Chapter 50
HOLLY
It was the final day that Mistletoe Lane would be open at Birch Tree Farm and the place was packed. Willow had let more visitors in for the final day, besieged with requests for tickets from people in town desperate to see what all the fuss was about.
Our last week of opening had been a dream.
There had been no more snow or storms or anything worrying weather-wise and Willow’s dad had proved to be a great draw as Santa each day.
Word had spread thick and fast at what a great day out you could have and so for the final one, Willow had let anyone in who wanted one last slice of Christmas magic.
But the best part of it all for me had been spending every minute I could spare with Paul.
I’d slept at his every night, and feeling his warm, strong arms around me had made me feel safe in a way I had never felt in my life before.
I’d been so scared to trust that anyone would stay with me but Paul made me feel more secure than I thought possible.
There was still worry in my heart but wanting to be with him was much more powerful of a feeling.
He was everything I had ever wanted. I just wished I knew if he felt the same way.
The sun had set as Georgia and I walked through Mistletoe Lane together, the lights twinkling against the darkening sky.
‘These are so moreish,’ Georgia said, waving a candy cane.
We’d had a nice time at the Birchbrook Arms the night before as a foursome with Paul. I’d been so nervous for them to meet him but it felt like it had gone well, almost as if we’d always drunk together.
Lucas had left us to chat to Paul in the café van and I was showing Georgia everything we had created here. She was a particular fan of the candy canes it seemed.
‘Those are for kids,’ I said, linking arms with her with a laugh.
‘It’s the last day; I’m helping you get rid of them,’ she responded. We passed the queue for Santa in the post-office shed and the cute Shetland ponies snacking on hay, watched over by the ‘elf’ Willow had hired from town. ‘This really is so cute and wholesome, Holly. Your best event yet.’
‘Even counting your wedding?’
‘Okay, nothing tops that, but this is a very close second. You should be proud of it. Everyone is thrilled by the magic. Even big kids like me!’
I smiled, pleased she liked it. ‘Thanks. It has been lovely seeing how happy it’s made people who have visited.
’ I was wrapped up in a red scarf today as the breeze was bitingly cold but the atmosphere on the farm was lively thanks to how close we were to Christmas and the polytunnels were warm.
People were grabbing the last of the Christmas trees and writing last-minute letters to Santa, buying treats from Paul, skating with loved ones and taking photos that would become next year’s Christmas cards.
Everyone seemed happy, including my best friend.
‘So, what do you think of Birchbrook?’ I asked her.
Not only had she met Paul now but over brunch, she’d met Willow and Dylan and everyone on the farm, and my mum had joined us too.
My worlds had finally collided and I’d loved it.
‘I think it’s beautiful here. Everyone seems so close too.
Definitely far removed from the city. I mean, there’s no Starbucks but your man can make a mean hot chocolate to make up for it.
’ She winked. ‘More importantly, you seem to love it here. I was always unsure how happy you were in the city, you seemed restless for something or someone, but here, you’re much calmer and you haven’t stopped smiling either.
Especially when a certain hunk of a baking god is nearby. ’
I laughed out loud as we passed through the mistletoe arc at the end of the tunnels. I glanced up at it, remembering the hot kiss I’d shared with Paul here. We’d been trying to act like we were just friends but that kiss had been impossible to ignore.
‘So, do you think I should say yes to what Willow and Taylor are offering me?’ I asked Georgia. I had spoken to her about it on the phone a lot but now she’d seen my life here, I wanted to know what she really thought.
‘You’d be a fool to let this go,’ she said in her typically blunt way. ‘You have a man who is crazy about you. He’s known you pretty much your whole life and worships the ground you walk on. You’d be close to your mum, and things are better with her, aren’t they?’
I nodded. ‘I had coffee at the cottage to tell her what happened with my dad. She was shocked I’d gone to see him but pleased I had.
She didn’t want to know what we’d spoken about, only that I was okay and got what I needed from it.
I told her it’s helped me close the past and look to the future.
She said she was proud of me. We do seem to have turned a corner,’ I said, pleased that we were rebuilding our relationship.
‘That’s great. And everyone at the farm seems fun and kind.
Plus, you have guaranteed work here if you take up their offer.
Events, which you love. This is pretty special, I have to admit,’ she said, gesturing around us.
‘I never see people come together like this in the city. And you feel like a big part of it, Holly.’
We walked out of the tunnels down the lit-up trail towards the ice rink and Paul’s van.
Lights guided the way and I could hear happy squeals from the skaters on the rink.
I thought back to skating there with Paul.
That had been the best date of my life. ‘What if Paul still thinks I’ll run, though?
’ I asked as I looked at him handing out hot chocolates that bore my name while he chatted to Lucas in the van.
‘He hasn’t asked me to stay.’ He had been quiet about the offer, and I knew he hadn’t wanted to push me away but I had hoped he might tell me what he wanted by now.
‘Because he knows it has to be your choice. But he clearly loves you.’
‘He hasn’t said that, though!’
‘Do you want him to?’ Georgia asked as we reached the ice rink.
I thought back to when Paul was telling me we could take things one step at a time, how uneasy I had felt.
I realised then it was because I didn’t want to do that.
I wanted a future with him. ‘Yes. I want to tell him I love him. And to hear it back from him.’ I probably had wanted it since we’d first kissed if I was being completely honest. But we’d had to work through the past first. The present was brilliant.
‘I need to know if he wants a future with me like I want one with him.’
We leaned on the ice rink railing for a moment.
‘Then go and tell him how you feel, and he will. Go get your man,’ Georgia said.
‘It’s Christmas – if you can’t tell someone you love them in a magical spot like this at this time of year, when can you?
’ She nodded at a couple kissing on the rink then turned to look at her husband and then back at me with a raised eyebrow.
‘I’ll miss you, though,’ I said, the only hesitation I felt about the idea of staying on in Birchbrook.
‘Yeah, me too.’ She stood up from the railing and turned to me. ‘But you know, maybe we might consider moving out of the city now that we’re starting a family…’ She touched her stomach with a sly smile.
‘Oh my God! I wondered why you’d only had Coke last night but I was too nervous to grill you!’ I grabbed her and pulled her in for a hug. ‘That’s amazing news, Georgia! Congratulations.’
‘Thanks, Hols.’ She drew back and beamed at me. ‘I got my happy ending; now you need to go and get yours. Deal?’
I took a breath. No running away. That was my life motto from here on out. And I had to keep on reminding myself of it every day.
‘Deal,’ I agreed.