Epilogue
Snow starts to fall outside the cottage. I look through the kitchen window as the flurry of snowflakes begins to rest in the garden. The scent of cinnamon and pine fills the cottage along with the soft orange glow of Granny’s many candles.
The small Christmas tree sits in the corner of the dining area adorned with paper chains and baubles that Lola and I made the other day. It makes me smile. The image of Lola giggling as Sam got the paper from the chains stuck to his fingers.
I bring the warm cup of chai I have been holding up to my lips. Its spiced scent hits my nose washing me in cosy warmth as I watch the frost settle on the windows.
I’m bought out of my trance as my mother enters through the front door.
“It’s freezing out there,” she chatters, holding her coat around her.
My mother has not returned to London since the Winter Wonderland Ball.
The angry calls and messages from my father have slowly started to fade and my mother looks more at peace.
I’ve got to know who she really is, not the plastic facade I have known all my life.
She hangs her coat up on the pegs in the corridor and makes her way into the kitchen to join me. I pour her a cup of chai which she gladly accepts.
“Thank you, darling,” she whispers. “I’ve fed the chickens and put a frost coat over the crops. When Aradia finally decides to come home from Pete’s tonsils, she owes me for all the chores I’ve covered for her.” She laughs.
My aunt has been basically living with Pete now. They really do act like lovesick teenagers. Staying over at his house, not coming home for days and when she does her cheeks are flushed with love and she’s completely giddy. I’m so happy for her though. She deserves all the happiness in the world.
“I’m sure she’ll be at Gloria’s tonight. You can tell her off then.” I laugh.
Tonight is Christmas Eve and Gloria is holding a little party at The Wandering Wisp. I had been there this morning helping her and Granny set up. Sam is working at Chris’s. They are inundated with orders for tomorrow so I’ll meet him later at the cafe.
“How are you feeling?” My mother rubs my arm joining me to look out of the window at the now soft blanket of snow covering the frozen ground.
“I still feel uneasy, like I’m waiting for something.” I sigh.
My mother nods. “I understand that, but I really do think Helena isn’t stupid enough to come after us now, especially since we’ve been contacted by so many of our kind in support of everything. And if she does, we will be ready.”
“I hope not.” I take a sip of my tea, and she rubs my arm again. “But I’m also worrying about witch hunters. Sam and I, we have targets on our backs now.”
She rubs my arm. “And we will be ready, darling.” She finishes her tea and places the cup in the sink. “I’m going to get ready for the party. Shall we walk in together?”
I smile and nod. “Yeah, that would be nice. I’m guessing Granny is just staying at Gloria’s now until it starts. I bet they’re both tipsy by the time we arrive.” I smile at the thought of Granny in a Santa hat drinking and getting truly merry.
She laughs. “Oh, I have no doubt that Gloria has already opened a bottle of port.”
We stand laughing for a moment until my mother smiles emotionally. “I’m so glad we get to do this now. I’ve missed so much of your life and I’ll never get that back.” She keeps doing this at the moment. Happy one moment and emotional the next.
I grab her hand to soothe her. “Hey, you don’t need to think like that anymore. We have the now and the future. That’s the most important part.”
She nods, trying not to cry.
“Come on.” I smile. “Go and get ready. No crying on Christmas!” I laugh, which she can’t help but join in with.
She pulls me into her for a hug. The warmth she now radiates matches that of my aunt and granny. Her warm brown sugar scent fills my nose. No more intoxicating expensive perfumes and heavy makeup. Just a woman and all she is in her natural form. Beautiful.
“I love you, Harriet,” she whispers.
“I love you too, Mum,” I whisper back.
She pulls away from the hug still holding my shoulders. “Right.” She breathes in. “Let’s go and get our glad rags on.”
She heads upstairs to her bedroom. I stand a moment longer, watching the snow fall from the grey skies above. I occasionally need to pinch myself that this is my life. This warm and fulfilling life is mine to have.
It pulls a grateful smile from my lips as I finish my tea and help myself to a mince pie that Granny had cooked this morning.
The soft buttery pastry and spiced filling make my mouth drool. I am addicted to homemade cakes now and I will die on this hill.
I finally make it upstairs and get myself into something less “fleecy reindeer pyjamas” and more party wear. I pick out a sweet black jumper and red tartan woollen skirt with tights and boots, and place a black bow in my half-up half-down hairdo.
I meet my mum downstairs who has opted for black jeans and a sparkly gold blouse. Her hair is tied into a loose bun, a little rouge on her cheeks and lips.
“Twit-twoo.” She smiles as I come down the stairs. “You look beautiful, darling.”
“As do you!” I return the compliment back to her.
She passes me my coat and slips into her own. After giving Nettle his dinner and a quick scratch behind the ears, we head out into the snow.
The crisp white blanket crunches under foot as we make our way down the dirt driveway.
The moon reflects beautifully off the pristine white surface lighting our normally dark passage to the village.
We link arms trying not to fall. As we approach Brindlewood the twinkling of Christmas lights hung from the cottages adds more light to our path.
Each cottage window is adorned with decorations or the glimpse of their Christmas tree inside, the snow adding the most festive backdrop to it all.
We hear music playing from The Wandering Wisp.
A few people are gathered on the green under a gazebo they have put outside the cafe.
The chatter and drinks clinking along with the Christmas jazz playing out of the door is magical.
I see Pete on a ladder up the village green Christmas tree trying to fix a broken light bulb.
“Evening, Harri, Cassie.” He smiles.
“Evening, Pete!” we say in unison as he returns to the most important job of getting the tree to light up on Christmas Eve.
We walk into Gloria’s. The usual village members are there in force drinking mulled wine and eating Granny’s mince pies, the children running around full of excitement for Father Christmas to visit them tonight.
Aradia finds us first, wrapping us both in her arms.
My mother pulls away. “I’ve been doing all your chores since you’ve been hiding away with your boyfriend.” She smirks.
“Well, it’s about time you did some stuff, sis.” She smirks back. “You have years to make up for. That’s at least all my chores until I’m in a retirement home.”
They bang shoulders playfully and Aradia takes my mother away for a drink. It’s so good to see them actually getting on and acting like sisters rather than sworn enemies. I think it’s really made them both happy having each other again.
I see Lois and Hannah in the corner sipping their drinks and deep in conversation. I shuffle through the crowd to get to them.
“Harri!” Hannah coos, looking up from Lois.
I sit down with them excitedly. “So?” I whisper quietly.
Lois smirks and looks at Hannah. “Do we tell her?”
I lean in closer, my hands on the table. “Honestly, Lois, if you don’t spit it out I won’t be held accountable for my actions!” I smile playfully.
Hannah takes a deep breath. “It’s a girl!” she squeals.
“Ahhhhh, I knew it!” I squeal back. “Oh, guys, that is just amazing! God, she is one lucky little girl!” I reach my hand out to Hannah’s tiny bump and pout. “It’s so amazing, isn’t it? A little life growing inside you.” I smile at them both.
We had bets on the gender when they went for the scan today. Obviously thanks to my dream telling, I already knew! But Sam doesn’t need to know that and he now owes me a fiver.
Lois brings me back into the room. “Could be you next.” She raises her eyebrow smirking as she sips her mulled wine.
I feel a pair of large hands hold my shoulders.
“What could be us next?” His voice is smooth as silk.
My body melts under his touch. His aftershave fills my nostrils.
My body ignites with a fire so fierce every time he is around me it takes all my energy to stop it spilling out and burn the world around me.
I can hardly keep my hands off him. Any chance we have we’re at it like rabbits.
I’m surprised I can even walk straight. I tilt my head back to look up at him.
His eyes meet mine. His slightly possessive, but filled with desire, eyes. He leans down to kiss me deeply.
Lois and Hannah both make vomit noises in protest. “You guys are so gross! Get a room.” Lois laughs.
“Yeah, you two,” Hannah chimes in. “Some of us don’t want to see how in love you are.” She smirks as I pull away. Sam sits down next to me.
“So who is going to be next at what?” he asks again.
“Hannah had her scan today, so we were talking about babies.” I smile.
“Oh God, yeah, how did it go? Another boy?” He chuckles.
“Actually…” I simper. “I was right, it’s a girl.” I stick my tongue out.
“You told her before me? Again!” He sighs. “And I now owe her a fiver. This is a bad Christmas Eve.” He laughs.
We all laugh with him. “I can’t help it that they like me more.” I bite my lip.
I can see his eyes darken but he plays it cool.
Lois and Hannah nod, still laughing at his tantrum.
“And we were saying…” Lois has her troublemaker twinkle in her eyes. “That maybe it’ll be you two next.” She stifles her smirk.
Sam stares at her. “Oh, were you, Lois?” He turns to look at me. “And what do you think about this, Harri?”
I laugh. “I didn’t say anything! And anyway, you’ve got to put a ring on it before I start pushing out your big-headed babies,” I tease.