Bells and Bows on Mistletoe Row

by Emily Harvale

  'Thanks, Robin,' Bernard said. 'Nice to see you too.'

  A girl appeared with a tray bearing mugs of mulled wine. She wore a matching Santa hat on her jet-black hair but her complexion was porcelain-white. Her smile was as warm and welcoming as Robin's as she handed out the drinks. 'Merry Christmas. Perfect weather to buy a tree.'

  'This is my girlfriend, Raven Starr,' Robin said. 'Her grandparents own Snowflake Inn in Snowflake Cove.'

  'I've been there,' Zoe said, taking one of the mugs and smiling at Raven. 'It's a lovely place. Didn't Zachary Thorn do a Christmas Special of his TV show, 'Thorn On Your Side' from there last year?'

  'Yep,' Raven said, passing a mug to Juliet. 'He's dating my aunt, Evie Starr. He virtually lives there now.'

  'Wow. Lucky Evie. He's gorgeous.' Zoe shot a look at Juliet and winked at Raven. 'Does he have a brother?'

  'Afraid not. Are you looking for a boyfriend?'

  Zoe shook her head. 'Not me, no. But my sister is.'

  Juliet's mouth fell open. 'No, I'm not. A man is the last thing I need right now.'

  Raven grinned at Juliet. 'Just a tree then?'

  'Yes. But if you know anyone who wants a sister, I've got one going spare.'

  'Let me show you the trees I've selected,' Robin said, smiling.

  Rosa took the mug Raven offered, but Bernard shook his head. 'Not for me, thank you, Raven. I'm driving and the roads aren't sufficiently gritted. I'd better not take a chance. Better to be safe than sorry.'

  'I can make you a coffee, or a hot chocolate if you like.'

  'That's very kind. But I'll be fine, thanks.' Bernard smiled at Raven and he and Rosa followed Robin to a row of trees leaning against the fence to his left.

  'Looks like you've got more customers,' Zoe said, giving Juliet an odd look as another car came up the drive.

  'Excuse me,' Raven said. 'I'd better welcome them while Robin's with your dad, and get some more mulled wine. Want this one?' She held out the mug that Bernard had declined.

  'Absolutely,' Zoe said, almost snatching the mug from her and emptying the contents into her own. 'Thanks.'

  Raven grinned. 'You're welcome.' She took the empty mug and headed towards the approaching car.

  'Oh look,' Zoe said. 'I do believe that's Luke's car. Luke Bow.' She knocked back the contents of her mug as Juliet stared at her.

  'Luke Bow?' Juliet struggled to say the name. 'What the hell is he doing here?'

  Zoe shook her head as the car pulled up. 'This place is popular. I suppose Luke's here to get a tree, just like we are. But who on earth is that gorgeous man with him?'

  Juliet forced herself to look and immediately regretted it.

  It may have been twenty years since she had seen that face, but she would recognise it no matter how much time had passed. It may be more muscular, the jaw firmer, the mouth more defined, framed by hair a darker shade of chestnut and expertly cut, but it was him. Broader, taller and far more rugged-looking than he was at eighteen and still oozing sex appeal even from several metres away. He was immaculately and expensively dressed, just as he had been at eighteen. He was helping what must have been the most beautiful woman in the world, get out of the car. She seemed to have got her heel stuck and they were both laughing as he bent down to free it and then she tossed a length of super-shiny mahogany hair over her shoulder as she linked her arm through his and they walked forward.

  'I told you not to wear heels,' he said, shaking his head but smiling at the beautiful woman.

  Even his voice was the same, but perhaps slightly deeper pitched.

  Juliet's chest felt as if it was in a vice and her heart pumped so hard she was certain everyone must be able to hear its thumping beat. The butterflies in her stomach and weakness in her knees were the same as they had been the very first time she had seen him.

  He glanced in Juliet's direction and looked away.

  And then he shot a look back again.

  His mouth opened a fraction.

  He stopped in his tracks.

  'Juliet?' he said, as if he'd seen a ghost and didn't quite believe it.

  Juliet said nothing. She couldn't find her voice. But his eyes looked a richer shade of coffee-brown as she met his stare.

  'Well, well,' Luke said. Not that Juliet had even noticed him until he spoke. 'This is a small world.'

  Chapter Six

  Juliet perched on the arm of the chair in which her mum Rosa sat with a large box of Christmas decorations resting on her lap. Zoe stood opposite and Rosa handed decorations to each of them in turn to hang on the beautiful Norway Spruce that they, together with Bernard, had manhandled into a large red pot less than an hour earlier and dragged in front of the sitting room window. It had taken them more time to decide on the perfect position of the tree than it had to select it. But perhaps one of the reasons that the selection hadn't taken long was the fact that Harrison and Luke Bow had turned up at Merry's Christmas Tree Farm. Along with the most beautiful woman in the world. A fact that had irritated Juliet almost as much as coming face-to-face with the one man in the world she hated.

  'I still can't believe you walked away and sat in the car without saying one word,' Zoe said, hanging a silver and white painted glass bauble on a branch.

  Juliet scowled as she took another bauble from her mum. 'And I still don't believe their arrival was as much of a surprise to you as it was to me. But as I said in the car, I don't want to discuss it.'

  'What are you saying, sweetheart?' Rosa asked. 'Are you suggesting Zoe had something to do with them arriving at the exact same time as we were there?'

  'Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying. She didn't seem surprised at all. But she did seem nervous. As if she knew something was going to happen that might end in disaster.'

  'Oh come on,' Zoe said. 'Two people bumping into one another after not seeing each other for twenty years is hardly a disaster, is it? Some people might say it was a good thing. A chance to put the past behind them.'

  Juliet glowered at her. 'Some people would be wrong. And it may not have been a disaster from where you stood, but believe me, from my shoes, it was a total nightmare. And one I sincerely hope won't be repeated.'

  'Where's your Christmas spirit? Isn't it supposed to be the season of goodwill to all men?'

  'All men apart from Harrison Bow. And his grandad.'

  Zoe shook her head. 'I simply don't get it. What did Harrison do that was really so bad? And why won't anyone ever talk about it? This has been going on for twenty years and every time I bring the subject up, I'm told no one wants to discuss it and Juliet gets cross and runs back to Bristol.'

  Rosa got to her feet and placed the box of decorations on a nearby footstool. 'Zoe, darling, I don't think Juliet wants to discuss it now, either. You were so young at the time and you don't remember it the way Juliet does. She believes that young man broke her heart, and if that's the way she feels about it, you should try to respect that.'

  'Believes?' Juliet raised her brows and her voice. 'It's not a question of belief, Mum. It's a fact. He deceived me, tricked me, lied to me and he did break my heart.'

  'Yes, sweetheart. I know that's how you feel. But it wasn't all his fault, you know. As far as the house was concerned, his grandfather was the one to blame, not Harrison.'

  'So you've said. Many times. But you didn't hear what he said to me. What he made me feel. What he made me believe. And even after all this time, it hurts. Okay, I may be bearing a grudge, and okay, perhaps twenty years is too long to hate someone I hardly knew. Clearly didn't know, in fact, because nothing he said was true. But it's how I feel and I can't change that. I never want to see that man again. Ever. Okay?' She glared at Zoe as she said the last part.

  'Okay.' Zoe glared back. 'But you weren't the only one who was upset by what happened. I may've only been five but I can still remember living at The Grange. I miss my huge room, and the view of Mistletoe Row and the apple orchards beyond. I can still visualise the little painting of the houses and orchards in th
e distance, beneath the words, Mistletoe room, on my door. I can remember the Christmases there, with every bedroom occupied and guests dancing in the massive hall. The tree, ten times the size of this one, every branch weighed down with decorations. I remember the parties. Ice skating on the lake, and swimming in it in summer. I remember you and Mum crying the day we moved out, and Dad looking so miserable I thought he was going to die. I remember people feeling sorry for us and pointing and whispering. But I also remember that it wasn't all perfect living there. This cottage is far warmer and cosier than that place ever was. Mum and Dad were always busy entertaining, or arguing towards the end, and I barely saw them. Here, I got to spend much more time with them, especially as you ran off to Bristol Uni a couple of years later, and stayed in Bristol to work. You act as if you were the only one who got hurt. It broke Dad's heart to leave there, and Mum's too. Do you ever think about that?'

  'Of course I do!' Juliet was stunned by Zoe's remarks. Each time this conversation had developed in the past, it was enough for Juliet to say she didn't want to talk about it, and the subject was quickly changed. This time, Zoe seemed determined. 'I think about it all the time.'

  'Sweethearts,' Rosa intervened. 'What's done is done and there's no going back. It was all such a long time ago, but I had no idea you felt that way, Zoe darling. You've never said that before.'

  'Because I never get a chance. I was always told to stop and the subject was changed. I soon realised there wasn't any point. I was always shot down. And as you say, Mum, it's old news. I've tried to forget it and put the past behind me. I just wish Juliet could do the same. But she's hit the nail on the head when she said she thinks about it all the time. That's the problem. Losing The Grange is all she ever thinks about. And I don't know exactly why she hates Harrison so much for that. He was only eighteen at the time. It was hardly his fault Dad got into such a dire financial mess. Or that Harrison's grandad bought the place from Dad for a knock-down price, was it?'

  'Yes it was!' Juliet leapt up. 'But you wouldn't understand, and I really don't want to talk about it.'

  'You always say that. But perhaps you should. Mum and Dad got over it. Isn't it time you did the same? Or are you going to hate Harrison Bow for the rest of your life? And please don't say yes to that because that is simply crazy. And for an intelligent, independent woman, crazy is not a good look.'

  'That's enough!' Rosa said. 'I don't know what's got into you, Zoe to make you bring this whole sorry business up again, but Juliet is only here for a week or two. Let's stop this right now and enjoy the festivities together before she returns to Bristol.'

  'Runs away again, you mean. And why are you still telling me off, Mum? Even you think it's a bad thing for her to bear a grudge for so long, yet you still won't tell her she's wrong. But that's her trouble. Juliet is never wrong, is she? It's always someone else's fault as far as she's concerned.'

  Juliet gasped. 'That's not true. I don't blame other people. If you knew what happened between me and Harrison, you'd understand how I feel.'

  'Then tell me!'

  'I can't, Zoe.' Juliet dashed to the door but she stopped and turned as Rosa called after her in strangled tones.

  'Juliet, please don't run away. Perhaps your sister's right. Maybe it is time we all sat down and talked about this.'

  Juliet's fingers tightened around the edge of the door and tears of frustration and anger pricked at her eyes. 'Do you think I'm wrong, Mum? To not be able to forget what happened, I mean.'

  Rosa sighed and nodded slowly as she dropped back down on the chair and reached out her hand to Juliet. She looked so forlorn that it tore at Juliet's heart and even though she didn't want to, Juliet trudged back over and sat on the arm of the chair, taking the hand her mum offered.

  'Yes, sweetheart, I do. But simply because holding grudges only hurts the person doing the holding. I'm not suggesting you're wrong about being hurt by what happened. But Zoe is also right about that.' She stretched out her other hand to Zoe, who took it and smiled lovingly. 'It didn't merely happen to you, darling. It happened to us all. And if anyone should bear a grudge, it should be your father. To be the Bell to lose The Grange was a terrible blow to him, even though it wasn't entirely his fault. The markets collapsing, property prices falling, interest rates rising. They all played a part. Even the house itself. You have no idea how much it cost to keep that place going. And I must take some of the blame, if blame is the right word.' She shook her head and sighed again. 'Yes. Perhaps, on reflection, your father and I did entertain too much. Too many lavish parties and such. But we can't undo what we did. And we have so many wonderful memories.'

  'That's true,' Juliet agreed. 'I've got hundreds of memories of living there. But in a way, for me that makes it worse. I miss it, Mum. It was as if I left my heart in that house and I'll never get it back.'

  'The house, or your heart?' Zoe said, clearly attempting to lighten the mood.

  Juliet pulled a face. 'Both.'

  Rosa smiled wanly. 'Zoe is also right about things being better after we moved here. Prior to that, your father and I were arguing, I'll be the first to admit it. When we realised just how bad things were, we tried to cut back on everything. We went from holding lavish parties, drinking champagne and eating the finest food, to shutting up virtually every room in the house, drinking cheap wine and eating beans on toast.' She gave a tiny burst of laughter. 'I'll never forget your father's face when I put that plate in front of him after I had dismissed the cook. But my culinary skills weren't up to much in those days.'

  'I liked beans on toast,' Zoe said. 'I still do.'

  Rosa nodded. 'So do I, sweetheart.'

  'I don't miss the caviar, or the parties. Although I do miss the free-flowing champagne sometimes.' Juliet tried to find some humour in the way she felt. 'It's just the house, not the lifestyle, I miss. And the lake and the grounds. I honestly felt as if I belonged there.'

  'Imagine how your father felt.' Rosa gave Juliet a thought-provoking look.

  'I do,' Juliet lowered her head. 'I think about that all the time.'

  'What's going on in here?' Bernard ambled into the room, a jovial look on his face. 'Oh. I thought the tree would be decorated.' He glanced at each of them in turn and the colour, and laughter, drained from him. 'What's happened now?'

  Rosa gave him a loving smile. 'We're having a long overdue talk, darling.'

  'A talk?' He tensed visibly. 'Not about The Grange, I hope.'

  Rosa nodded. 'Yes. About that and other things from the past. Why don't you join us?'

  'Mum!' Juliet protested.

  'No, Juliet. Zoe is right. Perhaps it is time we all sat down and talked about it as a family. For the past twenty years we've tried to push it under the carpet. To pretend it didn't happen. To keep a stiff upper lip about the whole business. But all that seems to have done is to keep the pain and hurt with us for all these years. And that, my darlings, is ridiculous. I think we should all say exactly how we feel. Let it all out and maybe then, we can finally heal. I believe your father and I have done that, but you definitely haven't, Juliet, and perhaps, nor has Zoe entirely. We've already started, we may as well continue. Pour us all some sherry, darling.' Rosa nodded to Bernard. 'I think we may need it.'

  'Is this wise, darling?' He seemed hesitant. 'Especially after earlier this morning.'

  'It's because of this morning that we need to do so.'

  'You know best,' he said, walking towards the cocktail cabinet and pouring out four sherries as Juliet and Zoe eyed one another in silence and Rosa squeezed their hands as if for morale support.

  'Shall I begin?' Rosa asked, as Bernard handed the drinks around. 'I'll summarise for your father's benefit. It seems our Zoe felt a little sidelined before we moved here, so she's actually glad in many ways that we're living in this cottage. Why she's never mentioned it before is rather concerning. I do wish you had, sweetheart.'

  'It's not a huge deal, Mum,' Zoe said. 'I'm not scarred for life or anything. Unlike someone
else I could mention.'

  'Now, now.' Rosa gave Zoe a reprimanding look, but she leant forward and kissed her on the cheek.

  'Sorry,' Zoe said, glancing at Juliet. 'Honestly, Dad. Please don't worry about it. All I meant was that life for me improved when we came here because we were more like a normal family. In the old house, we could go for hours without seeing one another. The place was so big, not to mention the grounds. Here, we can't go five minutes without crossing paths, and I like that. Plus, you and Mum never really had much free time at The Grange. You were always busy running the place, or so it seemed to me.'

  'I'm so sorry, sweetheart,' Bernard said. 'I certainly don't miss the upkeep of The Grange. And you're right. Family life definitely improved in many ways when we moved here. I loved the old house. I wish it were still in the family. But I came to terms with losing it a long time ago, and to be completely honest, I don't miss it much at all these days.'

  'Neither do I,' said Rosa. 'And I don't miss the company of our so-called friends, either. Our true friends still spend time with us and I firmly believe we have had a better life since we've lived here. Your father and I discussed it during the early years, and we thought you both felt the same. We knew you still felt very strongly about what happened between you and Harrison, Juliet, but what none of us had appreciated, darling, is that you blame Harrison entirely, for us moving out of The Grange.'

  'Harrison? For us moving out? Why?' Bernard looked from his wife to Juliet, his brows furrowed and a perplexed look on his face. 'I thought this was all because you felt the boy rejected you, sweetheart, and that you resented him for moving into our former home the minute we moved out. Which I fully understand. As I said, it took me a good few years to not look up at the place and feel a certain resentment towards the family. And I suppose that was why I couldn't talk about it with anyone other than your mother, for many years. Then one day, it no longer seemed important. We're genuinely happier here. I thought you realised that, and felt the same way.'