Page 51 of Christmas at the Little Cornish Bakery

Lola hadn’t planned to stay open until four but a flurry of customers and the general uplifting cheer of Christmas had kept the café busy well into the afternoon.

For the final hour and a half Lola had been serving by herself, insisting Freya enjoy some time with her family before the party kicked off.

Lola was getting more and more excited. It had been a long time since anyone had organised anything specifically for her birthday.

There was usually just a balloon or an extra cake amongst all the Christmas Eve bits and bobs.

When closing time rolled round the gingerbread syrup was all used up and Lola didn’t want to see another mince pie until the following year.

Flicking the door sign to ‘Closed’, Lola turned the latch and dimmed the lights.

Leaning back against the door, she took in the café, the chairs all a bit out of place, a few cups still left on table-tops, the Christmas tree twinkling cosily in the corner, ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ coming out of the CD player adding to the festive feel.

Joy rushed through her as she took it all in, her café, her achievement.

Her first year had been more of a success than she could have dreamed of.

Yes, there was still a lot to learn, but she was very pleased with how it had turned out and liked knowing she still had space to grow.

A quick sweep of the floor, followed by sticking the dirty crockery in the dishwasher and Lola was ready to leave.

After Christmas she planned to give the café a deep clean and refresh.

She checked everything in the kitchen had been turned off and made her way through the café, unplugging the Christmas tree and straightening the chairs before letting herself out.

The darkness draped like luxurious velvet across the bay.

Lola breathed in the fresh sea air and checked her watch.

She had half an hour to freshen up before the party started.

That was the trouble with a Christmas birthday, trying to squeeze everything in.

Still, after the previous lonesome year, she couldn’t find it in her to complain.

Maybe from now on she’d have a second birthday in the summer.

Double the celebrations sounded like double the fun.

Letting herself into the cottage, Lola picked the post up off the mat.

A couple of cards and a charity circular.

She carried them through into the living room.

Flopping onto the sofa, she kicked off her shoes and sank back amongst the cushions.

With a yawn she closed her eyes, figuring taking a few minutes out of the hectic schedule wouldn’t do any harm.

The sound of knocking at the door roused her.

Who on earth was calling at this time of night?

Lola struggled up and glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece.

Sugar! It was gone half past six, she was meant to be at the pub half an hour ago.

The knock came again, more insistent this time.

It clearly wasn’t Freya, as she had a key.

‘All right, all right, I’m coming,’ she called as she hurried down the hallway, pulling open the door to find Tristan standing there looking relieved that she’d answered.

‘We were getting worried you’d forgotten,’ he said.

Lola rolled her eyes. ‘As if I’d forget the first proper birthday party I’ve had in years!

I just put my feet up for a bit and the next thing you know I’d drifted off.

I need to freshen up. Come in, I can’t have you catching your death out there while I fix my makeup.

’ She tugged him by the scarf, reeling him in for a kiss.

Tristan kissed her back and for a few moments Lola wondered if they should just skip the party and stay in together.

Then his phone started to ring. Lola stepped back with a sigh.

‘It’s Freya wondering where the guest of honour is.’

‘Tell her she’s too busy canoodling with the local vicar.

Right, I’ll be five minutes.’ Lola smacked one last kiss on Tristan’s lips before rushing upstairs.

In the bathroom she teased her victory rolls back into place, tidied up the smudged mascara and reapplied her red lipstick.

Deciding that she loved her poinsettia print dress too much to swap it, she slipped into some heels and doused herself in perfume, before slinking back down the stairs, enjoying the way Tristan’s eyes widened at the sight of her.

‘Lola, you are stunning.’

Lola preened a bit before reminding him, ‘I’ve only added some heels to the dress I’ve had on all day but thank you.’

‘Well, then, I was remiss not to tell you earlier how stunning you looked. I was distracted by your amazing cake icing abilities.’ He pulled her in and gave her a quick kiss. ‘Come on, if we don’t get a move on Freya will be on our case.’

Pulling her coat and scarf back on, Lola followed Tristan outside, locked up and slipping her arm through his, they slowly wandered along the seafront towards the pub, slowing to a halt in front of the twinkling lobster pot Christmas tree. Around them the village glowed with the season.

‘Before I came here I never even knew places like this existed,’ Lola said. ‘Communities that actually care for each other. People like Alf. I never thought I’d find my forever home, somewhere to settle. I feel so lucky, I can’t imagine ever leaving here.’

Tristan squeezed her hand. ‘Me neither. I always worried I’d find Polcarrow too small or quiet after the city, but actually it’s been nice to slow down a bit.

’ He smiled down at her. ‘And it’s brought us together.

I don’t know how much I considered God having a grand plan for me, but it seems someone wanted us both to be here at the same time. ’

‘Serendipity,’ Lola whispered and when his brow furrowed she added, ‘a happy accident. That, or Ruby’s work.

Come on, we better get going or whatever happens next will not be all that happy.

’ She leaned in to him. ‘I have to confess, I’m very curious to see what Freya has done.

Also, about the cake.’ She raised her eyebrows.

Tristan pulled an anxious face. ‘I don’t want to get your hopes up too much but I was pretty pleased with how it turned out even if your chocolate cake this morning did make my confidence waver.’

‘Oooh! In that case, why are we lingering out here when there is cake to be had, come on.’ She tugged him towards the pub.

Lola pushed open the pub door and stepped inside to cheers, whoops of joy and a round of applause followed by a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’.

It was absolutely fabulous and she clapped her hands together in delight as she took it all in.

The pub was decorated with blue balloons and ‘Happy Birthday’ banners hung from the old beams. A buffet was set out on a table in the corner and it looked as if the whole village had turned up – even Scruff was getting in on the action, barking along to the singing.

Lola wiped away some tears and bundled Freya into a hug. ‘This is fantastic, thank you so much.’

‘And not a Christmas tune in, erm, hearing. Happy birthday, Lola.’ Freya squeezed her back. ‘I really hope you enjoy tonight.’

‘I’m sure I will, it looks fabulous, you’ve done a great job. I’m dying to try Tristan’s cake.’

‘You are going to have to do some circulating first, the grand cake reveal is scheduled for a bit later. That man would literally do anything for you and he’s also managed to impress Mum and I with it.’ Freya nodded in his direction.

Lola followed her gaze to where Tristan was showing off his Christmas jumper to Sue and Jan.

His eyes caught with Lola’s and he beamed back at her, which made her insides roll over with happiness.

If the village hadn’t cottoned on to their romance before now then by the end of the night it surely would no longer be a secret.

‘He’s more than I ever expected to find, he’s absolutely wonderful.’ Lola gave her friend a squeeze and turned to place her order with Steve. ‘A glass of Prosecco please. Freya, what are you having?’

‘The same.’

Steve gave Lola a once-over. ‘What’s your secret, you don’t look a day over thirty.’

Shimmering with happiness at his compliment, Lola leaned over the bar and whispered, ‘I couldn’t possibly tell you that, but let’s just say a little sprinkling of magic always helps.’

Laughing, Steve plonked a bottle of Prosecco on the bar. ‘On the house, my lovely. We don’t get to celebrate many big birthdays around here. Although apparently Alf turns ninety next year.’

‘He may have mentioned it.’ Lola winked. ‘I don’t think we can let him get away without a fuss, can we?’

‘I don’t think you’ll have a hard time convincing him to have a party,’ Steve pointed out as he passed her two glasses. ‘Look at him.’

Alf was sitting by the fire, Scruff at his feet.

Someone was playing a fiddle and he was singing along, entertaining his small audience with the sea shanties he grew up with.

If anyone deserved a fuss then it was Alf.

Lola turned back to the bar and poured Prosecco into the two flutes and passed one to Freya.

‘Here’s a toast to an unbelievable year.’

Freya chinked her glass against Lola’s and took a sip. ‘Hopefully with a few more unbelievable things left to happen.’ She nodded over Lola’s shoulder to where Tristan was hovering. ‘I’ll leave you to it.’ She departed with a squeeze of Lola’s hand.

‘Showing off your new jumper? I hope you’re not pretending I managed to knit it,’ she asked as she sipped her drink.

‘Sue was very impressed. I did have her fooled for a moment.’

Lola reached out and stroked his arm. ‘You’ll get me banned from the Women’s Institute if you carry on like that. Isn’t there something in the Bible about not lying?’ she teased.

‘Hmm, maybe, but it was just too tempting. Do you have a Christmas jumper?’

Lola shook her head. ‘Very remiss of me, isn’t it.’

‘I’m sure it’s forgivable. I have something for you, I meant to give it to you when I came to collect you, but I got distracted.’ Putting his glass down, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small green box.

Lola’s eyes widened as she took in the shape and size. Surely not . . . ? She didn’t know if it was panic or excitement that flashed through her, but she managed to quell them both.

‘Sorry I didn’t get time to wrap it, but, here, Happy birthday, Lola.’ With a quick kiss on the cheek he passed her the box.

She glanced up at him as she made a show of slowly opening the lid only to gasp in delight at the box’s contents. Lola gasped, her eyes flickering from the contents to him and back again. Nestled on the black velvet was a pair of sparkling star-shaped earrings. ‘Oh Tristan, they are beautiful.’

‘I have to confess they’re not real diamonds, but they are vintage.’

‘It doesn’t matter, they are perfect. Here.’ She pressed the box into his hand. ‘Let me put them on.’ Lola quickly fastened them before turning her head left to right. ‘What do you think?’

‘Absolutely beautiful,’ Tristan said, his voice full of wonder, ‘the earrings and you.’

Lola stepped towards him. ‘What have I done to deserve someone as adorable as you?’ Suddenly it didn’t matter that they were in a pub full of people on Christmas Eve, that everyone was jostling to get to the bar, or singing along with the eighties pop classics Steve was playing, all that mattered was that they were here together.

Lola glanced down at her hands held in Tristan’s and knew she never wanted to let him go. Who cared if the whole village knew?

As they stepped towards each other, the bar bell began to ring. Lola threw Steve a questioning look.

‘Don’t worry, it’s not last orders, Freya’s just got something up her sleeve.’

‘Ooh!’ Lola wiggled free of Tristan. Taking his hand, she pulled him forward through the crowded pub.

A cheer went up as Freya exited the kitchen, balancing a cake ablaze with candles in her hands, and the singing started up again. It was the most raucous rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ Lola had ever heard.

‘Is that your handiwork? Three tiers? I am impressed. It looks fabulous!’ She squeezed Tristan to her.

‘Yes, but I left the decorating to Freya.’ The cake was adorned with pink roses and a golden ‘Happy Birthday’ topper which sparkled in the candlelight.

‘Don’t be so modest, it looks amazing, I cannot wait for a slice,’ Lola said as she stepped in the direction of the cake.

‘Freya! Are you trying to burn the place down?’ Lola laughed as she blew on a stubborn candle.

A round of applause went up and Lola glanced around, revelling in the moment.

She began to slice the cake and realised she was ridiculously happy and surrounded by more love than she ever believed she’d find. Someone called out for a speech.

‘All right, all right.’ Lola licked buttercream off her finger from where it had oozed onto her hand when she’d started to cut the cake.

Someone turned the jukebox down. ‘Thank you, everyone, for coming tonight. It’s not every day a girl turns forty and you’ve made it all feel so fabulous.

’ Lola glanced around the pub at everyone looking back at her fondly.

‘You’ve made me feel so welcome here, it’s been more than I expected and I have a whole host of treats up my sleeve for the new year.

Thank you, Freya, for organising me such a lovely party.

’ She paused so Freya could receive a round of applause.

‘And thank you, Tristan, for, well, just being your wonderful self and for being brave enough to bake me this cake.’ Another round of applause, which was accompanied by some whisperings.

‘Now, I think I’ve said enough, who wants some cake? ’

The question was met by an enthusiastic cheer.