‘This is beautiful,’ Lila said as she took her seat. Hannah noticed she was wearing a delicate necklace with a tiny opal teardrop that she hadn’t seen before.
‘It’s a bit special,’ Hannah agreed.
The whole thing was offset, of course, by the view beyond the glass. The sun had already begun to slip away, but it was doing so spectacularly: a peach melba ball hovering above a choppy sea.
‘Happy Christmas Lila, Sam.’ They clinked glasses. ‘Have you had a good day so far?’
‘Blissful,’ Lila said, stretching her arms up to the ceiling.
‘Lazy,’ Sam added. ‘What about you, Hannah?’
‘It’s been quiet, but good. I’ve spoken to my family, and Noah’s with his folks, but he’s going to be here for your big moment.’ She grinned.
Sam groaned and Lila patted him on the shoulder. ‘He’s got a few launch-day jitters. But he needs to remember that he’s amazing as Robert Bramerton, and that it’s a sparkling production, entirely fit for the prime slot on Christmas Day.’
‘I can’t believe I’m going to be watching the first episode of Estelle with two of its stars,’ Hannah said.
‘One star and one add-on,’ Lila corrected. ‘I’m barely in this series, and my role in the second one is small. Sam’s the main attraction.’
‘It’s an ensemble drama—’ he started, but Lila cut him off.
‘He’s great, Hannah, don’t believe the modesty. I’m so glad we’re watching it together. Do you still have that bucket of popcorn you bought at the food market?’
Hannah grinned. ‘I’ve saved it specially.’
Levi’s menu was delicious; a traditional Christmas dinner with every aspect elevated. Starters of pork terrine or wild mushroom pâté with crispy fried bread, or smoked salmon and dill mayonnaise, everything delicately assembled, every flavour zinging on Hannah’s tongue. The turkey was succulent, the roast potatoes were a masterpiece, and the pigs in blankets were the right amount of crispy and salty. Lila’s vegetarian wellington looked wonderful; the pastry perfectly flaky, the inside bursting with winter vegetables. Levi had even, on Hannah’s suggestion, added some deep-fried Brussels sprouts, and she thought they might be her favourite part of the whole meal. She had asked him to keep a few back so that Noah could try them when he got there.
Reenie held court over their table, keeping them entertained with her acerbic wit and teasing them all equally; even Hannah, who had thought she would escape her attention.
‘How’s your holiday romance going, Hannah? I hope you’re making the most of it.’
Hannah felt herself blush. ‘It’s going very well, thank you,’ she said, and cringed at how prim she sounded. ‘I mean, I’m loving spending time with Noah. I love – that is … uhm.’
‘He’s coming over later, isn’t he?’ Charlie asked, rescuing her.
Hannah nodded vigorously. ‘He should be here soon. His family eats earlier in the day, and he wanted to watch Estelle with us.’
‘Not just that, I’m sure,’ Reenie said. ‘Of course, everyone wants to watch this handsome young fellow strutting about on the screen,’ she gestured towards Sam. ‘But I’m not convinced that will be at the top of Noah’s Christmas to-do list.’
‘He remembers it being filmed,’ Hannah said hurriedly. ‘I think he’s really looking forward to it.’
‘What are you going to do after this?’ Reenie asked.
‘After Christmas dinner?’
‘You’re going back to Edinburgh next week, aren’t you? What will you and Noah do then?’
Hannah expected to see a smirk, but Reenie seemed genuinely interested and, she thought, sympathetic, which made her feel suddenly wretched. ‘I don’t know,’ she confessed.
‘You didn’t cook any of this meal, did you?’ Hugh asked, changing the subject. ‘I would have thought you could do with a rest.’
‘Daniel wouldn’t let me,’ she admitted, pushing her conundrum to the back of her mind. ‘Besides, paying guests were fed today too, so it makes sense that I wasn’t let loose in the kitchen.’
‘Don’t sell yourself short,’ Sam said. ‘You’re a proper chef; we all know that after the other night.’
‘I’m lookin’ for a new chef for the pub,’ Hugh said. ‘Colin’s headin’ off to New Zealand, of all places – though why he’d want to leave somewhere as beautiful as Cornwall, I’ll never know – so I’ll be advertisin’. I only hope I’ll get someone with your skill, Hannah. That fisherman’s pie needs to be right, or it’s my reputation down the drain.’
‘Your head chef gets to know your family recipe?’ Lila asked. ‘You act like it’s a state secret!’
‘I can’t be everywhere in that pub at once, Delilah love. I need to put my trust in someone.’
‘I’m very trustworthy,’ Lila said. ‘If you just tell me …’
Hugh was shaking his head, Lila pleading with him and fluttering her eyelashes, when Noah walked in. He looked self-conscious – as well he might wearing a Christmas jumper with snowflakes and a flashing penguin – but he was also, Hannah knew without a doubt, the most attractive man in the room. She shot to her feet, rattling the crockery on the table, and he smiled.
‘Happy Christmas, Hannah,’ he said. ‘Happy Christmas everyone. I hope now is a good time for me to be here.’
‘Too bad if it’s not, isn’t it?’ Reenie stood up to give him a hug. ‘Come and sit next to me.’
‘You’re just in time for pudding,’ Lila said.
‘Oh God, really?’ Noah clutched his stomach.
‘Did you have a good meal with your mum and dad?’ Hannah asked, as Noah pulled up a spare chair and squeezed into the gap between her and Reenie.
‘It was great,’ he said. ‘Even though they spent most of the time berating me for not bringing you. They both really like you, Hannah.’ He said it lightly, but there was something in his expression that squeezed at her heart.
‘What did they get you?’ Lila asked.
‘A new running watch,’ Noah said, ‘some stripy socks, which is a family tradition, and this.’ He pointed at the jumper. ‘I am, of course, delighted to see I’m the only one wearing a ridiculous festive jumper, which is what I told them would be the case before they packed me into the car to come over here. They’ve achieved their goal of embarrassing me.’
‘As is every parent’s right,’ Reenie said, nodding approvingly. ‘How do I make him light up again?’
Noah sighed. ‘Press his nose.’
Reenie did, and the penguin flashed blue. She chuckled.
Hannah leaned towards him and said, ‘What happens if I press your nose?’
He narrowed his eyes. ‘I don’t know yet. Let me have a think, and you can try it later.’
She laughed, gave him a kiss, and turned back to the table in time to see Daniel whisper in Charlie’s ear and get up.
‘He can’t leave it alone,’ Charlie said. ‘He just has to go and check something in the kitchen, even during his own Christmas dinner.’
‘Are you really surprised?’ Lila sat back in her chair. ‘Honestly, I’m surrounded by people who actually want to work. It’s crazy.’
‘You’ve ensured you never have to work again, though,’ Reenie said. ‘Acting isn’t exactly taxing, and Sam’s rich and famous now, so if this Estelle business isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, next year you can jack it in and become a lady of leisure.’
Lila gasped. ‘Reenie Teague, you are shockingly rude!’
‘And you,’ Reenie said, ‘are hideously gullible. Actors work a lot harder than some, as I understand it, even if they do get to swan around in luxury between projects. And you know I love you, Lila, but you’re the easiest to wind up.’
Charlie put a hand on her cousin’s arm while she bristled.
‘Where do you run, Noah?’ Sam asked, but before he could reply the lights were dimmed, enhancing the sparkle of the Christmas tree, the candles and, beyond the windows, the faintest line of rose gold edging the horizo
n.
‘What’s going on?’ Lila whispered, just as Levi emerged from the kitchen carrying a huge Christmas pudding, alight with a brilliant blue flame. Hannah was instantly captivated, and almost jumped out of her seat when there was a loud, ‘Ho-ho-ho!’ from behind the chef. She glanced in Hugh’s direction, but he was still sitting in his chair.
‘Oh for goodness’ sake,’ Lila muttered, as Santa walked out of the kitchen. A Santa who, Hannah saw, had no padding, but strong shoulders. The dark, intelligent eyes beneath the fur-trimmed bobble hat latched firmly onto Charlie.
Realization dawned on Hannah as everyone started clapping. A knot of excitement tightened in her stomach and she squeezed Noah’s hand. He gave her a quizzical look, but didn’t say anything.
‘I’m looking for Charlene Quilter,’ Santa boomed. ‘Has she been good this year?’
Charlie raised her hand. Her cheeks were red, and she was shaking her head, trying hard not to laugh. ‘Over here,’ she called.
Santa walked over to her, then dipped his head, rummaging in the sack he was carrying. Hannah looked round at the incredulous faces of the people who knew him best of all, and wondered if any of them had worked it out. From the looks on their faces, she didn’t think so. Daniel Harper, all cool confidence and easy charm; the suave, professional hotelier, dressed as Santa Claus.
He rummaged for a few more seconds then said a loud, ‘Aha,’ and dropped onto one knee in front of Charlie.
The room went pin-drop quiet.
Charlie stopped shaking her head and froze, her chest rising in a silent breath.
‘Charlie,’ Daniel started, pulling the beard down so his whole face was visible, and Lila whispered, ‘Oh my God.’
‘Charlie Quilter,’ he said again, louder this time, as he looked up at her. ‘I have no idea if you knew this was coming, but you probably did because I am incapable of hiding anything from you.’ He put the sack on the floor and held out a navy blue velvet box, snapping it open to reveal the diamond ring inside. Charlie’s eyes widened as the room filled with coos and ‘aahs’ and ‘wows’.
‘The last eighteen months of my life have been nothing short of brilliant,’ he continued, ‘and that is all down to you. I am so happy that you didn’t put up with my bullshit, that you gave as good as you got and somehow found it in yourself to see the good in me.
‘And I have seen nothing but good in you, from the way you run Gertie, to the kindness and generosity you show everyone you meet, and I am so lucky to be loved by you. Would you do me the honour – an honour I’m not sure I deserve, but will do everything in my power to earn – of marrying me? Will you be my wife, Charlie?’
Tears stung Hannah’s eyes. Charlie had them running down her cheeks. The room was still and silent: a bubble of anticipation.
‘Oh Daniel,’ Charlie sobbed. She held out her hand, fingers splayed. ‘Of course I will! Nothing would make me happier.’
Daniel’s smile was a combination of elation and relief as he slid the ring onto her finger and then wrapped his arms around his new fiancée, tilting his head up for a kiss. The room erupted into applause.
‘I bloody knew it,’ Lila said, raising her hands above her head to clap. ‘This has been on the cards for months. Doing it as Santa is genius – Charlie loves Christmas! Oh God, what an amazing couple they are. What an amazing proposal! And look at that ring.’ Her face crumpled into tears, and Sam pulled her against him, grinning and kissing the top of her head.
‘Not a dry eye,’ Hugh said. Even he looked slightly overcome.
‘The Porthgolow dynasty is cemented,’ Reenie added, grinning. ‘This, more than anything, has cheered me up today.’
‘I can’t believe you proposed to me as Father Christmas,’ Charlie said, once she and Daniel had stopped kissing. ‘You are a ridiculous, soppy, wonderful man.’
‘Ridiculous, soppy, wonderful fiancé,’ he corrected. ‘I was bloody nervous, I have to admit.’
‘Oh, as if Charlie would have said no,’ Lila sniffed. ‘You two are perfect together. I am so happy for you, and I can’t wait to help you plan the wedding.’
Daniel and Charlie got up and accepted hugs and congratulations from everyone. The room seemed to shimmer with happiness, though that could have been the tears in Hannah’s eyes making everything blurry.
‘Did you know?’ Noah asked, once they were all sitting again and the Christmas pudding had been remembered.
Hannah shrugged. ‘I guessed a couple of days ago. Just some things Daniel said and did, the way he was behaving, that made everything slot into place.’
‘It makes it a rather unforgettable Christmas.’ Noah reached over and took a spoonful of her Christmas pudding.
‘It does,’ Hannah said, laughing. ‘There are so many reasons that I’ll never forget this Christmas, but Daniel’s proposal isn’t the main one.’ She leaned towards Noah and planted a kiss on his nose. She hoped that small gesture was enough to show him what she meant.
The snug filled up while Daniel switched on the large flatscreen television built into the wall, and once everyone was settled with drinks, and Hannah’s big bucket of popcorn had been distributed – Charlie miraculously finding some traditional red-and-white-striped paper bags from somewhere – he turned the lights down.
The Christmas tree sparkled in the corner, and Hannah snuggled against Noah, his arm around her shoulder, his fingers playing with the fabric of her dress. Spirit, Marmite and Jasper, who had been allowed to join them for this momentous occasion, were lying under the TV, acting as if they were the main event. ‘Typical Marmite behaviour,’ Charlie had said, shaking her head.
As the BBC announcer introduced the ‘fabulous, eerie new drama’, and Estelle’s atmospheric theme music was accompanied by cheers and whoops, Hannah found herself unable to focus. The day’s events couldn’t keep thoughts of the future at bay. She had found so much in Porthgolow that made her happy, and while she hadn’t considered herself miserable in Edinburgh, the last few weeks had made her look at her life in a new light.
‘You OK?’ Noah asked, against the sound of hooves cantering across clifftops. ‘Your shoulders are rigid.’ He gently massaged her arm, his touch sending a wave of desire through her.
‘I’m wondering what will happen …’ She trailed off, unsure how to voice her worries.
‘To the characters?’
Hannah shook her head. ‘To Spirit,’ she said, which, in all honesty, was one of the things concerning her. ‘Daniel’s had no luck tracking down his original owner, and with Jasper and Marmite already, and the hotel and Gertie to run, they can’t take him. Lila and Sam will be travelling too much, and I know he doesn’t want to, but I think Daniel’s going to have to take him to a rescue centre in the New Year.’ She looked up to see Reenie glaring at her, and dropped her head. ‘We should watch the show,’ she whispered.
She was silent after that, but her thoughts refused to settle, even though Estelle was captivating, and Sam shone as brightly as Lila had promised in his starring role. Afterwards, there was another round of congratulations, more drinks poured and toasts made. Hannah felt slightly removed, even though Charlie and Daniel had been at pains to include her in everything. While everyone was talking, she slipped out of the room and crouched down by the Christmas tree in reception, retrieving the gift she’d left there earlier that day.
‘I’ve been thinking,’ Noah said behind her, and Hannah spun round, surprised. ‘What’s that?’ he asked, pointing at the present.
‘I got you something. It’s only small, but—’
‘Hannah, you didn’t have to.’
‘It was before we got together. Before I met you in this very spot, in fact, and you’d sent Spirit to go and find me, wearing my scarf.’
Noah laughed, his eyes dancing. ‘That was a stupid idea.’
‘No it wasn’t. What were you going to say? You came out here and said you’d been thinking.’
‘Oh, yes.’ He pushed his glasses up his nose, the gestu
re so unconsciously sexy that Hannah wanted to remove them and kiss him senseless. ‘It’s about Spirit,’ he said. ‘About him not having anywhere to go. I’ve decided that, as long as nobody claims him, I’ll adopt him. I’ve grown up with dogs, my garden at home is tiny but there’s the beach to walk him on – he can come on my runs if he’s up for it. I’d hate for us to lose him.’
‘So would I. And at least if I know he’s with you, I can think of you in Mousehole together. You’ll have to send me photos.’
‘Hannah,’ Noah said softly, ‘I’m not letting you go that easily. Whatever happens, however long we have to spend apart, you’re not going back to Edinburgh without a plan for us to see each other again. It’s not happening.’
‘It’s not?’
‘You and me. We’re not just for Christmas. There’s more to it – more to us. You feel it, don’t you?’
‘Of course I do. But—’
‘No “buts”. We’re both good at planning: we can redesign hotels to exact, sustainably advantageous specifications, down to the last recycled bottle top. We can bloody well work out how to make the distance between Edinburgh and Cornwall seem smaller, even if it isn’t. You’re my missing piece, Hannah. We belong together.’
He bent his head and kissed her, the lights of the Christmas tree shimmering in the dim hotel reception, the celebrations continuing in the snug.
And as Hannah realized there was no point in worrying about tomorrow when she could be kissing Noah today, the clock ticked round to eleven thirteen, and some faint but definite footsteps echoed in the quiet space, a breath moved Hannah’s hair and, even in the middle of the deepest, most tender kiss of her life, she caught the unmistakable scent of lavender.
The Cornish Cream Tea Christmas Page 9
