Page 32 of Christmas Joy at the Cornish Bakery

‘It’s true. Mum and dad, and Kevin, of course, are currently sitting in my living room enjoying a scotch together after dinner.’ Cathy drew in a sharp breath and emphasised her next words. ‘They’re talking. Not yelling, not sitting in uncomfortable silence. They’re talking.’

Robyn’s mouth fell open. Was Cathy actually telling her that after all these decades, their parents were actually getting along? Being civil to one another?

‘Anyway, I’m being nagged by your nieces to let go and play a new board game. Catch you later, sis, and enjoy the rest of your day.’ Cathy giggled before the line went quiet.

Shaking her head, Robyn returned to the table and slipped into her chair. She wasn’t quite sure what to do with the information Cathy had just given her, but she was glad Cathy was having a good day at least.

‘Careful, Huddy.’ Wendy pushed Hudson’s plate back from the edge where it was teetering.

‘Yes, Huddy, you need to be careful.’ Pippa shuffled her chair closer to him and whispered loudly in his ear. ‘If you’re a good boy and keep your plate on the table, I’ll run and get you another Yorkshire pudding. What do you think?’

Hudson nodded as he shovelled another roast potato in his mouth.

Robyn smiled as she watched them. Pippa treated Hudson just like one of her brothers. Robyn glanced up and down the long table they’d made by pushing the tables in the coffee and cake area together. Today had been full of fun, both for the adults and the children alike. Pippa had kept her promise and coerced her brothers and Hudson into tickling Harry. Fortunately, they’d stopped short of tickling him until he could breathe and instead been distracted from their task by Ian handing out presents.

Elsie and Ian had cooked a huge roast dinner whilst everyone else, the rest of the bakery family, had set the table and afterwards played party games. She watched as Brooke and Max laughed together, Molly wiped a stray bit of cranberry sauce from Jude’s cheek and Ian held Elsie’s hand on the table. If she wasn’t so sure she was right, then this scene would be evidence enough that true love existed.

She shook her head. What was she thinking?

‘Have you enjoyed your birthday, Robyn?’ Teresa, sitting next to her, stabbed a carrot with her fork.

‘Yes, thanks.’ Robyn nodded.

Teresa tutted. ‘You can’t fool me, Robyn.’

‘Huh? What do you mean?’

‘You’ve been down in the dumps ever since the lantern parade. And I have a feeling it might be because of Jasper? Am I right?’ Teresa lowered her fork.

Robyn nodded slowly. She’d tried so hard to pretend everything was okay, to pretend to smile, and laugh at the right times despite how she was feeling inside. ‘Is it that obvious?’

‘Not to everyone.’ Teresa shook her head. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’

Robyn shrugged as she pushed a roast potato across her plate, making a little pathway through the gravy and peas. ‘There’s not much to say, just that it wouldn’t have worked and so it wasn’t worth trying. I didn’t want either of us getting hurt and that’s what would have happened if I hadn’t ended it before it could really begin.’

Teresa frowned. ‘But you are hurt, and I’m pretty certain he will be too.’

‘I...’ Robyn caught her breath. She was hurt and Teresa was probably right. She probably had hurt Jasper, even if she’d been trying to do the right thing.

‘Why don’t you think it will work?’

Lifting his eyes from her plate, she looked at Teresa. ‘Because nothing does, does it? I mean, all relationships end and if I can stop it from really beginning, then I’ve saved both me and Jasper from unnecessary pain, right?’

Teresa shifted in her chair. ‘I see where you’re coming from. When my marriage to the kids’ dad ended, I never believed I’d find love again.’ She glanced over at Gavin who was sitting on the other side of her, oblivious to their conversation as he swapped darts tips with Scott.

‘Oh, I assumed Gavin was...’

‘Nope. I turned up at Elsie’s to volunteer one summer whilst Pippa, Rueben and Toby were on holiday with their dad, my ex-husband. And quite honestly, I pushed Gavin away when he showed any interest in me because you know...’ Teresa shrugged. ‘All relationships fail, or so I believed back then.’

‘You don’t now?’

Teresa drew in a long, slow breath before letting it out again. ‘I like to think they don’t. I mean, there are enough people sitting around this table right here who are trying to prove that belief wrong, but what I have learnt is that whether things end or not,I’m happy now and Gavin is happy now. I’ve found true love and I hope it never ends.’

Robyn nodded slowly as she looked up and down the long table.

‘I can tell you one thing for certain, though.’ Teresa’s expression grew serious. ‘And that is that if you don’t believe, if you don’t try, then it sure as well won’t work.’

Taking in a sharp breath, Robyn let Teresa’s words sink in. She was right. If she didn’t give her and Jasper a chance, then that was it. She’d be alone. But if she did, if she put aside her fears and even just tried to believe, then they stood a fighting chance.

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