Page 107 of The Village Inn of Secret Dream

‘I miss you both as well,’ said Belle. ‘But at least you’ll be back in Europe soon so we won’t have to worry about the time difference too much.’

She was just about to tell them how well the inn had done business-wise that day when there was a hee-haw from either Ethel or Fred who were still in the garden.

Aunty Angie looked up at her alarmed. ‘What was that?’ she asked.

‘Nothing,’ said Belle quickly. ‘A rooster, I think.’

She hung up with promises to call on Christmas Eve and then on Christmas Day too. This year Pete had invited her to spend the day with the Kennedy family which she was grateful for. But she had spent a few happy daydreams hoping that she might be able to meet him under the mistletoe at some point as well.

57

Christmas morning dawned with yet more snow swirling around in the air.

Belle looked outside and felt a little wistful. She was missing her aunt and uncle terribly. She had even tried to make contact with her parents leading up to Christmas, but, as usual, their responses were half-hearted.

Uncle Mick and Aunty Angie were currently in the Suez Canal and so were planning to call later that morning. Belle was looking forward to catching up on all their news. They certainly seemed more relaxed these days.

And perhaps so was she.

If you didn’t count Dodgy Del’s donkeys, that was. Ethel and Fred had thankfully been moved on after the church nativity service, where, apparently, they had almost eaten the three wise men from the much cherished ancient crib before Glenda, the vicar, had managed to intervene. Now the donkeys were tucked up in a nearby sanctuary and hopefully keeping nice and warm.

Belle didn’t know what her aunt was going to say about the state of the garden when she returned. Actually, she knew exactly what her aunt was going to say and Dodgy Del had better take cover when she discovered that the donkeys had eaten all her winter flowers and the grass would almost certainly need relaying before the summer.

But for now it was all about Christmas. Belle felt a bit nervous about spending Christmas Day with the Kennedy family. It had been very kind of them to offer and Pete wouldn’t take no for an answer.

‘What are you going to do otherwise?’ he had said. ‘Spend the day by yourself?’

Christmas morning was normally a bit of a rush and then Uncle Mick would open the inn at midday so she would spend the day with the customers who would sometimes join them. Pete had decided that they would only open the bar in the evening and not the restaurant, to allow the staff to be with their families at Christmas.

But a proper family Christmas lunch was something else entirely, Belle was beginning to realise.

When they arrived upstairs at Josh and Amber’s apartment late morning, it was a full-on Christmas atmosphere.

Michael Bublé was crooning from some nearby speakers. What appeared to be a far too large Christmas tree was decorated with every red and gold ornament that could ever be found. Holly and fairy lights were strung up everywhere.

In the kitchen, Grandma Tilly and Cathy were chopping up vegetables with the help of a glass of sherry.

‘Happy Christmas!’ cried Amber, sweeping Belle into a hug.

‘They’re here!’ Belle heard Cathy shout from somewhere muffled in Amber’s bear hug.

And then it was a whirl of champagne, presents and laughter before they finally sat down at the meal at two o’clock in the afternoon.

Belle stared down at the feast in front of them. There was barely room on the table for all the dishes and accompaniments.

‘This looks wonderful,’ said Belle. ‘Thank you so much for inviting me.’

Cathy smiled at her from the head of the table. ‘You’re family, dear,’ she told her. ‘There was no way we were going to let you be on your own today. Besides, it’s so wonderful to have Pete here on Christmas Day for the first time in years and he would never have come if we hadn’t invited you.’

‘That’s right,’ said Grandma Tilly. ‘You two are a team now.’

Belle was flushed with embarrassment and spotted Amber giving her a look across the table.

‘More than that, I hope,’ said Cathy, with an obvious wink to everyone else around the table.

Pete rolled his eyes. ‘Belle and I are just friends, Mum.’

‘Of course you are, dear,’ said Cathy smoothly. ‘Now, who’s for more gravy?’