A Perfect Cornish Christmas

by Phillipa Ashley

  ‘I’ve heard so much about you and I’ve seen you around town,’ Hayden said. ‘You’re every bit as gorgeous as your namesake.’

  Scarlett frowned. ‘My namesake?’

  ‘Scarlett O’Hara. Gone with the Wind. A true femme fatale.’

  For a second Scarlett actually thought he might lift her hand and kiss it, which filled her with horror.

  Fiona Penberth rolled her eyes. ‘Pack it in, Hayden. You’re embarrassing them.’

  ‘Course I’m not. No woman minds being compared to Scarlett O’Hara, now do they?’

  ‘Nice to meet you,’ Fiona said. ‘Ignore my husband. I do.’

  Though eager to get away, Scarlett smiled. ‘It’s lovely to meet you both. I’m sorry I have to rush off.’

  ‘Oh dear, something we did?’ Hayden pouted. ‘Well, I hope this isn’t the last time we’ll see you. Jude says you’ve moved in to the manor, I hope we bump into each other a lot more. If Jude has his way, I’m sure we will.’

  ‘Hayden, don’t,’ Fiona chided.

  He held up his palms. ‘Just my little joke.’

  ‘Well, I don’t see anyone laughing,’ she said acidly.

  Scarlett was now desperate to escape. ‘Would you mind getting my coat, please?’ she said to Jude, hardly able to hide the plea in her voice.

  ‘Of course. You wait here while I see Scarlett out,’ Jude told his parents firmly.

  With a hurried ‘bye,’ Scarlett escaped to the hallway and seconds later Jude brought her coat from the kitchen. ‘It’s a little drier than it was. I had it hanging over a chair.’

  She pulled it on while he lingered by the door. She wanted to get away from Hayden, but not from Jude. On the doorstep, he whispered, ‘Sorry about Dad. He thinks he’s being funny.’

  ‘Don’t worry. It seems to be a parent’s job to embarrass their kids.’

  Jude nodded. ‘That’s one job Dad excels at. I’ll message you about the swim.’

  ‘Great. Thanks for the tea and biscuits. See you soon.’

  A moment later Scarlett was back in the deluge. Pulling up her hood, she jogged back to the car park, getting even wetter in the process but deciding it was far better than being stuck in the middle of a Penberth family dispute. Poor Jude, having to deal with his dad’s cheesy comments and his mum’s obvious disdain.

  She set off for home, wipers swishing furiously to try and clear away the lashing rain. Twigs and leaves littered the road, and on the track down to Seaholly she had to stop and remove a branch from the road. Once safely inside, she texted Ellie to warn her to watch out for debris and to say her meeting at the design company had gone well.

  She took some buttered crumpets back to the study for a working lunch and made a start on an article for an industrial journal about the merits of the Jumbo Screw. With the wind whistling around the eaves and the sea grumbling in the cove, it was hard to focus. Her unscheduled visit to Jude kept coming back to her. It had been lovely until his parents – specifically his father – had arrived. Jude was relaxed and warm until then, and it had been worth enduring the pine-needle tea to spend more time with him.

  Once Hayden and Fiona had arrived, the atmosphere had definitely soured. Then again, maybe she was being too harsh on his dad.

  Chapter Ten

  While Scarlett went into town to stock up for their mum’s arrival later in the day, Ellie decided to sod cleaning the manor and call in on Aaron. She intended to pay him cash for the extra parts he’d had to buy for the car to get it through its MOT, and had the notes in an envelope in her jacket. She was also acutely aware that as yet they hadn’t set a firm date for the dinner she owed him and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

  She found him chopping wood for the fire in the woodshed next to the cottage. Judging by the pile of neatly stacked logs, he’d been working hard, and despite the cool morning was stripped down to a khaki T-shirt that looked to be army-issue. She allowed herself a few moments to luxuriate in the sight of him splitting the wood, before she announced her presence.

  ‘Hi there. Looks like hard work.’

  He turned, the axe still in his hands, sweat glistening on his muscular forearms. He was a very fit guy, she thought, as desire stirred powerfully in her body. Something had to happen between them sooner or later. Maybe he was waiting for her to make the first move. She hadn’t been shy in years gone by on her travels – so why hadn’t she moved things forward? Was it because, she dared to whisper to herself, she knew that this time – this man – was different? More serious, and if she took the plunge, it would be much harder and more painful to get over?

  ‘It has to be done. I’ve run out of logs.’

  Ellie walked through the dust motes eddying in the sunbeams penetrating the shed walls, inhaling the scent of freshly cut wood. She was transfixed by the sight of him and powerfully aware of a switch flicking inside her. There could be no going back.

  He frowned, mistaking her fascination for something else. ‘Something wrong?’ he said, his deep voice resonating in the small space.

  ‘There’s sawdust in your hair and on your face.’

  He hesitated only a moment before laying the axe on the ground. ‘What are you going to do about it, then?’

  ‘What am I going to do?’

  ‘Yeah, Ellie. You.’

  So he had been waiting for her. She didn’t want to wait any longer for herself.

  She reached up to his hair and brushed the dust off his close-cropped curls.

  Fluidly, the next moment, his hand was on her back, gently nudging her against his body. She slipped her arms around him, her fingers resting between his shoulder blades and lower back. She felt the heat of his skin beneath his T-shirt. The scent of the freshly cut wood mingled with the dust and his masculine scent, filling her senses.

  She wasn’t sure who kissed who, but the kiss was long, lingering, hot and sweet.

  ‘Wow. That was unexpected,’ he whispered, still holding her.

  ‘Not that unexpected,’ she said, feeling liberated. ‘I couldn’t wait until our dinner … but I wanted to talk to you too, before then.’

  ‘Sounds serious.’

  ‘Neither of us may be here – in Porthmellow – for long. Or at least, we can’t say. You’ve said you need to see how the business goes and, let’s face it, you’re a nomad like me.’

  His smile faded. ‘Are you trying to tell me you have plans to leave already? If you do, I’d rather know.’

  ‘I don’t have plans as such, but Mum’s coming down here later today and says she wants to talk. For all I know, it could very well be about selling the manor.’ Ellie let go of him but stayed close. Her words were a warning to herself; she mustn’t start to think about putting down roots, especially with Aaron, when the future was so uncertain.

  ‘I’m more than prepared for change and uncertainty. That’s been my whole life in the forces. I’d like to stick around here too, especially as my own parents aren’t getting any younger and I like being closer to my sister and her family too – but it’ll depend on the business.’ He hesitated before continuing with studied casualness. ‘Do you have plans to travel again if your parents do sell?’

  ‘I don’t have firm plans about anything.’ Except I want to sleep with you, she thought, a current of desire jolting her with such force it scared her. ‘I – well, I don’t want to give either of us any expectations.’ She was trying to convince herself as much as anything, after her recent thoughts about her future.

  He held her again. ‘The only expectation I have is of kissing you again and enjoying it more than any kiss for a very long time.’

  ‘Have you done a lot of kissing lately, then?’ she asked lightly, terrified of how much his answer mattered. Until now she hadn’t really thought there might be someone else, and she would never ever get involved with someone who was committed elsewhere. Not after Mallory.

  ‘Not really. I wouldn’t say I fancied snogging any of the squaddies in my unit.’ He touched her cheek with
his thumb. Every nerve ending zinged with life.

  Her phone buzzed.

  ‘Sorry. I have to get this. It’s Mum.’

  He let her go immediately and nodded. ‘Of course. I’ll give you some privacy.’

  Ellie didn’t object. After a brief conversation, she put her phone away.

  ‘Everything OK?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes, but I have to go right now. Mum’s already at the manor. I’m sorry. I – this isn’t an excuse. I do really have to go.’

  ‘That’s a shame.’

  ‘It really isn’t a cop-out. I would stay …’

  Aaron rested his hands on her shoulders. ‘I believe you. Thousands wouldn’t.’

  ‘You … you’re winding me up?’

  ‘A little.’

  He brushed her lips with his. ‘Go on, before your mother suspects what you’ve been up to.’

  ‘Hmm. She might be able to tell by my face. Parents are adept at putting two and two together.’

  ‘In this case, they’d be right.’

  Hiding a blush, Ellie reluctantly broke contact with him. Her skin sang with the memory of him all the way up the path to the manor. She had to stop just out of sight of the house and take a breath. A few seconds to pat down her hair and try to come down to earth, while already knowing that was impossible … and what’s more, she’d totally forgotten to pay him for the car, which had been her main reason for going to see him in the first place.

  ‘Gosh. You look very red in the face, Ellie.’

  Anna kissed Ellie on the driveway of Seaholly Manor. Ellie might have replied that her mother looked tired and drawn, but she wouldn’t have dreamed of it. Oh dear, she already knew this visit was going to require a lot of tact and careful handling, and not only from Scarlett.

  She smiled warmly. ‘It’s the cold, Mum. I’ve been down to the cove. Breath of fresh air.’

  Her mother gave her an even closer inspection. ‘Yes. You look well. It obviously suits you down here.’

  ‘I do like it,’ she said, thinking about Aaron’s kiss and realising they still hadn’t tied down a date for dinner.

  ‘There’s something about the place. Invigorates you, changes you …’ Anna, normally so practical and no-nonsense, glanced around wistfully.

  ‘How are you, Mum? If I dare ask,’ Ellie said as gently as she could.

  ‘OK, in the circumstances, I suppose. If you mean how’s the situation with your father … things are still the same as they have been since New Year. We’re living in a kind of limbo, only speaking to each other when it’s essential. He’s stopped asking me about – you know what.’ She glanced at the house. ‘Scarlett not here?’

  ‘Soon. She went into town to get some shopping for your visit, and to see some new clients. You might know them? Zennor Lovell and Ben Blazey run a design agency,’ she said, trying to break the ice with some general chit-chat.

  ‘Those two goth types? Are they even out of school yet?’

  ‘They’re in their mid-twenties and engaged now.’

  ‘Good grief. I’d no idea they were getting married.’

  Ellie drew her closer. ‘Shall we leave your bags in the car for now? Plenty of time to unpack later. I’ll make you a cuppa.’

  Their mother nodded. ‘Sounds wonderful. I’d forgotten how long it takes to get here.’

  Elle smiled to herself. If she had a pound for everyone she’d heard say that in the café or on the boat, she’d be able to buy the manor. She let her mother go into the house ahead of her, reminding herself again that Anna was the owner.

  ‘Is it OK that you’re in the smaller room for now? Scarlett has moved into Joan’s old bedroom.’

  ‘It’s fine.’ Her mum looked around the hallway, her keen eyes not missing a detail. ‘Are those hydrangeas from the garden?’ she asked, walking to the hall table where Scarlett had arranged a vase of the faded blue and pink blooms and added some holly twigs.

  ‘Yes, they’re the last though.’

  Her mum nodded. ‘Shame.’

  ‘Do you know how long you’ll be staying?’ Ellie asked.

  ‘Not yet. But I won’t get under your feet. I want to talk to you.’

  ‘So you said.’ Ellie’s skin prickled in an unpleasant way.

  ‘I’ll wait for Scarlett, if it’s OK, so I can get it all over with in one go.’

  ‘Yeah, sure. We’ll take things at your pace.’ Ellie hugged her mother again, sensing the tension in her slight frame. ‘Mum, we both know that things must have been horrendous for you and Dad. Whatever you want to say to us, we’re here for you,’ she said, wondering if the same was really true for Scarlett. ‘You go and chill out in the sitting room and I’ll make the tea,’ she added.

  She made the drinks, wondering what bombshells were about to land in their lives now. It was hard not to feel very apprehensive about what might be coming. If it was about selling the manor, she’d have a hard job hiding her disappointment. She’d settled into life at Seaholly and in Porthmellow far more deeply than she’d realised, especially since the arrival of Aaron had offered new possibilities that she was already pinning far too many hopes on – especially after that kiss. She was becoming like the limpets in the cove, firmly attached to her tiny patch of rock. However, the greater good of the family mattered more.

  She’d texted Scarlett before she’d even put the kettle on, hoping that she would be in a calm and tactful mood, at least until their mum had settled in. It would be horrendous if they started off with a row the moment she walked through the door. Ellie added some homemade mince pies to a plate, hoping that a cuppa and bite to eat might give everyone a little while to take stock before any serious discussions took place.

  She carried the tray into the sitting room where Anna was standing in the French windows, gazing out over the gardens.

  Her face lit up when she saw the tray. ‘Oh, what a welcome sight. I’m starving. You always did make wonderful pastry, right from when you were little. Remember I used to let you make all the mince pies and the Christmas cake?’

  ‘I do. I made a massive batch at the café and brought plenty home. They go down a storm warmed up and served with clotted cream.’ Ellie’s mood relaxed a notch, although the praise made her wistful for a time when things had been ‘normal’ for the Lathams.

  ‘I bet. You love your jobs, don’t you?’

  ‘I never thought I’d be so content in one place, but Porthmellow has seeped into my blood. The people are … interesting, but I do like them.’ At some point, she would have to let on about Aaron, she thought.

  ‘This place and the people have a way of capturing your heart. Sometimes it’s hard to let that go.’ Her mother allowed herself a smile then rubbed her hands together. ‘Come on then, let’s try these pies to see if they’re up to your usual standards.’

  ‘Cheek!’ Ellie said, batting her arm.

  For half an hour there was an easing of the tension while Ellie and her mother caught up on gossip and news from home and Porthmellow. Ellie made a second pot of tea and they’d almost exhausted the subjects of her mum’s journey and how Marcus, Heidi and the boys were when she heard Scarlett’s car arrive.

  Anna put her mug down, an anxious look on her face.

  Ellie met Scarlett in the hallway and took the shopping bags from her. ‘She’s here, then,’ Scarlett said.

  ‘Yes. She’s in the sitting room. Shall I take the food?’

  ‘I’ll help. I need a few minutes to calm down.’

  Ellie popped her head around the sitting room door with a reassuring smile for her mother. ‘Won’t be a mo. Just need to get the fresh food away.’

  Scarlett put the milk and butter in the fridge. ‘Has she said anything yet?’ she whispered.

  ‘Not about Dad. We’ve only shared the gossip about home so far.’

  ‘Hmmph.’ Scarlett leaned back against the worktop.

  ‘She’s anxious enough about seeing us, lovely. Please give her a chance.’

  Scarlett pouted then n
odded. ‘OK.’

  Mentally crossing her fingers, Ellie followed Scarlett into the sitting room.

  Anna stood up and they exchanged kisses. Ellie was now stiff with tension.

  ‘How are you? Was the journey awful?’ Scarlett asked, sitting opposite their mother.

  Ellie tried to stay calm as Anna briefly told her younger daughter what she’d already told Ellie, however, she knew that the moment when they discussed the elephant in the room couldn’t be far off. She went to make Scarlett a hot chocolate and steady her own nerves before she returned to the sitting room.

  Their mother was on her feet in front of the fireplace, examining one of Joan’s Staffordshire china dogs, which sat like china sentinels on either end of the mantelpiece. No one would have even dreamed of removing them now their aunt was gone; they seemed so very Joan. Was this the moment their mother would break the news that she wanted to sell Seaholly?

  ‘It always seemed a strange thing to me, to have spaniels sitting on your fireplace, but Marcus loved them when he was young. I could never bear to part with them.’ Anna repositioned the dog in its place and turned back to Ellie and Scarlett.

  She clenched her hands together.

  ‘Before you react to what I’m going to say, I want you to know that I’ve thought long and hard about telling you this.’

  Ellie glanced at Scarlett, who had a mince pie halfway to her mouth.

  ‘Don’t look so terrified, girls.’ She smiled at them and Ellie was cast back twenty years to an image of their mother, younger, holding down a job as an art teacher, hosting parties and fundraising for the local hospice, all while bringing up three children.

  ‘Mum?’ Scarlett abandoned the pie on the coffee table.

  ‘I think you might have an inkling as to what I’m going to say. That DNA test … I may as well tell you that I didn’t want to believe it at first. It seemed ridiculous to me, but over the past year, I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that there might be a tiny possibility that … that … it could be accurate.’