Underneath the Christmas Tree
: Chapter 26

When I woke the next morning, Ned was sitting on the edge of the bed pulling on his boxers. I reached out and lightly ran a finger down his spine, tracing the length of the tree tattoo which I now knew in intimate detail. The action made him shiver, but not with cold.

‘Good morning, Miss Wynter,’ he lazily smiled, twisting round to face me.

His eyes were aflame and the sight of them caused my insides to dance with desire.

‘Good morning,’ I whispered back.

‘How are you feeling this morning?’ he asked.

‘Wonderful,’ I said, stretching out and feeling more relaxed than I had in, well, forever. ‘Rested, refreshed and raring to go.’

Given that I’d had such little sleep, that wasn’t at all how I’d expected to feel, but apparently love really did conquer all. Even postcoital exhaustion.

‘Good,’ Ned laughed, pinning my arms above my head and straddling me in one swift movement, ‘I was hoping you were going to say that.’

I would have quite happily spent the whole day in bed, but as it was Sunday, the last Sunday before Christmas in fact, Wynter’s Trees was going to be open for business and there was work to do. Although, not by me, apparently.

‘Are you sure you can manage without me?’ I asked Ned a while later, once he had eventually forced himself back into the shower and then into some clothes. ‘What about clearing up from the party? Surely you’ll need some help with that.’

Ned shook his head.

‘Maya and I sorted most of that last night. It gave us more opportunity to carry on talking about my feelings for you.’

I still felt guilty about that and as much as I wanted to talk to Maya, and clear the air, I didn’t think I could replace the words just yet. Neither did I feel ready to face David and the Wynter’s Trees beach hut brigade either, but that was for a different reason. Ned and I had agreed not to tell everyone our news so soon and I knew my expression, and the not so secretive smile lighting up my face, would give the game away.

‘Right,’ I swallowed, feeling jittery about Maya again.

‘She really doesn’t mind, you know,’ Ned insisted, before swooping down and planting a sensuous and lingering kiss on my willing lips.

‘Well, that’s good,’ I sighed, feeling all floaty again as the kiss ended. ‘I’d hate to hurt her. She’s such a good friend. Sorry,’ I then added, as I tried but failed to stifle a yawn.

The previous night’s exertions were catching up with me after all and Ned looked well pleased to be the cause of my exhaustion.

‘You stay inside and finish wrapping the puddings,’ he grinned. ‘If it gets too manic later, I’ll call you over.’

‘All right,’ I relented, eager to stay out of sight. ‘If you insist.’

Once Ned had gone, leaving Bandit snoozing next to the log burner, I spent a wonderful couple of hours sorting through a large wicker hamper which had belonged to Mum and was full of fabrics.

She had always hoarded scraps of material and ends of rolls, including those featuring Christmas designs and they were going to be just the thing for wrapping up the pudding bowls. I found a bundle of raffia too, which would be ideal for tying the material in place. But most poignant of all was the box of old Christmas cards which Mum painstakingly cut up to make labels. I could remember her doing it every year when the decorations came down.

Ordinarily the rush of memories would have either been pushed away or resulted in a flood of tears, but aside from slightly damp eyes, there was no dramatic reaction. In fact, I was happy to let the remembrance come and took comfort in it. I could think of Mum now feeling light of heart and with no gnawing bitterness about Dad’s decision to move us south to Wynmouth.

What an emotional journey I’d been on since accepting David’s invitation to return. Within the last twenty-four hours alone, I’d gone from planning to leave for good, to allowing myself to fall headlong in love and declaring I would be staying at Wynter’s Trees forever. It was a miraculous turnaround and almost entirely the result of and reaction to Ned’s kind endeavours. What a wonder he was. I closed my eyes and saw myself standing where I had previously imagined Maya to be, right by his side, far into the future.

I hoped Ned had correctly interpreted our friend’s reaction to everything. The last thing I wanted was to upset Maya and I knew I mustn’t delay talking to her for long. In fact, the sooner I saw her, the better.

‘Knock, knock.’

And as if by magic, there she was.

‘Maya,’ I croaked, stunned to have summoned her. ‘Hey.’

My hands started to sweat and my internal thermostat soared as my brain scrabbled for something to say.

‘Have you got a sec?’ she asked.

‘Of course,’ I said. ‘Come in. I was just thinking about coming to replace you actually.’

‘I had a feeling you might be,’ she said, stepping properly in and closing the door behind her. ‘Ned said I should come over.’

‘Did he?’ I squeaked, shifting from one foot to the other.

I would have to thank him later.

‘Oh Liza,’ Maya then kindly said. ‘Please don’t look so worried. I haven’t come over here to bawl you out, because there’s really no need.’

‘Isn’t there?’ I gulped.

I was still replaceing it hard to believe that she could be so generous and forgiving, even though nothing she had said or done suggested otherwise.

‘No,’ she said, as she pulled off her muddy boots. ‘Absolutely not. The heart wants what the heart wants and there’s nothing anyone can do to change that.’

‘Ned told me that’s what you’d said,’ I whispered, my bottom lip trembling a little.

I reached for the kettle before I succumbed to the tears of relief I could feel waiting in the wings.

‘And I meant it,’ she firmly said. ‘In fact, I should have backed off that first morning I tried to kiss Ned under the mistletoe and you walked in,’ she further added.

‘You should?’ I frowned, taken aback.

‘Yes,’ she laughed, elegantly sitting on one of the stools I had to scramble to get a foothold on. ‘I should. Now I’ve thought it all through, I’ve realised it was as plain as the nose on my face right from that very moment.’

‘What was?’

‘That Ned was smitten with you, of course.’

‘Really?’

From what I could remember I thought he’d looked knocked sideways by Maya’s flirty antics. It never entered my head that he’d noticed me.

‘And you looked pretty keen on him too,’ she carried on, dreamily staring off into the distance.

‘Are you sure?’ I flushed.

‘I am now,’ she nodded. ‘And you know, I would have given him up straightaway, only you said you were certain that he liked me.’

I knew now that that was the result of them looking like the perfect match, coupled with my desire to see Wynter’s Trees left in the hands of the best possible team to run it. Had I factored my feelings into the equation and confessed them far sooner, things would have been different weeks ago, but there was no point dwelling on that now.

‘Anyway,’ Maya shrugged, as if her derailed romance was all part of life’s great plan, ‘all’s well that ends well and I’m delighted for you both. I really am.’

‘That’s so kind of you, Maya,’ I said.

Her smile was both generous and genuine and she didn’t look at all fazed.

‘Would you like a coffee?’ I offered, as the kettle boiled.

‘Not really,’ she said, wrinkling her nose. ‘But I wouldn’t say no to a mug of your hot chocolate.’

‘With extra marshmallows?’

‘Of course!’ she laughed.

I added a flake to her mug and a swirl of squirty cream and sprinkles as well as marshmallows.

‘So,’ I said, sliding the packed mug towards her as she eyed it greedily, ‘how’s it looking out there so far today?’

‘It was a slow start,’ she told me, ‘but it’s picking up, though there aren’t many trees going out now.’

I supposed it was getting a bit late in the month to sell many more.

‘Mind you, the lack of early customers gave Noah the chance to tell us all about his and Michael’s plans for the wedding.’ Maya carried on, pulling out the flake and dipping it in the cream before taking a bite.

‘Oh really?’ I sighed. ‘I’m sorry I missed that.’

‘Don’t worry,’ she said, scooping up another dollop of cream. ‘He’s currently running on repeat, so you won’t miss out. In fact, you’ll most likely get to hear it all twice.’

I had to laugh at that.

‘It’s going to be the wedding to end all weddings, isn’t it?’ I said, imagining the elaborate scene.

‘Definitely,’ she giggled. ‘Beach themed of course.’

‘Don’t tell me,’ I said, feeling disappointed that I wouldn’t get to witness the nuptials first-hand, but excited for the ecstatic couple nonetheless. ‘My guess is the Caribbean or the Maldives.’

‘Wynmouth,’ Maya said, deadpan.

‘You’re kidding?’

‘Nope,’ she grinned. ‘They want to keep it local, although Sophie will be doing the catering which will mean a very Caribbean twist.’

‘Well, I never,’ I said.

‘You look as shocked as we all did.’

‘I am.’

‘Apparently, Noah has ancient grandparents who refuse to fly and, as they’ve always been so supportive, especially when he was a teenager and fell out with his dad, he and Michael want to wed somewhere they’ll be able to get to.’

‘That’s so sweet,’ I choked.

‘Don’t,’ she said, waving her hands in front of her eyes. ‘You’ll set me off again. Oh,’ she added, ‘and I almost forgot, they’ve asked Wren to design and make the rings.’

‘Oh my god,’ I squeaked, feeling more tears gathering.

‘I know, right?’ she sniffed, blinking hard.

I felt thoroughly content once Maya and I had talked, drunk more hot chocolate and made serious inroads into the Christmas tub of Roses which Ned had thought was out of sight because it was on a shelf too high for me to reach. Maya’s height came in handy once we’d decided to liberate it.

She told me she was already looking forward to working the next season at Wynter’s Trees and that she knew the business was going to go from strength to strength now Ned and I had got our acts together. I was sorely tempted to tell her about the forest school plan, but didn’t. Ned and I really needed to sit and talk it all out and prepare a proper schedule before we went public.

By the time Maya left, promising to keep mine and Ned’s relationship secret, I felt like I was floating again, and it wasn’t all down to the extra sugar I’d ingested. As I set to, cutting out large circles of fabric to wrap the puddings in, using the pinking shears to crimp the edges, I made sure I had my new journal to hand to jot down the sudden influx of new ideas which were crowding in.

Top of my personal to-do list was packing up my flat. I wouldn’t need to renew the lease, which was fortunately due to run out in the new year, now I was moving back to the lodge. I also made a note to talk to Ned about my travel plans, not that I was likely to forget, but who doesn’t love a list?

I wouldn’t be giving up my trip to see the northern lights and would persuade Ned to take the time off to come with me. I knew the stunningly illuminated Icelandic skies would be a spectacle he would enjoy. And a romantic one too. And I was very much looking forward to playing out that reindeer rug fantasy…

I had just finished wrapping up the last pudding bowl when I had another visitor.

‘David,’ I said, opening the door, ‘come in.’

‘I’m not going to keep you,’ he said, almost before I’d got the door shut, ‘and I know he wasn’t supposed to say anything, but I just wanted to tell you how absolutely thrilled I am about you and Ned.’

‘Oh David,’ I said, the sight of him so happy, causing my eyes to fill with tears.

I reached out and pulled him into a hug.

‘I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am,’ he said, sounding choked himself. ‘I just knew you two would make the perfect pairing.’

‘You never really did give up hoping that I’d change my mind about selling my shares in the business, did you?’ I smiled, releasing him.

‘No,’ he admitted. ‘I didn’t, although when I caught sight of Ned’s face after your chat and during Noah’s proposal last night, I did begin to wonder.’

Was it really less than a day since Ned and I had talked at the party? It felt like eons ago already.

‘I’d had no idea Ned had gone to the bank and to see the solicitor,’ David carried on, ‘and when he told me after the party that you’d changed your mind about leaving and he’d told you it was too late, I couldn’t believe it.’

‘Oh David.’

‘I soon told him he had to fight for you and tell you how he felt.’

Apparently, Maya wasn’t the only one who had borne witness to mine and Ned’s true feelings for one another during the last few weeks.

‘I hope you don’t think I was interfering,’ David then said, sounding less sure.

‘Not at all,’ I reassured him.

‘Not that I think he really had any intention of letting you go,’ he added.

Had my car started first time, he might not have had any choice. Thank goodness for that dodgy starter motor.

‘And when he walked into the office this morning,’ David continued, his smile back in place, ‘I just knew everything had come good.’

‘More than good,’ I told him, matching his with a very happy smile of my own. ‘I truly can’t remember a time when I’ve ever felt so happy, David.’

‘It’s nothing less than you deserve and I know you and Ned are going to more than successfully carry on your dad’s legacy.’

‘I hope so.’ I swallowed.

‘I know so,’ he declared. ‘Now, when are you planning on telling everyone the wonderful news?’

‘Not just yet,’ I said, ‘Ned and I need to get used to the shift in our relationship first and of course, we wouldn’t want to steal Noah and Michael’s thunder.’

‘Well, in that case,’ David laughed, ‘you’d both better amend your expressions, because if you go around grinning like Cheshire cats, then everyone’s going to know, whether you want them to or not!’

With David’s words ringing in my ears, and Ned’s face as worn out from smiling as mine was, I was extremely grateful that Wynter’s Trees was closed the next day. No one was due to replenish the huts and the uninterrupted twenty-four hours of peace and quiet gave us ample opportunity to get to know each other better.

We walked alone through the reserve, with Bandit around the plantation, and spent hours talking through our plans for the future, making love and gazing into the warming flames of the log burner.

‘Come on,’ I laughed, as I started and gave up trying to wrap the presents I’d got from the huts, as Ned began kissing my neck. ‘You need to get outside. Let’s go for another walk.’

‘You make me sound like Bandit,’ he smiled.

‘You’ve certainly got as much as energy as him!’ I giggled.

‘I have,’ he agreed, crossing the room and throwing me a coat from the rack, ‘and I have to warn you,’ he added, waggling his eyebrows, ‘fresh air gives me an appetite.’

‘Why does that not surprise me?’

The cold initially took my breath away, but by the time we’d walked to the family tree, I was feeling warmer.

‘It’s looking all right, isn’t it?’ I said, staring up into the branches.

‘It’s a bit too soon to say to be honest,’ said Ned, also scrutinising it. ‘But I’m pretty sure it’s going to be fine. It’s bound to take a little while to realise its roots aren’t bound to the confines of the pot, but then it will hopefully romp away.’

‘A bit like a Victorian miss released from her corsets,’ I grinned.

Ned looked at me, a wicked smile playing about his lips.

‘I’d like to release you from your corsets,’ he said, reaching towards me but I jumped out of the way.

‘Oh, no you don’t,’ I said, ‘not out here anyway. It’s freezing!’

I skipped further away as he lunged for me again and our silly antics set Bandit off.

‘Don’t you go running off,’ Ned called as I hid behind a tree. ‘I know what happened last time and I can’t believe you think this is cold. You should try standing out here naked, soaking wet and with nothing more than a tiny towel between you and the elements.’

I stepped out from my hiding place, laughing.

‘Yes,’ I said, taking the hand he offered, ‘I’ve been meaning to ask you about that. Why are all your towels so small?’

‘They’re not,’ he said, squeezing my fingers, ‘but the first time I grabbed the one that was closest to hand.’

‘And the second?’

‘Well,’ he said, ‘the second time, I knew you were about to head for the hills and selected what I thought would show me off in the best light.’

I let out an inelegant, but uncontainable, snort.

‘You mean you thought that if I got another look at your toned torso, then I simply wouldn’t be able to resist following you back inside?’

‘Exactly,’ he said, marching ahead and pulling me along with him.

‘That’s terrible,’ I tutted.

‘My body?’

‘Oh no,’ I said, ‘that’s stunning.’

He let out a bark of laughter and pulled me into his arms for another lingering kiss. The resulting goosebumps and tingles were nothing to do with the temperature.

‘I didn’t really grab that tiny towel to seduce you,’ he said, when we finally came up for air. ‘It was sheer panic. The thought of losing you had me down those stairs and out the door before I’d given it a second thought. There was no way I was going to let you go, Liza.’

I felt even warmer after he’d said that.

Back inside the lodge, and after our appetites for each other had been sated again, I finally wrapped the presents and our talk turned to business.

‘Have you made arrangements to talk to Liam about his apprenticeship yet?’ I asked.

‘No,’ Ned frowned. ‘I wanted to discuss it with you again before I went ahead. Are we sure we can afford to take him on now our plans for the future have changed?’

I thought about what David had told us about Wynter’s Trees having had its most lucrative season so far. The books were looking better year on year and with the huts now in place, and additional new events planned, the bumper seasons looked set to continue.

‘Absolutely,’ I firmly said. ‘I’m not going to draw more from the profits than I do already and the extra share of mine, that I usually keep in the business, can be invested in setting up the forest school next year. As long as we don’t overstretch ourselves and we make sensible choices, we’ll be fine. Does that sound okay to you?’

I’d already set enough money aside for my trip and didn’t think it would be too much of a stretch to make it an adventure for two.

‘Yes,’ Ned nodded. ‘That’s fine by me. Exactly what I thought you had in mind. I’m not expecting the extra events throughout the year to make much to begin with but they will eventually and that will help.’

I was feeling excited about both our personal and professional futures.

‘I’m going to be kept busy setting up my new business and with all these extras we keep coming up with, we’re going to need an extra pair of hands.’

‘And Liam’s will be ideal,’ Ned agreed. ‘We’ll see him at the solstice celebration tomorrow so I’ll ask him and Chelsea then to come out and see us on Wednesday.’

‘He’s going to be so happy,’ I beamed, imagining the look on Liam’s face when we told him what we had in mind.

‘He is,’ Ned agreed.

‘Did you say solstice celebration?’

I knew there always was one in the village, but I’d never taken part.

‘I did,’ said Ned, adding another log to the burner. ‘And you’ll need to wrap up. It’s happening on the beach and as we’re keeping our relationship a secret, I’m not going to be able to give you a hug to keep you warm, am I?’

‘No,’ I said, ‘I don’t suppose you are. I’ll see if I can replace some thermals.’

‘Sexy,’ he laughed, eyeing me up again, with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.