Page 46 of The Cotswolds Christmas Fair

‘Is that what you’re doing? Or are you trying to be someone you’re not because you think that’s what he wants?’

‘Where is Sarah, anyway? Thought she was coming tonight.’ Jen glanced around, feeling a little uneasy. Not that there was a reason to, Sarah seemed like a perfectly nice person. And she must be, if Ted had chosen her.

Ted gave her a level stare. Her clumsy change of subject hadn’t gone unnoticed, but he let it go. He was annoying her, quite honestly; all she needed from him right now was to tell her that Anthony would definitely message and the only reason he hadn’t was because he was busy or his phone was stolen or he’d been in a dreadful accident. Something comforting like that, not this interrogation about her wanting to learn a bit more about art and poetry.

‘Yeah, she was going to, but she had some work to catch up on. This isn’t really her kind of thing, to be honest.’

Jen took in the happy hubbub of the café, families and friends squashed into the pretty space, chatting, laughing, eating, drinking. It was sweet, but a thrilling night out it was not. She thought Sarah had a point. Ted fidgeted from foot to foot, shifting the gingerbread school he held, and Jen sensed that there was something more to this. Maybe they’d had a row.

‘You OK?’

He nodded. She didn’t press him.

‘Coo-ee, Mr Piper!’ a woman called from the doorway. He turned to the gaggle of parents and children that had just walked in. ‘Oh great, look, we’re here in time.’ She smiled at Ted as the children all crowded around him, talking to him and their parents, pointing out which parts of the gingerbread school they’d decorated. ‘They were so worried we were going to miss it being put in the window, and we were running a bit late, you know what it’s like, so busy this time of year, and . . .’

The woman pulled off her hat and unwound her scarf. She was a little flustered.

‘Perfect timing,’ Ted said, and she nodded gratefully. ‘The children can all help me find the right place for it. I think there’s mulled wine over there, if you want some while you wait?’

She looked at him as though he was her saviour, and left the children while she went off to find herself a glass.

They reached the front of the queue, and Amy was so excited she was trembling as she held the gingerbread house. ‘Ooh, lovely,’ Marnie said, beaming. ‘Look at that! Beautiful.’

Amy flushed with pride. Marnie was one of her favourite people. ‘Georgie helped too but he stayed at home with Mummy tonight.’

‘And how is Mummy?’ Marnie asked.

Amy grimaced. ‘She’s coughing and spitting stuff and when she blows her nose it actually sounds like a pig.’

‘Oh dear! Poor thing.’ Marnie looked at Jen. ‘I’ve got a little care pack at home for her, I’ll pop round with it tomorrow maybe.’ She focused back on Amy. ‘But at least you get to be here with Auntie Jen! Now. Can you see where your lovely house goes?’

She lifted Amy up so that she could see into the window. Jen took in the creation; a mini Babblebrook, complete with cotton-wool snow, the duck pond on the green, and the church, station and row of shops, all made from gingerbread. The gingerbread café was exquisite, with snow on the roof, a little robin perched on top and the sign perfectly piped in red icing. Far too Christmassy for her liking, but even she had to admit that the mini village was kind of cute.

Amy placed her house in the row of cottages by the station.

‘Super-dooper!’ Marnie said, and Amy jumped up and down in excitement.

Jen laughed. ‘Brilliant! Thanks, Marnie. Right, let’s go and look at the snacks, shall we?’

Amy had spotted Lottie, who’d already put her house in the window, and ran over to the play area to meet her, helping herself to an iced biscuit in the shape of a snowman from the plate that had been placed there.

Jen watched as Ted laughed and joked easily with the children as they debated who should be the one to place the gingerbread school in the display. It was an altogether more tasteful affair than Amy and George’s house, featuring piped icing snowflakes and icicles and a little Father Christmas on the sign. She helped herself to a glass of mulled wine and a brie and cranberry roll as she watched the girls colouring a picture of some elves together.

The children could make Christmas cards in the café, she thought, if she got together some resources. Nothing too messy, the parents probably wouldn’t appreciate that. But some red card for Santas, with cotton wool for beards, that kind of thing. Christmas trees from green card, they could just use Pritt Stick and sequins to decorate them.

‘Thinking of craft activities?’ a voice said at her shoulder.

Jen started, and turned to find Marnie smiling at her. Her daughter, Lauren, had taken over window duty for a while.

‘Oh – I was actually! Are you some kind of mind reader?’

Marnie laughed. ‘Ha, well, you mentioned it, that’s all, and I’ve heard on the grapevine that you organised a brilliant activity for the children in Ted’s class, those lolly-stick gingerbread houses. So I guessed.’

The man from the wooden decorations stall came over and put his arm around Marnie’s waist. ‘She might as well be a mind reader, though, she just has an instinct for people, this one.’ He smiled with so much pride he looked like he might actually pop.

‘You’ve met Andrew?’ Marnie asked, looking equally proud.

Jen nodded. ‘The nutcracker guy,’ she said, and immediately wished she hadn’t. Sounded wrong, somehow. But he just gave an easy smile, and held out his hand for her to shake.