Ella chuckled. 'It's not. You're simply madly in love. And we're the same, I suppose, so I can hardly talk. Gill and I haven't spent a night apart either. Love's a very funny thing.'
'Love's wonderful. I think everyone should be in love. Hmm. I wonder if Hettie is right about the vicar liking Jenny? And I wonder if there's anything we can do to get the two of them together? Glen Fox is rather gorgeous and Jenny does seem sad.'
'But his stay here is only temporary, and we've got a novel to write, remember? You, me and Gill are supposed to be spending all our free time on that. We don't have time to plot and scheme to get Jenny and Glen together, especially as we have no idea if they even like one another. And if you're going to be renting out two cottages now, we've got to keep both of them clean and tidy. We can't ask Hettie to do it all, can we?'
Mia sighed. 'I suppose you're right.'
'Mia?' Ella gave her a questioning look as they reached Hettie's front door. 'You're going to try to do it, aren't you? You're going to try to get Jenny and gorgeous Glen together.'
Mia grinned. 'Well, it is Christmas, after all. Everyone should be in love at Christmas.'
Ella tutted before throwing Mia a cheeky grin. 'Well I suppose that'll add a whole new meaning to my vicar and tart jokes, won't it? Jenny does bake a rather scrumptious Sicilian lemon tart.'
Chapter Five
Glen Fox opened his bedroom curtains and frowned. From the moment he had woken up he had told himself the sun would be shining and the snow from yesterday would have melted, but as soon as he rolled over and glanced towards the window it had been obvious that Monday was not going to be a sunny day. No soft yellow beams of light filtered through the tiny gap between the curtains and the window. Instead, the room seemed grey and somewhat cold, even though he knew the heating was on full blast. Glen didn't like the cold. Still, as he padded towards the window, he hoped; but there it was, blanketing the lane and the village green, covering the thatched roofs, and hiding the ice on the frozen pond.
Snow.
At least an inch of it. Possibly even two.
It had snowed on and off all yesterday afternoon and at one point, when he was helping Jet and Gill put up Christmas decorations on Hettie and Fred's cottage, it had snowed so hard they had to stop and go inside until it eased off.
Eating several of Hettie's cranberry and orange, mince pies and drinking two mugs of her hot, spiced cider may not have been a good idea, especially after he'd already eaten one of the cavallucci he'd bought from Lake's Bakes, but he was very glad he, Jet and Gill had already finished decorating the roof and didn't have to go back up the ladder. That cider was lethal. He needed to bear that in mind for future visits to Hettie's.
Then for one brief hour after they had finished the decorations and gone their separate ways, the sun had come back out and some of the snow melted, as he had tried to walk off the effects of Hettie's cider. But more fell in the evening as he walked across the lane from his cottage to the church, and obviously more had fallen overnight.
It looked pretty enough, but it made it difficult for many people to get about, especially the elderly and the infirm. He'd have to ask around and see if there were any villagers who may need help. Having only been in Little Pondale for two weeks, he still hadn't got around to meeting all the villagers, even though the place was tiny. More than once, when he rang a bell or knocked on a door, he wondered if the residents were inside and merely avoiding him, or whether they were indeed 'out' each time he had called to introduce himself.
Attendance at his services was acceptable for a village of this size, but at least one third of the population hadn't set foot inside St Michael and All Angels since he'd taken over and some of those who had, had only gone once or twice to get a look at him, he was sure. Hettie had informed him that the turnout for him was better than for the previous incumbent, which didn't say much for religion in Little Pondale.
It wasn't his problem though. All he had to do was get through Christmas and the New Year and he'd be out of here by the end of January, if not sooner, according to his uncle, the Bishop.
The trouble was, it was his problem. He loved his job and he firmly believed all communities needed a place to go for spiritual guidance, or for comfort, or merely for a listening ear. He had a very modern view of religion. Some people might call it odd. He wanted the congregation to go to church, whether or not they believed in God. He wanted them to feel welcome, to feel a part of something bigger. From there, they might find God, or they might not. It was his job to show them the path and lead the way. He certainly wasn't going to force them to stay on it.
He glanced across the village green towards Lake's Bakes. From his cottage he could see the driveway, the front step leading to Baker's Cottage and the bakery at the side, which had many years ago, no doubt, been a stable or a barn. It had only been a bakery since Justin Lake's great-great-grandfather had bought the cottage in 1899, or so Hettie had told him.
He wondered if he should go back there after his ridiculous behaviour yesterday. What was he? Nine years old? He'd virtually begged Jenny for her friendship. He tutted at his own stupidity. He had sounded pathetic, sad and lonely. What on earth must she have thought? No wonder she hadn't replied.
But if he didn't go back, wouldn't that make things worse? Surely his best bet was to behave as if yesterday had meant nothing. That his comment was simply an ordinary, everyday remark and not one that he should feel mortified about.
And he really liked the cavallucci. He also liked mince pies. Did Jenny bake mince pies? He could say he'd had some at Hettie's and they had given him a craving for more. Yes. That sounded reasonable.
And there was no time like the present.
Chapter Six
Mia had a plan. She'd spent all Sunday evening thinking about it. Well, not quite all of the evening. During dinner, she, Ella and Gill, with Jet's additional input, had chatted over a few more ideas for the next chapters of the novel they were writing. Not that it was getting very far, what with Ella having more and more editing work recently. Gill was also working on his book about his grandfather, Guillaume De Fonteneau and the French Resistance during World War II and the part Mia's great-aunt also played. The truth was, Mia had enjoyed the months she'd spent unravelling Mattie's past, and now that she had read and re-read Mattie's diaries, she sometimes felt a little lacking and inadequate. As if she, herself, should have some sort of mission or dynamic purpose to her life, instead of merely bobbing along happily from day to day. Ella had her job as a freelance editor; Gill was a freelance journalist when he wasn't working on one of his books. But since losing her boring job in London and moving to Little Pondale, Mia hadn't had an occupation. Not that she needed one. She was rich now, thanks to Mattie, and she would never have to work again. But she needed to do something after reading about Mattie's own life, and writing the novel was supposed to be her occupation now. The problem was, the fiction didn't seem nearly as exciting as the facts of Mattie's life and to tell the truth, Mia's heart wasn't in it. When she'd mentioned this to Jet, he'd understood, but he said that only she could decide what she wanted her future to look like and as long as he was in it, he was happy to discuss it anytime, and would support her no matter what she chose to do.
And right now, she had chosen to be a matchmaker.
Okay, it was hardly earth-shattering, but helping people find happiness was a noble and admirable task. That's what she told herself in any event. She didn't mention it to Jet though. Not because she thought he wouldn't approve. Although there was a possibility he might not. But because she thought he might say something to Glen, and she couldn't have that. If Glen knew she was intending to set him up with Jenny, he might very well refuse to cooperate. Men were stubborn like that. Jet was a prime example. If he hadn't been so stubborn, he and Mia would've been together weeks earlier than Halloween.
No. The fewer people who knew of her plan, the better. She'd probably tell Ella though.
'Right,' Jet said, kissing
her on the cheek as she sat at the kitchen table in Sunbeam Cottage, cradling her second mug of coffee and thinking through her plan as Little M lay curled up in her basket beside the Range. 'I'm off to do farm stuff. What've you got planned for the day?'
'Oh, nothing much.' Mia put her mug on the table, stood up and slid her arms around his waist. 'I know we won't be sure if we're going to come and stay with you until the first lot of guests turn up on Wednesday but I was thinking that your farmhouse needs some decorations anyway. Especially if we're going to have Christmas dinner there. And we are going to do that, aren't we? No matter what?'
He pulled her closer and grinned. 'Yes. We agreed it makes sense. My place is larger than this and the dining table can easily accommodate sixteen. Not that we're going to have sixteen people, are we?'
Mia ran a finger across the light stubble on his chin. 'You need a shave.'
'Which is another bonus of you spending Christmas at mine. I don't have to remember to bring my razor to come and stay here the night.'
'Or I could buy you one to keep here. I'm rich now, after all. We could have two of everything. One lot for here, one lot for your place.' Why had she said that? She wanted to spend Christmas at his farmhouse. Ever since he'd suggested it as an option yesterday she'd been praying that both lot of bookings turned up so that she, Ella and Gill would have to move into Little Pond Farm for the holidays.
'We could,' he said. 'I'd quite like two of you. One that I could take with me and have beside me all day, and one that could do whatever she wanted to do with her day.'
Mia laughed. 'Nice sentiment, but saying that out loud sounded a bit creepy.'
Jet laughed too. 'It did, didn't it? So how many people are we having for Christmas dinner? And what sort of decorations are you thinking the farmhouse needs? Please don't let Ella say those plastic snowmen or the twig reindeer because as much as I love you, I'm not having those inside my home.'
'Noted. No snowmen or reindeer indoors. Including Hettie and Fred, we're having eight for dinner. But I was wondering if we shouldn't also invite Jenny because otherwise she'll be on her own. And also, Glen, because so will he. But I was thinking that we ought to have a little test run first. Just in case they don't get on or something.'
Jet gave her a curious look. 'Why wouldn't they get on?'
Mia shrugged. 'Oh I don't know. Sometimes people simply don't. And although Hettie seems to prefer Glen to Tom, she may not be able to be polite to him all day. You know Hettie. A test run beforehand would mean Christmas Day wouldn't be ruined by people falling out.'
'Would it?' He grinned and kissed her on the nose, his blue eyes glinting with merriment. 'Why do I get the feeling there's something you're not telling me?'
Mia tried to look shocked. 'I have no idea. You know I tell you everything.'
He laughed at that. 'Yeah, right. So when were you thinking of having this trial run? And are you going to come and start decorating today?'
'Well. Tuesday is choir practice. Wednesday, the first lot of guests should be arriving. Thursday is your rugby training. Friday, the other guests arrive. Saturday is the charity carol evening, and Sunday is the twenty-third, which is far too close to Christmas if anything goes wrong. So that only leaves tonight, really.'
'Tonight? You want to hold a fake Christmas dinner tonight? At my place?'
'No, of course not. I'd like to have a little supper party tonight at your place. I'll ask Hettie to make her hot, spiced cider and some of those delicious cranberry and orange mince pies we had yesterday, and Jenny to bring some cakes, and Gill can make a turkey Thai curry, or something. And we can all put up the decorations. There's nothing quite as good to get everyone in the festive spirit as putting up decorations.'
'Yes. I noticed that yesterday when my fingers were dropping off from the cold. Gill and I both said how incredibly festive we were feeling.' He gave her a devilish grin and squeezed her tight.
She matched his grin and kissed him on the chin. 'You should've worn gloves. Wear them tonight when you, Gill and Glen are doing the outside decorations. Now go and water those cows, or whatever it is you do. I've got a list to write.'
He raised his brows. 'Hold on. Me, Gill and Glen? Do they know how they're going to be spending this evening?'
'Not yet. I'll tell Gill as soon as he gets up and I'll pop over to the vicarage at nine. Probably not polite to go before then. Not that a vicar has normal business hours, does he?'
'And what if one, or both of them don't want to go along with your plans?'
She looked at him in disbelief. 'Why wouldn't they? It's Christmas.'
He shook his head but he was chuckling to himself. 'They might have their own plans for tonight.'
'It's Monday and this is Little Pondale. What plans could anyone have that couldn't be changed? So you're okay with it? Shall I tell everyone to be at the farmhouse by six-thirty?'
He nodded and kissed her goodbye. 'I'm okay with it. But I still get the feeling there's something you're not telling me. Ah. Morning, Gill. My beautiful girlfriend has planned your entire day. Have a good one. See you later.' He winked at Mia, slapped Gill playfully on the shoulder and marched along the hall to the front door, with Little M at his heels.
Gill yawned and scratched his head. 'What was that? I missed it. I think I had too much of Hettie's cider yesterday, and then that wine with dinner. Or perhaps it was the brandy afterwards. Anyway, I feel like I've been dragged down a rabbit hole and used as a bed.'
'That doesn't make any sense at all,' Mia said, grinning as she poured him coffee. She shoved the mug in front of him as he collapsed on a chair and slumped across the table. 'And you need to sober up pretty quickly. We've got a lot to do today. I was hoping you'd go to the shops but clearly Ella and I will have to do that. I need you to make a turkey Thai curry or something equally delicious for supper tonight. We're putting up the decorations at Jet's and we're having a few people over to help. Are you up for that?'
He raised bloodshot eyes to her face and after a second or two, he nodded. 'Curry. Supper. Decorations. Jet. Got it. Thanks for the coffee.'
Ella positively bounced into the kitchen. 'Morning all! God, Gill. You look rough. Did you fall out of bed while I was in the shower? I thought I heard a thump but when I came out of the bathroom, there was no sign of you.'
He nodded. 'I think so.'
Mia bit back her laugh and glanced at Ella. 'I'm glad you're dressed and ready. We need to go shopping for food and more decorations. We're going to have a little supper party at Jet's tonight. I know he said yesterday that he's got decorations but he's a man, so we all know what they'll be like. We definitely need some new ones to add to the ones he's got.'
'Ooh, Christmas shopping!' Ella gleefully replied. 'I'm up for that. And a supper party sounds good. But why tonight?'
'I don't have time to explain.' Mia poured Ella a coffee before grabbing her handbag. 'I'll tell you later. I'm off to Jenny's then to the vicar's cottage. I'll be back in about half an hour. Do you think you can get Gill to tell you what he needs to make the turkey Thai curry and anything else he fancies making, and write a list? We'll go to the shops as soon as I get back. Is that okay?'
'Yep.' Ella grabbed a pen and pad from a drawer as Mia dashed towards the hall.
'This is going to be such fun, Ella. I just know it is.'
Chapter Seven
Jenny stared out at the sheet of white outside the bakery and wondered, yet again why she hadn't been brave enough to stay in Florence. But she knew why. Silvio's family owned the pasticceria where she had worked for the last two years. She couldn't stay there once she discovered his betrayal. Neither could she remain in her apartment because that came with the job. When Justin had called and told her he was leaving Little Pondale and would have to close the bakery, it had felt as if it was meant to be. The timing couldn't have been better. And she had been the one to suggest that she come and take over while he was away.
'It's over with me and Silvio,' she'd tol
d him. 'I could do with a change of scene. Why don't I come and take over the bakery for you and, if it's okay with you, of course, live in the cottage? I know you don't want to close down the business, and if things don't go as you want them to, this way you can return whenever you like. I'll move on and find somewhere else.'
'I couldn't ask you to do that, Jen,' Justin had said, but he had sounded hopeful.
'You didn't. I asked you,' she replied, laughing. 'We'd be doing each other a favour. It would mean I could leave here as soon as I can sort things out and get a flight, and you can go right away, knowing that you don't have to think about closing things down and renting out your cottage or leaving it empty.'
He'd immediately agreed and Jenny had moved back to England, although it had taken a little longer than she'd hoped which meant the bakery, and the cottage, had both stood empty for a few weeks longer than she had planned. It hadn't taken her much time to get things back up and running though and customers soon came flooding back. Now, the queues for Jenny's fare were even longer than they had been for Justin's, or so she had been told by Hettie, and although she'd only lived in the village for less than seven weeks, Jenny was starting to feel that she could be okay here. Not happy, but okay. And that was far better than she thought she'd feel the day she found Silvio in bed with Bianca, the girl who was supposed to have been her best friend.
That was another mistake she wouldn't make again. Believing that someone could be a best friend and be trustworthy, honest, and supportive. She had believed Bianca had been all of those things … until she found out Bianca had also been sleeping with Silvio.
And Silvio's response when she had eventually plucked up the courage to face him and ask why he was cheating?
'Bella Jenny. I love you both. I love all women. Why can we not all be friends? You, me and Bianca, no?'
Christmas on Lily Pond Lane: A fabulously festive, heartwarming romance (a standalone in the Lily Pond Lane series) Page 4