Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay: a heartwarming romantic comedy perfect for curling up with this Christmas for fans of Jill Mansell (Swallowtail Bay, Book 3)

by Katie Ginger

  ‘I will,’ Tom replied. ‘I know I have to now.’

  ‘I’ll be checking,’ said Kieran. ‘Even if I have to interrogate her as soon as you’re out.’

  The world of Swallowtail Bay passed by as they drove to the hospital in the larger nearby town of Halebury. They followed the long road that ran parallel to the seafront and Tom watched the rough sea froth at the crest of each wave. Finally, the beach and its line of weather-beaten beach huts, some decorated with festive fairy lights, gave way to fields enclosed in tall hedges. Rounding a bend in the road they saw Thornhill Hall, tall and stately on the horizon, then the small roads were replaced with larger, busier ones.

  Twenty minutes later Kieran pulled into the hospital car park and tried to find a space. Even though it was only a small hospital it was amazing how busy it was. The bigger hospital that had an Accident and Emergency department was almost an hour away in the opposite direction. When he stepped out of the car into the cold fresh air, Tom felt a shiver run through him that intensified the pain in his finger. A kind lady on reception took his details and asked him to sit down. The biscuit had helped a little with the shock and he wasn’t feeling so wobbly, but he still felt cold and now, very tired. A headache began to pound at the back of his eyes and as he looked outside, he was glad he’d told Kieran the truth. The afternoon was grey and dark and by the time they emerged the purple-blue half-light would be falling. He didn’t want to trip over in front of his mate as he pretended everything was fine, but now Kieran knew he’d be able to give him a minute without feeling self-conscious.

  ‘So how was Cat last night?’ asked Tom as he plonked down into a plastic chair in the waiting area. Looking around he saw couples holding hands, comforting each other and sharing nervous laughter, joking to pass the time. A spindly Christmas tree had been set up in the corner of the room next to the kids’ play pen. How he wished Nell was there with him. She could always make him laugh and lighten a heavy atmosphere like this one. Her dreamy nature made her incredibly empathetic. He’d give anything to rest his head on her shoulder right now, close his eyes and have a nap. He was so tired.

  Kieran pulled off his beanie and scratched what little stubble had grown on his head. ‘I just don’t know what’s going on with her, mate. She’s never been like this before. You know what she’s like normally – wild, fun, a bit mental – but since all this wedding stuff she’s changed. She either withdraws completely and doesn’t talk to me, or she’s really defensive and moody. I’ve told her I’ll come with her to these wedding things. I’d like to, you know, it’s my wedding too, but she doesn’t want me there. And I’ve told her we can run off just the two of us and get married abroad if she’d prefer that.’

  ‘And does she?’

  ‘No. She wants to get married at Holly Lodge. Partly for her, partly for Nell. She doesn’t want to let Nell down.’

  ‘Nell would understand.’ Tom knew she would. Kieran brushed some dried mud from the thigh of his old work jeans. ‘I feel for you, mate, I really do. Not least because the prospect of having Brenda Wilson as a mother-in-law is absolutely terrifying.’

  At this he laughed. ‘I just want to marry Cat and I don’t care where, or how, or when for that matter, but Brenda seems to have all these ideas about what should happen and it’s rubbing off on her.’ He crossed his huge arms over his chest, the thick, heavy checked shirt buckling at the seams. ‘I’m glad she stood up to her mum. It was about time, but now she’s worrying about the fallout from that too.’

  ‘Nell was distraught they had a row. I’m so pleased they made up.’

  ‘Cat too. I told her just to call and it’d be fine, but she said she was too embarrassed. Good old Nell just came straight out with it and they were all over each other within two minutes of us walking into Holly Lodge.’

  ‘It’s a shame you’re not joining us for Christmas Day this year.’

  ‘Yeah, we’ll miss you too. Only a bit though. We’ll be sunning ourselves on a white sandy beach while you’re freezing your tail off with Nell at Holly Lodge. Or you could cuddle down by the roaring log fire.’ Kieran wiggled his eyebrows and the tension eased for a moment.

  ‘I’ve told you not to wiggle your eyebrows suggestively at me.’

  ‘You said not in front of your staff.’ He continued to wiggle his eyebrows up and down and Tom chuckled as his name was called by a tall, thin nurse with deep wrinkles and a stern voice.

  As soon as Tom made his way towards her, feeling slightly like he was in trouble, her features transformed from stern to kind. ‘That looks nasty, my lovely,’ she said, holding the door open for him. ‘Let’s get that seen to.’

  The small treatment room was tightly packed with a bed, a desk, various bins and cupboards stocking everything the nurse might need. ‘Have a seat, my love and let’s have a look.’ Tom let the nurse pull his hand towards her and watched through a half-closed eye as she unwrapped the blood-soaked tissue. It had mostly stopped bleeding but as she examined the depth of the wound it started a little more. ‘So how did you do this?’

  He kept his eyes away from the cut, staring out of the window at the branches of the trees rocking wildly in the wind. What he wouldn’t give for a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie by the open fire at Holly Lodge right about now. ‘I nipped it with secateurs. I’m a florist and I just caught myself.’

  She must have sensed his hesitation or the note of untruth in his voice and looked at him over the top of his finger. He knew he had to carry on before he changed his mind and tell her the whole truth even though his stomach had tightened like a muscle in spasm. The thought of Kieran coming in and telling her for him, which he would do given half a chance, made him own up.

  ‘I’ve, umm – I’ve been having a few problems with my sight … and some headaches.’ The nurse immediately glanced up then dropped her eyes back to his finger. After a moment she got up finding supplies to clean the wound.

  ‘What sort of problems?’

  Gathering his courage before it could desert him, Tom sucked in a deep breath and told her everything.

  ***

  Leaving behind the small treatment room and entering back into the large and still busy waiting area, Tom exhaled a deep breath, pushing tension from his lungs. As soon as Kieran saw him, he shoved his phone into his pocket and stood up. From Kieran’s reaction, Tom knew he looked as pale and shaky as he felt. With a faint smile, he hoped to put his friend at ease, but the relief from his deep breath was fleeting and his internal organs turned to stone.

  ‘What did she say?’ asked Kieran, concern flooding his eyes.

  Tom scratched the back of his head with his right hand. His left index finger was now wrapped in a white bandage. ‘She said that it was a deep cut and needed a couple of those stitches that look more like stickers. She put about three on and told me to be really careful in the future.’

  ‘And what about the – you know—’ Kieran waved his hand in front of his face like it was some kind of magic trick. ‘The eye thing.’

  The fact his friend looked idiotic waving his hands in front of his face like some terrible dance move should have been amusing, but Tom swallowed. ‘She’s referred me to a consultant and I’ve got to have some tests. What will I say to Nell? If it’s on a day I’d normally see her, she’ll get suspicious.’

  ‘Will you stop worrying about Nell for two minutes?’

  ‘I’ll have to lie to her and tell her I’m doing something else. You’ll cover for me, won’t you?’

  ‘Of course but why have you been referred for tests, rather than told to just go to the optician’s? What does she think it is?’

  ‘She didn’t say.’ Tom’s headache pounded harder. ‘When I told her all about the symptoms, she asked me to hang on and rang the Ophthalmology department at the big hospital to speak to someone there. She looked deadly serious when she was talking and she just ummed and nodded when they spoke to her. Then she put the phone down and in a calm voice told me that they’d advised her
to make an emergency referral. I should get a phone call or letter in the next few days with a time and date have some tests done. When I asked what they’d said, she just told me that it could be something or it could be nothing, but they’d like to see me to find out. And given I’ve had a couple of accidents she wants it to be sooner rather than later.’

  ‘What do you mean a couple of accidents? This is the first one, isn’t it?’

  ‘Umm …’ He’d conveniently forgotten to mention the prang to Kieran and Nell had saved his blushed by not mentioning it too. ‘I had a bit of a prang in the van a couple of weeks ago.’

  ‘What? Why didn’t you tell me?’

  Tom plonked down on one of the seats in the waiting area again and Kieran sat next to him. ‘I didn’t want to face it, and now it seems there really could be something wrong it makes me feel sick.’

  ‘You need to tell Nell.’

  ‘No way.’ Tom stared at his friend. ‘She’s had so much going on. This is the last thing she needs.’

  ‘Stop worrying about her and worry about yourself, Tom. Nell’s a grown woman and she doesn’t need mollycoddling. I know she’s always off in a dreamworld or watching those blimmin’ romcoms, but she cares about you and she’d want to know. She’d want to be there for you. You could even be a big strong boy and tell her how you feel.’ He was trying to tease but Tom felt far too emotional to laugh or joke.

  ‘And get a pity date because I might have a brain tumour or something? No way. My health might be in doubt, but I’ve still got my pride. And besides, she’s having this dinner with Harry tonight. She hasn’t stopped talking about it.’

  Kieran clapped a hand on his shoulder. ‘You’re hopeless, you know that? Come on, mate. You don’t know it’s anything bad. Like the nurse said, it could be nothing. Don’t stress yourself out until you know. Let’s go to the pub. We’ll call in and close the shop on the way.’

  Tom saw it was pitch black outside. ‘How long have we been here?’

  ‘A couple of hours.’

  ‘I’m really sorry, mate. I’ve screwed up your whole afternoon.’

  ‘Don’t worry about it. I’ve gone up loads of levels on Candy Crush while I was waiting.’

  Finally, Tom was able to lift the corners of his mouth. ‘I was more worried about Janie than you.’

  ‘I’m sure Janie’s done fine on her own. She’s a good girl.’

  ‘I’m sure she has. I don’t know where I’d be without her.’

  Kieran wriggled his coat back on to his shoulders. ‘So come on, you really look like you need a drink and some time to take things in.’

  Though there was a slight tinge of relief that he’d taken the first step, Tom couldn’t help but worry. An image of the nurse’s face when he’d mentioned the terrible headaches flew across his mind, and he began to worry that he didn’t have time to take things in. Now, he worried he didn’t have a lot of time left.

  Chapter 15

  Pulling the turkey crown from the oven, Nell blew her fringe up to cool her hot face. Finally, it was Thanksgiving, the night of the American feast she’d been mentally preparing. She’d reluctantly made mashed potatoes instead of roast because that’s what all the Thanksgiving menus she’d read online had. She’d made a sweet potato pie but didn’t particularly like the idea of the sweet orange flesh mixed with sugar and breadcrumbs on top, but still, if it was traditional, she was going to cook it for Harry. For dessert she’d got one of the bakers in town to make a pecan pie. She wouldn’t have known where to start with that so cheated. Not that Harry would mind. He seemed such an understanding guy.

  In the dining room, she’d laid a table with stars-and-stripes serviettes and a little American flag and Harry was meeting her there at seven when he got back from visiting his family. She’d changed from one of her enormous oversized jumpers into something a little bit cuter, sticking with jeans so she looked laid-back, but teaming it with a sheer top. She’d even done the smoky eye make-up she’d been practising for the mayor’s party to bring out her eyes. She just hoped the steam from the turkey hadn’t melted it all off. It was so hot in the kitchen she was glad they were eating upstairs where it was cooler. She’d texted Cat a picture of her make-up, and Cat had replied with a much-needed confidence boost but had reminded her that he was just a guest and she shouldn’t build it up into anything else. Though Nell knew Cat was right the words had stung. It was all right for Cat who had been with Kieran for ages and was in general, a practical, no-nonsense sort of girl. Nell just wasn’t like that. Yes, she was a bit flighty sometimes, but she liked to think of it as optimistic and open to possibilities.

  At ten minutes to seven, Nell took the foil-wrapped turkey upstairs along with a big jug of pale, weird-looking gravy. It smelled divine, but having grown up on the dark, beefy British stuff, it was going to take some getting used. The next trip saw the mashed potatoes and sweet potato pie. Looking at the spread, she’d made more food than two people could ever eat. She hoped he was hungry.

  Harry walked in as she was lighting the candle. She’d dimmed all the other lights, giving the dining room a romantic atmosphere. The rest of the hotel was empty until those who had booked her new romance package arrived. Despite the bad review, she’d put up the advertisement today and already had a booking off the back of it. They were arriving tomorrow for a last-minute getaway and Nell was excited at the idea of creating the perfect weekend retreat for them. It had reminded her why she loved running Holly Lodge.

  ‘Now, this is why you’re the best hostess in the whole of Great Britain, maybe even the world,’ Harry joked as he tossed his coat and scarf onto a vacant chair. ‘This looks and smells amazing.’ Nell flustered but was secretly pleased her hard work had paid off. When he looked up at her, he paused. ‘Wow, you look beautiful.’

  ‘Oh, thanks.’ Feeling self-conscious, she pushed her hair back behind her ear. Having laid out all the food on one of the other tables, Nell said, ‘Come and help yourself. I’ve made way too much.’

  Harry leaned over her shoulder, examining the feast. ‘This looks so good. I can’t wait to dive in.’ He was so close she could see the slight wrinkles at the sides of his eyes. They were having a moment and Nell tried to think loving thoughts, hoping her feelings would be revealed through her gaze. He examined her face for a moment then stepped away and began loading his plate. Unsure what to make of his response, she began filling her plate too.

  As they sat at the little table, just the two of them, butterflies pranced in Nell’s stomach as Harry laid a napkin on his lap. Every time they chatted a fire sparked within her. There was something in the air between them tonight she was sure, and from the way Harry was looking at her intently from under his long thick eyelashes, she was sure he felt it too. Who knew where this one dinner might lead? Now was her chance to find out some more about the handsome American who’d walked into her life three weeks ago.

  ‘So, I have some great news,’ Harry began loading his fork. ‘My business is behaving itself, so I need to extend my stay by at least another week.’

  ‘That’s brilliant.’ She ignored the little voice that told her his being here for longer didn’t mean he was suddenly going to stay indefinitely. ‘I’m sure your family are pleased.’

  ‘They are. And so am I, even though I’m missing New York like crazy.’ He took a bite of his food. ‘This is delicious, Nell. You’re a great cook. Now I’m really feeling Christmassy.’

  ‘Thanks. New York must be amazing at this time of year.’ She placed some turkey in her mouth, pleased it was juicy and not dry. Mrs Meggett would be proud. ‘I’ve never been but I’d really love to go.’

  ‘Oh my gosh, Nell, you would love it. It really is amazing. You should come visit me one day. I don’t know about you, but I feel like we’re … you know … friends.’

  ‘I do too,’ she replied shyly and could feel herself blushing. Did he mean friends or friends? Whatever he meant, the evening was going better than any scenario she’d made up in he
r head. ‘If I hadn’t got this other booking you could put me in your suitcase and take me with you now,’ she joked.

  Harry eyed her before placing a forkful of food in his mouth. After swallowing he said, ‘Is everything okay with the hotel, Nell? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’ve had a great time and I think the place is amazing but, I’ve noticed that sometimes you kind of zone out and you don’t seem that happy.’

  Adding some more gravy to her plate, Nell considered how to respond. If she were to stay in professional mode she would deny there was anything wrong, big up the hotel and pretend everything was fine, but she’d had her regular business phone call with her parents and they’d been less than impressed with the current situation. Not angry or blaming, just disappointed, and Nell had felt it keenly. Her mother was going to email her a list of suggestions to boost business even though she’d probably already thought of most of them. The person she’d wanted after talking to them was Tom, but she didn’t like to bother him in the middle of the day.

  ‘Come on, Nell. I can tell something’s going on. Talk to me.’ His voice was soft and kind and as he reached out across the table, resting his hand over hers she felt heat run up her arm. ‘Is it that guy? What did you say his name was? Tom?’

  ‘Tom?’ Confusion marred her features.

  ‘Yeah, I just kind of assumed you and he were … a thing. You’re so close.’

  ‘No. No!’ She was so shocked at the suggestion she replied an octave higher than intended. ‘We’re just friends.’

  ‘Oh, okay. Sure.’ He took his hand away and began to eat again. Nell wished he’d put it back.

  Was Harry scoping out her relationship status? Seeing if she was single? A shiver danced through her. Though she knew he wasn’t married from when she’d checked him in, she asked, ‘What about you? Is there someone in New York waiting for you to come home?’ Inside she grimaced. That sentence had sounded so much better in her head. Out loud it sounded brash. She might as well have said, ‘If you’re single, fancy a hump?’