The Peridale Cafe Cozy Box Set 4

by Agatha Frost

  “It sounds like you had a great time.”

  “I’m glad to be back!” he announced. “Back in my home and back in my church. And what better day to return than on the day of Jesus’ birth? A day of hope, renewal, and fresh beginnings. You can almost taste it in the air, can’t you?”

  “I can.” Julia smiled, affected by Father David’s new zest for life. “Have you heard anything about Flora?”

  “Ah, poor Flora.” He pulled off his glasses and rubbed them on the edge of his robe. “I must admit, it pains me to know she’s taken my place. I’ve been allowed to visit her numerous times, and she seems to be in high spirits!”

  “Do you know what’s going to happen to her?”

  “They’re evaluating her as we speak,” he said as he perched his glasses back on his nose. “I pray the judge sends her to a hospital instead of a prison. It’s her only chance of salvation from her demons. I spoke to her lawyer, and he’s hopeful the result will swing her way. I’ve volunteered to be a character witness to show that I’ve forgiven her transgressions.”

  “I’m praying too,” Julia admitted, a little sheepishly. “I don’t know who to. God, an energy, the clouds. I feel like I need to do something.”

  “And I’m sure whoever you’re praying to is receiving loud and clear.” He offered her a warming smile. “Have faith, my dear. You’re a good woman. In fact, you’re so good, you’ve been stood in front of me for five minutes, and you’ve yet to ask me why I owed so much money.”

  “I wasn’t going to.”

  “Then you’re the only person in the village who won’t.” He chuckled before inhaling. “But I feel I must be honest. I have a younger brother, Harold. Like Flora, Harold has had a troubled life. I’ve tried to bring him into the light many times, but my help always falls on deaf ears. Still, I keep trying, as God would want me to. Harold fell into online gambling a while back, and it’s been getting worse and worse every year. He wrote me a gut-wrenching letter begging for my help. I knew it wouldn’t fix the problem, but I couldn’t turn away when my flesh and blood was crying out. I called the company he owed the money to, and I paid it off using my savings. I’m not a rich man, but I’m frugal, so I had a nice nest egg. I’m afraid that after paying his debt and taking my month-long holiday I don’t have much left, but I’m at peace with that. I have air in my lungs, and I’m able to walk around as a free man. Not everyone can say that.”

  “It’s really good to have you back, Father.”

  “It’s good to be back!” He looked around the church and grinned. “I have a feeling everything is going to be all right. Are you still wanting to do that thing you asked of me?”

  “Only if you can.”

  “Everything is in place.” He gathered his things and set off towards the vestry. “I think it’s about time, don’t you? See you at two!”

  Julia left the church and returned to Dot’s cottage, where the entire family were gathered for Christmas lunch.

  “There you are!” Dot cried, oven gloves covering her hands. “I was about to send out a search party. You said you were going for some fresh air. Where did you go? To the Himalayas and back?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Well, you’re just in time,” Julia’s father called from the kitchen. “Turkey’s almost done!”

  “Ugh, I’m starving,” Jessie wailed.

  “You haven’t stopped eating all day,” Barker reminded her, prodding her in the stomach. “I didn’t even get a look in on that box of chocolates.”

  “It’s Christmas!” she cried. “Don’t hate the player, hate the game.”

  “At least share, sis.” Alfie swiped at the box of chocolates cradled on Jessie’s lap. “You’ve eaten all the good ones!”

  Julia collapsed on the sofa next to Barker and snuggled into his side. She gave him a thumbs up to let him know the plan was still going ahead. He kissed the top of her head, and they turned to the TV and watched a re-run of a classic Christmas episode of The Royle Family.

  When Brian announced that lunch was served, they all crammed around Dot’s tiny dining room table. Sue and Neil’s twins, Pearl and Dottie, who had been born on this very day one whole year ago, had birthday hats and badges on, but everyone else wore Christmas hats and knitted jumpers except for Julia, who wore a simple, white, comfortable dress.

  They stuffed themselves with the delicious Christmas dinner Dot and Brian had spent the whole morning arguing over. When they were finished, Dot immediately brought out the giant Christmas pudding Julia had made. She placed it in the middle of the table and poured a whole pan of boiling hot brandy on top. Before Julia could say anything, Dot lit the pudding with a match, and a giant fireball flew up from the cake, lighting the hanging decorations on fire.

  “Two to three tablespoons, Gran!” Julia cried as she wafted the smoke.

  “Well, I didn’t know!” Dot cried, shaking the pan in the air as she stormed off into the kitchen. “Maybe you should have written it down some—oh, you did! My mistake, dear!

  The flaming Christmas pudding burned like a campfire in the middle of the table. Julia should have been disappointed that her creation had been ruined, but it was just another Dot moment to add to the memory bank for later laughter.

  As they tucked into mince pies instead, the front door opened, bringing in a gust of cold air.

  “Ho, ho, ho!” Percy announced, walking into the dining room dressed in a Santa Claus outfit, complete with a giant sack. “Merry Christmas, one and all!”

  Pearl and Dottie’s faces lit up at Santa’s arrival, but Vinnie threw his head back and wailed. Katie bounced him up and down on her knee while Percy laughed and rubbed his fake belly.

  “I come bearing gifts!” He shook the red sack. “Take one and pass it along. They’re all the same, so don’t be picky.”

  Julia took the sack first and passed it down to Barker. She waited until they all had a matching oblong, wrapped box before ripping back the paper.

  “A VHS of my famous performance at the Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre!” he announced. “Recorded in 1987!”

  “Percy,” Julia said as she turned the outdated videotape over in her hands. “You shouldn’t have.”

  “How do we even play this?” Jessie whispered to Barker.

  “We don’t,” Barker whispered back. “Just say thank you and never bring it up again.”

  “Thanks.” Jessie waved it over her head. “Love it.”

  “No-ho-ho-ho problem, young one!” Percy patted his stomach, chuckling at his own joke. “Where’s my Dorothy at?”

  “Hanging her head in shame for turning the Christmas pudding into a meteor,” Julia said, leaning on her chair to investigate the kitchen. “Gran? Percy’s here?”

  “Percy?” Dot hurried out of the kitchen, a smile on her face. “Oh, you made it!”

  “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, my dear.” Percy leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “You look divine. Christmas suits you.”

  “Oh, thank you,” Dot pulled at her jumper. “I knitted it myself.”

  “Liar!” Jessie coughed under her breath. “You couldn’t knit a sock for a cat.”

  “Well, I thought about knitting it,” Dot said with pursed lips, “but I realised my time was better spent giving to charity.”

  “When have you ever given to charity?” Barker asked.

  “You’re all here, aren’t you?” Dot fired back with an icy glare. “Eating my food under my roof. Yes, I thought so.”

  “Well, either way, you look as beautiful as always.” Percy gave her another kiss on the cheek. “Are you ready for your Christmas gift, Dorothy?”

  “You got me something?” Dot pushed up her curls at the back.

  “Of course!” Percy announced with a flourish. “How could I not get the most beautiful woman in the whole village a gift befitting her? Are you ready?”

  Dot nodded and looked at the sack on the floor, but it was empty. Percy started clicking behind Dot’s ears, p
roducing silver coins and then making them disappear.

  “Wait, has he been practising?” Barker whispered to Julia. “That’s actually quite good.”

  Julia was equally impressed by Percy’s sudden showmanship. She watched as the coins disappeared and reappeared, wondering how he was performing the trick. At the moment when Dot seemed to be growing tired with the clicking next to her ears, Percy clicked one final time, producing a diamond ring.

  “What is happening right now?” Sue squealed, half standing up in her chair.

  “Dorothy South.” Percy dropped to one knee, his tone serious and steady. “These past two months with you have been the happiest of my life. I know this is sudden, and I know it probably seems a bit silly at our age, but hell, if everyone else can do it, why can’t we? Throw caution to the wind, I say. We might not have long left, but I know I want to spend however many days I have right by your side. I can’t promise you a lifetime because I don’t have one left, but I can promise you the rest of my life. Dorothy South, I love you. What do you say? Will you be my wife?”

  Julia’s hand clasped over her mouth as she stared at her gran. All the air sucked from the room, and not a sound could be heard. Dot appeared frozen in time, her mouth agape as she stared at the ring.

  “Yes,” Dot said finally, followed by a small girlish laugh. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  It was Jessie of all people who jumped up and started clapping. Julia couldn’t help but join. Tears streamed down her face as she watched Percy slide the shiny ring onto Dot’s wrinkled finger. Julia turned to Sue, who was sobbing into a Christmas napkin. Even Brian and Katie were shedding tears.

  “Did I just dream that?” Barker hooked his thumb over his shoulder.

  “I don’t think you did.” Julia shook her head. “My eighty-four-year-old grandmother is getting married.”

  “All right, Percy,” Dot ordered. “You can get up. I said yes!”

  “I don’t think I can, dear.” He waved his hands. “I appear to be stuck down here. Old bones, you see!”

  Alfie and Barker jumped up and hoisted Percy to his feet. When he was upright again, he caught his balance and produced a piece of mistletoe from thin air. He held it above his fiancée’s head, and they shared a kiss.

  “To Gran and Percy!” Sue held her glass of buck’s fizz in the air. “And I thought we couldn’t top last Christmas with the twins coming and Barker proposing to Julia, but here we are, an octogenarian engagement! Now that is something you don’t see every day.”

  “And I have more good news!” Percy announced. “The remnants of the Peridale Harmonics Choir met last night, and they voted for me to be the new leader! My first job is to recruit some new members, so what do you say, folks? Are you all on board?”

  “Actually, Percy, I think I’m going to have to quit.” Alfie rose his hand in the air. “The whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth.”

  “Me too, dear,” Dot said as she stared at her glittering ring. “I’ll happily cheer you on from the sidelines as your wife, but I think my singing days are well behind me!”

  “What about your Miss Singing Peridale 1953 title?” Julia asked. “Would she ever stop singing?”

  “About that.” Dot pushed up her curls as her eyelids fluttered. “I may have won that by default because there were only two entrants and the other girl wet herself on stage and ran off before finishing her song.”

  “Gran…” Sue sighed. “You were so proud of that title.”

  “I still won the money, dear!” Dot announced. “‘Don’t cry for me, Argentina!’”

  Julia sipped her buck’s fizz and choked when she noticed it was only a couple of minutes to two.

  “Everyone up!” she announced after slapping the table. “The excitement isn’t over yet. We all need to get across to the church right now!”

  “The church?” Dot sighed. “I’ve spent enough time in there lately. You’re not making us sit through one of those boring Christmas services, are you?”

  “No,” Julia said, grabbing Barker’s hand. “We’re getting married.”

  “Married?” Sue cried. “But—but—the dress, the flowers, the reception—I’m wearing a Christmas jumper! What are you talking about?”

  “We don’t need any of that stuff,” Julia said as she looked into Barker’s eyes. “All that matters is that there’s a man who wants to marry a woman and woman who wants to marry a man. What’s more fitting than marrying on the one-year anniversary of our engagement? Now, chop-chop everyone! Father David is waiting.”

  “Let me grab my hat!” Dot announced.

  “Leave it!” Julia cried, grabbing her gran’s hand. “We’re all going as we are, and that includes you, Santa.”

  Julia and Barker led the way across the village green to the church. Dot and Percy’s promised snowstorm had yet to hit the country, but the weather was cold enough to chill Julia, wearing only the simple dress she had dug out of her wardrobe. She had considered bringing her wedding dress with her. Jessie had secretly had it dry cleaned, but it felt wrong to repeat the occasion in that dress. That was then, and this was now, and she finally understood what a wedding was about: the marriage of two people.

  “We thought you’d chickened out!” Roxy exclaimed, shivering in the vestibule with Johnny and Leah. “Come on, bride! Let’s get this over with before the fat lady sings again.”

  Without pomp or extravagance, they made their way down the aisle in one collective group. Halfway down, Julia’s father looped his arm through hers. She smiled up at him, feeling worlds apart from how she’d felt the first time. The quivering, nervous wreck of a bride had been replaced with a determined and confident woman about to marry the man she loved.

  “Ah, here you are!” Father David clapped his hands together when he saw them. “Is everyone here?”

  Julia looked around the church. She had her family and her friends right by her side. She looked down at her pearl engagement ring, and then up at the ceiling. She knew her mother was there too.

  “Everyone that matters,” Julia said. “Let’s do this.”

  Father David grinned throughout the entire service. Tears flowed freely as Julia and Barker exchanged vows. Julia cried too, but they were more tears of relief that her wedding was finally happening for real.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife!” Father David cried, his voice bellowing around the empty church. “You can now kiss the bride.”

  As Julia and Barker shared their first kiss as a married couple, applause to rival a stadium full of people filled the room. A weight vanished from Julia’s shoulders, and when she opened her eyes, she smiled wider than she ever had, glad she wasn’t dreaming.

  “Any regrets?” Barker whispered.

  “Not one,” Julia replied, her fingers locked behind his head. “Now give me another kiss, husband.”

  After signing the marriage certificate, everyone insisted on taking pictures on their phones to immortalise the moment. Once they’d posed in various groups, Julia and Barker walked down the aisle hand in hand as husband and wife. They walked through the front doors, and Julia gasped when she saw soft flakes of snow drifting from the pale sky.

  “Would you look at that,” Dot said. “Someone is looking down on you, Julia.”

  “Thanks, Mum,” Julia whispered to the sky.

  They stood in the snow for a moment and let the first flakes of the year powder their hair.

  “What now?” Jessie asked.

  “We go back and enjoy Christmas,” Julia said, squeezing Barker’s hand. “What do you say, husband?”

  “Sounds like a plan to me, wife.”

  And with that, they all trekked back to Dot’s cottage to spend the rest of the day in front of the television with great food and even better company—the only way Christmas should be spent.

  Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed Wedding Cake and Woes, CLICK HERE to head over to Amazon to leave a quick review!

  Book 16. Red Velvet and Revenge

&
nbsp; The Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery Series - Book 16

  About This Book

  Released: February 28th 2018

  Words: 61,500

  Series: Book 16 - Peridale Cozy Café Mystery Series

  Standalone: Yes

  Cliff-hanger: No

  When Julia South-Brown is asked to judge the first Peridale Bake Off competition alongside local radio DJ, Tony Bridges, she expects it to be some light village fun while her new husband, Barker Brown, finishes work on his second novel. However, it ends up being anything but when Tony shows he is nothing like his charming radio personality. When someone takes advantage of his severe and well-publicised peanut allergy with a contaminated red velvet cake in the middle of the competition, Julia isn't surprised to find herself with another murder mystery to solve!

  With Tony having mistreated everyone from his wife, ex-wife, assistant, and most people unlucky enough to have crossed his path, Julia isn't short of suspects. But, what should be a cut and dry investigation turns into something wholly more complicated thanks to Julia suddenly being responsible for her baby brother when her father and step-mother find themselves indefinitely stranded in Ibiza thanks to a banana boat and a broken leg.

  While juggling a baby, a complicated case, and a slew of other personal dilemmas, Julia is forced to face tough decisions that will impact the rest of her life. Family proves more important than ever, but can Julia hold hers together? With her sleuthing putting her in increasingly more treacherous situations with each passing day, can Julia stay safe, or will this prove one case too far?

  WANT TO BE KEPT UP TO DATE WITH AGATHA FROST RELEASES? SIGN UP THE FREE NEWSLETTER BELOW!