Josie tucked her legs under her and began to fill her own plate. ‘Weetabix with melted marshmallows on top, surrounded by a sea of jelly.’
Callan’s nose wrinkled. ‘Sounds disgusting.’
‘Oh, it was. Although if you separated the Weetabix and marshmallow out from the jelly, it wasn’t the worst. The worst was tripe.’
‘Then why didn’t you say tripe?’
‘You said strangest, not most repulsive.’
‘Now I know why you really hate Christmas.’
Through the dusky morning haze and the barely-there torchlight coming from their mobiles, Josie saw what she’d longed for. A smile. Coming from the direction of Callan.
‘Josie hates Christmas?’ Mia spluttered, sending half-eaten bits of eggs everywhere. ‘Whoops. Sorry.’
She grinned, and Josie noticed a gap where a baby tooth had been two days ago.
‘Your tooth. It’s come out! Did the tooth fairy come?’
Mia nodded. ‘She did. And she brought money. And I’m going to use it to buy some sweets so my teeth rot and fall out faster so I can have more money.’
Over Mia’s head, Callan grimaced, then shook his head. Josie pressed her lips together so as not to laugh, or smile, or give any indication to Mia that what she’d said was probably not the best idea.
‘Well, that’s some sound logic you’ve got going there, Mia. Although I’ve heard that the tooth fairy gives more money for teeth that are in good condition. So maybe you’re better off looking after those teeth of yours, and then putting any money you make towards buying a new toy or dress-up costume?’
‘More money?’ Mia’s eyes lit up.
‘More money.’ Josie nodded.
‘I’m going to brush my teeth a hundred million times a day.’
Josie set the smile she’d held back free. ‘Sounds perfect.’
Quiet settled over the trio as they ate their breakfast. Not the most comfortable kind, but nor was it uneasy. Just a touch awkward. Made all the more so thanks to Callan looking at her every five seconds, screwing his face up, and letting out a little huff before forking more food into his mouth.
Far too quickly the last of the food was eaten, and the nerves jittering in Josie’s stomach, that had only just begun to settle, ramped up once more.
‘That was lovely, thank you.’ Callan handed her the empty plates and cutlery, then tapped Mia on the shoulder. ‘Up you get. Time for presents at home.’
Josie’s heart thumped in her chest as she saw Callan begin to rise. It was too early. They weren’t meant to go yet. She had a plan, and their leaving wasn’t part of it. She had one more present up her sleeve. One she’d planned to give Mia if things didn’t work out, but if it meant keeping them up on the hill a little longer, then there was no time like the present.
‘I’ve one more gift for Mia, if you don’t mind me giving it to her?’ She rifled in her bag and brought out a glittery red gift box.
‘Go ahead.’ Callan’s gaze followed the box as Josie passed it to an excitable Mia.
Mia ripped the top off, pulled out the gift and hugged it to her chest. ‘I love it. Thank you, Josie.’ She pulled it away for a closer look. ‘It looks old.’ Her little face crumpled in confusion. ‘Did you drop it in a puddle?’
Josie reached out and tweaked Mia’s nose. ‘No. It was mine. My mummy gave it to me. An angel to watch over me, she said. And I thought maybe you’d like an angel to watch over you, too.’ An angel to replace me if I end up having to go.
She held her breath and made a Christmas wish. Please don’t let me go.
Mia pressed it to her chest once more and dropped a kiss on its head. ‘Can I call her Belle?’
‘You can call her whatever you want.’
‘Good.’ Mia nodded. ‘I love you, Belle.’
Josie sucked in a deep breath. She had to talk to Callan. It was now or never. And ‘never’ wasn’t an option. ‘Callan, can we have a quick word? In private?’
His hand was on his chin, stroking the bristles covering it. His eyes hooded over, not letting Josie in on what he was thinking. How he was feeling.
‘Mia?’ Callan picked up his mobile. ‘Are you okay to play with Belle while Josie and I have a chat?’
Mia nodded without looking up from finger-combing Belle’s snarled hair.
‘Shall we?’ Callan jerked his head to a spot a few metres away.
‘We shall.’ Josie tightened her scarf as goose pimples crawled down her neck, then followed Callan’s lead until they were within eyeshot of Mia, but not earshot.
Callan stood next to her, shoulders squared, jaw tense, head held high. Like he was doing her a favour by hearing her out, but once she’d finished talking he would be done with her.
Even if that were the case, at least she’d have said her piece. Come forth and been open instead of shutting down and scarpering.
Josie shifted from foot to foot. The words she’d carefully crafted nowhere to be found. ‘So, er, thanks for hearing me out. And thanks for coming. For following the clues.’
‘We didn’t have much choice, did we? Setting up a treasure hunt and making it look like Santa did it? Honestly, Josie, I’m torn between being furious that you’d come into our home without permission and skulk around in the middle of the night, and thanking you for giving Mia a Christmas surprise that she’ll never forget.’ A white plume of air whooshed from Callan’s mouth as he squeezed his eyes shut and massaged his temples. ‘Even if I am a little thankful, I’m still beyond annoyed that you entered my home without asking.’
‘Would it help you be less grumpy if you knew that it wasn’t me who did it?’
Callan stopped massaging and stared at her like she’d just suggested the craziest thing ever. ‘If you’re going to try and tell me that Santa really did put that stocking in Mia’s room and set up the presents in the kitchen, then I’m going to have to ask you to give me some credit. I’m long past believing in Santa.’
‘What about Santa’s elves? Because he has one called Margo who, with quite a lot of persuading and the promise of a lifetime supply of banana date loaf, agreed to use my keys’ – Josie dug into her jeans pocket, pulled out the shop keys and dropped them into Callan’s outstretched hand – ‘to help me with my plan.’
Callan’s chest puffed out. ‘I’m going to have to have a talk with her about respecting boundaries.’
‘That’s a talk you should’ve had with her months ago. You know that. She’ll do anything to make you happy.’ And lucky for Josie, that extended to a little not so much breaking but definitely entering. Something Margo had seen as romantic as opposed to illegal.
Josie peered out over the horizon. Was it her imagination or was the cloud, that hung so low she was surprised it wasn’t brushing their heads, lifting? Was the weather going to play along with her plan?
A snowflake drifted down in front of her.
So much for the cloud lifting. Or the weather working with her. She took a deep breath. If she was going to say what had to be said, now was the time. Bugger hoping for the clouds to break so they could witness a sunrise together. She had no more control over the weather than she did over Callan’s heart. She only had control over her words, her actions, her feelings. And it was time they were laid out on the table. Or on the hillside, as it were.
‘Callan, do you think either of us really gave each other a chance?’
‘It was early days,’ Callan shot back. ‘Committing to someone after knowing them for a few weeks is madness.’
‘And how long did you know Abigail before you decided to commit to her?’
Callan stilled. ‘That was different.’
‘I don’t see how. Love is love.’ Josie turned to face Callan. ‘Look, I don’t know what it’s like to fall in love again. For the second time. I’ve only ever fallen in love once, and it wasn’t in the traditional way. You expect dizzying heights of lust. Grand gestures. Sleepless nights where you’re pining to see the person again. Wanting to breathe the ai
r they breathe, to see the world the way they see it. To feel physical agony with a goodly dose of paranoia when they don’t call or text.’ Josie sucked in a breath. Slowed her heartrate. Told herself baring her soul would be worth it. Even if her most desired outcome did not happen, doing this would lead to growth within herself, which was the most important thing of all. ‘Instead love sneaked up on me. It started with sweet smiles and a slow-building trust. Then came the shared dislike of the festive season. Then the mutual adoration of a little girl. And the desire to see a very special business, named after a very special woman, succeed.’
Did she see a softening in Callan’s demeanour? Had his chin dipped, just a little? The little vein pulsing at his temple looked to have abated. Was she getting through to him? Or was she seeing what she wanted to see? What she needed to see?
‘It started with the world’s most awkward, painful kiss. One that was remedied by the loveliest, most tender kiss. And handholding. So much handholding. Little touches. Lingering looks. No rush. No hurry. How could I not have fallen in love?’ Josie bit her lip. Had she overdone it? Gone too far?
She waited for Callan to reply. To say something. But no words came. Not even the slightest acknowledgement that she’d put her heart out there, ready for him to trample on.
Or to pick up, hold tight and treasure forever.
The silence was so deafening her ears began to throb.
‘You know, that wasn’t what I planned to say. At all. Not even remotely. The plan was for me to bring you here. For the clouds to magically part. For us to watch the sunrise together and, as it illuminated Sunnycombe, for me to talk about how being here has illuminated my life. Shone some hard truths on myself. Truths that needed to be rectified. I was going to tell you how you’ve shown me what home feels like. That Sunnycombe has, too. The people have treated me like one of their own right from the start. Heck, even after I told Margo I planned to leave she was still willing to help me when I decided to give this whole situation one more shot. I wouldn’t have blamed her if she’d told me to stuff off and never come back.’ Josie was aware she was rambling. Hugely. But if she stopped, the silence would return.
Or she’d have an answer.
And she was terrified it would be the one she didn’t want to hear.
‘Anyway, it seems the sunrise isn’t happening. I mean, it is happening. But it’s hidden behind the clouds.’ Another snowflake fluttered in front of her. She held her hand out as another settled then slowly melted. ‘Snow. On Christmas. How often does it snow? Did you wish for it? I’ve been convinced since we watched the sunset that it was you who was granted the three wishes. That it was your hopes and dreams that would come true. Especially the last part. The love part. Wishful thinking on my behalf, I guess.’ She looked out over the village, which was slowly waking up. Golden lights dotted the landscape, and spirals of smoke swirled up from chimneys. ‘I’m going to miss this place. And Mia. And you.’
‘But you’re not going anywhere, are you? At least that’s what I’ve taken from this whole conversation.’ Callan’s gloved hand reached out to hers. Their fingers slowly entwined as he moved to stand in front of her and reached for her other hand. ‘So you won’t have to miss anyone.’
Josie’s heart bloomed with hope. Was that the most reassuring and assured sentence ever uttered?
‘I’m sorry, Josie. I shouldn’t have minimised our relationship in front of our customers that day. And I shouldn’t have been so quick to throw what we have away because I was scared.’
Our. We. Have. The words warmed Josie’s body. Chased away the chill that had settled soul deep.
‘I was petrified. I had come to believe that I could never feel for someone the way I did for Abigail. I’d convinced myself that it would be a betrayal of everything we shared. So when confronted with the reality … that my feelings for you were far greater than I’d allowed myself to believe, so great Mia could see how important you were to me without me having to tell her … well, I went into full-blown denial. And I used your planning to leave after the abhorrent way I treated you at the bakery in front of those people as a way to further push you away. As a way to convince myself that I’d been imagining my feelings, that I couldn’t possibly love you. Even though I did.’
Callan closed his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. ‘Wrong choice of words. What I meant to say is … even though I do love you.’
‘Really? Truly?’ Josie wrapped her arms around Callan’s waist and brought him closer.
‘Really. Truly. For always.’ Callan leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
Feather-light, but full of promise, full of forever.
‘Oomph.’ Josie grunted as a force hurtled against them, sending them sideways, breaking their kiss.
‘Hugs for me, too!’
Callan picked Mia up, placed her on his hip, and the three weaved their arms around each other in a hug that lasted long enough that they missed the ray of rising sun that shone through the clouds for a split-second, illuminating the village, the hills surrounding it, and the three people huddled together who, as long as they were together, had found their home.
Epilogue
‘Stop right where you are. Don’t move an inch. Either of you.’
Josie grinned as the two customers looked at her like she had gone mad. Then looked at each other in a ‘what the heck’s going on’ way, then, so simultaneously she had to smother a giggle, looked up. Matching grimaces flourished on their faces as they sighted the mistletoe dangling above them.
‘Rules are rules.’ Josie held her hands up in an ‘I don’t make the rules, I just have to enforce them’ way.
It was the third time that day she’d gone through the routine. The tenth time in two days. And she still wasn’t tired of playing the helpless lass who had no choice but to enforce the rules of Sunnycombe’s Christmas traditions.
Not when in among the blushes and awkwardness, she’d seen sparks of interest. The beginnings of what could be true love.
The magic of Christmas was in full flight once again, and unlike last year when she’d been forced to take part, this year she was driving it. After everything Sunnycombe had given her, it was the least she could do. So she’d signed up to deliver the mistletoe to the local businesses and put herself in charge of organising the choral group’s practices, only stopping short at joining herself, because no one needed to hear a voice like nails on a blackboard among all the mostly perfectly in-tune notes. Lastly, she’d accepted an offer to be a judge at the Christmas Cake-off.
Entering had been an option, but the bakery’s business had grown more than she could have hoped for – especially once word had grown of her abilities, and cake commissions had started coming in not just from the locals but from all around the wider district. While the challenge of topping her last creation was intriguing, Josie knew with the way things were growing she had enough on her plate, so she was more than happy to sit back, eat some cake, and let another baker shine.
‘Kiss. Kiss. Kiss. Kiss.’ The customers at the bakery’s tables began to chant. Whooping and hollering when the two trapped under the mistletoe finally puckered up, touched lips, then broke away in a blink of the eye.
They approached the counter, their cheeks as red as the berries on a holly bush.
‘I’m so sorry.’ Josie placed her hand on her chest and gave her most heartfelt apologetic look. ‘It’s tradition. Perhaps a little old-fashioned, but without it I probably wouldn’t have this on my finger.’
She held up her left hand, on which a dainty gold band circled her ring finger. Next to it a simple diamond solitaire engagement ring.
‘You got married after kissing someone under the mistletoe?’ The young man’s eyes widened. ‘Seriously?’
‘Seriously. Right in that very spot.’
His face lost its colour, and the girl beside him flushed so deeply Josie began to wonder if she was in danger of becoming permanently purple.
‘It was a terrible kiss, to b
e honest. Took a bit of perfecting.’ She picked up her tongs and directed their gaze to the rows of Christmas-inspired cupcakes, loaves, biscuits and slices. ‘Now what can I get you?’
‘Er, nothing for me. I’ve lost my appetite.’ With a shudder, he turned and scuttled out, shutting the door with a bang that had the locals roaring with laughter.
Josie turned her eyes on the girl. ‘You wouldn’t want him anyway. Someone who runs at the hint of a relationship? He’d be no good for you.’
An arm curled around her waist, brought her close. ‘You’d know that better than anyone.’
Firm lips pressed against her temple and Josie breathed in the clean, musky pine scent, and thanked her lucky stars – as she did every day – that she’d ended up in Sunnycombe.
‘I guess I’m living proof that people can change.’ She addressed the girl. ‘So there’s hope yet. The mistletoe could work its magic.’
The girl shuddered. ‘Yuck, no. He dated a friend of mine. Ghosted her. Then breadcrumbed her. Then ghosted her again. Such a loser.’
‘Terrible. Horrifying.’ Josie arranged her features in a sympathetic smile. ‘You’re definitely better off without him.’
‘I know, right? I’d much rather one of your gingerbread men than that pitiful excuse of a man. So gross.’
‘A gingerbread man, it is.’ Josie picked up two and placed them in the bag. ‘One for you. One for your poor ghosted, breadcrumbed friend. On the house. Merry Christmas. Consider it a sorry for having to do the mistletoe kiss.’
‘Really? Wow! Thank you!’ The girl took the bag then all but skipped out of the shop.
Josie turned to Callan. ‘Maybe we need to rethink that kissing under the mistletoe tradition. Poor girl.’
‘Not as poor as her haunted and hungry friend. I mean, really. What’s the world coming to? And what was she going on about anyway with all that breadcrumbed and ghosted talk?’ Callan’s brows drew together as he shook his head. ‘Maybe we need to tell your dad about those terms, get him to research their meaning. Prepare him for the dating world now that he’s signed up to one of those apps. The man spends as much time swiping left, right or whichever way you swipe, as he does scouring the internet for toys to buy Mia. I’m not sure what to fear for more, his heart or his credit card.’
The Little Bakery of Hopes and Dreams Page 20