A Winter Wedding at Primrose Hall (Primrose Woods #6)

Chapter 27

27

‘Peee-aa!’ She looked round and greeted Katy, Brad, Pip and little Rosie, who was suitably attired in a faux-fur animal print winter coat with matching hat and mittens. ‘Look what I’ve got from Father Christmas.’

Gleefully, jumping up and down on the spot, the small girl held up a craft set, still half covered in its Christmas wrapping, for Pia to see.

‘And Pip did get a dinosaur! Mummy says I can use the stickers when I get home.’

‘Well, that looks brilliant.’

‘And we did see Twinkle and Little Star in the stable!’

The animals always took a starring role in the nativity display, proving a big hit with all the visitors, young and old alike.

‘Have you heard that we’ve got some new animals now, some alpacas?’

Rosie nodded her head, wide-eyed.

‘Mummy told me. Can I go and see them, please?’

‘Well, they’ll be fast asleep now, but you’ll get to see them at the wedding because we’re going to have some photos taken with them in all our finery.’

‘What are their names?’

‘There’s three of them: Humphrey, Marvin and Jack.’

‘Pah, they’re silly names,’ said Rosie disapprovingly.

‘Don’t be rude,’ Katy gently chastised her daughter, although Pia thought the little girl probably had a point, even if she couldn’t imagine them being called anything else now. In the short time that she’d got to know the alpacas, Pia had realised that they each had distinct personalities and suited their names perfectly, although Humphrey was definitely the main man and very much in charge.

‘Not long to go now to the big day,’ Katy said with a smile. ‘How are you feeling?’

The number of times she’d been asked that question, Pia would have expected to be able to come up with a coherent answer, but still she stumbled over her words, unable to get her thoughts into order.

‘I don’t know. Scared, excited, nervous. To be honest with you, I’m a bit of a mess, but I’m looking forward to it. I can’t wait, in fact.’

‘Me too! I can’t wait.’ Rosie jumped up and down on the spot in her excitement. ‘I’m going to wear my princess dress and I’m going to hold your hand all day so that you don’t feel nervous or sad.’

Pia’s heart swelled and she exchanged a look of affection with Katy.

‘That will mean the world to me,’ Pia told the little girl. ‘It will make all the difference knowing that you’ll be there at my side.’

‘Come on, kids, we should be getting home,’ Katy said, taking Rosie by the hand. ‘We’ll see you next weekend, Pia, but if there’s anything you need me to do in the meantime then just let me know.’

It was the same message from everyone Pia chatted to that night. People shared their good wishes for Jackson and Pia’s upcoming wedding while friends who would be attending spoke of their anticipation and excitement for the big day.

Over by the stables, Tom and Sophie huddled together as they soaked up the glorious festive atmosphere. They both had a warming mug of mulled wine in their hands, the aromas of cinnamon, spices and fresh oranges playing at their nostrils.

‘It’s been a lot of fun working on this,’ admitted Tom, who had helped with the set-up of the stalls, the light display and the signage. The team had worked incredibly hard, right up until the last minute, to get the hall looking absolutely first class for tonight’s event, so it was good to see that everything had come together as they’d planned. Now, Tom looked all around him. ‘Tomorrow, we’ll take down the nativity display, get Santa’s grotto removed, ho-ho-ho, and start the preparations on the barn and stables ready for the wedding.’

‘You do realise that when you’re in your new job and they ask for volunteers next year to sort the Christmas party, you’re going to be the go-to man with your knowledge of grottos and donkeys!’

Tom laughed.

‘Transferable skills, definitely.’

Sophie still felt apprehensive about the steps Tom was about to take in his career, and what it might mean for their relationship, but outwardly she tried her best to show him her support and encouragement. It was her own insecurities that taunted her, but she couldn’t let Tom know how she really felt. It would be an adjustment for them both, her especially, knowing he wouldn’t be there at the craft days, as her safety blanket, and inevitably seeing less of him because of the travel involved in his new work schedule. They would find a way to make it work. They were growing closer, creating a deeper bond all the time, and hopefully their relationship was strong enough to navigate this change in their circumstances.

‘Hello, you two.’ Ronnie appeared at their side. She cut a flamboyant figure in her long, fur-trimmed sheepskin coat and wide-brimmed hat. ‘There’s something about hearing beautifully sung Christmas carols on a cold winter’s night that sends goosebumps along my body. It reminds me of being a small child, and going to church with my mum and dad, knowing Christmas was just around the corner.’

‘And is there any better place to spend Christmas than Primrose Hall?’ Sophie held her mittened palms up to the sky. ‘It’s so kind of Pia and Jackson to invite me for Christmas lunch again. I had such a wonderful time last year, although of course I didn’t really know any of you then. I was in complete awe of you all, thinking what a vibrant, colourful bunch you were.’

‘Now, that’s a very polite way of describing us.’ Ronnie’s distinctive laugh rang out in the cold air. ‘You mean noisy and dramatic really, don’t you? Dysfunctional, perhaps? Anyway, you’re part of the clan now so you’ll always be welcome at the hall.’

‘Aw, thanks,’ said Sophie, giving Ronnie a squeeze. While it was a lovely thought, Sophie knew that she and Tom came as a unit at the dinner table at Primrose Hall and if their relationship should ever falter then she would lose not only a good friend in the man she adored, but also the close connection she’d built with the rest of his family. She exhaled a breath, seeing it gather in front of her face, realising that she didn’t want that to happen. She’d found a happiness and contentment with Tom that extended beyond their own connection and she would hate for anything to impact upon that.

‘So what’s Dad being so cryptic about, Ronnie, do you know?’

Before Tom had finished his question, he’d felt the full force of Sophie’s elbow in his side. He whipped his head round to see what had caused such a reaction, but by then his head had caught up with his mouth, especially as he had Ronnie’s puzzled expression observing him closely.

‘What do you mean?’ she asked, her brow furrowing.

‘Oh, Dad was just saying that he hoped we were going back to the hall because there was some news he wanted to tell us.’

‘Did he now? I wonder what that’s all about then. No, he didn’t mention anything to me, but then he has been acting a bit secretively these last few weeks.’ She shook her head. ‘Hmm, I knew that man was up to something!’ she announced as though solving a mystery.

‘Look, I’m sure it’s nothing. It’s probably something to do with the wedding. Maybe a surprise for Jackson and Pia,’ Sophie suggested, hoping Tom hadn’t just dropped his dad in it.

‘Hmmm, possibly,’ said Ronnie, sounding unconvinced. Her lips pursed together as she contemplated what might be going on with Rex. She’d sensed for weeks now that he was up to something. He’d been distant and evasive with her and she recognised that behaviour from old. And why hadn’t he said anything to her about this news? Perhaps he thought there would be safety in numbers if he got the rest of the family around when he was announcing whatever it was he had to say.

Ronnie lifted her face up to the night sky, revelling in its sharp coldness and the feeling of energy it brought to every inch of her body. She adored Rex, loved him with all her heart, but she was too old to have her heart broken again. Surely he couldn’t be contemplating one of his escape manoeuvres, not when he’d been through so much this year and had found, or so she thought, a contentment at Primrose Hall? Or else perhaps his close brush with his maker had given him a new lease of life and he was making plans to take off on his travels again, on his own. She suppressed a sigh. That man would never cease to surprise her.

When Jackson arrived and placed an arm around his brother’s shoulder, engaging him in conversation, Sophie steered Ronnie to one side.

‘So are you all ready for Christmas?’ Sophie put her arm through Ronnie’s. ‘It’s such a busy time and you’ve had so much going on at the hall this year.’

‘Yes, all my presents are wrapped. I just have to put the finishing touches to the wedding present and then I shall be done. I hope they like it after all the hard work I’ve put into it.’

‘I’m sure they’re going to love it. Come on, let’s walk.’

They wandered arm in arm, soaking up the festive atmosphere, looking around the stalls, stopping to chat to people that they met.

‘Look at those two,’ said Ronnie, turning to watch the Moody brothers in animated conversation, clearly sharing some good-natured banter judging by their body language and the back slapping. ‘They’re so much like their dad, taller and broader, of course, but the family resemblance is striking. What a blessing it is that they’ve found each other. If you’d asked Jackson a year ago, he would have been totally indifferent to welcoming a new relation into the family, but I think it’s surprised him how his relationship with Tom has developed. They’ll be a huge support to each other as they grow older; it’s good to have someone to confide in about business or families or children.’

‘Absolutely, I know how much it means to Tom having found his family,’ Sophie said, knowing it was also the reason why he would stay living in the local area. His new job might take him away for days or weeks at a time, but the pull of home and family would always bring him back. She hoped that she may have played a small part too in Tom wanting to stay close to Primrose Hall.