Page 78 of New Beginnings at the Little Christmas Inn
‘I was.’
‘Always a first time,’ Aggie cackled in the background.
‘Forgive my good lady wife, we’re on our second bottle of champagne.’
‘Way to go.’ Livvy giggled. ‘Enjoy and see you both soon.’ She put the phone down and texted Yolanda a quick:
Happy Xmas Day! All gone crazy here. Fill you in asap.
She’d just pressed send when the mobile buzzed. Hearing a pop of a cork and laughter coming from the bar, she murmured, ‘My lovely customers, I love you all, but I’d really like to get my own Christmas Day started.’ Seeing who it was she had no choice but to answer. ‘Morning, Pete. Happy Christmas!’
‘Morning, Livvy. Having a rare old time here. Even Skip’s behaving. Just thought I’d ring to wish you Happy Christmas, like. Heard all about last night.’
‘Already?’ Livvy said, startled. ‘News travels fast.’
‘It do. Never trusted that Jason.’
Livvy could hear Pete sucking his teeth in derision and Skip’s faint bark in the distance. ‘We’ve all survived to fight another day but it was quite the drama.’
‘And I missed it,’ Pete said gloomily. ‘Most exciting thing to have happened since Aggie forgot her knickers and flashed the vicar, and I wasn’t there.’
Livvy giggled. ‘And we missed you. We’re keeping your chair warm.’
‘Ar. Quite right too. When I gets back I’ll sort out a fixtures list for next season’s skittles matches.’ Skip barked again, this time more loudly. ‘I’m coming, boy.’
‘About that, Pete,’ Livvy began to say but was cut off. She stared thoughtfully at the phone. If she accepted her parents’ offer and took over The Olde Gates, would the new owner of The George keep the skittle alley going? How could she let Old Pete down? She thought of all her friends who had made the effort to come to see her today. They hadn’t just popped by in the car, they’d tramped through thick snow. Jason Lemmon had attempted to destroy her, but the community had ralliedround, in their many different ways, to support her. She knew she couldn’t have done it without them. They’d shown her the true meaning of Christmas. A wave of gratitude to them and to the little town of Lullbury Bay overwhelmed her. How could she leave it – and them?
Christmas lunch was a riot. Livvy managed not to mangle the food and the salmon en croute with hollandaise sauce and buttered spinach, while not traditional, were what she found in Fabio’s stocks and knew how to heat up. They set up in the bar having put two tables together. With the lights on, the tree giving off warm pine scents and the wood burner lit, was cosy and atmospheric. Nats took charge of Aggie’s old-fashioned record player. A medley of classic Christmas hits played in the background, but Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were mostly drowned out by her indiscreet and hilarious stories about several famous actors.
‘Ye gads, I’ve had the most marvellous Christmas Day,’ sighed Simona. ‘In fact, I’m being positively greedy. That’s my second Christmas lunch this year! A snowball fight, delish food and enough champers to sink a battleship too. Still can’t believe Brittany’s commitment to that snowball fight. I had to rugby tackle her legs to get her down. Thank you all. Oh, and thank you, Mark,’ she added as he brought in the coffee. ‘Perfect. Oh goodie, biscotti too.’
Livvy poured the port and then sank back in her chair looking around at her friends. She was deeply content. Three short months ago she hadn’t known any of them and now couldn’t see herself without them in her life.
‘Yes, thank you, Livvy,’ Nats groaned. ‘I can’t believe I atethreeof those chocolate brownies, and with clotted cream too. I’m going to have to diet from now until June.’
‘Well, it wasn’t turkey and all the trimmings but hopefully just as nice.’
‘Better than nice, Livvy. I’m no fan of plum pudding,’ Nats replied. ‘And I can live without brandy butter sauce.’ Shuddering, she drank down her port in one and held out her glass for a refill. ‘I prefer my alcohol unadulterated. I can’t believe Brittany, either, Simona. Unerring aim with a snowball. She got me twice right on the head. Certainly made me work up an appetite.’
‘I’ve eaten far too much too,’ Livvy said mournfully. ‘And I had two breakfasts. Well, Angel ate the first lot of toast as we were,’ she caught Mark’s eye and blushed, ‘otherwise engaged.’
Nats looked from her brother to Livvy. ‘Aha!’ she exclaimed, slamming her glass down as the penny dropped. ‘About time you two got together. He’s been banging on about you, Livvy, for the last three months. The lovelorn act has become very boring.’
‘Nats,’ Mark protested.
Livvy felt her face grow even hotter. ‘I thought you didn’t tell Nats anything about me?’
Mark didn’t get a chance to answer as his sister butted in. ‘Didn’t tell me anything about you? He’s not shut up about you! It’s been Livvy this and Livvy that. Oh, she’s so gorgeous but why would she have anything to do with an old, divorced bloke like me. On and on. Thank goodness he’s finally made a move.’
Simona rescued them. Tottering to her feet, she announced, ‘Darlings, I’m exceptionally delighted you’ve got together too. I can’t imagine a better suited pair.’ Toasting them, she said, ‘Congratulations! And now, Natalie sweetie, I think it’s time we left the lovebirds to catch up. It’s been quite the hectic day and I’m sure they’d appreciate some alone time. You can come nextdoor with me. I have a big old snuggly sofa, central heating, lots more champers, a bucketful of Hotel Chocolat and the latest Jonathan Bailey film.’
Nats managed to sit up. ‘That’s only just been released.’ Heaving herself up, she added, ‘You’re on.’ She kissed her brother sloppily on the cheek. ‘Happy Christmas, bro.’ Staggering round to Livvy she did the same. ‘Thanks again. Don’t wear him out too much,’ she giggled, ‘he’s got to drive me to Yorkshire at some point.’
The women ambled in the direction of the kitchen, loudly discussing where they’d put their coats and scarves. Finally, Mark and Livvy heard the kitchen door slam and there was blessed silence.
CHAPTER 41
Vintage champagne – made with pinot noir, pinot meunier and Chardonnay grapes. The perfect way to celebrate a sparkling romantic occasion.
