The Cosy Christmas Teashop

by Caroline Roberts

  ‘I’ll have to see how your dad’s work pans out. But yes, that might be nice.’

  ‘Thanks, Sarah.’ Joe gave his mother-on-law a kiss on the cheek.

  ‘You’re always welcome, Joe.’

  Dad took Joe’s hand in a firm grasp which grew into a full man hug on the step; although Joe was the taller, he seemed to be engulfed.

  ‘Good stuff, nice to see you lad. Take care of our Els.’

  ‘Will do.’

  ‘See you, mate.’ Jason and Joe shook hands.

  Ellie gave all her family kisses and hugs.

  In the car now, Joe driving, tooting the horn as they went, Ellie’s hand waving out of the passenger side window as they travelled down Fifth Avenue’s terraced street. Houses, shops, small businesses, large supermarkets, traffic lights, roundabouts, offices, schools, more houses, until the road opened out on to the A1 heading north. Patchy blue-and-white cloudy skies, fields each side of the road, many ploughed back now to a muddy brown. Early October, and the main harvest finished for another year.

  An hour later, back to the patchwork green and brown fields of their valley, with the dusky rise of the Cheviot Hills in the distance, Claverham Castle appeared from its shelter of trees. Home – yes, it really did feel like home to Ellie now. The driveway was catching falling leaves, their colours the earthy warm tones of autumn.

  They had to get straight back to work that day. With Joe being the castle and estate manager, and Ellie running the teashop as well as her wedding coordinating, there was never a dull moment, and always something to plan for.

  ‘Everything been okay, Doris?’

  ‘Oh yes, pet. No bother. Except we’ve got a booking for a busload coming in this afternoon, so we’ll have a busy day.’

  ‘At least they’ve let us know, I suppose.’ Often they just turned up out of the blue, and made an onslaught on the tearoom goodies. It always led to a mad hour or two afterwards, trying to bake as quickly as possible to replenish stocks, or improvise with some ‘ones-I-made-earlier’ from the freezer.

  ‘All hands on deck then.’ Ellie rolled up her sleeves, and washed her hands at the sink.

  ‘Yep … your family all okay? Trip go well?’

  ‘Yes, thanks. Nice to catch up with them all again.’

  Ellie spotted Irene across the kitchens, taking out a tray of delicious-smelling cheese scones. She let her set them down safely on the side. ‘Morning Irene, how are we doing for cakes and the like? Doris says we’ve got a coachload coming in later.’

  ‘Well, I made a large Victoria sponge yesterday and a couple of tea loaves. That’s all the scones done. Two batches of eighteen, so we’ve got savoury, and cherry and almond on the go.’

  ‘Great stuff, I’ll pop out front and see how we’re doing, and find out what’s left from yesterday.’

  There was a half a coffee and walnut cake, a third of a chocolate, a whole gingerbread loaf, two slices of lemon drizzle, (all under their glass cake domes) and about a half-dozen cookies that had been stored in a container overnight.

  She headed back to the kitchen, ‘Did the order come in okay, yesterday?’

  ‘Yep, all here … except there wasn’t any cucumber for some reason, so we improvised with grapes in the salad, seemed to work okay,’ Doris answered. ‘So yes, there’s plenty of paninis, jacket potatoes and salad stuff.’

  ‘Okay, so have you got what you need to make up two large quiches, Irene, no better make that three?’

  ‘Think so, I’ll just check the pantry cupboard.’

  Sometimes, Ellie felt like she was running a food army. Strategy in sandwiches, and battle of the baking. But she loved it too, even though after a long day her feet throbbed, and her back ached. It was so much better than her humdrum job working in the insurance offices back in Newcastle. She couldn’t imagine being back there now, sat at the desk in that open plan office with its grey partitions, with all that paperwork and phone calls all day. Here at least, she created something, and made people happy with her food and her hospitality.

  She wanted to make Dan and Lucy happy again, too. The shock of seeing his injuries, the image of him lying in that hospital bed, battered and held together by metal rods. The way he was trying to be upbeat in the face if it all. She so hoped they’d get their wedding soon. And, that the castle would get the opportunity to do them proud.

  ‘Earth to planet Ellie?’ Doris was flapping a tea towel near her face.

  ‘Oops, yes. Was away there … just thinking for a moment.’

  ‘Well, that’s always a dangerous pastime.’ Malcom marched in through the swing door. ‘Any chance of a quick cuppa and some lemon drizzle to start us on our way.’

  ‘Yes, of course. Doris, can you pop the kettle on please, we’ll all have one to set us up. It looks like it’s going to be a long day.’

  ‘Gents, did you know about the coachload coming in at twoish?’ Doris asked.

  ‘Yes,’ Derek, who’d followed Malcolm in, answered. ‘Deana’s just let us know, on our way in. That’ll be fun. I quite like a crowd, as long as they’re interested in the tours.’

  ‘Well, it’ll keep you out of mischief, I suppose.’ Irene shouted across mid-pastry making.

  ‘Never get chance to get in any mischief nowadays. Chance would be a fine thing.’ Malcolm quipped with a wink.

  Derek just shook his head.

  Ellie fetched the last two slices of drizzle cake for Derek and Malcolm; she’d make another four of the lemon cakes today and freeze a couple, they were always popular, as well as some more cookies. Then, it’d be full on for the coachload and lunches. Five minutes and cup of tea would be bliss first, though.

  It was in the teashop kitchens an hour or so later, whilst she was poking small holes into the sponges ready for the lemon-sugar drizzle to soak into, a thought struck her. It was something Doris said about people hanging around too long at the end of the day, and didn’t they have homes to get back to. Several weeks ago, just that scenario, when Ellie had had to dash off to the loo, hadn’t she.

  When was that exactly? Because a little glimmer of realisation was dawning … like a fragment of crystal catching the light in her mind … that that was when her last period was. They’d been so busy lately, what with Bridezilla’s wedding, and visiting her family back in Newcastle. So when would that have been? Maybe towards the end of August? It was now the second of October.

  Ellie felt an amazing surge of hope.

  But, it could just be a false alarm. She’d only be a week late … She was never a week late. A few days, yep … never a week. Oh My God. Oh, wow.

  When she’d not been thinking too much about it, or particularly trying for it, could it have really happened?

  She put the lemon drizzles to one side, and silently crossed her fingers. Could this really be it? She felt a mistiness in her eyes. Right, keep the excitement down. She needed to confirm with a test to find out for sure. No point getting all her hopes up for nothing, again. She might end up with that all-too-familiar nagging lower back pain by supper time, and be back to square one.

  But still, her mind was having its own little party in there, bouncing up and down and doing air punches. She tried to focus on a tray of jacket potatoes that were ready to pop into the oven, though she felt slightly giddy. She felt like she’d downed a glass of champagne in one on an empty stomach.

  She’d have to get away, nip to Kirkton, and get a pregnancy test. But it’d be far too busy with the coachload due in, until after the lunch session. And, it would certainly raise alarm bells, especially with the gossip-loving Doris, if she dashed off unexpectedly. No, she’d just have to stay calm and carry on as normal for a few hours yet. But every now and then she found herself gazing at the wall, daydreaming, with a glimmer of a smile on her lips.

  Joe popped in for a quick cup of coffee late morning, and it took Ellie all her effort not to fling herself into his arms and tell him her maybe news, but that wouldn’t be fair, not until it was definite. There’d only
be two people to disappoint then. But how lovely would it be to be able to tell Joe tonight, if it really was real.

  ‘Right, thanks for the coffee, got to go over to the farm next, there seems to have been some problem with the driller for seeding. Might need to get the engineering company out to check it.’

  ‘Oh, okay. See you later. Have a good day.’ She quelled her excitement.

  ‘You too.’

  He gave her a quick peck on the cheek. He smelled lovely up close, a mix of cool blue aftershave and him. She so hoped she’d be sharing some amazing news with him later.

  For the next few hours she tried her best to carry on as normal. She held hope inside her like a trapped butterfly, trying to keep it safe. She made a batch of dark chocolate and orange brownies, and then prepped the salad ready for the lunches, making some homemade coleslaw too. Minutes seemed like hours. She needed to know.

  By 3.30 p.m., she came up with the excuse that she needed to buy baking powder for her next batch of cakes, despite the fact that a new lot had been ordered for the delivery tomorrow, and finally she got away. It was only ten minutes’ drive to the small town of Kirkton, which nestled in the foothills of the Cheviot Hills. She parked on the traditional main street of stone and brick properties, and popped to the Co-op first to get the baking powder. She’d better take some back with her, or Doris would be on to her!

  Her rural community were lovely, and she’d got to know so many friends locally over the past five years, but honestly it was hard to keep anything private. If someone spotted a pregnancy test in her hand, well that’d be it, it’d be all over North Northumberland within the hour. Honestly, there’d be no need to go and announce the news to Joe later that evening, he’d already know! The rural grapevine could be very speedy – there may as well be a carrier pigeon flying direct to the Castle in seconds.

  Ellie scoured the high street like a sleuth. She had to time her visit to the chemist’s shop to perfection. Look left, look right. No one she recognized was on either side of the street, for now. She ducked across the road and darted in, scanning the shop. Just one old gentleman was in, who nodded politely at her; she’d never met him before. Perfect.

  She located the tests, checked no one else was about to come in to the shop, and took one to the till. It felt like a promise in her hand. A little flutter of excitement hit her stomach as she paid for it. The woman behind the counter popped it thoughtfully in to a white paper bag, and off Ellie went.

  Driving back, she felt excited and scared all at once. Could she get away with nipping up to their apartment and doing the test straight away? Or would she have been away from the teashop for too long already? She supposed she’d better nip in and at least check they were getting on okay, in case a surprise coach trip had turned up or something exceptional. Joe should still be out of the apartment at the moment though, at work around the estate somewhere. It would be an ideal time. She needed that quiet and privacy just to take in the result, either way.

  Could this really be it, after over six months of trying?

  ‘Everything okay, ladies?’

  Both Irene and Doris were out front in the teashop. Only a couple of tables were taken, and it all looked in control.

  ‘Yes, fine thanks, lovey. Just been steady here,’ answered Irene.

  Doris nodded in agreement, as she cleared a table that had obviously just been vacated.

  Okay, so this was it. Her chance. She knew she wouldn’t settle until the test was done. ‘Right, I just need to pop up to the apartment, then I’ll be straight back. Thanks.’ Ellie felt her cheeks burn. She was just waiting for Doris to ask what she was going upstairs for. Or, for her nosey waitress’s extrasensory gossip perception to click in, and for her X-ray eyes to bore a hole through her handbag to find the pregnancy test lurking there.

  But no, all seemed normal, except for Ellie’s insides which were bubbling up like Mount Vesuvius.

  Stay calm, Ellie. Stay calm.

  She walked across the courtyard, but then skipped up the stone steps of the circular staircase two at a time, then reminded herself to go steady, just in case this really was it.

  ‘Hel-lo?’ The door was to their apartment was locked, but she checked loudly as she let herself in. A welcome silence. She opened the pack in the safety of the bathroom, briefly read the instructions, got the small pot ready, laid the white plastic stick out, and managed to pee mostly over her hand, before catching some in the pot, typical.

  Pot half full, the stick now in. Wait five to ten seconds …

  A door slammed. The apartment’s?

  Shit. She didn’t know the result yet. It was only matter of seconds, but what if it was a ‘no’? She’d need a few quiet moments to compose herself. And it didn’t seem right to raise his hopes just to dash them. That’s if, it was in fact, Joe. She stayed perfectly still, hearing the sounds of her own breathing which seemed so loud. Then there were footsteps, a rustling in a drawer, a jangle of keys.

  A half-hopeful ‘Ellie?’ was launched from the other room. Joe’s voice.

  She stayed silent. The bathroom door was closed. She spotted that her own keys were here in the bathroom with her, luckily. She didn’t think she had left anything of hers out in the lounge to give herself away. He didn’t have to know she was here at all. Okay, it might seem a little strange that the apartment door was unlocked, but not totally unusual, as they were often both in and out. And for the odd five minutes, or later in the day when the visitors were due to go home, they didn’t always feel the need to lock it.

  ‘Oh …’ his voice drifted. Footsteps that faded, the bang of a door closing.

  Hiding again, half out of breath, behind a gorse bush and some fern fronds. Phew, that was some climb. She’d sped on up there, after closing the teashop, to be the first to arrive. She sat down to catch her breath, popping the rucksack beside her that she’d filled with two small bottles of raspberry lemonade from the tearoom fridge – those were the best pink bubbles she could think of – and two slices of lemon drizzle cake, Joe’s favourite.

  It was a beautiful, clear evening. She looked across the valley; now an autumn patchwork of rich browns, tramlines ploughed in, green grassy fields, and another field that had recently been cut with fat round bales of straw looking like sausage rolls, ready to collect in. The blue of the sky was starting to fade, streaking with blushes of pink and orange. On the horizon, the majestic outline of the Cheviot Hills was becoming darker, more prominent. It wouldn’t be long until dusk.

  Yes, this was the perfect place.

  She heard footsteps pacing up towards the brow of the hill.

  ‘Ellie?’

  She wondered why she’d hidden now, this wasn’t ever meant to be hide-and-seek; he’d found her years ago, there was no need to hide.

  ‘Here.’ She stood up, brushing rust-coloured pieces of dried bracken from her jumper.

  ‘What on earth are you doing up here? And why all the mystery? Texting me: “Meet me on top of our hill, 5.30”? Come on, what are you up to?’ He was smiling.

  She couldn’t stop the grin that was spreading across her face.

  ‘So, are you dragging me up the top of this hill to ravage me or something? Making me work hard for it?’

  She laughed. ‘Not quite that …’

  He eyed her quizzically.

  ‘I’ve got something to tell you, Joe.’ Her voice went all serious.

  He looked concerned for a second, then saw the beam that she couldn’t hide from her face.

  ‘Ye-es …?’ His eyes were wide, hopeful.

  She was nodding. ‘Yes, you’re going to be a daddy, Joe.’

  ‘Oh, wow. That’s amazing. That’s just.… ’ And he got all choked up. He had a glint of happy tears in his eyes. ‘Bloody amazing!’

  He swept Ellie into his arms. Spun her gently around. ‘I’m going to be a dad.’ As he dropped her softly to her feet again, he placed the biggest kiss on her lips, still grinning as he finally pulled away. ‘Kapow! Hey … d
o you think it was the Batman underpants that finally did it?’

  She’d bought him a couple of pairs for his birthday, back in August.

  ‘Of course, has to be,’ she laughed.

  He stood behind her then, both looking out at the glorious Northumberland view, and he placed his arms around her so they reached protectively to hold her stomach. You couldn’t really feel any difference there to be fair. She’d checked earlier, having never been a flat stomach kind of girl, there was nothing obvious as yet.

  ‘Our baby is in there,’ he whispered behind her. She felt the words catch in her hair.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Hi baby … look after yourself, see you in a few months.’

  Ellie smiled, feeling such an overwhelming sense of love, for him and for this new life. This was possibly one of the most perfect moments she had ever experienced.

  17

  In their apartment the next morning, the news was still sinking in.

  ‘Oh my goodness, my mam’ll be over the moon! And can you imagine your family when they hear?’ Joe said, grinning.

  ‘Yeah, I know. Mum’s been hinting about a grandchild for years, and going on about all the wonderful antics of her friends’ grandchildren. But, I must only be about five or six weeks pregnant I think, so can we keep this just to ourselves, for now?’

  ‘Yeah sure, of course.’

  ‘Don’t want to tempt fate … maybe just leave it ‘til we get past the first couple of months. Then, it’ll be lovely to share the news.’

  ‘I wonder how Henry will take it?’

  ‘Hmm, I’m still not sure myself. Once he’s got used to the idea, I think he’ll actually make a good, if slightly grudging, Grandpa.’

  ‘It might mellow him,’ Joe said.

  ‘Yep, I could see that … He might want to make the most of what he missed with you.’

  ‘Maybe. Hah, the bear with a sore head might really turn out to be a soft teddy bear underneath it all.’

  They sat on breakfast stools in the apartment kitchen, spooning up cereal and drinking tea before heading off their separate castle ways for the day’s work. They still had to carry on as normal, but, every now and then one or other of them would look up and smile knowingly.