“Camilla.”

His soft brown eyes roamed her face and her stomach somersaulted in the way she was getting used to whenever Tom was around.

“Hi Tom.”

“It looks amazing here. Is it like this every year?”

She nodded. “Allie always makes an effort. It’s important to her and it’s become a festive tradition to have carols at the café on Christmas Eve.”

“All we need now is some snow and it will be perfect.”

Camilla gazed at his handsome face, his broad shoulders and the faint dimple in his chin. The familiar urge to caress it rose but she squashed it immediately. There would be no caressing of chin dimples now or any other day.

“Snow would be good, yes. Laura and James would love that.”

A snuffling at her feet brought her attention to HP and she crouched down to greet him.

“Hello boy!” She rubbed his velvet-soft ears then let him sniff her hand. His little tail wiggled madly.

“He’s glad to see you. He’s missed you. And so have I.””

Camilla planted a kiss on HP’s nose then stood up again.

“I missed him too… and you. But—”

“Camilla!” He raised a hand and shook his head. “I think I know what might have upset you.”

“I’m not upset.” She folded her arms across her chest and took a deep breath.

“Are you sure? You haven’t answered one of my calls or texts since I left and I’ve been worried sick about you.”

“You don’t need to worry about me, Tom. I’m absolutely fine.”

His face fell. “Are you?”

“Yes.”

“Well in that case will you have a mulled wine with me?”

“I don’t think that’s a very good idea.”

“Why not?”

She bit her lip. She didn’t want to sound petty but something inside her was fizzing and she couldn’t seem to stop it. “Perhaps your wife wouldn’t like it.”

“I knew it!” He sighed. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“There’s no need. You have a wife back in Brighton and you’ve been with her, probably enjoying all the festive build up and having all the sex and all the fun…” She sniffed. “While I was back here waiting for you, thinking that we were somehow, in some way, falling in love. But that’s just fine! I am fine! And I wish you and… your wife well. Merry Christmas, Tom.”

Camilla made to march past him but he grabbed her hand and stopped her. She wanted to shake him off but her heart was aching and Hairy Pawter was blinking up at her with his big brown eyes, looking so cute and cuddly in his Christmas jumper.

Her anger drained away and she was suddenly afraid that she was going to cry.

“Camilla…” His voice caught and when she met his eyes, she was surprised to find them glistening. “Please let me explain.”

She nodded and he released her hand.

“I went back to Brighton to see my parents, as you know. But on the Sunday, early in the morning, Danni turned up. I hadn’t arranged to see her but there was always a chance I’d bump into her.”

A sour taste filled Camilla’s mouth and she swallowed hard.

“Her turning up at your parents’ house isn’t exactly bumping into her.”

“No, I know that. Of course I do. But she turned up and…”

“And?”

“Danni asked if we could talk. I hadn’t seen her for a while and it was a bit strange and strained but it needed to be done. See… one of the reasons I went back was for an appointment with my solicitor. We’re getting divorced and I needed to sign the papers and sort out our finances so that’s it’s all finished… once and for all.”

Camilla blinked at him, not quite sure what to say.

“So she is still your wife?” she forced out eventually.

“In legal terms but not for long.”

“And you don’t want her back?”

He laughed. “Not at all. A lot happened between us and we drifted apart a long time ago. But her affair was the final straw, the sign that we needed to end our marriage.”

“And she’s happy with that too?”

“Extremely. She’s still with the guy she left me for and she’s seven months pregnant with his child.”

“Wow!” Relief coursed through Camilla.

“Exactly. So I signed the final papers on Monday and wanted to get in to see the bank manager about the house sale that has finally gone through, but I couldn’t get an appointment until Thursday. I tried to ring you and text you to let you know but…”

“I didn’t even read your texts or answer your calls.”

“I was so worried. I thought about phoning your mother or the café but it seemed too personal and I knew I’d be back soon, so I just gritted my teeth and focused on sorting everything so I could come back to Heatherlea. Back to you.”

“Oh Tom.” Camilla’s legs were trembling and she worried that her knees would give way. “But… why did she say she was your wife?”

“Slip of the tongue? Perhaps because legally she still was? She answered the phone when I was in the shower and told me someone called Camilla had rung. She said she went to correct herself but you’d cut her off.”

“Why were you showering when she was there?”

“She arrived early and my phone was in the kitchen when she went to have a coffee with mum. She answered it automatically, I think.”

Camilla nodded. “I dropped my phone when she said she was your wife. I was a bit shocked. Then I left it at Mum’s.”

“My old life is behind me, Camilla. For good. I’ll soon be officially single, although… I’d like to think that I might have a girlfriend.”

Camilla smiled. “You’re rather optimistic.”

“Well it’s Christmas Eve and I’m back where I want to be. I’d like to remain in Heatherlea and build a life here now. So would HP.”

The dog pawed her leg then as if he was agreeing with his master.

“What do you think? Could you be my girlfriend?”

“What are we? Fourteen?” Camilla giggled.

“Not for some time but I wouldn’t want to be a teenager again. Horrible time.”

“If you’d like me to be your girlfriend, I’d like that too.”

“Well that’s settled.”

He reached out and caressed her cheek, sending tiny shivers of desire down her spine then he leaned in and kissed her softly. His mouth was warm, his scent was spicy and intoxicating and his hand on her face was warm and strong. As he kissed her, HP whined.

Tom broke away and smiled at her. “I think HP is jealous.”

“Because I’m kissing you.”

“He wants all your attention for himself.”

Camilla rubbed the dog’s ears again and he nuzzled her hand.

“Shall we get a mulled wine? Looks like the carols are about to start.” Tom took her hand.

“Yes, come on.”

Chris took Camilla’s empty mug then gave them fresh mugs brimming with the festive drink and they walked over to join the locals standing in front of the tree.

Dawn and Allie flashed Camilla smiles and winks and she smiled in return. She’d thought Christmas would be different this year but had no idea exactly how different. Tom was back. He wanted to see more of her. And she’d won HP’s affection too.

It all seemed perfect.

The opening chords of I’ll Be Home for Christmas rang out from Jason Robbin’s guitar and the rest of the local band joined in. The drummer, Martina Prestin, had a tambourine, probably not wanting to set up her drum kit in the freezing cold, but the others had acoustic guitars, except for their singer Erica Connelly, who sang the first few lines in her strong and beautiful voice that reminded Camilla of Adele. When they reached the chorus, everyone joined in and goosebumps rose all over Camilla’s body.

There was a sudden gasp from the crowd and James shouted, “It’s snowing! Mummy, Daddy, Laura, look!”

People laughed as James ran into the centre of the lawn and stared up at the sky. And sure enough, fat white flakes were drifting down. They came slowly at first but soon, the air was filled with snow and everything around them grew white.

Camilla laughed as she looked at Tom and saw that he had a dusting of snow on his hat, shoulders and boots. Even HP hadn’t escaped and he was snapping at the snowflakes, trying to catch them in his mouth.

The song ended and Erica announced the title of the next one, which she said was now very appropriate, and as she sang the old favourite White Christmas, Tom leaned down and kissed Camilla, and she felt as if her heart would burst with happiness.

“Merry Christmas, Camilla.”

“Merry Christmas, Tom.”

And they spent their first ever snowy Christmas Eve together, singing carols, drinking mulled wine and smiling, surrounded by friends old and new, at The Cosy Cottage Café.