Mix-Up under the Mistletoe (Glenbriar #11)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Tilly

T he warmth around Tilly wasn’t just coming from the heat in the house, but from the people who were taking turns to embrace her. The fuzzy feeling inside her chest was like nothing she’d ever experienced before. Here was love. A family. And Rafe.

Finally, Hilary released her, and Tilly stepped outside again to collect her bags. Almost as soon as she got back inside, Geoff took the mistletoe off the top of the door and closed it. Rafe’s arms took hold of her. His solid body was a pillar of strength, keeping her upright while her insides wanted to crumple, not from sadness, but from the weightlessness of not having to carry the heavy bulk of work and the stress of life on her shoulders. He stroked her back and rocked her a little.

‘How did you get here?’ He rubbed his cheek on hers, making her skin tingle at the contact. ‘And why aren’t you at work?’

‘Come into the living room and tell us,’ Hilary said. ‘It’s lovely and warm in there.’

‘It’s fate,’ Genevieve said. ‘I’ve been saying it from the start.’

Grandma patted her back. ‘I agree with you.’

‘It’s mental.’ Cressida hoisted Alexander up her hip. ‘But good mental. Brilliant, in fact.’

Rafe let Tilly go and she bent down to pat the dogs, who were sniffing around her and wagging their tails. ‘Hey.’ She gave the two labs a pat first before gently moving them out of the way so that little Mitzi could get her nose in. She instantly dropped on her back and Tilly giggled as she rubbed her tummy. Even the dogs were pleased to see her, and it melted her heart a little more.

‘Come on.’ Rafe nudged the dogs into the main part of the house. As soon as Horace and Dax went, Mitzi jumped up and tottered after them.

Tilly took Rafe’s hand. Heat seeped into her at the touch. He smiled at her and closed his fingers around hers. Together, they headed for the living room and joined the others. When they took their seats, Tilly moved in close, and Rafe put his arm around her shoulder.

‘I decided to quit my job. As soon as I did, I got back on the sleeper train and, well, came here.’

‘Thank goodness you quit,’ Hilary said. ‘Sounded like a horrible place to work.’

‘I wonder…’ Tilly looked at Rafe. ‘If you’d be interested in hearing a business proposal?’

He laughed and gave her shoulder a little squeeze. ‘I already told you I liked your idea. It sounds right up my street. I kinda wanted to steal it after you told me, but I wasn’t going to stoop to 1-Quick levels. We can definitely discuss it in the New Year, and I can help you find a job too.’

‘With you?’

‘Absolutely. If that’s what you want.’

‘Oh, I mean, I would do it properly. I don’t want to be accused of getting anything underhand.’

‘We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen; we’ll do it all officially.’

‘Good.’ She picked at her cuticles. ‘Because I don’t want Arnie or Mitchell to think I’ve… Done anything I shouldn’t to get a job.’

‘I couldn’t care less what they think,’ Rafe said. ‘But I understand how it might look, so we’ll make sure it all goes through the proper channels.’

Tilly leaned into him, and he placed a kiss on her forehead. She wasn’t looking forward to anyone at 1-Quick discovering she was in a relationship with Rafe… Assuming she was, and maybe that was still something she had to clarify. Arnie might try to make things difficult, though maybe she shouldn’t care. She didn’t exactly plan to see him again.

‘This is wonderful,’ Hilary said. ‘We’re heading to the Christingle and nativity service this afternoon. I can understand if it’s not your thing, but you’re welcome to come along.’

‘I’d love to,’ Tilly said.

‘Perfect. Would you like me to take your bags up to your room?’

‘I’ll do it.’ Rafe got to his feet. ‘You chill, Mum. You’ve run after us enough this week.’

Tilly smiled at everyone, then watched Rafe leaving the room. ‘Actually, I should go with him… I need to…’ She wasn’t sure what she needed to do, she just wanted to talk to him.

‘On you go,’ Grandma said. ‘He’s only going upstairs, but young lovers shouldn’t be separated for too long.’

Heat burned in Tilly’s cheeks, but what was the point in denying it? ‘Thanks.’ She scooted after him.

He was in the hall, lifting her case as Mitzi sniffed around.

‘I doubt there’s anything in there for you,’ Rafe said.

‘There might be,’ Tilly said, and he glanced around at her voice.

‘Don’t you want to rest? You’ve done a lot of travelling these past few days.’

‘Nope.’ She lifted the smaller bags, not wanting him to look inside as she’d bought presents for everyone, but not had time to wrap them. ‘I just want to be with you.’

He smiled his most gorgeous smile. ‘I’m really glad you’re back.’

They climbed the stairs together and Tilly beamed at the twinkly lights.

‘I was worried about you,’ Rafe said. ‘I pity anyone who works for those 1-Quick cowboys.’

‘Me too. I’m glad I’m out, but not as glad as I am to be here.’

He opened the door to her room and paused. Tilly frowned. Was he thinking she might prefer his room? She would, but was that totally presumptuous? What were they really to each other? They’d had one night and one morning together, but that didn’t mean they were in a relationship. Was that what he wanted, or had she muddied the water by bringing work into the equation?

‘You know, Tilly, I wonder if—’

‘Rafe!’ Hilary called from the bottom of the stairs.

‘Yeah?’

‘I just noticed the time. We’re going to set off shortly.’

‘Ok. We’ll be down in a minute.’ He smiled at Tilly. ‘Are you sure you want to come with us?’

She nodded. ‘Definitely. This is like my first proper Christmas, and I don’t want to miss anything.’

‘Ok. We should get ready though. Mum doesn’t like to be late.’

She’d been travelling for what felt like days up and down the country, but Tilly’s energy levels were high. Maybe it was adrenaline, but she wanted to believe it was Christmas spirit and it had finally found a home in her heart.

She had presents to wrap later and put under the Christmas tree. Nothing too big, of course. She hadn’t had time to do anything special and the shops at Euston Station had been all she could manage, but people liked boxes of chocolates and bottles of wine at Christmas. The thought was what counted after all. And she couldn’t stop thinking about this family.

One of them in particular.

It would have been nice to have more time to talk to Rafe before they left, but it still wouldn’t dampen her enthusiasm for the afternoon. Once they were all in their coats, boots and winter woollies, the family headed for the cars. Between Rafe’s and Geoff’s cars, they had enough space for everyone. Tilly even got the front seat while Cressida and Tina sat in the back with Alexander.

Glenbriar church was an extremely cute building raised on a little hill with trees around it and a stream running through the grounds. A small bridge ran over the stream and Genevieve pointed it out to Tilly, telling her she and Finlay had had several photos taken there on their wedding day. Even in the cold, frosty weather, Tilly saw the appeal. Such an idyllic location.

Inside was warm and beautifully lit up, with fairy lights twisted among garlands and strung around the pillars very like the ones on the stairs at Greenacres. Tilly suspected Hilary had been one of the church decorators. Candles around the altar and the pulpit flickered and the Christmas tree gleamed in the corner. Tilly took a seat on a pew with the family, while Hilary bustled off to speak to people. She looked back every now and then to catch Tilly’s eye and smile.

‘I dread to think what she’s telling everyone,’ Rafe muttered, tapping a large bible on the shelf in front of him.

Tilly smiled. Whatever it was, she knew it wouldn’t be for bad reasons. Hilary was too nice for that.

Gentle organ music began to play, and Hilary rejoined them.

‘That’s Grant, the minister,’ Rafe whispered as a man in a black and purple robe walked to the front. ‘Bit young, isn’t he? Or am I the only one who thinks so?’

‘Do you mean like a government minister?’ Tilly said with a frown. ‘Who’s also the vicar?’

Rafe chuckled. ‘No, we don’t call them vicars in Scotland. He’s the church minister.’

‘Ah, that makes sense. I heard your mum talking about the minister before and wasn’t sure what she meant. And you’re right, he is young for a vicar.’

Rafe nodded. ‘Glad you agree. Mum told me not to be a gossip when I said it to her… You know, the same woman who’s been saying goodness knows what about you and me to all her church friends.’

Tilly giggled but stopped as the minister reached the front.

‘Welcome.’ Grant threw his arms wide, his voice resonating through the church. ‘This afternoon, we gather to celebrate the greatest gift ever given to humanity.’

Rafe glanced at Tilly and smiled, then put his hand on hers and clasped it. Tilly relaxed into the wonderful sensation of belonging.

‘Our story begins in a humble stable, where a young couple, Mary and Joseph, found refuge on a cold winter’s night. And there, in the midst of the animals and the hay, a child was born – a child who would change the course of history.’

As Grant spoke, he motioned to the children seated in the front pews, dressed in bathrobes, with tea towels on their heads and clutching makeshift props.

Tilly had also found refuge on a cold, wintery day with a loving family, in a way she could never have predicted.

‘And here’ – Grant gestured towards the children – ‘we have our Mary and Joseph, ready to bring the story to life.’

Tilly clapped with the rest of the congregation as the children rose from their seats and made their way to the makeshift stable at the front of the church.

‘And now,’ Grant continued, ‘as we reflect on the miracle of Christ’s birth, let’s join together in the song “O Little Town of Bethlehem” which you’ll find on your hymn sheets.’

The organ started again, and everyone got to their feet. Tilly had never been much of a singer, but as everyone around her began singing, she found it impossible not to join in. A lump was impeding her throat. The song sounded so beautiful, and the fact she was here at all made her want to weep. She mouthed along, hoping no one would notice her lack of sound, trying to focus on the individual voices, Rafe’s low gentle tone, Hilary’s strong voice and someone nearby with a slightly off-key but very spirited timbre.

When they all sat at the end of the song, Tilly ducked to the side, pretending to look for something in her bag as she dried her eyes.

Grant continued his story and Tilly watched, laughing with the others when angels’ headdresses fell off and the sheep cast great lumps of cotton wool all over the carpet at the front of the church.

‘That’s right, shepherds,’ Grant said, ‘keep those sheep in check.’

Tilly didn’t remember doing anything like this when she was a child. But this was enough to open her eyes to what she’d missed. The excitement on their little faces, knowing they were going home to wait for Santa and presents after.

Even if all her past Christmases were a flop, so what? She still had a chance to make new Christmases, and that was exactly what she’d do. She applauded with everyone else as the nativity came to a close.

Grant’s voice filled the space again. For someone so young, he had quite a presence.

‘As we continue our journey through this wonderful Christmas Eve, we come now to a time-honoured tradition: the Christingle. This is a symbol of Christ’s light shining in the darkness. Each element of the Christingle holds special significance, reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas.’

Grant picked up one of the Christingles from a nearby table, holding it aloft. ‘The orange,’ he said, ‘represents the world, a reminder of God’s love for all of creation.’

Rafe’s fingers slipped across Tilly’s thigh, and he took hold of her hand, squeezing it gently. A smile grew on her face and she returned the grasp with firm pressure.

Grant pointed to the candle nestled in the centre of the orange. ‘The candle,’ he continued, ‘represents Christ, the light of the world, whose birth we celebrate tonight.’ Next, he gestured towards the ribbon encircling the orange, adorned with fruits and sweets. ‘The ribbon reminds us of the bonds of love that unite us as one family, while the fruits and sweets symbolise the blessings of abundance and joy that Christ brings into our lives.’

And something had brought a family into Tilly’s life. She wasn’t sure what, or who, but even one week ago, she’d been lost and alone. Look at me now! Here she was, sitting with wonderful people. People who cared. People who loved her.

With a gentle smile, Grant turned to the children, inviting them to come forward and collect their Christingles. ‘And now,’ he said, ‘let us join together in a procession of light, as we carry our Christingles to the altar, a symbol of our collective hope and faith in the Christ child.’

They made their way down the aisle, each one carefully cradling their Christingle. Tilly looked on, barely holding back the tears again. Somewhere in the world, her sister was in prison, possibly alone. Tilly had washed her hands of Ellie after the pain she’d caused in their in childhood. But now was the time to forgive. She’d grown an understanding of Ellie’s feelings over the past few days. Maybe they weren’t so different from her own. Sadly, Ellie’s choice to fight her pain had ended badly. Tilly had withdrawn. It had avoided trouble, sure, but also everything else. Friendship. Joy. Love.

Holding a grudge took energy, and she didn’t want to waste it on something so negative. She’d find a way to contact Ellie and leave her a message. Even just to say hi. They may never be close, but she could still be there – just in case. She knew how hard it was to be lonely.

After the service, Tilly followed the family into a side room for cakes and coffee.

‘These are delicious.’ Finlay piled several onto a plate.

Rafe gave him a look filled with disbelief but also respect. ‘You must have hollow legs or something. Do you like mince pies?’ he added to Tilly.

‘Guess what?’

‘You’ve never tried one?’

‘Correct.’

They both laughed. ‘Try one,’ Rafe said. ‘They’re a bit like marmite. You either love them or hate them.’

‘And which are you?’

‘Love,’ he said. ‘But Cress and Gen both hate them.’

He handed her one on a small plate and she bit carefully into the buttery pastry, sugary crystals catching on her lips. When she got to the filling, she wasn’t sure for a moment, but as the fruits and spices blended on her tongue, she nodded. ‘Actually, that’s good.’

‘Yay!’ Rafe gave her the thumbs up. ‘Good decision.’

She smiled and took another bite. After she’d chewed it, she said, ‘I made another decision during the service.’

‘What about?’ His eyebrows raised and his brow furrowed slightly.

‘About my sister. Ellie. I’m going to call her or leave a message for her.’

‘You know where she is?’ he lowered his voice. ‘Which prison?’

‘Yes.’

Rafe cocked his head. ‘And you think it’s a good idea to contact her?’

‘I know what it’s like to be in her position. Not jail, obviously, but with the whole attachment thing.’

He nodded. ‘And how do you feel about that now?’

‘You won’t believe this, but I ended up sitting next to a psychologist on the train on the way back to London. We got chatting, and she told me a whole lot of interesting things.’

A little smile played at the corner of his lips. ‘Will you tell me?’

‘Yeah, but not here.’

‘We don’t really know that much about each other really, do we?’

‘Not yet.’

‘I need to teach you about camping.’

Tilly burst out laughing. ‘Why?’

‘I have a sudden urge to whisk you off somewhere in my rooftop tent.’

‘In this weather?’

‘Fair point.’

‘Tilly, Rafe,’ Hilary called them over to meet some of her friends. Tilly’s insides were buzzing. Rafe’s words all indicated he was looking at their relationship as something for the long term, but she had to be sure.

They returned home and Hilary set up a buffet tea. Tilly couldn’t imagine how she managed to cook all these meals and never look stressed. Tilly had bought her the biggest pamper set she could carry on the train. If anyone needed to relax after Christmas, it was Hilary.

They watched The Snowman as they ate, and Geoff topped up everyone’s glasses. As Alexander went to bed quite early, everyone agreed it was best to hang up the stockings before it got too late. Tilly was prepared to watch this part. She didn’t have a stocking, but it wouldn’t matter. Just being here was enough.

The fireplace was kicking out some heat in the living room as they gathered around. Geoff had a large box, and everyone was raking about, looking for their own special stocking.

‘Do I have one?’ Tina asked. ‘I think you got me one last year.’

‘Of course you do,’ Geoff said. ‘Everyone has one.’

Tilly held back, knowing she didn’t, but it was ok.

Genevieve placed her stocking on the mantel first. ‘Why do I still go first?’ she said. ‘Alexander is younger than me, so is Tilly.’

‘You’ll always be our baby girl,’ Geoff said.

‘And the one with no patience,’ Rafe added. ‘That’s really why you were always allowed to go first. Otherwise, we had to put up with an hour-long tantrum.’

‘Oi!’ She put her hands on her hips as everyone laughed and Cressida and her parents nodded in agreement.

Rafe caught Tilly’s eye and beckoned her over. ‘Come on,’ he said.

Tilly hesitated, feeling a rush of warmth. She’d never been part of a cherished family tradition and she couldn’t join in now, unless she ran upstairs and grabbed a sock… But she didn’t want to look like she was begging for gifts.

Rafe edged around his family and put his arm around Tilly. ‘Don’t you want to hang yours up?’

‘I don’t have one,’ she murmured.

‘Yes, you do. Of course you do. There’s one in the box for you. We wouldn’t leave you out.’

She swallowed, her heart so full she might burst. ‘I don’t know what to say.’

‘You don’t need to say anything.’ He stroked the corner of her eye with the pad of his thumb, brushing away a stray tear. ‘Just enjoy it.’

She hung her stocking beside Rafe’s, then stepped back to admire the scene. A sense of contentment and wonder settled over her. She was exactly where she was meant to be, and where she wanted to stay.