CHAPTER TWENTY
Driving back to Sunnybrook, behind Zak and Ellie, Rob says, ‘The forecast is for more heavy snow tonight so I think I’ll park along the main street rather than risk getting stuck in a side street outside the flat.’
‘Okay. Zak and Harry have apparently dug my car out, so I should be able to get home no bother tonight.’ I try to sound upbeat but the thought of going back to Brambleberry Manor without Rob suddenly seems unbearable. I can’t understand why I’m feeling so emotional. I’ve felt so angry at Rob, and this past twenty-four hours, being stuck together, seemed like a life sentence while it was happening. And yet now . . . I can’t bear the thought of saying goodbye.
I’ve realised since we split up just how important Rob’s friendship was to me, in the days before we got together. That’s gone now. The chances of running into him in the future are very slim – especially now that his carpentry work on the new café at Brambleberry Manor is finished.
My heart feels heavy, like a big lump of cement in my chest.
I’ve been really horrible to him since I found out about him and Alicia. He’s seen me at my absolute worst. I’ve probably turned him off me for good.
I sneak a miserable glance at his profile. I wouldn’t be surprised if he thinks he’s had a lucky escape.
Rob’s so lovely, there’ll be no shortage of females to step into my shoes. He’s obviously attracted to Alicia, so maybe she’s where his future lies. The thought of this feels like a dagger to my heart, but I’ve got to be realistic.
What does the future hold for me now?
With The Little Duck Pond Café closed, maybe permanently, I’ll no longer be working alongside Ellie, which I absolutely loved. And without Rob in my life to make me laugh and give me the confidence to be me, what if I slip back into my old ways? Living vicariously through the heroines in my favourite romance novels instead of going out there and experiencing all that life has to offer for myself?
The thought of this fills me with panic. I can’t allow myself to give in to negative feelings, no matter how miserable I feel right now. I’ve come a long way in the last few months as far as self-confidence goes. I need to build on that.
Tonight, when I get back to Brambleberry Manor, I’ll crash out and get a good night’s sleep. Then tomorrow, I’ll talk to Mum about my plans for a big opening ceremony for the new café . . .
‘What the hell’s going on?’
Jerked from my thoughts by Rob’s exclamation, I realise we’ve arrived back in Sunnybrook to the sound of fairground music.
I glance over at the village green and to my astonishment, there’s a carousel right in the centre. Lots of people are milling around the green or spilling out of The Little Duck Pond Café, whose lights are blazing cheerily. This alone is enough to make me think I’ve stepped into a parallel universe. Ellie has been away all day. How is the café even open?
I’m mesmerised by the beautiful whirling carousel.
It’s my favourite kind of fairground ride; traditional horses painted in bright shades of gold, blue, red and green, moving majestically up and down in time to the evocative fairground music. It’s so perfect, it takes my breath away.
Having gone through the worst few weeks of my life, I’m enchanted by the sight of it. It’s like a magical beacon of hope against the dark, velvety night sky.
Maybe it’s too perfect. Perhaps my tired brain has conjured it up, lack of sleep causing me to hallucinate. Because I certainly wasn’t aware of any fair coming to Sunnybrook!
‘What’s going on?’ asks Alicia, voicing my thoights. ‘Did you know this was happening?’
‘Not a clue,’ says Rob. He laughs. ‘It’s certainly not what I was expecting to arrive back to. It looks as if most of the village have turned out, despite the snow.’
‘Maybe they’re here because of the snow,’ I murmur. ‘A sort of snow fayre.’ I point over at the far corner of the green. ‘Look, they’ve had a snowman-building competition.’
‘Oh, yes.’ Alicia scoots along the back seat to get a better look. ‘It’s not just snowmen. Someone’s made an igloo. Come on. Let’s go and investigate.’
Ellie is getting out of Zak’s car, Summer and Maisie scrambling out of the back. Ellie looks back at me and holds her arms in the air as if to say, What’s happening?
I shake my head at her and shrug, Then I turn to Rob. ‘Thank you, for . . . well, everything.’
‘You’re welcome.’ He looks across and there’s sadness in his smile. ‘I – take it the bake-off didn’t go well.’
I smile sheepishly. ‘Let’s just say my cake met with a very sticky end. They won’t be inviting me to go forward to the finals.’
‘Oh, well. It’s their loss. For the record, your baking is sensational. With a capital ‘S’.’
His eyes linger on mine. Then he sighs and looks down. ‘Anyway . . .’
‘Yes, we’d better get going.’ I swallow on the lump in my throat. It feels horribly final, saying goodbye here. ‘Are you . . . coming to the snow fayre?’ I say it casually to hide the hope surging up inside.
‘I’ll probably have a wander over,’ he says and my heart lifts.
‘And you, Alicia?’ I ask.
‘Yes, I want to see what’s going on.’
We all step out into the snow and I slither across to catch up with Ellie. Summer and Maisie have run on ahead and are making for the carousel.
‘Who’s opened up the café?’ I ask her.
‘No idea. I’m totally bamboozled by it all. You’d think there was some sort of celebration going on.’
‘Any donations?’ A woman in a puffa jacket, jeans and a woolly hat with ear flaps walks towards us holding out what looks like an empty cocoa tin. As she gets nearer, I recognise her as a regular at the café.
‘What’s the cause Rona?’ asks Ellie.
The woman peers at her. ‘Oh, sorry, Ellie. I didn’t recognise you for a minute.’
Ellie laughs. ‘It’s okay. Everyone always looks twice their size bundled up in winter coats and hats.’
Rona holds up the tin. A label has been stuck on at an angle and someone has scrawled in handwriting: Save The Café!
Ellie and I exchange a glance.
‘Who organised this?’ I murmur in wonder, as Jaz comes crunching over the snow, beaming from ear to ear.
‘Hi, isn’t this great?’ She waves her arms around. ‘We wanted to surprise you, Ellie. We went round the doors this morning, telling people the café might have to close permanently and asking for their support. Honestly, I thought we might get a few dozen people showing up for the free mug of hot chocolate and a go on the carousel – but it must be twenty times that. At least!’
Ellie stares at her in astonishment, trying to comprehend what Jaz is telling her. I’m having a bit of trouble myself.
Jaz grins. ‘We’ve set up a hot chocolate production line in the café and demand has been so huge, I’ve had to buy up all the tins in the village store. They’re now officially sold out of the stuff!’
‘What about all the tins of hot chocolate in the stockroom?’ says Ellie. ‘I hope you used those?’
Jaz nods. ‘I didn’t think you’d mind. It’s all in a good cause. But yes, we used them first.’
We’re all gravitating towards the carousel, which is whirling with yet another full cargo of revellers. A man in jeans and a black padded jacket seems to be in charge, taking the money.
A light goes on in my head. ‘Is that the man whose massive truck got stuck outside the café last night?’
Jaz nods. ‘That’s Barry. We managed to dig the truck out this morning. It’s parked on the main street now.’
It’s all coming back. ‘Wasn’t he heading for a fayre somewhere near here?’
‘Yeah, it’s his carousel. Harry was at the pub last night and he got talking to Barry, and they cooked up this plan between them. Harry offered to go round the doors inviting people to a special snowy fun day, offering free hot chocolate to entice them out of their nice warm houses. And in return, Barry’s donating half of his proceeds to the cafe.’
‘Oh my God, that’s amazing,’ I burst out.
‘I know. I’m so proud of Harry for getting the whole thing going,’ says Jaz. ‘The carousel’s been on the go since soon after midday and there’s been a pretty constant stream of people down here. With folk not managing to get in to work because of the snow, I guess it’s been a great way for them to pass the time.’
I gaze around at the glorious snowy scene on the green.
Apart from the carousel, the fayre also includes a burger van, from which gorgeous aromas are drifting over on the night air. And a large hand-written sign has been strung between two trees, announcing, Welly Wanging Contest.
Ellie is staring around her, looking dumbfounded. ‘I can’t believe this. I mean, not just the number of people here, but the fact that Harry . . . and you, Jaz . . .’ She shakes her head in bewilderment. ‘Where’s Harry? I need to thank him.’
Jaz glances around. ‘He was judging the snowman-building competition and then he said he was going to try and get his hands on some fireworks and have a mini display to attract more people over here.’
I shake my head. ‘You must be really proud of him, Jaz, for doing all this. Is he out of the doghouse now?’
She grins. ‘Absolutely.’
Maisie and Summer come running up. ‘Can we have a go on the horses? Please, Lellie?’ asks Maisie.
‘Yes, of course.’ Ellie rummages for her purse. ‘How much is it?’ She frowns. ‘There’s only enough here for one ride, I’m afraid,’ She holds out three pound coins. You’ll have to ask your daddy if he’s got change.’
Maisie is jumping up and down in the snow, barely able to contain her excitement, her breath visible in the freezing night air. ‘Can I go on now, Lellie? Summer, you’ll have to wait.’
‘Maisie, don’t be rude. Summer wants a ride as well,’ warns Ellie.
‘No, it’s fine,’ says Summer, sounding all grown up. ‘It’s your money, Ellie. And you’re Maisie’s mummy, not mine.’
Maisie shakes her head firmly, her ponytail swinging. ‘Lellie is not my mummy.’ Tears glisten in her eyes.
My heart snags and I glance at Ellie. But she does a good job of covering her reaction. Forcing a bright smile, she hunkers down in the snow to Maisie’s level.
‘It’s okay, sweetheart,’ she murmurs. ‘You keep calling me Lellie. I love that name.’
‘You do?’ Maisie looks at her hopefully.
Ellie smiles. ‘Of course.’
Maisie turns to Summer and says, matter-of-factly, ‘Mummies don’t stay. They say they will but they don’t.’ She turns back to Ellie. ‘I don’t want you to go away, Lellie.’
There’s an electrifying pause.
My eyes prick with tears. I can only imagine what effect little Maisie’s heart-rending child’s logic is having on Ellie.
‘Oh, I’m never ever going away, Maisie,’ Ellie says solemnly. ‘I love you too much for that.’
Maisie is trying hard to be brave but her bottom lip is quivering. ‘I thought if I call you Mummy, you might go away.’
Ellie pulls her into a hug. ‘No, never. Never ever. You’ve got me for always, Maisie.’
There’s seriously not a dry eye in the house as Ellie and Maisie cling to each other, both of them sobbing. Even Jaz is forced to clear her throat and mutter that she thinks she must be coming down with something.
A moment later, Jaz says in a stage whisper, ‘Right, Summer, I’ll get you on the carousel and pay Barry later when I can find my bag.’
Maisie’s head comes up. ‘Me as well/’ She sniffs hard and rubs her nose with the back of her hand.
Ellie straightens and smiles down at her. ‘You’re a bit too little to go on by yourself, Maisie, but Jaz might go on with you, if you ask her nicely.’
‘I will indeed,’ agrees Jaz, and we watch as they head off, Jaz in the middle holding the girls’ hands.
‘You see, you’ve got nothing to worry about.’ I nudge Ellie gently and she laughs and dabs at her eyes.
‘Honestly, what am I like? That little girl has stolen my heart, no doubt about it.’
Filled with the emotion of the moment, I find myself casting my eye around, looking for Rob. Instantly, I spot him walking up to the café with Alicia. They look totally relaxed in each others’ company and as I’m trying hard not to spy on them, she turns to him and says something that makes him throw back his head and laugh.
My heart clenches painfully.
I’ve never been a jealous person but there’s a first time for everything . . .