Page 98 of Not Just for Christmas

‘Really?’ I beamed at her, ‘I’m flattered. What did I say?’

She went a bit red. ‘Just about you feeling trapped and never being able to go anywhere because of the farm.’

My smile dropped. ‘So less inspirational, and more thank goodness we’re not like Lucy.’

‘Not at all,’ she said, flustered. ‘It’s just … well, we never know what life’s going to throw at us. So we should have our adventures while we can and not wait for the perfect time, because that time might never come. Do I make myself clear?’

We locked eyes for a long moment, until I lifted my paper cup to hers and tapped it gently. ‘You do.’

Just then my mother-in-law bustled over, bright-eyed and rosy-cheeked. She’d been deep in conversation with some of her old friends when I arrived and we’d barely exchanged a word other than to hear how ‘wunderbar’ her Austrian trip had been.

‘I wasn’t going to come,’ she exclaimed, pausing to kiss us both. ‘And I’m so glad I did. My friend Dorothy has brought one of her son’s old photo albums along. He’s the same age as Jack, and Jack was in most of them. It brought back some very special memories. They were such cheeky boys, always up to mischief.’

There was a shriek from the direction of the chocolate fountain, and every parent in the room sprang to attention.

‘It was an accident!’ Sam announced loudly as he and Tilly held up hands dripping in melted chocolate. It was all over their faces and down their clothes too.

‘Oh dear.’ Heather chuckled. ‘Now who does that remind you of?’

‘Bloody hell,’ Caroline grumbled, ‘that’s her new Christmas outfit. I’ll go and deal with them.’

She armed herself with more wet wipes and darted off to intervene.

‘I know I should be cross,’ I said, wishing I’d packed him a spare jumper, ‘but I can’t be, not today.’

‘Look on the bright side,’ said Heather, ‘it could have been a cowpat. Jack tripped up in plenty of those.’

‘He’d have loved this,’ I murmured. ‘Joining in with the carols, bounding around the room, having a laugh with everyone.’

‘And had his hand in that flippin’ chocolate like Sam,’ Heather added.

We exchanged fond looks and then found ourselves with tears in our eyes.

‘But he was stubborn, my son, and too fond of getting his own way.’ Heather took tissues from her handbag for both of us. ‘He and Jim were the same in that regard. I’ll let you into a secret; I’ve always been cross with Jack for not letting you convert part of the farm into holiday cottages. Especially after Jim had done the same for me, putting his foot down about my café. You’d have made a lovely job of it.’

‘Jack had changed his mind about that,’ I said. ‘He’d got approval for a bank loan for the work, had drawings done too.’

‘Oh love.’ Her eyes welled with tears and she dabbed them away. ‘That’s made my day. Oh bless his heart, what a good lad.’

‘He was.’ Before telling Dylan yesterday, I’d never mentioned it to anyone. There didn’t seem much point. But seeing how happy I’d made Heather, I was glad I had.

‘So?’ She raised her eyebrows enquiringly. ‘Why haven’t you done anything about it?’

I blinked at her. ‘I suppose I’ve been scared to make any changes to something that’s been in the Oakley family for generations. You mean you wouldn’t mind?’

‘Why would I, you barmy bucket.’ She rolled her eyes, chuckling. ‘It’s your farm now, love.’

‘Right.’ I said, bewildered. ‘Good to know.’

There was a sudden flurry of noise and activity at the lifeboat station entrance as a woman in a cherry-red coat was led to the podium by Malc, Craggy Bay’s lifeboat supervisor. The choir stopped singing and the children were shooed away from the food and back to their parents.

I winced as Sam slipped a sticky hand into mine.

‘Good afternoon, everyone,’ said Malc, tapping the microphone. ‘I’m delighted to introduce Jane Doherty, RNLI Trustee and former volunteer crew member. Please give Jane a warm Craggy Bay welcome.’

The crowd applauded as Malc stepped aside to make way for Jane.

‘Good afternoon, everyone, and Merry Christmas! What an honour it is to be here celebrating this exciting occasion with your wonderful community; the official naming ceremony for the new Craggy Bay B class lifeboat. And so, without further ado …’