Chapter 51
PAUL
Holly knocked on the café van door after I’d served the last person at the winter wonderland and had shut the hatch with a firm thud. I opened the door and gestured her inside. ‘Quick, before someone else decides they need a hot chocolate; I think I might have RSI from making them!’
She chuckled. ‘It was packed today but Willow has just locked the main gate. She wants us all to come into the farmhouse and toast to the last day of the winter wonderland. Shall we go?’
‘I need to do this first.’ I drew her to me by her waist and she smiled. ‘You look all cute and cosy tonight,’ I told her as I gave her a soft kiss. I still couldn’t believe I got to kiss my best friend.
‘You too,’ she said, stroking the sleeves of my jumper. ‘And you smell good too.’
‘Are you sure it’s not sweat?’ I shook my head.
It had been a long day but we had made more profit this year than any year thanks to this event, so I couldn’t grumble.
My parents had agreed to shut the café for three days now that the festive season was over, and I wanted to snuggle Holly for all of them.
‘A little bit but mostly gingerbread and cinnamon, like usual, mixed with pine and musk.’ Holly grinned. ‘It might be my favourite scent.’
‘You’re definitely my favourite,’ I told her, kissing her again. ‘Okay, let’s go and have a drink then can we escape and be alone for the rest of the night?’
‘Let’s go and see the ice rink one last time,’ Holly suggested.
‘I’ll never say no to some alone time with you,’ I quickly agreed.
I’d spent all day wondering what she was going to do about Willow and Taylor’s offer, and if I should say something, anything, that would tempt her to accept it.
I really wanted to. I couldn’t risk losing her again.
But I also wanted her to choose me this time by herself.
We left the van and walked over to the ice rink, the empty ice glittering under the moonlight like diamonds.
I thought back to skating here together and wrapped an arm around Holly as we looked at it.
Gentle snowflakes started to float down from the sky like feathers.
It was beautiful but Holly was even more so.
Holly turned to face me, clearing her throat. I looked at her nervously as my hands moved to her hips. ‘I wanted to tell you that I’ve made a decision…’
My whole body went still as I watched her face, trying to gauge her expression. My heart sped up inside my chest. I had been dreading this moment since she’d told me about the offer.
‘I want to stay in Birchbrook,’ she said softly.
‘What?’ I asked, sure I had heard wrong.
Holly stepped even closer and put her arms around my shoulders. ‘I want to stay in Birchbrook but only if you want me to as well.’
‘Want you to?’
She bit her lip uncertainly and nodded. ‘Yes. Because we haven’t talked about whether this is something you want past this Christmas but I know I do, and if you do too then…’
Holly stopped speaking when I picked her up. She shrieked as I twirled her around, not easy to do when you are as tall as us. ‘Paul, what are you doing?’ she cried, laughing.
I put her down but kept holding her tightly. ‘Are you serious? I want you to stay more than anything!’ I kissed her quick and hard then pulled back to search her eyes. ‘You’re sure, though?’
Holly reached up and put her hands on either side of my face. ‘So sure. This is where I belong. I was scared so I ran but I am not going to do that again. Everything I want and need is here. But what I need and want most is you.’
‘You’re the love of my life,’ I told her simply. I gave her another kiss and then pulled her close to me. ‘I should have said that I loved you the day you left Birchbrook.’
‘No.’ She shook her head against my chest ‘We had to be apart to be sure this is what we want.’ She looked up at me. ‘But I’m sure now. I love you. I always have. You’re my best friend and lover and I’m so happy we found our way back to each other.’ A tear rolled down her cheek.
‘Why are you crying, sweetheart?’
She sniffed. ‘I just never thought I’d feel this way.’
‘Are you scared?’ I asked, still worried that she was unsure about a future with me.
‘No, because I’m going to be doing life with you.’
My heart soared. ‘Same.’
‘Put each other down; we need to celebrate Mistletoe Lane!’ Willow shouted from behind us then. We turned to see her and Georgia waving from closer to the farmhouse.
‘Yeah, we brought the mistletoe inside so you can keep kissing there!’ Georgia added.
Holly rolled her eyes. ‘I should never have introduced those two to one another.’
I slung an arm over her shoulder. ‘Let’s go and keep everyone happy and then I’m going to take you home.’
‘Home? I like the sound of that.’
‘You’ve practically moved in already; where else are you going to stay in Birchbrook?’
Her whole face lit up. ‘We’re really doing this?’
‘We sure are,’ I said, wondering how I’d got this lucky. ‘You ready?’
She nodded. ‘I’m ready.’
‘I hope you have beer,’ I told Willow and Georgia as we walked over to them. We passed by the café van and I locked it up, giving the side a pat in thanks.
Holly raised her eyebrow.
‘What?’ I asked defensively.
‘Do you two need a room?’ She giggled as I took her hand and we followed the other two to the farmhouse.
‘No, but we need one,’ I replied, tugging her hair then kissing the top of her head.
Holly wrapped her arm around my waist and snuggled in close for the walk back. ‘I like the sound of that. Let’s just have one drink then sneak away. Deal?’
‘Deal,’ I told my girl.
As we walked inside the farmhouse, I took one last look at the farm and had to smile.
There was a lot of talk of Christmas magic in Birchbrook and I was the last person who would have ever agreed if it was mentioned, but somehow, the woman of my dreams was back by my side and didn’t plan on going anywhere.
So, who was I to argue with my crazy town after all?
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