Page 51 of Winter Wishes at Pennycress Inn

‘That’ll be lovely.’ Scarlett smiled. Whenever she stepped foot inside the bakery, Mrs Pierce was full of news of her great-granddaughter, with tales of her having tried avocado for the first time or having a new tooth break through her gums. She was definitely one proud great-grandmother.

After waving and getting the attention of her granddaughter, Mrs Pierce stood aside as the three of them weaved through the crowds towards the stall. ‘Rebecca, Ian and little Olivia, I’d like you to meet Scarlett. Scarlett, I’d like you to meet my granddaughter, her husband and my great-granddaughter.’

‘Hi, lovely to meet you.’ Leaning over the stall, Scarlett waved towards the little baby in her pram. ‘I’ve heard so much about you, Olivia.’

‘Are you going to show Scarlett your new tooth?’ Mrs Pierce leaned forward and ruffled little Olivia’s hair.

‘Aw, she’s gorgeous.’ Scarlett began passing the takeaway cups across to Rebecca and Ian.

‘She’s the apple of my eye, aren’t you, sweetheart?’ Mrs Pierce kissed her fingers before placing them against Olivia’s cheek and then turned towards Scarlett to take her drink. ‘Thank you, Scarlett, and Merry Christmas.’

‘Merry Christmas.’ Scarlett waved the family goodbye just as Miss Cooke’s voice filled the green, announcing the singing would now begin again.

As the crowds dispersed and hurried towards the front of the bandstand, their song sheets at the ready, Scarlett looked across towards Rowan. This was her chance. Now, with the tune of ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ being played, the villagers and visitors alike were entranced by the carol and Rowan was wiping the counter down getting ready for the next interval.

‘I won’t be a moment.’ Scarlett glanced towards Nicola and Charlie as they stood, arms wrapped around each other, singing along.

As she crossed the green towards him, Scarlett shoved her hand in her pocket and checked she still had the letter. Yep, it was still there, folded into four.

Reaching his coffee cart, Scarlett realised he hadn’t spotted her walking towards him. His shoulders were hunched as he refilled the tiny packets of sugar in the tray on the counter. Pausing, she cleared her throat. ‘Rowan?’

Snapping his head up, an expression mixed with surprise and hurt washed over Rowan’s face and he quickly glanced around as though looking for an interruption, someone to save him from the upcoming awkward conversation.

‘Can we talk? Please?’ It took all her willpower not to reach out to him, not to place her hand over his, not to run around to the other side of the counter and draw him into her arms, to feel his arms around her. She clasped her hands in front of her.

Reluctantly pausing in his task, Rowan shook his head slightly, his eyes still focused on the tiny packets of sugar. ‘I don’t think that’s such a good idea.’

‘Please. You’ve not heard the whole story, the real story. Please just let me explain.’ Scarlett dug her nails into the palms of her hand. He wasn’t going to let her talk, was he? He wasn’t going to give her the chance to tell him her side. But if he knew… If he would only listen… ‘Please just give me two minutes of your time and then I’ll walk away and leave you alone.’

Placing the sugar packets he was holding down on the counter, Rowan met her gaze for the first time. It was then that Scarlett noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes, the pain in his gaze. ‘I can’t. As much as I want to believe there’s a simple explanation and that your ex was lying, he wasn’t, was he? He’s married. You were dating a married man.’

‘I… It wasn’t like that. There’s more to it. I didn’t…’ Scarlett reached out, quickly pulling her hand back as Rowan spoke again.

‘Tell me he wasn’t married. Tell me you weren’t seeing him behind his wife’s back.’ His voice cracked with emotion.

Scarlett shook her head sadly. ‘I can’t.’

With one curt nod, Rowan turned towards the back of the coffee cart.

Standing there, Scarlett dragged the back of her hand across her cheeks, the tears flowing freely. Everything he’d said had been right and she couldn’t tell him otherwise. She couldn’t tell him Tyler had been lying. She couldn’t tell him she hadn’t been dating a married man. Rowan was right. It was all true. But she hadn’t known. Pulling the letter from her pocket, she placed it gently on top of the counter and turned on her heel.

It was final. Her and Rowan were over and there wasn’t any going back. She’d never again feel his lips on hers, she’d never again feel his touch, never again feel the world disappear around them as he enveloped her in his arms.

As she reached Pennycress’ stall, she looked up at the sky as snow began to fall. Laura had been right. The snowstorm was coming their way.

Whoops of delight and surprise filled the green, people turning to each other and exclaiming that it would be a white Christmas this year, after all.

‘Please.’ Miss Cooke’s voice erupted above the excited chatter as she tried to calm the group and draw them back to the carol singing.

Scarlett took her place behind the stall and looked across towards Rowan. She watched as he picked up her letter and placed it on the back counter. He wasn’t even going to read it, was he?

Turning her back, she used her scarf to wipe her tears away and blinked. She needed to stop crying. She couldn’t let Nicola or Charlie see her like this. Not on Christmas Eve. Taking a deep breath, she turned back and picked up her song sheet, mouthing the words to the carol being sung.

‘Oh no.’ In the pause between carols, Nicola’s voice sounded from the other end of the stall.

‘What’s the matter?’ Scarlett watched as she came towards her.

Holding up her phone, Nicola grimaced. ‘Look.’