Page 58 of New Beginnings at the Little Christmas Inn
‘I don’t remember you being all that hard to persuade, kitten,’ Simona said indignantly.
‘A party?’ Nats exclaimed. ‘A Christmas Eve party? Way to go, Livvy. I’m in.’
‘We’re driving up to Yorkshire on Christmas Eve,’ Mark reminded her. ‘Sorry, Livvy.’ He pulled a regretful face. ‘We won’t be around, otherwise I would have loved to come.’
Nats pouted. ‘And here’s me, having heard about the lusciousness that is the fabulous Fabio the Italian chef. I wanted to check him out.’
‘Oh, darling, I am sorry,’ Simona put in, not sounding sorry at all. ‘He’ll just have to put up with little old me, then.’
CHAPTER 32
Schnapps – a distilled fruit brandy or herbal infusion. Perfect in a hip flask and to stave off chilly weather.
‘Do you think there’ll be many there?’ Livvy asked Mark as they walked briskly down the hill to the church service. She burrowed her face into the upturned collar of her coat.
‘It’ll be packed.’
‘No Natalie tonight?’ It was proving too cold to have a conversation. Her teeth were chattering too much.
‘Wrapping presents.’ He gave a short laugh. ‘Always leaves it until the last minute, does Nats.’
‘When are you driving up to York?’
‘Tomorrow. Traffic’s usually fairly quiet on Christmas Eve and we’ll leave first thing.’
‘We’ll miss you at the party. Perhaps we’ll have a rerun on New Year’s Eve?’
‘I’ll be there.’ He gave her a warm look.
Livvy felt herself blush crimson but was covered in confusion. She’d noticed the furtive conversations he and Simona had been having. Heads together, whispering urgently. Worse, it stopped when she approached. She’d tried to shrug it off. Mark was a free agent. She couldn’t blame him for falling for Simona’s charms and, much as she liked the woman, she flirted with any man going. But it hurt to think he may have lied to her on the day they’d collected Angel, about the true nature of his relationship with Simona. She suppressed a sigh. The vibe between her and Mark had been strictly friendly, nothing romantic, and friendship was what she wanted. Wasn’t it? But, risking a sideways glance at him now, as he strode along beside her, she knew she was falling for him.
The realisation of her true feelings for the man made her babble with unaccustomed nerves. ‘Glad the service landed on the day The George is closed so I could make it. I’d thought about opening up today but it didn’t seem fair. I know Karl wants to come tonight and Stewie said he always goes with his family. Even Brittany’s getting dragged along by her mum.’
Mark scanned the dense black sky above them, his nose pink with the cold. ‘It’s amazing how the service draws people in each year. The church will be full even if they’re forecasting The Beast from the East Mark II. It’s freezing tonight.’
‘Thought you were the tough northerner?’ Livvy teased, smiling at his beanie which he’d pulled down as far as it would go.
‘So did I but even I’m freezing tonight.’ Mark thrust his hands into the pockets of his long black coat.
‘Too cold for snow, Austin said. He came to the board games afternoon with Pete. He also said it hardly ever snows at the seaside.’ She lifted her face out of her collar. Condensation from her breath was making her chin damp and even colder. The pavement was already shimmering with frost. Some of thewindows in the Victorian cottages which faced onto the street had their curtains open and had been decorated. A magnificent white tree glistened in one, a lit-up Father Christmas face dominated another, complete withSanta Stop Heresign and another had an enchanting nativity scene lit with coloured fairy lights. With the chilly, sparkling weather it couldn’t feel more Christmassy. Or romantic. Livvy suppressed another sigh.I need to get a grip. He sees me as a friend. Remember that, Liv!
‘No snow at the seaside you say? Oh yes, except for 2018 when we were snowed in. I’ve rarely seen snow like it and I’m a Yorkshireman don’t forget. We had eight inches up on the top of the hill going out of Lullbury. People were skiing down the main road and the beach was covered. Before it began you could see it coming in from out at sea. Very weird.’
‘Sounds fun though. I’ve had my fair share of snowy winters in the Cotswolds but nothing that bad. Oops.’ Livvy clutched onto Mark’s elbow as she skidded on some ice. ‘Knew these boots were a mistake. I’ve been in flats for so long, I’ve forgotten how to walk in heels.’
He tucked her arm through his. ‘Better? No guarantee of me not slipping but at least it’ll be the two of us going down and you can break my fall.’
Livvy giggled.
‘Thing is,’ he continued, ‘because we so rarely get snow on the coast, we’re not prepared for it. There are no grit bins. It caught the gritter lorries out and drivers were stranded for hours on the high bit of the A35.’
‘Less fun. What time of year was this?’
‘March.’
‘Oh well, we hardly ever get proper snow in December, except on Christmas cards so I think we’ll survive the service and the walk back.’
They reached the bottom of the hill and turned right along the narrow lane which led to the old town and St Winifred’s. In the distance the sea roared and the streetlights glowed softly orange in the cold damp air.
