Page 46 of Mistletoe and Mulled Wine at the Christmas Campervan

‘Trust is something you need to build in a relationship, Lucia. So just keep talking, keep being honest with each other. Keep building on that. Then one day … if it’s the right relationship … you might find yourselves tightly holding hands and then reaching for the stars together.’

Lucy looked out of the window into the flower-filled garden below, as if trying to gaze into the future. She hoped her dear old Nonna was right – perhaps age did bring great wisdom after all.

Come along to

The Claverham Castle Christmas Fayre

Saturday 11th December

From 1 p.m.

Crafts, Baking, Gifts, Santa’s Grotto and so much more

Chapter Twenty-Two

Lucy was up with the lark and bustling away in her cottage kitchen. Even though she’d had a bit of an unsettled night, she found herself singing ‘Jingle Bells’, substituting ‘bells’ for ‘balls’ as she went to check on her pizza dough balls, which had proven nicely overnight. Next, she chopped turkey and sliced mushrooms and onions for toppings, ready to fill the cool boxes to transport later. If today at the Claverham Castle Christmas fayre was to be as busy as she hoped – with Emma from The Chocolate Shop suggesting it was her favourite and busiest festive booking – she’d be glad to be more than a few steps ahead with her prep.

Ellie, the castle events organiser, had filled her in with more details of the extravaganza and the event sounded bustling and eclectic. Ellie had come across as lovely on the phone too, proudly explaining how they’d built up the Christmas Fayre over the past few years, encouraging local businesses to get involved. It had apparently become a bit of an annual attraction in the Northumberland area, and a highlight in the festive calendar. After all, what wasn’t to like … crafts, foods, carols and cocktails, all set in the grounds and hall of an ancient castle? It sounded like the perfect Christmas setting.

Lucy gave a sigh, thoughts of her relationship woes bursting her festive bubble. Even though Jack had eventually responded to her calls after all the drama with Liam, he’d still been frosty this week. They’d been keeping in touch with messages, mostly thrown out by Lucy, but there was definitely a new layer of unease. An elastic band of tension stretched between them. But … didn’t all relationships have their ebbs and flows? And as Nonna wisely said, ‘trust had to be built’.

So, after weighing it all up carefully, Lucy had decided to meet Liam for a coffee, to get this all out in the open and to draw a line under everything. She’d received a text message from him the day after the village tree event.

Hi, it was good to see you again, Luce. x

She’d floundered a bit before eventually replying with a polite:

It was nice to see you too.

There was no point being all bitter and chewed up over something that was now in the past. But he’d completely blindsided her and she hated how it was casting a shadow over everything with Jack. In the shock of it all, she hadn’t managed to say everything she’d have liked, she worried she hadn’t made her position crystal clear – so now she needed that airtime.

Look, do you want to meet for a quick coffee? she’d texted as a follow-up, purposely using the word ‘quick’ to give her ex no illusion that this was some cosy reunion.

They’d been all set to meet at a neutral venue in the local town of Alnwick yesterday late afternoon, when Liam phoned to say he was held up at work but had to pass by her village on his way to meet a client the next morning, so could he pop by hers instead? This had felt a little uncomfortable, to be honest. She hadn’t wanted Liam here in her new private space – it was bad enough that he’d landed in her village the other night. This was her bolt-hole, after all. But hey, these things happened. So, she’d found herself saying yes, whilst telling herself it’d be fine.

Now Liam was due in about ten minutes, so Lucy quickly downed tools in the kitchen and went to spruce herself up – nothing glamorous mind; she wasn’t out to impress. But she still found herself feeling nervous as she brushed her hair and changed into a casual cardigan and jeans.

Then came the sound of a vehicle pulling up outside. So he was here then. But hang on, thought Lucy, how did he know exactly where she was? It suddenly occurred to her that she’d never given him her address … had she?

‘Hey, Luce, thanks for this.’ Dressed smartly in navy chinos and a stripy shirt, he was all chummy-toned niceness at the cottage threshold. ‘Sorry if it’s put you out at all.’

‘Ah, no worries,’ she said, a little flustered. ‘Come on in.’ Lucy led him through to her kitchen.

‘Hey, nice place you’ve got here.’ Liam looked about him as he took up a stool. ‘Compact, yeah … but neat.’

Compact? How had she forgotten the way he could make little digs yet wrap them up to sound like compliments?

‘So, it sounds pretty hectic for you at work?’ Lucy started with small talk as she clicked the coffee machine on.

‘Yep, all go.’

‘So, where’s your client meeting today?’

‘Oh, ah … yeah, just along at Seahouses. Small business property sale, a few land issues … yeah, they need a bit of advice … thought I’d do an onsite visit.’ He sounded a little uneasy.

‘Right …’ Lucy stirred. ‘No sugar?’

‘Nope. Sweet enough.’