Chapter 25
CLARA
Almost Christmas, Actually
‘Are you ready?’ Eleanor asked Clara, taking her arm and guiding her out of the warmth of The Cosy Christmas Shop onto Hollythorpe’s main high street.
Clara took a moment to breathe in the scent of pine needles and roasting chestnuts and focused on the dozens of pop-up shops that had already been set up along the meandering cobbled pavement.
Visitors were just beginning to arrive at the Christmas fayre, and some were already huddled around the stacked stalls, checking out the handmade wooden toys, trying on woolly hats, gloves and festive scarves or tasting locally made cheese and chutneys.
She could smell hot chocolate and saw Hazel from Sugarplum Cakes & Bakes in the distance carrying a loaded tray of drinks.
‘Take one,’ she said to Clara as they approached, winking at Eleanor as she grabbed a steaming marshmallow-filled mug too.
‘I’ve left Danny and Sam inside.’ Hazel nodded at the window of her café where a queue of customers weaved around the busy counter.
‘They’re making some last-minute changes to their Christmas treats.
’ She frowned. ‘I wish they’d put half that much energy into school.
I hope Kiera appreciates the effort they’ve gone to – although she’s got no idea how much is riding on her selection. ’ She grimaced.
‘When’s the big moment?’ Eleanor asked.
‘Around the Christmas tree, when we’re all singing carols.
They’re going to offer a selection of treats to the spectators, starting with her.
’ She leaned forward winking conspiratorially.
‘There are a couple of chocolate biscuits from the bakery included in the mix, but they’re both absolutely convinced she’s going to choose theirs.
I hope this goes the way I want it to. With my sons making up. ’
‘I’m sure it’ll work out.’ Eleanor patted her sister’s shoulder as a couple of children rushed past, heading for Joe’s magic stall which he was in the process of illuminating with his wand. ‘It is Christmas, after all.’
‘I hope you’re right,’ Hazel said thoughtfully. ‘See you by the Christmas tree in a minute.’ She directed her gaze to Clara. ‘Where’s Liam?’
Just the sound of his name had Clara’s whole body heating. Since he’d found her in the airport, they’d been inseparable. Not having him with her now felt odd.
‘He said he’ll meet us by the tree. The thrones are already set up,’ Eleanor said, as her eyes honed in on the bookshop a few metres ahead. ‘Excuse us. I’ve got something to pick up on the way.’
‘Is it a handsome bookshop owner by chance?’ her sister chuckled.
Eleanor flushed and tugged Clara further down the cobbled high street as flakes of snow began to flutter from the sky.
Everything looked so festive and she felt her heart fill as she glanced around, taking in the glittering surroundings, the warm lights, excited huddles of visitors, the tinsel and baubles, incredible smells and sounds.
She couldn’t believe how much had changed in the last month.
How much happier she was since coming to Hollythorpe.
She no longer questioned every word she said, and for the first time in her life she was happy with the person she was.
They stopped outside The Reading Room Bookshop and Clara noticed Ezra had added tinsel and dozens of elves-on-the-shelves into the shop window. Some of the toys were hugging baubles, others read large hardbacks, while a few were feasting their way through piles of mini marshmallows and mince pies.
‘Looks like the bookshop has finally embraced Christmas,’ Clara observed as music began to play further up the high street, signalling the carollers were starting to warm up.
Her cheeks tingled as a gust of snowflakes swept into her face bringing with them the scent of gingerbread. She tugged her coat tighter.
‘We’ve been working on his festive spirit,’ Eleanor said warmly, as the door swung open and the man in question came out clutching a handful of elves. His cheeks pinked when he spotted Eleanor and he offered them to her.
‘I found these guys eating trifle in my shower this morning,’ he said sternly, his mouth twitching at the corners.
‘I can’t imagine how they got there.’ She took the elves and shoved them into her coat pocket. ‘You know most women would rather be given flowers?’ She grinned before hooking an arm through his elbow.
‘You are the exception to that rule, Eleanor Kringle,’ Ezra said dryly, giving her a heated look. ‘But if you stop leaving elves around my house, I might consider getting you a bouquet of some kind.’
Her godmother smiled up at him. ‘Now where would be the fun in that?’
He gazed at her and chuckled, his grey eyes sparkling with humour.
Their relationship had developed quickly since the bookshop owner had apologised.
Clara had seen the message pinned to the shop window when she’d returned from the airport with Liam and approved of the relationship, which was going from strength to strength.
‘I heard from my mother this morning,’ she confided as the three of them began to make their way down the high street, past a postbox decorated with dozens of knitted snowmen and a couple of huge inflatable reindeer which were sitting at the edge of the road.
‘Apparently, Hudson’s dating Abigail.’ It hadn’t been a surprise.
Eleanor gaped. ‘Does he still expect you to go back to New York for the client party?’
‘Not anymore,’ Clara said. He’d sent her an email yesterday thanking her for her work and terminating her contract.
It had been a welcome message because she hadn’t been looking forward to going back.
Now the whole of Christmas stretched out ahead of her and she was free to spend it with the people who mattered to her most.
Her ex had promised to pack her things and ship them to Hollythorpe too, which meant Clara was free to start looking for jobs in the new year. She wasn’t worried, she was good at her job and already had a few companies interested.
‘Was your mum upset?’ Eleanor gave Clara a concerned look.
‘No, actually.’ Clara frowned. ‘She said she just wanted me to be happy and since I am…’ She shrugged. Perhaps miracles did happen this time of year.
The music grew louder as they approached the Christmas tree clearing and Clara smiled, recalling her first kiss here with Liam.
She searched the crowd and her insides went gooey when she spotted him standing close to the centre dressed in his Mr Christmas suit and carrying Charlie on his shoulder.
His eyes sought hers and he winked, making her insides heat.
‘Mrs Christmas!’ A voice shouted from behind and when Clara turned, she saw Doris, Ethel, Stan and Nora, who was carrying a flask and one of her cats.
‘We got here just in time I see!’ Doris declared as her gaze swept over the crowd and the two empty thrones.
‘You’d better get into position,’ she ordered and Clara saw Jenny pry Charlie from Liam’s arms.
‘Before we start, we’ve got some treats to give out from Sugarplum Cakes & Bakes,’ Sam said loudly as he and Danny weaved past them and headed into the crowd. Sam was carrying a tray containing mince pies, cupcakes, gingerbread cookies and the chocolate biscuits Hazel had mentioned.
They ignored the members of the audience who reached out to grab a treat and both made a beeline for a stunning blonde girl standing close to the carollers, before stopping in front of her and offering the tray.
She regarded the treats for a moment before reaching for a chocolate biscuit and turning away.
‘Oh boy, looks like neither of my nephews have won the fair maiden’s heart,’ Eleanor murmured, sounding worried.
‘I hope they’re not going to fight about it.
’ Clara watched Sam’s mouth pinch, saw him turn to his brother just as a couple of teenage girls wandered over and plucked a couple of treats from the tray.
Danny smiled as one of them began to talk and Sam nodded before swinging an arm around his brother.
‘I think we can call that a success,’ Ezra said quietly before pointing at Liam. ‘Your Mr Christmas has just taken his seat,’ he said.
‘You’d better get over there, Clara,’ Eleanor told her.
‘Everyone’s going to be excited to see you both.
’ Clara made her way through the crowd to where Liam was waiting with Figgy.
The dog greeted her with a quick sniff of her coat, before Jenny took the lead and guided the retriever and Charlie to the edge of the stage.
Clara looked up into Liam’s eyes as she joined him. ‘I missed you,’ he said, beaming down at her.
‘I missed you too.’
‘Are you ready to sing our song?’ he asked huskily, stepping closer.
‘Not quite,’ she murmured before going up on her tiptoes and pressing her mouth to his lips.
She heard the crowd start to clap as the carollers began to hum in harmony.
Felt Liam slide an arm around her waist and got lost in the moment until the crowd began to sing ‘Christmas Is All Around’ – and Clara and Liam stopped kissing for long enough to join in…
* * *
If you fell in love with Christmas, Actually, you’ll be charmed by Belle and Jack in Christmas in the Scottish Highlands, where they meet amid a flurry of mulled wine, mince pies and lots of sparkle!
Get it here or keep reading for an exclusive extract.