Page 74 of Christmas at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

A few seconds later, his phone, which he’d left on the side, started buzzing.

Could it be the same person? The one who was riling him?

The phone was there, just within reach …

Rachel paused, then picked it up, felt it vibrate in her hand.

She saw the caller ID.

Caitlin. Tom’s ex.

‘I think I’d better go, actually,’ said Rachel, swiftly finishing off the last of her wine as Tom got back from the bathroom.

He looked at her bemused. ‘What? You have to leave already? You’ve only just arrived, Rach.’

‘Yeah, well, Maisy was a bit unsettled as I put her to bed.’ It was a necessary white lie, then she added, ‘And Mum really needs an early night. It was just a quick hello.’ Rachel stood up to leave.

‘Well, okay, I’ll see you about soon then.’

‘Yeah,’ Rachel answered, unable to hide the sadness in her tone.

Is this what they had come to? How quickly love and relationships could change, like autumn leaves they fall and wither. It was just a week before Christmas, one that she’d been looking forward to for so long. And the new frostiness between them was so very hard to bear.

The Eleventh Bake of Christmas

Chocolate Coconut Snowballs

Songs of snowflakes and eyelashes … The Swinton family can still be found sitting around watching The Sound of Music re-runs at Christmas! It was one of those Christmas classics that brought the whole family together, fireside, with a large tub of Quality Street chocolates and homemade chocolate coconut snowballs. Ruth and Jill had even been known to sing along rather loudly after a festive sherry or two.

Recipe:

220g (about ½ can) of condensed milk

8oz (240g) desiccated coconut

2 tbsp icing sugar

100g good quality dark or milk chocolate

In a bowl, mix the condensed milk, coconut and icing sugar together with a wooden spoon.

Shape into small balls and rest on greaseproof paper.

Melt the chocolate, either in a bowl over a pan of simmering water, or very carefully in short bursts in the microwave. Dip the balls into the chocolate, covering well, and allow to set on another sheet of greaseproof paper. Chill in the fridge for 10 minutes.

These make perfect snowball-shaped treats. Enjoy!

35

It was still dark outside, early morning, as Rachel fumbled for and then squinted at her phone. It was ten to six. Something had woken her. Had she heard a noise? Was it Moss barking? There it was again. That was definitely Moss. All had been quiet since the night of the burgling thieves, but the long dark winter nights were always a concern, at times providing cover for those looking for trouble.

It was probably nothing, maybe an owl or fox that had perhaps swooped or scuttled too near Moss’s kennel. She’d better get up though, check it out. Her bedroom was cold, the central heating not yet on. Her bare feet nipped as they touched the wooden floor, toes searching for slippers in the dark … there they were. She slipped her feet in.

She didn’t turn the light on, could see better looking out from the dark of her room. She shifted the curtain across. There was no security light on in the yard, but there was a strange glow through the air. A soft white whirl. Snow.

Oh … the first snows of winter. Rachel felt that childhood excitement rising inside. There was always something magical about that first snow. Maisy had been waiting for this moment. Should she wake her? Dash out to play with her before she had to get ready for school? Who knew, this might be the only snows they’d get? Snow could go as soon as it came in Northumberland. Rachel wrapped herself up in her dressing gown, resolved to wait a little while and see if it carried on. After all, it was still very early. She didn’t want Maisy nodding off at her school desk.

Ten minutes on and there was enough snow on the ground to make snowballs or a very small snowman. That was it; they might not get their moment again this winter. Rachel pulled on her thermal underwear, woolly socks, jeans, a warm fleece top. She’d put on some waterproofs over that downstairs. Then she went to Maisy’s bedroom.