Page 12 of Mistletoe and Wishes at The Cornish Bakery

‘I’m sure he will be. Trestow hospital is great, one of the best around here. He’s in the right place.’ Teresa nodded.

Chapter Seven

Sitting at the tableby the window, Holly took a sip of her latte and looked out across the cobbles towards the beach below. She couldn’t believe that she’d almost backed out of coming down here and volunteering. If she hadn’t already told Mick’s mate of her plans she’d have likely not come. She wrapped her hands around her mug, the warmth from the hot liquid warming her skin. The bakery was silent and the promenade quiet. the odd dog walker or couple walking along and pointing out the lights were the only sign of life around.

She smiled. It was nice. Quiet. It reminded her of the village she’d grown up in just outside Manchester. She touched her necklace. The village she lived in. Now. When she and Mick and broken up, she’d moved out of the flat they’d shared and moved back into the house she’d grown up in. The house her parents had left her in their will. The house she’d avoided going into since the accident. She’d not had a choice, though. She couldn’t have very well stayed in the flat with Mick, and Mick certainly hadn’t been about to move out. It had taken a while, a few months, but she’d got there. Holly looked up from the latte she was drinking and out across the cobbles as car headlights swung past, illuminating the frost against the cobbles.

She grinned. That would be Joe. Standing up, she pulled her gloves on and picked up the two tickets Elsie had given to her. For all the hard times she’d given him for coming down, she was glad he had. He’d always been there for her, and she was glad he was now. It was only now that he was that she realised how much it meant to her that he’d made the effort and come.

Holly pulled the bakery door open and stepped outside. ‘Hi.’

‘Hey.’ Joe hugged her before stepping back and pointing to the car. ‘Are you ready? I’ve got the heating on, and the heated seats are running too.’

‘I am definitely ready. You don’t have to mention heated seats and then ask me twice. Especially in this weather.’ Holly laughed as she hurried to the car. Getting in, she smiled and turned to him as he clicked on his seatbelt. ‘Here’s the wreath making tickets. Our slot is at half past seven, so we should have a few minutes to wander around before we start.’

‘Sounds like a plan.’ Glancing across at her, Joe grinned. ‘It’s at the Christmas tree farm just outside the bay, isn’t it?’

Holly held the tickets up, reading them in the light from the streetlamp outside. ‘Yes, that’s right. Nick’s Christmas Tree Farm.’

‘Great. I’m sure I saw a sign for one on my way to Penworth Bay. That’s so lucky you managed to get tickets. I rang them up after we spoke about going and they were full.’

‘Umm, lucky for us, but not for poor Connor. That’s the only reason Elsie and Ian aren’t going, because they’re looking after Hudson whilst Wendy picks him up from the hospital.’

‘Oh yes, he broke his leg, didn’t he? Ouch.’ Joe grimaced.

Holly nodded. ‘I still can’t believe you drove all the way down here just for a few days.’

Joe glanced quickly towards her as he paused at a junction. ‘You’re not still and with me then?’

‘Nope, I’m actually glad you came.’ She smiled. Yes, it had been a shock seeing him at the bakery when she’d got back after the Christmas market and initially, she’d been annoyed that he’d seemingly overstepped and not believed in her, but, now, after she’d had some time to think about it and get used to the idea, what could be better than sharing her adventure with him?

‘You do know I didn’t come because I didn’t believe in you, don’t you? Because I do, belie in you, I mean. I know you Susie and Lara tease you about not being brave enough to travel on your own, but I’ve never thought that about you.’

‘I know you haven’t, and I know Susie and Lara don’t mean anything by it.’ She shook her head. ‘Besides, I did it. I travelled down here on my own, didn’t I?’

Joe chuckled. ‘You sure did.’

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