A Country Village Christmas

by Suzanne Snow

On Monday Olivia went into the office in Manchester to distribute her Christmas gifts amongst her colleagues. Most of her presents had been delivered to the house and after sharing another cocktail with Tom last night, she’d spent the evening wrapping everything. Between her online purchases and her finds at the Christmas market on Saturday, she was pretty much there with her family shopping.

  She had a lovely catch-up with friends in the office, swapping gifts and plans for the holidays. She also met with her business partner Julian to prepare for her annual leave, and there were a couple of viewings she passed on to colleagues. There was one client who couldn’t wait and when she checked their availability, she ended up having to schedule an online meeting with them just before Christmas Day.

  Her client in the States had decided to press on with the purchase of the farmhouse she’d found them, and she was glad. She didn’t fancy another difficult search with Ellie’s visit and then Christmas so close. Afterwards Olivia wandered around the city, thoughts of a gift for Tom filling her head as she browsed. She had something in mind and she bought it, hoping he would like her choice even as she wondered if she would be brave enough to give it to him.

  Back in Thorndale she cooked supper for them and afterwards Tom disappeared into the library to continue writing. From the energy and exuberance he was giving off, she sensed his work was going well and she took a hot drink into him before heading up for bed. He thanked her distractedly, and she banked up the fire and left it burning, the irony of her taking care of him again not lost on her after all her years of independence.

  On Tuesday Olivia sent the tweet she had already prepared:

  For our second #BradshawsBooksAtChristmas Hugh Bradshaw has personally chosen #TheHauntedManAndTheGhostsBargain by Charles Dickens. So great to see you joining with us – do get in touch to share what you like about it or if you’re discovering it for the first time

  A start on clearing more of the house was a priority after that and she left her phone in her room, not wanting to be distracted by either Twitter or her clients. She headed back into the spare bedroom that had always been Ellie’s.

  Quite a bit of the furniture was included in the house sale as there was much her dad couldn’t keep and Olivia was ruthless with clutter. She carted the piles downstairs that she’d made the other day and loaded up her car for a charity shop run. It wasn’t the most practical vehicle for the job but it would have to do. When she’d finished, and after a thorough clean and a new, floral duvet cover on the bed, the room did appear brighter, a welcome dent in the otherwise monumental task.

  The following evening, she had already arranged for Annie and Jon to join her and Tom for supper. He had offered to cook, with eyebrows raised in suspicion when Olivia thanked him and refused. She planned to make a mushroom risotto; it was a dish she was familiar with and perfectly happy to produce. She nipped into town, left her stuff at the charity shop and had an hour with her dad before doing the shopping for the evening and the weekend coming up with two active and hungry young adults.

  Her phone was as busy as ever with notifications when she arrived back, and she decided to nip over to the cafe to collect a late lunch for her and Tom. Waiting in the queue, she unlocked her phone and gasped as she read Annie’s text.

  So sorry, Liv, change of plan. My waters have broken and we’re on our way to hospital. Looks like you might be right about that Christmas baby! News when we can x

  Olivia fired off a text in reply, sending love and prayers. Thoughts of a new baby had her mind racing back to Ellie’s birth and the emergency caesarean section she’d had to have. She hoped all would be well for Annie and Jon and their first child.

  Sam was hurrying down the high street with Esther in a pushchair and Olivia stopped to chat with her, their talk all about Annie and the possible early birth. Sam was concerned about the baby coming at thirty-seven weeks and she and Olivia promised to share any news with one another as soon as they had it. Her dad would want to know too but that could wait until Olivia had more to say; she didn’t want to worry him. He was very fond of Annie, and Olivia knew he had already gifted a first edition of nursery rhymes for the baby.

  Back at the house she took Tom’s lunch into the library and he thanked her, eyes reddened and tired. She was checking her phone more than ever now, although it was far too soon to hear from Annie or Sam. If all seemed well then it was possible that Annie might just be kept in hospital for monitoring rather than inducing the baby immediately.

  Olivia had forgotten about the Zoom call that her dad had asked her to sit in with the arts consortium who were purchasing the house until he sent her a text telling her the meeting had begun. She jumped in with apologies but there wasn’t a great deal she could add. The finance was in order, a board appointed and all agreed to proceed as necessary.

  She kept checking her dad for signs of disappointment but he was enthused, offering his advice and support however he could once the programme was underway next year. There were lots of events being planned and she was sure that her dad had Tom in mind when he suggested that the consortium might like to consider a live-in programme director for the writers’ retreat planned for the house.

  The thought of Tom being in Thorndale on a more permanent basis was something that pleased Olivia, even though she had no idea how he felt about it. The literary festival was expanding too and searching for a couple of new roles, but she ignored her dad’s pointed stare in her direction.

  In the evening there was a text from Sam, who was in touch with Jon. Annie’s waters were confirmed to have broken and the baby was going to be induced tonight. Olivia felt that flutter of alarm again as she thanked Sam. She knew from her own experience that induction could take time and the baby might not arrive quite yet.

  There was still no sign of Tom, so she took supper into him in the library. The room was cool and she saw the fire had gone out. He was fast asleep with his head on his arm on the desk. His manuscript was open on the screen and she checked to make sure that AutoSave was enabled. She fetched a blanket from the sitting room to cover him, then went back into the kitchen to eat her meal alone.

  A message from Sam arrived after midnight to say that Annie was in the early stages of labour and doing well. It was ages after that before Olivia fell asleep again and she heard Tom coming up, quietly crossing the landing to his own room and closing the door, reminding her of that first night here with him. How much had changed between them since then in such a short time, she mused.

  She messaged Ellie in the morning, checking in about her and Logan’s train on Friday and what time she needed to collect them from the station. Olivia couldn’t wait to see them, ignoring the thought of Ellie being far away for Christmas. It was lunchtime before Olivia heard from Sam again and she grabbed her phone impatiently. She opened the message in a rush and shrieked in delighted relief.

  Baby Beresford safely here after an emergency section. Small but perfect, both doing really well. They have a daughter!

  Sam had included every emoji possible, and Olivia replied at once with a few of her own, thrilled and thankful. Babies always made her cry and she wiped away a few tears. She wanted to message Annie and Jon too, but decided to leave it for a few hours. Olivia was sure they would be both elated and exhausted, and there would be time later on to offer her congratulations.

  ‘What is it?’ Tom sounded alarmed as he hurried into the kitchen. ‘I heard you from the library, are you alright? Is it your dad? Ellie?’

  ‘What? No, we’re fine. It’s Sam, she’s messaged me to say that Annie’s had a baby girl and they’re doing well, even though she’s a few weeks early. Isn’t it wonderful?’

  ‘Fantastic, they must be delighted.’ He sank down into a chair, covering a yawn with a hand that couldn’t completely hide the stubble gradually giving way to the beginnings of a beard. ‘Sorry, long couple of days.’

  ‘Don’t worry, I know you’ve been burning the midnight oil.’ Olivia wanted to tell him she’d missed him, s
haring supper and chatting together in the evenings, but she held back, even though it was true. She liked the way the house felt with him here – more of a home.

  ‘What time’s Ellie due in tomorrow?’

  ‘Around five if there are no delays.’

  ‘Okay.’ Tom rubbed a hand across eyes pressed shut. ‘I’ll make myself as scarce as possible, I don’t want to be in the way over the weekend.’

  ‘You what?’ This wasn’t in Olivia’s plans at all. ‘Tom, you don’t have to do that.’

  ‘But it’s your one chance to spend time with Ellie before Christmas. Your family time.’

  He didn’t need to add ‘not mine’, Olivia could see it in his eyes now they’d opened. He got up to pour two glasses of water, gave one to her and drained his own, his back to her.

  ‘Are you worried we’ll disturb you?’

  He put the empty glass down before replying, staring out of the window. ‘Of course not. I’ll write in my room, I don’t want to take over the library with family here.’

  ‘If you want to write and keep to your room then of course that’s your decision and completely fine.’ Olivia went to stand beside him. ‘But if you’re doing it because you think I don’t want you around then you’d be wrong.’ She leaned against him, didn’t want to move away. ‘I’d love you to meet them both and spend time with us, and Ellie’s already looking forward to it.’

  ‘She is?’ Tom hadn’t moved either. ‘What have you told her, about me?’

  ‘Just that her grandad’s got me sharing the house with a friend of his.’

  ‘That’s it?’

  ‘Pretty much; she’ll have googled you anyway. What, you’d prefer I’d said you were this handsome and charming actor who loads of people used to have a crush on?’ Olivia pushed against him and he was laughing as he steadied himself. ‘You’re certainly a handful but I didn’t mention that.’

  ‘So you think I’m handsome but past it? Thanks. I think.’ The look he gave her was knowing, his eyebrows raised. ‘I’d better go and open the shop, it’s almost one.’

  ‘Would you like me to do that for you?’ Olivia had a contract to go over and a meeting to set up with a potential new client but she could do that in the shop. ‘Judging by the hours you’ve pulled this week your writing’s either going really well or very badly and I suspect it’s the former. Want more time?’

  ‘Are you sure?’ Tom turned to her and she saw the new softness in his eyes. ‘That’s really good of you.’

  ‘I know. I need to keep up with Twitter anyway and upload another book for the hashtag, the followers are still growing. I’ll choose this one and you can do the next if you like,’ she said. ‘I’m hoping doing the shop for you might get me on your good side. We’re going to need supper for four tomorrow night.’

  ‘You devious…’ Tom made a grab for her but Olivia was already gone, snatching up her phone and hurrying out of the room, his laughter following.

  * * *

  You might have seen the movie but have you read the book? For our third #BradshawsBooksAtChristmas choice we’re going with #TheGreatestGift by Philip Van Doren Stern. Join us?

  * * *

  The train on Friday night was miraculously just fifteen minutes late and Olivia was only mildly perished as she went over the notifications from Twitter while she waited in the station. Followers old and new were commenting and retweeting the latest book, adding it to threads about It’s a Wonderful Life. Yesterday afternoon had been busier than expected in the shop and a few customers had mentioned following the Christmas hashtag online.

  She was still pondering Twitter when the train lumbered in and she saw Logan jump from the carriage and Ellie follow, throwing their two bags down to him. Olivia watched her daughter, swallowing back the blast of recognition never more apparent than after a separation. This always happened.

  Ellie was so like her father and Olivia had a moment to take in the gangly limbs she was able to organise into something elegant, just like him, and the laid-back manner belying a fiercely competitive nature. She was just as beautiful too, long dark hair gathered over one shoulder, and Olivia blinked at the sight.

  Then she was running to Ellie, everything else fading away in the joy of holding her girl again. They wrapped their arms around one another and hugged tightly. ‘Ellie, you look amazing, so well. I was worried you’ve been too busy to eat properly.’

  ‘Oh Mum.’ Ellie pulled back, the laughter in her face still glowing, brightening eyes that were almost a shade of amber. ‘I’m fine, we both are, we’re perfectly capable. You taught me, remember?’

  Logan was beside Ellie now with their bags and Olivia let go of her daughter to hug him too. She would’ve picked him out for an Aussie surfer anywhere, from the messy blonde hair escaping from his beanie and vibrant blue eyes to the skin just clinging on to the last of his summer tan. She always pictured him at home on a beach or in the sea, and her heart jolted at the reminder that he and Ellie would be doing exactly that in a few days, far from her and Thorndale.

  ‘Ellie said it would be colder up here but she didn’t tell me it would be this bad.’ Logan shivered as he picked up the two bags and slung them over one shoulder, reaching for Ellie’s hand as they headed for the car park.

  ‘We’ll get a fire going when we get back,’ Olivia told Logan, who nodded gratefully. ‘You’ll soon thaw out in the house with a drink.’

  ‘So how’s Tom then, Mum?’ Ellie was giving Olivia a sideways look. ‘Grandad said you’re getting along like a house on fire.’

  ‘Oh did he?’ Olivia was glad it was dark as she felt her face flush. She’d have to have a sharp word with her dad; Ellie never missed a thing. ‘You know what your grandad’s like: always exaggerating.’

  ‘Maybe.’ Ellie gave her a nudge that had Olivia rolling her eyes.

  Ellie and Logan caught Olivia up on some of their news as she drove them back to Thorndale. The moment they were out of the car Logan was capturing images of the pretty stone cottages, bustling river and flickering Christmas tree on his phone to send to his family in Australia, Ellie skipping with excitement next to him.

  Lights were lit in the library and sitting room as Olivia approached the house and she couldn’t help the shimmer of happiness at the thought of Tom already there, waiting to meet more of her family. To her surprise she could see the cheerful glow of a fire in both rooms as she unlocked the front door.

  ‘We’re back.’ Olivia pushed the door aside and Logan joined them as Ellie dropped their bags in the hall. Something smelled amazing and Olivia allowed herself to indulge the happiness that had now become a full-on glow inside her.

  She couldn’t remember the last time she had come back to a home that felt as magnificent as her dad’s did in this moment, and it was impossible not to love the comfort it brought her. Darkness and the cold night were beyond the closed doors now; in here all was welcome, warmth and light. Tom appeared in the hall from the kitchen and their eyes met for a long moment as he walked to meet them, hand outstretched to Ellie. The once-famous smile was in place, a pleasure on his face that was completely natural.

  ‘How do you do, Ellie? I’m Tom.’

  ‘Hi Tom, it’s great to meet you.’ Ellie and he were shaking hands now and Olivia felt her daughter’s look dart over to her before going back to Tom with a grin. ‘I’m Ellie, but then I guess you know that.’

  ‘I do, I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about you from your mum and your grandad.’ Tom was still smiling as he turned to Logan and the two men shook hands as they introduced themselves.

  ‘That’s nice, apparently only my grandad is prone to exaggeration.’ Ellie slipped her arm around Olivia’s shoulders, and she recognised the mischief in Ellie’s reply. ‘And Mum told me you were lovely. Didn’t you, Mum?’

  There was an innocence in Ellie’s tone now that made Olivia want to invoke whatever scrap of maternal control she still had – which was zero – and send Ellie to her room this minute. And possib
ly make her stay there until it was time to leave for university again.

  ‘Ellie, I said nothing of the sort.’ Olivia batted the comment away. ‘I might have mentioned that he was a lovely cook, that’s all. Something does smell delicious, Tom, I hope you haven’t gone to too much trouble.’ She gave Ellie a look. ‘Why don’t you two take your bags upstairs and join us for a drink when you’re ready?’

  ‘We’d love to join you both.’ Ellie and Logan picked up their stuff and bounded upstairs, leaving coats and hats draped over the stairs, a phone charger on the sideboard with two discarded gloves and a scarf, and a half-empty water bottle.

  Olivia hoped she’d imagined the emphasis Ellie had placed on both. That left her and Tom in the hall staring at one another, and the smile was still hovering on his lips as Olivia went to take off her coat. Somehow she seemed to get her arms and her scarf in a tangle and he was there to pull the coat off and hang it on the stand. She felt about five years old until she caught sight of him in the small mirror.

  ‘I’ll take lovely,’ he said softly, standing behind her. ‘And in return I won’t tell Ellie that you nearly kneecapped me with an atlas, insisted I took off my clothes, wrecked the kitchen not baking mince pies and encouraged me to steal a Christmas tree. I think you’re an awfully bad influence.’

  ‘Oh, I’m a bad influence?’ Olivia was giving him a glare that was at odds with the laughter already bubbling. He smelled heavenly, and she loved how his short hair was all rumpled. But not cute, definitely not cute. Sexy for sure, and the stubble had gone, leaving him looking fresh and delectable. ‘The tree and the baking were your ideas, I just went along with them. The undressing was essential. And quite frankly your Christmas movie would be absolutely nowhere without my assistance with your research.’

  ‘True.’

  Olivia could hear Ellie and Logan moving about upstairs. She sidestepped Tom and the way he was making it difficult to remember what she was meant to be doing. ‘I’d better go and pour drinks. See what state you’ve left the kitchen in.’