Page 16 of A Merry Little Christmas
‘But I thought you two were so close?’
‘Well, we were. But that was kind of the problem? I just felt that after Richard and all that pain, I just couldn’t possibly go through the same again. Not so soon after...’ I trailed off with a shrug. It actually sounded rather pathetic saying it out loud. And I could tell Primrose was mystified, although she was trying hard not to show it.
‘Caleb isn’t Richard,’ she said gently.
‘I know. I know. You’re thinking I’m mad and that I should just go for it with Caleb... that love is worth all the pain.’
‘There might notbeany pain with Caleb.’
‘True.’
‘I think you might have fallen into the trap of thinking that because one person did the dirty on you, the next man you choose will do the same. Which is really understandable. But it’s not logical when you stop and think about it.’
‘I know. You’re right.’ I smiled ruefully. ‘Caleb isn’t Richard. I won’t get hurt again.’
‘Exactly.’
We started talking about Ellie’s idea for a Christmas market at the glamping site, and thankfully, the subject of Caleb was forgotten.
CHAPTER NINE
After leaving Primrose at the café, I called in to see Dad and Gran, and we had a mini tea party, the three of us.
Gran presented me with some beautiful silver earrings with a little droplet of amber hanging from each one, and Dad – ever the practical one – had bought me a gleaming red kettle because last time he’d come over to the flat, I’d told him the one I had was on its last legs.
It was so lovely, catching up around the kitchen table. Gran had baked her mouth-watering honey cake specially for my birthday and Dad was very happy to dive in at last.
The cake was basically ten layers – yes, ten! – of soft, caramelised honey cake, sandwiched together with a delicious burnt honey cream, and it was something I looked forward to every year. It was a link to our Eastern European heritage, the traditional birthday cake Gran had grown up enjoying ever since she was a little girl.
Conscious that I was being treated to another birthday tea at the café later, I nibbled on a small slice of the honey cake, and Gran wrapped up some for me to take away. (I made sure to leave a good chunk of it for Dad!)
Gran had managed to get tickets for the ballet and I could tell from the way her eyes danced when she told me, that she was really looking forward to our evening out together. I decided right then that we should do things like this together more often. I was so glad she’d suggested it. It was always a magical night, getting dressed up and going to the ballet – and going with my gran made it even more special.
Seeing them both had given me a real lift. I hardly gave Caleb a thought as we sat round that kitchen table, laughing and teasingeach other in the old familiar way, and catching up on all the gossip.
We arranged for Dad to drive us to the theatre in Guildford and then collect us later. And I was feeling really happy as I waved them goodbye – calling that I’d see them both later – and then drove off to be the guest of honour at Ellie’s tea party!
She’d closed the café half an hour early, so it was just after four-thirty when I walked through the door to lots of chatter and laughter, and – when they all turned and saw me – a chorus of whoops and cheers and ‘Happy Birthday!’
Ellie came over and pushed a glass of fizz into my hand and made a toast, and then Maddy said, ‘Thank goodness you’re here at last. Let’s get this birthday tea underway. I’m absolutely starving.’
I felt quite emotional being surrounded by my best friends, who’d all shown up to help me celebrate my special day. Of course I saw Maddy, Fen, Jaz and Ellie regularly because we worked together. But it was great to see Kenzie, Clara and Lottie, all past employees at the café, and Annalise, who ran the Sunnybrook Pudding Club. Anita and some of the others who worked at Ellie’s baking school next door were there, too, and I found myself feeling quite emotional at the turn-out.
The love I was feeling from them almost made up for not seeing Caleb.
Almost.
I was trying not to think about him... using will power (not altogether successfully) to ignore my phone. One moment I’d be determined to leave it in my bag and forget about it – then next moment, I’d be pulling it out to check it yet again. It was all quite draining.
‘I thought Caleb might be with you,’ said Ellie, who was ushering everyone over to the amazing tea party spread that had been laid out on pushed-together tables by the window.
‘Caleb?’ My eyebrows shot up. ‘Caleb’s coming?’ I glanced out of the window hopefully.
Maybe that had been his plan all along! He’d been invited in secret and he was going to show up and surprise me...
Ellie’s smile faded. ‘Oh. No. Sorry. I just meant if you two were spending the day together, maybe he’d have come along?’
‘Right.’ Hope tumbled to the ground. ‘No. He’s... well, he’s super-busy at work just now.’
