Page 2 of Hope and Hot Chocolate on Mistletoe Lane

My pulse picked up further. I stared across the table at Georgia mouthing, ‘Who is it?’ as my mind instantly went back to the last time I was in my hometown.

2

HOLLY

Ten Years Ago

‘Were you just going to leave?’ Paul skidded to a halt beside my car as I loaded the boot with my things.

I winced. I’d deliberately packed up my car at dawn to avoid any awkward goodbyes. Behind me, my mum remained inside our cottage, refusing to come out to see me off.

‘I thought it was better this way,’ I told him as I closed the boot and reluctantly faced the disappointed expression on his face.

‘You’re acting like we’ll never see each other again,’ he said, shaking his head. Even though I was tall, Paul still was taller. He was slim too, willowy and unable to grow any facial hair, which he hated. He had dark, floppy hair that was always over his dark eyes, and he lived in beanie hats even when it wasn’t quite cold enough to need one. ‘You’ll be back in the holidays, right?’ There was hope in his voice.

I put my hands in my pockets to stop me reaching out to him. ‘I don’t know; I’ll have to see how it goes. I’m going pretty far away and it’s not like anyone will want to see me.’ I hated the bitterness in my voice but the last two years had been hard going.

‘I will, Hols,’ Paul said then, adjusting his beanie, a sign that he was nervous, I knew.

‘I’m sorry. You know I need to get away.’ I glanced back at the cottage I’d lived in for my whole life. ‘Things are so rubbish with my family, everyone talking about us… and besides, this was always my plan. It was yours too at one point.’

‘Yeah, I know.’ He looked away. ‘Maybe I’m not as brave as you.’

‘Maybe you’re braver, actually,’ I replied. I wasn’t sure if I was heading for new opportunities or just running away. ‘We’ll keep in touch,’ I promised wildly, unsure if I meant it or not but a lump was rising in my throat at the thought of never seeing him again. For as long as I could remember, Paul had been part of my life.

Paul nodded. ‘Of course we will. Shall we?’ He held out an arm awkwardly and I slipped into his embrace. It was quick and tight and afterwards, Paul wouldn’t meet my gaze. We didn’t hug much. Something that was both hard but also a relief. ‘I’ll see you, Holly.’

He walked away then, not looking back.

He missed the tear rolling down my cheek. ‘Bye, Paul,’ I whispered into the breeze.

I glanced back at my cottage and saw the curtains flicker. My mum had been watching. We’d had so many rows about me leaving over the past few months. I knew she didn’t want me to go, just like Paul didn’t. But I couldn’t let myself stay. If I didn’t leave now, I never would and I wasn’t going to end up like my mother.

I climbed into my car and I looked back once at Birchbrook before I drove away, knowing I wouldn’t be returning anytime soon.

3

HOLLY

I forced myself to focus on this phone call and not get lost in memories of ten years ago. ‘Willow, from school?’ I repeated in a stunned daze. It had been ten years since I’d heard from anyone in Birchbrook, save for my mum. ‘What can I do for you?’ I asked, hoping I didn’t sound high-pitched. Georgia was leaning forward now, trying to make out what was going on.

‘You might possibly be able to save my life!’ she cried. ‘I remembered you run your own events company in the city, it was in the Birchbrook newspaper last year, and I need help in creating a winter wonderland at my farm. I need it to open on the first of December!’ She sounded mildly panicked and as high-pitched as me.

‘That’s a very quick turnaround…’

‘I know, I know, but I’ve told the town it’s happening. I had planned to do it all myself and then everything went wrong! My boyfriend has invited his family for Christmas just as my dad has won a cruise holiday with his partner, and at my pumpkin patch this year, I promised the town something spectacular for the festive season. And we have people staying in our Airbnb cottages who think there will be a winter wonderland on site. But I can’t run the farm by myself plus entertain guests and pull a festive event together. Especially as I’ve been struggling with morning sickness…’ She spoke at such a rapid speed, I was having a hard time keeping up. ‘Basically, I need you to come to the farm and help me put on a winter wonderland for the town,’ Willow finished breathlessly.

‘Can’t you just say you’re unable to do it this year?’ I asked when she finally paused and took a deep breath. ‘People would understand, surely?’

Georgia shook her head at me violently as I made that suggestion. She mouthed something but I couldn’t make it out. I lifted my hands at her and she lifted hers back. We stared at each other across the table at a stalemate.

‘Well, I got so excited, I put tickets for sale on our website and it’s gone a bit crazy,’ Willow said then, drawing my attention back to the phone call. ‘We’re almost sold out.’

‘You’ve sold out an event you haven’t started work on?’ I knew I shouldn’t judge a potential client but really that was very premature.

‘Yeah, my boyfriend Dylan told me not to but I was so confident I could pull it off. And I’ve been interviewing people to help me run the farm but no one is right. It’s a family farm and no one is passionate enough. But anyway, time is ticking… I thought my dad would be here and I didn’t think we’d have Dylan’s family to stay, who we’ve only just started to try to build bridges with, and Daisy, my cousin, is too busy with her flower business, although she will help with any floral displays we might want, of course, and my best friend Sabrina has her hands full⁠—’

‘Hang on,’ I interrupted as she threw names at me that I couldn’t keep track of. ‘I can’t come to Birchbrook,’ I said firmly.