Christmas at Conwenna Cove

by Darcie Boleyn

  Downstairs, it was obvious that her father had been very busy.

  ‘Thanks again, Dad.’

  ‘What for?’

  ‘Well, all of this. I’m so grateful.’

  Grace gestured at the cupcakes on the table, set out in rectangular cake boxes that Simon had brought with him when they’d moved. He’d often baked for local charities and the schools she’d attended, so he had plenty of experience of catering for large numbers. Grace’s mouth watered as she cast her eyes over the varieties of cakes on offer: white chocolate topped with a rich fondant and snowy desiccated coconut; carrot cake with cream cheese frosting,; zesty lemon and poppyseed; double chocolate with toffee sprinkles; and vanilla with a raspberry fondant icing.

  ‘Dad… these are amazing.’

  ‘Well, let’s hope that birthday girl thinks so too.’

  Grace kissed her father’s cheek. He was so kind and generous; he’d do anything for anyone and she knew how lucky she was to have him as a father. She was going to miss him a lot when she returned to Cardiff. If she returned to Cardiff.

  ‘Will I do?’ Louise entered the kitchen. Some of her red hair was pinned to the side with a small diamante clip. She was wearing straight-leg blue jeans, brown leather ankle boots and a crocheted brown sweater over a brown vest top.

  ‘You look incredible, Mum. You could easily pass for thirty.’

  ‘Well, it’s a good job you take after me then, darling.’ She winked.

  ‘You do look fabulous, Louise.’ Simon planted a quick kiss on his wife’s cheek. ‘Right, we need to get these out to the car,’ he said as he checked the kitchen clock. ‘Don’t want to be late!’

  ‘Definitely not.’ Grace took a deep breath, then picked up a box of cakes. Luckily, her father had an estate car, so there was plenty of room in the back and boot for the cakes.

  As they made the short journey to the village hall, she took in the beautiful views. The light was fading, but the expanse of sea was dark and calm. The sun glowed just above the line of the horizon, turning the nearest clouds orange and those further away a dusky tiered lilac. They passed the small harbour then turned left and drove through the main street where shops were closing for the day. Colourful Christmas lights twinkled in the shop windows and where they dangled from lamp posts and trees. The window of the Conwenna Café was steamy around the edges, but inside Grace could see Nate cleaning tables and the Christmas tree in the corner dressed with white lights that raced and flashed alternately. They passed Catch of the Day with its giant illuminated fish sign outside, where hungry locals were already queuing for their dinner, and the delicious savoury aroma of freshly cooked fish and chips doused in salt and vinegar made its way into the car.

  At the top of the hill, they reached the village hall and Simon pulled into the car park, parked and cut the engine.

  Lights glowed in the windows and the back door of the hall was open. Grace’s stomach shifted again. She really was nervous about seeing Oli. For some reason, it mattered to her that he thought she looked nice and that he liked her. It was silly of her to allow herself to care, but there was something there between them and she couldn’t deny it. Maybe it was just shared experience, and it would probably only lead to friendship, but even so, she was looking forward to spending the evening with him.

  She wondered if he felt the same.

  * * *

  Oli was juggling too many balls and he knew he was bound to drop one of them sooner or later. He just hoped he could make this a good party for Amy. His father was bringing the children along at five o’clock, so he’d finished work early and come up to the village hall to get things ready.

  He’d set up the trestle tables at one side of the main hall and the DJ was on the stage preparing the disco. His mother had arrived at four-thirty to help him prepare. When Oli had told her about the party, he’d been apprehensive about what she’d say, because her relationship with his father was strained at best, but she’d told him she’d love to come and wanted to be there for her granddaughter. Oli’s main concern was how she’d react to Maxine. She knew that Paul was seeing the veterinary nurse, but they hadn’t all been in the same room yet. Oli just hoped they’d all be civil to one another for the sake of the children, because the last thing he needed to be worrying about was how his parents would behave.

  ‘Oli?’

  He turned to find Grace walking towards him carrying a large box in her arms. She could barely see over the top of it, so he hurried towards her to take it.

  ‘Grace! Great to see you.’

  ‘These are from my dad.’ She nodded to the man behind her. ‘Oli meet Simon. And this is my mum, Louise.’

  ‘Great to meet you both and thanks so much for this.’

  ‘My pleasure,’ Simon said. ‘Where do you want the cakes?’

  ‘On the end table, please.’

  Fifteen minutes later, the buffet table was set up and it looked amazing with the offerings from the deli that his mother had brought, the cupcakes from Simon and the birthday cake that Nate had delivered. Oli’s mother was deep in conversation with Simon and Louise, and Grace was speaking to the DJ.

  Oli was pretty happy with how things were going so far, although he was hoping he’d get to have an extended conversation with Grace at some point. He’d found his eyes repeatedly drawn to her since she’d arrived. She was dressed casually yet appeared effortlessly beautiful. Her grey top made her hair seem even brighter than usual, and he liked how she didn’t seem to be wearing any makeup. She was obviously lucky that she didn’t feel the need to pile it on, and he was glad because he liked the cute spattering of freckles over her nose and cheeks. It would be criminal to cover up such pretty skin.

  He was about to go to speak to her, when the front door opened and in walked the birthday girl with her brother, Oli’s father and Maxine.

  Oli took a deep breath then released it slowly, and plastered on a smile. It was going to be a busy evening and he hoped it would all go well.

  * * *

  Silence fell over the hall as the candles on the birthday cake were lit, then everyone sang Happy Birthday to Amy. Grace’s heart fluttered, as the girl’s face flushed with pleasure and she gazed around the room at her party guests. When the singing finished, she blew all the candles out in one go and received a round of applause.

  ‘Can I have a go now?’ Tom asked.

  ‘Not today, Tom, it’s my birthday. Don’t be such a baby.’ Amy shook her head.

  ‘I’m not a baby.’

  ‘Well, stop acting like one then.’

  Amy flounced off to a group of friends and Tom stood next to his father, scowling.

  Grace couldn’t help herself; she had to go over to him.

  ‘Hi, Tom.’

  He frowned and pouted.

  ‘You’re not a baby.’

  ‘Amy always says it when she wants to be mean to me.’

  ‘I don’t think she meant to be mean.’

  ‘Well, she was.’

  ‘How about if we go into the kitchen?’

  ‘What? Why, Grace?’

  ‘I have an idea.’

  He nodded, and Oli paused in his cutting of the cake and raised his eyebrows.

  ‘There’s always a possible compromise.’

  ‘There is?’

  ‘Bring some matches.’

  ‘Of course.’ Oli waved at his father. ‘Would you finish cutting this, Dad? I won’t be long.’

  Grace led the way through the hall to the small kitchen. She’d picked up one of her father’s cupcakes on the way and a spare candle, which she pressed into the fondant icing.

  ‘Now you can blow this candle out in private.’

  Tom grinned. ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes. But you must remember to make a wish.’

  Tom nodded, his face serious.

  Oli handed Grace the matches and she lit the candle then lowered it so Tom could reach.

  He gazed up at her and she looked at Oli, not sure what Tom was waiting fo
r.

  ‘Tom?’ Oli nudged his son. ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘You have to sing before I blow it out.’

  ‘Oh!’ Grace swallowed her laughter. ‘Right… uh… happy birthday to you…’

  When she’d finished singing, Tom took a deep breath then blew as hard as he could. The candle sputtered then went out, and Tom screwed his eyes shut and whispered behind his hand.

  Grace raised her eyes to find Oli smiling at her.

  Then she looked back at Tom and he was still whispering.

  The heat of Oli’s gaze burned into her and she tried not to meet his eyes again. She was sure that if she did, her cheeks would flame and she’d go all red and blotchy, so she kept focused on Tom, as if she was completely unaware that a good-looking man was gazing her way. Finally, Tom lowered his hand and nodded.

  ‘All done.’

  ‘That was a long wish.’ Oli tousled his son’s hair.

  ‘It was an important one, Daddy.’

  ‘Obviously.’

  ‘Do you want to eat the cake now?’ Grace asked.

  ‘Yes please.’

  She removed the candle and Tom took the cake from her outstretched hand.

  ‘Hey, Tom, I think they’re playing that song you like.’

  Tom tilted his head. ‘Yes! Can I go dance?’

  ‘Carry on, but no eating on the dance floor.’

  Tom ran out of the kitchen, leaving Oli and Grace alone.

  ‘That was a very kind thing for you to do.’

  ‘I couldn’t bear to see him upset.’

  Oli nodded. ‘He does need to learn that every time Amy has a birthday, it’s not his too… well, he already knows that… but what I meant was that he can’t always blow out the candles as well.’

  ‘He’s still very young.’

  ‘I know. I also know that I tend to be guilty of trying to overcompensate.’

  ‘Look, my parents always let me blow out candles on Sam’s birthday. Even when he turned twenty-two. It was a family tradition and one we kept going. It wouldn’t have been a birthday without several renditions of Happy Birthday and relighting of the candles.’

  ‘Well, we’re at a party, so… How are you on the dance floor?’ He waggled his eyebrows.

  ‘Oh… I’m not exactly ready to enter any dance competitions.’

  ‘Me neither, so come on, let’s go and have a dance. I don’t want Amy taking herself too seriously. It’s all too easy to let that happen and she’s eleven not seventeen. So a bit of dad dancing might do her good.’

  He held out his hand and Grace took it, then he led her out into the hall where coloured lights roamed the wooden floor and the walls, the beat of the music was hard and strong, and thirty children were dancing around having a fabulous time.

  Oli guided Grace through the children to the middle of the floor then pulled her into a ballroom hold. As chaos ensued around them, Grace was only conscious of the beat of the music in her chest, Oli’s hands where they held her and the swaying of her body so close to his.

  The parents who’d stayed to keep an eye on their children and stood around chatting, faded away. Her own parents near the buffet table, handing out cake, faded away. The children, racing around the dance floor, faded away. And there was just Oli, holding her close. His eyes, as they gazed into hers, were clear and bright blue-green, like tropical waters that would be perfect if she dived into them. She allowed herself to take in his handsome face, to trace the contours of his strong jaw and the tiny lines around his full lips, as if she were running her fingers over them. She could feel the heat of his body, so close but not quite touching hers. And his scent, a woody cologne with a spicy undertone, made something inside her start to unfold like the petals of a rose opening to the sun.

  She was breathless.

  Enchanted.

  Confused.

  And emotion rose in her chest, threatening to choke her. She couldn’t do this. It was too intense, too much and so unexpected. She wasn’t brave enough to feel this way or to give herself to someone else. It was terrifying, overwhelming and dangerous.

  She slipped out of his arms as the song ended and gave him a quick smile before hurrying off the dance floor. At the drinks table, she grabbed a plastic cup of lemonade and downed it quickly, keen to wash the lump in her throat back down before the emotional gates opened and all the things she’d been trying to hold back came gushing out like a flash flood. She’d been so good at getting on with life for so long, at staying shut down and not feeling, but here was a man who seemed to have the key to unlock the door to her emotions and she didn’t know how to feel about it. She was bewildered at what was happening.

  Yet… as she turned to check where Oli was and saw him approaching her, a look of concern on his handsome features, she knew that she couldn’t stop this. Whatever it was. Because as difficult as it was, the creeping in of sensation was exhilarating, and she feared that if she shut it down right now, then she might never experience anything like it ever again.

  Chapter 7

  In the car on the way back to her parents’ house, Grace couldn’t get Oli’s face out of her mind. It was as if it had been emblazoned there for the rest of the night, like some kind of sign that she needed to re-evaluate her life.

  But how? What was it that she should do? Right now the whole situation was far more confusing and complicated than she wanted to contemplate.

  When her father parked outside Rosehip Cottage, she got out and went inside, then made her excuses about wanting to do some writing.

  Her parents had been wonderful at the party, socializing with everyone and getting on particularly well with Paul and Maxine. Then there was cute little Tom and his intelligent and mature sister, Amy. It was almost as if fate had thrown their families together and suggested they see how they all got on.

  But Grace didn’t believe in fate, only feelings, and her own were now a boiling pot. She went upstairs and into her bedroom then flopped onto the bed, wondering what to do with the rest of the evening. She could write, of course, but she felt too restless to sit in one place. Perhaps a walk would help? Yes, she needed to get out into the fresh air to clear her head.

  She pulled on a thick jumper and wrapped a scarf around her neck then picked up her hat from the dresser. Back in Cardiff, she often strolled through the city in the evening, watching as people went about their lives, some leaving work late and some off out to socialize with friends and colleagues. Then she’d return to her small flat alone, and turn on her laptop immersing herself in her latest manuscript. Writing was a good way to lose herself for a few hours, but right now she knew she needed some air before she tried to tackle a particular plot point, or she’d end up staring into space thinking about Oli and how she really shouldn’t be thinking about him at all.

  Once she’d slipped her feet into wellies, she told her parents she needed a walk to find some inspiration for a scene, then she strolled out of the garden and along the road, appreciating the quiet of the village. Everything was so calm and peaceful, even though it was seven-thirty on a Friday evening. Conwenna was so different to Cardiff and although she loved the bustling city, she did sometimes crave peace and quiet. As she walked, she could smell the salty tang of the sea and hear the waves as they rolled against the shore of the cove. It was comforting and made her feel closer to nature, more a part of something than out on her own, which was how she usually felt.

  The end of the road led off in three directions. One was towards the veterinary surgery and attached cottage, which she now knew to be Oli’s, the other was down the steep path to the cove and the third was back across the cliffs and towards the harbour. If she went that way, then she’d likely end up bumping into people and she didn’t fancy having to make conversation. She certainly wasn’t about to go to Oli’s cottage, and he might not even be home yet, so she decided that a walk along the beach might be nice. She’d strolled down with her dad earlier in the week, and loved the crashing waves and wind that had left them red fa
ced with streaming noses but feeling refreshed and energised.

  The narrow path down to the sand was steep and she took it gingerly, aware that a fall would be unpleasant at the best of times. When she reached the bottom, she stepped onto the sand. The beach was illuminated by the full moon. She walked towards the dark expanse of the water. The tide was on its way out and the sand beneath her boots was wet; it sucked at her soles, making walking harder. But the view was worth it. She gazed out at the water where the moonlight fell across the surface, undulating with the currents, creating a wavy silver ribbon that led to the skyline like a pathway to peace. She stood still, savouring the scene, enjoying the sense of tranquillity that crept into her heart.

  And she knew in that moment that Sam would have loved it here. Everything about the pretty fishing village would have made him smile. So why hadn’t her parents ever brought them here for a holiday?

  She thought she knew the answer to that.

  Their own fears and doubts would have held them back. On one hand, they might have thought the sea air would be good for him, on the other they’d have worried that it would have been too cold; they’d have hoped a change of scenery might have helped him, but they’d have worried that the journey would have been too much for him. And then, of course, there was the biggest factor in keeping them tied to their Welsh home. They worried constantly that Sam might need specialist medical attention for his infections that had increased in frequency and severity as Sam had aged, and taking him away somewhere would have meant being further away from his doctors and the hospital. So fear had kept them tied to one place. Not just Sam, but Grace and their parents too.