Page 86 of The Cotswolds Christmas Fair

That was all.

Yes, they’d had a college fling, but it had been so brief that it had almost not existed. Yes, she’d learned that the reason he’d ended it was because he cared about her, and not because there was something fundamentally unlovable about her after all. But they’d known each other for over a decade, and for almost all of that time they’d simply been friends. It was how they thought of each other. He was the best friend she’d ever had, and she didn’t want to jeopardise that.

Pat was still talking. ‘. . . have actually, now I think about it, there was this other couple that seemed to be blind to the fact they were in love.’ She grinned, her eyes bright, looking like some kind of mischievous elf. ‘They worked it out in the end, though.’

Marnie was blushing, her dark eyes gleaming. ‘Oh hush, you old troublemaker,’ she said. Pat just smirked. ‘Look, don’t worry about the catering, I’ll sort something out for you. But I’m not sure about the rest of your list, I’m afraid.’

Pat gasped and grabbed Jen’s arm. ‘Ooh, what about my bike?’

‘What about it?’ Jen asked, remembering the time she’d seen her whizzing down the village street at what was clearly a speed well north of the limit. She couldn’t see how that would help with her plans for the fair and, looking at the excited expression on Pat’s face, she was slightly nervous to ask.

‘Well, you need a reindeer.’

Jen and Marnie looked at each other.

‘You know, my bike! The handlebars are sort of like antlers, and I could make a face with a red nose, and we could give the children rides down the village street.’

She looked from Marnie to Jen, pleased as punch.

Marnie had paled at the very idea. ‘I’m not sure about . . .’

Jen laughed. ‘Thanks Pat, I’m not sure the insurance would cover it though! And anyway, I have a plan for that.’

And on that note, she decided, it was time for her to start on the other items on her list.

She swallowed her last mouthful of tea and hugged Marnie and Pat. ‘Thank you so much, I can’t tell you how much this means to me.’

‘And everything you’re doing will mean so much to Ted,’ Pat said, giving her a grin and a meaningful look.

Jen laughed, taken aback. ‘We’re just friends.’

Pat rolled her eyes.

‘Thank you, Marnie, really. You’ve saved the day.’

‘Well, she saved Christmas last year, you know!’

Marnie blushed again. Jen laughed. ‘Did she?’ She could well believe it.

‘It was nothing,’ Marnie said, shaking her head. ‘And don’t worry about the food, it’ll be sorted. Good luck with the rest.’

Jen found herself back outside, the snow still falling. She marched across the green; the ducks were nowhere to be seen, presumably safely tucked up somewhere warm.

The Woods’ farm looked like something on a Christmas card, the fields surrounding it like a snowy sheet, the roof blanketed in white, smoke curling from the chimney and lights twinkling on the porch.

Barbara opened the door, making no attempt to hide her surprise at finding Jen on her step. ‘Oh! Hello.’ She squinted. ‘You’re Julia’s sister, aren’t you?’

‘Yes. Hi.’ Jen gave her best, most disarming smile. Alan appeared behind Barabara, in his cardigan and slippers, peering over her shoulder.

‘Oh, Ted’s friend,’ he said. ‘From the open mic night.’

Barbara frowned. ‘No, she’s Julia’s sister. You know Julia and Dan?’ She pointed to Jen. ‘They have the same hair, look.’

Alan peered at her hair, looking confused.

‘I’m both,’ Jen said, hastily jumping in before the conversation got away from her any further. ‘Julia’s sister, Ted’s friend. And I’m in desperate need of reindeer.’

They looked at her blankly.