Christmas Weddings

‘Not changed that much, then.’

Millie laughed and finished her tea. ‘Maybe not. And I don’t think I’ll try out the chicken-feet stew on Arthur and Biddy.’

‘Has it got something out of your system?’ Tessa asked curiously.

‘Ah Tes, that I’m not too sure about.’ Millie traced a finger over the pattern on her mug. ‘Now I’ve seen what the world outside Berecombe can offer,’ she added. ‘I’d quite like to see some more.’

‘What’s the plan now, then?’

Millie broke off another bit of biscuit and crunched thoughtfully. ‘I suppose the first call has to be to Jed,’ she answered eventually.

‘And what you going to say to him, kiddo?’

‘Ah. That’s the problem, Tes. I have absolutely no idea.’

Chapter 4 (#u895d7e17-68af-5f72-a532-78d43399b97b)

Millie strode into the hall of The Lord of the Manor hotel two days later. She hadn’t been for years. There had been no need. Nothing, as far as she could see, had changed. The massive mahogany desk was still dominating the space, with the moth-eaten stag’s head above. The ancient Persian rug remained to trip you up as you entered and there was still an enormous chipped blue and white vase acting as an impromptu umbrella stand by the door.

There was no one around. And it was freezing cold. Millie, in four layers and her father’s overcoat, shivered. She knew Jed was here as his Golf was parked up outside. Spying an old-fashioned brass bell on the desk, she rang it.

Somewhere high above her a door slammed and there came the sound of feet running down the stairs. Jed came into view. He stopped dead when he saw her.

Millie stared back, her heart thumping uncomfortably under all the layers. He looked paler than she remembered, but that could be in comparison to Savio. He also looked thin and tired and far less glamorous.

He came to her, his hands stretched out to take hers. ‘Millie,’ he said, on a long breath. He held her at arm’s length. ‘Jeez, you look good. So brown!’

‘Hello Jed.’ It came out on a whisper. She didn’t know what to say or how to react to the man. He looked so unfamiliar. Had she been away for only three months?

He pulled her to him and enveloped her in a hug. This was slightly better. Jed smelled as he always had, of some expensive cologne.

‘Oh, it’s so good to have you back.’

Millie let herself be held, relishing the feel of his strong arms around her.

He released her, perhaps sensing her reserve. ‘Got time for a coffee? Can’t say it’ll be anywhere near as good as yours, but it’ll be hot. You need something to keep yourself warm in this barn of a place. Come into the office.’ Taking her by the hand, he led her through a door behind the desk. It opened out into a crowded and shabby room. Its only redeeming feature, a floor-to-ceiling window, which gave views onto the gardens.

Jed swept a pile of papers off an ancient chesterfield. ‘Won’t be a moment. I’ll put the kettle on.’ He disappeared through another door and shouted back, ‘It’s a shocker, this place, isn’t it? Alex’s really taken on a mammoth task. I’m not entirely sure he’s sane.’

He came back bearing two steaming mugs and a packet of custard creams. ‘I’ve been missing your cakes. These are a very poor substitute.’ He put everything down on top of a desk groaning under the weight of yet more paper.

Millie picked up her mug of instant, wrapping her frozen fingers around its warmth. ‘I can understand why the Simpsons sold up, but why on earth has your brother bought it?’

‘God knows,’ Jed said cheerfully. He slid into the chesterfield’s twin. ‘More money than sense, I’ve always said. Had enough of the city and got money to burn. He’s got friends who run hotels; you remember that one we went to in Poole? Chap that owns that has a chain. Alex has been taking advice from him. Fancies setting this up as some kind of retreat for burned-out execs. The only thing that’s burning is money at the moment. It’s cost Alex a packet already and he’s only got as far as building repairs. He wants to do a complete refurb eventually.’

There was a silence as they drank their coffee. Jed offered Millie a biscuit and took one himself when she refused, crunching it loudly with his white teeth.

‘It’s so good to see you again, Millie.’ He smiled at her, his dark eyes warm. ‘I only wish there was time to catch up properly. We’ll have to do dinner. I want to hear all about your adventures.’ He took his phone out of his breast pocket and grimaced. ‘No time now, though, I have to get to work.’

‘Yes, that’s what I was going to ask you about.’

He double-guessed. ‘Is Trevor okay? I loved having him. There’s so much space for him here, but when I got this new job the hours were just killers. I couldn’t leave him on his own and Alex is up to his proverbials with all the repairs. Tessa didn’t mind and I knew you’d be happy he was with the Tizzards.’

‘He loved it with them, but it would have been nice if you had told me what you had planned for my dog,’ she said crisply.

Jed looked shamefaced. ‘I’m sorry about that, Millie. Didn’t want you to worry about him.’

‘Not the point, Jed. The first I knew was when I rang Tessa when I got back.’ She blew out an exasperated breath. ‘Whatever. He’s fine. And it wasn’t what I was going to ask, though. What’s this new job?’

Jed’s phone beeped. He leaped up. ‘I’m late. I’ve got to go, Millie darling.’ He dropped a kiss on her head. ‘I’ll give you a bell about dinner.’ His phone beeped again. ‘I’m so sorry. When the call comes through, I have to go.’

Millie twisted to watch Jed as he ran out. He deftly avoided his brother coming the other way.

‘Ah, Millie,’ Alex said. ‘How very lovely to see you again. Has my errant brother been looking after you? He always seems to be in a tearing hurry these days.’ They heard the sound of the Golf’s engine gunning down the drive. Alex peered into Millie’s mug. ‘Instant,’ he said with some disgust. ‘He could have made time to make you some proper coffee.’ He sat in the chair Jed had just vacated and took a custard cream.

‘He seemed to be in a hurry to get to work.’

‘They keep him on quite a tight rein, as I understand.’ Alex picked up some papers, scanned them half-heartedly and then replaced them.

‘What’s he doing? More consultancy?’

‘If only, Millie. If only. No, didn’t you know? My little brother has got himself a job with Blue Elephant.’

Chapter 5 (#u895d7e17-68af-5f72-a532-78d43399b97b)

‘Who’s that?’ Tessa asked.

Millie started. She’d been miles away. Wiping down a table, she concentrated on Tessa who was, unsubtly, trying to take her mind off Jed. ‘Eleri? I told you about her. Davey Pascoe’s granddaughter. Remember I said we hooked up in Thailand.’ Millie reined in her irritation. She was sure she’d told Tessa about her. ‘We travelled back together and I said she could help out every now and again. Need an extra pair of hands in the café now Zoe’s in Durham and Clare’s at catering college.’

Tessa stared at the willowy figure, dressed in a blue and green chiffon kaftan and bell-bottoms. Eleri sensed she was being discussed and turned around and smiled. Her light eyes rooted Tessa to the spot. ‘She’s gorgeous.’

‘Certainly is and a hard worker too.’ Millie took a loaded tray into the kitchen and Tessa followed at her heels.

‘Get you, hooking up with folk like a seasoned traveller. Remind me how you two met up, then?’

‘Well, I got myself to the same island she was living on and one morning she just appeared out of the sea. Keen swimmer, apparently. Used to do it competitively.’

‘And you offered her a job. Just like that?’

Millie plunged a stack of plates into hot water. ‘Yup.’

‘No references?’

Millie shrugged. ‘None needed really. If she hadn’t worked out, I wouldn’t keep her on. But she’s been great.’

‘Ken would die to paint her.’ Tessa peered through the porthole window in the kitchen door. ‘With those amazing eyes and all that hair.’

Eleri, her golden-brown hair tamed into a waist-length plait, was chatting to an obviously smitten Arthur.