Page 51 of Hope and Hot Chocolate on Mistletoe Lane

Birchbrook Christmas cake

Pat’s snowman cupcakes

‘Holly’s hot chocolate?’ I asked as Paul finally stopped writing and looked at me.

He shrugged. ‘Seemed fitting as I created it for you.’

‘Paul…’ I began, wondering why it felt like a lump was forming in my throat.

‘We also have normal coffee and tea and soft drinks but knowing people in this crazy town, they will only want the festive treats,’ he said, ignoring my stunned expression as he gestured to the cakes in front of him. They looked incredible.

‘Holly, come and meet my friend Amy – she’s going to take some content for social media,’ Willow called as she walked to the ice rink with a pretty blonde woman. I swallowed the lump down in my throat and hurried over to them, unable to explain to Paul how I was feeling. How weirdly touched that had just made me. I’d never felt like I had belonged but seeing my name on the café menu, I’d suddenly felt like I did.

* * *

It was early evening on the farm, and I was exhausted but relieved. It had been a successful opening day. We’d had a steady stream of visitors and people were tagging us on social media and more tickets were being booked each hour for the rest of December. The excitement and happiness on the faces of the visitors assured me that they had felt the Christmas magic we’d tried so hard to create.

As I wandered through the tunnels, I went over to my mum’s table. She was helping a customer, chatting with them happily. I’d never really seen her work. She started the business after my dad left and as I’d moved away soon after, I wasn’t at home to watch her business grow.

I looked down at her designs – pretty silver jewellery with gemstones, birthstone jewellery and rings that represented different flowers. Then there was a selection of festive pieces.

‘This is pretty,’ I said, touching a silver bracelet with sparkly snowflakes hanging from it.

‘You should have it,’ Mum said, reaching for it. She pushed up the sleeve of my coat and fastened it around my wrist. ‘Fits you perfectly.’

‘I have to pay you for it.’

‘Have it as an early Christmas present,’ she replied, letting go of my arm.

I lifted my wrist and twirled it so the snowflakes caught the twinkling lights above us. ‘Are you sure? It’s lovely.’

‘Of course!’ She smiled. ‘I’m glad you like it. I never gave you anything I made because I thought you’d prefer fancy jewellery…’ She looked away quickly. I caught a glistening in her eyes.

‘This is more special than something I could buy,’ I assured her. ‘How has it been today?’

‘It’s been great. I’ve made a few sales plus people have said they will tell their family and friends they can buy their Christmas presents here. Thank you for thinking of this, Holly. I honestly think this is wonderful for the town. I’m sure the city has spectacular Christmas things but I’ve never seen anything more magical.’

God. I felt myself tear up then. I always told myself that it didn’t matter that my mum and I weren’t as close now like we were when I was younger, but maybe I’d been lying to myself. Because knowing she approved of Mistletoe Lane and was happy to be a part of it meant a lot.

‘Thanks, Mum.’ I hesitated before continuing. ‘My old boss has been bad-mouthing me in the city, so it will be really great if this does well. Maybe it will bring more business my way.’

Mum looked at me in surprise. ‘Why would your boss do that?’

I told her quickly what had happened before anyone else came to her stall. ‘He tried to tell the local paper I’d embezzled money but thankfully, the reporter spoke to me about it and he said he’s looking into doing an article about it. But I don’t know if it’s a good idea. Maybe I should just leave Grant alone now.’

‘Sounds like he is someone who thinks he can do whatever he wants and get away with it; that’s not something you want, is it?’

I shook my head. ‘But maybe he’ll succeed in ruining my business if I pursue it?’

‘It sounds like he’s doing that already, love. He put you in a terrible position making a pass at you and then how he reacted afterwards, it’s frankly appalling. I will support you whatever you decide but he might just keep doing things like this if we don’t do something.’

I smiled at the word ‘we’ like she thought we were in this together. It made me feel better. ‘I know. Georgia was all for kicking his ass a long time ago. I maybe did what I often do,’ I confessed, looking down at my bracelet. ‘I ran away from him and my old job but his shadow followed me regardless.’

‘Some things you can’t run away from, love,’ Mum said. ‘I know it can seem like the easy way but did it make you happy in the long run?’

That question hovered in the air. She wasn’t only talking about leaving Grant without telling anyone what he’d done, but about me leaving my home and not facing anything that had happened here, or with my dad. Was I happy? I hadn’t been for a long time, no.

‘I want to be happy,’ I said, stepping back as a family walked into the tunnel and headed over to the stall.