“Put your finger there.”

“Gosh you’re bossy, Dawnie.”

“Only when I need to be. Now come on… finger!”

Camilla pressed her finger to the knotted ribbon and held it there while her sister tied a big red bow.

“Lovely. Don’t you think?”

Camilla nodded.

“And that’s it then, ladies.” Allie stood back and admired the three tables of festive baskets.

“This is really generous of you, Allie.” Camilla stood next to her friend.

“I’m just trying to give a little something back to the village that gives so much to me.”

“Heatherlea is a lovely place to live, isn’t it?” Dawn asked as she rubbed her bump.

“I love it here. Especially since Chris came back.” Allie smiled and Camilla groaned.

“Well don’t you find it even nicer since Tom moved here?” Allie met Camilla’s eyes.

“I’ve always loved Heatherlea. I’ll admit that there have been times when I’ve been a bit down and have enjoyed the escape of heading into London, or flying away somewhere warm, but I always come back.”

Dawn wrapped an arm around Camilla’s waist. “You always did, Camilla. You always came home to look after me and Mum.”

Camilla smiled then eyed the baskets that Allie had packed for the elderly people of the village. Inside each one was a jar of homemade jam, a bottle of ginger cordial, a Christmas cake, six mince pies, four gingerbread people and a small box of chocolates. The baskets had been packed then wrapped in cellophane that was tied with a red ribbon.

“When are you going to deliver them?” she asked Allie.

“I won’t.”

“You won’t?”

Allie shook her head. “Jordan and Max have volunteered. It’s so handy having their help. They make a great team.”

“They seem really happy.”

“Yes they are. And to think I had no idea that Jordan was in love with his best friend. It couldn’t have worked out better for them.”

Dawn stretched and groaned.

“Right Mrs, get yourself onto that sofa with your feet up and I’ll make us some gingerbread hot chocolates.”

“Now you’re talking.”

“Camilla, you too.”

“No, I can help you.”

“Nope! Sit! You’ve helped me enough this morning.”

Camilla and Dawn went over to the comfy leather sofa near the window and sat down. Dawn moaned as she sank into the leather and Camilla helped her to prop her feet up on a cushion that she placed on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

“”I know you’re tired, Dawn, but you’re glowing today.”

“Thanks. I don’t feel it though. This baby is sapping all my energy.”

“How are Laura and James?”

“Excited. They finish school on Wednesday, so then it’ll be Christmas mayhem.”

“It’s lovely though isn’t it? The excitement of Christmas. I love seeing their faces when they open their presents.”

“And next year there will be another one to enjoy the fun.”

“I’m excited about that.”

“Camilla…”

“Yes.”

“When were you going to tell me about Mum and Dad?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh come on… it’s obvious.”

“I was waiting until it was more… permanent. I didn’t know if they were just getting to know each other again and if it would all go wrong. It still could do and I was afraid that you’d get hurt all over again.”

Dawn nodded. “I can see why but I am all grown up now, Camilla.”

“I know that.”

“I’m grateful to you for the way you still look out for me but I can take the truth and it’s better for me to know about things like this. Otherwise I might… you know… accidentally FaceTime Mum when she’s… well, you know.”

“You didn’t!” Camilla covered her eyes for a moment.

“I did and she must have forgotten that I could see her. I guess she was caught up in the passion of the moment and she answered when she was naked.”

“With Dad?”

Dawn nodded. “It wasn’t a pretty sight, let me tell you.”

“I caught them at it too.”

“See! If you’d told me then I would have been prepared but as it was, I had to quickly cover the screen of my phone and tell her to get dressed.”

“I’m sorry.”

Dawn took Camilla’s hand. “It’s okay. At least it’s out in the open now.”

“And how do you feel about it?”

“I’m happy for them. I was a bit surprised. I mean, after all those years of Mum calling him every name under the sun, I didn’t expect her to jump into bed with him again. But she’s an adult woman and she knows what she wants… or at least her body does.”

“I guess so.”

“Let’s just hope it works out for them.”

“Or we’ll be picking up the pieces.”

“Exactly. And to be honest with you, much as I love Mum, I’m not going to have the time with two kids and a baby. It’s not fair that you should have to spend all your time taking care of her either.”

“Well let’s see what happens. Who knows… perhaps there’ll be a wedding and we’ll be able to let them live happily ever after.”

Dawn laughed. “Oh I hope so. It would be nice wouldn’t it? To have parents who’re together. I have missed Dad, even though he was a total bastard for leaving us.”

“I don’t think it was quite as clean cut as we thought, Dawnie.”

“No?”

Camilla shook her head. “More to it. Some of it Mum’s fault.”

“Well that’s to be expected really, isn’t it? It takes two to make a relationship and two to break it. At least, that’s what I want to believe. Otherwise it’s a bit hard not to still feel mad at him isn’t it?”

“It wasn’t all his fault. Hopefully, in time, he’ll speak to you about it too. He didn’t say anything negative about Mum but I know that the blame can’t be placed entirely on him.”

“Here we go, ladies. Gingerbread hot chocolates and Christmas cake.”

“You’ve cut your cake early for us?” Camilla asked.

“Not my own one, no. I made a load for the baskets and there are a few left over, so I thought we could enjoy some now.”

Camilla handed Dawn a china plate with a slice of shiny brown cake on it, then she took a plate for herself. She sniffed the slice of cake and aromas of cinnamon, orange, mixed fruit and marzipan made her mouth water. The cake was packed with sultanas, raisins, dates and cherries. The top and side had a thin layer of yellow marzipan and a slightly thicker one of crisp bright white icing. As she bit into the cake, her mouth was filled with festive cheer.

“Delicious, Allie,” she said once she’d eaten it.

“Thank you. It’s the same old recipe I use every year.”

“It’s so good. Never change it.” Dawn licked her lips. “The heartburn will be worth it.”

“Oh no! Do you want some milk?” Allie asked.

“It’s fine. I’ll have my hot chocolate then see how it goes. I have antacids in my bag anyway. I carry them everywhere.”

“How are things going with Tom?” Allie asked before taking a sip of her hot chocolate.

Camilla shrugged. “He’s busy, I’m busy, so… we’re just enjoying each other’s company when we can.”

“All right…” Allie nodded.

“I think she loves him.” Dawn bit her lip and giggled.

“Look, little sister, just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean I’ll let you get away with comments like that.”

“Like what?” Dawn widened her eyes. “I’m hormonal. I’m allowed to be a bit… emotional about things.”

“Excuses, excuses.” Camilla wagged a finger at her sister.

“But you do love him, don’t you?”

“No I don’t. It’s far too early to be making such sweeping statements.”

“Is it?” Allie met her eyes.

“Well yes. We’ve only been out together a few times and I do like him but it’s nothing more.”

“No?” Allie smiled.

“No.”

“Where is he now?”

“He’s gone back to Brighton to see his parents before Christmas but he’ll be back early next week.”

“And how do you feel now that’s he’s away?”

Camilla stared into her mug. How did she feel?

“He only went yesterday.”

“And?” Dawn nudged her.

“I feel terrible. All achy and empty and I just wish I knew I’d be seeing him later.”

“See!” Dawn clapped her hands. “It’s love.”

“No it’s not. At least I don’t think it is. Oh god… how would I know?” Camilla looked at her sister then at her best friend. “How the hell do you know when it’s love?”

“You just do.” Allie nodded. “In here, in your heart. You’ll know if he’s the one you want.”

“But what if I let myself believe that then he doesn’t feel the same way?” Panic surged through Camilla at the thought. What if she did let herself love Tom and he didn’t reciprocate those feelings?

“That’s a chance we take on love but after seeing how he was gazing at you during the pub quiz, I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about.” Allie sighed. “In fact, he seemed so smitten that even Chris commented on it.”

“He did?” Heat warmed Camilla’s cheeks and a lovely glow spread through her.

“He did. When we got home, he told me that he thought Tom seemed well loved-up.”

Camilla covered her chest with her hands and took a few slow deep breaths. She felt dizzy, elated and confused and had a sense that she was falling, yet she knew she was sitting on the sofa in Allie’s café. But perhaps she wasn’t actually falling anywhere literal; perhaps she was falling in love.

“The physical effect of all of this is quite… alien to me.”

Allie and Dawn nodded.

“Am I going to be okay?”

“Of course you will.” Dawn patted her hand. “We’ve got you. And this is a good thing.”

“A very good thing,” Allie added.

“Oh look… I’ve finished my hot chocolate.” Dawn pouted as she stared into her empty mug.

“I’ll make us all another one, shall I? After all, Camilla’s falling in love, so she needs all the strength she can muster to deal with the emotions.”

Camilla nodded, wondering why her eyes had filled with tears and why she suddenly felt shaky. But as Dawn pulled her into a hug and she rested a hand on her sister’s curved belly, she realised that it would all be okay. She had her family and she had her friends and she had the added security of being able to enjoy the comfort of The Cosy Cottage Café.

The emotions swirling inside her were new but they were good. So she was going to enjoy them and embrace them, just as she would embrace Tom when she next saw him. And she couldn’t wait for that.