AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Hang in there. Ha.
Precisely an hour later, a minivan with the logo Hudson Home Designs pulls up and out spill enough women and children to fill my reading room at school, all led by Rosie.
‘Hi!’ she chimes, prancing towards me and giving me a huge hug. ‘The cavalry is here! We’ve come to spread Christmas cheer. And who better than children, right?’
‘Oh my word…’ I swallow the sudden lump in my throat as I widen the front door.
The children are all between eight and fourteen, the teenagers carrying small boxes filled with Christmas decorations. It’s a sight for sore eyes, especially my sleep-deprived ones.
‘I don’t know what to say, except for… thank you. Please come in, come in.’
‘Everybody, this is my friend Emmie, Lady Heatherton-Smythe’s granddaughter. Emmie, meet my Coastal Girls: Nina, Nat and Faith. You remember Penny. And these are a combination of nieces, nephews and offspring.’
It’s like who’s who central!
There’s the famous scriptwriter Nina Conte. I knew she lived somewhere in Cornwall, but I can’t believe we’re sharing the same space. I’ve seen all of her films and loved them all, especiallyWritten in the Stars. She’s so lovely and down to earth.
And Nat Amore, the famous columnist, is the bubbliest after Rosie and is so sweet and caring. She’s also the sister of Yolanda Amore, the celebrity chef.
And Faith Hudson – she looks like the happiest woman on earth.
‘These are my nieces, Amy and Zoe,’ Natalia says. ‘They’re ready to help decorate your tree, aren’t you, girls?’
‘Yeah!’ answers one with an almost mischievous gusto, while the other rolls her eyes and groans emphatically, ‘Give me strength!’
I laugh, welcoming them all.
‘Just put everything down and come close to the fire – you must be freezing. I’m sure there’s some hot cocoa and stuff somewhere.’
And I skip off, my heart flooding with gratitude at the sight of all these smiley faces coming to my rescue. It’s a good thing that she can’t hear anything from upstairs.
‘So you’ll be here for a few days?’ Rosie asks.
‘Oh yes. My grandmother had a spell, so…’
‘No worries. We’re here to help as much as we can.’
‘Thank you so much. I so appreciate you all helping a complete stranger. What can I say except that I’m moved…’
Nina approaches with a toddler who looks like a cherub.
‘Hi…’ I coo, touching the baby’s outstretched hand, which immediately wraps itself around my little finger. ‘She’s so beautiful. What’s her name?’
‘Maya,’ she answers, looking at the beauty in her arms. ‘And she really is a miracle. After Ben and Chloe, and my divorce, I really wasn’t expecting a second chance. But there you go.’
‘Aww, that’s so heart-warming,’ I say in earnest.
And it’s also so lovely that she feels comfortable in telling me, a woman she only met five minutes ago.
‘Thank you… Say hi to our new friend, Maya.’
‘Gggg…’ says Maya, and I caress her cheek as my throat constricts.
‘What a little miracle you are.’
‘This is Emma – my forever bestie and wedding planner,’ Rosie tells me, wrapping her arm around a beautiful blonde woman. ‘And this is her daughter, Chanel, and that’s Chloe, my little devil,’ Nina supplies with a smile. ‘And the other little devil you see running around is Ben, my youngest.’
It’s an entire extended family I knew nothing of. And yet, they’re here to help a perfect stranger decorate her old grandmother’s home. It’s so touching…
