Cosy Nights & Snowball Fights (Little Duck Pond Cafe #36)

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Being with Mum and Dad at the weekend was just what my bruised soul needed.

We didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. We just spent time chatting over some lovely dinners cooked by mum – and big fry-ups delivered by dad as it was a special occasion. It snowed again overnight on Friday so we awoke on Saturday to a beautiful winter wonderland. Mum and I went shopping on the Saturday morning and (obviously) we called in at our favourite café for cake and hot chocolate, hurrying in out of the cold, and we talked some more about what had happened, almost a year ago now. Mum said she wished I’d told them at the time, instead of keeping it all inside. She pointed at a framed poster of a red wine bottle on the wall next to us. I looked at the lettering and we both started to laugh. Wine. Because it’s not good to keep things bottled up.

The snow carried on falling during the weekend, so most of the time, we huddled indoors by the fire, ate mince pies, drank copious cups of hot tea and watched some of our favourite Christmas movies. Even Dad’s eyes teared up at the end of It’s A Wonderful Life , although he swore he had a cold coming on...

It felt so good being home, I even wondered if I should give up my little cottage and my job at the café and move back to Compton Meadows. The village held no fears for me any longer. Bumping into Gavin really wouldn’t bother me now. And all my old friends were here, although some of them were moving on to a different phase in their life that involved things like engagements and babies!

I’d made a start at getting to know people in Sunnybrook, but although the girls I worked with were lovely, I didn’t feel I’d made any really firm friendships. I was probably closer to Maddy than anyone else, but how long would it take to actually feel like I was a permanent part of the café community?

A little voice in my head was whispering that it was my own fault for being such a hermit and hiding away in the cottage instead of getting out and meeting people.

Was I ready to do that now? And what about Josh? Being in Sunnybrook, I’d be forever reminded that I’d had the chance to get to know him a lot better, but because of my insecurities, I’d wasted that chance.

As I gathered my things together on Sunday evening with a heavy heart, ready for the drive back, I was even wondering – with the benefit of objective distance – what exactly I was going back to Sunnybrook for. There was no one waiting for me there with a smile and a hug and an offer of tea, pleased to have me back...

It was harder than usual saying goodbye to mum and dad, although knowing they were coming to visit me in a couple of weeks’ time made me feel a bit better.

But as I drove away, I was having serious doubts about sticking with my new life in Sunnybrook...

*****

It was pitch black when I arrived and parked in the lane outside the cottage. My neighbours on either side seemed to be out because their places were in darkness, which made it feel rather spooky.

As I stumbled over a wonky paving flag on the path to the door, I wished I’d thought to leave the outside light on for when I arrived back. I couldn’t help thinking longingly of the cosy kitchen back home, where Mum and Dad would now be laughing and chatting and preparing dinner.

Letting myself into the darkened cottage, I dropped my bag in the hallway and took off my coat. Something rattled to the floor and I realised it was the apple-picker Maddy had brought round. I’d propped it against the wall.

Picking it up, I made a mental note to put it in the garden shed. Would it ever be used by me? Would I still be here next summer when the apples on the tree were ready to be picked? I really wasn’t sure at all.

I went around flicking on lights, heating and music. Little Mix’s ‘Shout Out to My Ex’ came on, which made me smile and think of Jo and the happy times when we were in our teens. Now that she had Fiona in her life, our friendship would never be as close as it once was.

Mum had carefully packed up the remains of the shepherd’s pie we’d eaten the previous night. I’d microwave it, but it wasn’t the same as sitting down with my family to eat...

But I was getting ridiculously mawkish and I needed to snap out of it. I was a big girl now. It was time I cut the apron strings!

With a sigh, I went into the kitchen and pulled out the shepherd’s pie container. Then I crossed to the window to pull down the blind.

Looking out at the little back garden, my heart gave a lurch of fear.

There was someone out there... a dark shadow moving around... and strange ghostly shapes I didn’t recognise.

What the hell? Was it a burglar preparing to break in? Maybe I’d imagined there was someone there –?

Something moved and I could hear noises now. Panicking, I reached for my phone.

Then I realised whoever was out there was walking towards the window. My stomach plunging with fear, I backed away.

My neighbours’ cottages were in darkness. I was all alone here in the middle of nowhere. And there was a stranger coming for me.

And then... something weird happened that made me gasp in amazement. It was magical, actually, not weird.

A hundred coloured fairy lights snapped on in the apple tree, illuminating the whole garden. And Josh was standing there smiling at me. My heart gave an enormous leap in my chest. What was he doing here? Decorating my garden?

I could see what the weird ghostly shapes were now, and I burst out laughing, grabbed my coat again and ran for the back door.

‘Josh?’ I trudged across the snowy lawn, pulling my coat around me. ‘Whatever happened to building a snowman? Have you really just made what I think you’ve made?’

‘More original than a snowman, don’t you think?’ He clapped the snow off his gloved hands and smiled, his breath like whisps of smoke in the freezing night air.

‘So can I check... just in case I’m actually dreaming? You’ve constructed a sofa and a side-table out of snow?’

He nodded. ‘The sofa’s a two-seater. I was thinking we could both enjoy it.’

I laughed in amazement. ‘It’s bloody brilliant is what it is,’ I said, walking over to examine it. ‘I’d actually say it was smaller than a two-seater. I think it’s called a love seat.’

‘Is it? Well, that was entirely unintentional, I assure you. Just in case you think I was being far too presumptuous. And by the way, it was Maddy’s idea that I should come and see you when you got back from your parents’.’

‘Maddy?’ I chuckled. ‘I might have known.’

‘She had a word or two in my ear in the Swan bar... told me a visit might be welcome, so I decided to go all in and make one of your dreams come true.’ He grinned. ‘It’s the entertainer in me. Go large or go home.’

My dream.

As soon as he said it, I recalled standing in the snowy garden with Josh and saying I loved the snow so much, I didn’t want to go back inside.

‘Hang on. There’s something else. Back in a sec.’ He sprinted away, across the snow, and I realised his car was parked in the lane, partly concealed by trees, so I hadn’t even noticed it in the darkness when I arrived.

My head was spinning. Josh had done all this for me?

And then he was back – with an armful of blankets and two portable cups.

‘Hot chocolate?’ He held out the cups, then he slipped one of the throws around my shoulders and laid the other blanket on the snow-sofa. ‘Seat, Madam? It’s safe. It won’t collapse. At least, I don’t think it will.’

I laughed. ‘I like that! So you want me to test it out first, just in case the workmanship isn’t quite up to scratch?’

‘I did try it out.’ His teeth gleamed white in the semi-darkness. ‘It took my weight so you’ll be fine.’

‘Okay. Here goes.’ Shaking my head, still unable to believe this was happening, I placed the two hot chocolate cups on the snow-table, which was really just a big cube. And I lowered myself gingerly onto the snow-sofa. ‘It’s quite a modern design. Boxy.’

He chuckled. ‘Funnily enough, I decided making legs for it might be a little beyond my creative scope.’

‘Do you think it can stand the weight of both of us?’ I smiled up at him.

He sat down beside me. It was a cosy space and I felt his warm breath on my cheek. I pulled off the throw from around my shoulders and invited him to share it with me to keep warm.

My heart was hammering against my ribs as we snuggled closer and stared up at the night sky together. It was a clear night with a million stars and a perfect half-moon hanging over us.

‘Is this too much?’ he murmured, turning. ‘Maddy seemed to think you wanted more than just friendship, but if she’s wrong, don’t worry. I’ll back off.’

‘No!’ I almost shouted in my panic. Then I laughed softly. ‘I mean, no, she’s perfectly right. I’m feeling stronger. I’m ready to move on.’

‘Right. Well, that’s good to hear.’

My phone rang. Pulling it out of my pocket, I laughed softly. ‘Speaking of Maddy... hi, there!’

‘Hi! Listen, two reasons why I’m calling. First, I wondered if you’d like to come on my hen weekend?’

‘Really? Oh, I’d love to.’

‘I mean, I’ve still got no firm plans but we’ll definitely be doing something .’

‘Count me in. And thank you for thinking of me. What’s the second thing?’

‘Well, I thought I’d better warn you. Josh might pop over.’

‘I know. It’s fine.’ I smiled over at Josh. ‘Thank you for suggesting it to him.’

‘Oh, is he actually there, then?’ she squeaked, so loudly that Josh heard her and chuckled.

‘He is, indeed. He’s made me some furniture made of snow.’

‘Sounds interesting. Right, I’d better let you go! Speak soon. And enjoy!’

I slipped the phone back in my pocket and snuggled next to Josh with a happy sigh.

‘So... where were we?’ he murmured, his arms firmly around me. His voice was deliciously deep and so close, it seemed to reverberate through every part of my body.

I pulled away slightly so I could look into his eyes. ‘I’m thinking... maybe we could start with that kiss we almost had that time but didn’t?’

‘Oh, that almost-kiss?’

‘Yes. What do you think?’

‘I think . . .’

And then there were no more words because his mouth came down on mine and we kissed right there on the snow-sofa. My hands stole under his jacket and I pulled him closer and then he was kissing my neck, his hot breath trailing upwards as he found my lips again. And I felt myself spinning away, up to the million stars in the sky, never wanting him to stop...

And then suddenly, I felt myself falling and Josh was on top of me.

‘What happened?’ I gasped, looking into his eyes. Not that I was complaining. Far from it.

‘The sofa’s collapsed.’

‘No!’

‘Yes.’ He chuckled, adjusting his position. ‘But it’s still quite comfy down here, don’t you think?’

‘I’m not complaining,’ I murmured, very much enjoying the weight of him on me and knowing beyond doubt that his desire for me quite equalled my longing for him. ‘You need to sack your designer, though. That sofa was obviously sub-standard.’

He chuckled. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll be demanding a refund.’

‘Do you think we should continue this inside? My bum’s soaked through.’

‘Sounds good.’ He levered himself up then he helped me to my feet, and we attempted to brush snow off each other.

‘We forgot the hot chocolate.’ I looked at the cups.

‘It’ll keep. We can drink it later.’

He grabbed me then, holding me tightly against him, and we kissed long and passionately.

‘Drinking it later implies we’ll be busy doing other things first,’ I murmured at last, when we finally came up for air.

‘It does indeed. Is your central heating fixed?’

I beamed up at him. ‘Who cares? I’ve got something else to keep me warm.’

‘The log-burner?’

‘You.’

We smiled at each other. Then Josh took my hand firmly in his and we walked across the snowy garden together and into the cottage...