A Surprise Christmas Wedding

by Phillipa Ashley

  She’d absolutely have to bring the twins to see it.

  Jay was halfway up a stepladder, fixing a speaker in the gable of the tent. He also wore a Santa hat, which made Lottie smile and struck her as incongruous when he didn’t enjoy Christmas that much. ‘Can you pass me the other end of that cable?’ he said. ‘And can you get the electrician to double-check that all the lights and the sound system meet safety regs?’ he said to Kerr, his second in command. Kerr could come across as rather brusque if you didn’t know him, but he had a wicked sense of humour and Lottie got on really well with him. His son was at the same primary school as the twins.

  Kerr came to the bottom of the ladder. ‘Jay, one of the netting drums isn’t working.’

  ‘OK. I’ll be down in a minute.’

  ‘Hello, Lottie,’ Kerr said with a broad grin. ‘Nice to see your smiling face up here again.’

  Lottie laughed, although she wasn’t quite sure what he was getting at …

  Seeing how busy Jay was, she decided to leave him to work and started to walk away but he called to her, from the steps. ‘I’ll be down in a sec.’

  ‘It’s OK. I’ll let you get on with it.’

  ‘No. Hang on. Please.’

  Surprised at the insistence in his voice, she lingered at the side of the tent, snapping a couple of photos of the work to show Shayla. The scene was the closest thing she’d seen to Santa’s workshop, with Jay as Santa and the workers as his elves.

  Jay climbed down the steps and spoke briefly to Kerr before joining Lottie.

  ‘Sorry. Busy time. How can I help you?’ He was a little red in the face.

  ‘You can’t right at this moment,’ she said, feeling guilty for interrupting him. ‘I only came up for a look at how things were going. I’m sorry for disturbing your work.’

  ‘Oh. OK.’

  ‘It’s looking great. I hadn’t realised what a big operation it is. Have you done this before?’

  He smiled. ‘You could say that. I supervised the Christmas tree sales for a forestry commission site for three years and we sold them at the estate I used to work on. I’m used to it, but every site is different, the trees are different and nature doesn’t always behave as we want it to.’

  ‘Human nature can be just as unpredictable. Especially when a wedding is involved.’

  He sucked in a breath. ‘Give me trees every time.

  ‘You don’t have to go.’ To her surprise, his voice held genuine regret. ‘We may be busy but the guys could do with a break. We can have five minutes. I could show you Santa’s grotto.’

  ‘Um …’

  He winced. ‘That sounds weird. I mean, I can show you how the whole thing works if you like while the guys take a break. I can even rustle up a coffee, not that it’s up to the standards of a Firholme cappuccino.’ There was a glint in his eye as he said it.

  Lottie nodded, still amazed but delighted to be asked to stay. ‘OK. I can take a quick break too. I can convince Shayla it’s work.’

  ‘Great. Take ten, guys!’ he shouted to the workers gathered in the tent.

  He took her to a large urn set up at the rear of the tent and made two mugs of coffee. Lottie poured milk into hers but he left his black.

  ‘Sugar?’ he said, pointing to a catering-sized bag.

  ‘No, thanks.’ She hid her amusement as Jay ladled a large teaspoonful into his mug, reflecting he was fit enough not to have to worry about adding sugar. Carrying their drinks, they wandered out of the tent into the floodlit area, and looked back at the scene. The fog had come down, and hung around the trees and lights, lending them an eerie atmosphere. Lottie was glad she’d wrapped up warmly because the damp air held a chill that seeped into your bones.

  ‘Well, it’s not Lapland but it’s a dry place for the tree sales and we can rotate the team so they can all spend some time indoors during their shift,’ Jay said.

  Lottie suppressed a shiver. ‘I love nature but I don’t envy you working out here in all weathers.’

  ‘We’re a hardy bunch but it is hard work, helping people carry trees and putting them through the nets. I take my turn and I certainly don’t have any trouble sleeping after a day working out here.’ He sipped his tea before adding, ‘Which I consider to be one of the perks of the job. Would you like to see the grotto?’ He smiled. ‘Don’t get too excited.’

  The grotto – a large and elaborate version of a Wendy house – was definitely a ‘work in progress’ but Lottie could imagine how the pine cabin might look in a few days’ time. Wooden figures and animals were lying outside, on their sides or staring up at the sky. It looked like the elves had held a rave with the woodland creatures.

  Jay held up his mug in the direction of the cabin. ‘Um. We still need to add extra lights and decorations. It’ll look a lot more appealing when it’s covered in snowmen and er – squirrels.’

  Lottie spotted something outside the hut and burst out laughing. It couldn’t be a coincidence that a red-cheeked male elf had fallen so precisely on top of a blonde elf in a pink skirt.

  Jay followed her gaze. ‘Oh God. I’m sorry. Some of the guys larking around.’ Leaving his mug on the ground, he jogged over to the elves and parted them.

  ‘You’ve ruined a great romance, there,’ Lottie said with mock solemnity.

  ‘Well, I don’t want hordes of little elves in the spring to rehome.’ He added them to a pile of other figures.

  ‘I think that may be even worse,’ she said, trying not to giggle at the unholy group of creatures piled up on top of each other outside the grotto.

  ‘Oh.’ He laughed. ‘I see what you mean. I promise it will all be suitable for a family audience by the time we open.’

  ‘I’m sure it will. I’ll bring my nieces to see it.’

  ‘Yes. Definitely do that. It really will look festive, I promise. Would you like to see the tree sales area too? It’s almost ready for the public. If you have time,’ he added.

  Strictly speaking, Lottie should have gone back to the office. She’d promised to call the florist to discuss the final – final – arrangements for the wedding. Maybe, she thought wryly, that was why she’d had a headache and decided she needed to get out of the office and come up here.

  ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I’d like that.’

  The trees were arranged by height and species in mini paddocks divided by wooden fences. They lay together like ranks of sleeping soldiers, and she thought there was something a little melancholy about the felled trees, which had once been growing in the forest. Then she reminded herself of the joy and excitement they would create for hundreds of families for weeks to come.

  ‘So many trees, waiting for their owners … It’s strange to be here before all the Christmas madness starts.’ She picked up a spruce by its tip, inhaling the pine scent. ‘I love a fresh tree in the house.’

  ‘Madness is a good word for it,’ Jay murmured, then changed his tone to something more upbeat. ‘Would you like a tree for the Bothy?’

  Lottie was taken aback. ‘I’d love one, of course but … can I be very cheeky? Would you mind very much if I gave it to Steph? The twins would adore it. I’ll pay, of course. I intended to treat them to one anyway.’

  ‘I’m sure Shayla won’t mind me letting you have a free tree.’

  Lottie wasn’t quite so confident, or at least she didn’t want to pre-empt her boss’s generosity. ‘I’d better ask her, all the same. I don’t want to be treated any differently from any of the other staff. It’s not fair.’

  ‘Good idea. What about if I suggest that we donate a tree to all the staff? I can’t think that she’ll object.’

  ‘OK, but whatever she decides, I’ll bring Steph and the girls to choose one.’

  ‘I could pop it round to your sister’s place in the pick-up, if transport’s going to be a problem.’

  ‘That would be brilliant. I was wondering how I’d fit it in my Fiesta and Steph only has a small car too.’

  His eyes sparked with pleasure. ‘It’s a deal
then. You let me know a good time.’

  ‘OK. Steph’s bringing the girls to the launch to see Santa and the reindeer.’

  ‘It’ll be busy … but why don’t you tell them to come over before the place opens to the public? The reindeer handler will be here with the animals from nine, to settle them in. I can ask her if it’s OK but I don’t think she’ll mind.’

  ‘Really?’ Lottie could imagine Myra and Jodie literally dancing for joy.

  ‘They’d get their own special encounter.’

  ‘They won’t be able to contain themselves! What a great idea.’

  ‘They sound as if they all need a special treat. I’ll phone the farmer now.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  Heartened by his enthusiasm, Lottie listened while Jay called the farmer and sorted the visit for the girls.

  His broad grin lit up his face and Lottie was brimming with delight too, desperate to tell the girls. Then she saw the time and realised she’d been out of the office for a good twenty minutes. Shayla gave her a lot of leeway but she really ought to be getting back.

  ‘I have to go,’ she said.

  ‘Me too.’

  Yet they both seemed in no hurry to part, standing by the grotto with empty mugs. She remembered her only legitimate reason for visiting the tree centre. ‘Um, Jay? Have you had any more thoughts about coming to the pub this Wednesday night? If you’re not doing anything,’ she added, giving him an escape clause but hoping he didn’t take it.

  ‘I’m not doing anything,’ he said slowly, and Lottie could almost hear the cogs whirring. She was held in suspense a moment longer before he went on. ‘OK. If it’s not too late, I’ll be there. Thanks for reminding me.’

  ‘See you around seven in the café foyer, then?’ she said.

  ‘Great.’

  With that they parted and Lottie made her way through the mist down to the offices. It had started to rain, and with the temperature dropping, it was rapidly turning to sleet. There might be snow by morning, she thought, and then realised her headache had gone. No fog or sleet could dampen her spirits and Jay had taken her out of herself and reminded her there was a life outside work. The pub trip would be a chance to relax with her friends and colleagues, and get completely away from the wedding with all its old associations. Now that Jay was coming, she was looking forward to it even more.

  Chapter Eleven

  ‘Oh, hello there!’

  Even though he’d said he was coming, Lottie couldn’t hide her surprise when she found Jay already waiting in the café with Shayla and the other live-in staff the following evening. He was chatting to Lukasz, the chef, and seemed relaxed enough, which was a relief as she’d wondered whether she’d pushed him out of his comfort zone against his will.

  ‘S-sorry, I’ve kept you waiting.’ Slightly out of breath, she caught Jay’s eye.

  ‘We thought you’d forgotten all about it,’ Shayla said with an eyebrow raise that let Lottie know she was teasing.

  ‘Oh, there’s no chance of that. I’m late because my sister was on the phone.’

  ‘Everything OK?’ Shayla’s voice was instantly tinged with concern.

  ‘Yes, she’s fine,’ said Lottie, crossing mental fingers for luck. She’d taken a call from Steph, who hadn’t been feeling well. It was hard to know if it was anxiety or linked to the after-effects of her treatment – or a worrying new symptom.

  ‘Good.’ Unaware of Lottie’s concerns, Shayla rubbed her hands together. ‘Right. Let’s go, shall we?’

  Lottie pushed her fears aside and tried to enjoy the evening. With the aid of a torch, they all walked the half-mile down the hill from Firholme to the village. Frost glittered on the road surface in the light of the torch. Despite her sturdy boots, Lottie almost slipped on a patch of black ice on a hairpin bend.

  ‘Whoa!’ Jay grabbed her arm just in time to stop her from falling painfully on her bottom. He let go of her arm. ‘Are you OK?’

  ‘Yes, thanks,’ she said, embarrassed.

  ‘Do you mind falling over after we’ve been to the pub?’ Shayla joked, and everyone laughed. ‘Please be careful. I don’t want my team laid up with broken ankles, do I?’

  ‘You’re all heart, boss,’ Jay said.

  There were no more slip-ups and they made it to the pub, an old whitewashed inn with a slate roof, in the heart of the village. Langmere might be a tiny community but it had managed to hang on to its pub and post office, along with a café and some tourist shops. It was a hive of activity in summer but on a November evening, there were only a handful of cars in the parking area.

  More people had gathered in the bar where a fire glowed in the inglenook and the room echoed with banter and laughter. Irina and Jan were enjoying a meal at one of the tables. Wilf Carman was playing dominoes with a couple of his younger mates of around eighty.

  ‘Evening, Dotty!’ he called when Lottie walked in.

  Jay was obviously amused, but Lottie still felt embarrassed at this reminder of her schoolgirl days. She rolled her eyes and greeted Wilf cheerfully before continuing to the table reserved for them. Some of the workers lived in the village itself while others had driven from further afield. Lottie noticed the level of revelry ramped up even further when Shayla insisted on paying for everyone’s meals: hearty pub fare from the Christmas menu.

  It wasn’t long before Jay was chatting away over a pint of Cumbrian ale to Lottie and their colleagues about the Christmas tree sales. From his relaxed manner, she wondered why he didn’t seem more sociable. His reclusiveness seemed to have little to do with disliking his workmates. Lottie was happy that they’d managed to sit next to each other, the soft cotton of his shirt brushing against her arm from time to time.

  One by one, people drifted off to the bar or the loo, or to join in a heated conversation around the darts board and she and Jay were left alone at the table.

  ‘Better enjoy my night out. I’m going to be busy for the next four weeks until sales close,’ he said, with a rueful smile.

  ‘When’s that?’ Lottie asked.

  ‘The twenty-second or until we run out of stock.’ He paused before adding, ‘I saw our red squirrel again today.’

  The ‘our’ wasn’t lost on her. ‘In the same place?’

  ‘No, up in the High Copse. There were badgers last night at dusk.’ He slid her a look of pleasure and longing that made her shiver. ‘I wish you could have seen it.’

  ‘Me too,’ she said, allowing herself to imagine being alone in the woods with him, but not looking for wildlife. ‘I’d love to see badgers at Firholme.’ She forced herself back to safer topics. ‘I’ve spotted plenty of foxes around the Bothy but no Mr Brock yet.’

  ‘They have a sett up there. You should come up and take a look.’ His voice was animated, before he added more cautiously, ‘If you have time.’

  ‘I’d love to but you must be very busy at the moment?’

  ‘Yes. The lights at the sales centre might scare them off anyway.’

  Lottie wished she hadn’t been so negative. She hadn’t meant to scare him off inviting her to the woods.

  Their orders arrived so everyone returned to the table and tucked in. The atmosphere was light-hearted and Jay seemed to be enjoying the banter as well as the food. After they’d had the main course, she left him talking about football with Thorsten and Kerr, while she went to the ladies.

  Shayla was in there too and took the chance for a gossip. ‘I knew you’d be able to bring Jay out of himself,’ she said, while they washed their hands.

  ‘I didn’t do anything special,’ she protested, realising that her cosy with Jay must have been witnessed by Shayla. ‘I only asked him if he was coming tonight.’

  ‘Well, it worked. It’s important that he gets to know the rest of the staff better. Now can you work your magic and persuade him to come to the Christmas ball?’

  ‘I don’t know about that.’

  ‘I have every confidence in you,’ Shayla winked and took out her lip gloss. Nothing g
ot past her, Lottie thought ruefully.

  Back in the pub, Jay went to play darts in the games room with Kerr. It was now getting on for nine o’clock and a few more people had come into the bar for a late evening drink. Some were in tracksuits, others in shorts and judging by the ruddy complexions and muddy calves, they were a local rugby team who’d been training. Lottie recognised one of the guys who worked for a company who’d held a training day at Firholme. The others were strangers to her. Jay had been in the games room a while but then Lottie saw him re-enter the bar with Kerr.

  He’d made it halfway to her table before he stopped dead and stared at the back of one of the rugby players who was ordering a drink at the bar. Jay’s body bristled with tension. It was as if there was no one else in the pub apart from him and the man. Sensing something was very wrong, Lottie held her breath. She was sure that Jay was going to approach the man, maybe even grab hold of him but Shayla and the others were talking so only she had noticed.

  The rugby player turned around, his eyes widened in shock and his mouth fell open. ‘Jay,’ he said.

  Jay didn’t reply. His face was thunderous, eyes blazing with anger. Seconds later, he marched out of the pub as if the Devil was at his heels.

  Chapter Twelve

  Jay’s chest tightened at the icy air rushing into his lungs as he stormed out of the bar. He was halfway across the car park as realisation hit him like a sledgehammer.

  Once again, he’d rushed out into the night because of Ben.

  Once again, he’d run away from a situation he found overwhelming.

  Because of Ben.

  ‘Jay! Wait!’

  The voice calling after him was Lottie’s.

  He swivelled round. Oh Jesus, he’d caused a scene; the exact thing he didn’t want to do. Now, people would be asking questions he didn’t want to answer. He should be over it by now.

  She caught up with him. ‘Jay,’ she said, a little out of breath. ‘Are you OK?’

  ‘Yes … not really but it’s nothing for you to worry about.’

  ‘It looked serious to me. Are you sure you’re all right?’