by Heidi Swain
‘What?’
‘You don’t have to justify anything to us,’ he said, putting an arm around me. ‘We’re just relieved to have you back in our lives and see you so happy.’
‘You are happy, aren’t you?’ Mum asked.
‘Extremely happy!’ I laughed. ‘I can’t believe I’m staying here in Wynbridge and I’ve got two jobs lined up.’
I explained that Dolly was also leaving me the cottage and it was every bit as much of a shock to my parents as it had been to me.
‘She’s also leaving me a little money,’ I told them. ‘Obviously I’ll need to establish a regular income but I’ll manage and I’m delighted to be working in the school.’
‘And being able to study as you work is a real blessing,’ added Dad. ‘You’ve obviously made quite an impression here, love, and of course, we’ve got a little tucked away for you should you need it.’
‘Have you?’
‘Yes,’ said Mum, leaning across and kissing my cheek. ‘There’s a little nest egg should you want to dip into it. We set it up when you left home and moved into the hotel.’
I didn’t know what to say.
‘Well I don’t think I’ll need it,’ I told them both, ‘but it’s good to know it’s there. Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how happy I am to have you both back in my life.’
‘And we’re happy to have you back too,’ smiled Mum. ‘You probably don’t realise it, but our lives just didn’t work without you, Hattie. There was a very big chunk missing from both of our hearts.’
‘But not anymore,’ said Dad.
‘Never again,’ I said firmly.
They were getting ready to leave when Beamish and Dolly came back from church, with the promised candle and sweet studded orange.
‘Won’t you stay for tea?’ asked Dolly.
Her face was pinched from the cold and Beamish insisted she sat next to the fire to warm up.
‘Best not,’ said Dad. ‘It’s a bit of a trek and what with it being Christmas day tomorrow, we need to get back to get the sprouts on.’
‘You cheeky thing,’ flushed Mum. ‘They won’t be going on until first light.’
We all laughed and I walked with them back to their car, hugging each tightly in turn before they climbed in. The car was one I hadn’t seen before and I wondered how many other things had changed at home that I didn’t know about. Not that it really mattered. I would be visiting them soon enough and besides, all I really cared about was that I had them back. The smiles on their faces told me they felt exactly the same.
‘Look after yourself, my darling,’ said Dad, once he had turned the engine over.
‘I’ll ring you tomorrow,’ said Mum, leaning over the seats. ‘And come when you can,’ she added, ‘but only if you can leave Dolly. I know things aren’t going to be easy for you, but we’re here, love. If you need anything you only have to ask.’
‘And we can always come to you,’ said Dad. ‘Just pick up the phone if you need us. Merry Christmas, Hattie.’
‘Yes,’ nodded Mum. ‘Merry Christmas.’
‘Having you here has been the best present ever,’ I choked as Dad put the car into gear.
I swallowed hard, willing myself not to cry until they had gone.
‘Dolly said that she thought it might be,’ said Mum, her eyes now glistening with tears of her own. ‘She said it would be a wish come true.’
‘Now get inside,’ said Dad as he released the handbrake, ‘before you freeze.’
I waved until they were out of sight and then found that I didn’t want to cry. I bounded back up the path and into the cottage.
*
The Wynbridge midnight church service wasn’t quite the reverent step into Christmas day that I had been expecting. Dolly was tired but insisted that she wanted to go, if only to make up the numbers, but there was no need to have worried about empty pews. Every reveller in town it seemed had spilled out of The Mermaid at closing time and headed for the church to celebrate the dawning of the day we had all been waiting for. The carols were sung with gusto, the vicar was on fine form, happy to indulge the more inebriated members of the congregation, and the service sped by.
Stepping out of the church porch, my hand clasped in Dolly’s, was like stepping into a fairy tale. The snow was falling again, thicker now, and it was a safe bet that we were going to wake to a white Christmas. As far as I was concerned, it was the icing on the cake.
‘Things have turned out pretty well, haven’t they?’ said Dolly, her thoughts obviously travelling along the same tracks as mine.
Aside from her sad news they had, but I knew she wouldn’t want me to mention that now.
‘Yes,’ I answered, drawing her close. ‘Yes, they have and I want you to know that I’ll always be grateful that you invited me here again, Dolly.’
‘I know you will,’ she nodded.
‘My future would have been very different had you not shown me another path. I’ll always be thankful for your friendship and for leading me to Beamish.’
We looked over to where he was laughing with some of the congregation and pumping the vicar’s hand.
‘He’s a wonderful man,’ she smiled.
‘He is,’ I agreed.
He spotted us and waved and we waved back.
‘You’ve got an amazing future ahead of you here in Wynbridge, Hattie,’ said Dolly, looking up at me. ‘If that’s what you want. It is, isn’t it?’
‘Oh yes,’ I smiled, enveloping her in a hug, ‘most definitely. You’ve made my future here everything I could ever wish for.’
Acknowledgements
What an absolute pleasure it has been to spend another festive season in much loved Wynbridge with old and new friends. I hope you have enjoyed the visit as much as I have? As always, there is an ever-increasing list of people to thank for making the trip possible and this time I have a few very specific folk to hug for their support, encouragement and incredibly hard work.
No author could be happier with their merry band of readers than I am! My lovely #swainettes have been cheering long and loud this year and I wholeheartedly thank you all. Whether you are a blogger or a reader, you have championed both Wynbridge and Nightingale Square and that’s hugely appreciated. Special thanks to @head_in_a_book_18 over on Insta for all the fabulous pics and to @GrumpyGirlie (Laura) who has really put in some miles to support me this year.
The entire Books and The City Team have also pulled out all the stops again. Thank you, Jo Dickinson for your insight into editing The Christmas Wish List. I know our time together was exceptionally brief but I think we achieved great things in a short space of time. Thanks also to Rebecca Farrell for your equally insightful editing support and to Harriet Collins (publicist extraordinaire) who has been one step ahead of me this year and lined up some cracking events!
Thanks to Amanda Preston, my agent, who has been on hand to get me through what hasn’t been the easiest few months and keep me on track. (Please, no one mention the words ‘wisdom’ and ‘molar’ in the same sentence as I may go into a rapid decline.) And huge and heartfelt thanks to my fellow authors, but more specifically my firm friends, Jenni Keer (you’ve been a trooper my darling), Clare Marchant and Rosie Hendry, for always being there when I need you.
I also have to thank my former colleagues from the school where I had the very great pleasure of working as a TA for a decade. I know that a couple of you will recognise yourselves within the pages of this book and I can confirm that Mrs Andrea Drake really did identify a long-lost tooth I found in a tambourine in the music room! Patsy, Louisa, Mike and Simon, you are all an inspiration and the children (and parents) are truly blessed to have you.
And finally, thanks to my family and Storm (the cat), for putting up with my piles of notes, incessant rambling and general neglect when I’m head down at the keyboard. I love you all.
Thank you, dear readers, for joining me once again on another festive trip to Wynbridge. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy
New Year and, as ever, may your bookshelves – be they virtual or real – always be filled with fabulous fiction.
H x
Dolly and Hattie’s Christmas Wish List . . .
If you enjoyed reading about the wish list that Hattie and Dolly put together, then why not create one of your own? Personally, I love a good list, and there’s little in life as satisfying as ticking things off with a flourish.
Here are some simple and inexpensive ideas to kick things off, and all are guaranteed to keep your spirit soaring throughout the festive season. Some of the things are so much fun, you might even be able to tick them off twice!
Heidi x
1. Wear a festive jumper
2. Watch a pantomine
3. Watch a Christmas movie
4. Craft festive decorations
5. Bake mine pies
6. Take part in Secret Santa
7. Take a winter stroll
8. Visit the Christmas market
9. Go ice skating
10. Play Christmas music
11. See a reindeer
12. Drink mulled wine or hot chocolate
Don’t miss the brand new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Heidi Swain . . .
COMING 2020
AVAILABLE NOW TO PRE-ORDER
If you loved The Christmas Wish List, then be sure to read Heidi Swain’s previous novel . . .
Treat yourself to a glorious novel full of food, sunshine, friendship and love!
Things haven’t always been straightforward in Poppy’s life but her dreams are finally within her reach.
She’s moving into a cottage in beautiful Nightingale Square, close to the local community garden, where she can indulge her passion for making preserves and pickles. She may not have the best relationship with her family, but she is surrounded by loving friends, and feels sure that even her grumpy new neighbour, Jacob, has more to him than his steely exterior suggests.
But the unexpected arrival of Poppy’s troubled younger brother soon threatens her new-found happiness, and as the garden team works together to win community space of the year, Poppy must decide where her priorities lie and what she is prepared to fight for . . .
AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK AND EBOOK NOW
If you’re looking for more festive fiction, then be sure to read Heidi Swain’s previous novel . . .
Moving into Wynthorpe Hall to escape the town’s gossip, Hayley finds herself immersed in the eccentric Connelly family’s festive activities as they plan to host their first ever Winter Wonderland. But Hayley isn’t the only new resident at the hall. Gabe, a friend of the Connelly’s son Jamie, has also taken up residence, moving into Gatekeeper’s Cottage, and he quickly makes an impression on Wynbridge’s reformed good-girl.
As preparations commence for the biggest event of the season, the pair find themselves drawn ever closer to one another, but unbeknownst to Hayley, Gabe, too, has a reason for turning his back on love, one that seems intent on keeping them apart.
Under the starry winter skies, will Gabe convince Hayley to open her heart again once more? And in doing so, will he convince himself?
AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK AND EBOOK NOW
Heidi Swain lives in Norfolk with her family and a mischievous black cat called Storm. She is passionate about gardening, the countryside and collects vintage paraphernalia. The Christmas Wish List is her ninth novel. You can follow Heidi on Twitter @Heidi_Swain or visit her website: heidiswain.co.uk
Also by Heidi Swain
The Cherry Tree Café
Summer at Skylark Farm
Mince Pies and Mistletoe at the Christmas Market
Coming Home to Cuckoo Cottage
Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair
Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square
Snowflakes and Cinnamon Swirls at the Winter Wonderland
Poppy’s Recipe for Life
First published in Great Britain by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2019
A CBS COMPANY
Copyright © Heidi-Jo Swain, 2019
The right of Heidi-Jo Swain to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
Simon & Schuster UK Ltd
1st Floor
222 Gray’s Inn Road
London WC1X 8HB
Simon & Schuster Australia, Sydney
Simon & Schuster India, New Delhi
www.simonandschuster.co.uk
www.simonandschuster.com.au
www.simonandschuster.co.in
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4711-8568-7
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4711-8569-4
Audio ISBN: 978-1-4711-8687-5
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Typeset by M Rules
Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY
