About the Author

KATIE GINGER lives by the sea in the south-east of England, and apart from holidays to very hot places where you can sit by a pool and drink cocktails as big as your head, she wouldn’t really want to be anywhere else. Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is her sixth novel. She is also the author of Spring Tides at Swallowtail Bay, Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay, Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage and the Seafront series – The Little Theatre on the Seafront, shortlisted for the Katie Fforde Debut Novel of the Year award, and Summer Season on the Seafront.

When she’s not writing, Katie spends her time with her husband and two kids, and their dogs: Wotsit, the King Charles spaniel, and Skips, the three-legged Romanian rescue dog. (And yes, they are both named after crisps!)

For more about Katie, you can visit her website: www.keginger.com, find her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KatieGAuthor, follow her on Twitter: @KatieGAuthor or sign up to her newsletter here: http://bit.ly/3gbqMS0

Everyone LOVES Katie Ginger

‘So beautifully written. It made me want to move house right now and set up by the sea!’

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‘Simply delicious – summer escapes don’t come any more tasty!’

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‘A hilarious romantic comedy that left me with a big smile on my face’

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‘This book is every sort of wonderful, with gorgeous characters, a stunning town and a friendship that turns in to a romance you’re not going to want to miss out on’ *****

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Also by Katie Ginger

The Little Theatre on the Seafront

Summer Season on the Seafront

Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage

Spring Tides at Swallowtail Bay

Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay

Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay

Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay
KATIE GINGER

HQ

An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2020

Copyright © Katie Ginger 2020

Katie Ginger asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

E-book Edition © October 2020 ISBN: 9780008380571

Version: 2020-09-10

Table of Contents

Cover

About the Author

Everyone LOVES Katie Ginger

Also by Katie Ginger

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Chapter 1: October

Chapter 2

Chapter 3: November

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17: December

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Epilogue: Christmas Eve, One year later

Acknowledgements

Extract

Dear Reader …

Keep Reading …

About the Publisher

For Matt and Magda,

Welcome home!

Chapter 1
October

The assistant yanked the changing-room curtain back with such vigour, the shiny metal pole it hung from nearly flew off the wall. Out strode Cat, Nell’s best friend, in an exquisite off-the-shoulder fairy-tale princess wedding dress. The ivory bodice clung tightly to Cat’s petite frame and the enormous skirt puffed out in a series of cascading ruffles. In the warm orange lighting of the boutique Cat’s skin took on a dewy glow.

Nell’s hand flew to her chest, pressing on a heart that was over-flowing with love. ‘Oh my gosh, Cat, you look incredible. Like an actual movie star at the Oscars. It’s just beautiful. Isn’t it beautiful, Brenda?’

‘It’s lovely, darling,’ Cat’s mum replied, ignoring Nell’s over-enthusiasm and speaking directly to Cat. ‘But please tell me you’re going to dye your hair back to blonde before the wedding? It’ll look much better in the photographs.’

Cat hitched the dress to walk to the pedestal, then stepped onto it, allowing the dress to fall from her fingers so she could see herself in the 360-degree, floor-to-ceiling mirrors. Within seconds, the assistant placed a pair of high-heeled shoes in front of her. Cat stepped into them and, brushing her fingers down the skirt, turned left and right, watching the fabric float around her. ‘I hadn’t really thought about my hair. I was going to keep it pink.’

With her mouth pursed in disapproval, Brenda’s face contorted even further, and Nell stifled a giggle. The phrase ‘a bulldog sucking a wasp’ came to mind. Nell waited for her to ask about the eyebrow and nose piercing too. There was no way Cat was going to remove those for her wedding day. She’d worn them every day since they were done one drunken evening at university, and Nell was glad. Cat was pretty amazing as she was, there was no way she should be any different on her wedding day.

Brenda picked lint from her expensive tailored skirt. She wasn’t the type of woman to dress in jeans and oversized thick woolly jumpers. She wore a matching lilac tweed skirt and jacket with a cream blouse underneath. Her blonde hair, heavily streaked with grey, was coiffured into a helmet that daren’t move for fear of being attacked with even more hairspray. Not a strand was out of place and neither was her lipstick.

Since Kieran had proposed on Cat’s birthday at the start of October, Brenda had been more than a little excited about her daughter’s upcoming nuptials but was sometimes surprised at the choices Cat made about her big day. Nell wasn’t. Cat had always been down to earth and had her own individual style. Secretly, Nell hoped she wouldn’t change the hair colour she’d had for the last few years. Out of all the colours Cat had tried (orange had been particularly disastrous) pastel-pink suited her best.

The only bridal shop in Swallowtail Bay sat at the furthest end of town, in a small, cobbled side street full of boutique clothes shops. They were lucky to have every type of shop in the bay from delis to chocolatiers and homeware stores. There were art galleries, cafés and restaurants, and on top of this, the town was blessed with spectacular scenery from the rolling green fields on the edge of town, to the long, arcing coastline with a pebbly beach and promenade where you could walk and enjoy the seasons by the sea. Nell especially loved Christmas in Swallowtail Bay when the town became like somewhere from a movie; shop doors were decked with Christmas wreaths and all along the promenade strings of fairy lights glittered off the surface of the water. October was virtually Christmas as far as Nell was concerned, but she was resisting the urge to get out the Christmas tree just yet for fear of annoying what few guests she had booked in. Maybe after Halloween she could get it out and go nuts.

Normally, Nell would have walked through town, enjoying the sights and smells of Swallowtail Bay, but this morning with the wind ringing an autumnal tune and the rain coming down in heavy sheets, they’d driven as near as possible so as not to damage any of the gowns with sopping wet hair. When they’d arrived, they’d been stripped of their thick winter coats and glasses of prosecco were shoved in their hands. Well, in Nell and Cat’s hands anyway. Brenda had preferred a cup of tea, which she’d been pleased to see was served in a white cup and saucer – no mugs in sight. Cat and Nell had then snuggled on a sofa while Cat described the types of dresses she wanted to try and the colours she liked. Brenda had also made her opinions known, but then, she couldn’t help but do otherwise. After that, and with Cat and Nell giggling like schoolgirls at the fun of it all, the actual trying on had begun.

Nell couldn’t wait until it was her turn to do something like this. She was more than a little excited at being Cat’s maid of honour, and at hosting the wedding at Holly Lodge, her boutique hotel newly licensed for wedding ceremonies. She considered what type of dress she’d have. Something with a long train and the softest fabric. That was an impossibly long way off for her as there wasn’t even a sniff of a new man in her life, but it would happen eventually. For now, the excitement of watching Cat was more than enough for her.

‘What do you think of that dress, Cat?’ she asked, but Nell already knew the answer. As beautiful as the dress was and as gorgeous as Cat looked in it, her eyes weren’t sparkling.

She swished again. ‘I’m not really sure—’

‘But it’s divine,’ Brenda chimed in. ‘You look like a princess.’

‘I’m not sure I want to look like a princess, though. I don’t know if it’s really me. I always pictured myself in something a bit different. Something pretty but less … dramatic. Not your normal wedding dress attire.’

‘Anyone would think you want a suit.’

‘Now there’s an idea,’ said Nell, and she and Cat shared a mischievous flash of eyes. ‘You could have a theme wedding! Vicars and tarts—’

‘Harry Potter?’ Cat suggested. ‘You know how much I love Harry Potter.’

‘Gangsters and molls?’

‘Yes!’ Cat replied enthusiastically.

‘Girls!’ Brenda screeched, then tried to cover it with an indulgent glance.

‘Or,’ Nell continued, enjoying the moment too much to let it go, ‘as it’s Christmas you could dress up like Mrs Santa and Kieran could be Mr Santa and we could all be little elves!’

‘Great idea, Nell.’

‘Don’t be silly, darling,’ Brenda chided, but the slight twitch at the edge of her eye showed them she was actually worried by this one.

‘Only kidding, Mum, but I’m still not a hundred per cent sure about this dress.’

‘What sort of thing would you like to try?’ asked the sales assistant, earning a glower from Brenda. The poor girl looked slightly terrified. Luckily, Nell had grown immune to Brenda’s evil-eye stare, having received so many of them over the years.

‘I think I’d like something vintage. Not actual vintage, obviously, I don’t think we can afford that—’

‘Of course we can afford it.’ Brenda’s high tinkling laugh was directed at the assistant. ‘But why pay an extortionate amount for second-hand when you can have something new and exquisite like this?’

‘I love those long gowns from the 1930s with all the beading and sequins—’

‘Sequins?’ Brenda squawked. ‘This isn’t a Seventies disco, Catherine.’

‘Or something shorter, like from the 1950s.’

‘You can’t wear a short wedding dress!’

‘I know exactly what you mean.’ The assistant nodded vigorously. ‘And I know just what will suit you. We’ve got some gorgeous dresses that I can picture you in already.’

The assistant sped away to some racks at the front of the shop and Brenda followed swiftly behind. Nell and Cat watched them both go and as soon as they were out of earshot, Cat said, ‘Help me out of this dress, will you? It’s absolutely killing me. It’s like being in a back brace.’

Nell followed her into the changing room and began to undo the dress. ‘Won’t the assistant tell me off for getting my grubby hands all over it?’

‘It’s either that or I faint.’

‘Then I don’t care if she tells me off.’

It took a minute to unfasten all the hooks and undo the corseting but then she was free. Cat relaxed and leaned against the changing-room wall in mismatching bra and knickers, sipping prosecco. Nell too enjoyed the feeling of the bubbles popping on her tongue and the insides of her cheeks.

‘Did you like that dress?’ Cat asked, completely at ease in nothing but her undercrackers. The heating was on in the bridal shop and with the glow of a mid-morning prosecco they were both perfectly comfortable.

‘It was beautiful, but I could tell from your eyes you weren’t blown away by it.’

‘I just want to be comfortable on my wedding day. I want to look nice too and of course I want Kieran’s jaw to drop when he sees me—’

‘Which it will because he loves you and you’re gorgeous.’

‘But I want to feel nice as well. I don’t see why I can’t have both. I mean, getting married at Holly Lodge feels perfect. I think my wedding dress should feel the same, shouldn’t it?’

‘Definitely.’ Nell pushed her long blonde hair back over her shoulder. ‘I mean, I don’t know anything about getting married, but that’s how I’d want to feel.’

When Cat had heard the news that the hotel was now licensed to host weddings, she and Kieran had insisted on having their whole day there. Nell had been beyond grateful and had been clear it wouldn’t bother her in the least if they decided to go somewhere else, especially as this would be her first one, but they were not to be dissuaded. The only hitch was, they’d set a date with terrifyingly short notice. Eight weeks from today to be exact. Just thinking about it made Nell’s stomach tense with worry, and it was already a bit fluttery with the excitement of the day and the glass of prosecco they’d drunk while choosing the first few dresses.

Adding weddings to her business was a pretty natural step considering Nell loved all things romance to a slightly manic degree. She loved seeing people happy on one of the most important days of their lives and the prospect of being instrumental in making that happen had forced her business plans forward, even when life had become difficult. Since the opening of the Langdon Mansion Hotel, a giant plush, swanky place with a ballroom and lounge bar, business had, unfortunately, fallen off a cliff, but indulging her love of love, Nell had decided to branch out into weddings in an effort to diversify her earnings. Cat and Kieran were having a Christmas wedding and as far as Nell was concerned, there was nothing more romantic than that. Refusing to let her thoughts linger on her business’s failing finances on such a joyous occasion, Nell instead mentally replayed the moment in 27 Dresses when Katherine Heigl tries on all the bridesmaids’ dresses showing them to James Marsden. It was one of her favourite moments in the film.

‘Earth to Nell. Earth to Nell, this is your friend Cat calling.’

‘You should definitely have both,’ she said quickly, picking up their conversation where she thought it had left off. She had a habit of wandering off into her own world. ‘And it’s your day, so you should have the dress you want. If you wanted an Eighties-style, giant, pink taffeta dress with a bow on the bum, huge puffy-out shoulders and a matching parasol, that’s what you should have and sod everybody else.’ Nell ran a hand over her heavy fringe making sure it wasn’t sticking up. The wind had whipped her hair into a full-on Eighties rock god style on the way to Brenda’s car, but nothing stopped her loving the colder weather. In summer, when the sea was calm and clear, the air carried a freshness and the scent of flowers. Now, the air was crisper and cleaner, and when the tide crashed onto the shore it filled your nose with a salty sting if you were brave enough to walk along the beach.

‘Did you hear anything I just said, Nell?’

‘Yes! I was listening. Anyway, that “this is your friend calling” was more like them doing the scores in Eurovision.’

‘Yeah, I know.’ Cat giggled and took another sip of her prosecco. ‘Isn’t Graham Norton just the best.’

‘He certainly is. Let’s have a toast to Graham Norton.’ They clinked glasses and Nell savoured the taste as it swirled around her mouth. ‘Just in case I misheard you, what did you say?’

‘See, I knew you weren’t listening.’ Cat studied her friend for a moment. ‘Were you imagining that bit in 27 Dresses when she opens her closet and shows James what’s-his-name – the cute one – all the dresses, then she tries them on.’

‘No.’ Nell’s cheeks began to burn, and she turned her attention back to the bubbling prosecco in her hands.

‘Yes, you were.’

‘Wasn’t.’

‘Was too.’

Nell met her eye and it twinkled with the excitement of the day. ‘Maybe a bit, but I couldn’t help it. It just popped into my head.’

‘You know that film off by heart and every other romcom ever made. Oh look, they’re coming back. Mum’s giving me the death stare for being in mismatched bra and pants. I bet she says something. Just wait.’

Brenda tottered after the assistant who had a number of exquisite dresses over her arm. From Nell’s position, she could see a pale rose-pink, floor-length 1930s gown with beading on the top and a long skirt of some wafer-thin material that floated as she walked towards them. At the bottom of the pile, there was a gorgeous 1950s ivory tea dress made of a heavily laced white fabric, complete with petticoat. Judging by the way Cat’s eyes brightened as she craned her neck to see, Nell had a feeling that was the one she would go for.

The sales assistant hung the dresses on the hooks around the wide dressing room. ‘I’ve double checked, and these are all available within your tight timescale. Which one shall we try first?’

They were all beautiful and totally different to the fairy-tale gown Cat had just tried on, and to the plain fishtail halter-neck before that, and to the one before that Brenda had insisted on which had long sleeves and looked like it should come with a wimple. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t suit Cat’s petite frame in the least and she looked like she was off to play Maid Marian. But it hadn’t been as bad as the other one Brenda had made her try on which was wider than the three of them put together and made Cat look like one of those old-fashioned fairy toilet roll covers.

‘That one,’ said Cat, pointing to the 1950s tea dress, gravitating towards it. ‘It’s gorgeous.’ The soft, lacy fabric slid through her fingers. She was captivated and Nell felt her chest burn with excitement.

Nell shuffled out of the room to give Cat some privacy but couldn’t help hearing Brenda whispering, ‘I told you to wear matching underwear, Catherine. Surely you have some?’

Cat mouthed the words ‘I told you so’ at Nell as Brenda stepped out of the assistant’s way and the curtain was closed in front of them. Nell had to bite her lip to stop the laughter escaping.

Moments later, Cat appeared in the dress and high heels the assistant had provided her with earlier. She skipped onto the platform and her face was aglow with joy. Just from the way she held herself, shoulders back and head held high, Nell could see this was the dress for her. She waited for Cat to speak.

‘This is it. This is the one. I love it.’ Her eyes were misting. ‘It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect!’

Nell felt tears sting her eyes and she and Cat looked at each other. ‘You look so beautiful, Cat. And I love it with your pink hair. You look amazing. Oh, come here.’ Nell ran forwards and Cat hopped off the pedestal to hug her best friend, both of them laughing and crying and fluttering their eyelashes to try and stop the tears from ruining their mascara.

‘She does look beautiful, doesn’t she?’ said the assistant enjoying the moment as much as the two best friends. Nell backed away from Cat and retook her position in the centre of the room to look at the dress again, while Cat’s gaze shifted to her mum.

Brenda’s fingers were pressed to her lips, but it was impossible to decipher what her expression meant. ‘It’s very nice, Cat, but don’t you think it’s more the type of thing someone would wear to a registry office wedding?’

‘So? What’s wrong with a registry office wedding?’ asked Cat. ‘If that’s what someone wants for their day, then they should have it and get hitched wearing whatever dress they want.’

‘Yes, but it’s not quite as …’ She searched for the right word. ‘Glamorous. Can’t you try on that ruffled one again?’

‘The last one?’ Cat asked, her voice tightening a little.

‘Yes. I mean if you insist on that 1950s one, we can just get you something like that from a normal shop. Those sorts of dresses are everywhere. But that beautiful gown you just tried on made you look so much taller—’

Nell saw her chance to step in. ‘I think the massive heels were doing that more than the dress, Brenda.’

‘Thank you, Nell. Have you told the assistant here that Holly Lodge is hosting weddings? They might be able to stock some business cards for you or something.’

‘Oh yes, Nell’s already been touch,’ the assistant replied.

Nell resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at Brenda. ‘The Love Heart Boutique are coming to the wedding fair I’m hosting, aren’t you?’

The sales assistant nodded.

Somehow, Brenda managed to speak through her gritted teeth. ‘Well, why don’t you go and talk to them about it?’

‘We can chat later, can’t we?’ Nell replied, eager to stay by Cat’s side. As much as she wanted to promote her business, she could do that after she’d dealt with this. Right now, she was too worried about where this conversation was heading. She wanted to be there for Cat for moral support. While she didn’t particularly love the idea of being on Brenda’s bad side – no one wanted to be, but a lot of people ended up there without doing very much at all – Cat was her best friend and the most important thing was that she came away from today with the dress she adored for that all-important moment when she pledged her life and love to another human being.

‘The thing is, Catherine,’ Brenda continued. ‘This is your wedding day, not just a party. You’ll only get this opportunity once—’

‘I know what you mean, Brenda, but isn’t that exactly why Cat should wear the dress she wants?’ Brenda’s jaw tightened as if she was biting back her next sentence. Her evil eyes bored into Nell, but Nell stayed firm. ‘I think Cat wants to be comfortable as well as look nice and this dress ticks all the boxes for Cat. Plus, she looks so elegant and drop-dead gorgeous, but still herself.’

Brenda ignored Nell again. ‘As I was saying, Catherine, you’ll only get this opportunity once. This is the one and only chance you’ll get to look so beautiful.’

Nell’s jaw nearly fell open and she could see the effect this thoughtless comment had on Cat. Her head suddenly dropped to study the hem of the skirt that she touched gently with her fingertips, caressing the fabric. Nell was just opening her mouth to defend Cat when Brenda continued. ‘And as your father and I are paying for the dress, I’d just really like you to try it on one more time and give it a second chance. Please?’

There was a slight wheedling tone to Brenda’s voice that grated, and Nell was just about to risk Brenda’s absolute displeasure by speaking up again, when to her horror, Cat slumped and, with a quiet sigh, agreed. ‘Okay, Mum.’

‘I’ll help her get changed,’ said Nell, dashing into the changing room and pulling the curtain closed behind her. ‘Are you okay?’ she whispered. Cat’s face had lost its glow. ‘If you want that dress you should have it. Do you want me to tell your mum for you?’

‘I’m not sure,’ Cat replied. ‘Maybe Mum’s right. This is my big day and I could wear a dress like that to a party. Well, not that colour or that fancy—’

‘So not actually that dress then.’

‘No. But you know what I mean.’

‘But your face. Cat, when you put that dress on, you really loved it. I could see it in your eyes. It was like it was made for you. Are you sure you want to try that other one on? Wouldn’t it be easier to just tell your mum now that it’s not what you want? She might get the hump, but she’s got time to get over it.’

‘I’m going to think about it for a bit. I don’t have to buy a dress today. I know I haven’t got much time, but I can sleep on it and ring them tomorrow.’ Cat’s voice became stronger as if she was convincing herself.

‘Okay. If you’re sure.’ Not wanting to push her, or ruin a day that should be fun, Nell didn’t argue – she was seeing Cat again tomorrow, along with Kieran and her other best friend, Tom, for a drink at the hotel. Instead, she held out Cat’s glass for her and she downed the contents. ‘Do you want another one?’

‘Yes, please,’ said Cat. ‘I think I’m going to need it.’

Nell backed out of the changing room, a heavy feeling settling on her shoulders. The change she’d just seen in her friend was astounding. She’d always been one to stand up for herself and say it straight. Hopefully, it was just a case of Cat wanting to find the right words to explain to her mum what she wanted. But as Nell knew all too well, when money was involved, life suddenly got a lot more complicated.

Chapter 2

Nell delivered a tray of drinks to the table. A lager each for Kieran and Tom, a gin and tonic for Cat and a tea for her as she was on duty. The prosecco they’d consumed yesterday had hit her mid-afternoon and she’d had to have a nap before Zoe, who covered reception for her, had left. She didn’t drink very much normally, and the bubbles had left her mind and body dulled this morning. With no guests to bother her, Nell had pottered around, ensuring the place was ready for any walk-ins and had then focused on the wedding brochure she was creating.

The day had passed slowly but now Nell and her friends were snuggled into the comfortable velvet armchairs in the lounge, the heat from the open fire burning fiercely in the large fireplace warmed the room. She pulled a thick, woollen blanket over her knees as the wind whipped around the building. Even though she was wearing her favourite enormous Seventies-style flared jeans and a big jumper, she was still a bit chilly.

Holly Lodge had been Nell’s home since she was eight years old when her parents had opened the hotel. When they’d decided to move down to Devon and open a second hotel two years ago, Nell had jumped at the chance to take over and now lived in the basement flat of Holly Lodge, next to the kitchens. Above her were four more floors; the ground floor, where they were now, was home to the dining room, and then each of the floors above had three bedrooms. Running the lodge was more than just a job to Nell: it was a way of life. Working every hour of every day was a passion, one that none of her previous boyfriends had understood. Though that passion had been tested over the last few months when everything had felt like an uphill struggle, she’d stayed focused and positive hoping the slump would pass.

A converted Victorian townhouse, Holly Lodge had the most perfect setting on the seafront. It was called Holly Lodge rather than Pebble House or something more seasidey because of the tall holly hedges that surrounded it. It could have been imposing, but the large iron gate was always pinned back, held by bright flower pots, and the sweet stone path that led to a ramp up to the front door was also lined with flowers – all of which combined to feel homely and welcoming.

Inside, she’d made the place her own since taking over. The walls were painted in heritage colours of sage-green and subtle shades of blue with a few lavenders here and there, but to add a more modern, luxurious feel, the Chesterfield sofas and wingback chairs in the lounge were mustard-coloured velvet or a bright teal covered in blankets and scatter cushions to make the guests more comfortable. Against the period features of grand fireplaces and decorative plaster mouldings this boldness worked, giving a luxurious and sumptuous feel. Where the large arced iron gate interrupted the hedge, Nell could see out to the beach where a high tide railed against the wind. It thrashed the sea, producing high white waves, and the gale shook the bright red berries nestled in the boxy hedge of prickly holly.

‘So how was dress shopping yesterday?’ asked Kieran as they sat by the wide sash window at the front of the house. The rain hadn’t stopped since yesterday and the drops drummed on the pane, racing each other down.

‘You can’t ask that,’ said Tom, taking a sip of his drink. ‘The dress is secret, isn’t it?’

Cat glanced at Nell before snuggling further into Kieran’s side. Kieran grinned down at her and squeezed her tight. His tall, sturdy frame filled most of the sofa; he and tiny, petite Cat, made an odd but endearing couple. She reached her head up and he gave her a gentle kiss. They were so adorable together, a real case of true love. Like when Mark Darcy and Bridget Jones kissed at the end of Bridget Jones’s Diary. God, Nell loved that film. She might have to watch it tonight. With the hotel empty and no need to get up for breakfast in the morning, it didn’t matter if she was slightly late to bed. When she looked up, she was surprised to see Tom watching her, but he looked away when she caught him. Maybe he was hoping for a hint from her about the dress.

‘I think I know which dress I’m going to go for,’ Cat said.

‘Which one?’ asked Nell, hoping it was the vintage tea dress and not the princess gown Cat had described as like being in a back brace. ‘It’s not the one with a wimple, is it?’

‘A wimple?’ cried Kieran, looking alarmed.

‘Shush!’ Cat motioned for Nell to be quiet then jabbed a finger playfully into Kieran’s ribs. ‘I can’t tell you now in front of him.’

Nell scratched her head and some of her hair caught in the large chunky ring she was wearing. ‘Ow!’ She unwrapped the hair and Tom leaned over to help. When she was free and he’d sat back down, she said, ‘Okay, but you have to tell me before you leave tonight.’

‘Whatever she wears she’s going to look absolutely stunning,’ Kieran said, earning himself another kiss.

Tom shook his head. ‘Nice recovery. But can you two love birds cut it out? You can snog at home. How’s the wedding fair coming along, Nell?’

As Nell turned and looked at him in the soft orange light from the fire, she couldn’t believe he hadn’t found The One yet like Kieran and Cat had. Tom was so warm and friendly and had grown into a really handsome man. His dark blond hair had been not exactly long, but definitely floppy, since they’d met at uni and though a lot of men would look weird with it now, it still suited Tom. Nell hoped it wouldn’t be long till he found someone. She didn’t like the thought of him being lonely or sad. He was too lovely for that. Nell knew that when she found The One it would be a moment she’d never forget. Love at first sight. Or at least a stirring in her heart like a thousand violins all playing to a crescendo; a choir of angels singing in her soul. She suddenly imagined a gorgeous man unexpectedly walking into her hotel needing a room and there it would be – the music, the feeling – the beginning of something special.

‘Nell?’ Tom asked again.

‘What? Oh, yes the wedding fair—’

‘She was in a daydream again,’ said Cat, teasingly. ‘What was it this time? An airport chase scene or fireside lovemaking?’

‘Actually, I was thinking about my to-do list,’ Nell lied, fiercely pulling herself back and focusing her mind on the enormous list that filled an entire sheet of A4 paper currently sitting on her bedside table. It wasn’t that Nell wasn’t interested in what Tom or other people had to say, it was simply that she couldn’t stop her mind from dragging her off to somewhere else. She’d always been this way, imagining things, picturing them in her mind. Her mum had told her you made things happen by visualising them in your head first. She and her dad had done exactly that with their dreams to open Holly Lodge and it had worked for them. And it didn’t do anyone any harm, did it?

‘What’s left to do?’ asked Tom.

‘I’ve got all the slots filled now, thanks to another caterer the assistant at The Love Heart Boutique told me about, and with just over a month to go, I think that’s pretty good. For the brochure, it’s just dressing the place and taking some photos, which I plan to do tomorrow.’

‘That’s brilliant.’

Tom had always been incredibly supportive of her ambition to run a boutique bed and breakfast and his support had only grown when times had become tougher with the opening of the Langdon Mansion Hotel. Both Cat and Tom had tried to get her to go and visit to scope out her competition, but Nell had refused. At first, she’d believed the opening of the hotel could only mean good things for her and Swallowtail Bay. For a big hotel chain to develop here it meant people wanted to visit and stay in the bay. They were becoming a tourist hotspot. Surely some of those people would want to stay somewhere smaller, maybe a bit chicer and more personal. Nell had truly believed they wouldn’t be in competition, but that they’d support each other, recommending the other when their own place was full. As the year had passed and her bookings had dropped off, she’d told herself, while watching adverts for the posh hotel appear on TV, that if she believed in herself it would all be okay, the slump would pass. She’d thought that the chic, boutique feel and top-quality service she offered at Holly Lodge would be more than enough. Unfortunately, as her place remained resolutely empty, she’d been proved wrong. But on a positive note, it had given her the push to start the wedding business.

‘I’m really excited about it,’ Nell said, hoping they were still talking about the wedding fair. ‘It’s going to be just the thing to get me back on track. I don’t expect I’ll get any bookings on the day, but if I get some enquiries and can show people what we have to offer, I’m sure something good will come of it next wedding season.’

‘We’ll be here,’ said Cat, sitting up to sip her drink, but threading her hand into Kieran’s so they were still connected. ‘We’ll be telling everyone how fab you are.’

Nell hugged her tea close to her, enjoying the warmth of it beneath her fingertips. ‘I’m sure that if I do weddings and combine them with the dinner idea Tom and I have been working on, next year is going to be better.’

‘What dinner idea?’ asked Cat.

‘We’ve been talking about opening up the dining room of an evening as a restaurant. I’m just trying to work out what food I’d offer and how much to charge.’ She looked over to the large dining room adjacent to the lounge.

The rooms were separated by bi-fold doors that she could push back so everything became open plan. The dining room was big enough to seat around fifty people on the different dark wood tables, but there were still lots of sums to do before she could say for certain it was a workable solution. She felt it was, but as a businesswoman she had to do the maths too. As much as she loved a daydream, she couldn’t do that when it came to running the hotel. What she really needed right now were more room bookings. Swallowtail Bay always slowed down in the winter season and normally, what she made in the summer would carry her through this quieter time, but with bookings being down all year, she needed to come up with something else to bring people in.

‘We really should go and see what the Langdon Mansion offer though,’ said Tom, brushing a hand through his hair. He often did it without thinking. There were a few gentle lines appearing on his forehead and around his mouth where he smiled so much. ‘I’ve been saying for ages you need to go and actually have a look around. We can get one of their wedding brochures too.’

‘I’ve already got one of those. Brenda got me one as soon as I mentioned the idea. She thought it would give me some standards to work towards.’

‘That’s my mum,’ Cat said with a sad shake of her head. ‘Ever supportive.’

Though Cat was joking, Nell sensed something more from her tone of voice and a weight behind her words. She mustn’t forget to ask her about the wedding dress before the night was out.

‘You should definitely go,’ said Kieran. ‘It’ll be good for you to see the space and what they offer. Pictures are fine, but there’s no substitute for being there.’

‘We could all go,’ said Nell.

‘Nah, you and Tom go. We’ve got wedding plans to discuss most nights.’

‘That’s true,’ Cat agreed. ‘We’re going to get busier and busier as things count down. I cannot wait to become Mrs Kieran Gleeson – or you can take my surname.’

‘I don’t mind that.’ Kieran’s chest puffed out. ‘I think Kieran Wilson sounds quite nice.’

Kieran and Cat shared another sweet kiss and Nell turned to Tom. He raised his eyebrows in a ‘they’re-at-it-again’ expression.

‘But,’ said Cat, ‘it is about time you went to the Langdon Mansion, Nell. You can’t keep pretending it’s all going to be all right in the end if you just cross your fingers and believe. You’ve taken some tentative steps, but you really need to get moving. You’re like one of my newly pregnant ladies who’re nervous of doing anything because of their babies.’

Cat was a midwife and an amazing one at that. Nothing seemed to faze her, and she knew just what to say to chivvy you along without sounding cross. At least she did most of the time. Tonight, she sounded a little stern with Nell. Was that what she’d been doing so far? If so, Cat was right, and it was definitely time to plough ahead with the dinner idea and check out her competition. ‘Okay, then.’

‘Great,’ said Tom. ‘I’ll book us a table.’

The evening went on nicely with chatter and laughter and a few reminiscences of old times, and Nell enjoyed it, but she still hadn’t had a chance to speak to Cat about the dress. At ten o’clock, when they were about to leave, it seemed desperate measures were called for and she grabbed Cat’s arm, pulling her away from Kieran and Tom who were still chatting, having only made it to the front door. ‘So, which dress is it? I’ve had to wait all evening to find out because you’ve been glued to Kieran’s face.’

‘Jealous much?’ Cat teased.

‘Completely but that’s not the point. I need to know what dress you’ve chosen.’

Cat looked away, and dread pressed down on Nell. ‘I thought I’d go for the ruffled one.’

‘The princess gown that feels like a back brace?’ Gripped by surprise and worry that Cat was letting her mum guide her too strongly over the wedding, Nell said, ‘Are you sure that’s what you want?’

‘I thought about it and I think Mum’s right that this is the most important day of my life and I should wear something that looks amazing. She said the tea dress looked like something I could wear to a party. And they are paying for it.’

‘But that’s no reason to—’

‘It’s fine, Nell. Honestly. I’ve made up my mind, okay? I don’t need you pushing me about it.’

‘Okay,’ Nell replied, shrinking back. She didn’t want to row with Cat over this or anything else for that matter. She wanted her wedding planning to be as fun as the big day. To Nell, that was even more important for brides-to-be because they often spent more time on the planning than they had on the day itself. Every aspect of the run-up should be fun. And it was Cat’s choice at the end of the day. No matter what Nell thought about it, Cat had always made her own decisions and Nell would support her. Yet, it wasn’t sitting well, and she didn’t really know what to make of it.

With the conversation finished, she said goodbye to them all and with no guests in the hotel and none expected to arrive, locked the front door and made her way to her basement flat to watch Bridget Jones’s Diary – or should it be 27 Dresses? She hadn’t had the chance to watch that last night and right now she just wanted to disappear into a world where it was certain that everything would work out in the end.

Chapter 3
November

Thursday afternoon, Tom arrived back from his lunch break to watch his apprentice, Janie, plonk a bunch of pale cream roses into the silver display bucket. The stems bounced off the bottom making a tinkling noise that set his teeth on edge. Pushing back his floppy, blond hair, he said, ‘Janie, don’t forget to treat the flowers gently. If you throw them around, you’ll bruise the stems or the petals and then we won’t be able to use them. Okay?’

Janie turned, looking like he’d just praised her to high heaven rather than told her off a bit. ‘Okay, boss.’

Tom shrugged off his thick wool coat and hung it out the back. He wasn’t very good at telling people off and really should have been firmer as it wasn’t the first time Janie had done it, but then, she was such a sweet girl and so perpetually cheerful he didn’t want to be the one to make her frown. She was still learning but was coming on well and showed a particular aptitude for the management side of things. She’d also proved incredibly responsible and given all of that, he didn’t mind waiting till the next time she did it. He’d be just a little bit firmer then, using the tone of voice he kept for Nell when she’d fallen into her own little dream world again, or become pessimistic about the hotel. It was a tone of voice he found himself using more and more as she was worried about failing her parents and running the lodge into the ground. All nonsense, of course, and he’d tell her so when they went for dinner that night. The Langdon Mansion Hotel had been so busy, this was the first reservation he could get. Just then, Janie placed a cup of tea in front of him, bringing his attention back.

‘Thanks Janie. We’ve got a few orders to make up this afternoon. Do you want to do the birthday hatbox or the new baby basket?’

Janie blew on her tea to cool it. ‘Is it for a boy or a girl?’

Tom checked his order book. ‘Girl.’

‘Then I’ll do the baby basket. I love doing girlie ones. Did they say what colours they wanted?’

Tom checked again and as he did little dots appeared in front of his eyes. He tried to blink them away, but the stubborn swimmers refused to budge until he squeezed his eyes tightly shut and opened them slowly. ‘Umm, I’ve written pinks and creams with splashes of yellow for a touch of joy.’

‘That sounds nice.’

He waited for her to say something about the blinking incident, but she didn’t seem to have noticed and was now choosing the basket and flowers that would hopefully make someone’s day.

Standing side by side, they both took a moment to assess the array of blooms in front of them. The till counter ran across the back of the shop and along one wall was a workbench covered in tools, ribbons and trinkets that he and Janie shared between them. The other wall was stacked high with silver buckets all of which contained the most beautiful seasonal flowers and foliage. Bright yellow walls made it feel like the sun was shining, even on this cold, gloomy November day. Through the large front window onto the high street, the sky above was a plethora of shades of grey. Between the dark charcoal rain clouds, smaller, hopeful misty white ones were buffeted together, losing the battle against impending rain.

Even though it was only early November, Christmas orders were beginning to come in and Tom couldn’t wait to get started. He was a big kid at Christmas and absolutely loved getting into the festive spirit, doing so as early as possible. Tom could just see himself and Janie dancing around in Christmas hats as the radio played out and they created gorgeous green wreaths, and winter-inspired bouquets with shiny red baubles. A new catalogue had arrived yesterday full of Christmas things he could decorate his bouquets with, and it was going to be a struggle not to order everything in it. The window display would be changed soon, losing the pumpkins, the warm orange roses and the all-important symbolic poppies, and gaining something festive. Something containing mistletoe and holly with ruby-red berries, and lots and lots of tinsel and giant Christmas baubles and … He could feel the excitement building and took a sip of his tea.

They settled into their normal working pattern of listening to the radio which was already starting to play Christmas songs in between the normal cheesy pop Janie loved. There were numerous cups of tea and a few moments where they assessed each other’s arrangements and made some suggestions. Janie was developing a great eye and Tom was becoming ever prouder of her as she grew and developed under his tutelage.

Just before five, Kieran popped in. His job as a gardener meant he tended to finish with the daylight, and sure enough, the sky behind him was turning a muted dark blue. Somehow the rain had stayed away, the strong winds having blown the cloud cover over them and out to sea. Though his shaved head made him look a little bit like a thug, in reality, you couldn’t meet a gentler soul, and he’d only shaved his head after going prematurely bald at 28. Without thinking, Tom ran a hand through his hair almost to check it was all still there.

‘Whatcha.’ Kieran pushed the door open and winked at Janie, coming to rest on the counter behind which Tom was fiddling about and preparing for the following day. ‘You coming to the pub, Tom?’

‘Ah, no, sorry, mate. I’m meeting Nell at the Langdon Mansion for dinner. We’re scoping out their menu.’

‘Oh, yeah.’ Kieran wiggled his eyebrows in an innuendo-laden manner. ‘Your date.’

Feeling the heat rise on his cheeks, Tom turned to Janie. ‘Do you want to finish for the day, Janie? There’s nothing else to do and if you go now you can catch the early bus, can’t you?’

Her eyes widened in hope. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Course I’m sure. You’ve worked your socks off today. Go on.’

‘Thanks, boss.’ Rushing out the back to grab her coat and rucksack, she said a hasty goodbye and made her way into the darkness.

Once she’d left, he turned back to Kieran. ‘Will you please stop doing that in front of Janie? I don’t need the whole world knowing how I feel about Nell.’ A sudden wave of panic washed over him as cold as the winter sea. ‘You haven’t let slip to Cat, have you?’

Tom always worried that with them being engaged, Kieran might accidentally tell Cat that Tom had been in love with Nell for years. The four of them had been friends since they all met at university in the nearby city of Halebury and Kieran had guessed his secret quite early on. So far, he’d managed to keep his gob shut, but Tom did worry that might change with Kieran and Cat now getting married. Married couples shouldn’t have secrets as far as Tom was concerned and he felt a twinge of guilt that he was placing Kieran in an awkward position. His fear of rejection and how uncomfortable things would be if Nell found out were forcing him to keep Kieran quiet.

‘Don’t worry, I haven’t. Your secret’s safe. The whole world doesn’t know, only me. You don’t have to tell the whole world though, you know. You could start with just telling Nell. It might be …’ He shrugged. ‘Helpful. That’s why I engineered this date for you. Did you like the way I did it? All subtle, like.’

‘I’ll tell her when the time’s right,’ Tom replied even though he’d said it a million times to both Kieran and himself. ‘It just never has been so far. Either I’ve been in a relationship, or she has. And I’m still not sure she could feel that way about me.’

The fact was, whenever Tom was with Nell he felt totally complete. That’s why his previous relationships had failed. He’d go into each new one feeling like they could be The One, giving all he had, but after a while a feeling of emptiness, or something being not quite right crept in. Whatever happened, and no matter how long it took, his heart inevitably came back to yearning for Nell. For her funny, in-her-own-world-half-the-time brain, a smile that lit up his life and a laugh he could listen to from now until the end of time.

The closest he’d come to getting away from his feelings for Nell was his last girlfriend, Naomi. They’d been together for three years, breaking up a couple of years ago. She’d said that it was because they wanted different things, but Tom knew it was because she was waiting for a ring and he could never quite bring himself to ask her. Every time he passed a jeweller, he’d look in the window, but he’d only ever see himself proposing to Nell. Despite serious attempts, the picture had never included anybody else. There was no one else like her. She’d always been just a little bit different – a woman of contradictions, both dreamy and focused – a little more caring, and she had her own style. That was why she and Cat had bonded so well. Both of them were different to all the other girls at university.

‘Anyway,’ he warned Kieran, knowing thoughts of Nell had taken over again, ‘stop doing weird things with your eyebrows in front of my staff. I know it’s the only hair you have left on your face, but still.’

‘Okay. Fair enough.’ Kieran watched Tom bustling around behind the counter, beginning to cash up. ‘You’re finishing early, aren’t you?’

‘Yeah, I want to swing by the care home and see Grandad. I said I’d take him a bunch of flowers for Enid.’

‘He’s a devil, your old grandad. Is she a looker?’

‘Enid?’ Tom laughed. ‘She’s 89! And Grandad’s blind as a bat anyway. She could look like Godzilla for all he knew. Actually, she’s a very lovely old lady and she really makes him laugh. There’s that saying, isn’t there? Love is blind? It’s the only reason Cat’s agreed to marry you.’

‘Oy!’ Kieran clapped his hands together. ‘Right, if you’re not coming to the pub, I’ll be off then. Cat’s got a planning meeting with Nell and her mum right about now, so I’ll be hearing all about it once she’s home.’

‘You love it really.’

‘Yeah. I do. Whatever makes her happy.’

With Kieran gone, Tom cashed up the till and closed the shop, locking the door firmly behind him. After waiting for the alarm to beep and show it was set, he turned and took a moment so his eyes could adjust to the darkness. It seemed to be taking longer and longer to get used to the dim evening light and a horrible niggling worry was growing inside his mind. The cold wind whipped around him, freezing his cheeks and running down his spine. Protecting the bunch of flowers Grandad had asked for, Tom pulled his coat tighter across his chest, hopping about on the spot as eventually everything came back into focus and he was able to make his way to the van.

The florist’s stood bang in the middle of Swallowtail Bay high street, next to a café and an artisan cheesemaker, and there was absolutely no parking nearby. He strolled down the cobbled streets enjoying the bright golden lights spilling from the shop windows. The town had quietened as the trading day drew to a close, and because it was winter.

Tourists flocked to the place in the summer bringing life and energy to the town. The high street would be full of visitors in backpacks, eating ice creams – but in winter, only the locals shopped, and a quietness settled on the high street from about mid-afternoon onwards.

Tom’s fingers were rapidly turning pink from the cold and he hurried on. Through the windows, fellow shopkeepers tidied and cleaned, readying for the next day. A few had already installed Christmas window displays and tinsel glittered while paper stars and giant snowflakes twirled in mid-air. Some had strung fairy lights around the edges, framing their windows in sparkling lights, while others had strings of them hanging down from the ceiling like icicles. Tom thought about his again. Once Remembrance Day was over, he’d start on one too. His grandad had lived through the Second World War and had been evacuated down to Swallowtail Bay, so Tom always made sure his shop had a full poppy display in honour of those who’d served, but he couldn’t wait to change his and any time inspiration struck he made a note on a piece of paper. Maybe tomorrow he’d sketch it out.

Overhead the council and business forum had already begun preparations for the town’s displays, and holders for small Christmas trees had been attached to some of the buildings. They were new for this year and in between the strings of giant lights that criss-crossed between the buildings it would look beautiful. With a nose red from cold, Tom was at his van and happy to be in the warm, he sped to the nursing home.

After he’d parked up again, he stepped out into the night and his breath fogged on the air. The stars were spectacularly clear tonight, bright and shining overhead, and the lack of cloud meant a frosty morning tomorrow. Cherry Wood Nursing Home was a large white building in pretty landscaped gardens. A couple of benches positioned out front next to large bushes invited people to sit and enjoy a moment before they entered. From the large windows he could see the residents moving back and forth, staff helping with walking frames, and people sharing jokes. Grabbing the bunch of creamy white ranunculuses tied with a big purple ribbon from the passenger seat, he made his way up the gentle slope of the entrance ramp.

The wave of heat that hit him as he walked through the door nearly knocked him over. In fact, all five of his senses were assaulted. As well as being hot, the home had the brightest lights he’d ever seen and smelled heavily of talcum powder mixed with lavender. The television was on so loud it was deafening and with his eyes being a bit weird at the moment, the last thing he needed was a ringing in his ears too.

Before Grandad Nigel had come here, they’d looked at other care homes that were unbelievably quiet, more like libraries than places to live, but Cherry Wood was different. Noise, chatter, discussion and, most of all, laughter was actively encouraged. At this time of night, most of the residents were gathered in the large open-plan TV room watching the six o’clock news. Tom needed to hurry if he wanted to get changed before meeting Nell for dinner. After a quick glance at the numerous chairs all filled with older people, some more lively than others, he spied Grandad Nigel, with a blanket over his knees, next to Enid.

Enid, though aged, didn’t look like Godzilla. She was small and a little hunched in her chair with a head of fine, wispy white hair, but there was a vibrancy and life to her voice and a cheeky laugh that carried across the room. Tom could see exactly why Grandad Nigel liked to sit with her. Hiding the flowers behind his back, Tom made his way over.

‘Hello, Tom, love,’ said Enid, as her eyes turned up to meet his.

With a flourish, he pulled the small bouquet from behind his back. ‘I bought you some flowers, Enid, I hope you like them.’

‘Cheeky bugger,’ shouted Nigel, not quite realising how close Tom was. Only a short time ago he’d gone completely blind, but his eyesight had been failing for years. A smattering of wiry grey hair stubbled his chin and Tom made a mental note to get him a new electric razor for Christmas. His old one wasn’t picking up everything and as it was the safest thing for him to use now, he needed a decent one. His grandad had always been proud of his appearance – of his tall, lithe frame that Tom himself had inherited – and Tom wanted him to continue feeling that way. ‘Don’t you listen to him, Enid. They’re from me actually. Paid for with my own money. I told him to get them for you as he’s a florist. After all, you don’t keep a dog and bark yourself.’

Tom bent down and squeezed his grandad’s shoulder. ‘All right, old man, I’m only teasing. I think Enid knew they were from you really.’

Enid gave Nigel a loving smile and Tom wished with all his heart his grandad could see it. Her voice was loud and cheeky and didn’t look like it belonged to her slim figure. ‘I knew they were from you, you silly bugger.’

‘If Tom was going to deliver flowers to anyone,’ Nigel continued, ‘it should be that lovely girl, Nell, he’s friends with. He’s like a lovesick pup when she’s around but he won’t do it. I don’t know why. I’d be perfectly happy to have her as a granddaughter-in-law.’

‘Only because she brings you treats,’ Tom countered. ‘And if you start this again, Grandad, I’m going, and I won’t give you the massive bar of Dairy Milk I snuck in for you.’

Nigel’s eyebrows raised quizzically. ‘Hand it over, boy, before they see you.’ Tom did as he was told and watched Nigel’s tired old hands, shaking with age and exertion, unwrap it and break some off for Enid and then himself. It wasn’t that he wasn’t allowed chocolate. It was that the piggy old boy didn’t want to share any with the other residents. Other than Enid, that was. ‘Oh, lovely,’ Nigel said, savouring the taste. The smell made Tom’s own tummy rumble.

‘Is there anything you need for tomorrow, Grandad? If not, I’ll be off.’

‘Got plans, have you?’

‘Yes,’ Tom said, repressing a sigh. He’d told his grandad several times already that he was having dinner with Nell tonight, but his memory wasn’t what it used to be, and he didn’t need teasing all over again.

‘Get on with you then. And no, I don’t need anything else, thank you, boy.’

Grandad had always called him boy which was quite funny really considering he was now a grown man of 35. Tom gave Nigel’s shoulder another squeeze, bid Enid good night and made for the door. On his way, Tracey, the manager of the care home caught his attention with a wave.

‘Hi Tom.’ Tracey’s permed curls bobbed about as she cheerfully manoeuvred her plump frame nearer to him. ‘Are you still okay to help put up the Christmas decorations next week?’

‘Yes, that’s fine.’ He was quite looking forward to it. The residents of the home would enjoy it and it would be nice to spend a whole Sunday with Grandad.

‘We haven’t got much so it shouldn’t take long. And there’s no budget to buy new ones for this year but we’ll just have to manage. The residents do love a bit of festive fun.’

Tom glanced around at the plain cream walls of the care home. The boring magnolia paintwork was broken here and there with some drab, unspectacular paintings, but apart from that there really wasn’t much life to the decor. Some Christmas decorations and greenery would really brighten the place up. ‘We’ll make the place look great; don’t you worry. See you next week.’

As soon as Tom began the walk down the entrance ramp, he made an involuntary grab for the handrail. Once again, his eyes needed time to adjust to the light. His body wanted to move normally but the message sent from his eyes to his brain was that he wasn’t quite ready to keep going. By the time he got to the van and had the headlights on, he’d reassured himself he was okay to drive, but maybe he’d walk to the Langdon Mansion Hotel anyway. He was probably just overtired and had strained his eyes at work. Yes, that’s definitely what it was. It couldn’t be anything else.

Chapter 4

‘Those pants are literally the ugliest pair of undercrackers I have ever seen.’ Nell stretched out the pair of bright white sculpting knickers in wonder. She could feel the tension in her biceps as she pulled the sides apart to the width of a human body. How anyone could fit themselves into these elasticated torture devices was beyond her, and her arms were on the verge of giving way with the effort. ‘Proper Bridget Jones style. They look so painful, and considering you’re shoving your giant hooves into three-inch diamante-encrusted heels, that’s saying something.’

Cat giggled and sipped a gin and tonic, examining her feet which were undeniably wide for such a petite frame. ‘Mum said I have to wear shapewear knickers on the day. They squeeze all the fat from my bra-line down into my ankles. Between those and the boned corset I’m going to need an external lung. Do you think anyone would notice if I hid an oxygen cylinder under my wedding dress?’

It was entirely possible Cat would strap the one she carried in her gigantic midwifery kit to her thigh. She did that sort of thing. Or at least, used to when they were at university together. But back then it had been more moving temporary traffic lights and stealing cones than adhering things to her person.

Nell looked over the top of the thick waistband. ‘Seriously though, they don’t look very romantic or remotely comfortable. How do you even get them on and off? You’ll be sweating like a pig from the effort.’

Cat sighed and watched the ice cubes bob in her drink. ‘I’m not allowed to be comfortable, apparently. It’s my wedding day. I have to look nice. Comfort doesn’t come into it.’

‘Is that what you want?’ Nell asked gently. Cat shrugged in response.

When she didn’t answer, Nell was dragged into her imagination, running through a scene where she dressed on the morning of her own wedding. In front of an antique full-length mirror that she didn’t currently have, in a giant house she didn’t yet own, she slipped an enormous but beautiful and comfortable wedding dress over flattering silky underwear. Once dressed, she held out her hand like a princess in a Disney movie and admired the ring on her finger. Nothing flash, nothing fancy. Just a small, shining diamond set on a simple gold band. Perfect.

She longed to fall as madly in love as Cat. She didn’t entirely mind being single, but it would be nice to meet that person destined for her sooner rather than later. All her previous relationships had been fairly short-term because once the mad, initial romance wore off, they’d fizzled out, unable to live up to her expectations. One day though, ‘The One’ would walk into her life.

A waving hand in her peripheral vision brought Nell out of her dream. Thankfully, she’d had a last-minute booking and had one lovely old couple staying in the hotel. ‘Evening, Mrs Limstock,’ Nell called. ‘Is there anything I can get you?’

‘No, we’re fine, thank you, Nell. Having a lovely time.’

‘I’m so pleased to hear it. But do let me know if you’d like anything at all. I can make you another drink or find you some nibbles if you’re hungry.’

‘No, no. Honestly dear, we’re fine.’

Relaxing back into her chair, Nell picked up a cup of tea and took a sip. She was meeting Tom at the Langdon Mansion Hotel as soon as this planning meeting was done and would have a drink there. The lovely Zoe was covering reception for the night. ‘What does Kieran say?’ Though he was incredibly happy at the prospect of gorgeous, outrageous Cat becoming his wife, surely even he couldn’t stand idle while Cat’s mum railroaded her into having the wedding of her dreams, rather than Cat’s.

Cat ran a hand through her long, pink hair. ‘I haven’t actually told him about it.’

‘Why not?’

‘I just didn’t see the point. He’s busy with work and when we talk about wedding stuff, I want it to be fun and nice. If I told him about Mum, he’d get cross, and I don’t see the point in starting World War Three before we’ve actually made it down the aisle.’

This was exactly what Nell had expected. She didn’t have time to disagree with her though, as the woman herself walked in. Brenda’s coat rested over her left arm while in her right hand she waved a plastic folder – the dreaded wedding file. From the corner of Nell’s eye, she caught Cat leaning forward.

‘Before she can hear us, I’ve booked the caterer for tomorrow. Mum’s got a thing so we can meet him on our own.’

Nell watched her normally crazy, vibrant friend shrink back into her chair. ‘Hi, Brenda,’ Nell said, standing for the obligatory air kiss.

‘Hello, darling.’ She pretended to kiss Nell’s cheeks then turned her attention on Cat. ‘Come on sweetheart, stand up and give me a kiss.’ Reluctantly putting her gin glass down, Cat stood and did as she was told before flopping back down into the chair. ‘So, where are we with the wedding plans? I’ve brought my file. Where’s yours?’

Cat, who had by now picked up her glass again, took a big slurp and pointed at Nell: her walking, talking wedding file. Nell grinned while Brenda pinned her with a death stare. Unsure what else to do, she wiggled her fingers in a wave. It didn’t go down well.

‘Huh.’ Brenda adjusted her shirt. ‘It’s a good job I’m here, isn’t it? How you think this wedding is going to organise itself I’ve no idea. Especially as you’ve set such an impossibly short timescale.’ Cat glanced at Nell in defeat. ‘I hope you’re going to make this place extra Christmassy, Nell. I know you love Christmas, but we want something really classy, don’t we, Catherine?’

‘Yes,’ Nell began. ‘Cat and I talked about it the other day and I’ve been making a list of supp—’

Brenda thrust out a hand to silence her and nearly hit Nell in the nose. ‘I’ve timetabled that for later. Right now, I wanted to talk to you about the flowers, darling.’

Though thankful that Brenda had removed her hand (it smelled of floral hand cream), Nell shifted warily. Tom doing the flowers was a given. It always had been. And it was what Cat wanted. She’d said she didn’t want anyone else touching her wedding bouquet and had been clear on that from the start, but Brenda had reservations. Both Nell and Cat had reassured her time and again that Tom, who really had a gift, was the man for the job. Casting a glance at Cat, Nell knew that as the fight seemed to have gone out of her at present, it fell to her to fight Tom’s corner.

‘Are you absolutely sure you want Tom to do the flowers?’ Brenda began without even opening the folder. ‘I know he’s your friend but—’ Cat opened her mouth and Brenda threw out a finger to silence her protests ‘—a male florist? Is he really going to be any good? Generally, men know nothing about flowers or how to arrange them. The last time I asked your dad to put some flowers in a vase it was a disaster. He didn’t even—’

To Nell’s amazement Cat interrupted. ‘Tom’s amazing, Mum. You loved your birthday flowers, didn’t you?’

‘Yes, but—’

‘They were from Tom’s.’ Brenda’s expression perfectly mirrored that of someone who’d misjudged a fart. ‘He’s great and I’m sticking with him. He knows what I want and, more importantly, he knows what I hate. It’s fine.’

Seeing the matter was closed, Brenda flicked open the folder and began thumbing through pages, letting out a sigh that said, ‘Fine, but if it all goes wrong, I told you so’. Nell and Cat both enjoyed the small victory.

A furry grey face and a pair of bright cat’s eyes appeared at the window and Nell went to open it and let the poor creature in. A rush of cold air flew into the room. It was usually a little colder and windier down on the seafront and tonight was no different. The wind had been growing to almost gale force all day and whipped the fallen gold and red leaves around the streets and the pale grey sea into a frenzy.

‘Nell,’ Brenda moaned. ‘Do close that window, please? It’s absolutely freezing.’

‘I’m just letting the cat in.’

‘What cat? You haven’t got a cat now?’

The small, skinny, grey furball hopped in through the gap and jumped onto the floor with an elegant leap. ‘No, I haven’t. I don’t know who this boy belongs to. He started coming in about a week ago and I’ve been all around the block, but no one knows who he is. I think he’s a stray.’

‘Well,’ Brenda bristled, ‘you should take him to the vet or the RSPCA or something. He might be diseased.’

‘He looks perfectly healthy to me,’ said Cat, brightening a little as she patted her lap and the cat leaped up and made himself comfortable. ‘He doesn’t have a collar or anything, does he? And he is quite skinny, poor thing. What have you been calling him?’

‘Mr Scrooge,’ Nell answered with a grin.

For the first time since her mum’s arrival, Cat smiled. ‘Why Mr Scrooge?’

‘Because its Christmas time soon and apart from me, and now you, he hates absolutely everyone. Even Tom. He’s a right old grump and as I’m getting into the Christmas spirit early, I thought it suited him. I don’t know what he’ll be like when I put the tree up.’

‘You’re not going to keep him?’ asked Brenda, horrified.

Nell quite liked having Mr Scrooge around. She had been keeping an eye out for any lost cat signs, but nothing had been put out. She certainly wasn’t going to send him back out into the cold until she was sure he had a home to go to. Nell had already conjured up several scenarios where the cat’s owner – tall, dark and handsome – followed him into the hotel and when he and Nell locked eyes, they instantly fell in love … but so far, it hadn’t happened.

‘Nell?’ Brenda barked as she once again fell into a dream. ‘Are you going to keep it?’

‘I don’t know yet, I might do. I’ll put some posters up and see if anyone claims him. If they don’t, why shouldn’t I?’

Brenda shook her head, her perfectly curled hair holding resolutely firm. ‘What about your guests?’

‘Apart from Mr and Mrs Limstock, I haven’t got any, so it doesn’t really matter right now.’

Cat was the first to reassure her. ‘Things will pick up soon, Nell. Have you upped your advertising like we discussed?’

‘Yeah, as much as I can afford to.’ Nell plonked down into the armchair again. ‘I’ve got a few regulars that have booked again off the back of an offer I emailed out, but no new people. I’ve got a meeting with a firm tomorrow to see if I want a proper marketing plan made up. The thing is, I know what the problem is. It’s the Langdon Mansion.’

Brenda’s head popped up from the file. ‘Oh, it’s lovely there. Very, very expensive. I’ve been told the accommodation and food are absolutely exquisite. And the service—’

‘Mum!’ Cat shouted. ‘You’re supposed to be supporting my friend.’

Brenda adjusted her shirt again. ‘I’m sure this wedding fair will be absolutely marvellous, Nell, if you’ve organised it properly.’

Only Cat saw the almost imperceptible raise of Nell’s eyebrow. ‘I’m doing my best, Brenda. I’ve got all the stall holders sorted, I’ll mention it at the business forum soon and I’ve been marketing it online and all around the local area. Hopefully, people will come.’

‘I’m sure I’ll be able to swing by,’ said Brenda. ‘I might even be able to get some of my friends to come.’

Nell knew that the reason she might attend was more to make the place a socially acceptable choice to all her well-to-do friends who thought of Holly Lodge as a poor substitute for the Langdon Mansion. A flash of annoyance stiffened her spine but with tension radiating off Cat, Nell kept her mouth shut. She took a chocolate biscuit from the plate she’d laid out for them and Cat did the same.

‘Should you be eating that, sweetheart?’ asked Brenda, looking at her daughter from the side of her eye. ‘You want that corset to do up. And I hate to say it, but you’ve been filling out a little recently. I can see it on your face.’ She gently cupped her daughter’s face and affectionately tapped the end of her nose. Cat lowered the biscuit as Nell gulped in a breath ready to fight her friend’s perfectly normal-size corner – and then Cat put the whole biscuit in her mouth in one go. An act of defiance Nell admired and copied, earning her the evil eye too.

After Brenda had harrumphed and turned back to the depths of her file, silence descended, the only noise the blissfully warming crackles of the fire and the slight rattle of the old sash windows in ancient wooden panes. Nell was beginning to worry her outfit for tonight wasn’t going to keep her very warm, but she wanted to look nice and that won over comfort. Before long, Brenda was mumbling to herself, listing all the things they still needed to organise and sort out, Cat stroked Mr Scrooge who had become a tight ball of fur on her lap, and Nell waited for her next set of instructions.

Watching the leaves dance in the wind, she couldn’t stop her brain wandering. After staring at the accounts all day and making some financial predictions based on her most recent takings, the awful truth was, that if she didn’t secure some weddings off the back of this first one and the wedding fair, business was really going to suffer and that meant laying people off or even selling up. She didn’t employ that many staff and if she sold up, she’d not only be selling her business but her home too and she loved Holly Lodge more than anywhere else on the planet.

A part of her wondered if that was such a bad thing – but even when she’d gone to university, she’d stayed at home rather than live in halls. Okay, so the beach of Swallowtail Bay was pebbly and not sandy, but that had never stopped her and Cat from sunbathing, and she loved hearing the echo of the tide as she fell asleep at night. She loved that she could get handmade chocolates for the guests’ pillows, special herbed sausages for the full English breakfast, and delicious pressed juices all made locally. Things like that were what made Holly Lodge an institution in the town, having been there for over twenty-five years. Each room was unique with a big, comfy bed covered in soft white sheets and pretty cushions; all had top-of-the-range showers or roll-top baths and unusual furniture that Nell had sourced herself from car boot sales. But what made the place truly unique was the personal service she offered, catering to people’s different needs with genuine warmth and affection. Her aim had always been to create a luxurious home from home.

‘Right,’ said Brenda, lifting out a notepad and pen from her enormous handbag. ‘Let’s talk about china, shall we?’

‘China?’ asked Cat. ‘Why China? I’m going to Tenerife on my honeymoon.’

Brenda rolled her eyes. ‘No, Catherine. China as in china plates and cups and saucers, not the country.’

‘Oh.’ Cat took another biscuit under her mother’s watchful gaze. Brenda’s eyes followed it from the plate all the way to Cat’s mouth where her daughter took a big satisfying bite.

‘Why did I agree to do this?’ Brenda muttered to herself.

Neither Cat nor Nell were brave enough to point out that no one had asked, or even wanted her to help in the first place. She’d taken over arrangements as soon as Cat had said the word proposal and the Brenda Wilson steam train hadn’t slowed down yet.

As Mr and Mrs Limstock waved from the other side of the lounge, trying to get her attention, Nell smiled and excused herself to Brenda and Cat. She may not have many customers at the moment, but while she had some, she’d give them the best service she could. And it meant she could top up Cat’s gin while she was up. Something about Brenda’s scowl and the set of her mouth told her she might need it before this planning meeting was over.

Chapter 5

In the dark evening light, Nell walked up the slope leading through the gardens of the huge, intimidating hotel, lit by Victorian-style streetlamps. Though it was a renovated manor house, to Nell it had none of the elegant feel of a stately home. The façade was the same, apart from a giant automatic door that seemed to suck the classiness away every time they opened and closed with their horrid swooshing noise. A sweeping semi-circle of steps led up to it, but all Nell could think was that they wouldn’t be easy for anyone with mobility issues. Taken together, they ruined the whole look of the building. She much preferred the gentle ramp she’d installed that led to the modest front door of Holly Lodge. Or if they were after a grand entrance, then it had to be the other local stately home, Thornhill Hall that sat the other side of the bay.

Tom had agreed to meet her outside and Nell shivered in the little jacket she’d worn over a deep-burgundy wrap dress and tights. A flimsy patterned scarf did nothing to keep out the cold and it really was brass monkeys in Swallowtail Bay tonight. She ran the toe of her black suede ankle boot along the edge of a paving slab. The ground began to glitter beneath her feet as the moisture turned to frost.

Normally when she went out with Tom, she wore whatever she happened to throw on, which was usually her flared jeans, high-top trainers and a jumper, but the Langdon Mansion Hotel was one of those places that had an unspoken dress code. Her imagination had run a little wild, as it always did, and when she’d imagined this evening, she’d pictured women in fur stoles and slinky dresses with cigarettes hanging from their lips in long ivory holders. As they draped themselves over the furniture, elegantly suited men wandered about with tumblers of whisky on the rocks and everything was vaguely black and white. A slap of cold wind whipped around the face, waking her up. She closed her arms over her chest and waited, taking a moment to breathe after the meeting with Brenda. It felt more and more like going into battle rather than joyfully discussing different options for Cat’s wedding.

‘You should have gone inside,’ said Tom, striding up the same slope she had a few minutes earlier. ‘You must be freezing. Why didn’t you wear your coat?’

‘Because it’s a parka and it wouldn’t have gone with my dress. Do you like it?’ She gave a little spin on the spot and immediately Tom’s face flooded with affection.

‘You look great,’ he replied, wrapping an arm around her and kissing her cheek. He always had lovely, soft skin and smelled nice. ‘It’s better than one of your enormous jumpers.’

‘Hey! Enormous jumpers are the best thing about autumn and winter. You can snuggle up in them. It’s like wearing a duvet.’

Nell’s mind turned inwards and before she could help it, she was seeing herself and the love of her life wrapped up in blankets in the lounge of Holly Lodge. She desperately wanted someone who understood her passion for the hotel, for the wedding business, and for making people feel special when they walked through her door. So far, boyfriends had understood at first, but their enthusiasm quickly faded when she couldn’t make a date because it was a changeover day or she had a house full. That wasn’t the case at the moment, but she hoped it wouldn’t be long before her plans came to fruition and the wedding business took off.

‘Shall we go in then?’ Tom asked, nodding to the door.

‘Yes, definitely,’ Nell exclaimed. ‘I can’t feel my toes.’ The horrid automatic doors parted as they climbed the top step and made their way inside.

As they stepped over the threshold, their eyes met and Nell knew he could read the fear on her face. She pushed her long golden hair back from her face.

The entrance hall was opulent, intimidating and huge. A long, wide, dark wood reception desk ran down one side, full of computer screens that popped up in front of suited-and-booted staff. On the same side, a little further along were the lifts, and opposite, between open doorways, were two different bars and crushed velvet sofas in deep purple. In the middle stood an enormous Christmas tree perfectly decorated like something from an interior design magazine. Twinkling lights wrapped around it in perfectly slanting circles. Expensive-looking glass baubles glittered and underneath sat a pile of flawlessly wrapped boxes posing as presents. Nell puffed out her cheeks and she and Tom stared around. It was so much grander than she’d imagined. As if to reassure her, he reached out and took her hand, holding it tightly in his.

‘Are you okay?’

‘Look at this place, Tom. How am I ever going to compete with this?’

‘Nell, there’s room in the market for everyone. You have a different customer base and a different offering. Don’t compare yourself to here.’

‘How can I not?’ The realisation of what this place was actually like caused her stomach to knot in worry. ‘I know my hotel’s lovely but this is next level snazzy. How can I not compare myself to this?’

‘Things will pick up, Nell. We just need to do some more marketing.’ He let go of her hand and placed his on the small of her back. She found its warmth and strength strangely comforting. ‘Come on, it’s almost eight – let’s find the restaurant.’

They walked further into the entrance hall and past the Christmas tree to see huge festive red flower arrangements in giant silver urns. If Tom could get the contract providing this place with displays, he’d be made for life. ‘You should give them your card and let them know you’re a local florist. If you got their order, you’d never need another bit of business.’

‘I’m not doing that,’ he replied as they peered through the open doorways into the two different bars. One was like an old boys’ London club and the other was an elegant cocktail bar with a shiny counter and high bar stools.

‘Why not? It makes perfect business sense.’

‘They probably have someone who provides the whole chain and besides, it would feel disloyal.’

Tom was the absolute sweetest, but she wasn’t going to let him miss an opportunity like this. Knowing she had one of his business cards in her wallet, she veered off to reception.

‘Where are you—’ But she was gone before he could stop her. After giving it to one of the receptionists she came back to him. ‘Why did you do that?’

‘Because I’m not letting you miss on an amazing opportunity because of me.’

‘But I’m snowed under as it is. I don’t really need—’

‘You can never have too much business and you never know what’s going to happen. Their regular florist might let them down, or they might need something at the last minute, or they might recommend you to someone. It can’t hurt for them to have your card.’

A small chuckle escaped from Tom’s mouth. ‘Well, thank you.’ His voice chased away some of the cold lingering in her bones. Pointing at a sign, he said, ‘Come on, the restaurant’s down here. And my stomach’s rumbling.’

At the end of the hallway he turned left, following the sign for the restaurant. The website said it was at the back of the mansion with views over the gardens, and Nell had to admit the aromas heading her way were delicious. There was a strong savoury base note over which she could smell something winey mixed with something sweet. As soon as Mr and Mrs Limstock had left for a day of sightseeing, she’d been working hard in the hotel, making the most of the quiet time to give it a big clean, and had even started wrapping Christmas presents after working on the brochure for a bit. She absolutely loved Christmas and spent ages choosing the right gift for someone and then wrapping it carefully, so every parcel had neat corners and a proper ribbon bow on top. The only problem was she’d got caught up in doing that and hadn’t eaten much.

When they reached the restaurant, it was Tom’s turn to be taken aback and his mouth hung open. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined one side, separated by giant columns. The larger tables had grand candelabras in the middle while the smaller ones had small silver holders with white candles. Giant silver snowflakes hung from the ceiling and everywhere were cascading silver and green flower displays. A gazillion staff clad in crisp black-and-white uniforms buzzed here and there carrying plates of food or clearing tables with the ease of experienced silver service, stacking empty plates on top of each other, all in the crook of their arms. Nell could only manage about three plates at a time. Maybe she needed to go on a course or something? Would her customers expect that sort of service?

This was all unfamiliar ground for Nell who was pretty positive and confident. Feeling unsure of herself only heightened her insecurities. After a glance at the guests, she also felt woefully underdressed. Tom clearly felt the same as they exchanged another worried look.

‘Can I help you, sir? Madam?’ A man with slicked-back hair in a shiny navy and yellow pinstripe suit sidled over. Nell noticed his suit trousers were drainpipe straight and stylishly short and he was wearing brown brogues without socks. All she could think was that he’d have cold ankles on the way home tonight.

‘We’ve got a reservation,’ said Nell, shoving Tom slightly forward as if it was all his fault. He almost stumbled from her forceful shove but regained his composure with a slight clearing of his throat.

‘Yes, it’s in the name of Barton. Table for two.’

Nell caught the man’s name badge. Bryan. With a Y. Bryan led them to a weird, onyx-black sculpted workstation and swiped away at a computer hidden in its depths. ‘Ah, yes, here we are.’ He clicked his fingers – actually clicked them, which she thought was a bit rude – and a waitress appeared at his shoulder, her hands clasped behind her back and bolt upright like a soldier on parade. ‘Tallulah will see you to your table. Enjoy your meal.’

Tom nodded his thanks and they followed Tallulah. She was young, probably only in her late teens, not that much older than Janie, Tom’s apprentice in the shop, but she carried an air of confidence that even Nell as a grown woman struggled to feel at times. It was intimidating, as was the whole place. There weren’t any 1920s cigarette holders or draping women, but she did spy some town councillors and the local mayor at one of the large tables. Nell waved as she went past and Linda, the mayor, waved back, her cheeks a little pink from a couple of glasses of Christmas cheer. Arnold, her husband, seemed to be enjoying himself too though he hadn’t noticed Nell, being deep in conversation with the person opposite him.

They were seated next to a window and from the hotel’s position at the steepest end of Swallowtail Bay, the graceful curve of the coastline splayed out before them. Punctuated with lights in varying shades of yellow and white they looked like sparkling Christmas baubles in the dark. Before long, the high street would look like a Christmas bauble when the lights were strung up and the giant Christmas tree was up. Nell loved the way they decorated the town, seeing all the lights as you walked through the traditional Christmas market.

Tonight, the sea was black and still, but a pale moon shone down from the deep inky blue of the sky and its reflection glittered off the water. A sea mist had begun to roll into the bay obscuring everything in its path and blurring the hard edges of the buildings. Tallulah asked if she could take a drinks order and Tom turned to Nell.

‘Are you on the sauce tonight or driving?’

‘Definitely drinking,’ she replied, looking around her once more. The cutlery was more reflective than her mirror at home. She didn’t get many nights off because it depended on when Zoe could work but as she was covering tonight, Nell wanted to make the most of it, plus she needed some courage. The odd gin and tonic normally did the trick.

‘Then can I get a plain gin and tonic and a glass of house red, please?’ Tom said. With a slight nod of the head, Tallulah disappeared off. ‘I thought house wine would be the cheapest option.’

‘Good idea. Have you noticed there’s no music? Or is there? I think I can hear something.’

‘You can, it’s really faint, though. Something classical, I think.’

The faint sounds of Christmas chimes met Nell’s ears. ‘It’s a bit boring, isn’t it? I much prefer a cheesy Christmas bop or a cheerful carol. A bit of a Ding dong merrily on high.’ She sang it a little too loudly and the table next to them sneered. Nell hunkered down into her seat as Tom studied her unimpressed expression.

‘Is it the music or me making you look like that?’

‘Definitely the music,’ she replied, pulling herself straighter. ‘This place is a bit scary. And fancy. But we always manage to have a nice time when we’re together so despite the fact that this place makes me shaky, I am happy to be here with you.’

‘You might want to tell your face that.’

She stuck her tongue out and they both laughed. Without fail, whether they were clearing blocked drains at the hotel or having dinner at the pub, they always spent their time together laughing and joking. ‘I’m just a bit worried. My restaurant’s not even half the size of this and if the food here is good—’

‘This isn’t like you, Nell. You’re normally much more optimistic. Are you sure there’s not something else going on?’

Nell rolled her shoulders back, trying to relax, but the fact was her subconscious had been throwing up some weird thoughts lately. ‘Do you ever feel like you’ve reached a turning point in your life? A crossroads?’ Tom raised an eyebrow. ‘Clearly not. Well, since I went wedding dress shopping with Cat, I’ve been doing some thinking.’

‘That sounds dangerous.’

She flashed her eyes at him. ‘I’ve realised that lately something feels different. This feels like a big, momentous time in my life with Cat getting married and the hotel not doing so well. I’ve been re-evaluating things.’

It wasn’t that she was suddenly on the lookout for a husband because her best friend was getting married, but she did miss having some romance in her life and at this time of year she particularly wished for a love that was both powerful and romantic with someone who knew her inside and out. Someone to really get into the Christmas spirit with and spend long winter nights cuddled up to. Since going wedding dress shopping with Cat, the idea had been growing more and more that, though she would love someone to be with, until that happened she should make the most of being single and do all the things she’d wanted to do but hadn’t.

‘It’s not that I don’t want to fight for the hotel, you know how much I love that place, but I think I need to be realistic and figure out what I’ll do if things don’t work out because that’s looking like a real possibility. It’s heartbreaking because I love Holly Lodge, and maybe it’s my defences going up, but I feel like I need to be prepared for the worst.’

‘Hang on. You and reality have never been the best of friends—’

‘We have when it comes to business.’ She knew he was teasing and made her tone light to match it, but how could she make it clearer to him? ‘You know in You’ve Got Mail when Meg Ryan loses her bookshop?’ He nodded. She’d made him watch it so many times he knew that film as well as she did. ‘She’s fought hard for her lovely little bookshop, but lost, and now she has to figure out what she really wants to do. I feel a bit like that. I want to keep the hotel – it’s my life – but what happens if I don’t make it through this rocky patch? I’m going to do everything I can but maybe this is the time to make a change if ever I’m going to. The wedding fair’s a good idea but it’s a bit last-chance saloon and if the business doesn’t start to improve soon, maybe I should do something else.’

Tom was looking really concerned now. ‘What sort of change? Become a wedding planner or something? You do love weddings.’

‘I hadn’t actually thought of that.’ She stored that idea away for later. ‘If I have to sell up, I thought maybe I could do something big like go travelling. I’ve never been anywhere—’

‘You’ve never wanted to go anywhere.’

‘I might now. Oh, I don’t know.’ She drummed her fingers on the table. ‘Lately I’ve been imagining visiting all the places I’ve never had the chance to with being tied to the hotel.’

‘You and your imagination.’ Tom’s concern was fading a little. ‘If that’s what you want, have a holiday. I’ve told you before I can look after the place for you.’

‘That’s not quite what I meant.’

Tom sipped his drink and said, ‘You always get like this when something’s bothering you. Are you sure there’s nothing going on? The last time you were like this you cut all your hair off in a pixie crop because the redecorating wasn’t going as quickly as you hoped. You said it was because you loved what’s-her-name’s hair in that film you like—’

‘Ginnifer Goodwin in He’s Just Not That Into You,’ she mumbled, knowing full well he was right.

‘But really it was because you were stressed out that you were letting your mum and dad down by changing the hotel. Are you sure you’re not stressed about Cat and Kieran’s wedding? Or the wedding fair stuff?’

Sometimes, she really hated that he knew her so well. That haircut hadn’t suited her at all as her ears stuck out a bit too much, and she’d been growing it back ever since. Luckily, she was partly yeti or something, because her hair grew very quickly. ‘Maybe it’s a bit to do with Cat too.’ She told him about the wedding dress situation. ‘But she knows her own mind and I don’t want to press too much. I’ve tried a couple of times, but she just turns the conversation to something else.’

‘Do you want me to have a word with Kieran?’

‘No, don’t do that!’ The table nearby looked over again and Nell lowered her voice. ‘Cat wouldn’t want him to know anything about the dress. It’s fine. I’ll speak to her again and see if I can change her mind. I am excited for the wedding fair though. All those couples at the hotel will fill the air with romance.’ It was going to be a magical day, but she really needed to get the brochure finished. It was only just over two weeks away, but all she needed was some photos.

As if by magic, a hand delivered two menus to the table. They were absolutely enormous A3-size sheets of thick, dark blue paper with indecipherable fancy gold lettering. The only thing her eyes could make out for sure were the enormous prices. Next to the small blocks of virtually illegible text were giant pound signs and extortionate numbers.

‘How the hell am I supposed to read this?’ asked Nell, manoeuvring her menu so she could see Tom over the top. He was squinting too.

‘I know what you mean. I can barely make it out.’ Nell popped her head up over her menu again to see Tom blinking at it. His eyes were the colour of russet autumn leaves with hints of amber and flooded with warmth. ‘We can do this. We’re grown-ups, we can read words. Even squiggly, upside down words.’

Nell laughed and turned her attention back to her menu. ‘So, the first starter is basically a take on baked camembert—’

‘But with weird cheese from Mongolia.’

They quietened as Tallulah delivered their drinks and Nell thanked her before taking a sip. It was nice, but a little watery and she wondered what brand of gin they were using, or if she’d been making hers too strong. She didn’t have many but when she made one, she didn’t always bother measuring. ‘Next is … well, it’s basically a scotch egg, isn’t it?’

Tom guffawed. ‘It really is. Except it’s Himalayan breadcrumbs and a quail’s egg. Why on earth do you need breadcrumbs from the Himalayas. I’m sure Asda ones are just as good. So, the third, veggie option is …’

‘Carrot soup,’ Nell exclaimed with a giggle. ‘It’s basically just carrot soup.’

‘Umm, no it’s not. It’s small-farm, hand-grown, organic, French baby chantenay carrots roasted with a whimsical dressing and then made into a savoury liquid. What’s a whimsical dressing?’

‘I don’t know. Maybe it tells you jokes before you eat it.’ Nell chuckled and took another sip of her gin.

‘What are you going to have?’ he asked, rolling the gigantic menu up into a tube and placing it on the table. There wasn’t quite enough room for it no matter which way he laid it.

‘I think I’ll go for the soup. I want to find out more about this whimsical dressing. You?’

‘Baked cheese without a doubt. You can never eat enough cheese.’

Nell made a mental note to buy him a cheese-related gift for Christmas. Tom took a sip of his wine and scrunched up his face. ‘What is it?’

‘The wine’s just a bit sharp.’

‘Not as outstanding as you’d expect?’

‘Not really. So, shall we try and decipher the mains?’

‘Go on then.’

After a lot more giggling, the two of them decided what they would have just as Tallulah returned to take their order. They’d been given a lot of time to decide what they wanted and that was one thing Nell liked. They weren’t pounced on as soon as their drinks had been delivered in an effort to get everything moving along. Nell hated it when that happened. If she opened the dining room of an evening, she’d have to hire a good chef first of all, but she’d also make sure the waiting staff gave people time to enjoy their time. Maybe she could hire different chefs for different evenings. Cat’s caterer for the wedding was really good, and that way the menu could always be different. The chefs could decide the food and cost out what they need, then Nell could agree charges with them.

‘What are you thinking about?’ asked Tom. ‘You’ve gone all quiet. Back in your imaginary world?’

‘Ha ha. I was just thinking about chefs and how I could make the dining room idea work. I was thinking I could get a different chef every night—’

‘Or just open a few nights a week.’

‘Good idea.’ Nell explained about the different menus, and from across the table Tom studied her. She pretended not to notice at first but when he was still watching her as she finished speaking, she said, ‘What?’

‘Nothing.’ Tom ran his hands over the smooth surface of the tablecloth. ‘You just … you always crinkle your nose when you’re thinking.’

‘Do I?’

Nell bit the inside of her cheek, feeling suddenly self-conscious. It was like they were on a date. Any girl sitting in her seat would be lucky to have Tom sitting opposite her. He was so kind and caring, and he blushed whenever he paid her compliments. It was endearing, even more so because it really should have worn off by now as they’d been friends for so long, but he’d always been like it and Nell had grown used to it. She’d never seen him blush with his previous girlfriends though, now she came to think of it, which was odd.

‘Okay, enough about work.’ She shook her head a little to shake the mishmash of thoughts away. ‘How’re things with you? I know it’s only been two days since I’ve seen you but how’s Grandad Nigel?’

‘He’s an old rogue as usual.’

‘Is he getting used to things now?’

‘With his sight you mean?’ A pained expression passed over Tom’s face and he rubbed his eyes. ‘He seems cheerful enough, but he wouldn’t say anything in front of anyone else. I’m going next week to help decorate the place for Christmas. I was thinking of making some Christmassy-smelling decorations or something. You know, cloves, cinnamon, dried oranges. I mean, Grandad’s not the only one there with vision problems – if anyone can’t see Christmas deccies, it’d be nice if they can smell something.’

That was just like Tom. He was so considerate and caring and thought a little out of the box. Not many people would think about something like that.

‘I’ll come with you next Sunday if you like. It’ll be nice to see Nigel again.’

‘He’d love to see you too, and if you don’t mind, I’ll pop in and see him on Christmas Day before I come to you? Unless you want to come too?’

‘Of course I want to come. I wrapped his present today.’ Tom and Nell always spent Christmas Day together after a quick trip to the care home in the morning. Cat and Kieran would be on their honeymoon, Tom’s parents had emigrated to Australia and Nell’s stayed at the hotel in Dorset. Over the past few years, she and Tom had made their own celebrations, just the two of them, and sometimes guests if the hotel had bookings. As it was looking at being just the two of them this year, it was shaping up to be laid-back, easy and fun.

Their starters arrived, delivered by the surprisingly confident Tallulah, and Tom and Nell stared at them in surprise. His baked Mongolian cheese was a surprisingly decent size but covered in so much rosemary it looked like a forest had fallen onto his plate. Nell’s soup was just that: bog-standard carrot soup with some flecks of green floating in it, served in a gold teacup on a shiny matching saucer.

‘Is that it?’ whispered Tom, pointing his bread knife at the cup and saucer.

Nell looked up, trying desperately not to laugh out loud. ‘It’s tiny, isn’t it?’

‘I could neck that in about three seconds.’ She picked up her teaspoon and stirred her soup trying not to spill any as she lifted it to her lips. Just as she opened her mouth Tom’s hand shot out. ‘Don’t.’

‘What?’ Nell followed Tom’s horrified gaze to the teaspoon. Sitting in the head of the spoon was a curled black blob. Peering a little closer, her face fell into a grimace. ‘Urgh, it’s a spider! That’s so gross.’ She leaned forward, whispering, ‘What shall I do? I can’t eat the soup now. That’s honestly made me feel sick.’

‘You should tell the waitress.’

‘What? I can’t. I hate complaining. Maybe I can just say I didn’t like it, not that that sounds any better.’ Nell stared at the crumpled dead spider in her spoon, feeling slightly sorry for the poor thing. There weren’t many nice ways for a spider to go, but she couldn’t imagine being drowned in soup was one of them.

‘You have to, Nell. What if someone else finds one in their soup? You’d feel terrible. It might be a one-off, but it might also mean their kitchens aren’t quite as clean as they think they are. Someone could get proper food poisoning or something.’

‘Oh no.’ Nell laid the spoon, complete with arthropod accompaniment, on the gold saucer, which only seemed to spotlight it more. ‘This sucks. I really hate complaining.’

‘Do you want me to do it?’

‘No, it’s okay. Right, here goes.’ Catching Tallulah’s eye, she waited until the waitress came over. ‘Umm, I’m really sorry,’ Nell began, keeping her voice hushed. ‘But I’m afraid I found a spider in my soup.’

The waitress’s face registered shock and then disgust. ‘I am so sorry, madam. I think I’d better get the deputy manager for you.’ She darted away and a few moments later Bryan with a Y, the man in the shiny suit and cold ankles, arrived at the table. Tallulah had clearly briefed him because his brow was crinkled and he came over clasping his hands. Nell repeated what she’d said to Tallulah and Bryan peered at the spoon, picking it up and examining it.

‘Madam, I sincerely apologise, I can’t imagine how this has happened. I assure you that we have the highest levels of cleanliness in the restaurant. I can only imagine it fell from the ceiling when it was being carried out.’

It was possible, Nell supposed, but not likely. The poor thing definitely seemed sufficiently cooked to have been in there for a while. Even though Nell had tried to keep her voice low the other tables began to glance over and whisper amongst themselves. Bryan’s eyes darted towards them then back again as they examined their own plates for wildlife. Still, Nell tried to be conciliatory. ‘No problem. I run Holly Lodge. We don’t do dinner, but we do breakfast and my cook’s constantly cleaning everything to make sure there’s no chance of something getting in.’ She’d meant it in a nice, understanding way but Bryan sneered at the mention of Holly Lodge and embarrassment flushed over her neck.

‘We do have a five-star hygiene rating, Miss Jones.’ The fact he knew her surname even though she hadn’t told him was disconcerting. Was it that they knew of Holly Lodge? She supposed they must know all their competition in the town. ‘I can assure you nothing like this has ever happened before.’

At a nearby table, a woman was angling a phone as if she was recording the whole thing. Even the mayor was watching with her group of councillors. Nell’s cheeks grew hot and she looked at Tom for support.

‘I’m sure it’s just a one-off,’ he said to Bryan. ‘But if we could maybe change Nell’s starter to something else? And you might want to get rid of that batch of soup, just to be sure.’

Bryan eyed the woman with her phone, and suddenly his demeanour changed. He stood a little straighter and his expression hardened. ‘There is another explanation. As the owner of Holly Lodge, you might have placed it there to sabotage us—’

‘What?’ Every muscle in Nell’s body stiffened. ‘Don’t be absurd. Why would I do that?’

‘We’re well aware, Miss Jones, that your business has suffered since the opening of our hotel. You could have come here and placed that spider in your soup, so we lose business and even our hygiene rating. Or possibly you wanted a free meal. It wouldn’t be the first time someone has tried something like this. Though they usually use one of their own hairs.’

Nell’s temper flared. ‘I would never do such a thing. How dare you suggest that I would? Do you think I found and kept a soggy arachnid, bringing it with me to dinner just so I could put it in my soup to try and discredit the Langdon Mansion Hotel? That is ridiculous.’ She crossed her arms over her chest. It was clear that having realised who she was, Bryan was now trying to blame her rather than take responsibility for the oversight of his restaurant.

Bryan puffed out his skinny, wimpy chest. ‘I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave, Miss Jones.’

Nell gasped in a breath. This was so utterly embarrassing. Her body felt like it was on fire, she was sweating and could feel how beetroot-red her cheeks were.

‘Now hang on a minute,’ said Tom, his voice edging towards angry. It wasn’t something she heard all that often. ‘We haven’t done anything wrong. Your restaurant has allowed a spider to crawl into its soup and yet you’re trying to blame us?’

Tallulah the waitress was looking on in terror at the furore in front of her and she suddenly looked much younger than she had before, more like Tom’s Janie – just a young girl caught in a horrible situation. Nell felt instantly sorry for her. From Bryan’s behaviour she could imagine he wasn’t a very nice boss. One of those who was fine as long you were on the right side of them but get something wrong and you were thrown under the bus, especially if it caused him any problems.

‘Let’s just go,’ said Nell, feeling the eyes of everyone on her. She’d never been so humiliated in her entire life and once she’d walked out of a public toilet with her skirt tucked in her knickers and shown half her bum as she walked down the high street. At the time she’d thought nothing could top that, but she was wrong, this definitely took the trophy for the most embarrassing moment of her life.

‘Are you sure?’ Tom asked. ‘You’ve done nothing wrong, Nell. You shouldn’t be bullied out of having your dinner here because they’ve messed up.’

Bryan sniffed and ignored the comment even though Tom shot daggers at him.

Trying to regain some of her dignity, Nell stood and grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair. ‘I’d really rather just go, Tom. We can grab some fish and chips on the way home. My treat.’

As Tom passed Bryan, he turned to face him. ‘You should be ashamed of yourself. You know full well Nell didn’t place that spider there, you’re just too embarrassed to admit it. That’s despicable. And cowardly.’

As they left, with all eyes upon them, Nell felt Tom’s reassuring hand on her back. It wasn’t until they were outside in the cold, fresh night air that she felt able to breathe again and her cheeks began to cool.

‘Well, that was horrible,’ Nell said, wrapping her scarf around her neck. The awful automatic doors opened and closed as people inside walked past them.

‘It was. Do you want my coat?’ Tom asked as Nell shivered.

‘No. I’m not actually that cold. I think it’s just shock and shame.’

‘Hey,’ Tom said quickly, turning Nell to face him and taking her face in his hands. She loved the warmth of them. ‘You have nothing to be ashamed of. They’re the ones who should be ashamed. They’ve treated you so badly. I hope the mayor saw it—’

Panic flooded her face. ‘I hope she didn’t. What if she believes them?’

‘No one would believe them. They were clearly lying to save their own skin. Much easier to turn the tables and try and blame you than tell the truth that they messed up. You heard him say about people trying to get free meals. I bet they’ve done this before, blaming customers rather than take responsibility for the meals they serve.’

Some of the tension released from Nell’s shoulders and she tipped her head down. Tom did the same, resting his forehead against hers, and she enjoyed their closeness for a second.

‘Shall we get those fish and chips?’ he said as they stood there in the dark.

Nell lifted her head and nodded. ‘Much better than – what was that beef thing?’

Tom thought for a moment and recited the menu. ‘Full-blooded, Australian Wagyu beef strips in a flaked cheddar and chive pastry envelope.’

‘So, beef Wellington in cheesy pastry?’

‘Yep.’

As they strolled back into Swallowtail Bay, Nell threaded her arm through Tom’s, glad that even though the night had been horrible, she’d at least been with him. That always seemed to make everything better.

***

After ordering Tallulah to dispose of the spider soup, Bryan stomped into the kitchen.

‘François? François?’ He turned to the pot-wash, a young man not much older than Tallulah. ‘Where is that piece of French … toast? François?’

‘Out the back having a fag, I think.’

Bryan shoved his way past and into the small fenced back yard behind the kitchen. François was sat on a metal beer barrel, puffing away. ‘François, you waste of bloody space. Did you know someone found a fucking spider in their soup? A spider, François! And it was enormous. It wasn’t like a tiny money-spider you don’t know is there until it crawls across your face. It was a giant fucking tarantula thing, its legs all curled in and gross.’ He mimed it with his hands then felt a bit silly as the Frenchman cocked his head and frowned at him. ‘It had been cooked in the fucking soup, François. What do you say to that? Some spider decided to have swim in the carrot soup, and you didn’t notice. How the hell did it get in there? Did you clean the place from top to bottom last week like I asked? Because I know there was a spider’s web in the corner of the room above the extractor. I saw it there and I told you to make sure it wasn’t there this week.’

The Frenchman shrugged and answered in a heavy accent. ‘It must have happened in the dining room. It cannot have happened in my kitchen.’ The stocky chef threw down his cigarette and ground it out with his foot. Without looking at Bryan, he went back inside.

With a deep breath, Bryan strode through the kitchen, down the plush corridors of the hotel to the office he shared with Kevin, the manager. The deep pile of the carpet softened his stamping tread, but the slamming of the door could not be ignored. It echoed through the room and no doubt down the hall leading back to reception.

Kevin looked up from his computer screen. ‘What’s the matter with you? We’re fully booked in the restaurant and the hotel, we’re pretty much guaranteed to meet all our sales targets for November – life’s good.’ He sat back and clasped his hands behind his head, his bright white teeth shining in the light from his desk lamp. ‘Why the long face?’

Bryan sat down, but just as his bum hit the seat he stood back up again. He couldn’t figure out if he’d done the right thing or not. Normally he’d have apologised for any mistake and offered a free meal. That was the company policy. But as soon as she’d mentioned Holly Lodge and he’d realised she was the owner of the nice boutique B&B on the seafront, and seen that woman recording the exchange on her phone, panic had risen in him like a volcano about to erupt. They’d known the mayor was in tonight with all her cronies and as she was booked in to have her Christmas party there, they wanted to make a good impression, show how amazing the service was as well as the food. The company always started Christmas in early November knowing that people were already booking Christmas parties. If she was impressed, they might get some brownie points locally. The order from the top was that it was important to keep the local dignitaries on side. At the time it seemed his only option was to blame Nell and make out she’d put it there, but now he doubted himself and it was a feeling he didn’t like.

‘Oy,’ Kevin demanded, as Bryan hadn’t answered. ‘What’s wrong?’

Scratching his cheek, he told Kevin what had happened. All the humour fell from Kevin’s face. He hunched forwards, his hands balled into fists and his jaw set. ‘Shit!’ After a second, he said it again and began pacing the room. ‘Someone recorded it?’ Bryan nodded. ‘Shit.’ Kevin ran a hand over his hair. ‘Okay, let’s not panic until we have something to panic about. If she doesn’t post it anywhere, we’re fine. We just pretend like nothing’s happened and it’ll all be forgotten soon. If she does, we’ll have to do something to discredit Holly Lodge and pin the blame on them. Like you said, we make people think she did it on purpose to make us look bad because her business is going under. Sour grapes. That’s what we’ll say.’

The desk phone rang, and Kevin answered. ‘What? They’re checking out? Why?’ Bryan watched on, and Kevin’s eyes shot to him. ‘Right. Offer them a free spa pass and ring me back if they say no.’ He put the phone down and stared at Bryan, neither of them speaking as the room filled with apprehension. Two minutes later, it rang again, and Kevin listened closely. ‘No, let them go. Just assure them that what Bryan said was true. They’re welcome to go elsewhere if they want. They’re probably not the type of people we want here anyway.’

‘What was that?’ asked Bryan, once Kevin had replaced the receiver, but deep down he already knew the answer.

‘The Summertons just checked out. They said they saw what happened in the restaurant and don’t want to eat somewhere spiders can get in the food.’

‘Shit, Kevin, I’m sorry.’

Kevin shook his head. ‘Don’t worry, they only arrived this afternoon and haven’t been happy since they walked into their room. They’re in the one with the broken radiator and had already moaned. They were probably looking for an excuse to get out. When I spoke to them earlier, they said unless it was fixed, they weren’t paying the full rate for staying. I could tell straight away they were serial complainers.’

‘How long were they here for?’

‘Three nights. It’s no big loss. We’ll fill those rooms in no time.’ He leaned back, perching on the edge of the desk. ‘But we have to do something. We can’t just wait for more people to check out and there’ll be some damage limitation to do if that woman shares that video. Is she a guest?’

Bryan shook his head. ‘No just a dinner reservation. Someone from the town.’

Kevin nodded slowly, taking in all the information and formulating a plan. ‘Knowing what these locals are like, they’ll stick together and believe her which we don’t want, even though she is telling the truth. We don’t have the video so we can’t edit it and use it to our advantage, making it look like Holly Lodge were playing dirty. We need to do something that makes Nell Jones look bad. It’s all about reputation. If our reputation’s better than hers, people will believe us. No doubt about it.’ Bryan held his breath and waited for his superior to finish. As Kevin made up his mind, a sly smile came to his face. ‘Don’t worry. I know just what to do.’

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