, have you?'
Mia considered it and shook her head. 'No. I don't think we have. We sometimes say we will, and we really plan to, but somehow, either he turns up at mine, or I find myself at his front door. It's weird.'
Christmas on Lily Pond Lane: A fabulously festive, heartwarming romance (a standalone in the Lily Pond Lane series) Page 3
