Chapter Thirty-Six

 

Christmas Day brought more snow. There had been blizzards overnight but now there were light flurries and every now and then, the clouds parted and the early morning sun shone through as if it too, wanted to wish everyone in Snowflake Cove a Merry Christmas.

Evie was in the kitchen helping her mum and every time the kitchen door swung open, she looked up hoping to see Zachary. After the incredible kisses they had shared, her dreams last night had been filled with thoughts of him. And not merely thoughts. She had never experienced such excitement and longing for any other man. Several times she woke up and had to suppress the urge to go to his room in the middle of the night. This morning, in the shower, all she could think of was being in his arms. Did Zachary feel the same? Or was she hoping for a miracle where he was concerned?

Despite the late night, Raven was up at the crack of dawn, had made coffee and tea for everyone, had wished them a Merry Christmas, with a beaming smile and had gone for a walk with her dad. Evie wasn’t sure what surprised her the most. That Raven was up and out before the sun had barely risen. Or that she was happy to go for a walk in the snow, with the temperature not much above freezing. Or that she had done all of these things with joyful enthusiasm. What a difference a dad makes. Evie just hoped Roggero would stick around this time. Although with Severine coming home for New Year, things might get even more interesting, to say the least.

Breakfast today was smoked salmon and champagne, so there wasn’t any cooking, as such – which was just as well because they’d given Logan the morning off. He, together with his mum and his gran would be joining the Starrs and their guests for Christmas dinner, and he’d be helping later with that.

‘Well, you were right, Dad,’ Evie said, pouring the rest of her family a glass of champagne. ‘You said everything would sort itself out by Christmas and I think we can safely say it has.’

‘Let’s have a toast to that,’ John said.

They raised their glasses but before the toast was made, Juniper burst into the kitchen, crying.

‘Evie!’ Juniper sobbed. ‘I had to come and tell you right away. Oh. Merry Christmas.’

‘Forget Merry Christmas, Juniper. What’s wrong?’ Evie set her glass down on the table and ran to her friend. ‘Is this about Darren? Has something happened?’

Juniper nodded frantically. ‘I don’t know what to say. I’m … I’m so happy I could cry.’

Jessie tutted. ‘You are,’ she said. ‘Will someone give the girl a drink. And a tissue. She clearly needs both. Then tell me what on earth is going on? I’m not sure this old heart of mine can take much more drama. Out with it, Juniper. Is your boyfriend having an affair or not?’

‘He’s not! He’s … he’s had a kitchen designer come around and he’s having an extension built to make room for a new kitchen … and he’s been working all hours to pay for it!’

‘No wonder you’re crying,’ Jessie said. ‘No one wants a new kitchen for Christmas. That’s almost as bad as getting a new vacuum or something. Only bigger.’

‘But I want a new kitchen! I’ve wanted a new kitchen since the day I moved in. I spend hours scanning magazines and dreaming. This is the most wonderful gift I’ve ever had. The plans were wrapped in a Christmas Cracker and they’re perfect. It’s the kitchen of my dreams. But I can change any of it if I want. I love him so much. I must get back and tell him. I only popped over whilst he was in the shower. Merry Christmas ... again!’

She was still sobbing when she ran out, almost knocking Zachary over in her haste. She stopped. Kissed him on the cheek, wished him a Merry Christmas and was gone.

‘That girl has a strange idea of what a Christmas present should be,’ Jessie remarked.

Zachary handed her an envelope. ‘Pops asked me to give you this. He says he would love to talk to you and he’s in the lounge if you’re willing to.’

Jessie frowned. ‘I talked to him yesterday. And the day before.’

‘Not about what he wants to talk about, apparently.’

Jessie scowled. ‘What’s this?’

‘An envelope,’ Zachary said.

‘Don’t get smart with me you young whippersnapper. What’s in the envelope?’

‘I honestly have no idea.’

Evie laughed. ‘Open it and see, Gran.’

‘You open it.’ She handed it to Evie.

Evie smiled and ripped it open. Her heart almost stopped and her eyes shot to Zachary and then to her gran. ‘It’s an I.O.U., Gran, made out to you. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many zeros in my life. Look!’

‘So,’ Jessie said, her eyes narrowing as she read the note. ‘He’s paying his dues, at last. I’ll talk to the man. But I need more champagne first. A magnum of the stuff, at the very least.’

‘What dues?’ John asked, taking the piece of expensive-looking notepaper from Evie and almost choking when he saw the amount. ‘Why would Joshua Thorn owe you this much money, Mum? Why would he owe you any money for that matter?’

‘Because he does. That’s why,’ Jessie said. ‘He cheated William out of it many, many years ago. I’ll tell you all about that another time.’ She looked up at a photo hanging on the wall, of her and her long-deceased husband, William and smiled as if he was looking down at her. She raised her glass and blew him a kiss.

They all knew there was no point in pressing the subject. Jessie Starr was as stubborn as a mule and if she didn’t want to talk about something, that was that. They would simply have to wait until she was ready to share this secret with them.

Zachary walked over to Evie and kissed her on the lips. ‘Merry Christmas, Evie,’ he said.

‘Merry Christmas,’ she replied, still a little stunned. ‘Why has your grandad given my gran an I.O.U. for one million pounds, Zachary? One. Million. Pounds!’

‘Well, it’s better than a new kitchen,’ Molly said.

Zachary smiled. ‘I have no idea what that means, and I have no idea why Pops has done that. But it’s his money and he can do whatever he likes with it. Where’s my Michael Bublé collection, that’s what I want to know?’

‘It’s under the tree. But you can have this present now.’ She grinned at him. ‘It would serve you right if I really had bought you Michael Bublé’s greatest hits. But I haven’t.’

She handed him a beautifully presented gift and he carefully unwrapped it.

‘A snow globe,’ he said, seemingly genuinely pleased. ‘A snow globe of Snowflake Cove. It’s beautiful, Evie. Thank you.’

‘I bought one for everyone, as a memento of their stay, so that every time you look at it, you’ll remember Snowflake Inn.’

‘I don’t need to remember it,’ he said. ‘I’m planning to visit frequently. In fact, I’d like to book a room from the day after Boxing Day until at least the 6th of January when I have to return to work.’

‘Hmm,’ Evie said, excitement bubbling inside her – and not from the champagne. ‘I’ll have to see if we have any vacancies. Now that we’ve been on TV everyone wants to come and stay.’

‘In that case,’ he said. ‘We should make it an ongoing booking. That way, I can pop back whenever I like.’

‘Wonderful,’ Evie said. ‘We’ll even give you a discount in that case. Merry Christmas, Zachary. I hope you get everything you wished for.’

‘Merry Christmas, Evie.’ He took his wallet out and showed her a photo. It was the one he’d taken of her. ‘I think I already have. Now would you like to see your present?’

Evie beamed at him. ‘If that photo in your wallet means what I think it does, then you’re my Christmas present, Zachary Thorn. I have just remembered what you told me about your grandad and my Gran’s photo.’

He smiled and his eyes lit up as he looked down at her. ‘I’ll be the gift that keeps on giving, Evie – if you’ll let me. And I won’t just be your Christmas present. I hope I’ll be your Christmas future, too. But I do have another Christmas present for you. It’s under the tree. Shall we go and get it?’

‘We need to go via the mistletoe. This member of staff needs manhandling again. And she also needs to show you that she’s improved her customer care skills no end. Customer satisfaction is now guaranteed.’

He glanced around the room and grinned before whispering in her ear, ‘I like the sound of that. But we don’t need to stand in the hall, do we?’

She raised herself up to whisper into his. ‘Who said anything about the hall? It just so happens there’s a bunch of mistletoe in the attic.’

‘The attic?’

‘Yes. Which also happens to be my room. I’d quite like to manhandle one of the customers, if that’s all right with you?’

‘All right with me? That sounds absolutely perfect.’

Evie took his hand in hers and they sneaked out of the kitchen, seemingly without any of the others noticing. Or perhaps they were all too polite to comment. Or still in shock over the amount of Joshua’s I.O.U.

Evie didn’t really care. She wasn’t sure what the future would bring but she knew two things for certain.

Christmas really was a time for miracles and magic.

And the future was looking very bright for the Starrs.

 

The End

MERRY CHRISTMAS!