Page 55 of The Gingerbread Cafe
That one could only be Gordon. Eve rolled her eyes and Gretel burst into laughter.
‘Now, talking of gooseberries. There was something interesting going on at Phoebe’s tumbled-stone tombola when I walked by. Care for a look?’
‘Absolutely.’
Gretel and Eve walked along the street, past the Christmas tree where visitors were huddled with steaming hot chocolate and bags of Zekia’s best rum and raisin fudge, and landed outside Phoebe’s chakra healing shop. The shop was definitely more open and inviting without its thick net drapes, and Phoebe had set up a little stall outside, with crystals of different shapes and sizes arranged in colour order like a beautiful rainbow.
But what was even more striking was the vast smile on Phoebe’s face as she chatted to a man Gretel didn’t recognise. There was something alluring about him with his mysterious harem pants and dark hair twisted into messy dreadlocks. Their eyes and hands danced as they spoke, and Gretel noticed that Phoebe seemed to have forgotten about her tumbled-stone tombola. Meanwhile, Cedric the shih-tzu was making friends with the small black and brown crossbreed who seemed to belong to the man with the harem pants.
Gretel nudged Eve. ‘Cedric’s heart chakra seems to be on the mend. He’s found himself a friend, and perhaps one for Phoebe too.’
‘I yam what I yaaaaam,’ Gordon serenaded passing customers in the background. ‘I know, I know, madam. I’m such a fun-gi!’
They chatted for a while before Eve realised she ought to rescue Jane, who’d been looking after Eve’s shop. Amber seemed to have disappeared, as had Swingy Bob Whimple, although nobody was missingher. And just as Gretel made her way back to the café, realising how much she was missing the warmth of Lukas’s hugs, he appeared through the throng.
As though sensing something on her face, Lukas opened his arms and she bundled in. She loved the way her head fitted snugly under his chin.
‘Nell would have loved this,’ he said.
She heard his voice catch as he said it, which set off a few silent tears of her own. ‘I know,’ she murmured into his chest.
As she unravelled herself to take it all in, Gretel had to admit that this was perhaps her best memory since her mother and Rosa had passed away. And wasn’t it OK to make new ones?
People bustled in and out of shops, grinning and carrying bags. Children played, villagers gathered in gazebos laughing at wonky vegetables and judging cakes. Winter flowers bloomed, grocers sang and love was blossoming all over the place. Even the contemplative nods of journalists and the clicks of their cameras felt like a gentle applause. Things had gone pretty well today and nothing could take that away from them. Green Tree Lane was officially back in business.
The fair continued to buzz, and before Gretel knew it the sun was setting on what had felt like an almost perfect day. The crowds had gone, Zekia had been crowned the fair’s star baker and everything from the gingerbread village to Phoebe’s pretty crystals had been packed away. Gretel and Lukas cosied up together in one of the wooden shelters at the foot of the Christmas tree, laughing as the whole thing wobbled when they sat.
‘Do you ever get the feeling that everything might just be OK?’ Gretel heard herself asking, as she marvelled at the wisps of orange cloud that trailed across the sky.
‘Not often,’ Lukas admitted. His arm was around her shoulder, filling her with a warmth she needed as the sun was saying goodnight. ‘But perhaps right now.’
He turned to look at her, his eyes seeming to drink in every detail of her face as though she was infinitely more fascinating than any sunset. His lips were teasingly close and she felt torn between touching her own against them and hearing more of his reassuring words. She studied them, trying to make her choice. In the golden light of the retreating sun they looked so soft and kissable.
‘And is it just me, or is the enticing possibility that everything could really be OK actually scarier than when you’re sure everything’s going downhill?’ Gretel asked.
A light danced across his eyes as those tempting lips twitched into a smile. She watched as they parted as though getting ready to kiss away her insecurities. Or was that just wishful thinking?
‘Gretel, it’s absolutely terrifying. Because the more I think about it, the more I know my future isn’t what I’d been working towards. Although it scares me to say it … I want my future to be with you.’
Her heart felt like it would soar. Those words wereeverything.
His eyes fixed her with that magnetic look which always drew her in – but this time his mouth was in on it too. And who was she to resist?
She moved her head towards his, stealing the last bit of air between them before their lips met in a kiss which swept some of her fears away. As their bodies twisted towards each other, Gretel realised that she was ready for a whole lot more than she was willing to give under a Christmas tree in such a public place.
‘Can we go back to yours?’ she mumbled into his mouth as the kissing became deeper.
‘Are you sure?’ he groaned back, in aplease don’t say you’re teasingkind of way. His apparent aching need for her brought even more heat to her body. She needed some of this clothing off.
‘You’d prefer to carry on here?’ She giggled.
This time his moan was edged with something that sounded like the thrill of him wanting to. ‘What are you doing to me? You’re right, we need to move.’
He rose quickly, the shed shaking as he pulled her up with him like he needed her body to hide his arousal. It certainly felt like he did. Gretel felt an excited laugh bubble up. But then he stopped and held her hands, pinning her again with those stunning eyes.
‘I mean, are you sure you want to go somewhere where we’ll be completely alone, whilst we’re both feeling so … excitable? You get to change your mind at any point, but now would be a kind time to let me down gently.’
Her eyes flicked cheekily to certain parts of him that were certainly notdown. ‘That’s good to know. Are you ready?’
