Page 48 of Winter Wishes at Pennycress Inn

‘You don’t need to come to this. Why don’t you stay here and get an early night?’ Nicola looked up from the box she was packing full of cardboard takeaway cups, bags of marshmallows and serviettes.

‘I’m okay.’ Scarlett shook her head. She’d spent too long on her own. Two days, to be exact, when she’d done the bare minimum around the inn, instead letting Nicola pick up the slack for her whilst she cocooned herself in the owner’s suite, hiding underneath the duvet. Two days since she and Rowan had officially broken up. Not that that was the right phrase – heck, she guessed you actually had to have been officially seeing someone to officially break up but whatever it was, it still hurt like crazy, and she’d needed the time she’d taken.

Today, though, it was Christmas Eve, and she wasn’t going to let Nicola down. She had to pull up her big girl pants and get on with life despite how she was feeling inside. Pennycress was packed, filled with three young families and an elderly couple who had told her they’d spent every Christmas at the inn for the past nine years, apart from the year it was closed, so they could travel to the next village along to spend Christmas Day with friends. She wasn’t going to let her feelings put a dampener on other people’s lives.

‘Are you sure?’ Placing the box of sugar cubes she’d been holding on the table, Nicola walked towards her and cupped her elbows as she looked into Scarlett’s eyes. ‘You don’t have to do this.’

Meeting Nicola’s gaze, Scarlett forced a smile. She was glad she’d chosen to open up to Nicola, and glad of the support. When Nicola had arrived at the inn the day after the village meeting, Scarlett couldn’t not tell her. She wouldn’t have been able to hide her emotions even if she’d tried, and speaking to Nicola, telling her all the sordid details of her and Tyler’s relationship, had made her think that perhaps Laura might understand her too. ‘Yes, I do. Laura and Jackson will be back any minute and I don’t want them knowing about any of this.’ She indicated her swollen eyes. ‘Not yet.’

Nicola nodded. ‘Well, it’s still early. Their flight won’t even have left yet, so why don’t you go and have a lie down until then?’

‘Thank you, but I’d rather just get organised for the carol service this evening. Laura and Jackson will likely be shattered when they get home, so I don’t want to leave it for them to sort out.’ Scarlett bit down on her bottom lip. ‘Or you. You’ve done enough already these past couple of days. It should be you going home and getting some rest.’

‘Don’t pull that one with me.’ Nicola gave a quiet laugh. ‘I’m fine and you know there’s no place I’d rather be spending my Christmas Eve than here at Pennycress.’

‘Not with Charlie?’

‘Nice try. Charlie is finishing off a few things around the farm in the hope of having a couple of days off and then he’s coming over to help at the carol service.’ Nicola smiled as she went back to packing up the evening’s supplies. ‘Are you coming back to Little Mead tonight? And then we can all come over here tomorrow for Christmas dinner? My mum’s coming too.’

‘Oh, umm…’ She nodded. She’d half hoped she’d be able to get back to her van and spend tonight and Christmas Day moping in her own sullen company, but after chasing the part for the heater with Neil Parson’s once again this morning, it transpired luck wasn’t on her side. Ha, of course it wasn’t. This whole year had been a disaster right from the start and she had no hope of it changing this close to New Year. ‘If you’re sure you don’t mind.’

‘Of course not. It’ll be lovely. Pennycress Christmases are the best!’ Nicola grinned. ‘We’ll have the guests, of course, but every one of them will be out all day visiting family and friends.’

‘Sounds nice.’ Trying her best to smile, Scarlett opened a drawer and pulled out a handful of spoons before squeezing them in the box between the sugar cubes and the jars of hot chocolate. She would help tonight. Before Tyler had turned up two days ago, she’d been looking forward to it. She just needed to prepare herself for the fact she’d see Rowan.

‘Is that your mobile ringing?’ Nicola glanced towards Scarlett.

‘Huh?’ Scarlett paused, trying to work out where the muffled ringing was coming from before picking up the serviettes and finding her mobile hidden in the box beneath. She really wasn’t with it today. She just hoped she could wake up properly before Laura and Jackson arrived home. Looking at the screen, she frowned. She didn’t recognise the number. If it was Tyler, she’d…

‘I’ll give you some space.’ Nicola stopped what she was doing and headed towards the hallway, closing the kitchen door quietly behind her.

Scarlett stared at the screen, trying to decide whether to answer or not. The last person she wanted to speak to was Tyler, but what if it was Rowan? What if he was calling from a different number? Leaning her back heavily against the work surface, she accepted the call. ‘Hello?’

‘Scarlett, I’m so glad I got through to you.’ Laura’s voice sounded distant.

‘Laura, is that you?’

‘Yes, yes, it’s me.’ Laura laughed. ‘I’m sorry, I’m at the airport and it’s so noisy.’

‘The joys of airports.’ Nicola straightened the salt and pepper shaker on the nearest table.

‘It would be a little more joyous if our flight wasn’t non-existent. That’s why I’m ringing. And from a pay phone at that, as my mobile signal is horrendous. The flight has been cancelled. Jackson’s at the ticket desk trying to get us on another one but I have a feeling he’s not going to have much luck. All the flights to Heathrow are being cancelled because of the snowstorm.’

‘The snowstorm?’ Walking towards the French doors at the back of the dining area, Scarlett peered through the glass. Snow still clung stubbornly in some places, but they hadn’t had any more since yesterday morning.

‘Yep. Apparently, there’s a big one over there at the moment. Have you not got snow?’

‘No. Well, yes, it’s been snowing on and off for a few days now, but we’ve not had any since yesterday morning.’

‘Oh, that’s weird. Well, hopefully it’ll miss the Cotswolds but be warned, it might be on its way.’

‘Do you think you’ll get a flight in time for tomorrow?’ Turning, Scarlett made her way back across to the kitchen area. She could really do with a strong coffee.

‘I don’t know.’ Laura sighed down the phone line. ‘Hold on, Jackson’s coming back now, I’ll see if he’s got any more information.’

Taking a clean mug from the dishwasher, Scarlett twisted it in her hand. What would happen if they couldn’t get a flight back in time for tomorrow? What would they do for Christmas? They’d end up spending their first Christmas Day as a married couple cooped up in an airport.

‘Scarlett, are you still there?’ Laura’s voice returned.