A Surprise Christmas Wedding: from the best selling author of A Perfect Cornish Christmas comes one of the most feel-good winter romance books of 2020

by Phillipa Ashley

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Four days to the wedding

  With four days to go, wedding fever had seized Firholme. Lottie was like a cat on a hot tin roof, attending to last-minute details, and double- and triple-checking that suppliers and staff knew exactly what they had to do on the day. On Friday morning, the florists would arrive, along with the lighting and electricians to set up ready for the band and DJ. Despite having overseen dozens of weddings, she was aware that there would be snags but it felt vital that this one went without a hitch.

  Shayla walked in on Lottie to find her calming down with a few deep breathing exercises.

  She dumped her bag on the table. ‘What’s up? You seem flustered.’

  ‘I am – I was. The wedding car company are having trouble with the vintage Rolls that Keegan wanted. They might have to substitute it with a newer model. I don’t know whether to warn her or not.’

  ‘What would you normally do?’

  ‘Call the bride and try to reassure her. We can’t switch suppliers at this late stage so I’m afraid she’ll have no choice. They’ll give her a discount, of course, but I don’t think that’ll compensate for not having this Silver Ghost she’d set her heart on.’

  ‘That’s for the hire car company to sort out,’ Shayla said curtly.

  ‘Yes, but I have to break the news as it’s part of our package.’

  ‘Anything else I can help with?’ Shayla asked.

  ‘There have been a few issues with the boiler and electrics at the big house. With a cold snap forecast, we need to make sure they won’t cause problems. We can’t have a shivering bride and wedding guests.’

  ‘Maintenance will make it a priority,’ Shayla said. ‘I’ll go and see the supervisor now and impress on him how important it is.’

  ‘Thanks, because with everything going at full blast, we don’t want a breakdown.’

  ‘Lottie, please stop worrying. You’ve put in place contingency plans for every eventuality and I’ve seen you swing into action to deal with any crisis. Darling, that’s why I hired you. You can handle it. I have every confidence in you.’

  Lottie nodded gratefully; she knew she was letting the stress get to her more than usual. ‘Thanks.’ Her phone pinged. ‘Sorry, must get back to the florist. Wholesaler’s been let down for the wattle flower Keegan wanted in her bouquet for an Australian touch. Oh, and don’t forget I need to slip out tomorrow afternoon for the girls’ nativity play.’

  ‘I hadn’t forgotten. Enjoy yourself and forget about this damn thing for a few hours. It’s not life and death.’ She smiled. ‘Family is what matters and as for the rest? It’s just a wedding like any other.’

  ‘I appreciate your faith,’ Lottie said, thinking that Shayla had missed the point, although she wasn’t to know why. This wasn’t a wedding like any other.

  First, however, she had the nativity play to look forward to – and now it came with the added complication of Jay.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Three days to the wedding

  The twins’ school was tiny but it seemed as if half the village had crammed into the assembly hall. Lottie and Jay stood at the back, leaving the chairs for the parents like Steph and people less able to stand.

  She knew he’d never let the girls down – or anyone – after he’d made a promise.

  The contrast with Connor was not lost on her, but nonetheless, Jay hadn’t suddenly become overcome by festive spirit either. He barely uttered a word on the journey to the school, but she got the feeling he was churning over something in his mind and constantly on the verge of saying it. He was almost impossible to read. She was sure she’d lost his trust after the ball – despite that wonderful kiss – but their walk up the aisle at the run-through had given her fresh hope. Right up until he’d walked off. She certainly never expected him to agree to come to the play.

  Part of her wished she’d never passed on the invitation.

  It might have been an unusual nativity play, but no one seemed to care. The sound of children’s voices, singing and saying their much-practised lines brought a lump to her throat. The hall seemed to tremble with emotion, and the quiet moments were punctuated by sniffles and the rasp of handbag zips as people fumbled for tissues.

  Even though she was bursting with pride, Lottie didn’t want to be caught blubbing with Jay at her side and just about held it together. He joined in with the gentle laughter when ‘Mary’ took ‘Baby Jesus’ from the cot and almost dropped him onto the hay bale. However, when the Donkey handed over a gift to ‘Baby Jesus’, she had to wrinkle her nose to stem the tears. By the time the Lobster had sung the first few lines of ‘Away in a Manger’, the tears were trickling down her cheeks.

  She felt Jay press something soft into her clenched fingers.

  ‘It’s brand new,’ he whispered. ‘I brought it just in case.’

  Lottie gave in and dabbed at her eyes with his handkerchief. He was a good man, she thought to herself: kind and thoughtful, but she felt he was in turmoil. She was convinced he liked her but was he still in love with Nadia?

  The lights dimmed and figures crept onto the darkened stage before the scene was lit up once more. There were wails from the manger and a hand shot up.

  The audience gasped as a woman in dark blue robes and scarf gently lifted the new ‘Baby Jesus’ – now obviously a real infant – from the crib and placed him on the laps of the little girl and boy playing Mary and Joseph.

  Standing so close to Jay, Lottie felt him physically stiffen beside her.

  She knew immediately that the adult and baby were Nadia and Seb.

  Chapter Thirty

  With the applause at the end still ringing in her ears, Lottie fought her way through the excited families for mince pies and ‘refreshments’ in the school canteen.

  She fully expected Jay to have escaped to the car but he was waiting just inside the doors.

  ‘Are you OK? I’d no idea that they’d borrowed Seb for the baby.’

  ‘It’s OK. I realise you didn’t know.’

  ‘She might come into the canteen with Seb. In fact, it’s almost guaranteed. We should leave.’

  ‘I don’t want to ruin your day, but it’s probably best if I wait in the car.’

  Even as she spoke, Nadia appeared, still in costume, with Seb in her arms.

  Nadia spotted Jay too, if the dismay on her face was anything to go by. Lottie felt sorry for him. This must be his worst nightmare.

  Before either of them had time to react, Steph found them, as hyper as the twins. ‘How awesome was that?’ she cried. ‘I know I’m their mum, but weren’t the girls amazing?’

  Lottie hugged her. ‘They were incredible. I couldn’t stop crying.’

  ‘I had no idea that the baby was going to be real!’ Steph said. ‘Did you?’ She turned to Jay.

  ‘No, it was a shock.’ He smiled. ‘The twins are stars.’

  Nadia was across the other side of the room chatting to the head, but they were making their way across the room. Would she come over? It seemed unlikely but Lottie was on tenterhooks.

  The girls rushed up. ‘Mummeeee! Auntieeee Lottieeee?’

  Myra grabbed Jay’s hand. ‘I was the best lobster! I was the best.’

  ‘Oh, shut up, Myra,’ Jodie said. ‘Don’t be such a diva!’

  Lottie had never been so grateful for the twins’ wild exuberance. Jay had to focus on the children but the head had other ideas. She swept Nadia and Seb in their direction.

  ‘Hello there!’ she cried, steering Nadia up to Lottie’s group. ‘Here’s our real-life baby. Wasn’t he great?’

  Nadia’s eyes widened in shock.

  Lottie stifled a gasp. How would Jay cope?

  Nadia held on to Seb tightly. ‘Hello,’ she said.

  ‘Hi, Nadia,’ Steph said. ‘I’d no idea you were going to bring Seb.’

  The head smiled broadly. ‘It was our big secret, wasn’t it, Nadia?’ She turned to Lottie and Jay. ‘Nadia’s on maternity leave f
rom the library service. She organises story times for some of the children and I couldn’t resist asking her and Seb to make guest appearances.’

  It was then Lottie realised that the head didn’t know that Nadia’s partner was Jay’s brother, and why would she?

  Bored with the small talk, Seb tried to wriggle free from Nadia’s arms and lunged at Jay’s hair.

  Nadia looked horrified. ‘Seb, no …’ she said, a frantic edge to her voice but Seb wound his fingers tight in Jay’s curls.

  ‘Oh, isn’t he gorgeous!’ Steph cried.

  ‘He loves your hair,’ Myra said.

  Trapped by Seb, Jay managed a smile. ‘It’s OK. He’s doing no harm.’

  Only Lottie could have spotted the desperate plea in Nadia’s eyes as she gently disentangled Seb’s chubby fingers from Jay’s curls. He stood patiently while she did it.

  ‘Thank you,’ Nadia said once Jay was free.

  ‘I’m fine,’ he murmured.

  Nadia looked relieved. ‘You’re lucky he hasn’t pulled some out by the roots.’

  Jay shook his head in wonder at Seb. ‘He’s strong.’

  Seb wasn’t impressed and let out a howl of protest.

  ‘I’m sorry, he’s very tired,’ she said.

  ‘I’m sure he is. He’s a gorgeous little boy isn’t he?’ the head enthused. ‘He looks like you, Nadia.’

  Lottie winced a little, wondering how Jay felt. She could definitely see a likeness to Jay and wondered if he thought the same. Did that rub salt in his wounds?

  Jay couldn’t take his eyes off Seb. ‘He’s grown so … big,’ he said, then added, ‘Maybe he’ll be a rugby player.’

  Steph shot Jay a curious glance and seemed about to say something but then thought better of it. Lottie guessed that she’d sensed a connection between the two of them.

  ‘It’s hard being the star of the show, isn’t it, Seb?’ The head tried to stroke Seb’s cheek but he bawled even louder.

  ‘I’d better take him home.’ Nadia had to raise her voice above Seb’s screams. ‘Bye. Lovely to see you again,’ she said. ‘And meet you,’ she added quickly.

  Moments later, she’d left them. The head moved on to other parents and after bombarding Jay with questions about the play and the reindeer, the twins skipped off to say goodbye to their friends.

  Jay was putting on a manful effort, smiling and chatting to Steph but Lottie could tell that the experience had shaken him.

  Steph was clearly flagging. ‘I think I’ll get the girls home now,’ she said.

  ‘Are you OK?’ Lottie asked.

  ‘Yes. Just a bit tired.’ She brightened, though Lottie thought it was more of a brave face. ‘Did you both enjoy yourselves?’

  ‘It was wonderful,’ Lottie said.

  ‘Thank you for coming,’ Steph said to Jay. ‘It meant a lot to the twins.’

  ‘No problem. It was fun. I’m glad they invited me.’

  A short while later, they finally escaped to the haven of the car although Jay was very subdued. Nadia’s unexpected appearance had come as a shock to Lottie herself. She’d been wary of taking him, then felt it had brought him out of himself, right up until Seb and Nadia had appeared. At first he’d looked horrified to be confronted with Nadia face to face, but he’d softened quickly and been transfixed by Seb. Lottie found it impossible to ignore the connection that still existed between him and Nadia.

  ‘That was a shock,’ she said, when they were finally alone in the car. ‘Are you OK?’

  ‘I guess we had to come into contact sometime. It was probably better I didn’t know and that I was with so many people … and kids are a great distraction from all the crap that grown-ups cause.’

  ‘They are. The girls live for the moment, apart from when they’re looking forward to Christmas of course.’

  Jay laughed softly but then subsided into silence so Lottie didn’t push it.

  It was almost dark when they reached Firholme and got out of the car. They stood by the gates to their cottages – so near and yet still separate. In the gathering darkness, the hills were the towering silhouettes of giants, pressing in on them. The wind was blowing straight off the northern fells, chilled by snow, and it seemed to cut through her smart coat.

  Jay lingered, seeming at a loss. Lottie rubbed her hands together and shivered.

  ‘Let’s not stand out here in the cold any longer,’ Jay said. ‘Will you come inside for a coffee?’

  There was a desperate edge to his tone that moved her. ‘That’d be good.’

  He let her into the cottage and fed Trevor. She heard the dog’s identity tag clanking against his dish in the kitchen and then the kettle boiling. She also noticed a pile of unopened Christmas cards on the coffee table.

  Jay walked in with a mug in each hand.

  ‘Thanks,’ she said, accepting the drink, warming her palms on it.

  He sat next to her on the sofa.

  ‘Aren’t you going to open them?’ she said, nodding at the cards.

  He glanced at them. ‘I’ve been so busy, I haven’t got round to it.’

  Lottie looked at the fireplace. The bare mantelpiece and house devoid of so much as a holly wreath seemed so sad when the rest of Firholme was bedecked with greenery and colour. She wondered if Jay was thinking that he’d been deprived of having his own family. Was he still in love with Nadia and wishing they were living together as a family, planning their first Christmas together?

  ‘Lottie …’ he said carefully. ‘There’s something I need to tell you.’

  She tensed. There was a hesitancy in his tone that had her bracing herself for a further bombshell, though goodness knows what it would be. ‘Yes?’

  ‘I just want you to know that I don’t regret coming today. Not for a moment, despite how it ended.’

  She put her mug down. ‘Phew. That’s a relief. You seemed unsure. Distracted – I wondered if I’d upset you in some way.’

  ‘No … I just need to sort myself out sometimes. I’m getting there.’ He smiled reticently. ‘Slowly but surely … and a lot of that is thanks to you.’

  ‘What have I done?’

  ‘You keep giving me a chance. Even when I might not seem as if I appreciate it, I do. You keep making me see that life can be good again, even Christmas …’

  Lottie went shivery, this time not because of the cold, but because of the way Jay was looking at her: with pleasure – and desire.

  She laughed and Jay smiled. Never had he looked more gorgeous, and there was such an intensity in his gaze, such tenderness and need. Never had she wanted him more – wanted anyone more. In a heartbeat, she was in his arms, breathing in the scent of him, woody aftershave, the wool of his sweater under her fingers. He took her face in his and kissed her so softly, it was like a snowflake settling against her skin. He threaded his fingers in her hair and she pressed closer to him.

  Trevor burst in, barking.

  Lottie broke off the kiss, and Jay groaned. ‘Your timing is really bad, Trevor!’

  Trevor gave a woof but Lottie laughed. ‘Maybe it’s good timing … this has been lovely but I really ought to go. I have so much to do up at the house. I won’t get to bed until late.’ She felt bereft in one way, but perhaps it was good that things had gone no further than a kiss at this stage. But what a kiss. Her lips were still tingling.

  Jay sighed and let her go. ‘I have work too …’ Yet he sounded regretful.

  ‘We both have a lot to deal with but after Saturday, it’ll be over,’ she said.

  ‘The wedding?’ he said.

  ‘Everything. We’ll both have more time soon,’ she said, hoping he realised that she wanted Connor to finally be out of her life again, physically and mentally, before she could commit to anything new.

  Jay nodded. ‘I understand. This probably isn’t the ideal moment.’

  Lottie left, hoping he did understand, and not minding the icy wind at all. After that amazing kiss, she was full of hope and after this wedding was over, maybe she and
Jay could finally make that fresh start Lottie hoped for so much – and never look back.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  The day before the wedding

  Lottie had had a stern word with herself about not imagining what might happen with her and Jay, but it was impossible. That kiss had changed everything and her nights were filled with thoughts of Jay even as the express train of the wedding rolled into Firholme at top speed.

  On Friday morning, the headlights of suppliers’ vans started sweeping up the drive to Firholme, and began to unload all the paraphernalia needed to create Keegan and Connor’s perfect day. The whole thing reminded her of the image of the swan on the lake, gliding along effortlessly, while paddling furiously underneath.

  She had several conversations with Keegan, mostly to reassure her that all was well – with the wedding preparations at least. As for Connor … she could only hope he was only jealous that Lottie might have moved on from him, rather than having second thoughts about his marriage. She hadn’t had a bride jilted yet …

  Then again, Connor did have a track record …

  She redoubled her effort to focus on what she could control, throwing herself into work. She was in and out of the house all day, fuelled by coffees – though most of them went cold – ticking off items from a seemingly endless to-do list, making sure everyone knew exactly what was required and had everything in place to do it. Then rechecking and making sure there was a contingency for every eventuality.

  As she walked around the site, she imagined the house was as alive as it must ever have been in its heyday, with florists, tradespeople, catering and housekeeping staff buzzing to and fro, just as they would have been for any big showpiece event that Firholme would have hosted.

  Lukasz was overseeing the catering but a wedding for eighty was too much for his team to deal with alone, so Lottie had called in extra help from the catering company who’d helped at the ball. After a catch-up to make sure Lucasz was happy, she greeted the floristry team.

  The bouquets and corsages would be delivered to the bride’s own residence on the morning of the wedding, but all the arrangements for the ballroom and drawing room were arriving today. She watched in delight as the rooms were transformed with seasonal and exotic flowers. Keegan had really pushed the boat out and they’d even managed to find some wattle for her.