Page 76 of Hope and Hot Chocolate on Mistletoe Lane

Holly laughed. ‘Georgia said we are living the friends-to-lovers trope,’ she said, reaching down to place her hand over mine. I always felt better when we were touching. It seemed like she did too.

‘Works for me,’ I replied.

The evening went well, I thought. Georgia was fun and Lucas was clearly besotted with his wife and they told funny stories from nights out with Holly. When she went to the loo, and Lucas went to the bar, Georgia leaned in to talk to me alone.

‘I won’t say I’ll kill you if you hurt her but Holly means the world to me and I want her to be happy.’

‘That’s what I want too,’ I replied. ‘She means more to me than you’ll ever know.’

‘I can see that,’ she replied with a smile. ‘Her seeing her dad was hard but she’s wanted to do it for years. I’m glad you inspired her to go there.’

‘Did I?’ That made me smile.

Lucas came back then so Georgia didn’t say anything more but I felt like I’d passed the test. When Holly returned, I put my arm around her and looked around the pub I’d drunk in since I was eighteen, when Holly left, and how it felt like it wouldn’t feel the same without her being here too now.

I told myself to tell her that but the evening passed and we went back to my apartment and fell straight asleep in each other’s arms. Time felt like it was slipping away and I wanted it to stay still for a moment. But we woke up on Christmas Eve, the deadline of her decision.

I leaned in to kiss her and the kiss turned hungry and soon we were naked and making love, neither of us saying anything but holding each other like we couldn’t imagine letting go.

Then we had to get ready for a brunch at Birch Tree Farm to mark the last day of it being open before Christmas.

‘Why don’t you join me?’ I said as I grabbed two towels from my cupboard.

‘Shower together?’

‘Mmm,’ I said, wanting more time naked with her.

Her eyes twinkled. ‘Sounds good.’

She skipped into my bathroom, making me chuckle. We climbed into the shower together, the water running over our bodies, and I pulled her close and kissed her, hoping she knew how much she meant to me.

50

HOLLY

It was the final day that Mistletoe Lane would be open at Birch Tree Farm and the place was packed. Willow had let more visitors in for the final day, besieged with requests for tickets from people in town desperate to see what all the fuss was about.

Our last week of opening had been a dream. There had been no more snow or storms or anything worrying weather-wise and Willow’s dad had proved to be a great draw as Santa each day. Word had spread thick and fast at what a great day out you could have and so for the final one, Willow had let anyone in who wanted one last slice of Christmas magic.

But the best part of it all for me had been spending every minute I could spare with Paul. I’d slept at his every night, and feeling his warm, strong arms around me had made me feel safe in a way I had never felt in my life before. I’d been so scared to trust that anyone would stay with me but Paul made me feel more secure than I thought possible. There was still worry in my heart but wanting to be with him was much more powerful of a feeling. He was everything I had ever wanted. I just wished I knew if he felt the same way.

The sun had set as Georgia and I walked through Mistletoe Lane together, the lights twinkling against the darkening sky.

‘These are so moreish,’ Georgia said, waving a candy cane.

We’d had a nice time at the Birchbrook Arms the night before as a foursome with Paul. I’d been so nervous for them to meet him but it felt like it had gone well, almost as if we’d always drunk together.

Lucas had left us to chat to Paul in the café van and I was showing Georgia everything we had created here. She was a particular fan of the candy canes it seemed.

‘Those are for kids,’ I said, linking arms with her with a laugh.

‘It’s the last day; I’m helping you get rid of them,’ she responded. We passed the queue for Santa in the post-office shed and the cute Shetland ponies snacking on hay, watched over by the ‘elf’ Willow had hired from town. ‘This really is so cute and wholesome, Holly. Your best event yet.’

‘Even counting your wedding?’

‘Okay, nothing tops that, but this is a very close second. You should be proud of it. Everyone is thrilled by the magic. Even big kids like me!’

I smiled, pleased she liked it. ‘Thanks. It has been lovely seeing how happy it’s made people who have visited.’ I was wrapped up in a red scarf today as the breeze was bitingly cold but the atmosphere on the farm was lively thanks to how close we were to Christmas and the polytunnels were warm. People were grabbing the last of the Christmas trees and writing last-minute letters to Santa, buying treats from Paul, skating with loved ones and taking photos that would become next year’s Christmas cards. Everyone seemed happy, including my best friend. ‘So, what do you think of Birchbrook?’ I asked her. Not only had she met Paul now but over brunch, she’d met Willow and Dylan and everyone on the farm, and my mum had joined us too. My worlds had finally collided and I’d loved it.