Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay: a heartwarming romantic comedy perfect for curling up with this Christmas for fans of Jill Mansell (Swallowtail Bay, Book 3)

by Katie Ginger

  Nell broke off at one point to have a bop with one of the livelier residents and her laughter rang out as he twirled her around the floor, the spectators clapping along in time to the music. Tom’s foot was tapping too, as everyone had such a good time. When it came to hanging the final lot of baubles, Nell and Tom placed them on a tray and handed them out to the residents so they could each place one on.

  Just as he finished hanging the last decoration on the tree, Nell came to stand beside him. ‘What were you and Edith chatting about?’ he asked.

  ‘She was just telling me about her husband and how they met. He was a soldier in the Second World War, and they married halfway through it, worried they might not get a chance at all. Don’t you think that’s awful. Imagine meeting the love of your life and them having to go away and you thinking you might never see them again?’

  A dreaminess had come to Nell’s eyes and Tom knew that, though her eyes were open, they were only seeing the world in her head. For as long as he’d known her, her vivid imagination and empathetic nature had always taken her into her own little universe. The trouble was the real world never quite measured up.

  ‘Can you imagine how awful that is?’ she repeated when she’d joined them again.

  ‘I can. Scary too.’

  ‘When I get married,’ Nell began, toying with a skinny bit of tinsel Tom had discarded, ‘I’m going to have—’

  ‘A massive shiny diamond as big as your head?’

  ‘No.’ She nudged him playfully with her arm. ‘I want a small round solitaire. Gold, not silver. Something quiet and simple and elegant and beautiful.’

  ‘Like you.’ The words had escaped his mouth, unbidden, and he blushed.

  Nell eyes widened in surprise. As she recovered, she bit her lip. ‘Simple? Thanks.’

  ‘I meant – I meant …’ He wanted to say elegant and beautiful and as she laughed at his stuttering, her eyes sparkled like they had when she looked at Harry. Or had he imagined it? Just wishful thinking on his part.

  ‘You can stop digging now, Tom. It’s fine.’ But a blush lingered on her cheeks.

  Leaving him standing there, tongue tied and hot, Nell went and sat down with Grandad Nigel who had demolished a third of the biscuits.

  ‘Did you actually share any of those?’ asked Nell.

  ‘Of course I did. I gave one to Edith.’

  ‘Just one?’

  Tom loved watching them together. Grandad Nigel was almost as fond of Nell as he was of him. And that Nell was equally as fond made his heart full.

  After hanging the last bits of bedraggled tinsel onto a picture frame, Tom joined them. ‘Have you still got room for your lunch? Tracey will kill you if you don’t.’

  ‘I’m not afraid of her,’ Nigel replied, puffing his chest out a bit. Tracey’s voice carried across the room.

  ‘You should be.’ She came to join them, carrying a tray of mince pies. ‘Don’t say I don’t treat you lot. Mince pie, anyone?’ Tom and Nell shuffled backwards as the residents descended on the tray. They knocked into each other and when she turned to him, happy and content, that sparkle was there again. They’d bashed into each other hundreds of times over the years, but today the lack of distance between them seemed charged with a new, different energy. Tracey’s words, muffled as she ate a mince pie, cut through. ‘It’s not looking too bad in here, but the halls are a bit bare as are most of the corridors.’

  ‘With the wreath-making event on Wednesday,’ said Tom, ‘I think we’ll have enough to do a nice display in the hall.’

  ‘The residents are so excited to be making their own and some have promised them to their own families. Isn’t that lovely? What a brilliant idea, Nell.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Nell said, ‘but it was Tom’s idea too.’

  ‘Mostly yours though.’

  ‘They’re off again!’ shouted Grandad Nigel. ‘Honestly, you’re like a honeymoon couple, always being nice to each other.’

  ‘By the time we’ve done that,’ said Tom, swiftly moving the conversation along, ‘we’ll have more than enough, and I’ve got a couple of garlands that went a bit wonky. You can have those if you like?’

  ‘Wonky garlands? Gee, thanks.’ She and Nell giggled.

  ‘They’re fine. It’s just one’s missing a couple of berry clusters and the other I thought I’d picked up silver spray paint and I’d actually picked up neon pink so it’s ended up with a bit of a weird hue where I tried to cover it. It’s barely visible, but I can’t sell it.’

  ‘Okay then,’ Tracey said with a grin. ‘Bring me your wonky garlands over the next few days. Let’s get some more lights up, shall we?’

  Finally finished, Tom stood back with Nell. The feel of her body against his filled him with such warmth he was sure it was radiating out of his eyes. She met his gaze. What he wouldn’t give to have a smile like that to wake up to every day. To roll over and watch those thick lashes lift and happiness fill her face at the prospect of being with him. But it was too much to hope.

  ‘Edith, are they staring at each other again?’ asked Nigel, causing Nell to study her fingernails. Tom squeezed his jaw tightly shut as they shifted apart.

  ‘Anyone for a little Christmas sherry?’ Nell asked, looking around mischievously. ‘I think Nigel’s got some to share.’

  ‘Traitor,’ the old man mumbled as a wonderfully loving smile plumped his old whiskery cheeks.

  Chapter 12

  Nell flitted around the dining room full of nervous energy. The care home residents were coming over any minute for the wreath-making. Too edgy to sit still this morning, she’d caved into pressure from Brenda and put some posters up around town about Mr Scrooge, including a picture of the little scamp and the number of the hotel in case anyone wanted to claim him. She really hoped they didn’t. Mr Scrooge was so at home at Holly Lodge now. In the evenings he curled up on her lap and had even taken to following her into her basement flat and sleeping on her bed. She’d taken him for a check-up at the vet’s who, after checking for a microchip, had given him a clean bill of health apart from being under-nourished, and sent her away with some flea tablets that he’d happily gobbled down when she wrapped them in ham.

  On a long table underneath one of the large windows in the dining room, the snacks were laid out. Casting her eyes over the display, made even more Christmassy by the tinsel she’d woven between them, Nell was sure there were enough to go around. She’d roped Niall into coming over and making treats for the wreath-making and he was doing a great job. His chocolate bark, made of milk chocolate with white chocolate swirls and cranberries studded in, was proving a big hit with her and she had to make an effort not to eat it all. Then there were truffles, chocolate peppermint cookies, traditional coconut ice and much more besides. Nell imagined the residents’ faces when they came over.

  After breakfast that morning, Nell had said goodbye to Harry who was off to see his family. His mother lived in the bay and had been poorly recently. Nell hadn’t pressed for details, but it seemed she was on the mend now and had been the reason for his unplanned trip over. When he’d told her, a tingle had run from the top of her head to her toes that he’d travelled at the last minute to see her. He hadn’t even made a hotel reservation which was how he’d ended up at Holly Lodge. ‘Was it fate?’ she wondered. Those amazing coincidences that somehow brought two people together, so their lives intertwined. It was like Serendipity. A very underrated film in her opinion. She hoped that the person his life had intertwined with was her.

  While Niall was in the kitchen working away, Nell shoved on some Christmas music to set the scene and couldn’t resist dancing away as she adjusted the urns of water, glasses and cups she’d laid out. She’d prepared some coffee and hot water for tea and pulled out the best milk jugs for the milk. Pinching a chocolate truffle from one of the plates, Nell adjusted the biscuits on another and the mince pies on their glass cake stand. The smells coming from the kitchen were divine and making her stomach grumble even though she’d alr
eady had about five chocolates. The mayor was coming too but they had no idea what time. Nell’s mind flew back to that night at the Langdon Mansion Hotel. Hopefully the mayor wouldn’t mention anything after having seen everything that night. It had taken a while to get over the embarrassment, but Nell was thinking about it less and less as her plans for the business began to move forward. It was only two days until the wedding fair and she was incredibly excited for that.

  She heard a van pull up out front and went to the window to see Tom jump out, back to his usual happy self. That scrape he’d been in wasn’t sitting easily with Nell. A horrible tightness settled in her stomach that something was wrong, but then he bounded in with his usual enthusiasm and she found it hard to reconcile the way he had always been so honest with her with the idea that he had a secret. Perhaps she was worrying about nothing – just her brain being overly dramatic as usual.

  ‘Hey, you,’ he said, bashing his cold hands together. ‘This place looks good. You ready to help me unpack?’

  ‘Yeah, of course,’ Nell replied, determined to make the day wonderful and fun for them both. She followed him out and they unloaded the van. He’d brought a small polystyrene wreath for everyone to decorate as well as boxes of tiny pinecones, reams of ribbon, different-coloured foliage and all manner of adornments like stars, bells and tiny sparkly Christmas trees. Seeing it all set out, Nell jiggled up and down on her toes in excitement. This was going to be such a wonderful event, but her excitement was in danger of vanishing as the terrifying Brenda and Cat unexpectedly walked in.

  ‘Thomas,’ Brenda said, arms outstretched. He glanced at Nell in alarm and she bit her lip to stop from laughing. ‘Thomas, how lovely to see you.’

  ‘Lovely to see you too, Brenda.’

  Brenda air-kissed his cheeks then surveyed him, casting her eyes up and down over his frame. Nell saw him swallow. ‘You don’t look well. What’s the matter with you?’

  ‘Nothing. I promise.’ He ran his hands through his floppy hair. Nell glanced back at the window wondering if the light was different today as it reflected the different blond colours in his hair. It was something she hadn’t really noticed before. Frown lines were etching deeper and deeper into his forehead as they aged and the crow’s feet at the corner of his lacklustre eyes were reaching longer. He looked tired and careworn, like he wasn’t sleeping well, and the tightness in her stomach intensified.

  Cat followed behind Brenda like a teenager who had just been told off. Her punky pink hair was so at odds with her downtrodden demeanour, Nell could only wonder what Brenda had been moaning about now.

  ‘Brenda,’ Nell said, in a bid to save Tom. ‘What are you doing here? You’re not here for the wreath-making, are you?’

  Brenda adjusted the lapels on her long coat. ‘Cat and I have had a little chat about the buffet, and we think we need to make some changes.’ Nell looked at Cat. The corner of her mouth had lifted in resignation. ‘Yes. When Cat told me Niall was going to be here for this event of yours, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to talk to him. I can’t do this evening; I’m going to the cinema with the women’s union.’

  ‘Is that the same as the WI?’ Nell asked. It wasn’t exactly the point, but Brenda’s social life was a whirlwind of confusing clubs.

  ‘No, it’s not.’ Brenda gracefully moved her bag from one arm to another. ‘They don’t make jam.’

  ‘Hey, Cat,’ said Nell. She’d told Cat in good faith about the wreath-making event and about getting Niall in, knowing that Cat would keep it quiet. What torture had Brenda used to get it out of her? Or maybe Brenda had heard it somewhere else. The event had been talked about in town and the local paper had even mentioned it. Worryingly though, she’d thought Cat was working today and knowing how she loved her job and her patients, she was surprised to see her. ‘I thought you had patients to see today?’

  Cat cast her eyes down. ‘I moved a couple of appointments to help Mum out. Where’s Niall?’ she asked, brightening a little.

  ‘He’s downstairs in the kitchen.’ Cat seemed suddenly far more alert and happier to be there. She made to move off, but Nell grabbed her arm. ‘But he’s working, preparing some more snacks for the wreath-making. You can talk to him in ten minutes once the residents are here and we’ve got started. Until then, please can you two wait in the lounge? Brenda, can I get you a tea or coffee?’

  Brenda’s face was a picture of repressed disapproval, her lips pursed together in an unattractive line. She clearly thought she could come in and roam around the place like she owned it, and while Nell didn’t mind Cat doing that because they’d been friends for so long, Brenda was too apt to find fault. After the last few ‘helpful’ comments, Nell didn’t let her anywhere unaccompanied anymore. ‘Tea, please. Earl Grey, but I don’t suppose you have it.’

  ‘I do,’ Nell replied happily and motioned to the lounge for them to make themselves comfortable.

  Brenda and Cat plonked in a seat by the window while Nell and Tom began laying out everything on the tables. They didn’t have quite enough scissors to go around and only two glue-guns, but Tracey had suggested Tom was in charge of those. She didn’t need a health and safety disaster on her hands with residents gluing their fingers together or to anyone else for that matter.

  Just before the minibus arrived, Niall popped upstairs with another plate of truffles and more chocolate bark. Though Cat thought she hadn’t noticed, Nell saw the way she sat a little straighter when Niall walked in. Since Kieran and Cat had got together at uni, no man or woman had ever got close to either of them. That she was seemingly interested in Niall in the run-up to her wedding was extremely worrying. It wasn’t like Cat at all, but she was still refusing to change her mind over the dress and Nell didn’t want to mention it anymore for fear of them falling out. Was this playful behaviour a superficial front for her feelings over the dress? Or was there some other underlying unhappiness that Nell was yet to identify? Deep down she was sure Cat wanted to marry Kieran from the way she was around him. She was back to her old self whenever she was with him, happy and affectionate. It was all very confusing.

  ‘Hi, Niall,’ Cat said, getting to her feet and walking into the dining room as he laid out some more food. ‘How are you?’ Nell watched her linger by Niall’s elbow.

  ‘I’m good. You look nice today.’ He leaned in closer and Nell edged over to make sure she could hear. ‘I’m sorry your mum didn’t like the buffet choices.’

  Cat glanced behind her, checking Brenda wasn’t earwigging. ‘The only reason she didn’t like them was because we made them without her. It’s not your food, she’d have found fault with whatever we chose.’

  ‘Mums, hey?’

  Niall had been friendly enough, but Nell needed to keep everything on track for the care home. ‘Niall? How’s the mulled wine going?’

  He turned to face her. ‘Fabulous. The whole kitchen smells like Christmas. I’ll bring it up as soon as the mayor arrives. Just pop down and let me know, or text me, okay?’ He made his way back downstairs to the basement kitchen and Cat was forced to sit with her mum in the lounge.

  A minibus arrived out front and half of the residents slowly emerged from the side. Never had Nell been happier to have installed the gentle, easy-to-walk-up ramp that led to her front door. Running to greet them, Tom followed behind. ‘Hi everyone, come on inside it’s lovely and warm, and we’ve got treats and hot chocolate and mulled wine.’

  Tracey bustled over. ‘After we’ve unloaded this lot we’ll head back and get the rest. Everyone’s so excited.’

  ‘Is Grandad Nigel here?’ asked Tom, looking around.

  ‘Not yet – he’s on the next run.’

  Tom nodded, but for some reason seemed reluctant to move and he blinked in the daylight. After a second, Nell said, ‘Tom, shall we head back inside and start settling people at the tables?’

  ‘Yeah, yeah sure.’

  Once they were moving, he relaxed again, and she slid her hand into his and gave it a squeeze
. He looked down at her and the concern on his face sent a sudden wave of a deep, heavy, unnamed emotion down her spine. ‘This is going to be awesome. So, is everyone doing one each?’

  ‘Yeah, or if they’ve got bad sight they can work with a partner. I’m guessing Grandad will work with Edith.’

  ‘I’m so looking forward to this. Aren’t you?’

  ‘I am,’ he replied. ‘Is Harry around today?’

  ‘No, he’s out with his family again. I think it’s so sweet, don’t you?’

  ‘Hmm.’ But she could tell he didn’t agree. She got a strange feeling that maybe he didn’t like Harry, but had no idea why. He’d been perfectly pleasant to Tom on the few occasions they’d met.

  ‘He’s my only guest right now.’ When he’d come down from his room that morning, they’d had a quiet moment in the dining room together. He’d been excited about Thanksgiving dinner and there’d been such a spark of electricity between them Nell was sure she’d burst into flames if he stayed much longer. Tom stared at her and the way his eyes pierced kept her imagination at bay. ‘I’m hoping to get a few more soon from this December romance deal I’m doing.’

  ‘I hope so too. I didn’t expect Brenda to be here.’

  ‘Me neither.’ At least Cat hadn’t been flirty this time and until she knew for sure there was something to worry about, she wasn’t going to tell Tom. He had enough on his plate with the accident and getting his van fixed up. ‘I’m not going to let Brenda ruin today’s fun, though.’

  ‘Good, but I have to say she’s the reason I’m so terrified of my best man’s speech. I’ve known velociraptors with less bite, and I can already see her glaring at me from the top table as I speak.’

  ‘Maybe we can spike the punch and get her sozzled before it all kicks off.’

  ‘Now that’s a plan.’ Tom laughed as they walked back inside. ‘Nice jumper by the way.’