Page 35 of Mistletoe and Wishes at The Cornish Bakery

‘Evie had been looking for you. She’d wanted to show you her lantern.’

‘Aw, that’s lovely.’ Holly smiled. She’d only met her and her mum briefly, so it was really lovely that she’d wanted to see her.

‘She is a little sweetie, that one.’ Diane grinned. ‘I hope everything’s okay now?’

‘Yes, it is.’ Holly glanced quickly towards Joe. ‘We’ve decided to stay on after my volunteering time is over.’

‘You’re moving down here?’ Diane’s voice rose, and she looked quickly around, checking she hadn’t interrupted anyone’s singing flow.

‘Maybe. Not yet. We’ve decided to stay on for a bit and see how it goes. Make a final decision in a. few weeks or months or whenever we’re ready, really.’ She grinned. It felt good voicing their plans. It felt real.

‘That’s great news.’ Diane Linked arms with her. ‘Oh, I’m so pleased you’re going to be hanging atone.

‘Thanks.’ She looked back down at her song sheet, trying to figure out where they were in the carol.

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HOLLY WARMED HER HANDSon the takeaway cup in her hands and looked around the beach. Hundreds of people were drinking hot chocolate, eating mince pies, or just standing around chatting and enjoying the evening. The warmth from the campfires was keeping the bitter cold away, and at least a handful of children were begging their parents to let them paddle in the ocean.

‘That was lovely, wasn’t it?’ She looked across to Joe, who passed her a mince pie.

‘It really was. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more Christmassy in my entire life, or sung so much too.’ Joe chuckled.

‘Haha, you should sing more. You have a lovely voice.’

‘Umm, I think my voice rather got drowned out by everyone else’, or else you have mulled wine in your cup rather than hot chlorate.’ Joe winked.

‘No, seriously. It was fun. I wonder if the church has a choir we could go along to? I’m sure I saw one at the top of the hill.’

‘Yes, there is.’ Joe finished the last of his mince pie. ‘I took a wonder up there earlier.’

Holly nodded. Were they really doing this? Making plans about their future? Here in Penworth Bay? She’d never be brave enough to join a choir back home, but here, well it was a fresh start, there wasn’t anyone from her past lurking the streets, ready to judge or mock her. Here, she could be who she wanted to, do what she wanted to. ‘I told Diane about our extended holiday.’

‘Oh, you did?’

‘Yes.’ She nodded. ‘It makes it feel more real, doesn’t it? Telling people.’

Joe grinned. ‘Yes, it really does.’

‘Holly?’ Harry walked quickly over to them before checking over his shoulder. ‘I need to be quick, but can I have a quick word with you and Elsie?’

‘Yes, of course.’ Holly looked across at Joe.

‘I’m going to grab another of those mince pies before they all go.’ He grinned.

‘Thanks, Sorry.’ Harry grimaced. ‘I’m happy to talk in front of you. I just don’t want Diane finding out.’

‘No problem. I’m going to wander over I mince pie stall, anyway.’ Joe held his takeaway cup up in acknowledgement of the invitations o stay before turning and joining the queue for the mince pie stall.

‘Right, where’s Elsie?’ Harry looked wildly around.

‘Over there.’ Holly pointed towards Elsie, who was watching Pippa and Rueben roast marshmallows over a campfire and led the way.

‘All right, loves?’ Elsie smiled as they walked across to her.

‘Yes, I just wanted to give you this. What with it being Christmas Eve in a couple of days and us having Diane’s parent’s over from tomorrow until Christmas morning, I don’t know if I’ll get another chance to pop by.’ Harry glanced around them before discreetly pulling a plush reed ring box from his coat pocket and held it out towards Elsie.

‘Oh, right.’ Taking the ring box, Elsie tucked it into her coat pocket and tapped it. ‘No worries, love. I’ll keep it safe.’

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