Page 69 of Hope and Hot Chocolate on Mistletoe Lane

nine…

eight…

seven…

six…

five…

four…

three…

two…

one…’

Becky was waved forward to press the button so she crossed her fingers with one hand, and with the other hit the giant red button, closing her eyes like she didn’t dare to look at the tree. We all stood with breaths held as there was a millisecond when nothing happened, and then the tree burst into dazzling light. It had thousands of warm white lights draped on it and at the top was a LED star that shone brightly into the night sky.

There were gasps and cheers and applause. Becky dared to look along with the other volunteers and they all heaved sighs of relief and joined in the applause when they saw it was all lit up. Taylor gave them all hugs and I heard her promise she would find some paid help for next year as it was clear it had been a lot of work.

I turned back to the tree, my eyes falling on a woman standing there, the twinkling lights bright on her face, catching on her glasses and her shy smile. My heart jumped up into my throat when she lifted her hand in a tentative wave. I stood frozen, unsure if she was real or if this was a dream. I knew Willow banged on about Christmas magic in Birchbrook but this felt too incredible.

‘Why are you still standing here?’ Elliot broke me out of my trance, nudging me in the side. ‘Go over to her,’ he urged.

I almost asked him if he could see her but clearly, he could. This wasn’t a dream.

I broke into smile and walked towards Holly.

45

HOLLY

I drove into Birchbrook and had to park three roads away from the High Street. The town was heaving. The tree-lighting ceremony was clearly a huge night here now. Once I’d switched off the engine, I checked the time on my phone and yelped. It was almost time for the lights to be switched on and I was nowhere close. I was determined to get there before the tree was lit up so I could find Paul and accept his offer of being his date, far too long after I should have said yes. But I knew it had been right to face the demons of my past before I thought about what I wanted my future to look like.

Jumping out of my car, I set off at a jog towards the town green. Luckily, the evening was dry and clear albeit chilly so I didn’t have to battle with any elements.

Soon, I could see the brightness of the small Christmas trees and fairy lights that created a glow in the High Street and then ahead of me, the green was packed with people, gathered around the large Christmas tree at the edge of it. A choir was singing. I could see the lights of the café van twinkling. Stalls had been set up along one side, and I knew my mum was manning one of them. The atmosphere was lively and festive and it brightened my mood instantly. It had been a long journey tonight – the city traffic had been crazy and I’d been worried I wouldn’t get here in time. I’d had so much to sort out so I’d left later than I had planned. But I was almost here now.

I heard the mayor over the PA system getting everyone ready for the lighting of the tree.

I doubled my speed when I heard everyone start chanting a countdown.

My heart was in my mouth in case I missed it.

I reached the green and I scanned the crowd anxiously for Paul. I saw my mum and Willow and Dylan, I saw Daisy and Mary by their flower stall, I saw faces from the past and ones I’d met this month. And I realised that the only anxiety I felt was to make sure Paul saw me before the tree was lit up – to be his date tonight. I didn’t care who saw me or saw us together. In fact, I wanted them to see us. I wanted to be by his side.

Skidding to a halt by the tree as the countdown rang out loudly around me, I finally spotted his tall figure on the other side, where he stood by Elliot and Lewis, and his parents too. Paul was watching the tree as the countdown reached one. I ignored the tree bursting into dazzling lights and kept my eyes on him, willing him to see me.

And finally, as the lights shone on my face, his gaze drifted to where I stood. He looked stunned as I lifted my hand to wave. It wasn’t until Elliot nudged him and said something that he seemed to realise I was actually here, and not the Ghost of Christmas Past. He moved towards me and my stomach gave a flip to see the smile that took over his face. Relief flowed through me and I knew I was smiling way too hard back.

When Paul reached me by the tree, I stepped forward, leaving just a tiny space between us. I looked into his deep, warm eyes and I instantly felt better. It was as though the past few days without him had been exactly like the big tree before it was lit up. Not quite as bright.

The light glowed around us as we looked into each other’s eyes.

‘I feel like we’re in a romcom movie,’ I said with a laugh.

‘Works for me,’ he replied. ‘You came back.’ He reached out to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear, cupping my face there, tilting it up to meet his. He closed the gap between us further, making my heart thump even faster than it already was from rushing to the green. I wasn’t a gym or Pilates girl, so that had been a workout. But he paused, not kissing me, waiting for my answer.