Chapter Thirteen

Evie had to tell someone. Normally, she would share all her secrets and any juicy gossip with her best friend, Juniper. Obviously she couldn’t do that. The next best person was her mum, so she waited until all the shopping was packed away and offered to help cook the evening meal.

John was religiously going through the lists – Evie’s and his own – to make sure everything was fixed by tomorrow morning and Roland had, almost predictably now, insisted on helping. Molly had invited him to stay for supper in exchange. Raven said that in that case, Robin may as well stay too. Evie wasn’t sure whether this was Raven trying to make Roland jealous or whether she was simply including Robin, having spent an hour or so with him this afternoon. Robin phoned his mum to let her know where he was – and shot up another notch in Evie’s estimation. Roland sent a text to his, earning him a position a little lower than Robin’s in the ‘good son’ stakes.

Jessie had remained in her room since marching off earlier and copious amounts of tea hadn’t coaxed her out. Molly assured Evie that supper would do the trick. Jessie loved her food, so Molly wasn’t worried.

Raven and Robin had made a start on decorating the Christmas trees. They began by hanging all the decorations which had been removed from the fake trees, onto the new, real, replacement trees in the bar and the reception. The trees outside would be decorated in the morning when it was light – and hopefully, not raining. The other two trees in the lounge and dining room would be decorated by all the family after supper. The plan was to put on some Christmas music, open the sherry, get the mince pies out and spend a happy hour or so doing something festive together as a family, together with the two guests, if they wanted to join in. It was a foregone conclusion that Roland and Robin would take part. And possibly Juniper, if she popped in later as she’d texted to say she might. She had said that she’d try to get Darren over too, so Evie was in two minds about that. Jane Dorset had said no to Evie’s earlier invitation but that she’d ‘take a rain check’, to which Evie replied: ‘You’ve been watching too many American movies and we’ve had quite enough rain in Snowflake Cove, thanks very much.’

And these days, where Jane went, Mason wasn’t far behind, so he might come and help as well. In fact, it pretty much seemed that everyone in Snowflake Cove would be popping in to help decorate the trees and Evie was looking forward to it, once she’d made sure that everything was still on schedule for tomorrow, and after she’d spoken to her mum about Darren.

‘So are you saying that you think Darren is cheating on Juniper?’ Molly asked when Evie told her what she’d seen.

‘I don’t know. Juniper said he’s been acting strangely lately and she thinks he’s keeping something from her and now today I see this. If he does come tonight I’m going to see if I can have a word with him.’

‘I’m not sure that’s wise, sweetheart. It’s often better not to interfere in other people’s love lives. Especially when they’re such good friends. You’ve known them both for most of your life.’

‘Yes. But Juniper is my best friend so no matter what, I’d stick with her.’

‘What I can’t quite understand is why Darren would take this woman to the home he shares with Juniper. He’s lived in Snowflake Cove since he was born and that cottage was his parents’ home.’

‘I don’t think people think about such sensitivities when sex is involved, Mum.’

‘Oh I didn’t mean that. I meant everyone knows him, and they all know Juniper. He’d be a fool to risk being seen with another woman if he didn’t have to. They could go to a hotel or something. There are plenty of places in Michaelmas Bay.’

‘I see what you mean. Perhaps it’s an added thrill. You know, the risk of being found out.’

‘I don’t think Darren’s that type of boy, is he?’

‘He’s a man, Mum. Men do things we women will never understand.’

‘Men say the same about us, sweetheart. I think, if I were you, I’d see if he comes tonight and see how he acts. You could casually mention that you thought you’d seen him but I wouldn’t mention the other woman. You don’t want to cause a scene tonight and you never know how people will react when they’re found out doing something they shouldn’t. Just leave it at that and hope if he has anything to feel guilty about, the guilt gets to him and he owns up to Juniper later. Although it couldn’t have come at a worse time. Christmas should be a time for love and romance and happiness. Not a time to find out your boyfriend has been cheating and you may very possibly have to move out of the place you’ve come to call your home.’

‘Oh God, Mum! I hadn’t even thought of that. Juniper will have to go home to her parents in Michaelmas Bay if he throws her out.’

‘Throws her out? If he’s been cheating on her then she should leave. There is no excuse for that kind of behaviour, and don’t try to convince me otherwise because you never will.’

‘Hey Mum. You’re preaching to the converted. I’ll never let anyone ‘do a Nigel’ on me again.’

‘Nigel?’ Jessie said, ambling into the kitchen. ‘I thought that boy was history. And don’t say one word about what happened earlier because I have no intention of discussing it. I only came down because my stomach thinks my throat has been cut. Is there any chance of a frail old lady being fed a bowl of something hot before she starves to death?’

‘We’re making supper now,’ Molly said, grinning.

‘Hmmm. Then let me suggest you do less talking and more cooking. I thought we were decorating the trees tonight. I’m not doing that at midnight. I need my beauty sleep. I think a glass of sherry is in order. Will someone be kind enough to get me one or do I have to do that myself too?’

‘I’ll get it,’ Evie said. ‘You sit by the Aga and I’ll bring it. Mum? You having one?’

Molly glanced at Jessie. ‘A large one please, sweetheart. I think it’s going to be a long night.’