Page 24 of New Beginnings at Christmas Tree Cottage

‘Oh, I don’t know. I read the chapters Aggie wrote about a healthy senior sex life. I’d say Austin was a very lucky man,’ Jamie declared sagely, and they all laughed.

‘But back to setting up Honor here with a man,’ Tamara persisted.

‘Oh, Tamara, give it a rest, will you. I’m happy being single. And you know you can rule Jago Pengethley out.’

Jamie frowned. ‘Now where do I know that name from? Pengethley? I’m sure I’ve read about a Pengethley.’ He gave up. ‘No, can’t remember. Anyone for another pint?’

Everyone said yes and Chris offered to help carry them.

Once the men had left the table, Honor said mournfully, ‘Mind you, it’s just my luck Jago’s taken.’

‘Why’s that?’ Lucie asked.

‘He’s so lovely with Merryn, his daughter.’ She sighed, aware she wasn’t totally sober and letting her tongue slip. ‘Really caring. He’s just the sort of man I’d like to get serious about.’

‘Yeah, not to mention he’s a real cutie,’ Tamara put in. ‘He was at the lights switch on,’ she explained to Lucie. ‘We hung out a bit. Have you seen the lights? They look like–’

‘A right load of pants!’ Lucie finished. ‘I know! It’s hysterical.’

‘But, Honor, you don’t want to get all serious, girlfriend,’ Tamara added. ‘Just have some fun.’

‘Like you and Chris?’ Lucie pointed out. ‘Or are you getting more serious? Are you spending Christmas together?’

‘No, I’m working and he’s going to his family in Cornwall.’

‘See, I couldn’t be doing with that. Me and Jamie have been together since we were at school. My family are all over Lullbury Bay like the measles and his all live nearby too. I love our big noisy chaotic Christmases.’

‘Well, you know me,’ Tamara said, with a closed down expression. ‘I don’t do families. Fell out with my lot years ago. While you’re all stuffing your face with badly cooked turkey and dry mince pies and arguing over the remote, I’ll be cruising round the fjords sipping Manhattans the barman has slipped me for free. And I certainly won’t be pining over possible husbands and babies.’

Lucie winced. ‘Now, you’ve got a point there. Babies. Who’d have one?’ She shuddered. ‘They’ve a nasty habit of growing up into spotty sweaty teenagers.’ She picked up an empty crisp packet and peered into it hopefully.

Honor laughed. ‘What’s Eli done now,’ she asked, referring to Lucie’s younger brother.

‘He’s only gone and got himself a girlfriend. You know he works up at Tom’s animal sanctuary? That’s where he met her. Only she’s at some swanky-wanky private school in Exeter and he’s working all the hours he can in order to buy her a present. He’s set his heart on this silver bracelet.’

‘Aw, that’s sweet,’ Honor said. ‘It sounds as if he’s really maturing. He was always a nice boy when he was in my class. Bit easily led though.’

‘Tell me about it,’ Lucie replied. ‘You and Tom Catesby are two of the few people who believed in Eli. Tom gave him a chance when he got into trouble a few years ago. Remember?’

Honor nodded.

‘I mean he only got pulled into some petty vandalism but it caused the town a few sleepless nights.’ There had been a spate of car vandalism off and on over a few months. It turned out Eli had been led into it by his gang of friends. Instead of punishment, Tom had taken him on to work at his animal sanctuary. ‘Tom Catesby taught him responsibilities and the meaning of hard work. Eli’s still a pain but I suppose he’s not quite so annoying these days.’

‘Tom’s a nice man.’

‘Gorgeous-looking too, in a quirky kind of way,’ Tamara added. ‘And single,’ she added, meaningfully.

‘And only interested if you have four legs, hooves, feathers or a beak. Plus, you’d have to get past Ellie’s vetting process. She’s very protective of her older brother.’ Honor drained her glass. ‘I wouldn’t fancy taking her on, I’d have a five-inch Louboutin heel in my back.’

Lucie giggled. ‘I wouldn’t fight Ellie for him either and I should know, I work for her. Glamorous and career-driven manager of the estate agents that she is, I wouldn’t cross her.’ She sighed soppily. ‘You’ll just have to find someone as gorg as Maisie’s husband. He’s so good for her though, really brought out her softer side. She was all café, café, café before she met him. Or Austin. He and Aggie are so in love it hurts to see them. OAP romance, eh? You can’t beat it!’

‘What is it with this town? Do they spray love potion in the air or something?’ Honor glared at her glass and, realising it was empty, pushed it to one side. ‘And all for everyone else,’ she added, sounding self-pitying even to herself. ‘And thanks, but I don’t want to have to wait until I get my teacher’s pension before I find love.’ Oops. Time to slow down with the cider.

‘You’ll meet someone when it’s the right time.’ Tamara patted her hand. ‘What’s Avril like, Lucie?’

‘She’s nice. Little and skinny, quiet.’

‘How old?’

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