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She shrugged. ‘If you want to after what I’ve just said.’
‘Of course I do. It’ll be fun. There’s a ton of Christmassy stuff we can do.’ He stepped closer to her and lowered his voice. ‘Or not. We don’t have to. I wouldn’t have mentioned it, but I know you said you want to start trying to make new memories of Christmas.’
‘You’re right. I do.’ Holly nodded decisively. ‘I need to. For myself and for my parents. Christmas was always so special to them. I want to continue their love of all things festive.’
‘Great. In that case, I’ve found this really cute Christmas tree farm not far from here which hosts wreath making evenings. I thought we could check that out? I know how much you love crafting.’
She nodded. She did. She loved crafting. Her voice cracked as she answered, ‘I do.’
‘And then in the next town along...’ Joe frowned. ‘Are you okay?’
Holly nodded, blinking back the tears threatening to fall. ‘Yes, I am. I think I’m actually glad you’ve come. All of this...’ She indicated the fairy lights twinkling along the promenade and the little Christmas trees decorating the small row of shops. ‘It’s trickier than I thought facing it all.’
Joe stepped forward and took her hands in his. ‘Look, Holly. No one’s forcing you to do any of this. Heck, I’m happy if you want to go to some little cottage in the middle of the Highlands and bunk down over Christmas. No one is expecting you to suddenly get over what’s happened. The accident was awful, devastating, and being so close to Christmas...’ He shook his head, his eyes locked with hers. ‘No one would blame you if you never wanted to celebrate again.’
Holly looked down at their hands. Hers in his. ‘I won’t say I haven’t thought it, you know I have and part of me... okay, a lot of me, ninety-nine-point-nine percent of me thinks it would be easier to just by-pass all Christmas celebrations for the rest of my life, but you remember what my parents were like. They loved Christmas and I know they’d hate me the thought of me spending the last few Christmases holed up away from everyone and everything.’
‘I understand. I just want you to know that there’s no pressure.’
She looked back up at him. ‘I know. Thank you, but wreath making sounds lovely.’ And it did.
Chapter Six
Holly slid the twotrays full of freshly baked pasties she was carrying beneath the glass of the counter as the little bell above the bakery door tinkled. Looking ups she grinned as Diane, Brooke, Wendy and Molly walked inside. ‘Morning.’
‘Hi.’ Molly closed the door behind her and shivered. ‘It’s absolutely freezing out there today. I’m sure it’s colder than it was yesterday.’
‘Definitely. It’s icy too. I almost slipped twice.’ Brooke grimaced.
‘Yes, and my arm has the bruises to prove it.’ Diane laughed as she took off her coat.
‘Sorry.’ Brooke frowned. ‘I just grabbed out by instinct.’
‘Haha, no need to apologise. I’d rather be your safety net than you fall and break your neck.’ Diane grinned. ‘Ooh, those pasties smell delicious.’
‘They do, don’t they? I don’t think I’ve ever been this hungry first thing in the morning than I have been over these couple of days working here.’ Holly smiled. She’d already had a warm croissant for breakfast, but the smell of those pasties... She already knew what she’d be having for lunch.
