Page 25 of Mistletoe Kisses at Cwtch Cove

‘Hello, Lucy,’ Euan said. ‘Welcome to the annual Cwtch Cove pre-Christmas dip.’

‘Thanks.’ Lucy realised that Jack’s parents were wearing towelling dressing gowns. ‘Are you going in too?’

‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world, dear.’ Ruth smiled. ‘It keeps us young, doesn’t it, Euan?’

‘Absolutely.’ He laughed. ‘Nothing like icy water to rejuvenate your whole system.’

‘I’ll take your word for it,’ Lucy said with a grimace.

‘Right folks!’ The voice came from the far end of the beach where a man was holding a megaphone. ‘To warm us up before we go in, let’s have a good old sing. The lovely Daisy Wilson will start us off.’

A woman stepped forwards. From this distance, Lucy couldn’t see her very well but people cheered and clapped then silence fell over the beach.

‘That’s Daisy who works for Dust Busters, the local cleaning company, and the man who introduced her is Don Bootle, one of the owners of The Anchor,’ Jack whispered in Lucy’s ear.

As soon as Daisy began to sing ‘Silent Night’, goosebumps rose on Lucy’s skin. Ellen took her hand and squeezed it and they swayed in time while everyone else joined in. Across the beach, tiny lights flickered on and she realised that people were using the torches on their phones. She sang with them, giving it her all, feeling a part of something very special. As the song came to an end, Daisy held up her hands and the crowd fell quiet then she moved into the opening lyrics ofAll I Want for Christmas is You.

Next to Lucy, Jack turned and she met his gaze. He sang the words without breaking eye contact and she sang them right back, smiling as the tempo increased and people started to dance around.

‘Have a dance and get warmed up!’ Jack said. ‘It gets the blood flowing before we go in.’

Ellen stepped out of the way and Lucy danced around with Jack and his parents, all of them singing and laughing as they circled the fire. Lucy felt an incredible release, like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders and she could breathe properly again. When the song came to an end, people started to strip off their robes and coats, then they ran down to the water. There were pale, white bodies along the beach for as far as Lucy could see.

Jack’s parents had gone but he stood in just swimming shorts and a bobble hat next to her. ‘Coming? It’ll be worth it, I promise.’

Lucy sucked in a deep breath, trying not to notice how his bare skin was limned by the moonlight, giving him an almost ethereal appearance as if he were an angel fallen to earth.

‘I’m coming,’ she said as she unzipped her jacket and stepped out of her jogging bottoms. She handed her gloves to Ellen and grinned at her sister. ‘Wish me luck!’

‘I think you have all the luck you need right there,’ Ellen muttered as she nodded her head in Jack’s direction.

Jack held out his hand and Lucy took it then they raced towards the sea where spray flew up into the air as people plunged into the freezing depths. There were shouts, screams and exclamations, as well as some choice language. Lucy squealed as the water lapped at her shins and she instinctively paused but Jack slid an arm around her waist and encouraged her forwards.

‘Take a deep breath and go for it,’ he said. ‘Sooner you’re in, sooner you can get out.’

Lucy bit the inside of her cheek. She was so cold she felt like crying but she knew that this was one of those things that she needed to do. If she didn’t go into the water, she’d regret it. Just like if she didn’t give this connection with Jack a chance, she’d regret it. She needed to prove to herself that she was brave, strong and resilient and this was a step in the right direction.

‘OK.’ Her teeth were chattering, and her skin felt like one giant goosebump but this was about inner strength and determination, about doing something she didn’t think she could do, about letting go of fear and hesitation.

She squeezed Jack’s hand and they ran forwards, plunging into the sea, gasping as it enveloped them in its dark, icy embrace. Disorientated for a moment by the darkness and the cold, she felt a flicker of panic but then Jack’s arms were around her and he held her tight. Instantly, she felt safe and reassured because she knew he’d never let her go, never let anything happen to her.

They bobbed in the water for a bit, now facing the beach where the fires glowed like beacons promising safety and warmth. Her body seemed to be adjusting to the cold, the sea feeling strangely warmer than the air, and she wondered if she could just stay where she was for a while longer.

‘Time to get out?’ Jack asked.

‘I don’t mind.’ She gazed at him. He was so close now, his body hard and wet, his arms strong and muscular.

He nodded. ‘We probably should. Don’t want us gettingtoocold. They’ll have hot chocolates and brandy up on the beach.’

‘Ooh! Sounds good to me.’

She let him guide her out of the water and as soon as they were in the shallows the cold seemed to hit them all over again. They jogged up to where Ellen was waiting and while Ellen wrapped Lucy in blanket, Jack helped his parents into their dressing gowns before seeing to himself. Even in her shivering state, Lucy acknowledged that this man was one in a million. How much better could he get?

‘Right, now you’re back I need to pop to the loo,’ Ellen said, patting Lucy’s arm. ‘Won’t be long.’

‘Be careful,’ Lucy said as she held her hands out to the fire in front of her, savouring the warmth.

‘There are toilets at the end of the beach by the huts so I don’t need to go far.’ Ellen pointed in that direction.

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