Page 17 of Home This Christmas

THIRTEEN

‘So how did it go with the gingerbread competition?’ Coleen calls me as I debate going for a walk to a pub in the next village – where no one knows me – and knocking back a few gins.

After checking the weather app, though, and discovering that it is a four-mile walk and with the threat of more snow, I decide to give it a miss. Perhaps I could buy a bottle of gin from the supermarket, although the rumour mill might put out the suggestion that I have a drink problem.

‘Great actually. The worthy winner was a lovely young woman from the village.’ I think once more of how Esme could easily become a friend.

‘And how does it feel being back in the village?’

‘Do you know, it feels okay. Everyone here is so lovely. I miss London, though.’

‘So, are you on the train back?’

‘Erm no, not exactly.’

I tell her all about the train situation, and how I am holed up in a hotel. ‘And there is more snow to come. I’d forgotten what the winters in Yorkshire are like.’

‘Oh, my goodness. But it’s nearly Christmas…’ she says, as if I don’t already know.

‘Is it? No, surely not.’

‘No need for sarcasm,’ she scolds.

‘Sorry, Coleen. I just can’t believe I am stuck in the back of beyond.’ I sigh. ‘I was supposed to be in and out, after the competition. I kind of wish I hadn’t agreed to come here in the first place…’ Especially after feeling so unsettled by the meeting with Nathan, I think to myself.

‘Well, it’s hardly the back of beyond, surely,’ she reasons. ‘At least it has a train station.’

‘Yes, which is as much use as a fishnet condom,’ I say, and she bursts out laughing.

‘It’s not funny…’ I sigh.

‘Oh, Ruby, really, it could be a whole lot worse. Surely the village looks pretty at this time of year, and I’m sure the trains will be up and running soon enough.

Maybe you ought to just try and enjoy your time there, see it as a mini break,’ she says with her usual positivity.

‘Sipping a hot chocolate in a snow-covered, cutesy village is something I would kill for right now.’

‘Well, you’re right that it is pretty… But I would rather be back home. So I take it you are still up to your eyes, then?’

‘I’m totally rushed off my feet. I have a last-minute dress to alter – this time it needs taking in as the bride-to-be has lost too much weight,’ she tells me. ‘I’ve barely started my Christmas shopping for the big day. And I’ve left it too late to do an online shop.’

‘Probably not the best idea to shop online after last year anyway…’

I remind her of how last year, the supermarket substituted a box of After Eight mint chocolates with four packets of Polo mints, mince pies with blackcurrant tarts, and a gammon joint with a super-sized packet of processed ham.

‘Well, okay, point taken. It’s my own fault. Christmas has just crept up on us this year.’

‘It has. And I don’t envy you, with your current workload. Maybe the guests can bring some of the food this year for Christmas lunch,’ I suggest. Coleen usually takes on the mammoth task herself and likes everything to be just perfect.

‘Oh they are. Mum is cooking the turkey, and my sister is roasting pigs in blankets and parsnips. I am also told my nieces have been baking shortbread.’

‘So stop complaining,’ I joke. ‘Seriously. It’s about time you let others lend a hand. You have enough on your plate.’

‘You’re right. I guess I do put pressure on myself. I just like to have things perfect,’ she admits.

‘Control freak.’ I cough the words and Coleen laughs. ‘Anyway, maybe you are right, I ought to enjoy my time here as I am not due back in the studio until the new year.’

‘Exactly. Although it’s a shame you aren’t here to give me a hand with these dresses,’ she jokes.

‘Do you want to ruin your reputation?’ I couldn’t sew if my life depended on it.

‘Point taken. Anyway, try and enjoy your time there. As I said, see it as a mini break.’

‘Maybe I ought to do just that. I could get used to someone serving me a delicious breakfast each morning.’

‘Now you are just showing off.’ She laughs.

I had vaguely imagined spending a few days on a beach somewhere in the sun during my Christmas break, rather than in a freezing cold Yorkshire village. But sometimes things don’t turn out the way you expect them to.

‘Anyway, I’m not sure why you are so desperate to leave Brindleford; surely you know a few people there?’

‘It’s true, I do.’

I tell her all about Marilyn. ‘And no doubt there will be others I may come across, but it’s been so long since I lived here, it doesn’t feel remotely like home.’

‘Well, you will be back in London before you know it, with all its traffic, noise and pollution, so I would enjoy the fresh air up there whilst you can,’ she suggests.

‘There is that I suppose.’

I don’t tell Coleen that I am keen to disappear from the village after running into Nathan – I don’t want to relive the moment I saw him. I will tell her all about it when I get home.

The truth is, I never expected my heart to race when I saw him for the first time in almost two decades. In fact, I can barely get the thought of him out of my head after seeing him today.

Who did Nathan marry? Was it someone from the village?

Maybe even someone I knew in my younger years?

Mum had told me that he dated someone local, the year following our split.

I remember my heart sinking a little at the thought of him with someone else, though I’d quickly pulled myself together, reminding myself that it was my choice to move to London.

No, I can’t dig up my past here in the village; it wouldn’t be fair on me or Nathan. My life is in London and the sooner I return, the better.

If anything is going to distract me from my thoughts of Nathan, though, it is dinner at Will’s place later.

I still can’t believe Will would be happy to buy the land that the library sits on – could it simply be rumours?

I’m really quite devastated at the thought of the library disappearing and houses standing in its place, however great the need for accommodation around here.

I may not be here for very long, but I think I ought to assist in any way I can to help preserve the village library.

I make myself a cup of tea, and flick on the small television in my room, mindlessly taking in the quiz show on the screen. It is nice to know that despite the no-TV rule in the pub, the bedrooms have them installed. At least I can lose myself in a film later when I return home.

Finishing my tea, I nip out to the local supermarket for a bottle of wine to take with me to Will’s place.

As the young shop assistant scans the wine, I wonder what the younger residents think about Will’s plans.

Maybe they wouldn’t mind quite as much, with so much information available online these days, or perhaps they still like to get their hands on a good book.

I realise there is only one way to find out.

After hopefully finding out a little more this evening, it feels like time to suggest Marilyn calls a meeting at the village hall.

I quickly nip to the village bakery next and purchase a dreamy-looking lemon and raspberry cheesecake to take for dessert that I hope the other guests will enjoy.

After purchasing it, I wonder if I should have just stuck to the wine.

Maybe Will has been slaving all afternoon preparing a lavish dessert.

All the while, the cogs have been continuing to whirr in my mind regarding the planned site for the new-build houses.

As I walk back to the hotel to get ready, I consider calling someone I know who is currently working for a regional TV station in this area, in case the need arises.

This story might just need a little bit more publicity.

And it might just be the break Amanda Lewis needs.