The Cosy Christmas Teashop

by Caroline Roberts

  They ate, balancing plates on their knees, in Lucy’s room which was the largest, borrowing stools and chairs from the other guest rooms, with Lucy perched on the four-poster bed. Even Joe joined them for his supper, a token ‘hen’, after all his help in getting them safely there. Henry had had the offer to join them too, but politely declined saying he’d take a slice of quiche and some salad up to his rooms, he’d let them have their fun, and wished them all a good evening.

  Fully aware of their very busy day ahead, Joe and Ellie slipped away by eight thirty. Ellie doing a half-hour more preparation in the teashop kitchens, to get a step ahead for the morning, but then joining Joe back in their apartment. It had been a long day and she was tired. A good night’s sleep was probably the best idea at that point.

  Snuggled up with Joe in their bed, she felt so very grateful to have him in her arms. Lying together, skin against skin. The hush of a cold winter’s night around them.

  She nestled up against the security of his broad back, reaching up to touch the square line of his shoulder, the curve of his neck, tracing fingertips down the start of his spine. She then placed a kiss on each shoulder blade. So glad that he was near.

  He turned to face her, side by side. It was dark. She could just make out the line of his cheek, his messy hair, but no more. There were no streetlights around the castle, just an old Victorian-style lantern within the courtyard, and the snow still falling had snuffled out the moon. She felt his breath on her cheek. Then his need for her, hard and firm against her hip. She smiled. You could never keep a good man down! And my, did she love this man.

  Earlier, when he’d been so late out in that snow, just the thought of losing him … Sometimes it really happened, just think how close Daniel had come. Life took some curve balls and whoomph, that was it. She shivered.

  Neither needed to speak. She felt his lips press against hers, so beautiful and loving, with a promise of now and all his tomorrows. She lifted her hand to ruffle his hair, then pressed firmly against his scalp holding his head to hers, the kiss now intense, passionate.

  He was here. That was all she needed. And they danced their dance of love, as he cupped her breasts, traced her body with this hands, and took her to him, loving her back with every fibre in his body.

  Afterwards, gently stroking his hair, tracing his cheekbone, then his lips with her fingertip, getting sleepy now. ‘My love,’ was all she said. And he held her close, as she fell asleep in his arms.

  34

  The alarm buzzed to life. Six-thirty a.m., and Ellie woke to the thought that she had sixty-plus people to cater for. Then, with the memory of the snows of yesterday, came the added realisation that they also had a disabled groom in a wheelchair to get to the wedding in the first place, plus the vicar, and a convoy of guests.

  She gathered her fleece dressing gown around her, found her slippers and made her way to the window. It was still dark out there, hard to tell, but it looked like the snow had finally stopped. She wrapped up in warm layers, and headed down to the teashop. Thank goodness, her delivery of food supplies had come yesterday morning before all this had started. Her first job of the day was to make the slow-cooked casserole of beef and Northumbrian ale ready for the main course mid-afternoon; over several hours it would become melt-in-the-mouth tender and tasty.

  Once that was done, and the three huge pots were in the ovens, she noticed it was getting lighter. She headed up the stairwell to take a look out across the front of the castle. The snow had stopped to break on a beautiful blue day. The sunlight glistening off of white layers that covered everything. It looked pretty and magical, but also deep. She couldn’t make out the driveway at all. The tyre-track ridges from the Jeep and Land Rover last night were totally gone.

  Joe would surely be up by now, getting things organized in the Great Hall probably. She phoned his mobile. She was sure he’d have seen how deep it was on the drive, but she ought to alert him just in case.

  ‘Joe.’

  ‘Hi, yeah.’

  ‘Joe, the snow’s pretty thick out there. Have you seen?’

  ‘I know, there’s no way me, Malcolm and Colin can dig that driveway out … But don’t worry. I’m on to it.’

  There would be no wedding without a groom and a vicar, at the very least. And it would be a poor show without the wonderful friends and family that Lucy and Daniel wanted to be there to celebrate with them. So, Joe and Colin set off on Mission Road Clearance. Joe’s first port of call was to the estate farmyard. They would definitely be needing something bigger than a shovel.

  Lucy and her bridesmaids were due down at the teashop for a bridal breakfast at 8.30 a.m. Irene and Doris arrived at the castle, looking rather dishevelled, at twenty-five past eight, nearly an hour later than planned. Luckily, they didn’t live too far away. Clifford had got them so far in his trusty X-Trail apparently, and they’d trekked the last mile in their wellies, bless them. So, Ellie had her Team Teashop helpers at hand. She had set out a large table by the fire, with a posy vase of white carnations and greenery, and all the cutlery and crockery was set out ready. Ellie was warming croissants and pastries to go with a selection of local jams and honey, then, she was going to make the girls smoked salmon and scrambled eggs served on toasted bagels. Something to keep them all going through the morning, but not too heavy either – they all had their dresses to fit into.

  Lucy popped her head around the kitchen door. ‘Morning.’

  ‘Hi Lucy, did you sleep well?’

  ‘Not too bad. Was excited and a bit anxious all at once … Not anxious about getting married, of course. Just about Dan and the other guests all getting here safely. Every now and again, I’d get up and check out of the window. It didn’t stop snowing until about 3 a.m. in the end.’

  ‘We’ll get him here, Luce, and all your guests … Somehow, we will. Joe’s on the case with a masterplan right now. So you just try and relax. Go join your bridesmaids and we’ll get you your breakfast. I’ll organize some tea and coffee for you all, right now.’

  Irene was soon going through to the teashop with pots of breakfast tea and fresh coffee. Then Ellie followed with orange juice and chilled champagne. Well, Nanna, we’re on the Fuck’s Bizz, she said to herself. Nanna had mixed up the words many moons ago, at a family party. Ellie and her brother Jason had creased with laughter, getting a stern talking-to from their father. Ellie smiled; though she was sad she was no longer here, the Fuck’s Bizz misnomer remained, along with many happy memories of her beloved Nanna.

  ‘Champagne anyone? Buck’s Fizz?’

  ‘Oh yes, how lovely.’

  ‘The perfect start to the perfect day, I think.’ She started pouring the juice and champagne into flutes. ‘And would you all like smoked salmon and scrambled eggs?’

  There was a general consensus of yeses.

  ‘Coming right up, then.’ Ellie left them saying cheers, clinking glasses, and tucking in to the croissants.

  ‘We’ve managed to clear the driveway, finally.’ Joe appeared in the kitchens a while later, with a dusting of snow sprinkling off his heavy-duty coat. It was nearly ten thirty. ‘We rigged up the quad with a bucket scoop. It’s taken a while.’

  ‘Well done, that’s good.’

  There was no answer. He didn’t look too happy.

  ‘Isn’t it?’ Ellie continued, hopefully.

  ‘But then … when we got to the lane, nothing has been gritted or snow-ploughed. There’s five miles from here to the main road in the village. It would take us a week, not a few hours to clear that.’ He looked dejected.

  Oh God, and Ellie had put such faith in him, but he was only human after all.

  ‘It’s too deep for the 4x4s now. Even the Jeep would be no good.’

  ‘Ah, I see, and I wouldn’t want you risking anything. Not to the point where it’s dangerous … Oh shit, how’re we going to tell Lucy? She’s upstairs, all happy, getting ready with her bridesmaids.’

  ‘I know. I’m not giving up just yet. There must be a
nother way … Don’t tell Lucy anything, not yet, no point worrying her. Look, we’ve got a couple of hours on our side, at least.’ The service was booked for 1 p.m.

  Ellie crossed her fingers behind her back, and gave him a kiss for good luck, as he set off out again.

  All she could do was try and keep her mind on the job of preparing the best food possible, hoping that the guests could actually make it there to eat it.

  Soon after, Joe took a call from a concerned Daniel. He had travelled up from Newcastle with his best man, and had got as far as the petrol station just off the A1. He and several other guests had parked up there for now, as the roads seemed pretty impassable thereafter. They were just eight miles from the castle. There just had to be a way.

  ‘Right, thanks for letting me know. I’m trying my best. Leave it with me, Daniel. I’ll keep you posted. Keep your mobile handy.’

  ‘Will do. We’ll just pop in and get ourselves a takeaway coffee. Looks like they’ve got a machine in there.… Rob, get my wheels out of the back, mate.’

  They were obviously getting his wheelchair out of the boot.

  ‘Right, thanks, Joe. We’ll sit tight till we hear something.’

  ‘Yep. I’ll be in touch soon.’ Joe was determined to do everything he could to help this guy.

  All they needed was a miracle to clear eight miles of lanes.

  A miracle, or as it turned out, a friendly farmer, a tractor and a snowplough attachment. And who was ready to step up to the mark? Jack, the farmer from last night.

  He trundled down the driveway in his massive green John Deere, stopping as Joe and Colin were coming back out on the quad to do another recce.

  ‘Heard about the roads still being so bad. Can’t trust the council to get it done. To be fair, they’ve got to concentrate on keeping the main roads going. So, here I am, couldn’t let those lassies down now, could I?’ He was beaming from his tractor cabin. ‘My wife’s a bit of an old romantic too, said I had to do my bit. Not that I needed much persuading mind, a bonny lot of lasses they were too … If I’d been a bit younger …’ He winked.

  ‘Well, I’m bloody glad to see you.’ Joe grinned.

  ‘So, where do you need me to go first?’

  ‘The groom and most of the guests are coming up from the A1. The vicar too. So, if you can clear through to that junction that would be brilliant. We’ll sort you out with a few pints put by at the Swan for another time, by way of thanks.’

  ‘Sounds a good deal to me. Right, I’m away then. Let’s get Bertha into action.’

  ‘Bertha?’ Colin and Joe looked at each other.

  ‘Big Bertha, my beloved … tractor.’ He patted her green metal flank fondly out of the tractor window.

  ‘Thanks, Jack. I really appreciate this. Can you give us a call when you manage to get through, that’d be great?’

  ‘Of course. Got your number still from last night. And you’re welcome. It’s about time we had a bit of drama round here. Liven things up a bit.’ And so Jack and Bertha set off, back to the country lanes, en route for the A1. Mission Road Clearance was back on track.

  Joe gave Ellie the good news, phoning her from his mobile.

  ‘Ellie, we’ve got a solution. But there’s still eight miles of roads to get cleared, so we’re not out of the woods quite yet. Just keep Lucy and the bridesmaids occupied.’

  ‘That’s no problem, there’s plenty going on with hairdos, nail glossing and make-up sessions up there at the moment. I’ve just looked in on them.’

  ‘Great.’

  ‘Oh, and I’ve just had the lady vicar on the phone too. Wondering what it’s like up here.’

  ‘Right, well can you phone her back and let her know we’re getting the roads clear from the A1 side, so tell her to leave it for an hour or so, then she can try and head that way. If there’s any problem, I’m sure Colin will go and fetch her in the Jeep, so offer that option too.’

  ‘Will do. Thank you, Joe.’

  ‘Not me to thank. It’s all down to Jack and Bertha.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I’ll explain later. Gotta go, loads to do yet. Need to get back to the Great Hall and help Derek and Malcolm finish setting up now.’

  Ellie then took a call from Wendy who was having trouble getting through from Kirkton, and had had to turn back. All the bouquets, buttonholes and table decorations were in the back of her little van, but they weren’t getting through as yet. Ellie told her to stay put safely at home for now. She’d mention it to Joe, yet another challenge.

  Ellie remembered all the mistletoe, ivy, holly and sprigs of pine that were in a pile in the gardening shed, where Wendy and Colin had placed them, after scouring the grounds and cutting what they needed, ready to entwine with the shop flowers she was going to bring in that morning. They were to dress the balustrades in the courtyard, and the window sills of the Great Hall.

  It felt like they were organising an army! Amazing what havoc one heavy fall of snow could do, and also what one lovely community could do to pull together to counter that. She wondered if Bertha was Jack’s wife; she’d never met her before.

  35

  Jack and Bertha had performed miracles. All the guests were now assembled in the Great Hall having a welcome cocktail of sloe gin and bubbly; a warming fizz. Last to come was Daniel, who was still making his way here. His best man had just arrived separately with his wheelchair. It was now already 1 p.m., but the vicar was happy to wait a few more minutes to start the service.

  There’d been a convoy of 4x4s from the petrol station just off the A1, to ferry them through. Word had soon spread that there was a wedding party in need of help, and the locals soon stepped up to the mark. Turned out that the chap who owned the garage was a biker himself and had met Dan at a rally at Duncombe Park in Yorkshire two years before. He’d heard of his road accident, and realising who they were helping, quickly spread the word.

  Wendy dashed in to the hall discreetly with Lauren, who helped her set out the table decorations and light all the storm candles at their centrepiece. They looked beautiful, giving a soft glow around the room. As they realized Wendy was going to be late in, Irene and Lauren had earlier done a fabulous job of twining the holly, ivy, pine and mistletoe on the window ledges and along the balustrades outside. Lauren was a keen art student as well as waitressing part-time at the teashop, doing her A levels at the nearby Sixth Form College, and had enjoyed the chance to get creative. Wendy had tidied the displays up just a touch, and applied some twists of floristry wire to keep them steady, threading through some ivory roses and the soft blue Scottish thistles for some extra colour, and to echo the bouquets, but she was very impressed.

  ‘Might have to take you on when I need an extra pair of hands in the shop, Lauren. If you’re ever looking for any weekend work, give me a shout. You’ve done a brilliant job. Thank you. We’ve just made it in time, by the looks of it.’

  There seemed to be a small ripple of excitement through a group of male guests just then, some whispering and a nod or two, a few of them making their way outside. Wendy spotted Joe heading out too, and decided to go take a look. They made their way out across the courtyard, through the stone arch and heavy wooden door, to the main entrance steps.

  Coming down the driveway was a huge green tractor, that had a thick white ribbon tied on the front in a V shape up to each the side window. It gave a boom of a toot, and the driver and his passenger started waving. Wendy recognized one of the local farmers, Jack Butler. Perched on a ledge seat next to him was what must have been the groom, smart in a dark grey suit and pale blue satin tie. He was beaming from ear to ear. His best man, Rob, had lined up his wheelchair at the base of the steps ready, where Joe and Derek had placed a portable ramp up to the main doors.

  The small group gathered on the steps, which was made up of the ushers, best man and a couple of close friends, cheered as Jack parked up, Bertha having her finest moment yet. The farmer walked around to help Daniel down with a ‘Sorry, mate’ as he more
or less hoisted him in a fireman’s lift into his wheelchair.

  Dan was still smiling however, as he sat down. Jack passed his crutches from the cab across to Rob. Jack and Daniel then gave each other a firm handshake.

  ‘Cheers, mate.’ Dan had the glisten of a tear in his eye. ‘We couldn’t have done this without you.’

  ‘And I couldn’t have done this without her.’ Again, he patted the flank of his beloved tractor.

  ‘I’d wanted to arrive in style,’ grinned Dan. ‘I have to admit I was thinking more in terms of a Harley Davidson back in the summer, but hey, things change and that arrival certainly made an impact … Will you come back this evening for the reception, yeah?’ he asked Jack. ‘There’s loads of food and drink organized, so I hear. I’d really like that. Bring your wife, your family. Honestly, you deserve a pint or two at least for all this.’

  ‘Well, I might just take you up on that.’

  ‘Mention it to the others too, all the 4x4 drivers, and the minibus man who got all the guests here. They’ll all be welcome for a thank you drink and a bit of supper.’

  ‘Right-o. Will do.’

  As the tractor revved up again to head off, another cheer went up.

  Then Dan put a finger across his lips. ‘Right lads, no one mentions I’m here yet, okay.’ He scanned the small audience, who nodded. He caught Wendy’s eye too.

  Joe was next to him, offering to help push the chair up the ramp. ‘Come on then, we have a wedding to get to,’ Joe grinned.