Page 47 of The Cotswolds Christmas Fair

‘The lolly-stick craft woman!’

Jen laughed. ‘Wow. You really can’t do anything here without everyone knowing, can you?’

‘The children were just raving about it when they came in after school, that’s all,’ Marnie said kindly. Jen supposed if people were going to gossip about her, it could be worse. ‘I was thinking of doing something more with the children’s area, I just never seem to have the time! But now I know you’re so talented, I’m wondering if you’d mind helping me out? What do you think?’

‘Oh – well . . .’

Jen hesitated. What was the point? She wasn’t going to be sticking around in Babblebrook for long, and she was wary of getting involved in something like this; it brought back memories that she’d rather forget. But the truth was, though she’d stayed to help with the children while Julia was ill and Dan was away at the conference, a part of her was glad of the excuse.

She couldn’t bear the thought of leaving the children when she was just getting to properly know them, she was enjoying spending time with Ted, and being here made it much easier to see how things went with Anthony. Even the thought of leaving quirky little Babblebrook, with its chocolate-box prettiness and friendly, gossipy, supportive community, left her feeling hollow. The idea of returning to her small apartment and noisy flatmates was losing its appeal.

‘I was just thinking of something simple, you know, so we could set it up and they can do it on their own,’ she said.

‘Sounds perfect!’ said Marnie. ‘I knew you’d be the tip-top person to ask. Maybe we could have a natter about it tomorrow?’

Jen found herself nodding, and already planning what to do, as Lauren hollered from the window, and Marnie politely excused herself.

Chapter Twenty

Jen bit into one of the clementine and sloe gin mince pies Marnie had brought, closing her eyes as the sweet, spiced flavour spread through her mouth and the buttery pastry melted away.

‘Oh my God,’ she said, staring at her in wonder. ‘You’re an actual genius.’

Marnie laughed. ‘Oh, I don’t know about that!’

‘What do you think?’ Jen asked the children as they ate the Christmas-light cupcakes Marnie had brought for them.

‘Genius,’ Amy said, nodding, her eyes wide and serious as she chased a blob of icing from the corner of her mouth with her tongue. ‘Georgie, say genius!’

‘Sus-sus!’ George shouted happily from his highchair, sucking on the soggy remains of his cake.

Marnie laughed. ‘How’re you feeling now?’ she asked, turning her concerned gaze to Julia, who sat at the other end of the table, looking pale. She’d kept herself as far away as possible to avoid sharing her germs.

‘Muched better,’ Julia said, her blocked nose stunting her words.

Jen shook her head. ‘She’s still quite rough, it’s been a nasty one.’

Julia, too fragile to argue, gave a watery smile.

‘You poor thing,’ Marnie said, pulling a flask from her bag. ‘I brought you some turmeric and ginger tea, that might help.’

‘Thand you.’

Amy giggled. ‘Mummy sounds funny.’

That was all the sympathy Julia was going to get from her daughter. But Jen, hard as she might try to hold on to her frosty feelings towards her sister, could see she felt miserable, and had been doing her best to look after her, making soup and buying Lemsip from the post office.

It was getting harder and harder to hold on to the distance she’d maintained between herself and Julia for so long, now they were under the same roof, now Julia was ill and yet valiantly struggling to continue looking after the children. Now Jen was reminded daily of Julia’s warmth and wit and kindness. The cruelty she’d experienced from her had happened only once, and long ago. She could almost convince herself it had never happened.

Almost.

By the time the cakes and snacks were eaten and the teapot emptied, they had a plan. Jen would prepare craft activities that could be left for the children to do, and Marnie would set up some biscuits to ice. Despite herself, Jen felt a little spark of excitement in her stomach, and as soon as Marnie left she began googling ideas and planning.

‘Nice to see you idspired agaid,’ Julia said, smiling over her special tea and stroking Tig, who had jumped onto her lap and was now curled up, purring loudly.

‘Thanks.’ Jen wanted to stay cold, but the sight of Julia’s poor red-raw nose and the warmth in her eyes made it impossible. ‘It’s nothing much.’

‘You’b always had a gift with kids,’ Julia said as she watched Amy crawl onto Jen’s knee and begin a drawing.