Page 55

‘Well,’ he said, winking at me, ‘that turned out quite well, didn’t it?’

‘Hmm,’ I agreed. ‘I can’t deny that it did.’

He leaned over and kissed me, and I cradled his face as I kissed him back, excitement fizzing through me as I wondered how I’d ever got so lucky as to find this amazing man.

We were still officially taking it slowly.

There was no staying over at his place or anything like that.

I wasn’t sure he was ready for that, and I wasn’t entirely sure I was either.

But when he kissed me like that, I realised that whenever it happened, the prospect of it wasn’t nearly so scary as it had once seemed.

Rissa had left for Germany, and I knew he missed her, but was happy that she’d broken away from Brodie and was trying to move on with her life.

It was, after all, what everyone had to do at some point.

Bad things happened. Life was like a huge wave that swept you off your feet, and just when you thought you were managing the current, the tide would change direction and carry you further from the shore.

The trick was never to try to swim against the tide.

Let the wave carry you along and you might well end up on a far nicer beach than the one you’d originally headed for.

Like Max. I’d have clung to Luke forever if I’d had my way, but the wave had knocked me off my feet, dragging me away from him and the future I’d visualised for myself. But it had carried me to Max, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

‘Ugh, put him down, you don’t know where he’s been!’

Amelia plonked herself down in the seat next to me and held out her hand to Max.

‘Amelia Davies. Vicar of All Souls Church.’

‘The vicar?’ Max looked stunned as he shook her hand, and Amelia frowned.

‘Yes. Got something against female vicars?’

‘I think he’s just astounded that a vicar would say something like, “Ugh, put him down, you don’t know where he’s been”,’ I pointed out.

‘Ah!’ She dipped her hand into my bag of sweets and unwrapped a fruit sherbet. ‘Fair point. So here we are again then. Another of Callie’s meetings.’

Callie had announced the meeting just yesterday.

Emails had gone to those who were registered for the village newsletter, and paper versions had been hastily pushed through the doors of those who weren’t.

Meanwhile, Aunt Polly had laughingly told me that Quintus Severus had gone round Rowan Vale to tell every ghost that their attendance was required at The Magic Lantern Cinema, and no excuses would be accepted for any absences.

He was certainly taking his new responsibilities seriously.

I looked around, pleased to see Aunt Polly and Uncle Ray sitting a few rows behind us.

They’d come to say hello to us as they arrived, before joining Isaac, Peter the baker, and Percy Swain, who’d apparently reserved them some seats.

It warmed my heart to see Uncle Ray accepted into the community, and Aunt Polly looking happier than I’d ever seen her.

‘What do you think this is about then?’ Amelia pondered aloud. ‘Are we taking bets?’

‘Maybe Callie just wants to tell us how much money the 1940s event raised,’ I suggested.

‘Or maybe she wants to thank you all for your hard work,’ Max said.

‘Do either of you really believe that?’ Amelia asked.

We looked at each other and grinned. ‘No!’

‘Thought not. Ah well, we’re about to find out,’ Amelia said, as Callie and Brodie took to the stage.

Callie gave us all nervous smiles. ‘Thanks so much for coming,’ she said. ‘I really appreciate it. I want to thank you for all your hard work at the 1940s weekend. Brodie has been working out the accounts, and we’ll be letting you know the official amount raised in the next few days.’

‘It was a lot of fun,’ Ingrid called. ‘We had a right laugh in the salon. We should do it again next year.’

‘Oh,’ Callie said, sounding delighted, ‘we will! On an even bigger and better scale, hopefully. In the meantime…’ She glanced at Brodie, who smiled and nodded encouragingly. ‘Listen up, guys. I’ve had a great idea.’

‘Uh-oh,’ I said. ‘Here we go again.’

Callie beamed at us all. ‘I know this is short notice, but how do you feel about something truly special for Christmas? I’m thinking Victoriana. I’m thinking Dickens. I’m thinking ghosts.’

‘What did I tell you?’ Amelia said.

I glanced at Max. Christmas was still nearly three months away and we hadn’t made any plans.

Would he be in Germany by then? Perhaps he’d like to spend the holidays with Gisela and Louis, and with Rissa of course.

It was only natural. We weren’t living together after all, or anything close. It was early days. I couldn’t expect…

‘Victoriana. Dickens. Ghosts.’ He sounded thoughtful.

‘I wonder… How would you feel if I made some German Christmas biscuits for the teashop? Lebkuchen , of course, because what is Christmas without gingerbread? Perhaps some pfefferneusse ? I will make a marzipan stollen, too. We always have one over Christmas.’

‘I thought you’d be in Germany,’ I said hesitantly.

‘I shall visit my family in the new year,’ he told me. ‘Perhaps – perhaps you might even like to come with me? I’d like you to see my country. Only if you want to, of course,’ he added hastily. ‘And you don’t have to decide now.’

He wanted me to visit Germany with him? He wanted me to meet his family?

‘So, you’ll be here for Christmas?’ I had to double-check, just to make sure it was really true.

He took my hand and raised it to his lips, his eyes shining with happiness.

‘Christmas in Rowan Vale with you, liebling ? I wouldn’t miss it for the world.’