Page 56 of Winter Wishes at Pennycress Inn

‘Aw, well, I’m so pleased for you both. You make a wonderful couple.’ Stepping towards them, Nicola wrapped her arms around them both before stepping back and indicating the others from the trailer. ‘Scarlett, I don’t think you’ve met Polly and Zac, and Ellie and Murray.’

‘Hi, lovely to meet you all.’ Scarlett smiled as hugs were given and Merry Christmases were said.

Keith cleared his throat before speaking. ‘I don’t mean to break up the party, but I think the jacket potatoes are done.’

‘Jackets? How have you managed that? I thought the gas was out across the village.’ Nicola widened her eyes. ‘Please tell me it’s back up and running.’

‘Haha, afraid not, but yes, we do have jacket potatoes. Cooked on the BBQ too.’ Scarlett glanced toward Rowan. ‘Rowan came to the rescue for Christmas dinner.’

‘Oh fab! They’ll be great then.’ Nicola indicated a picnic basket Charlie was carrying. ‘We’ve brought a few things too so hopefully between us we’ll end up with quite the feast!’

‘Thank you.’ Scarlett looked around the group. ‘Come on round the back, we’ll set out all the food in the kitchen and then we can either stay outside and I’ll grab some blankets, or we can huddle around the fire in the sitting room.’

‘Sounds perfect.’ Nicola grinned as she led the way through the car park around the back of the inn.

‘Scarlett?’ Waiting until they were alone in the front garden, Rowan gently twisted her in his arms to face him.

‘Yes?’ Reaching out, she brushed her hand across his hair, the snowflakes melting as new ones landed.

‘Thank you for taking me back. I really am sorry for not giving you the opportunity to explain everything.’ With his arms around her waist still, Rowan looked into her eyes. ‘And I know it’s early days, but I really do feel as though we’ve got something special between us.’

Bringing her hand down to cup his cheek, Scarlett smiled. She couldn’t have worded it better. ‘So do I.’

EPILOGUE

Scarlett grinned as she poured herself and Rowan a glass of cider each. Pennycress was heaving with family and friends who Laura and Jackson had invited down for New Year’s Eve and laughter and chatter filled both the kitchen and the sitting room.

‘Hey, Scarlett, I’m putting some coffee on if you fancy any?’ Coming up behind her, Laura briefly touched her on the shoulder before taking the lid off the cafetiere.

‘No, I’m good with this, thanks.’ Scarlett nodded towards her glass before taking a sip.

‘Haha, fair enough.’ After filling the cafetiere, Laura turned and leaned back against the work surface. ‘I’m so glad we were all able to get together for New Year’s tonight. After missing out on Christmas Day here, this was just what I needed.’

Scarlett nodded. Christmas had been perfect in its own way, but it was so good to be able to catch up with Aunt Ruth, Uncle Phil and everyone else. And to introduce them all to Rowan. The past week had flown by, what with Laura and Jackson finally getting a flight on Boxing Day, handing the reins of Pennycress back to them and moving her camper to the campsite Rowan had told her about just outside Meadowfield, but she had made sure to make time to speak to both Laura and Jackson about recent events, including the truth about what had happened between her and Tyler. Placing her glass back on the work surface, Scarlett turned to face Laura. ‘Thanks again for everything you and Jackson have done for me since I arrived in Meadowfield.’

‘We’ve done?’ Laura looked across at her. ‘It should be us thanking you for coming to the rescue after Megan couldn’t make it to hold the fort down here. And for carrying on over Christmas whilst me and Jackson were stranded in Italy.’

‘You know how much I’ve loved helping out here.’ Scarlett shrugged. The truth was she’d enjoyed it. She’d enjoyed feeling needed and she’d enjoyed being part of a community.

‘Well, thank you all the same.’ Laura nudged her with her shoulder before lowering her voice. ‘And thank you telling me about what happened with Tyler. I just wish you’d spoken to me earlier and I could have done something to help.’

Scarlett gave a small smile as she remembered the conversation she’d had with her cousin. She’d waited until the day after they’d got back home before sitting Laura down and spilling the beans. She’d told her everything, everything she’d been so worried about telling her, and she’d felt sick to her stomach throughout the whole conversation, but she needn’t have worried. Laura had definitely been Team Scarlett and had understood that Scarlett hadn’t known anything about Tyler’s other family. She’d even offered to ring him to order him to stay away or to send Jackson round to ‘have a word’ as she’d called it. Not that either was needed as Tyler had thankfully stayed away, which was most definitely a good thing as she couldn’t quite imagine Jackson ‘having a word’. ‘Thank you.’

Pushing herself away from the work surface, Laura drew her in for a hug. ‘And I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’ve decided to stay on in Meadowfield. I have a good feeling about you and Rowan.’

Hugging her cousin back, Scarlett grinned. ‘Me too.’

Laura laughed. ‘And if he survives the night after meeting this lot, then you know he’s a keeper.’

‘Haha, that’s true.’ Scarlett nodded. She already knew he was a keeper, and she had a feeling Laura knew that too, but it was nice that he was eager and willing to meet her family, especially the majority of them in one night. Plus, he’d already ‘met’ her dad on video call and they had a trip planned to Wales in a few weeks to visit his family. After that, the only person she wouldn’t have introduced him to yet would be Devon, but he’d promised to make the trip down soon. She smiled. Now that was quite possibly the introduction she was most excited about. Devon was going to love Rowan.

Turning back to the cafetiere, Laura lined up three mugs. ‘Right, I’d best pour these and take them over. Mum’s complaining she’s parched but deep in conversation with Polly and Zac. Once she found out they work at the nature reserve she’s been asking all sorts of questions.’

Scarlett smiled as she looked over at her aunt and uncle who were sitting at one of the tables, chatting and laughing with Polly and Zac. ‘They’ll be talking for hours if they’re talking about plants.’

‘Haha, they will. Fortunately for Polly and Zac it’ll be midnight soon and so we’ll have to prise them apart.’

Shaking her head as she laughed, Scarlett picked up the glasses she’d poured for herself and Rowan and headed out into the hall.