Page 50 of The Cotswolds Christmas Fair

She was outright giggling now. For some reason, they’d reverted to their student selves from when they’d first met. And Jen had to admit that she was enjoying larking around with him.

From the front, Sarah sighed and turned to them with an expression that was somewhere between exasperated and hurt.

This wasn’t the impression Jen had hoped to make on Ted’s girlfriend, and guilt at the way they were disrupting the class she’d kindly let them come to twisted in her. She needed to remove herself so everyone else could work uninterrupted.

‘I need some fresh air,’ she whispered to Ted, pulling her coat on and getting out of her chair as quietly as she could.

‘I’ll come with you.’

He waved an apology to Sarah, and she glanced at him and then Jen. The expression in her eyes was unreadable. They tiptoed from the room, trying to cause as little disturbance as possible, not helped by Pat waving enthusiastically and shouting, ‘Toodle-ooh.’

The quiet beauty of the night-time street, every building edged with coloured lights that twinkled through the falling snow, soothed Jen. The cold air calmed her hot cheeks and she stuck her tongue out, catching snowflakes.

‘You big kid,’ Ted said, laughing and pulling the hood of her coat right down over her face.

She smiled as they walked through the village, their footprints leaving a trail in the pristine snow that squeaked underfoot. ‘It’s nice here.’

He looked around at the picturesque little row of cottages on their left and the village green on their right, the tree over the duck pond laden with snow. ‘It is, isn’t it?’

‘I’ve ordered some really cute decorations for the fair, by the way, I just need to pick them up from Waterfield when they come in. And I’m working on the disco, nearly sorted.’ An exaggeration, but she wanted to reassure him. She wiggled her hands. ‘Fingers in pies.’

He laughed. ‘Thanks.’

‘I’m sorry about the class. Do you think Sarah will forgive me?’

He tucked his chin into his scarf. ‘Almost certainly. Not because you deserve it, but just because she’s the nicest person I’ve ever met.’

Jen grimaced. ‘Not sure I’m making the best impression.’

He sighed. ‘Well, it wasn’t just you, to be fair. I was messing around too. If one of the kids at school had been doing that I’d have given them a serious look.’

‘A serious look?’ Jen giggled. ‘Wow. I bet they’re terrified. You rule with an iron fist, Mr Piper.’

‘What? My serious look is very effective, I’ll have you know.’

‘I’ll apologise to Sarah when we go back in. And maybe we could hang out another time? I promise I’ll be on my best behaviour.’

They turned right to walk around the edge of the green, past the farm where, according to Amy, in the summer the cows pushed their nose up to the gate and let you stroke them. The place was deserted now, silent and still, the barns where the animals were housed blanketed in snow and lights glowing from the farmhouse windows. This was a far cry from the grey, dirty street Jen lived on.

‘I’m sure she’d love that,’ Ted said.

‘I still don’t know what I’m going to talk to Anthony about. Maybe I could wear an earpiece and Sarah could tell me what to say?’

Ted stopped, swiping the snow off the farm gate and watching it thump to the ground. ‘I know you’re joking, but I don’t like it when you say stuff like that.’

‘Come on. Don’t start.’

‘I don’t – I’m not having a go at you, it’s just, you’re acting kind of strangely about this guy.’

‘I am not. I thought you’d be more supportive, given everything that happened before.’

She walked away, and he ran a couple of paces to catch up with her. ‘Look, Jen, I’m really – I’m not trying to upset you.’ He touched her arm and she stopped, turning towards him. His dark eyes stared at her intently, his breath clouding in the frosty night air. ‘I just – don’t waste yourself on someone who doesn’t want you for you, is all I’m trying to say. You – you’re the smartest, sweetest, funniest person, just as you are, and if this guy can’t see that then he’s a waste of your time. I – you don’t need to pretend, is all I’m saying.’

She stared at him, in the light of the street lamp that caught the swirling snowflakes, making them glitter, and felt her irritation melt away. He had only ever looked out for her, and celebrated her for who she was. Even in her toughest times, when she’d felt entirely lost, Ted had been there, steadfast and kind. No matter what. Always reliable. Always on her side.

Balancing on her toes, she reached up to kiss his cheek, laughing as she wiped snowflakes from his neat beard.

‘Still can’t get used to you in face furniture,’ she said. They walked on, past a row of cottages and towards the school. The Santa on the sign had fallen from view almost entirely, one of its fastenings having come loose, and it lay head down on the other side of the wall.