Page 86 of Christmas in Mistletoe
Chipper didn’t move.
Ruby got her firm tone out and repeated the instruction.
Chipper slunk away.
“Glad to see you’ve got turkey and ham on the table, Mary and Paul,” Audrey said. “Not bending to the London types who want tofurkey.”
Ruby laughed. “I’m still not vegan, Audrey.”
“Ridiculous,” Audrey muttered, piling turkey onto her plate. “Shall I do yours, Norman?”
“Careful,” Norman replied. “People will think we’re a couple.”
In response, Audrey shoved the plate into his hands. “Second thoughts, do it yourself.”
A tapping of metal on glass stilled the chatter and din of plates being filled. The whole table looked up.
Dad stood at the end of the table, glass raised.
“Before we all eat this delicious turkey that I lovingly cooked, I just wanted to say how grateful both Mary and I are. To our family, to our friends old and new, and to the community of Mistletoe. We came together like we always do this year, and the farm has had a great festive period that will hopefully set us up for years to come. Mistletoe Farm is a destination, a place to make Christmas dreams come true, a place to make Christmas memories.” He glanced at Ruby. “Our wonderful daughter gave us a lasting Christmas memory this year, and we’re so proud she’s finally getting the recognition she deserves.”
The whole table broke into spontaneous applause.
Ruby blushed the colour of Santa’s suit.
“But today is all about being together with the people who matter most, and I’m glad to say we’ve achieved that. So raise your glass with me to the true spirit of Christmas, before we all eat far too much food than is good for us.” Dad raised his drink. “To Christmas in Mistletoe!”
Ruby brimmed with happiness as she raised her glass. “To Christmas in Mistletoe!” she chorused with everyone else. Then she looked at Fran. “And to my first Christmas with you,” she whispered in Fran’s ear.
“The first of many,” Fran replied, kissing Ruby’s lips.
Epilogue
Two years later…
“Rubytubes!You made it back! How was Rome?” Dad and Chipper greeted her at the farmhouse door. Chipper, now ten, wasn’t quite as jumpy as he used to be.
“Italian.” Ruby bent and rubbed Chipper behind his ears, then gave her dad a hug. “How’s the Treasure Hunt going? Fran and I were admiring the trees on the way in.”
Her dad pushed his glasses up his nose. “Going great! We’ve got nearly 50 trees this year. Nearly running out of places to put them.”
Ruby walked through to the kitchen and stopped in her tracks. She hadn’t been home since the summer, and things had changed massively.
“Am I in the right house?” Ruby glanced at her mum, who was standing by the sink with a massive grin on her face. “This new kitchen looks incredible. You’ve gone from country crumble to country slickers.” Ruby leaned against the new quartz counter-top her mum had raved about to her on the phone. “An island, too. Your dreams have come true, Mum.”
Mum walked over and hugged her tight. “To have you both home for Christmas is my dream coming true.” She paused. “Where’s Fran?”
Ruby indicated with her head. “Michael and Dale were out in the garden, so she was hijacked by them. She’ll be over in a bit. We met their new rescue dogs, Cagney and Lacey. They’re adorable.”
Mum nodded. “Cagney is blind in one eye, but they’re so sweet. They’ve found a wonderful home for their final years.”
“Looks like it,” Ruby replied. “I’m going for a shower as we’ve been travelling for what seems like forever. I swear, the dirt is ingrained.”
“Take all the time you need. The Christmas gig’s not for another,” her dad checked his watch, “eight hours. Plenty of time.”
“Paul! The girl’s just walked through the door, let her relax.” Mum put a hand on Ruby’s arm. “This kitchen is all because of you. The number of fans coming to the farm to see where Ruby O’Connell is from grows every time you release a song. They’re all buying coffee, scones, wreaths, the works.” She shook her head. “Good job you’re not out there selling trees; you’d be knee-deep in autograph hunters.”
Ruby was just about to brush her mum’s comments off, but then she remembered what Fran always said to her: take the compliment and be gracious. Ruby had learned so much from Fran since she’d given up her job to become Ruby’s full-time manager. The pair of them were now travelling the globe touring. It was tough work, but it was so rewarding.
