Once Upon a Winter: A totally perfect festive romantic comedy

by Tilly Tennant

  Mitchell went almost as pale as Ross. ‘I don’t think…’

  ‘Oh, come on. August is nautical, I’m sure we can find a big grey beard to cover your face.’

  ‘But I thought it was women only,’ Mitchell protested.

  ‘Needs must,’ Briony replied cheerfully. ‘If we haven’t got enough models we’ll have to find volunteers from somewhere. Come on, chop chop.’

  Gina and Hannah were almost doubled over with laughter. Even Mitchell knew better than to argue with Briony. As she led them away, Briony turned to the girls with a crafty wink.

  ‘Oh that’s so funny…’ Hannah spluttered once they were out of earshot. ‘She doesn’t want them in the calendar at all.’

  ‘Shall we let them sweat for a bit before we go and rescue them?’

  ‘I vote we let them get dressed up and even get a few photos for future use, stop them getting cocky.’

  Gina giggled. ‘Whatever happened to my straight-laced little sister?’

  ‘Life happened, that’s what.’

  ‘I suppose it does that. But things feel pretty good right now.’

  ‘Yup. Things are as they should be and those who deserve it are getting their just desserts. Martine is stuck with penniless Graham, who is working in a builder’s yard and lucky to have a job there at all since Mitchell exposed him for the conman he really is. Howard is giving you anything you ask for just to keep his little secret –’

  ‘That makes it sound like blackmail,’ Gina laughed.

  ‘No, just some gentle coaxing, right?’ Hannah grinned. ‘We both have fabulous men who are now being tortured by your rather fabulous almost-mother-in-law, Jess is nearly human again, though we won’t get too carried away there as I’m sure things will be back to normal in a week or so, and we have a wonderful new life to look forward to. I’d call that a good result.’

  ‘And I think it will only get better.’

  Hannah lifted her mug of stewed tea and Gina did the same.

  ‘A toast,’ Hannah smiled, ‘to us.’

  ‘To us!’ Gina echoed, clinking her cup against Hannah’s. ‘Long may our new lives be awesome!’

  Epilogue: Under a Midsummer Moon

  Hannah placed a tick next to ‘birthday cake’ on the list, then glanced up at Gina.

  ‘That’s one less thing to worry about. Briony will make an amazing cake too.’

  ‘I bet it won’t be posh enough for Jess, though,’ Gina replied with a dark look that was so melodramatic Hannah laughed out loud.

  ‘I don’t think she’d dare to complain. Besides, she’s going to be eighteen – all she’ll be bothered about is how fast she can drink the bar dry. Remember my eighteenth birthday party?’

  ‘How can I forget? I found you pissed as a fart in a cupboard and very close to having sex with Shanie Weston’s boyfriend.’

  ‘He was gorgeous.’ Hannah grinned. ‘I still haven’t forgiven you for stopping me.’

  ‘I stopped you from getting a beating from Shanie. I deserved a medal for my actions that night.’

  ‘Still, Jess’s will be different because there will be responsible adults there. Is she bringing this new boyfriend… what’s his name again?’

  ‘I’m finding it hard to keep track myself. I think it’s still Archie – at least it was this morning.’

  Hannah laughed. ‘Now, who does that remind you of? Like mother, like daughter?’

  ‘Oi! I’m perfectly constant and faithful to Ross. And I was to Howard too.’

  ‘I’m talking about when you were eighteen.’

  ‘Well…’ Gina gave a sheepish smile. ‘It’s allowed at eighteen.’

  ‘Which is exactly what Jess would say.’

  Gina opened her mouth. Then closed it again before finally answering, ‘I can’t have this conversation – what else is on the list that we still haven’t covered?’

  Hannah bit back another grin as she read down her notes. ‘Balloons are sorted, Paul has organised the booze, Briony the cake, Howard is paying the DJ, we’re doing the sandwiches…’ She looked up and the grin broke free. ‘Male stripper? Do you know anyone who can do a strip for us?’

  ‘Ha ha, very funny.’

  ‘I thought so. In that case, I think we’ve covered most of it. No doubt we’ll think of more as we go along. Have you decided what you’re doing about Howard coming to the party?’

  ‘He’s Jess’s dad…’ Gina rested her elbows on the table. Her shoulders slumped and Hannah didn’t need to ask any more. Gina was madly in love with Ross, and it seemed as though she’d moved on. But pain of the kind Howard had inflicted on her when he’d had the affair that broke up their marriage, and then later when he’d tried to snuff out her happiness with Ross – that sort took much longer to heal than others.

  ‘You’ll have Ross there for support.’

  ‘I know. It’s going to be awkward but, if anything, I almost feel it’s Ross that I should un-invite if I have any doubts at all about having them in the same room.’

  ‘Seriously? After everything his family have done to help?’

  ‘Of course I’m not going to leave him out. I’m just saying, Howard probably has more right to be there than Ross. He’s expecting to come, and Jess is expecting him to be there – I know who she’d be cutting from the guest list if the decision was left to her.’

  ‘She wouldn’t, no matter what she says. She knows how much Ross means to you.’

  ‘Probably, but I don’t want to put it to the test.’

  ‘So you’re not going to mention that George’s old place is nearly done? And that Ross is keen for you to move in there with him?’

  ‘Are you kidding? She’s only just settled down to the idea that we’ve left Birmingham! I think I’ll save that little nugget for a while longer – in fact, the longer the better.’

  ‘You’ll have to tell her sooner or later… unless you’ve changed your mind about it?’

  Gina paused and stirred her coffee slowly as Hannah waited for a reply. ‘It’s not that I don’t want to commit to Ross,’ she said slowly.

  ‘But?’

  ‘You know I adore him – he’s the best thing to happen to me in a very long time. That’s why I’m hesitant. I don’t want to tie him down; he’s so much younger than me–’

  ‘I don’t think he cares about that.’

  ‘He might one day.’

  ‘He’s not a teenager; he’s a steady, reliable grown man who very much knows his own mind. I think he can decide for himself what he wants and as far as I can see that’s you. Even his parents can see it and they’re behind your relationship no matter whether the age gap bothers them or not.’

  ‘I wish I could say the same for Jess.’

  ‘She’s coming round to the idea, even if it is slowly.’

  ‘While we’re just dating it’s okay. But remember what happened last time she thought moving in together was on the cards.’

  ‘Howard exacerbated that situation by twisting her fears into something he could use to get back at you and see Ross off.’ Hannah folded her arms and leaned back in her chair, eyeing her sister. ‘You know what I think? I think you’re scared.’

  ‘Wow, well done Sherlock! Of course I’m scared. Say we do move in together, maybe he’ll want to get married next. And then have kids, but maybe it’s already too late for me to have kids with him. He could get bitter about it –’

  ‘He knows all this and he’s chosen to accept it to be with you.’

  ‘For now, yes. Who’s to say what’ll happen ten years down the line?’

  ‘Who can predict that for any of us?’

  Gina shook her head. ‘Forget it, Han. You’re trotting out arguments that make perfect sense on paper but in reality life doesn’t work like that. Ross may know his own mind now but that could change.’

  ‘Is that any reason not to take the risk? If we thought like that about everything no one would dare make a life with anyone.’

  ‘Nothing is certain – that’s true. But
some things are more certain than others. Like you and Mitchell.’

  Hannah raised her eyebrows. ‘You think?’

  ‘Not so convinced by your own argument now? He’s besotted with you and why wouldn’t he be?’

  ‘I can think of a few reasons.’ Hannah smiled.

  ‘So can I…’ Gina shot her a mischievous look. ‘But sisterly ribbing aside, his decree absolute will be through any day now and then you’ll have to make some decisions too.’

  ‘How has this suddenly become about me?’

  ‘Since you chose to lecture me. Do you think Mitchell is finally going to be free of Martine and not ask you to marry him?’

  ‘I should think he’ll have had enough of marriage by then.’

  ‘No, you don’t. You know I’m right. And if you turn him down you’re a fool.’

  ‘We’re alright as we are; we’re happy.’

  ‘You could always be happier.’

  ‘And we might not. Marriage doesn’t always make things better – as you know.’

  The sound of Gina’s front door clattering shut echoed through the house, followed by footsteps and voices, and a moment later Jess appeared with a dark haired young man in tow.

  ‘Hey, Mum… Hannah…’ Jess greeted them.’ Is it okay if me and Archie go upstairs? He wants to play me some stuff on Spotify and his iPod dock is broken.’

  Hannah had heard some lame excuses to get a boy up to her room in her time – she’d probably invented quite a few herself – but this one was ready for the knacker’s yard. She glanced at Gina, who was nodding slowly.

  ‘I suppose so.’

  Jess disappeared without another word, dragging a sheepish looking Archie with her.

  ‘Don’t you mind them being up there alone?’ Hannah asked once they were out of earshot.

  Gina shrugged. ‘If I don’t let them they’ll just find somewhere else to be alone. At least this way I know where she is. She’s practically an adult anyway, so I don’t suppose I can do a lot about it.’

  ‘I suppose not. I can’t imagine having that sort of responsibility. I went into a cold sweat at the thought of having George’s dog live with me.’

  Gina laughed. ‘I suppose it can be scary at times.’

  Hannah smiled as she sipped her coffee. ‘So,’ she continued as she replaced the mug on the table, ‘it looks as though we’re both going to turn into sad old spinsters.’

  ‘Speak for yourself. I’ve been married, don’t forget. I’ll be a mad old cat lady and you’ll be the sad old spinster all by yourself.’

  ‘What are you going to tell Ross when he’s finished doing George’s old place up and he wants you to move in there with him…’

  Gina rolled her eyes. ‘You don’t give up, do you? I love Ross, but I don’t know. Everything changes with a leap like that, doesn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, but sometimes change is a good thing.’

  ‘I’m going to throw that back at you, then.’

  Hannah smiled, and raised her hands above her head. ‘Okay, I surrender. We’re both being ridiculous.’

  ‘When you’ve been hurt before like we both have, then it’s hard not to be a little bit ridiculous from time to time. And it’s perfectly excusable.’

  Pulling the writing pad back towards her, Hannah tapped at it with her pen. ‘Now that’s sorted, don’t you think we’d better get back to organising this party?’

  Hannah walked the space, hand in hand with Mitchell. In preparation for the party, lights had already been strung around the wooden walls, cascading from beams and nailed into eaves, filling the place with an ambient glow. A temporary wooden floor had been installed over the straw that would normally cover the ground, and the place had been painstakingly scrubbed clean. Mitchell stood and frowned.

  ‘It looks great but…’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I can’t imagine Jess being pleased about a birthday party in a barn, not at her age. Don’t you think it smacks of barn dance a bit – you know, something old people would do?’

  ‘I think it’s great,’ Hannah insisted, but her smile faded. Perhaps she had misjudged it. Jess had said she didn’t care about a party, that she’d rather go to the pubs in Birmingham with her old friends for her birthday. But Gina and Hannah had been so disappointed by this that Jess had, uncharacteristically for her, relented, and agreed that there would be two celebrations, one of which they had free rein to organise. It had been Ross’s idea to use the barn on the Hunters’ farm, and Hannah’s creative mind had immediately jumped on his suggestion, her imagination flooded with ideas to make it the best and most memorable birthday party ever. It was a project that had very much occupied her mind these last few months, and she had loved every minute of it. But now she wasn’t so sure. ‘I wish you’d said something earlier.’

  He squeezed her hand. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound negative. I was just thinking aloud what probably should have stayed in my head.’

  ‘If it’s in your head, maybe it will be in Jess’s too, though,’ Hannah replied. ‘Now I feel sick…’

  ‘Don’t worry!’ Mitchell pulled her into a hug. ‘It’s going to be summer solstice, there will be a glorious strawberry moon, great music and food, and the wine will be flowing. Ignore me, I’m sure it will be impossible for anyone not to have a good time with all that on our side.’

  ‘But what if Jess does think it’s full of old people? I mean, it will be!’

  ‘But fun old people,’ Mitchell laughed. ‘Her friends are invited too, right? So the old person/young person ratio will probably be quite respectable in the end. Besides, that’s what you get at family parties, and even Jess knows that, which is why she’s doing the two celebrations. She might pretend she doesn’t want to be seen in public with you, but I can tell she completely worships the ground you and Gina walk on and she’s incredibly proud of you both.’

  Hannah gave him a bemused smile. ‘You think?’

  ‘I know it. So stop your worrying and let’s get these last bits finished off. I don’t know about you but I’m about ready to have some dinner.’

  The following day, when Martine pulled up at Hannah’s gate, she looked as impossibly glamorous as ever, but Hannah couldn’t help noticing that some of the light in her usually arrogant stare had faded. She looked tired, a woman defeated, and although Gina would have insisted it was no less than she deserved, Hannah couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. Mitchell made it very difficult for his soon-to-be-ex-wife to get hold of him these days, and it wasn’t the first time since their split that Martine had come to Hannah’s house looking for him. She wondered whether it was in part a morbid curiosity to see how Mitchell’s new life was panning out as well as trying to find him. Hannah wouldn’t blame her – after all, Martine had not only lost Mitchell and the cosy life they’d had together, but since her infidelity and their split, she had also parted from the man she’d been having an affair with. Graham had gone to Scotland, working on some oil refinery in the highlands. It seemed that he had chosen a destination as far away from Millrise as he could without actually going to another continent and Hannah was sure that had to sting too.

  ‘Is he here?’ she asked, striding up the path as Hannah stopped weeding the window box and turned to face her.

  ‘No.’

  ‘Where is he?’

  Hannah pulled off her gardening gloves and frowned. ‘I’m not his nanny. I don’t need to know where he is all the time. Now is one of those times.’

  Martine stopped short of Hannah on the path. ‘Oh…’ she said. Hannah was expecting her to add something derogatory or sarcastic, but she didn’t.

  ‘Do you want me to give him a message?’

  ‘No.’ Martine turned to go. But then she turned back. ‘Actually, yes. You can tell him the divorce is through.’

  ‘Won’t he get a letter telling him, as you have?’

  ‘I suppose so.’

  ‘Then why come all the way out here to tell him that?’

  S
he shrugged. ‘I suppose I just wanted to tell him… He won.’

  ‘I don’t think there are winners or losers here. It’s just life.’

  ‘I wanted him to know there’re no hard feelings. I mean, we’re hardly going to be best buddies but I don’t lay any blame at his door for what happened.’

  Hannah realised there was no point in telling Martine that what had happened was solely down to her, and that any forgiving could only come from Mitchell. She also knew that it must have taken some guts for Martine to admit she was wrong. Hannah forced herself to smile. ‘Will you be alright?’

  ‘I expect so. I don’t have much choice, do I?’

  Hannah didn’t have a reply. There was a moment’s silence, and then Martine turned and walked back down the path. As she drove away, Hannah stared thoughtfully after her. So that was it – Mitchell was free. What now? For so long she had been able to put him off pressuring for a decision about their future because he was still married, but now there was no excuse. What did she want? She loved him, of that there was no doubt, but the idea of moving in with Mitchell, possibly even marriage, was exciting and terrifying all at the same time. She had been on her own for so long it was hard to imagine what life would be like without that autonomy. Sure, they had been a couple for a while now, but the big decisions about how she ran her life were still only hers to consider. All that would change and she had to figure out how she felt about it before she could make any decisions.

  Even as these thoughts ran through her mind, her mobile phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to see Mitchell’s photo light up on the screen.

  ‘Hey gorgeous!’

  He sounded excited and adorable, and Hannah almost felt guilty for the doubts she’d had only a moment earlier.

  ‘You’ll never guess what,’ he continued.

  ‘You’d better tell me then.’

  ‘Try and guess!’

  ‘You just said I wouldn’t be able to,’ Hannah smiled.