Page 41 of Winter at the Cornish Garden Café
‘The days of teenage rebellion, eh?’ Lucas said, thinking of how the teenagers would sneak away from the hall and down to the beach, where they’d share cigarettes and bottles of cider and dare one another to paddle in the freezing sea. His thoughts turned to Thora at that time, her laughter as beautiful as the stars above them in the velvet black of the sky. The memories were so vivid he could almost reach out and grab them, pull them to his chest, and hold them there forever.
They fell quiet as they climbed the steps to the hall. Lucas pushed open the door then followed his father inside. People milled around in the hall’s main room greeting friends and loved ones. Tables were laden with festive food like homemade Christmas cakes, mince pies, and turkey, cranberry, and stuffing rolls. In one corner, Pearl was standing behind a drinks table serving mugs of steaming mulled cider and wine. An enormous Christmas tree stood at the side of the stage decked with ornaments made by the village children, the star on top donated by the local dog rescue sanctuary. The scents of pine and cloves filled the air, along with the aroma of buttery pastries and spiced drinks.
Lucas scanned the room, his gaze lingering on faces he hadn’t seen in years. He spotted childhood friends, neighbours and even a few teachers from the primary school who’d long since retired but still lived in the village. It was at once pleasant and unsettling, like being catapulted back in time.
‘Oh look! There’s Thora and her family,’ his father said, pointing towards the rear of the hall. Lucas’ heart leapt. The last time he’d seen her was the night of the proposal, when he’d kissed her goodbye on her doorstep after spending a wonderful few hours alone with her. Time they had not wasted at all but had spent rediscovering each other, appreciating how their bodies had changed and adapted with time. Thora was even more beautiful than he remembered, and he had explored every inch of her skin, cuddled her afterwards, and never wanted to let go. However, responsibility had called, and he’d had to go back to his father’s to check on him and so he’d be there the next morning when his father awoke. It had reminded him of when they were teenagers, and they’d have to say goodnight by curfew and wait until the next day to kiss again. There was something delightfully frustrating about it, but he knew that should theyreunite long term, he would want to hold her every night. Leaving her before going to sleep would not be an option he’d consider. If they decided to be together again, then this time it would be for keeps. ‘Shall we go and say hello?’
‘Absolutely.’ Lucas led his father through the crowds and Thora’s parents greeted them, then made some space for his father to sit down. Barry was sitting on Thora’s mum’s lap, his tiny head resting against her chest as if he was listening to her heartbeat.
Lucas waited for Thora to finish speaking to a friend then she smiled at him and came to his side.
‘Evening, handsome.’
‘Evening, beautiful,’ he said, feasting his eyes on how amazing she looked. In a black sparkly dress with a floaty skirt, black knee-high boots, and with her bobbed brown curls tamed into shiny waves, she was stunning. She had a silver clip in her hair on one side and it sparkled as it caught the light.
‘You don’t look so bad yourself,’ she said.
Their attraction fizzed in the air between them, electric and impossible to ignore. They gazed at each other as if enchanted, like nothing existed beyond the space they shared.
‘When we got here, it reminded me of years gone by when we’d sneak out and head to the beach,’ he said.
Her smile lit up her face. ‘Oh yes! We used to go paddling, drink cheap cider and tell ghost stories.’
‘And kiss…’ He winked, and a blush tinted her cheeks.
‘Oh yes, and that.’ She peered at him from behind the veil of her thick, dark lashes, something warm and inviting in her eyes.
‘Dad seems pleased to be here. I wasn’t sure he’d enjoy himself, but he couldn’t wait to get here and now he’s happy to be with your parents.’ Lucas looked over at where his father was speaking to Thora’s dad and smiled. It was good to see his father out with other people, and it would hopefully do him good. Hiding himself away with his guilt would not help anyone, and he needed to make the most of his life in the village. No one got through a lifetime unscathed or without making mistakes, least of all Lucas himself, and so it was important to make the most of every day.
The band that had been tuning up on the stage started playing and the villagers cleared the centre of the room to create the dancefloor. Couples and friends moved to the space and danced as the band ran through a few Christmas numbers, then some old hits from over the years.
And then they played Sheryl Crow’sThe First Cut is the Deepest.
Lucas met Thora’s eyes and her lips parted as the memories struck them simultaneously. Her eyes glistened as tears filled them, and Lucas reached for her hand. Without asking, he led her to the dance floor and took her in his arms. They moved around in a circle, and Thora rested her head against his chest. He felt her warmth against him; her curves fitting the hard planes of his body, and he thought again about how well they fit together. Making love to her after the proposal at the café had made him aware of how much he cared for her and holding her now as they danced to a song they’d danced to many times before confirmed it. His feelings weren’t an illusion or temporary. They’d been waiting for him to hold her again, to kiss her and to accept that she was his person. Thora was the one for him.
‘I’ve missed this,’ he said as the song ended, and she looked up at him.
‘Me too,’ she said. ‘It feels like we’re rediscovering something we never really lost.’
Lucas was about to reply when the band struck up again, a livelier Christmas song, so he leant closer to Thora and said into the pretty shell of her ear, ‘Do you want to dance to this or shall we sneak outside? It’s nice to have you to myself sometimes.’
‘Sneaking out just like old times?’ She laughed, and his heart brimmed with joy. ‘Let’s go.’ She glanced at her family but they were all occupied either talking or dancing, so she took Lucas’ hand and they hurried around the edge of the room, grabbed their coats, and ducked outside.
The evening air was icy and a complete contrast to inside of the hall, and they pulled on hats and gloves and huddled together. They walked briskly to the harbour and sat on a bench, legs touching, arms entwined. The moon was reflected on the water in the harbour and in the windows of the boats that bobbed on the calm sea. The cobblestones of the streets and square sparkled with frost and everything looked perfect, as if Christmas had brought some of the magic from the past back to decorate the village this year.
Lucas got his phone from his pocket and scrolled to the music app, then selected a song. ‘How about we dance now?’ he said.
‘What? Here?’ Thora pulled a face.
‘Why not? It will help us keep warm.’
‘OK then.’ She allowed him to pull her to her feet, then he set his phone down on the bench and started the song. ‘Too Lost in You,’ she breathed as Lucas took her in his arms.
‘Our song,’ he said as they moved together, holding on tight like they never wanted to let go.
As they danced, snow fell, settling on their heads and shoulders and all around them. Everything apart from them and the snow seemed to pause, as if holding its breath while they moved as one. Every step they took was like a step back in time, tracing memories they’d held close and creating new ones on the pure white of the fallen snow.
‘Lucas…’ Thora gazed up at him, her eyes were filled with a thousand things she clearly wanted to say. He felt the same, but sometimes it was impossible to articulate the depth of emotion, confusion, and fear that battled inside him. Thora was his one and only vulnerability, and he knew that surrendering to his feelings for her would be the final time he ever gave his heart to anyone.
