He shook his head. 'No, Mum. I want to go for a walk. And then I'm going to the pub. There's a buffet later and everyone will get together. You should come. It'll give you and that woman, Hettie, I think you called her, a chance to catch up. Bury the hatchet, perhaps? It is Christmas after all. The season of goodwill and all that. And it'll give me a chance to ask her why she was staring at me as if she'd seen a ghost.'
'No Leo! Don't go near that woman. Please, darling. For me? She won't have a good word to say about me, I can promise you that and she'll fill your head with lies, just the way she always did. There's a woman like that in every village. That's what makes them such dreadful places to live. Promise me you won't go near her. Please my darling. Promise me.'
He sighed and looked her in the eyes. She seemed close to tears and he didn't want her to be upset. It was her fortieth wedding anniversary tomorrow and this was supposed to be a family Christmas; a chance for them to spend some quality time together. Something his family rarely did. This holiday was supposed to be a celebration. And she was probably right. After all, what other explanation could there be? He'd always known his parents had met in this village, so of course they would've met some of the locals. He'd heard the story several times over the years and knew it by heart. It had always sounded so romantic. That was why he had thought coming back here for their anniversary was such a good idea. It seemed he may have been wrong about that.
His mum was a friend of the then vicar's daughter and was here on holiday for the summer. His dad was passing through the village on a walking holiday and had fallen on Frog Hill, hurting his ankle badly. One of the villagers had taken him in and let him stay until it had healed sufficiently. Leo's mum had a knowledge of herbs and as there was no doctor in the village at the time, she had offered to bind his ankle with a healing recipe she knew. Their eyes had met, they had fallen in love at first sight and a few months later, on December the 23rd, they were married. That was forty years ago.
And it would soon be Leo's fortieth birthday.
He'd always known his mum was pregnant when his parents married. Perhaps this woman, Hettie had spread rumours about them around the village. Perhaps that was why his mum was so upset.
Damn. Why hadn't he thought this through? He assumed bringing them back to the village where they met and fell in love would be a lovely surprise. A way to relive their romance. To walk along the beach they'd once strolled along, hand in hand. To see the places they had stayed. To do the things they'd done so many years ago. But clearly he'd been wrong. Very, very wrong.
Perhaps his mum was right. Perhaps it would be better if they left. He'd have a word with Mia about it later. He didn't care about the money. He was simply unhappy that he'd ruined his parents wedding anniversary tomorrow, and possibly, their Christmas.
'Okay, Mum. I promise. I won't go near the woman. And I'll speak to Mia. If you and Dad and Hal would rather leave, we can go back to London first thing tomorrow. I'll find somewhere fabulous for us all to stay as my way of saying sorry.'
She smiled at him and took his hands in hers. 'There's no need, darling. Let's go back to ours for Christmas. We can stock up on the way, or get someone to deliver. It isn't Christmas Day until Tuesday, so we still have time to prepare. I know you meant well, Leo and I do appreciate the thought. We both do. But you're so much like your father. A true romantic, and sometimes, romance doesn't go quite as one expects. Let's go inside and start packing.'
'I'll be in later, Mum. There's someone I want to see before I go.'
'Leo, darling! You promised.'
'Not the old woman, Mum. It's someone else. And I need to see Mia and explain.'
Elizabeth hesitated. 'Oh well, darling. If you must. But I'd like to leave bright and early, so no going to the pub. If you are stopped for drink driving that will really round things off.'
He smiled and walked away, heading towards Corner Cottage. Why he felt he wanted to see Cathy and say goodbye, he had no idea, and yet he felt he should. No, not that he should. It was that he wanted to. Which was ridiculous, considering they had only met today.
But then again, his mum and dad had fallen in love at first sight and they'd been married forty years.
Is that what had happened to him today? Had he fallen in love at first sight? The little girls had both tugged at his heart strings, there was no doubt about that, especially the older one. There was a sadness about her. And when he'd first turned around in the queue and looked into Cathy's eyes, something deep inside him had definitely stirred. Or perhaps awakened might be a better way to describe the way he'd felt. He'd had several relationships in his life, but none of them had made him feel the way he had when he looked at Cathy. It was as if his entire future had flashed before his eyes. A future that was bright and cheerful, full of love and happiness.
Didn't people say that was what happened when you were drowning? You saw your entire life in a moment. Falling in love was like falling into an ocean, wasn't it? Uncharted waters of love and passion and desire. In that split second, when he'd looked into her eyes, he'd felt all those things. And more.
And his mum had just said, he was so much like his father.
He was a true romantic.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Cathy watched the expression on Daisy's face as the reindeer and the sleigh pulled up outside Corner Cottage. She had never seen her daughter so excited, or Christy's daughter, Dylan, come to that. Their eyes were alight with pure, innocent joy, their hands clasped together as they screamed in delight, and when they were allowed, not just to pet the reindeer, but to each give the reindeer a carrot, they were simply over the moon.
'Mummy, mummy. Did you see me?'
Daisy jumped up and down with joy and Dylan attempted to copy her, losing her balance and tumbling onto her back, giggling at the top of her voice as Daisy tried to pull her up. Christy stepped in to take over.
'Yes, darling. I saw you. You were both very brave girls.'
'And Father Christmas said that we can go for a ride in the sleigh if we are very good. We will be very good, Mummy.'
'I know you will, darling. You're always a good girl. That was very kind of Father Christmas, especially as he'll be so busy this weekend. He's got to make sure all the presents are ready to be delivered on Monday night.'
'This Monday is Christmas Eve?'
'Yes darling. Christmas Day is only three sleeps away.'
'And what do you want for Christmas, Daisy?' a male voice enquired.
Cathy turned around to see the nice man from the queue at the bakery this morning who had said his name was Leo.
'Weindeer,' Dylan shouted, giggling and dancing as best she could in the deep snow.
'Yes,' Daisy said, nodding. 'Reindeer would be lovely. But we don't have a garden, so it wouldn't be fair. And we're not allowed pets, are we Mummy?'
'No, darling,' Cathy quickly said.
'So what would you like other than a reindeer?' Leo asked.
'A doll,' Daisy said, and Dylan nodded. 'Some ballet shoes. But I don't go to ballet now.' She looked extremely sad, and Cathy quickly changed the subject.
'And books, darling. You want lots of books, don't you?'
'Yes. Lots and lots of books. I like reading. Do you like reading?'
'Very much,' Leo replied. 'And what does Mummy want for Christmas?' He smiled at Daisy before looking into Cathy's eyes.
She knew she was blushing but she couldn't help herself and she blushed even more when Daisy replied, 'S-e-x. Mummy wants s-e-x for Christmas.'
For a split second Leo looked shocked and then it was obvious he was trying desperately hard to stop himself from laughing. Christy didn't bother. She shook with laughter.
'Oh Daisy,' Christy said, almost choking. 'You're a treasure. An absolute delight.'
'I don't,' Cathy said, trying to avoid looking at Leo's face. 'And I can explain.'
'There's no need to explain to me,' he said, his voice catching with every word. 'And it's none of my busine
ss, but is there anyone in particular you would like to receive this present from?'
'Absolutely not. No. No one. No one at all.'
'Stop digging,' Christy teased, nudging Cathy's arm. 'What my friend means is that she's not seeing anyone at the moment. But if she was seeing someone she would like them to give her that particular present.'
'No I don't. I wouldn't. I definitely don't want that for Christmas.'
Leo raised his brows. 'Well,' he replied, grinning mischievously. 'Now that we've established exactly what you don't want, may I ask if you would like a drink? And your friend and the children, of course.'
'Oh. Um.'
'Yes,' Christy said. 'We'd all like that very much. I hear there's a buffet in the pub.'
'Yes,' he said, smiling at Cathy. 'I heard that too. Shall we see if we can get a seat before it becomes too packed? I think everyone watching and involved with this procession will be in the pub later.'
'Good idea,' Christy said.
'Um.' Cathy hesitated.
'Come on, Cathy. It's Christmas. Remember what I said.' Christy winked and then bent down and lifted Dylan into her arms.
Cathy took Daisy's hand and hoped she wasn't blushing as much as she thought. It felt as if her cheeks were on fire.
'Would you like me to give Daisy a piggyback?' Leo asked. 'The snow's quite deep and she's probably a little too grown-up for you to lift her.'
Cathy glanced from him to Christy and then to Daisy, who was nodding enthusiastically.
'For a little way,' Cathy said.
Leo seemed nice, but she didn't know him from Adam, even though every time he looked at her something inside her felt warm and safe and happy.
He bent down and swung Daisy onto his back with ease. 'Hold tight,' he said. 'We may need to gallop.' He picked up speed, ran a few feet ahead, kicking up snow as they went, and just as Cathy was about to panic, he turned and ran back again, Daisy shrieking with laughter in his ear.
'Mummy go,' Dylan said, trying to clamber over Christy's shoulder and copy what was happening to Daisy.
Christy threw Leo a reprimanding look. 'Thanks,' she said, but she was grinning. 'Come on then.' She shifted Dylan onto her back, and jogged a little way ahead.
'You're very good with children,' Cathy said, still trying to avoid looking at Leo's intense green eyes. 'Do you have children of your own?'
He shook his head. 'No. I'm not married.'
'Nor am I,' Cathy replied, although she had no idea why she said that.
'I've never been married.' Leo was staring at her.
She smiled up at Daisy and tied Daisy's scarf a little tighter. 'Not the marrying kind?'
'No. I am the marrying kind. I've just never met someone I wanted to marry.'
'I bet you've had plenty to choose from though.' Now she did look at him.
He frowned. 'A few, perhaps. What about you? Have you met anyone since your husband passed away?'
She didn't reply immediately. What could she say? She didn't want to lie. And yet…
'No. No one I wanted to marry,' she eventually said.
'Can we go fast again, please?' Daisy asked.
'Absolutely,' Leo said. He smiled at Cathy before trotting ahead, sending showers of snow in his wake.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jenny watched the procession and smiled all the way through it. Which surprised her rather a lot. She had never been a fan of Christmas, and could take or leave all the decorations, and yet since the supper party at Jet's, she had been feeling decidedly festive. So much so, she had put up decorations in the bakery and also in the cottage and she had been working on a new recipe for different varieties of shortbread. She had even made a Christmas cake for herself. A large Christmas cake. What she was going to do with it, she had no idea. Put it in the bakery, for sale, perhaps. Along with the Christmas pudding she had also made for herself, with extra cherries and oranges with a whiskey and marmalade centre. It was full of walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and pecans, and again was definitely on the large side. It was as if she was preparing food for a Christmas she wouldn't be having. A family Christmas. A Christmas surrounded by love and laughter, friendship and warmth.
She had planned to go home after seeing the reindeer and the sleigh, and yet she found herself trudging through the snow across the green towards The Frog and Lily. The place was already heaving, by the cacophony of voices she could hear emanating from that direction. Poor Toby, Freda and Alec would be rushed off their feet. The carollers hadn't even arrived yet, and when they did, there would be no room to move.
'Hey Jenny!' A female voice called from somewhere close by, and as she peered across the lane which was brightly lit by lamplight and the multi-coloured lights between, she spotted Cathy, who she recognised from seeing her in the bakery.
Jenny dashed across the lane and smiled. 'Hello Cathy. Where's Christy and the children?'
Cathy nodded ahead of her, and Jenny saw the tall, blond man from this morning who had insisted on paying for Cathy and Christy's cakes, and also for Mia and Ella's. He appeared to have Daisy on his back, and ahead of him was Christy with Dylan.
'They seem to be enjoying themselves,' Jenny said. 'Did you know him before today?'
Cathy shook her head. 'No. He started talking to us and the children in the queue.'
Jenny pulled a face. 'If he wasn't such a nice man, I'd be worried that that was a bit weird.'
'I know. That thought struck me. As a mother, you're always wary of strangers, especially when you've—' She stopped abruptly and glanced at Jenny before continuing: 'When you've seen what can happen. But sometimes you just get a feeling about someone, if you know what I mean. And you simply know the person is one of the nicest men you've ever met.'
'I know exactly what you mean. Can you keep a secret?'
Cathy furrowed her brows before smiling warmly. 'Yes. I can definitely keep a secret.'
Jenny smiled. 'I'm telling you this because you're only here for the holidays and when it all goes wrong, I won't have to feel humiliated by seeing you and knowing that you know.'
'That sounds complicated.'
'Love is, isn't it?'
Cathy stiffened. 'It shouldn't be. I think sometimes it's us who makes it complicated. We want someone we can't have. Or we don't want someone who wants us. I take it you're in love with someone?'
Jenny let out a long, sad sigh. 'I was. I lived in Florence until a few weeks ago, but I discovered my boyfriend in bed with the girl I thought was my best friend. It broke my heart completely. I hadn't just lost a boyfriend, I'd lost my best friend too.'
'God. That's awful.'
'My cousin Justin owns the bakery here, but he's now a Hollywood star. Although that's another story. To cut a long story short, I asked if I could come and live in his cottage and take over the bakery. I was actually running away. I thought it would take me years to get over what Silvio my boyfriend, and Bianca my best friend, did. And yet the odd thing is, I've met someone. Someone I would never dream of having a relationship with in the normal course of events. But the minute I saw him I felt something. Something deep within me. And every time I've seen him since, I look forward to the next time that I'll see him. Does that make any sense at all?'
'It makes complete sense. Do you think he feels the same about you?'
Jenny shook her head. 'I think he likes me. I think he likes me a lot. But he's such a lovely guy, he could simply be being friendly. He's nice to everyone he meets. He cares about people. How do I know if he feels more for me than friendship? He did offer to make dinner for me once, but I made an excuse and refused.'
'There's only one way to find out. Ask him to dinner. Or out for coffee, or a drink.'
'It sounds so easy. But it isn't, is it? I'm scared of getting hurt again. I'm scared to trust my feelings. I'm telling a complete stranger about my love life.'
Cathy grinned at her. 'I'm not a complete stranger. I've been in the bakery a few times. And if it makes you feel any better, I'll tell yo
u a secret too. I've met someone, and he makes me feel exactly the same as you say your man makes you feel.'
Jenny opened her eyes wide and pulled a face. 'It's not the same man, is it? That would be too awful.'
'I hadn't thought of that. What colour hair does your man have?'
'Blond,' Jenny said.
Cathy's gaze shot forward and she sounded panicked. 'So does Leo.'
'Leo?' Jenny nodded towards Leo and Daisy still several yards ahead. 'Phew. Mine's, Glen.'
'The vicar?' Cathy queried. 'Gosh. That's a relief.' She suddenly smiled. 'Have you heard about the Wishing Tree?'
Jenny nodded. 'Yes. Hettie told me all about it. Why?'
'Mia told me. And I was just wondering. There's no harm in making a wish, is there?'
Jenny shrugged. 'I suppose not. But what do we wish for? To find the love of our life, or to find someone who will never lie or cheat or steal, or hurt us in any way?'
'Perhaps we just wish for someone to love us on equal terms. It's Sunday tomorrow. We could go and make a wish. Apparently we must never go there on a Monday.'
'Because of the curse,' Jenny said, nodding. 'I'm up for that tomorrow. What about your friend? Is she in love with someone?'
Cathy shook her head. 'Not as far as I know. But this village seems to have a lot of very handsome men.' She grinned. 'And we're here until the 2nd of January.'
'I think he's waiting for you,' Jenny said, nodding her head in Leo's direction. 'I'll leave you to it.'
'No,' said Cathy. 'Join us. Unless you're meeting someone else.'
'I'm not. And I would love to join you. Thank you. I'm hoping for a chance to have a friendly chat with Glen this evening, and I would have felt a bit sad propping up the bar alone.'
'I'm not sure anyone would be alone here,' Cathy said. 'Everyone I've met seems very friendly.'
'That's one of the reasons I wanted to come,' Jenny said. 'Justin was always telling me that no one could ever be miserable or alone in Little Pondale. And I was definitely feeling both those things in Florence.'
Christmas on Lily Pond Lane: A fabulously festive, heartwarming romance (a standalone in the Lily Pond Lane series) Page 14
