Page 39 of Christmas at Sturcombe Bay (Sturcombe Bay Romances #3)

“Hi, Mum.”

Kate was swaying and humming along to the lilting melody of ‘Fairytale of New York’ as she hung gold and silver baubles on the small Christmas tree she had set up in the corner of the café. She turned to greet Debbie with a wide smile.

“Hello there, my luvver. Is it still raining?”

“Pouring.” Debbie laughed as she paused in the doorway to shake out her umbrella. “Still, I suppose after the lovely summer we’ve had we can’t really complain.”

“Not at all.”

“I made some of the cinnamon rolls and some more apple puffs.” She lifted the box out of her shopping bag.

“Ah, that’s good. Those apple puffs went really well yesterday.”

Debbie dropped a quick kiss on her mother’s cheek as she passed through to the kitchen. “How’s Mike?”

Kate felt the heat rise instantly to her cheeks. “Oh . . . fine.”

Debbie’s eyes widened. “Mum, you’re blushing.”

“No, I’m not.” She knew she was blushing harder. “I was cooking. It’s hot in the kitchen.”

“Oh? Are you sure you haven’t got something to tell me?”

“Of course not. You sound like you’re my mum.”

Debbie laughed. “All right. If you want to keep your secrets . . .”

“There’s no secrets. We’ve just . . . been dancing a few times. And I’ve enjoyed it.”

“Well, that’s good.”

Except there were secrets — secrets she wasn’t ready to tell yet. Not even to her daughter. Secret hopes, secret dreams — secrets of kissing Mike Slade.

She’d always been fond of him, but as a friend, her best friend’s husband. And after Sarah died they’d mourned her together. It had never occurred to her to think of him in any other way — until that night when they’d danced at Debbie’s wedding.

And it had never occurred to her that he might think of her in any other way. But now she felt as giddy as a girl, wondering if she should dye the grey streaks out of her hair, twisting and turning in front of her bedroom mirror to check on the wrinkles and lumps the years had deposited.

Last night when she went to bed she had picked up the photo of her and Terry she kept on her bedside table. So young, they’d been. Untouched by time, laughing into the camera, all their lives to look forward to.

But time had left him there in the past, while it had swept her on like a leaf floating in a river, passing a single spot on the bank and swirling away downstream, never to go back.

She’d missed him so much for all these years, focussing on bringing up their daughter and running her café. And now . . . She’d always miss him, no one could take his place. But maybe there could be . . . another place . . .

“Anyway, if you’re not going to tell me your secret, I’ll tell you mine.”

“Oh?” Kate turned to stare at her daughter. Her eyes were bright, and there seemed to be a glow about her. A very special glow. “You’re . . . ?”

“Yes!”

“Oh, my love!” Kate put the box of baubles down on the counter and threw her arms around the girl. “You really are? You’re sure?”

“Absolutely sure. I brought the test stick along to show you.”

“And Bill?”

“He’s over the moon and somewhere out beyond the stars. We were hoping, but we didn’t really expect it to happen so quickly.”

“Oh . . . Oh . . . I’m crying.” Kate brushed her hand across her face as the tears poured down her cheeks. “I’m so happy! Have you told Amy yet?”

“Not yet. Once she knows, the whole town will know!”

Kate laughed, dabbing her eyes. “And you? Are you keeping well?”

“Never better. You know what an easy time I had with Amy. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this time will be the same.”

“Let’s hope so.” Kate held up her hand with crossed fingers. “Anyway, come and get a cup of coffee and let’s sit down for a minute while it’s quiet. Oh, maybe not coffee?”

Debbie smiled. “Tea will be fine.”

Kate brought two cups of tea and they settled at a table by the window.

“I saw Jess up at the school gates,” Debbie remarked. “She’d brought Robyn and Ben.” She laughed. “Ben’s getting a bit impatient about not being allowed to walk to school on his own yet.”

“Well, he’s almost eight, and it isn’t far. It’s quite safe, especially in the winter. I always let you go on your own from when you were seven.”

“Yes, but you had the café to run. Anyway, Jess was telling me they’ve got some interior designers coming down to look at the hotel. I’m dying to see what they come up with.”

“Yes . . .” Kate really wanted to be as excited about it as everyone else seemed to be, but she couldn’t help thinking about Mike. There weren’t many jobs for a middle-aged hotel manager within easy reach of Sturcombe.

Which would mean that he’d have to move away. Just when she was starting to feel something special for him.

“Anyway . . .” She managed a bright smile, pushing thoughts of Mike aside for now. “When’s the baby due?”

“June. Not very good planning, I’m afraid.”

Kate raised one eyebrow in question.

“Right at the start of the summer season. Just when you’ll be getting really busy.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ll manage. You did when I was poorly this summer.”

“Well, yes, but . . .”

“But what? If you’re going to tell me I can’t manage on my own at my age, you can just drink up your tea and go, my girl.”

Debbie laughed. “No, of course not. I know you’ll manage. And you’ll probably be able to get someone in to help over the school holidays — that’s the busiest time, and there’s always sixth-formers wanting to earn a few quid.”

“Yes, that’s something to think about. But don’t you bother about it. Just look after yourself — and my new granddaughter.”

“Or grandson.”

“Oh, yes.” Kate smiled happily. “A grandson.”