Page 50 of Snowfall Over Halesmere House
The campfire was burning nicely, and Stan was wearing his favourite, festive fancy dress costume. Not Santa Claus, as she’d wondered aloud yesterday when he’d refused, smirking, to tell her. He’d turned up dressed as a rather rotund elf and the children adored it, especially when he got them all reciting that the best way to spread Christmas cheer was to sing aloud for all to hear.
‘This party is going to go down as legend, Ella.’ Ashley was wrapped up in a chunky scarf with a matching hat, stamping her feet as they stood together. Snow was forecast and the air was frigid. ‘Max loved your suggestions and it’s clearly a huge hit with the kids.’
‘Thanks Ashley.’ Ella had seen her helping little ones with the scavenger hunt. The children were gathered at a safe distance around the fire now as hot dogs and warm juice were handed out. ‘I’m glad it’s not actually my job to organise children’s parties. The pressure is relentless.’
‘For sure, we’ll all be ready to crash later. Whenever my two have a sleepover, I can’t wait to hand them all back again the next morning.’
‘I can imagine.’
‘How are the plans coming along for supper next week?’ Ashley had to raise her voice over the din. ‘I’ll be with you all day on Wednesday to decorate.’
‘Really good, thanks, everything’s on track. And thank you for helping, I can’t wait to see the house all set for Christmas.’
‘Is your photographer coming?’
‘Yes, I think the festive images will be a lovely way to showcase the house online until we have other events later.’
‘You’re planning to stay, then? At Halesmere?’ Ashley waved to one of her girls, who was brandishing a plate of goodies.
‘Until my contract is up anyway.’ Thoughts of the kiss Ella had shared with Max were still in her mind, along with the realisation that she was coming to feel at home in this place and she liked his company – more than that. ‘I’m looking at creating another event in the New Year, possibly a short retreat. Once the website is live, we need to keep the content relevant.’
‘Of course. And there’s that job you mentioned, the one with your old boss. You must give it serious thought, Ella, despite what happened between you. Max was telling me how talented you are, and he knows he can’t keep you babysitting Lily and Arlo indefinitely. He’s very mindful of your role here being temporary and he wouldn’t want you to pass up a great opportunity for him. Or Halesmere.’
Max was approaching with Arlo and Ella was relieved to change the subject, thinking about what else Max might have told Ashley about her and if she’d imagined the suggestion of steel in Ashley’s voice. The little boy’s broken arm was bound up in its sling inside an old coat of his dad’s, fastened to keep the cold away.
‘I think this one’s had too many s’mores, it’s time to get him away from the sugar.’ Max gave both women a grin and Ella saw his gaze through the firelight lingering on hers until he glanced at Arlo. ‘I hope I’m still going to get that lie-in you’ve promised me tomorrow, buddy. I’d really appreciate sleeping past six a.m. on a Sunday for once.’
One of Ashley’s girls was shrieking, and she gave Max an apologetic look as she marched over to deal with the problem. He dropped his head towards Ella. ‘Keep your eye on the gate,’ he said, and she saw the flash of his smile. ‘I might have gone a bit overboard on the winter wonderland theme.’
‘What have you done?’
‘Listen.’
Ella tried. ‘I can’t hear anything other than excited kids and a crackling fire.’
‘Sure about that?’ Max put a hand on her shoulder, turning her to face the wide entrance into the garden.
‘Bells?’
‘Yep.’ His voice rose as he called to the children. ‘Look everyone, I think we have visitors.’
They spun round just as two inky-black horses pulling a carriage trotted onto the wide gravel path, the carriage and their harnesses lit by hundreds of shimmering fairy lights with softly jingling bells. Ella was aware of gasps as the kids scrambled to their feet to see that Stan had driven his pickup right up to the gate to light the horses’ path to the party.
‘Oh, Max.’ She was enthralled. ‘You’ve made their day and Lily will be so thrilled. No one’s going to forget this party in a hurry.’
‘Thanks to you.’ He seemed to be very close as he dropped the words in Ella’s ear, lifting Arlo into his arms so he could see better.
‘Me?’ She wanted to feel Max’s words skimming her skin again. ‘I hardly did a thing, Stan’s done most of the work.’
‘Yes, you did,’ Max said simply. ‘You took Lily seriously when she asked you for help, and then created all this for her.’
‘It was—’
‘Don’t say nothing.’ His eyes were fixed on hers in the firelight, brightening his face through the shadows. ‘It’s everything to Lily, and happiness has been in short supply these past two years. And seeing them happy makes me happy.’
‘Oh Ella, thank you, thank you!’ Lily had reached them, and she threw her arms round Ella. ‘This is just the best party ever, I’ll never forget it!’
‘Your dad did this, Lily, not me. The horses were his idea.’ Ella bent down to hug Lily back, but she was already gone, flinging herself on Max.
