She carried the box to the tea shop, peering around it because it was obstructing her forward vision, and pushed open the door. The warmth from inside met her along with the scents of coffee and cake and her mouth watered instantly. The tea shop always smelt so good and homely and she loved the delicious aromas of baking and beverages.
‘What on earth are you doing?’
The voice, filled with concern, came from behind the box in her arms and she looked up to find Ethan staring down at her.
‘You could hurt yourself, Fran.’ He shook his head. ‘Let me take that.’
He lifted the box from her arms and she could see again.
‘Thanks, Ethan.’ She pulled her bobble hat off, suddenly warm. ‘I could have managed, though.’
‘Not in your condition.’ He carried the box over to the counter and Fran followed him.
She frowned at him. ‘My condition?’
‘Yes.’ He nodded and she realised what he meant. ‘You’re not supposed to carry heavy things or to stretch too far or do anything strenuous. It could hurt you or the baby.’
‘Of course,’ she forced out through gritted teeth. Damn this fictional pregnancy and the issues it was creating – especially when she forgot about it and had to be reminded. Although, it had sent Ethan to help her, so it wasn’t all bad.
‘Are there more in your car?’
‘Yes, two more.’
‘Give me your keys and I’ll get them for you.’ He held out his hand.
‘It’s the blue Escort.’
‘Okay.’ He flashed her a smile then left the tea shop.
‘Hello, Fran.’ Audrey appeared from the kitchen. ‘This the Christmas order?’
‘Yes, and Ethan’s getting the rest of the boxes from my car.’
‘He’s such a gentleman, isn’t he?’ Audrey beamed.
‘He certainly is. I did tell him I could have managed to bring them in but he insisted.’
‘He’s very thoughtful. While you’re here would you like a drink?’
‘I’d love a hot chocolate, please.’
‘Cream and marshmallows?’
‘You know me too well.’ Fran giggled.
As Audrey went about making the drink, Fran gazed around her at the Monday morning customers enjoying their warm drinks and respite from the cold outside. Even thought it was only just after nine, the tea shop was busy with groups of young mums nursing babies and wrestling toddlers, and a few elderly couples enjoying breakfast tea cakes and scones. The gentle hum of conversation and the tinkling of cutlery was punctuated by the odd squeal from an irritable infant, reminding Fran – as if she could have forgotten – that she was supposed to be expecting her own baby and making her shiver.
Just as Audrey placed a glass mug of hot chocolate on the counter, Ethan reappeared with both of the other boxes. He carried them effortlessly, his strong arms wrapped around the boxes that Fran had struggled to carry out to the car individually. Fran was fit and healthy and thought of herself as relatively strong, but she was petite and her arms hadn’t quite fit around the boxes, so seeing how easy Ethan held them made her aware of how muscular he was. How broad his shoulders were. How feminine she felt next to him. She had to tear her eyes away from his frame and fix them on her hot chocolate.
‘There you go.’ Ethan paused in front of the counter. ‘Where do you want them, Audrey?’
‘In the back room will be best, thanks, love.’
‘No problem.’
He carried them through to the kitchen and Audrey winked at Fran. ‘Although Ethan spends most of his time in the kitchen, I swear he’s increased custom this past two weeks as word has spread that the new chef is quite a dish. Pardon my pun.’
Fran smiled but her stomach plummeted. Of course Ethan would attract attention; he was a very handsome man and also friendly and chivalrous with it. Why wouldn’t other women want to meet him and eat the delicious food he made? Why wouldn’t they come here, hoping to find out more about the gorgeous single dad? There weren’t many single men in Penhallow Sands, so any time a new one arrived, he was bound to create a stir.
‘We’re going to put the festive decorations up on Friday, Fran, as we usually do on the last Friday of November. But you’d know that, of course. Will you be joining us this year?’ Audrey asked.
‘Yes, I’ll be here.’ Fran nodded. ‘I adore your traditions. It wouldn’t be Christmas without them and I look forward to the decorating in particular.’
‘There will be mulled wine and mince pies and gingerbread. I’m so excited this year because we’ll have Ethan and Tilly here too. It’s lovely to have children around for Christmas. It just makes it extra special, doesn’t it?’
‘I expect it does.’ Fran smiled.
She enjoyed the build up to Christmas even though she didn’t have any children and she always had done. She liked making festive mugs and goblets, listening to carols on the radio and eating mince pies. It probably was nice to have family around, but since her parents had gone out to Italy, she’d got used to spending Christmas Day either with Holly and her family at Greenacres or at home with the animals. She didn’t mind her own company at all, and she never felt particularly lonely, but she could understand how some people might do, especially if they were used to having others around.
‘How’re you feeling anyway, love? You know… what with…’ Audrey raised her eyebrows and lowered her gaze to Fran’s middle.
Fran tucked two fingers between her neck and her scarf and pulled it away from her skin. Had the wool always been that scratchy? Had it always made her so uncomfortably warm?
‘I’m okay, thank you. Just getting on with it. You know how preg… it goes.’
Heat rushed into her cheeks. This was getting worse by the day. She hated deceiving anyone and wondered if the lovely Audrey would understand when the truth was finally revealed. The thought made her feel weary and she had a sudden urge to go home to bed and hide under the duvet until January.
‘Glad to hear it. This time next year, you’ll have a little one to enjoy Christmas with! All being well, of course.’ Audrey hugged herself and rocked from side to side. ‘How exciting! What do your parents think?’
Fran’s jaw dropped. Her parents! Of course, they would need to know just in case they spoke to someone from the village and the news was delivered to them first.
‘They don’t know yet, Audrey. It’s very early days and I didn’t want to raise their hopes in case it doesn’t… uh… work out. I had hoped to keep it completely private, so I’d really appreciate your discretion in this, if you don’t mind.’
‘Very wise, love, and I understand completely. My lips are sealed.’ Audrey reached out and covered Fran’s hand. ‘Now you take a seat and enjoy that drink. Plenty of rest is what you need. Put your feet up whenever possible and be kind to yourself because before you know it, you’ll have another person to care for and little babies can be very demanding indeed.’
Fran forced a smile to her lips. ‘I’ll do my best.’
She’d drink her hot chocolate and leave as quickly as possible because she didn’t want to get any deeper into this lie than she already was. It was like sinking in quicksand; every time she moved a fraction, she got dragged deeper down and before long she worried that it would swallow her up completely and the Fran she knew would be gone for ever. It made her want to bite her fist and screw up her eyes and hope it would all go away.
* * *
Ethan had put the boxes from Fran into the back room, then realised he still had her car keys. She’d been about to leave when he returned them to her and he’d been concerned at how pale she’d looked. After drinking one of Audrey’s rich hot chocolates, Fran should’ve had rosy cheeks and a chocolate high, but instead she looked tired and strained. He hoped she was looking after herself or that someone else was looking after her. It was more important that she had people around who cared during her pregnancy than at any other time in her life.
He opened the oven door and sli
d the tray of cheese and asparagus tartlets inside then set the timer. As he straightened up, Audrey appeared from the back room with red cheeks and wide eyes.
‘Are you all right?’ he asked.
She nodded then worried at her bottom lip as if she were trying not to laugh. ‘I think so, but uh… I think Fran has given us the wrong order.’
‘How come?’
‘Well, we have two boxes of festive mugs, which is exactly what I ordered, but the third box contains some… uh… rather… un-festive novelty… uh… things.’
‘Yeah? Like what?’ He couldn’t imagine what Fran could have made that would get Audrey into such a state.
‘Come and have a look!’ Audrey gestured for him to follow her and as she walked away, he heard her chucking.
On her desk, in the back room that doubled as an office, stood an array of mini figures. From a distance they looked like festive elves, but as Ethan stepped closer and peered at them, laughter burst from him.
‘What on earth?’
‘Exactly.’ Audrey giggled loudly now and a tear escaped her eye and ran down her cheek.
Ethan reached for one of the small figures and held it up. It appeared to be a naked and rather well-endowed man.
‘Bloody hell!’ He turned the figure around to show his aunt, feeling quite embarrassed about looking at it in her company.
‘I know, right?’ She grinned. ‘And look at this one.’
She held up a goblet that had a colourful painting on the side. As Ethan looked closer, he could see that it was of a naked couple entwined in what he assumed was a position that probably featured in the Kama Sutra.
His cheeks flooded with heat that seeped into his ears and down his neck. Not only had Fran created these things, but he was now going through them with his aunt. It was as embarrassing as watching a film with his parents when a sex scene had come on and they’d been forced to sit there together, trying not to make eye contact, longing for it to be over.
‘I can’t wait to show these to Gary.’ Audrey seemed to have recovered from her initial shock and was now finding it all highly amusing.
‘Really?’ Ethan frowned.
‘He’ll think they’re fabulous. Might even give him a few ideas.’
‘Please don’t say any more.’ Ethan turned his head, trying not to laugh at how mischievous his aunt was being.
‘Actually, love, might be best if we get these back to Fran as quickly as possible. I know she said she has a busy week delivering stock before December starts, so she might be worried when she realises she’s missing these. They have to be for a hen party or something, don’t they? Or for one of those fancy shops that sells all manner of figurines and trinkets.’
‘That would make sense.’ Ethan turned the goblet around in his hands. ‘It could be a fertility goblet or something.’
‘Yes, love. Most likely. Although I’m not sure what the chances of conceiving are in that position.’ She snorted and Ethan did too then they both surrendered to their mirth and laughed until they were drained.
Audrey started to put the figures back in the box on the chair and Ethan helped her.
‘I could take it to Fran, if you like.’
‘Would you mind?’ Audrey squeezed his arm.
‘Of course not, and I’ll be back for the lunchtime crowd, but you’ll need to keep an ear open for the oven timer. Those tartlets won’t be long.’
‘No problem. Now let me write Fran’s address down for you so you know where to go.’
While she grabbed a pen and paper and wrote down Fran’s details, Ethan gazed at her flushed cheeks and shiny eyes. He’d forgotten how amazing it felt to have a good laugh with someone, the kind that made you hot and sweaty but that left you with an endorphin high. He could tell that he was going to enjoy being around Audrey; she was good fun and had a great sense of humour and it added to his growing belief that that he’d made the right decision in their move to Cornwall.
* * *
Fran tilted her head. Was that a car pulling up outside her cottage?
The sudden scurry of dog paws from the lounge and into the hallway suggested that it was. The dogs loved a visitor, even if it was just the postman.
She closed her emails and got up from the kitchen chair and made her way out to the hallway. The dogs were already clamouring at the door, keen to find out who their visitor was, all except for the new arrival, that was. The small white dog hung back in the lounge doorway looking anxious. Being deaf, he wouldn’t hear the excitement of his companions, so he’d have to read their body language, and he didn’t seem to be very accomplished at that. Fran gave him a gentle ear rub as she passed, hoping to reassure him, then she pushed through the dogs in front of the door and gave them the order to sit and stay.
Fran opened the door and flashed the dogs a warning glance.
‘Oh! Hello, Ethan.’ She heard the shock in her voice.
‘Hi, Fran.’
‘This is a pleasant surprise.’
‘Thank you. Sorry to come unannounced, but I wanted to get here as soon as possible. I think… well, I know, actually, that you gave us one wrong box.’
‘I did?’ Fran frowned.
‘I’ll just get it from the car.’
‘What was in it?’ Fran asked, trying to think what she might have given them.
‘Uh…’ Ethan cleared his throat as he walked away. Fran watched while he opened the boot and lifted a box out then brought it back to her. ‘Some rather interesting items.’
Fran lifted the lid and peered inside.
‘Ooooh. Oh dear…’ She bit her lip. ‘That wasn’t meant for Rosewood.’
‘Audrey was very surprised.’
‘I hope she wasn’t offended.’
‘Not at all. She thoroughly enjoyed having a look at the contents.’ Ethan was smiling and there was a glint of mischief in his eyes.
‘They’re for an online shop,’ she explained. ‘It stocks things for hen and stag nights and I meant to take that box to the post office. The other one for Rosewood must still be in my workshop.’
‘Shall I take this through for you?’
‘That would be lovely, thanks.’
Fran stood back and Ethan stepped into her hallway. Then he froze.
‘Ethan? What is it?’
‘D-dogs.’ He stepped backwards.
‘Yes, they’re fine. All very friendly and tame.’ She laughed.
He shook his head. ‘Uh… no…’
He stepped back out of the door and onto the path.
‘Ethan, it’s fine, I promise. They’re all quite sweet and the worst they’ll do is lick you into submission.’
Ethan stared at her in horror over the top of the box.
‘What is it?’ Fran was confused by his reaction and now very worried.
‘I’m just not a… a dog person, Fran.’
‘Really?’ Fran stared at him as if he’d grown another head.
‘Really. They just…’
‘They just what?’
‘They’re so unpredictable.’
Fran shook her head. ‘I’ll have you know that my dogs are friendly, welcoming and loyal companions.’
Just then, a low growl came from the hallway.
Fran turned in shock to see which of her dogs could be growling. But it wasn’t one of hers. It was the small white newcomer.
The Westie was in the middle of the hallway now, his body taught with energy, his tiny mouth open exposing his yellow teeth as he growled long and low.
‘They’re obviously not as welcoming as you think they are.’ Ethan leant forwards and placed the box on Fran’s step, moving slowly as if he thought that any fast movements might provoke an attack. ‘I would have taken this in for you, but I’d rather not have to try to pass the hound from hell.’
‘Hound from hell?’ Fran placed her hands on her hips. ‘That tiny little thing is not only deaf but he was abandoned by his owner and left to starve. The poor little mite has been terrified and traumati
sed and… and…’ Fran blinked hard. Her throat had closed over and she was surprised to find that her eyes had filled with tears as she tried to explain the dog’s tragic history. ‘He’s just a poor little dog. All he wants is love and security, to know that human beings are not all bad and that many of us can provide love, security and a safe home.’
Ethan moved his gaze from the dog to Fran and something shifted in his eyes. ‘I didn’t know. I’m sorry. But regardless of that… he doesn’t seem to like me very much.’
With that, the dog rushed to the doorstep and gave a loud bark. Ethan jumped, turned and raced down the path and through the gate. Only when he’d closed it behind him did he stop.
The dog hadn’t even left the doorway and now it settled down to a sitting position and looked up at Fran. She shook her head in dismay.
‘Ethan… He was just copying the others. When you arrived he didn’t know how to behave but he watched my dogs and tried to copy what they did. He doesn’t realise how loud his bark is.’
‘He has a pretty sinister growl too.’ Ethan’s tone was filled with doubt.
‘He can’t hear himself. That’s the first noise he’s made since I brought him here.’
‘Fran?’
‘Yes?’
‘Sorry but I really can’t stay.’ He ran a shaky hand over his eyes. ‘So… uh… Do you have the other box of festive mugs for Audrey?’
‘Yes… of course. I’ll just go and grab it.’ Fran ushered the dogs inside and closed the door to stop them running out as soon as she turned her back, then she went through the cottage to her studio and got the correct box for Rosewood. She locked the dogs in the kitchen before returning to the hallway and opening the front door.
‘Here you are.’ She handed the box to Ethan over the gate. ‘I’m sorry that the dogs startled you.’
He shrugged. ‘It’s okay. You weren’t to know.’
‘No, I wasn’t, but the last thing I want is for you to feel that uncomfortable at my home. Please… uh… apologise to Audrey for me, will you?’
‘Of course, but I’m sure there’s no need to apologise. You made Audrey laugh. A lot.’ He gave her a tight smile but it didn’t reach his eyes.
The Christmas Tea Shop at Rosewood Page 9