by Rosie Green
But what’s the point of Christmas Day celebrations without Dad there?
The lump in my throat is really painful now and I’m fighting to stop the tears spilling over. I can’t afford to break down here, amongst all these people.
I decide to get a taxi home. I’ll just slip away, saying I’m not feeling well.
No-one wants to see a sad face at a Christmas party . . .
I fumble for my phone, dashing away the tears.
And then I feel an arm round my waist and someone says, ‘If you’re planning on going, will you do me a big favour?’
I turn and to my surprise, it’s Sylvia. ‘Yes, of course I will. What do you want me to do?’
She smiles. ‘Call in at The Swan Hotel and check on Rob for me? He’s not exactly in a party mood but he has to be there for his friend who’s getting engaged. I can’t help feeling worried about him.’
‘Oh. Right. Why isn’t Rob feeling festive, then?’
She gives me a knowing look that I can’t quite fathom. ‘I think it might be love that’s getting him down.’
‘Really? He never mentioned anyone.’
She smiles. ‘Well, no, he wouldn’t.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
The snow that fell the other night, while I was making the gingerbread log cabin, didn’t lie.
But as I walk slowly round the edge of the duck pond, heart in my mouth and butterflies in my stomach, I realise it’s drifting down again, just the odd flake here and there, tickling my face.
I gaze up at the night sky to watch it fall, wondering if he’ll be long.
I phoned Rob on his mobile and said I knew he was at a party but I needed his help with something important. If he could meet me by the duck pond, I’d explain everything . . .
I was taking a risk, I knew. He might be enjoying the party too much to leave. He might even have met someone there. But I was buoyed up by what Sylvia had told me and determined to put my plan into action.
The snow is falling faster now, so that as I walk, I’m starting to make footprints. And then I look across the other side of the green and I see a tall figure, hands dug in his coat pockets, walking across the snowy grass towards me.
Rob!
My heart does a funny little flip.
I start walking towards him and the gap between us gets smaller as my heart starts pounding faster in my chest.
He gets within a few feet of me and stops.
‘Hi, Fen. You okay?’ He’s smiling but there’s a wary look to his expression.
I nod. ‘I’m good, thanks. I just need your help with being brave.’
He frowns. ‘Okay,’ he says, drawing out the word questioningly.
‘You see, I need to ask someone something and I’ve never done it before so it’s a bit – well, nerve-racking, really. So I thought if I did a Wonder Woman on the ice over there’ – I nod at the duck pond – ‘I’d feel pretty invincible. I hate slippery surfaces and usually avoid them, but I’ve decided I’m going large tonight.’
His face cracks into a grin. ‘You’re going large?’
I nod. ‘Oh, definitely. I’m totally sick of going small – if that’s even an expression.’
He shakes his head. ‘It’s not. But never mind. You were saying . . . ?’
‘Yes, so if you wouldn’t mind helping me onto the ice? Then your job is done.’
‘Right.’
‘You can leave the rest up to me.’
‘Excellent.’
‘I hope I haven’t dragged you away from a good time,’ I say as we walk towards the icy pond.
He shakes his head. ‘Not really. This is much more festive.’ He glances up at the snow that’s drifting gently down, catching in his dark blonde hair and clumping on his long lashes.
‘Right, here goes. Help me on, please.’
He takes my hand and a funny electric sensation shoots through me, despite the fact that we’re both wearing gloves. Even through a layer of leather (mine) and sheepskin (his) it still feels sexily delicious holding Rob’s hand.
He slides onto the ice with me and I let go of his hand and slither over to the centre, hoping and praying I’m not going to fall flat on my bottom and ruin the moment. Worse, the ice might crack and . . .
But I won’t go there. I’m being brave tonight.
So I stand there, planting my feet in a Wonder Woman position and, raising my arms triumphantly in the air, I shout ‘Power!’ as loudly as I can, up into the wintry night sky.
Then I laugh because it feels really silly but actually very good at the same time.
Rob laughs, too.
I slither back over to him.
‘All prepared?’ he asks. ‘To do your brave thing?’
I swallow, struggling suddenly to meet his lovely blue eyes. ‘I think so.’
‘Are you doing it now?’ He looks suddenly vulnerable.
So quickly I say, ‘Absolutely. I need you here when it happens.’
‘Oh, right.’
I clear my throat and despite being suddenly covered in shyness, I force myself to look deep into his eyes.
‘Rob, will you have dinner with me some time?’
His face breaks into a grin and he starts clapping me. ‘Hey, well done. You did it. A great practice run. So . . . who’s the lucky guy?’
I stare at him for a good few seconds before I realise he’s totally winding me up.
I whack his arm. ‘You, of course.’
He smiles. ‘Well, in that case, yes, Fen, I’d love to have dinner with you.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, really.’
I start laughing with relief and happiness. ‘That’s the first time I’ve ever asked a man out on a date.’
He frowns. ‘Oh.’
‘What?’
‘You didn’t tell me it was a date.’
He looks so solemn my heart lurches. I can’t have got this so wrong, can I?
Then Rob bridges the gap between us and pulls me into his strong arms, and I stare up at him, my heart racing at the feel of his body next to mine, my face inches from his lovely mouth. Which is smiling widely now.
‘Fen, of course I want to go on a date with you. I thought you’d never ask.’
I frown, pretending to be annoyed. ‘I’m not used to being wound up all the time.’
He laughs softly and leans closer to kiss me. A soft brush of his lips against mine. ‘Then I suggest you get used to it pretty quickly. Because it’s going to be happening . . . a lot!’ He growls this last word and my pulse quickens.
‘Yes?’
‘Oh, yes.’
A thrill runs through me. I get the distinct feeling we’re talking about something entirely different now.
‘Well, you’re the one who’s good with his hands.’ I smile pertly, feeling braver, with Rob, than I’ve ever felt before. ‘So let’s hope you follow through on that.’
‘Oh, I will. You’ve got my very firm assurances on that.’
And he pulls me against him, bringing his beautiful mouth down on mine, and as I tangle my hands in his snow-dampened hair, it flits through my mind that if this were the ending of a romance novel, it would be absolutely heart-stoppingly perfect.
But then I forget about love stories altogether and get on with the process of real living – which involves kissing Rob back with more passion than I’ve ever felt in my life, until we’re way too breathless to continue . . .
EPILOGUE
It’s Christmas morning and we’re all gathered at the zip wire, muffled up in coats, scarves and gloves.
It’s a day of bright blue skies, bracing air and sun glinting on the blanket of snow that fell overnight. The fresh falls have added a welcome touch of festive sparkle to Brambleberry Manor and the surrounding parkland – as well as the high spirits of Summer and Maisie who are currently battling for the next go on the zip wire.
Maisie is too little to go down on her own. So Zak hoists her onto the seat just a few yards from the bottom, then hol
ds onto her and runs down as she squeals in delight.
‘That’s one cute kid,’ says Harry, who’s standing nearby with his arm around Jaz.
Jaz prods him in the ribs and says jokingly, ‘I hope you’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking.’
He looks at her sheepishly. ‘I’ve never made any secret of the fact that I love kids and want at least three.’
Jaz grins happily. ‘Let’s wait until you’re fully grown-up first, eh? The last thing I want is to be changing nappies while you’re at the pub.’
‘As if.’ Harry pulls her close for a kiss and I smile to myself. Jaz’s job offer came at exactly the right time, giving Harry the wake-up call he needed to get his life in gear. And Ellie and I are over the moon she’s decided to stay in Sunnybrook.
Ellie is at the bottom of the zip wire, all ready to welcome Maisie. She bends and holds her arms wide and Maisie runs right into them. Then Zak puts her on his shoulders and the three of them start walking back up the hill to the starting point where we’re all gathered.
Rob, beside me, squeezes my hand and I snuggle happily against him, loving the solid feel of him next to me.
I catch Sylvia’s eye and she gives me a secret smile.
I’ll forever be grateful to her for making things happen for us. Being the wise, warm-hearted woman she is, she’d apparently suspected for a while that Rob was harbouring feelings for me. But like everyone else, she knew my head had been well and truly turned by Ethan. So she’d known it was a case of biding her time and waiting for the right moment to help smooth the way for the step-son she already had a huge fondness for.
Mum appears and announces that lunch will be ready shortly, so we all start walking companionably over to the house, chatting about the gloriously perfect weather and laughing at Maisie and Summer, who are now involved in a noisy snowball fight.
Mum falls into step with Rob and me. ‘Fen, I’ve been thinking, and I was wondering if you’d consider managing the new café for me once it opens. I know you’re still going to be working for Ellie and I’d understand if it was too much to take on. But I think you’d be brilliant at it.’ She grins. ‘And I’d far rather pay you than Rhoda Watson.’
Colour surges into my face. ‘Mum, I’d love to.’
She gazes anxiously at me. ‘Are you sure, love? Am I just being selfish wanting you to do it?’
‘No, of course not. Don’t give it another thought. I’m your new café manager.’
She looks relieved. ‘Excellent. Will you come and help me serve up?’ She smiles at Rob. ‘Sorry. I don’t want to take her away from you.’
‘You don’t have to.’ He shrugs. ‘I could help, too. If you need another pair of hands?’
My heart swells with pride and Mum rubs her hands together. ‘Excellent. Let’s go, then.’
She starts walking briskly across the lawn, Rob and I doing our best to keep up.
I smile happily at him. It’s the perfect day. Except for one thing.
Dad’s not here.
But we’re all going in to see him later with a bag of carefully selected goodies he’s allowed to eat on his new diet. He’s getting stronger every day and that’s more than I thought possible at one stage. So I’ve got a lot to be grateful for . . .
We all gather in the drawing room for pre-lunch drinks and Sylvia and Mick tell us all about the latest cruise they’re booked on early in January.
Then Mum leads us all through to the dining room.
She’s really done us proud. The table is beautiful, decked out in festive red and gold with tall candles glowing in pots filled with Christmas greenery, which Mum and I gathered this morning. Christmas carols are playing gently in the background and the rich aroma of butter-basted turkey and herbs fills the house.
Mum’s even made little place cards for everyone, writing the card in gold pen. We all wander round finding our places and commenting on the glorious table.
Mum comes in and clears her throat.
‘If you’re all settled, I’ll bring in the starter.’
‘Smoked salmon, I think,’ I say in response to Rich’s question from the other side of the table.
‘Not exactly,’ says a familiar voice.
I spin round and there’s Dad, walking in on Mum’s arm, looking quite weak still but smiling all over his face.
There’s a communal gasp of delight and everyone gets up from the table.
‘The doctor told me yesterday that Will could come home today,’ says Mum, her eyes brimming with happy tears. ‘We thought we’d surprise everyone. I collected him while you were all at the zip wire.’
Dad looks around and catches my eye. ‘Just as well we made sure the zip wire was working all right, eh Fen?’ He winks at me and I go over to kiss him, my heart leaping with joy that he’s actually here.
He wraps me in one of his big bear hugs that lasts just a little longer than usual. And then everyone starts talking and laughing at once.
I catch Rob’s eye over Dad’s shoulder and my heart melts all over again.
Then I murmur, so only Dad can hear: ‘I’m going to take part in the bake-off heats.’
He holds me away from him, grinning broadly. ‘Fen, that’s brilliant.’ Then he kisses me soundly on both cheeks. I smile at Rob’s quizzical look and go over to tell him the news.
This is going to be the best Christmas ever . . .
