Page 38 of Christmas at the Little Cornish Bakery

Ruby’s gushing letters filled Lola’s heart with so much joy, followed by a sweeping sadness to know that her love hadn’t had the chance to bloom.

Once she’d read the final one, Lola put it back into its envelope and thought about Tristan, wondering what it would feel like if he was to suddenly vanish just as they were having their first taste of happiness.

Chills ran down her spine. Lola wasted no time in texting him, inviting him round, so she could share with him the next, unexpected part of Ruby and Charlie’s romance.

Not to mention reassure him that everything with Alf was fine.

‘He kept dropping hints about us,’ Lola said as she watched Tristan make up a couple of ham and cheese omelettes in her kitchen a short while later. ‘It’s like he knows!’

‘Of course he knows,’ Tristan said, ‘Alf knows everything. Let’s just tell him in the morning.’

Lola sipped her wine and nodded her agreement. There didn’t seem much point in keeping everything under wraps and they weren’t being particularly good at taking things slowly.

Alf arrived at the café early the following morning, Scruff in tow, Tristan bringing up the rear.

He’d left Lola’s late the previous night, after an extended goodbye kiss at the door.

Tristan beamed at Lola as he held the door open for Alf, who went in, sat straight down and told Scruff, ‘Now, give me a bit of peace so I can finish this crossword. Maybe I’ll slip you a crust of toast.’ The promise of toast made Scruff sit down more obediently than any of them had ever seen before.

‘Morning, bit brisk out there, but despite whatever they’re saying on the television, I can’t see a storm brewing.

I can usually feel them in my bones. This grey cloud is just going to blow around for a bit, dampening everyone’s spirits,’ Alf said, glancing between Lola and Tristan, his brow furrowing.

‘Now, why are you all jittery this morning, Tristan?’

Lola placed a tray full of tea and toast on the table and smiled as Alf did his usual shake of the head at Tristan’s Earl Grey.

A wonderful warm feeling of having found her home washed over her.

After all her years of travelling around the country, of taking herself off to far-flung destinations for brief exotic flings, there was nothing on earth that compared to sitting around the breakfast table in her own café with two men who’d come to mean the world to her.

Alf cut off his crust and slipped it under the table to Scruff. When he looked back up surprise, joy flashed across his face to see Lola and Tristan sitting side by side, hands clasped. ‘Oh my, you two finally seen sense then? I knew you would.’

Laughing, Lola snuck a glance at Tristan only to find him gazing back at her adoringly. He gave her a quick kiss before turning back to Alf.

‘Yes, we’ve finally come to our senses,’ Tristan told him, ‘and it might be brand new but I don’t think I’ve ever been happier.’

‘We just didn’t want to ruin the friendship,’ Lola explained.

Alf wiped a tear from his eye. ‘Well look at that, you two making an old man cry. I couldn’t be happier, two of my favourite people finally together is certainly the best Christmas present I could ask for.

And friendship is the best basis for a relationship, at least you know you already like each other. ’

‘We’d like to keep it to ourselves for a bit,’ Lola said, ‘you know, to enjoy it without anyone else having their two pence worth.’

‘Of course, but I’m pretty sure most people’s tuppence worth would buy you a whole load of blessings.’ Alf sipped his tea and fixed Lola with a look. ‘Now you’ve come to your senses about each other, any chance you could help him come to his senses about what a proper cup of tea should be like?’

Lola and Tristan laughed. ‘I would, but I think he’s perfect just as he is, Earl Grey and all.’