Page 44 of Winter at the Cornish Garden Café
‘Lucas has agreed to meet me there, hasn’t he? Or are you just flying by the seat of your pants here?’
Finn patted her hand. ‘Yes, of course. He’s as keen to meet as you are. Now drink your tea and get some sugar into you and then go and soak in a bath. Everything will be fine.’ He pulled his phone from his pocket, then stood up and went to the door to the hall. ‘Just need to message Titus a moment. Rosie and Reggie, keep an eye on your mum and make sure she doesn’t get in the car and drive to Scotland.’
Thora accepted a mince pie from her son and a mug of tea from her daughter, then she looked up at them both. Guys, you don’t need to stand guard. I wouldn’t run away to Scotland. I was thinking possibly as far as Oxford, but not Scotland. Please don’t worry.’
They stared down at her and she winced. ‘That was a joke.’
‘Sure, Mum.’ Rosie went to the back door and locked it, then pocketed the key. ‘Just in case.’
‘So now I’m a prisoner in my own home?’
‘Not a prisoner, Mum,’ Reggie said, sitting next to her. ‘We’re just keeping you safe until you can sort out your love life. We all want you to be happy because when you’re happy, so are we.’
Thora smiled at her children. ‘I love you so much.’
‘And we love you too.’ Rosie came to Thora and wrapped her arms around her then kissed her head. ‘Better wash this hair today, Mum. Make it nice and shiny for when you make up with Lucas.’
‘Thanks for the tip.’ Thora picked up her tea and sipped it, savouring the comforting heat.
She knew they all had her best interests at heart, she really did, but even so… The thought of meeting Lucas later made her stomach clench. What if he hated her now and just wanted to tell her what a disappointment she was, that he could never trust her after she’d let him go again?
‘Trust in the process, Mum,’ Rosie said as she released her and went to the door. ‘I’m going to run you a bath and then I’m going to help Reggie wrap the gifts he bought. Otherwise, we’ll all end up with the wrong things.’
‘Will not!’ Reggie huffed. ‘I’m not that stupid.’
‘You sure about that?’ Rosie poked her tongue out at him, then darted out of the kitchen.
Reggie glared at the doorway for a minute, then he turned back to Thora and pointed at the mince pie. ‘You going to eat that?’
‘No, love, you have it.’
‘Thanks.’ As he munched on the mince pie and Thora drank her tea, she couldn’t help smiling because whatever happened with Lucas later, she had so much to be grateful for. She was loved and she loved in return. She had many things in her life that gave her joy, and so reuniting with Lucas, if it happened, would simply be the icing on the Christmas cake.
23
LUCAS
Lucas was on his way to The Garden Café. Finn had messaged him earlier in the day and asked to meet him that evening at seven. Lucas had been a bit perplexed because it was, after all, Christmas Eve, and people tended to have plans. He’d been planning on spending the evening with his father in front of the TV and so he’d made them dinner then told his father he had to pop out for an hour. His father had seemed fine about him heading out but had told him to wrap up warm as there was a blizzard forecast for later.
It was absolutely freezing outside. The streets were already dusted with snow that sparkled like powdered sugar under the glow from the moon that peeked through the clouds at intervals like it was playing a festive game. Lucas pulled his scarf higher as he walked and thrust his hands deeper into his pockets. The wind blowing in off the sea was harsh and his eyes and the tip of his nose stung. And yet despite the chill, he was nurturing a warm glow inside because he hoped that this had something to do with Thora. Why else would Finn want to meet him on Christmas Eve? Had Thora had a change of heart, and did she want to find a way through things now? Had she decided to seetheir challenges as opportunities and not obstacles? Not that he hadn’t been broken the previous evening when she’d told him it could never work between them, but he had also found it hard to accept that she didn’t want him. They had kissed, hugged and made love and it had been incredible, so how could she really want to throw it all away? When she’d walked away from him at the harbour, he’d yearned to follow her but he’d also been afraid. He’d hoped that she simply needed some space to process things and if he put extra pressure on her he could ruin it forever. Lucas didn’t have as much at stake as Thora, she’d been right about that, and he wanted to be considerate of her feelings in a way he hadn’t been all those years ago. It was so hard to get things right when it came to matters of the heart. When he was younger he had reacted to being hurt by lashing out too, but now he hoped his calmer reaction would help them to find a way forwards.
When he reached the café, he went through the gate and paused. The windows glowed with golden light that spilled out over the fallen snow. Lucas spotted Finn at the counter speaking to Pearl and the sight of them both having a normal every day conversation was comforting. It reminded him of simpler times and of how warm and friendly a place Porthpenny was to live. Imagine if he came back to live there permanently. How different life could be.
He pushed open the door and was greeted by aromas of gingerbread, vanilla and pine and he breathed deeply, keen to savour the scents of Christmas at the café. Whatever the evening had in store for him, he could handle it. Christmas had a way of weaving magic through everything, and he had a feeling that this evening would unfold in a way that had that magic woven into its snowy fabric.
But then, the door to the kitchen opened and his breath caught in his throat.
Because there she was.
The woman of his dreams and the one person who had the power to completely and utterly break his heart.
24
THORA
The expression on Lucas’ face did not suggest that he had been expecting to see Thora there and she almost said as much to Finn. Instead, she calmly walked around the counter and stood next to her ex-husband, gazing at Lucas and wondering if he would make a run for it while he still could. But he didn’t. He walked over to them and met her eyes.
‘Thora. Finn. Pearl. Good evening.’
