Christmas at the Little Village Bakery

by Tilly Tennant

  Millie nodded. ‘The way I see it, we should hang on until we know what timescale we’re looking at, see what Colleen is happy with, and then go from there.’

  There was murmured agreement around the room.

  ‘Now that’s settled,’ Millie said, ‘who wants those mince pies?’

  Dylan grinned. ‘I thought you’d never ask.’

  Darcie busied herself tidying the tables. Everyone had left – Spencer and Tori back to Spencer’s empty house, Millie and Dylan back to their parenthood, while Ruth Evans was still at the hospital with Colleen. Oscar was crying again, so Dylan had taken him upstairs while Millie sat out in the tiny yard at the back of the bakery, wrapped up against the cold but so desperate for a break that the ice and snow was a small price to pay.

  The only noises in the building were the quiet hum of the refrigerators and Oscar’s screams, punctuated by Dylan doing his best to soothe him. At first Darcie had found the sound of Oscar crying for hours on end distressing, but now she was learning to filter it out. It wasn’t her baby, after all, and she knew that even when she helped out with him, when it all got too much, she could simply hand him back to his parents and go out. Not that there were many places to go in this village.

  When she’d lost her job back in her hometown of Millrise, she’d grabbed the chance to leave the Midlands and come and help Millie in Honeybourne with both hands. Not only had she found herself unemployed there, but in Millrise were reminders of a broken relationship that held only bitter memories and parents who didn’t seem to care whether she was there or not. She had been miserable, and although she had been desperate for something to lift her from the doldrums of her life, she had been too scared to do anything about it. But then Millie had made the call, and it had sounded like a wonderful adventure – to leave home and start somewhere completely new without the baggage of her old life and in the company of people she knew would keep her safe. Millie had turned her own life around by leaving Millrise – perhaps she could too. Dylan and Millie hadn’t been able to promise her much of a wage – pocket money, really – but they had promised a free roof over her head and all the food she could eat in return for a few hours’ help in the mornings. She had settled into life with them quickly, and she had enjoyed it at first. But that was before she realised she was falling for Dylan.

  She hadn’t even noticed the feelings creeping up on her. He made her laugh, he was handsome, and he was kind. He always asked how she was, whether she needed anything, included her in decisions concerning the bakery and listened to her opinions like they really mattered. Nobody had ever shown that much interest in her before, not even her own parents. Not only that, but he was so patient and loving towards Millie and Oscar that it was obvious his heart was good. And then one day, the unexpected jolt in her own as he innocently pulled her into a friendly hug issued the warning. It started as a vague, unexplained longing, and no matter how much Darcie tried to ignore it, the longing kept growing until it was an ache that threatened to break her heart in two. Now, every time she looked at him all she could think of was how his lips might taste if only they were to meet hers. And then she’d look at Millie, her own flesh and blood, more like a sister than a cousin, and the guilt would overwhelm her.

  She’d mentioned leaving – her first reaction was to get away from the situation before it got out of hand – but they’d both seemed so genuinely devastated by the idea that she couldn’t go through with it. So here she was, stuck in a village where she could never be far enough away from Dylan Smith to forget about him, and forced to watch him love someone else, someone she cared about too.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by the slam of the back door, and Millie swept in, bringing the cold with her.

  ‘The sky is so clear this evening, it looks gorgeous, but I think the snow is going to ice over so it’ll be a nightmare tomorrow. You weren’t planning to go far, were you?’

  ‘I was thinking of going into Salisbury,’ Darcie replied, sweeping a cloth across a table. ‘I need to get a few last-minute presents.’ The truth was that she didn’t really need any last-minute presents, but she did need a reason to go out.

  ‘Oh…’ Millie said. ‘I’m not sure how reliable the buses will be if the roads are too treacherous. Unless Dylan can run you there. He’s quite good at driving in snow.’

  ‘I’ll probably put it off for a day or so,’ Darcie said, rubbing at a particularly stubborn mark on the table. She was giving it far more concentration than it needed, but she couldn’t trust herself to look Millie in the eye right now, not when thoughts of her and Dylan alone in the car were filling her head. ‘It’s a nuisance that I can’t drive. I hate relying on you two and public transport all the time…’ She took a deep breath, and forced herself to look up. ‘About the pub…’

  ‘Yes?’ Millie asked, grabbing a sweeping brush from the cupboard. She took advantage of Darcie’s hesitation to continue and cocked her head. ‘Sounds like Oscar has finally gone down. Poor Dylan must be frazzled, but at least we have an hour now with a bit of luck. I don’t know what I’d do without you both – I’d be a crackpot, I’m sure.’

  Darcie chewed her lip. She had been about to tell Millie that she’d given it some thought and she wanted to go and help at the pub while Doug was out of action. If at all possible, she’d quite like to live at the pub for a while. Perhaps some distance from Dylan and Millie might be enough to cure her inappropriate feelings for him, but she didn’t really want to go back to Millrise if she could help it. It seemed like a good solution and, in such a small place, about as far away as she was going to get without leaving altogether. But Millie had gone and done it again without even realising the pain she was causing. How could Darcie tell Millie now that she needed to get away? How could she leave them to cope when she knew just how much they relied on her?

  Millie began to sweep the floor. ‘Sorry, what did you want to say about the pub?’

  ‘It was just something about the meeting… When did we decide to hold it? And are we doing it here or at the Dog and Hare?’

  Millie stopped and rested her chin on the handle of the brush. ‘I suppose we should have it as soon as we know about Doug’s condition and what Colleen wants to do. I said I would let Spencer know and Dylan will have a word with his sister to see what she thinks. She was amazing when we were getting the bakery up and running and she has a real flair for organising things like this.’

  ‘Jasmine?’ Darcie asked doubtfully.

  ‘Yes…’ Millie frowned. ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘It’s just that she has so much to do already with triplets and her own business.’

  ‘I know, but she always seems to have time to pitch in. She’s an absolute wonder woman. I don’t know how she does it but whatever it is, she should bottle it and sell it. She’d make a tidy fortune and I’d be first in the queue.’

  Darcie said nothing and went back to cleaning the tables.

  ‘It’s quiet up there,’ said Millie, resuming her sweeping. ‘I bet Dylan’s fallen asleep with Oscar.’ When Darcie didn’t look up, she added, ‘Is everything alright?’

  ‘Sorry?’ Darcie asked.

  ‘With you? I can’t help noticing that you don’t seem yourself lately. I know life can be a bit quiet and boring sometimes in Honeybourne, and you’re younger than me and used to more excitement than this…’

  Darcie wished she could say that the craving of more excitement was the only problem she had in life, but she felt there was more than enough of that right now, and not at all the right kind. ‘I’m fine. I’m just ready for a break at Christmas, that’s all.’

  ‘Do you feel as if you ought to be home at Christmas? I know that it’s not always easy to be around your parents, but they are your parents and I’d completely understand if you wanted to be with them for the festive season.’

  ‘You’d miss me – how would you run things on your own?’ Darcie asked with a slight smile.

  ‘I know. But I also know your mum and d
ad will miss you on Christmas Day too, despite what you think.’

  ‘We talked about it and they’re fine. They understand that it’s probably just this year. It’ll give them an excuse to have a quiet one together, perhaps do something a bit different.’

  What she didn’t add, because they both knew it, was that they would barely notice her absence anyway. It wasn’t something that Darcie enjoyed thinking about. She had often wondered whether she would have been less lonely with a brother or sister to grow up with, but she quickly realised that there was no point, because she didn’t have either and no amount of wondering would change that. It was a mixed blessing of sorts anyway, as her growing up alone had meant that Millie had always taken a keen interest in her wellbeing, sensing early on that she had very little emotional support from home, and it had drawn them closer than two cousins with such an age gap would normally be.

  Millie was silent again for a moment. ‘Well, you know we’d hate to lose you, but if you wanted to go home to Millrise, then of course we’d understand… I mean, for Christmas, or if you wanted to go back permanently. You’ve been brilliant this past few months but it’s a long time to be away from your home.’

  Darcie paused. Millie always seemed to work out what was going on in her head, and it was unnerving to say the least. Although what Millie had guessed wasn’t the whole story, and Darcie was happy for her to stay in the dark about some of the details… Details that could destroy their relationship if they came out. ‘I needed a breather, to get away from home for a bit. I’m fine as I am for now.’

  ‘Right, I was just saying… It’s not us, is it?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘We’re not getting on your nerves? Me and Dylan? I’m a worrier and I know that’s hard work. And Dylan can be a bit full on sometimes, but he’s a good man.’

  ‘No,’ Darcie replied, wishing now that Millie would just drop the interrogation.

  ‘Is it living with Oscar? He cries a lot and that drives us mad so it must be hard for you.’

  ‘No,’ Darcie repeated. ‘I’m fine.’

  Without another word, she marched out to the kitchens to change the water in her bucket, fighting back the tears that would give her away. Damn Millie’s kindness. If only Darcie could hate her for something, however small, she could stop hating herself quite so much for being in love with her boyfriend.

  It was standing room only; it had been a while since the tiny café room of Millie’s bakery had been so full. For Spencer it brought back fond memories of the grand opening, when he had first brought Tori to Honeybourne and had proposed to her.

  Darcie and Millie were busy plying everyone with hot drinks as they settled in for the meeting, and Spencer smiled with pride as he watched Tori, who had volunteered her services and now stood behind the counter doing her best to figure out how to operate the monstrous coffee machine. Dylan had Oscar strapped to him and was dishing out cakes at the counter. And of course, though the Old Bakery was filled with more noise than ever before, Oscar was sleeping peacefully through it all. Spencer could only imagine how galling that was when he would likely be keeping them awake later that night, but at least it meant people would be able to hear themselves speak when the meeting began.

  He turned to Colleen, who sat next to him, drawn and pale, fingers twisted around each other as her edgy glance darted here and there. People waved or mouthed greetings to her as they filed in; some came over to ask briefly how Doug was doing, but Spencer could tell by her distracted replies that she was finding it difficult to hold things together. ‘Are you alright?’ he asked. ‘Do you need me to get anything for you?’

  Colleen shook her head.

  Ruth, who was sitting on the other side of her, patted her hand. ‘We’ll have you sorted in no time,’ she said. ‘Won’t we, Spencer?’

  He was about to reply when the door opened with a gust and Dylan’s sister, Jasmine, walked in. She was with her husband, Rich, and triplets Rachel, Rebecca and Reuben, who all seemed to have grown at least a foot since he had last seen them. But their astonishing growth spurt wasn’t the thing that cut short his reply. It was the unexpected reaction at seeing Jasmine after months of being away. She looked as lovely as ever, her candy-pink curls spilling out from beneath a Scandinavian-style woolly hat, flowery wellies and a long plum coat; the cold of the day had brought out the blush of her cheeks and her hazel eyes danced with excitement. She had her own unique style and take on the world, and she didn’t look like other women, but he had loved her for this.

  Today, she was all that he remembered and all that he had fallen for in the first place. He tried to shake the thoughts away as she searched the room and her gaze fell on him.

  ‘Spencer!’ she squealed, before rushing over to his table.

  He stood to hug her, and as he pulled her close the scent of her brought back feelings that had his mind in a whirl. Where had this come from? It was sudden and fierce; he had never expected to react this way and he didn’t want to. His life was with Tori now, so how could he feel like this?

  ‘I’m so sorry we didn’t get to see you before, but Rich has been locked away with a deadline looming and Reuben had flu, which meant that the other two decided to get pseudo flu, and you know how it is…’

  ‘I know,’ Spencer smiled. ‘It’s ok.’

  Rich and the triplets joined them, and Spencer wondered how much his face was giving away as they greeted him. This was not good at all.

  ‘Good to see you!’ Rich said.

  Spencer’s mind went back to that thunderous evening the previous year, when he had told Rich that he loved his wife… Was Rich thinking about that now? Or had he moved on? Spencer certainly thought he himself had, but it seemed that some people, like Jasmine Green, were just too beguiling to shake. Spencer and Jasmine had seen each other since the day it all came out, of course, at the bakery’s grand opening that spring, but somehow that visit had been so fleeting and so busy, and filled with the excitement of his proposal to Tori, that he had managed to put any thoughts of Jasmine to the back of his mind. It was hard to know what had changed this time, but something had. Perhaps twenty years of being in love with someone was too much to erase in a few short months, no matter what else happened to come along.

  He turned to Reuben and offered him a formal handshake. ‘How’s it going?’

  ‘Are you coming back to school soon?’ Reuben asked.

  Jasmine and Rich burst out laughing. ‘Straight out with it, son!’ Rich chuckled. He turned to Spencer. ‘They don’t care much for the exchange teacher in your place.’

  Spencer looked around the room, as if he had suddenly remembered something very important.

  ‘I had thought I might see him around,’ he said. ‘Does he come to the village stuff?’

  ‘He doesn’t even live in the village,’ Rich said. ‘Drives in every day from Salisbury.’

  Spencer nodded. ‘Village life too quiet, eh?’

  ‘It might be, although I’m not sure I’d call Salisbury a thriving metropolis.’

  ‘No,’ Spencer laughed, ‘but at least there are some decent shops and more than one pub.’ He looked down at the triplets. ‘I probably shouldn’t ask, but what’s wrong with Mr Bartowski?’

  ‘He’s alright, he’s just…’ Rebecca paused, looking for the right word.

  ‘Weird,’ Rachel finished for her. Spencer raised his eyebrows.

  ‘He’s not like you,’ Reuben offered. ‘You’re funny.’

  ‘And he’s not?’ Spencer asked. ‘I think that makes him better than me, because I’m not sure teachers are supposed to be funny.’

  ‘You know what we mean,’ Rebecca said, blushing.

  ‘You’re just nicer,’ Rachel added.

  ‘Are you planning to come back soon?’ Jasmine asked.

  ‘I’m supposed to, and I already extended my stint in Colorado, as you know, so I don’t know how much longer I’ll be allowed to stay, but we’re not sure where we’re going to end up living when
we get married. I might apply for citizenship and stay in the US, but Tori is already an EU citizen, on account of her grandparents being Irish, so we could stay here and it would be a lot easier. That’s not to say it’s the right decision, though, or one she’d be happy with.’

  ‘It’s a tough one,’ Rich agreed. ‘Good luck with thrashing it out – it’s been nice knowing you, because if she’s anything like Jasmine she will win the debate and you’ll end up living in Colorado before you’ve had time to realise it.’

  ‘That wouldn’t be so bad,’ Spencer smiled. ‘But I would miss Honeybourne a lot.’

  ‘Honeybourne would miss you too,’ Jasmine replied. ‘A lot.’

  He shrugged. ‘I expect you’re used to me being gone now. I’ve already stayed on past the year I was supposed to.’

  ‘That’s love for you,’ Rich said, glancing up to see that Tori was now making her way over, drying her hands on a tea cloth. ‘Talk of the devil and she will appear…’

  Jasmine elbowed him and he simply grinned.

  ‘Hey, Tori!’ Jasmine pulled her into a warm hug. ‘Is my best friend looking after you?’

  ‘He is,’ Tori’s smile was stiff as she pulled away. ‘He’s making me very happy.’

  Spencer shot her a sideways glance. The two women had only met once before, at the grand opening of the bakery, but Tori’s reaction to Jasmine’s greeting was cool, even when you considered they barely knew each other. Had Tori picked up on something between him and Jasmine that easily and that quickly? He’d done his best to keep it locked away, but maybe his attempts just hadn’t been so good. If his feelings were that transparent it could spell trouble.

  ‘Good,’ Jasmine replied in a voice full of approval.

  ‘Hi, kids,’ Tori added, smiling with more warmth at all three of them, who simply offered shy smiles in return.

  Rich hugged Tori too, but was called away immediately by Frank Stephenson shouting to him from across the room. ‘Sorry…’ He offered Tori an apologetic shrug, and she laughed.