Mix-Up under the Mistletoe (Glenbriar #11)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Rafe

Monday, December 23 rd

Morning

R afe pushed the remote stick to change the radio channel in the Raptor. He seriously didn’t want to hear ‘And So This Is Christmas’. It hit far too close to home. This was Christmas indeed, and what had he done? Let Tilly go, that was what.

Not that I had any right to stop her.

‘Driving Home for Christmas’ wasn’t a much better option but something about it was more nostalgic, and he kept it on as background noise as he motored down the A9 towards Perth. Ding, ding . Round two for this journey was underway. Just last week he’d done it, blissfully unaware ‘his girlfriend’ was already at his house waiting for him. Now that same woman had gone back to London, and he really would be ‘Lonely this Christmas’. Why were there so many festive songs that fit his moods? He could probably make a good playlist for his life round about now.

He’d spent last night in his flat, dedicating a large proportion of his time to replying to Arnold Wilcox’s email and then forwarding it to Tilly in a message so she knew what he’d said. So far, she hadn’t replied. Hopefully she’d slept ok on the train… though he’d already googled train accidents that morning to check the train hadn’t crashed or any other disastrous thing happened to them. He had this seriously bad, no matter how hard he tried to kid himself it would all pass like a snowstorm and melt away after a couple of days.

When he pulled into a service station for fuel, he checked his phone again. His grey mood instantly lifted on seeing a message from Tilly. He flipped up the screen with his thumb and read as he waited in the queue to pay.

TILLY: Hi, sorry for the late reply. I was talking to a woman on the train. She was really interesting. Then I fell asleep and didn’t wake up until the train was at Euston, which is a bit of a miracle really. I’m just about to go into the office, but I read your email on the bus. Thank you. I think it’ll really help. Maybe you and I could have a business chat sometime? Remember that idea I told you about? Would you be interested in employing someone to develop it for your company?

Wish me luck!

Tilly xx

Rafe smirked at the message and shook his head. What a great idea. The thought had been lingering close to the front of his mind for a while, but it had felt like nepotism to invent a job for her just to save her from 1-Quick. But if she wanted to do it officially, he’d definitely be up for that. Pretty much anything if it meant a good chance of seeing her again. He tapped out a quick response.

RAFE: I wish you all the luck in the world, always. I’m very interested in your proposal and am happy to hear more whenever you want to discuss it, especially if the person is you! xx

The message had been sent twenty minutes before, so she was probably in the office now. Hopefully she was ok and not letting them give her any grief.

He carried on to Glenbriar, still listening to Christmas songs as the backdrop to his solitary journey. They weren’t all bad and now he had a ray of hope that he and Tilly might have a working future together. That was something, but with luck, they might have even more.

Greenacres looked so welcoming as he drove down the sloping driveway. Snow still covered the landscape and the lights in the windows twinkled, calling to him. If only Tilly was inside this time, then his heart would light up too.

He entered through the utility room. His ski jacket and trousers were still hanging there from when they’d gone sledging. Memories whipped back as he kicked off his boots. They’d had such fun sledging… And that kiss. So perfect. What a chain of events it had started too. Now it felt oddly like he’d broken up with someone he’d been dating for months. How was that possible? He’d only known Tilly for a few days.

The house was unusually quiet. Was everyone out? Padding down the corridor, he checked the living room, then the kitchen. Hilary turned from the table, wiping her hands on a dishcloth. ‘Oh, it’s you. I thought I heard someone.’

‘I just got back.’ Rafe marched over and hugged her. ‘Where is everyone?’

‘Grandma’s resting in the book room. Well, she fell asleep, and I left her to it. The others have all gone out for a walk, but I’ve got too much to do.’

Rafe shook his head. ‘You should rest, Mum. You’ll burn out.’

‘I enjoy doing it.’ Hilary patted his back and returned to the table. ‘I just didn’t expect to need extra stuff for the church for tomorrow. Turns out the nativity was cancelled yesterday for the snow. It wasn’t just me who couldn’t get there. Grant, the minister, wants to do it tomorrow on Christmas Eve as part of the Christingle service. It’s a lovely idea, but we need extra baking as there’s sure to be a bigger turn out.’

Rafe raised an eyebrow. ‘You really are a marvel.’

Hilary smiled at him, before her expression fell a little. ‘Have you heard from Tilly?’

‘Yes. She’s arrived safely, and she’s come up with a business plan.’

‘Oh…’

‘That might involve us working together.’

‘Oh Rafe.’ Hilary let out a little sigh. ‘I hope it can be more than just a working relationship. Not that I want to belittle what either of you do, but there’s so much more to life than a career, if you give it a chance.’

‘Maybe, but I don’t want to rush into anything, neither does Tilly.’ Not after everything she’d told him. She needed time to reason out where they were going with this, and he could give her that.

‘That’s all well and good,’ Hilary said, ‘but don’t do the opposite and leave it too late. Tilly is a wonderful young woman. You won’t be the only person to notice.’

‘True.’

‘And she likes you an awful lot. Just as I’m sure you like her.’

He nodded. ‘Yes, Mum. I do.’

‘Good.’ She gave him a little pat on the arm. ‘Why don’t you come to the church with me? Give me a hand setting up.’

Rafe considered for a moment. It wasn’t really his thing at all, but it might stop him thinking about Tilly. ‘Yeah, ok. Why not?’

The church in Glenbriar was a relatively plain building with whitewashed stone walls and a small spire containing a bell tower still locally referred to as ‘the kirk’. Quaint surroundings made up for what it lacked in grandeur. Its situation atop a small hill, with bare wintery trees surrounding it and a fast-flowing stream tumbling through the churchyard, was both rustic and impressive. Rafe took it all in as he followed Hilary up the path that led to the main doors through the pretty little graveyard carrying a large box of her home baking. Some of the newer graves had Christmas wreaths propped on them and Rafe read a few names of the deceased as he passed by. The scene was Christmas card perfect.

The heavy wooden doors were open, and Hilary went in directly. Another set of double doors led on from the airy stone-floored entry porch to the main body of the kirk. A warm glow from the stained-glass windows illuminated the dark wood pews and burgundy carpets. Hilary led the way along the back and into a small hall.

Plates clinked and two ladies chattered to a young man as they bustled about, arranging trays and crockery.

‘Hello.’ Hilary put her box down on an empty table. Rafe did the same with his, smiling a hello as the other volunteers greeted him. He vaguely recognised one of the women. The man was wearing a dog collar. Rafe did a small double-take. That was the minister? Maybe it shouldn’t have been a surprise, but he looked too young to be a minister. He wasn’t the one who’d done last year’s service or Genevieve’s wedding.

‘Hi,’ the minister said. ‘This looks good.’ He peered at the two boxes of cakes on the table.

‘Literally just out of the oven,’ Hilary said. ‘This is my son, Rafe.’ She took his arm, almost dragging him forward. ‘Rafe, meet Grant, our new minister.’

‘Pleased to meet you.’ Rafe held out his hand, and they shook. Grant had to be Rafe’s age at most, possibly younger. Maybe it was prejudice, or just the way he thought of the church, but Rafe hadn’t expected a minister to be so young. Guess they have to start somewhere.

‘This is Nancy Leitch.’ Hilary gestured to the first woman who had short dark hair and large round glasses. ‘And this is Dotty Ingenfeld. You might recognise her from the Cosy Bean Café. She owns it.’

Rafe nodded at them both. ‘I haven’t been to that café for years,’ he said.

‘You must come again,’ Dotty said. ‘Though your mum makes some wonderful cakes herself, so you probably don’t need to.’

Rafe smiled. ‘I’ll bring Mum with me and that’ll give her a rest from the baking.’

‘Good plan,’ Dotty said.

Rafe rubbed his hands together. ‘So, what should I do? Just boss me about. I’ll do anything.’

‘Sounds like you’re exactly the kind of person we need,’ Nancy said.

‘Go easy on him.’ Hilary rubbed his arm. ‘He’s had a bit of a rough weekend, poor darling.’

Rafe exchanged a glance with Grant and they both laughed.

‘Is something funny?’ Hilary said.

‘No, Mum. You just make me sound about six.’

‘You’ll always be her baby,’ Dotty said. ‘Like my Dagmar. When I talk about her, people assume she’s tiny but she’s almost thirty.’

Hilary gave him a you-see smile.

‘What happened to you at the weekend?’ Nancy smiled at Rafe. ‘Dare we ask?’

Rafe shook his head. ‘I honestly wouldn’t know where to start. No doubt Mum will tell you better than I can.’

He helped take cakes from the boxes as Hilary launched into the story of Tilly arriving at the house. Some of it was cringeworthy, especially when she kept saying things like, ‘They were made for each other, if you ask me,’ and ‘don’t you think it sounds like a Christmas miracle?’

Grant moved over beside Rafe and smiled. ‘You, um, really have had an interesting weekend.’

Rafe shrugged with a half laugh. ‘You’re the minister. Do you think it’s a Christmas miracle or just an extremely bizarre coincidence?’

Grant chuckled. ‘Haven’t you heard? God moves in mysterious ways. Who’s to say your coincidence wasn’t ordained? Christmas, after all, is a time of wonder. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there’s light to be found.’

Rafe arched an eyebrow. ‘And do you think Tilly is the light in my darkness?’

Grant grinned, but his gaze drifted around the room and landed on the twinkling tree in the corner. ‘Light can be found in many places. In the stories we tell, the traditions we uphold, and the connections we forge. Christmas is a time to celebrate love, hope, and the power of community. If you believe Tilly can bring light and love to your soul, then welcome her, like God welcomes you to His church.’

‘You make it sound almost plausible.’ Rafe gave Grant a pat on the arm.

Grant’s smile deepened. ‘It could be. Have faith. Miracles aren’t always grand gestures. Sometimes, they’re small moments that change the course of our lives.’

Rafe nodded slowly. Maybe Tilly’s coming was one of those moments for him.

‘Maybe it’s time I started believing in Christmas magic.’ He returned his focus to the cakes, frowning slightly. He’d never been spiritual or religious, but the minister’s words gave him food for thought.

A buzz started up inside him… Was it too late to go after Tilly? She couldn’t get back here for Christmas, but he could go to her. He didn’t even know where she lived, but she would surely tell him if he asked. Maybe he could fly down tomorrow and meet her somewhere, but getting transport to London on Christmas Eve would be that Home Alone style problem all over again.

No harm in finding out though.

‘I need to check something.’ He nipped into the main part of the church, sat on a pew, and opened his phone. It only took seconds on each website to discover all the flights were booked up, so were the trains… the buses.

Bugger it. Oops, shouldn’t even think swears in church.

Unless… It wouldn’t be quite the same, but he could go straight after Christmas and spend the whole week with her, including the new year. Public transport should be back to normal by the twenty-seventh. He ran a quick check. Yep, that would have to do…

Now… Should he surprise her or let her know? Call him a sucker for romance, but he really wanted to see the look on her face if he turned up on her doorstep Love Actually style.