Chapter 28
Christmas Eve was Lauren’s last working day in the café, and she was determined to close early.
She’d pulled out a couple of sponge cakes to defrost overnight, and now swiftly filled them with butter cream and strawberry jam, sprinkling them with icing sugar before she put them on the counter.
It would be Victoria sponge or nothing today for her customers.
She didn’t want to have to throw anything out when she closed.
She’d spoken to Myriam, who, while feeling a little tired, was doing well on the cruise. Gary had also spoken proudly about Myriam’s work on the boat.
The day passed swiftly, and before she knew it, she’d said goodbye to Sam, who was gloomy at the prospect of driving over to suburban Surrey to stay with his parents for the duration – ‘Honestly, Lauren, it’s a fucking cultural and social wilderness down there; all pristine waxed jackets, Range Rovers that’ve never seen a lick of mud and men who’ve married away the gay and are in a happy state of self-induced denial!
’ – and was getting ready to close up. She smiled when she thought of Sam’s rather melodramatic explanation about his Christmas plans – bless him, maybe he’d find a fella who wasn’t afraid to share a kiss under the mistletoe with him.
Letting herself into the house a little later, she was looking forward to going to the pub to meet Cathy, and, hopefully, to see Marc, too.
Who knew, though, he might not even be there.
After all, unless he brought the boys, he’d need a babysitter.
At least, if she was sitting with Cathy, it wouldn’t seem as though she was Billy no-mates.
Taking a quick shower and selecting her favourite sweater, a baby pink cashmere V-neck that she wore when she wanted to feel more confident, she slipped into a pair of skinny jeans and boots and headed out to the pub as the hands on the clock in the kitchen edged up to seven.
That way, she’d be in situ and able to spot Marc if he could manage to come.
Christmas Eve in the pub was a tradition that most of the residents of Lower Brambleton adhered to, and she had to admit, she enjoyed it.
At Christmas, the landlord, Paddy, and his wife, Jen, went all out to create a cosy, vintage feel to the celebration.
In one corner of the bar stood a stout, fragrant Norwegian spruce tree, covered in gold and silver ornaments with, of course, a diamanté-bedecked star on top, and all through the bar area and the restaurant were strewn bunches of holly, colourful paper chains and the odd sprig of mistletoe.
Jen, the real power behind the Star and Telescope’s throne, loved Christmas, and so the Spotify festive playlists usually started early in November, but tonight she’d gone one better and invited Bella to perform an acoustic set of Christmas covers in the other corner of the bar.
Bella was joined by her old friend and sometime collaborator, Jason Flyte.
Lauren was somewhat in awe of Bella, who’d managed to keep her former life as a pop star under wraps when she’d moved to Lower Brambleton a few years back.
Bella always seemed so sure of herself, so confident, and never more so than when she was behind a microphone performing.
With her red hair clashing gloriously with the bright red dress, looking happily out at the pub audience, Bella could hold a crowd in the palm of her hand, and did a good job of covering Mariah Carey’s most festive hit.
Over to one side of the bar sat Noah, Bella’s partner, and their friends, Nick and Thea Saint, who’d finally tied the knot the previous summer.
Nick’s sister, Annabelle, and her husband, Jamie, were sitting around the same table and duly led the thunderous applause when Bella had finished her version of ‘All I Want for Christmas’.
Lauren couldn’t help thinking about what she wanted, this festive season.
With Myriam away, she had resigned herself to Christmas Day alone, and to be honest, she wasn’t too fussed about that.
Working right up until Christmas Eve had left her social battery feeling drained, and she was relieved to think that, after she’d left the pub tonight, she wouldn’t be seeing anyone until she reopened the café.
The prospect of a couple of days of solitude didn’t worry her, after her previous concerns when her mother had left for the cruise.
She’d got used to being alone fairly quickly; in fact, she was almost enjoying it.
‘Sorry I’m late.’ Cathy, rushing to her table, was all apologies. ‘Rob got back later than he thought from his last delivery.’
‘No worries.’ Lauren smiled at her friend as she hurriedly shrugged off her coat and scarf and settled in the other chair. ‘I was about to get another drink in. What would you like?’
‘Oh no you don’t,’ Cathy countered, grabbing her purse. ‘I told you the drinks were on me tonight.’ She gestured to Lauren’s glass. ‘Cider?’
Lauren grinned. ‘Can you make it a Zero this time around? I don’t want to be legless!’
Cathy headed off to the bar and Lauren got her phone out to check if Myriam had sent her any more pictures from the ship.
Nothing had come through yet, though, and so she slipped it back into her bag.
She’d been so absorbed, she hadn’t noticed someone approaching where she was sitting until his reflection was caught in the mirror to her right.
‘Er, hello.’ A nervous voice broke into her thoughts.
Lauren glanced up, and to her surprise, saw Marc standing by her table.
‘Marc, hi,’ she said, her heart speeding up a little. ‘How lovely to see you.’
‘I managed to get someone to watch the boys for a couple of hours, so I thought I’d come in and see if you still fancied that drink.’ Marc rubbed the back of his neck in an adorably nervous gesture. ‘And I owe you another thank you for the chat on the bench the other night.’
‘You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help.’ Lauren’s heart went out to him.
It was never easy when someone found you feeling low.
She tended to try to hide away from everyone when she felt that way, but, running the café, that wasn’t always possible.
Although Marc had clearly gone to the bench for some solitude, she was glad that she had been able to help him feel better.
‘Can I buy you a drink?’ he asked, still hovering by her table.
Lauren shook her head. ‘My friend, Cathy’s just getting me one – but you’re welcome to join us.’
‘Oh, I don’t want to interrupt.’ Marc smiled down at her. ‘Hopefully we can catch up a bit later? Maybe I can buy you your next drink?’
‘I’d like that.’ Lauren gave him what she hoped was an encouraging smile back.
‘See you in a bit.’ Marc turned back in the direction of Noah, Thea and Nick. As he did so, Cathy came back to the table with the drinks.
‘Hi,’ she said, placing the pints down. ‘It’s Marc, right? Your boys are in the same class as my Emily. I’ve seen you at the gate a couple of times.’
‘That’s right.’
As Marc and Cathy chatted, Lauren was happy to observe.
Cathy was a natural with people, automatically knowing how to put them at ease.
Lauren had noticed this immediately she’d come to work at the café, and she felt a mixture of pleasure and envy as she watched Cathy chatting to Marc for the minute or two he lingered at their table.
As he left, giving Lauren another smile, Cathy sat back down.
‘Bloody hell, Lauren, if I wasn’t very happily married, I’d be in there like a shot. He’s gorgeous!’ Cathy turned shining eyes towards Lauren.
Lauren glanced down into her pint, avoiding her friend’s inquisitive gaze. ‘He is pretty nice, yeah.’
‘Pretty nice?’ Cathy’s raised eyebrow spoke volumes. ‘He’s kept himself to himself at the school gate – I haven’t seen him chatting to anyone, and it’s not been for want of some of the other mums trying, I can tell you!’
‘He wanted to buy me a drink to thank me for the cake,’ Lauren replied patiently. ‘But I told him you’d already got me one.’
‘Wow, smooth, Lauren!’ Cathy laughed. ‘I know it’s been a while, but surely even you can remember the right answer when a guy you fancy offers you a drink?’
‘I don’t fancy him,’ Lauren said mutinously, but she knew she sounded unconvincing. The truth was quite the opposite, and Cathy’s pull the other one expression spoke volumes.
‘Well, even if that was true, I’d have taken one for the team and drunk it.’ Cathy clinked her glass against Lauren’s. ‘So, in the interests of being a good friend, and an even better matchmaker, I’m off after this one, and you can go and join the sexy Mr Hathaway for a jar or two.’
‘What?’ Lauren nearly choked on her pint. ‘You’re abandoning me?’
‘Don’t think of it as being abandoned…’ Cathy’s eyes twinkled ‘…it’s more me giving you a gentle shove in the direction of someone a lot more exciting.’
‘You’re not shoving me anywhere!’ Lauren couldn’t help giggling. ‘I don’t need you to set me up on a date.’
‘Sure you don’t.’ Cathy, who could down a pint faster than most of the Lower Brambleton rugby team, took several large gulps of cider. ‘Besides, I’ve just had a text from Rob, telling me the kids have gone down to sleep and he’s on the sofa wearing nothing but a smile and his Superman pants!’
‘Really?’
‘No, of course not!’ Cathy finished her pint.
‘But a girl can dream, can’t she?’ She glanced over to where Marc was sitting.
‘He’s got one eye on you, anyway – that’s about the fifth time he’s looked over here since I came back with the drinks.
The minute I stand up, he’ll be back over here, I guarantee it. ’
‘So you’re just leaving me?’ Lauren tried, and failed, to look cross. It was even more difficult when she realised Cathy was right; Marc’s gaze did seem to be drawn to their table.
‘Oh, you’ll survive.’ Cathy grinned at her. ‘But call me soon, yeah? I need details!’ With that, she stood up, leaned over and gave Lauren a huge hug and winked. ‘I give it fifteen seconds before he’s over here asking you if you want another drink.’
‘Merry Christmas,’ Lauren replied, smiling. ‘I hope Rob is actually where you’re imagining when you get home.’
‘Fat chance of that,’ Cathy snorted. ‘I’ve got the in-laws staying, remember?’ She threw Lauren a last smile, and ambled out of the pub.
Lauren, suddenly self-conscious again, focused on her drink.
Perhaps it was the calming effect of the first pint of cider, but a rebellious voice in her head wouldn’t be silenced.
She wasn’t just going to wait for Marc to come back over to her table.
Cathy was right – she did fancy him, and there was no time like the present.
It was Christmas, after all. Standing up, knocking back the rest of her Zero, she decided that she’d ask him what he wanted to drink, and see if he wanted to join her.
And if he didn’t, then she’d get another pint in and enjoy herself anyway.