‘Let’s get the laptop on and you can have a quick chat before we go.’
‘Okay, Daddy, but I’m not talking for long. I want Aunty Audrey to do my hair and I want to see all the lowly people.’
‘Lowly people?’
‘Yes… Scarlett said all the lowly people are coming for dinner.’
‘I think she meant lonely people, Tilly, and lowly means something completely different.’ He took a deep breath. ‘They are people who don’t have friends or family to spend Christmas Day with.’
‘Like we used to be before we moved to Rosewood?’
‘Yes.’
‘But we’re not lonely now, are we, Daddy?’
‘No, we’re not. Now go and get dressed!’
Tilly hurried upstairs and Ethan set the laptop up on the coffee table. He turned it towards the tree so Melanie would have a view of the Christmas he had put together for their daughter. In the past, he’d have experienced a pang of regret and sadness that Melanie wasn’t with them, and sometimes he had felt jealousy, especially when it was clear that she was spending the holidays with some businessman or colleague, but this year, all he felt was pity for Melanie. She was the one missing out on Tilly enjoying the festivities; she was the one missing out on the love and joy that Tilly brought with her, and Ethan knew all too well that these days with Tilly as a child would not last for ever. Each day with her had to be treasured and each memory stored because all too soon she’d be grown up and maybe even have children of her own.
He just hoped that he was doing a good enough job of making Tilly’s childhood special, because he couldn’t change the fact that Melanie wasn’t here, but he could try to ensure that Tilly didn’t feel her loss too deeply.
The familiar tinny tone rang out on the laptop and he accepted the video call.
‘Hello Melanie.’ He smiled at the image on the screen. ‘Merry Christmas.’
* * *
‘Hello, Fran!’ Audrey bustled over and hugged Fran then kissed her cheeks. ‘Merry Christmas, love! Let me take your coat.’
Fran handed it over then looked around the tea shop. The tables had been arranged to create a circle with an opening at the centre – presumably so it would be easier to serve everyone. Each place setting had a festive napkin, a Christmas cracker, a water glass and a wine glass and red-handled cutlery. Carols drifted down from the speakers and the mouth-watering aromas of turkey and vegetables filled the room.
‘Would you like a drink of something?’ Audrey asked.
‘It’s still a bit early for me so I’ll have something later.’
‘Well let me know when you want something because I have champagne, sherry, Buck’s Fizz and more. Although…’ Audrey’s eyes went to Fran’s middle. ‘You might prefer juice?’
‘Audrey… I’m not pregnant.’
Fran had checked with Holly and confirmed that it was okay to clarify that she wasn’t expecting now. Holly’s scan and the fact that she had told her family meant that Fran was free to share that it wasn’t her.
‘Oh…’ Audrey’s eyebrows rose. ‘Are you all right?’
It was clear that Audrey suspected that Fran had lost the baby.
‘It’s a long story, so I’ll explain another time, but it wasn’t actually me who was pregnant. There never was a baby.’
‘Okay, my love. I won’t pry but you know I’m here if you need me.’
‘I do, and thank you. I’m really looking forward to a lovely day.’
‘We all are.’ Audrey nodded. ‘Have you spoken to your parents this morning?’
‘Yes, and Nonna, and they’re all enjoying a lazy breakfast. They said to tell you Merry Christmas.’
‘Ah, thank you. Lovely to hear.’
Behind Audrey, Scarlett and Harper were counting out chocolates on the counter and Audrey nodded towards her daughters. ‘Stinking hangovers, the pair of them, but they’re here so I’m not complaining.’
‘Where do you want me?’ Fran asked.
‘The kitchen would be fabulous, thank you. Ethan could really do with the help in there while we see to things out front.’
‘No problem.’
Fran went through to the kitchen and smiled at the sight that greeted her. Tilly was sitting at the kitchen island peeling sprouts and Ethan was basting an enormous turkey that sat in a large baking tray on the cooker top.
‘Merry Christmas!’ Fran said as she set her gift bag down in the corner where no one would fall over it.
‘Fran!’ Ethan glanced at her before setting the tray back in the oven. ‘Merry Christmas to you too.’
‘Merry Christmas!’ Tilly jumped down and ran to Fran and wrapped her arms around Fran’s waist.
‘Hello, sweetheart. How has your morning been?’
‘Amazing!’ Tilly grinned. ‘I had lots of lovely gifts from Santa and from Daddy and from Aunty Audrey and Uncle Gary and from Scarlett and Harper and… and… it was all wonderful.’
‘I’m so glad.’ Fran smiled down at Tilly. ‘I have something for you too. Do you want it now or after dinner?’
Tilly looked over at her father then back at Fran. ‘After dinner would be nice, thank you, because I need to get those sprouts ready. I don’t like them one bit but Daddy said we have to do them because other people like them.’
‘Of course you do.’ Fran giggled. ‘Ethan, what can I do to help?’
He gestured at a pile of potatoes sitting on the worktop. ‘Fancy tackling them?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘Here’s an apron to protect your clothes.’ Tilly handed Fran a white apron and Fran put it on.
‘Let’s get peeling then, shall we?’ Fran perched on a stool and got to work, listening to Tilly as she listed all of her lovely gifts and to Ethan as he replied to Tilly’s many questions.
The kitchen was warm and cosy, it smelt wonderful and Fran could just do her job and relax. It was a lovely way to start Christmas.
* * *
When the potatoes had been peeled and parboiled then set in hot oil and put in the oven, Fran had started on the carrots and parsnips. She worked quickly and quietly, allowing Ethan to focus on the rest of the jobs he needed to complete. The morning rolled on with food preparations and after Tilly had finished peeling the mountain of sprouts, she started to get a bit fidgety, so Ethan told her to go and sit in the tea shop with Audrey. When Tilly had gone, Ethan was left alone with Fran.
‘How are you?’ he asked.
‘I’m okay.’ She smiled.
‘No… I mean… after the other day. How are you doing?’
‘I’m okay,’ she repeated. ‘Just getting on with things.’
‘Fran…’ He put down the green bag he’d been filling with sprout peelings. ‘I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry.’
‘What for? You haven’t done anything to apologise for.’
‘Well… I think I have.’ He gazed at her flushed cheeks, at her pretty indigo eyes behind her red-framed glasses and at her shiny hair. ‘See… what you did covering for Holly was a good thing. She’s your friend and you care about her and you protected her by doing it. I… I have issues because Tilly has to be my priority. Her mum has hurt her a lot with her absence and her almost apathetic attitude towards her and I just can’t bear to think of Tilly being hurt by another woman.’ He shook his head. ‘The thought of being in a relationship again scares me for me, but mainly for Tilly because she’s been hurt enough by Melanie’s behaviour. She deserves better. And you… you’re so nice and warm and so different from Melanie and Tilly thinks the world of you, but the whole pregnancy debacle confused and scared me and I needed time to think it over.’
‘I really am sorry.’
‘No, it’s okay. I understand why you did what you did. I wish I could be tougher about things and not care quite so much, and if it were just me, then things would be different. I feel any rejection deeply because it’s not just me being rejected but my daughter too.’
Fran put the peeler down. ‘Ethan… I
didn’t reject you.’
‘Not directly perhaps, but finding out that you’d deceived me was difficult because Melanie… my ex-wife… well, our whole marriage was a sham. It was never what she wanted and it ended up hurting me, hurting her, and if Tilly had been any older then it might well have been harder for her to accept and adapt. She was so young that it didn’t impact upon her as it could have done but even so… I never want her to go through that again or to see me hurt. You and me… well, we were becoming friends and yet there was something more there… for me at least.’
Fran nodded.
‘Did you feel it too?’
‘Of course I did. Ethan, you’re kind, funny, a loving father… you’re a great cook and you’re really good company. Plus… you’re absolutely gorgeous and yes, I had feelings for you. I mean… I have feelings for you. I can’t and won’t deny that. Like I told you before, though… I’m not good at this stuff. I’m romantically inexperienced.’
‘Me too.’ He smiled.
‘What a pair we are, eh? Plus… there are things that are different about us. Like… I love animals and you’re not a dog person.’
‘That’s something I could learn to overcome though, isn’t it? My fear of dogs. People overcome phobias like a fear of spiders and snakes and flying and they’re far worse than a cute little puppy.’
‘That is true.’
‘I’d like to become a dog person. Do you think you could help me?’
She smiled. ‘Definitely.’
‘That would make Tilly very happy too as she loves dogs.’
‘She can come and spend time with my lot whenever she likes.’
‘That would also make her happy as she loves you.’
Fran glowed with pleasure.
‘Perhaps we could… be inexperienced together?’ he asked, holding his breath.
‘What would that involve exactly?’ Fran asked.
‘Well… we could get to know each other better and…’ He sighed. ‘I would really like to be able to trust again, Fran. I’m sure I’m missing out by being so reserved, so… tightly coiled and so scared.’
‘You could be right.’
‘Okay you two…’ Audrey marched into the kitchen. ‘Let’s get this out of the way so you can focus on feeding the five thousand.’
‘The five thousand?’ Ethan’s eyes widened.
‘Yes. There are more people out there than we expected but we can hardly turn them away, can we? So peel every potato and use every stock cube. But first… have a snog under the mistletoe, won’t you?’
Audrey pointed at the mistletoe above the doorway that led to the office out back.
‘I won’t stay and watch but you’d better do it, then we can get this dinner ready. You’ve got five minutes so get snogging!’
Ethan watched his aunt leave the kitchen, then he turned his attention to Fran. She was blushing furiously and he felt heat creeping into his own cheeks.
‘We don’t have to…’ He shrugged.
‘Audrey is a scary woman when she gets her mind set on something and I’d hate to get on the wrong side of her.’ Fran chewed her lip, but something flashed in her eyes and Ethan made up his mind.
He strode over to her, grabbed her hand and whisked her over to the mistletoe, then he cupped her face gently in his hands. His heart was racing and he felt breathless, but he knew he had never wanted anything more.
‘Excuse the cooked-dinner aroma on my hands and clothes.’ He laughed.
‘It’s fine.’ Fran covered his hands with hers. ‘You smell just like Christmas.’
‘Is that a good thing?’ he asked as he moved his face closer to hers.
‘Oh yes.’ Fran pushed up onto her toes. ‘I happen to love Christmas.’
Then their lips met and their eyes closed and they kissed, and Ethan felt his fears drift away, and trust and love settle into their place.
* * *
‘If I could just have your attention for a moment, please.’
Audrey stood at the opening to the circle of tables, a glass of champagne in one hand and a golden paper crown on her head. The tea shop fell silent and everyone looked in her direction.
‘This is our first ever Christmas dinner at the tea shop, but it won’t be the last. Looking around this room at people I have known for years and at new faces, it is clear to me that this is something that we in Penhallow Sands need. I have always been lucky enough to enjoy Christmas with my family, starting with my own dear parents and grandparents then moving on to celebrate with my wonderful husband and children. This year, I was excited to know that my nephew, Ethan, and his beautiful little girl, Tilly, would be with us. Then… one evening over dinner, Ethan suggested that we open the doors of the tea shop and provide a free dinner to all who would like to come and have company. It was a truly wonderful idea.’ Audrey raised her glass. ‘So to everyone here today, we at Rosewood Tea Shop and farm would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas. We hope that you enjoy your dinner and the company and that you will feel welcome to come and join us next year.’
Every glass in the room was raised and ‘Merry Christmas’ echoed around the room along with the clinking of glasses.
Fran sniffed, overcome by the emotion of the moment, and next to her, Ethan took her hand under the table. She smiled at him, then a glow rushed through her as she recalled their kiss in the kitchen. It had been so sweet, so tender and the start of something wonderful. Audrey wasn’t the only one who was glad that Ethan and Tilly had come to the village; Fran was delighted. They still had things they needed to discuss and issues that wouldn’t go away overnight, but now they had admitted their feelings for each other and agreed that they had a foundation to build on. Love was a complicated emotion and everyone had a past. In this case, Ethan had a child too, so they would need to consider Tilly every step of the way. However, Fran was glad to do it because Tilly was a lovely child and she deserved to be happy and to see her father happy.
‘I’d like to say something too, if I may.’ Ethan released Fran’s hand then stood up. He cleared his throat. ‘I would like to thank my Aunty Audrey and Uncle Gary and my cousins Harper and Scarlett for welcoming me into their home and their world. Tilly and I spent a lot of time alone before we came here. There were some very lonely dark days in amongst the good ones, but being here, I feel that I’m no longer alone. Part of it has to do with my family and part of it is because of the wonderfully warm community of Penhallow Sands. I feel that I’m a part of something here and not just on the periphery, which is something I felt in my former life. Tilly and I intend to stay here and we’re both very happy about it.’ He smiled at his daughter and she grinned back. ‘Our hearts belong here now and we are excited about what the new year will bring.’
As he sat down, he leant closer to Fran and whispered, ‘Thank you, Fran, for wanting us.’
‘Ethan… it’s me who should be thanking you.’
‘I guess we can settle on thanking each other?’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘Perhaps… we can show each other at some point too.’
Fran smiled and blushed, then she nodded. ‘Absolutely. I’m looking forward to it.’
She reached for his hand under the table and gave it a squeeze.
‘Just give her a snog, Daddy.’
‘What?’ Ethan’s eyebrows shot up his forehead.
‘I said snog her. I’ll get you some mistletoe if you’re too shy to just do it.’
Ethan started to laugh. ‘Tilly… Fran is my friend.’
‘I know, Daddy. Fran’s your very special friend. I’m six not four, you know.’ Tilly rolled her eyes and Fran started to giggle.
‘Okay, I guess that told me.’ Ethan nudged Fran and he gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
‘How’s that, Tilly?’
‘It’ll do for now, I guess, Daddy, but it’s not how they do it in the movies so next time try harder.’
‘Yes, Tilly.’ He whispered into Fran’s ear, ‘Let’s eat so we have an excuse not to snog in front
of my bossy daughter! Next thing we know she’ll be rating us out of ten.’
Fran snorted then gazed down at the plate in front of her. It was piled high with buttered turkey, bright green sprouts fried with bacon, carrots and parsnips cooked in herbs and white wine, fluffy, brown roast potatoes, purple cabbage, herby apple stuffing, dark red port and cranberry sauce and lashings of Ethan’s special thick gravy. It looked incredible and as she started to eat, she found that it tasted even better.
‘Ethan,’ she said in between mouthfuls.
‘Yes?’
‘You’re a keeper.’
‘Am I?’
‘For many reasons, but especially for your culinary skills.’
‘Why thank you. So my Christmas dinner has won your heart.’
‘Oh, you already had my heart but now you have my stomach too.’
‘Score!’ He high fived the air.
* * *
‘Thank you, Fran,’ Tilly said as she laid the stationery out on the kitchen island. ‘It’s all so beautiful.’
‘My pleasure, Tilly. I know that you like drawing and thought that I could help you some time.’
‘I would love that!’ Tilly grinned. She was rosy-cheeked after eating their Christmas dinner and she had a splodge of gravy on her top; she was the cutest thing Fran had ever seen.
‘I’ve another gift for you too.’ Fran reached for the square package she’d tucked in the bag.
‘Really?’ Tilly looked at Ethan. ‘Daddy, I’m so lucky.’
‘Yes you are.’ He smiled. ‘Fran, you shouldn’t have.’
‘Well… your daddy said that you’d always wanted a dog and although I couldn’t just give you a real dog, I thought that dog-print stationery and then this gift might help.’
Tilly accepted the parcel and gently removed the tissue paper.
‘Oh…’ Her eyes widened. ‘It’s amazing, Fran. Did you do this?’
‘Yes.’
‘Look, Daddy.’
The Christmas Tea Shop at Rosewood Page 22