Christmas at Mistletoe Cottage

by Lucy Daniels

  ‘Really?’ Helen looked as if she was trying not to smile. ‘I thought you liked him.’

  ‘I do,’ Mandy admitted. ‘There’s just so much going on here,’ she waved her pliers towards the rescue centre, ‘and with trying to buy the cottage and … well, we’ve both got too much going on.’ She didn’t tell Helen she thought Jimmy deserved someone less busy. The nurse would tell her she was being daft. And she couldn’t even begin to explain the complicated guilt she felt when she wasn’t putting Hope Meadows and James first. Her friend needed her, but even he would tell her to go ahead. She closed her mouth, feeling the silence grow.

  Helen didn’t seem to notice. She reached up and patted Mandy’s arm with her gloved hand. ‘I can see it might be difficult,’ she said. ‘You’re right to take your time, but don’t …’ She paused for a moment, frowning. ‘Don’t close yourself off too much. I know this job can be all-encompassing, but you have to pace yourself. Jimmy seems like a really nice person,’ she pointed out. ‘Think of how much he helped with the rescue at Lamb’s Wood. And we both know he’s gorgeous!’ There was a smile in her eyes. ‘I almost turned down Seb,’ she added, ‘because I didn’t feel ready. But I’m not having any regrets at all.’

  Mandy knew Helen was right. She would be a fool to push Jimmy so far away that she missed the opportunity altogether. Being a grown-up was so complicated! Then she thought of James, wracked with grief for his husband Paul, and she reminded herself how lucky she was that no one she loved dearly had died.

  ‘Okay then, oh Wise Woman,’ she said with a grin as she twisted the last wire into place and straightened up. ‘I’m not going to rush into anything, but I won’t rush in the other direction either. Is that good enough for you?’

  Helen stood up too, rubbing her spine. ‘That’ll do nicely,’ she said.

  Chapter Nine

  Looking in the mirror several hours later, Mandy frowned. How come other people looked so good in make-up? It changed the outlines of her face in a way that made her uncomfortable. Reaching for a paper hankie, she blotted off some of the lipstick, blurring the hard lines, and peered at herself again. Better, she thought. She looked more like her normal self.

  She had worked and socialised with Simon, her previous boyfriend, before they had started dating. By the time they became a couple, Mandy had felt totally comfortable around him. Not that she hadn’t wanted to look decent, both for herself and for him, but she had felt confident that Simon liked her just as she was. She felt like she needed to make more of an effort for Jimmy, especially as tonight they would be indoors, in the pub, rather than striding around the fells. Mandy knew his ex-wife was a beautician. There was no way she was going to match up to professional standards!

  Glancing at her watch, she stood up. At least she didn’t have to worry about cold wind and rope burns today. She was wearing a cream cashmere sweater that she loved, over a pair of skinny black jeans that made the most of her long legs. A smart pair of black boots completed the outfit. It wasn’t as if she and Jimmy didn’t know one another already, she reminded herself. They’d even kissed. And he had been kind afterwards when he could have made things awkward. Tonight would only be a big deal if she chose to make it one.

  Mandy walked downstairs with Sky at her heels, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. Going to the Fox and Goose should be like visiting an old friend, but Mandy couldn’t help remembering the phone call with PC Ellen. Were people in the pub really gossiping about the new rescue centre?

  Adam and Emily were sitting at the kitchen table, finishing dinner. Both looked up as she entered the room. ‘You look lovely,’ Emily said with a smile. Mandy found herself smiling back.

  ‘I hope the young man in question will have you back at a reasonable hour,’ Adam teased.

  ‘I’ll let him know that you’ll be waiting up with a rolling pin,’ Mandy joked. Bending down, she gave Sky a hug. ‘You need to stay here,’ Mandy told her. Sky gazed up at her and gave a little whine.

  ‘Don’t worry, Sky,’ Adam said. ‘We’re getting left behind too.’

  Emily seemed to sense that Mandy was feeling jittery. ‘You go and have a lovely evening,’ she urged. ‘We’ll look after Sky for you. Come here, girl.’ With a last glance at Mandy, Sky crept over and lay down at Emily’s side with a sigh.

  ‘Thanks, Mum.’ Mandy pulled on her coat and stuffed her purse into the pocket. ‘See you later!’

  Jimmy was waiting for her outside the Fox and Goose. He was dressed in a tight-fitting black polo neck with a jacket over the top and straight-leg jeans. Mandy couldn’t help being impressed. Get a grip, she told herself, trying to ignore the flush that she could feel creeping across her cheeks.

  Jimmy seemed very pleased to see her. ‘You look lovely,’ he said, with a gentle smile. He made no attempt to kiss her, but reached out and gave her hand a squeeze. His fingers were warm. ‘Come on in,’ he prompted. Opening the door, he ushered Mandy inside.

  As they entered, she felt a flicker of alarm. The pub was packed, even for a Friday. She had been glad to come to the Fox and Goose, expecting its familiarity would help put her at her ease. She had pictured a simple meal with Jimmy in a quiet corner, but there was no chance of that now. Together they pushed their way over to the bar.

  Bev Parsons looked up from the pint she was pulling. ‘Jimmy!’ She had to shout to make herself heard over the babble of voices. ‘And Mandy Hope!’ Mandy thought she detected a note of surprise in Bev’s voice but the landlady’s smile looked genuine enough. ‘Have you come for our grand ceremony?’ she bellowed.

  ‘What ceremony?’ Jimmy was shouting too.

  ‘Switching on our Christmas lights,’ Bev yelled. ‘We decorate every year, but this time, we thought we’d make a real night of it.’

  They certainly had, Mandy thought as she turned and gazed around the bar. The place was heaving.

  ‘We actually came in for dinner.’ Jimmy had to lean right over the bar to make himself heard. ‘What are the chances of getting a table?’

  For a moment, Bev looked troubled, but then her face brightened. ‘We could open up the little room through the back,’ she bawled. She raised her eyebrows suggestively at Jimmy, then glanced at Mandy, who felt her stomach contract. ‘It’ll be a bit more private.’ Bev winked at Mandy, who, with some difficulty, managed to smile back. Up until now, she and Jimmy had only met outside or in private. Back in September they had gone walking together twice, but Bev’s knowing looks were making her feel self-conscious. Before leaving for university, she hadn’t dated anyone in the village. She should have remembered how much fascination kicked off when any local couple started ‘courting’ as Gran would have called it. Half hoping Jimmy would refuse, she peered out over the thronged heads. But there was obviously no chance of a table in the public bar coming free any time soon.

  ‘That would be great, thanks,’ Jimmy said.

  The little room at the back was usually only used for private parties. There was no hope that their exclusive seating arrangement would go unnoticed by the rest of the pub. With reluctant feet, Mandy followed as Bev led them through the main seating area to the door on the far side of the room.

  Mandy felt as if she had a neon sign over her head, letting people know she was here. Passing a table of four, Mandy recognised Christopher and Lola Gill, who lived at Greystones Farm with their brother Brandon. She didn’t know the other two people at the table, but all four of them were looking from her to Jimmy and then back again. After a moment, the Gills remembered to nod, and Mandy nodded back. Then she caught the eye of one of the men sitting at the bar. It was Mr Farmer, who ran the local garage. He had turned almost all the way round in his seat to watch, making no attempt to hide his curiosity. To top it all, as they walked through the packed room, the sound levels suddenly dropped. Mandy wondered if they were waiting for her and Jimmy to perform a quick song and dance act.

  To her relief, Bev was quick to unlock the door to the private room. Once they were insid
e, Mandy felt less like she was in a goldfish bowl. She pulled out a chair from the table by the window and sat down. Jimmy sat opposite her, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

  ‘Can I get you a drink?’ Bev was standing in the doorway, beaming at them.

  ‘That would be great,’ said Mandy. For a moment, she toyed with the idea of asking for a double. The strength of the reaction to her presence there tonight was unnerving. She had been in often enough over the years with different friends; normally, no one batted an eyelid. Was it the just the fact that she was with Jimmy, she wondered, or had they all been gossiping about Hope Meadows? Her shoulders tense, she looked across the table at Jimmy. He didn’t seem at all bothered by the stir they had caused.

  ‘I’ll have a long vodka, please,’ she said, turning back to Bev. At least Bev knew how to make her drink. In strange places, she sometimes had to explain.

  ‘And I’ll have a pint of John Smith, please,’ said Jimmy. Pushing his chair out, he stood up. ‘I’m just going to hang up my coat,’ he said. ‘Can I take yours too?’ Mandy pulled off her jacket and handed it to him. As he left the room Mandy smiled at Bev, wondering whether she was waiting for their food order. But after a conspiratorial squint over her left shoulder, Bev turned to Mandy and gave her a thumbs up. ‘Lovely young man,’ she whispered.

  Mandy felt her face turn red. ‘We’re just here for dinner,’ she blurted out, then stopped in dismay. What other reason would they be here for? Did Bev think they were going to get up to all sorts the moment she left the room?

  ‘I’ll fetch you some menus,’ Bev told her. She arrived back at the same time as Jimmy. ‘Come and order at the bar when you’ve decided what you want,’ she said, handing over the typewritten paper that held today’s selection. With another dazzling grin, she left them alone.

  ‘Do you know what you want?’ Jimmy looked up at Mandy a few moments later.

  ‘Apart from a hole to open up in the floor that we could hide in?’ she suggested.

  She wondered if Jimmy would tell her she was being daft, but he nodded, sending her a rueful look. ‘Ah yes,’ he said. ‘Now I know what celebrities feel like!’ He put his head on one side, his green eyes serious. ‘Would you prefer to go somewhere else?’ he asked. ‘There’s still time.’

  Mandy wrinkled her nose, thinking. However much she loved Welford, there was a lot to be said for the anonymity of Leeds or even York. But she shook her head. Leaving now would draw even more attention to them. ‘I can live with it,’ she said. ‘At least they haven’t followed us in here!’ She glanced down at the menu again. ‘I think I’d like the Yorkshire pudding with onion gravy, please.’

  ‘Of course.’ Jimmy took her menu and stood back up. ‘Celebrity is a burden I have to bear,’ he intoned. ‘Wish me luck!’ His eyes were full of amusement.

  Mandy laughed. ‘Good luck,’ she said.

  He disappeared, leaving Mandy alone, but a second later a shape filled the doorway. Gary Parsons was bringing their drinks on a tray. Like Bev, he took a quick look out through the open door, then leaned in towards Mandy. ‘Very nice to see you two here,’ he whispered. ‘He’s a lucky man.’

  For a moment, Mandy considered running away. Was everyone in this place giving them marks out of ten? To her relief, Gary set the drinks down on the table and retreated quickly, leaving her no time to respond. She felt relieved when Jimmy returned. Whatever was going on, it was easier to deal with it together. She took a slug of her drink, hoping it would help her relax.

  Jimmy took a gulp from his pint, then set it down on the table. ‘What have you been up to today?’ he asked.

  Mandy paused for a moment, recalling her morning’s adventures. ‘I went on a welfare visit with Seb Conway,’ she said. ‘To a pair of donkey foals.’ Although it should have been an easy topic of conversation, talking about her job in public was always complicated. She could mention the visit but Mandy had to keep her mouth shut about the details, especially when it was a welfare case. ‘It all got a bit heated and the police showed up,’ she added.

  Jimmy’s eyebrows had migrated upwards. ‘Really?’ he said. ‘Were the donkeys feral?’

  Mandy pulled a face. ‘Not the donkeys, no. The man who’d bought the foals got upset when we had to remove them,’ she explained. ‘It was a bit of a storm in a teacup. The donkeys can go back if the owners find a suitable field, but I got the feeling the man’s wife isn’t going to try very hard,’ she added. ‘Donkeys make a pretty terrible Christmas present!’

  Jimmy grinned. ‘Does this mean you have a couple of fluffballs hanging around Hope Meadows? Maybe I should come over to see them.’

  ‘Oh, do,’ said Mandy. ‘Robin and Holly – those are the donkeys – are pretty adorable but they’re just babies so Helen and I will do lots of handling and groundwork before they can be rehomed.’

  Jimmy’s eyes creased up as he smiled. ‘Cows, sheep, dogs, donkeys … Are there any animals that you aren’t an expert in, Amanda Hope?’

  Mandy felt her face turn pink again, but this time it wasn’t from embarrassment. ‘I probably could do to read up on arachnids,’ she said with a grin.

  ‘Hmmm, I can imagine it would be tricky to treat a spider with eight broken legs,’ mused Jimmy.

  Outside in the bar, there seemed to be some kind of upheaval as people stood up and pushed back their chairs. Presumably the time had come for the switching on of the lights. Before Mandy could suggest going out to join them, the lights in the main bar area went out. Mandy felt horribly conspicuous as light from their room spilled into the main bar, casting them in spotlight. To her relief, Jimmy reached up and flicked a switch on the wall so that they too were in darkness.

  Pushing out her chair, Mandy stood up at the same time as Jimmy. She felt him move close behind her as she shifted into the doorway to get a better view.

  Bev’s voice came from behind the bar. ‘Sorry we don’t have anyone famous to turn them on!’ she joked. ‘You’ll have to make do with me. One, two, three … Happy Christmas, everybody!’

  With a flash, the bar lit up with hundreds of coloured lights and the crowd made the sort of appreciative noises that Mandy associated with firework displays. Tiny twink-ling bulbs attached to netting covered the ceiling, and bigger lights were twined into garlands on the walls. The Christmas tree beside the hearth was a triumph of festive decor, the tinsel and baubles glittering in a complicated sequence of flashing fairy lights. Mandy felt herself grinning. Despite the awkwardness of the evening, this was beautiful. Jimmy’s hand touched her shoulder, warm and steady, and Mandy leaned into him.

  A moment later, the main lights came back on. Jimmy sat down at their table and reached up to flick the switch again. Mandy blinked as her eyes got used to the brightness.

  ‘Well, that was rather lovely.’ Jimmy smiled across the table.

  ‘I feel quite Christmassy now,’ Mandy admitted. Lifting her drink, she swallowed down the last mouthful. Should she go and buy another? Jimmy was only half way down his pint.

  Just then Gary appeared in the doorway carrying two giant Yorkshire puddings. Marching over, he set them in front of Mandy and Jimmy with a flourish. ‘Enjoy,’ he declared, then picking up Mandy’s empty glass, he asked, ‘Can I get you any more drinks?’

  ‘Same again, please,’ Mandy said.

  ‘Me too.’ Jimmy lifted his glass and tossed back the remainder of his pint. He held out the glass to Gary, who raised his eyebrows.

  ‘Sure I can’t tempt you to a bottle of sparkling wine?’ he prompted. ‘Might even have some champagne at the back of the fridge, if you want me to take a look.’

  Mandy opened her mouth to protest that it was just a friendly dinner, but Jimmy spoke first, with a cautioning glance at Mandy. ‘Just the two drinks will be fine, thanks,’ he said. Gary looked disappointed but headed back to the bar.

  ‘I’m not sure I fancy some champagne from the back of the fridge,’ Jimmy said impishly. ‘Not a vintage I’m familiar with.’

  Ma
ndy let out a long breath. ‘I shouldn’t think anyone’s ever ordered champagne here except on a special occasion.’ With a stab of pain, she recalled James and Paul’s wedding that summer, full of sunlight and joy and, yes, glasses of fizz. She pushed the sadness away. ‘I really didn’t think we’d cause such a fuss tonight.’

  Jimmy winked. ‘Everyone in Welford seems to have known you since you were knee-high to a Labrador. I’m not surprised they take an interest in you. I just hope I measure up!’

  ‘Oh, don’t worry, you do,’ Mandy said without thinking. She paused. ‘Eat up! Bev’s Yorkshire puddings are legendary, and I dread to think what would happen if we let them go to waste!’

  Despite Jimmy’s delightful company, it hadn’t been the most comfortable of meals, Mandy reflected as she walked out through the door of the Fox and Goose an hour later. The evening had been enjoyable, and she would have been happy to linger over drinks and dessert. But by the time they had finished the delectable Yorkshire puddings, the bar had become so full that people had started to spill into their side room. Once again, Mandy had found herself being stared at, and she was convinced she heard her name being muttered. She had toyed with the idea of asking Jimmy about any rumours he might have heard about the rescue centre, but she shied away from telling him about Flame’s misadventures and the hostility she seemed to be stirring up among the locals.

  Jimmy pulled the door to the pub shut behind them. For the first time that winter, the air was chilly enough for their breath to make little clouds in the night air. There was frost on the breeze. Standing close, not quite touching, they looked up at the outside festive lights.

  ‘Do you think it can be seen from space?’ Jimmy murmured in Mandy’s ear.

  She grinned. ‘It’s possible. Especially the world’s fattest Santa.’ She pointed to the generously-proportioned Father Christmas perched on the roof of the pub, resplendent in scarlet and white lights. She hoped he was tied down firmly; he looked as if he could do some damage with the right gust of wind.