Christmas at Mistletoe Cottage

by Lucy Daniels

‘That’s some dog you’ve got there.’ Sergeant Jones nodded at Sky, who was slinking about the yard as if wondering who to round up next.

  Blood dripped from one of Stuart’s hands. He seemed to have given up the fight and his head drooped. Mandy expected to feel contempt for him but for the moment she felt nothing, as if her brain had been wiped.

  ‘The dog had him by the hand,’ Dan went on. ‘She wasn’t for letting go, that’s for sure.’

  She leaned on the wall. Sky slunk over, looking up as if unsure of her reception. Legs buckling, Mandy sank down to the ground. She was trembling. Sky shuffled up beside her, and Mandy wrapped her arms around her beloved dog.

  A shadow came between her and the sun. Looking up, she saw Dan Jones gazing at her. ‘I’m really sorry,’ he said. ‘We have to go. Will you be okay? Is there anyone we can call?’

  Mandy realised she was sitting in the snow in her jeans, but the shivers running through her body were nothing to do with cold. ‘Please don’t call anyone,’ she said. ‘Not just yet.’ In a few moments, she would go indoors but for now, she wanted to sit here with Sky.

  ‘Are you sure?’ His dark eyes were filled with concern. ‘We could get you inside. You must be freezing.’

  ‘I’m fine.’ She could see doubt in Dan’s eyes, but he just nodded. Checking that the prisoner was secure in the back seat, he climbed into the police car and drove off.

  Mandy was still there a few minutes later when her mum drew up. She could feel tears on her face but she couldn’t wipe them away. Her body felt drained of energy.

  Emily’s eyes opened wide with alarm when she saw Mandy sitting there. Mandy opened her mouth but nothing came out. Alice in Wonderland again, she thought dimly. Falling down the mineshaft. Jack would be back home by now. She should go and see him.

  ‘Mandy?’ Her mother’s worried voice jerked Mandy back to the present. ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘Stuart Mortimore,’ Mandy whispered.

  ‘He was here?’ Emily almost shrieked, then visibly steadied herself. She closed the car door, walked over and sat down in the snow. Without a word, she wrapped her arms round Mandy and Sky. It was a stretch for Emily, but she held them tight, filling Mandy with warmth and love. ‘Is it safe now?’ Emily asked gently against Mandy’s hair. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’

  Mandy sighed. How precious and gentle she was, this wonderful woman who had taken Mandy as a daughter. She would never stop feeling grateful that her parents had chosen her. Never.

  ‘He was taken away by the police,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to talk now.’

  ‘Whenever you feel ready, I’ll be here.’ Emily reached up a hand, smoothing a stray lock of hair from Mandy’s eyes. Simple words, a promise made. The tears were taking over again. The loving arms surrounded her and Mandy leaned into her mum’s embrace feeling comforted to her core.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  ‘You really do need to leave.’ It was the twentieth time Mandy had said it. Despite feeling nervous, she didn’t want to keep her parents from their much-needed Christmas break. It had been a long time since they had been off duty over the festive season. After everything that had happened, they deserved to get away for a long rest.

  ‘But are you sure you’ll be okay?’ Emily’s eyes held love and concern in equal measure.

  Stuart Mortimore was in custody. Ellen Armstrong had called to let Mandy know that the police from Leeds had some outstanding arrest warrants for him, too. With that and the evidence of Mandy’s phone call, it wasn’t likely Stuart would be on out on bail before the hearing.

  But Mandy was still jittery. ‘I’ll be fine,’ she told her mum. If she repeated it often enough, it would probably be true.

  Adam sighed. ‘Come on, love,’ he said to Emily. ‘Mandy’s right. If we want to get to Loch Awe before it’s dark, we really have to set off.’ He turned to Mandy. ‘Look after yourself.’ He held out his arms and she flung herself into them for one last hug. ‘Before I go,’ he added as he released her, ‘I’ve got a present for you. You can open it now.’

  He reached out and picked up the mysterious gift from the windowsill that had been tantalising Mandy all morning. Tearing off the festive wrapping, she found a green plastic food bowl and a smart black cat collar. Mandy frowned at her dad.

  He smiled at Emily, then back at Mandy. ‘Assuming you approve,’ he said, ‘Mum and I would like to adopt Tango. We thought you might let us, given that the rules on adopting rescued animals have already been broken.’ He grinned as he looked down at Sky. ‘Though Tango might not be quite as useful as Sky when it comes to rounding up criminals.’ On hearing her name, the collie sat up, ears alert and head on one side.

  In reply, Mandy hugged first Adam and then Emily. ‘I can’t think of anyone better,’ she said, looking from one to the other. ‘He’s such a sweet old thing.’

  ‘Are you calling me old?’ Adam narrowed his eyes. ‘And sweet?’ He bared his teeth.

  Mandy laughed.

  ‘I’m glad you approve.’ Emily was smiling.

  ‘How could I not?’

  Adam opened the door. ‘Look after yourself,’ he said again.

  Despite the chilly air outside, Mandy stayed on the doorstep until the sound of the car faded into the distance. She sighed as she closed and locked the door. The house seemed terribly silent. Saturday afternoons were often quiet at Animal Ark. Mandy had already been out to tend to her rescues twice. There was really nothing else she needed to do. Having made herself a cup of hot chocolate, she sat down in front of the television, but after only a few minutes, she found herself back on her feet.

  Sky followed at her heels wherever she went. Since Stuart’s attack, the little collie seemed to have decided that Mandy needed close protection at all hours of the day. Mandy stood in the kitchen, looking out of the window at the clinic and the rescue centre in the paddock. Before Stuart was behind bars, she had altogether given up the idea of spending any part of Christmas at Lamb’s Wood Cottage. Now she was so far behind with her renovations that even the prospect of having lunch there was less than enticing. The electrician was unable to carry out the rewiring work until after the New Year. The plumber had fixed the toilet, but the boiler wasn’t working. It rankled that Stuart Mortimore with his stupid scheme had prevented Mandy from achieving something she wanted so badly.

  Outside the window, there was still snow on the ground, but the afternoon was bright and sunny. Holly and Robin were outside, nosing at the ground. Remembering Robin’s part in tackling Stuart, Mandy felt a surge of determination. She would spend the next couple of days in her new home working to get the kitchen into shape. She was not going to let him stop her. The décor might not be up to scratch in time for the big day, but she could warm up the ground floor and cook soup on the wood stove. She had plenty of candles. She could make the kitchen cosy. It would hardly be the height of luxury, but it was her home. She had the perfect right to be there at Christmas.

  Before she could change her mind, Mandy changed into some old clothes and began to load all the things she would need into the back of her SUV. She piled in buckets and sponges, disinfectant and soap and an old radio. Strapping Sky in, she drove the short distance up to the cottage.

  After the brightness of Animal Ark, the cottage seemed dimmer than ever, despite the sunshine that was making its way into the kitchen. Mandy walked around the house, trying not to wince at how much needed to be done. The bathroom window which had been boarded up was flapping loose again. She should secure it before she left. But for now, she would make a start with cleaning down the walls in the kitchen. She would start the stove later, she thought. She might as well get on with some of the other tasks while it was still light enough. Setting the radio on the side, she found some Christmas music and set to work.

  An hour later, she had begun to regret her decision. Despite the hard work, her hands were freezing from dipping in and out of cold water as she scrubbed down the surfaces. It was starting to get painful. Aft
er an hour and a half’s work, she had only managed half the room. Even the dirt on the cupboards was impossible to clean. For a moment, Mandy quailed. Should she give up now? Admit defeat and crawl back to Animal Ark? She took a deep breath and put the cloth on the mantelpiece.

  She decided to light the stove. Maybe if it was warmer, things would seem more possible and at least she could heat up the water she was using. It was already dusk outside. Before setting up the fire, she should get some candles out. She would light them when she got back from collecting the wood.

  By the time she had set up the candles and run out to fetch the logs, Mandy was very cold indeed. She was glad she had brought a pack of firelighters with her. With hands that were now trembling as well as red with cold, she opened the stove door. She set several firelighters on the grate and stood the logs around them. Hoping against hope that the fire would catch quickly, she struck a match. It blew out before she reached the firelighters.

  Trying to steady her shivering, she fumbled another match from the box. This time, by cupping her hand around the light, she managed to get it to the flammable white sticks. Mandy watched as the tiny orange flame spread blue, licking upwards towards the logs. As it reached the wood, a choking cloud billowed towards her. She waited a moment, but the smoke continued to pour out. Checking that the air inlet below the grate was open, she pushed the door shut. For a moment, she listened for an encouraging roar as the flames took hold, but when she edged the door open two minutes later, the lighters had burnt themselves out. The wood, though blackened, was unlit. Rancid fumes filled the room and Mandy started to cough.

  She needed to light the candles before carrying on. It was too dark to see enough to set up the fire again. At least those lit easily, though from the way they flickered, the room was so draughty that she would need a really good blaze to get the area warmed.

  Mandy refilled the stove with firelighters. Another three matches wasted. More smoke. When the fire went out for a second time, she was beginning to feel desperate.

  Clearing out the logs, she rolled up some newspapers she had found in the woodshed. Twisting them into knots, she set them around the firelighters until she had a good base. Another trip out to the woodshed. There had been an axe there. Perhaps, unlike the stove at home where the logs seemed to light easily, she was going to have to make some kindling. Aiming at the end of one of the logs, Mandy drove the blade into it, then tapped the combined axe and log up and down until the wood split. Repeating her actions, she soon had a small pile of splintered sticks.

  Back in the kitchen, some of the smoke had cleared. Mandy opened the stove and set a few more lighters on top of the paper, balanced some kindling around the pile, then added some logs.

  This time, the smoke was even more intense. Despite the door being closed, fumes poured out through the air inlet. When Mandy opened the door to see what was happening, she was engulfed in a choking cloud. Slamming the door shut again, she sat back on her heels. She had known it was an uphill task, but if she couldn’t get the stove lit, it would be impossible.

  Sky growled. She had been pressed against Mandy’s side, trying to offer comfort. A moment later, with a tiny whine, she broke free from Mandy’s grasp and rushed towards the door. Half panicking that Stuart had somehow returned, Mandy was scrabbling backwards when a man’s shape appeared in the candle light.

  It was Jimmy. ‘Sorry I startled you,’ he said.

  She laughed at his worried expression. ‘I’ll get over it,’ she said. ‘Do you know anything about stoves? I think maybe Santa’s already stuck in the chimney. There’s certainly something blocking it.’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ he said with a grin. ‘The chimney probably needs sweeping.’ Glancing round the room, taking in the cloths and bucket, the radio and candles, he frowned. ‘Why are you here anyway? Isn’t it a bit late?’

  ‘Well, I was planning to have everything ready for Christmas,’ she joked, ‘but I think it might need a bit more tinsel.’ He laughed, but she said more soberly. ‘I was hoping to have some lunch here on Christmas day with Sky. Mum and Dad are away and I’m on my own. But if I can’t get the fire lit, it’ll be cold soup with the crackers.’

  Jimmy rubbed her shoulder. ‘There’s a lot to do,’ he said, ‘but if you’re willing to wait till after Christmas, I can give you a hand.’

  ‘As for Christmas dinner in your new home …’ He pursed his lips, then one side of his mouth twitched up. ‘How about you spend the whole of Christmas in my home instead?’ To Mandy’s amazement, he dropped down on one knee. ‘I hereby propose,’ he said, ‘that you spend Christmas with me at Mistletoe Cottage.’ He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bar of chocolate. ‘We can seal the deal with this.’

  Mandy stared at him, then laughed. He was so corny. And so exactly, perfectly what she needed at this moment. Wrapping her arms around Jimmy, she hugged him, then was surprised by Sky, who barked and thrust her nose between them.

  ‘You really will need to teach that dog of yours that I’m one of the good guys,’ Jimmy said as Sky glared up at them.

  Mandy shook her head. ‘I think she knows,’ she told him. ‘You should have seen Stuart Mortimore after she’d finished with him.’

  Mandy ate half of the chocolate bar. When she was finished, Jimmy found her some gloves and a hat and helped her pull them on.

  ‘There’s a window round the back that needs to be secured,’ Mandy remembered. ‘It was boarded up, but Stuart must have loosened it that night he was here.’

  ‘Do you have tools?’ As ever, Jimmy was briskly practical. Mandy reached into the tool box she had brought, handing over a hammer and nails. The chocolate and extra clothes were already working their magic. She no longer felt as if her blood was freezing. ‘Can you bring the torch?’ Jimmy suggested. Together they crunched their way through the snow, round to the back of the house.

  Mandy held the torch steady as Jimmy hammered each nail home with the efficiency she still found mesmerising. When he had finished, she reached her arms around him from behind, kissing his ear. ‘You know, the very first time I saw you here, you were hammering in nails,’ she whispered. ‘You really are very good at it.’

  He laughed. ‘Everybody’s good at something,’ he said, turning towards her, pulling her in close.

  ‘It was the first time I noticed how attractive you were,’ she admitted, feeling her face turn red. Her arms were wrapped round his waist. His cheek felt warm against hers.

  Finding her mouth, he began to kiss her, gently exploring to begin with, then more deeply as Mandy relaxed into his embrace. His aftershave mingled with the frosty air. She could feel the weatherboarding against her back, the cold air on her cheeks and his warm body tight against hers. By the time he let her go, she was breathless.

  Hand in hand, they walked back round to the front of the house. Mandy couldn’t quite bring herself to let go and he seemed quite content to have her fingers in his.

  They drove first to Hope Meadows. ‘Shall I take the dogs out while you see to the cats?’ Jimmy offered.

  Mandy nodded. No doubt, in time, he would get used to the cats and for now, she was happy to spend a little extra time with Tango. ‘As soon as I come back after Christmas,’ she promised the old cat, ‘you’ll move in to the cottage. And it’ll only be a couple of days until Dad comes back.’ The gaunt ginger tom purred loudly, reaching his head towards her hand.

  It felt strange to close up the rescue centre and leave when there was nobody at home. Climbing back into her car, Mandy followed Jimmy along the lanes and pulled up in front of Mistletoe Cottage. She would need the SUV to have easy access to the road if she was called out.

  Jimmy had gone ahead while she locked up Animal Ark. By the time Mandy walked in, he was in the sitting room lighting the fire. Sky seemed delighted to be back. Within moments, she, Simba and Zoe were rushing around in circles, dashing round and round the room, almost knocking over the Christmas tree that had been set up in the corner.

  H
aving lit the fire, Jimmy stood up. He smiled as he watched Mandy looking round the room, taking in the tree, the tinsel, and the holly that decorated the mantelpiece. There were homemade snowflakes on the window and paper chains criss-crossing the ceiling.

  Mandy shook her head in amazement. ‘I had no idea you were such a festive elf.’

  ‘It was Abi and Max,’ Jimmy explained. ‘They blitzed the place. You’re going to have to put up with streamers and fake snow in the bedrooms too, I’m afraid.’

  ‘It’s lovely!’ Over the top it might be, but it felt like a warm and cosy piece of paradise after the chill at Lamb’s Wood Cottage.

  ‘I wasn’t sure about, er, overnight arrangements.’ Jimmy’s words were tentative. ‘You said you wanted to take things slowly. You could always sleep in Max and Abi’s bedroom, if you need your own space?’

  Mandy grinned. ‘I don’t think I’ll need quite that much space,’ she told him. She looked around again. ‘There are an awful lot of streamers,’ she said, raising an eyebrow, ‘but did anyone remember to hang up any mistletoe?’

  Jimmy laughed. ‘I don’t think anyone brought any indoors,’ he said. ‘If you feel the need, there’s more than enough in the garden.’ He shrugged, his eyes dancing. ‘But from what you said earlier, we won’t need any. I’ll just find some DIY to do and you won’t be able to resist me.’

  ‘You do that,’ Mandy advised, flinging herself down on the sofa. ‘When you’re done, I’ll be here waiting. Or if you prefer, you could just come and sit down beside me.’

  ‘Perhaps that would be easier after all,’ he said. With a grin, he threw himself down beside her.

  Chapter Thirty

  The church looked like something out of a Christmas card, Mandy thought as she walked through the ancient oak doors. There were garlands of holly and ivy and thick candles on the window ledges. To the side of the altar, a towering fir tree had been decorated with paper hearts and stars which were gently shedding glitter onto the flagstones. The children from the nursery school were already massing in the vestry when Mandy arrived. When Jimmy had left her at the rescue centre earlier, he’d asked her to meet him at a quarter past six for the seven o’clock performance. Mandy wasn’t sure why, but she had come early as requested.