Page 5 of The Cotswolds Christmas Fair

‘Well, being able to read is a bonus . . .’ Rich said.

‘No, but—’

‘It’s her favourite book,’ Ted said quietly.

‘Exactly!’ Jen took a sip of mulled wine, the spiced flavour spreading warmth through her.

‘How romantic,’ Lou murmured. She’d met her own husband when she’d done her final teacher training placement and he’d been a newly qualified teacher at the school. They’d been together forever and were well past the honeymoon stage and into what Jen considered to be the rather dull territory of sharing mortgages, nursery pick-ups and supermarket shops. Though she had to concede that Lou seemed perfectly happy. ‘Did you get his number?’

Jen shook her head. Lou looked horrified.

‘Instagram? Full name so you can Google stalk?’

‘Nothing.’

They stared at her.

‘That’s even more romantic,’ Lou said dreamily.

‘Wow, you’re losing your touch,’ Rich said, chuckling. ‘You’d never come home without a number back in the day. You were the queen of closing the deal!’

Jen shrugged, grinning.

‘Maybe it’s because you didn’t have your wingman,’ Lou said, and they all looked at Ted, who sat on the floor next to Jen. ‘But perhaps we can put that right this weekend, eh?’

Ted laughed, running a hand through his thick dark hair and shaking his head. ‘Oh, I think those days are over. I’m a sensible deputy head now, I have a reputation to consider.’

Jen raised her hands. ‘I’m not in the market for romance, I just want a nice weekend with my friends.’

Still, the memories of that long-lost girl were flooding back – herself and Ted in a bar when they were at college, him talking her up to whichever guy she was interested in – were some of her happiest.

‘Yes, I forgot to congratulate you on nearly a whole term in the new job,’ she said, clinking her glass against his.

He smiled, his eyes creasing at the corners. ‘Thanks.’

‘What’s it like working so close to home? I can’t believe you got a job at Babblebrook Primary. It’s only a few miles away from Waterfield!’

She shook her head, thinking of her little niece, Amy, who was no doubt one of Ted’s charges. He probably knew Julia pretty well now; perhaps they chatted at the school gate. Perhaps they talked despairingly of her wayward sister, his wayward friend, and whether she would ever get her life in order.

Jen pushed away this less than pleasant thought. She and Julia had grown up nearby, and then Jen had gone to the local college to do her teacher training. It was no surprise, really, that the friends she’d met there had settled in the area, and that Julia had too. She still wished that they’d chosen somewhere further afield than Babblebrook for their reunion, though.

Ted’s expression had taken on a reserved edge as he looked at her, and she had the distinct and uncomfortable impression that her fears about the conversations he had with Julia were closer to the truth than she’d imagined.

She smiled, trying to shake off her discomfort. ‘Bet you have to be on your best behaviour, eh? No getting rat-arsed in the catchment area!’

He hiccupped a laugh, looking round at the others in mock despair. ‘I think our days of getting rat-arsed are behind us, aren’t they?’

The others nodded.

‘My weekends are spent driving the kids to football and standing on a freezing field cheering them on, not going out drinking,’ Rich said.

Lou was nodding. ‘The twins still wake every night, I’m too tired to be going out.’ She yawned. ‘Honestly, a couple of good nights’ sleep is the thing I’m looking forward to most about this weekend.’

Ted and Rich laughed and clinked their glasses against hers. And Jen looked on dubiously. She was beginning to get a sneaking suspicion that this weekend was not going to be the fun-fest she’d been expecting.

Chapter Three

They had everything planned out.