Christmas at Lilac Cottage - Holly Martin Page 0,76
their twinkling orbs welcoming people into the town. The rain from the night before had clearly frozen in the early hours of the morning and it sparkled from the rooftops of houses and cars that lined the streets.
Penny pulled her car up outside The Pilchard, turned the engine off and took a deep breath before she stepped out of the car. She looked up at the pub sign as it swung gently in the cool sea breeze; a cheery fish smiling inanely as it leapt out of the water. Lights twinkled from the windows and even though the pub was closed it looked warm and inviting. This had been one of her favourite places to hang out in her later teen years, long before her and Chris had become friends and started dating. It was warm, cosy and traditional with little booths to sit in. She had imagined then that she would be coming there for the rest of her life, and still propping up the bar when she was old, grey and wrinkled. She would never have thought that, due to circumstances beyond her control, she wouldn’t step foot in there for eight years. Maybe it was time to rectify that.
She pushed open the door. The pub was empty as it didn’t open until just before lunch, but the log fire crackled in the fireplace, ensuring the pub was welcoming for the lunchtime crowd. Kathleen was at the bar, busily going through a list, probably doing a stocktake as Penny had seen her do several times when she had come in the past.
‘We’re closed until eleven,’ Kathleen called out as she turned round, her face going pale as she saw her.
They both stood staring at each other for the longest moment before Penny held up the bag of clothes lamely. ‘I just wanted to return these.’
Kathleen stood still for a second or two longer before she walked towards her. For a moment Penny thought Kathleen might hug her, as her hands moved out, but then it seemed Kathleen changed her mind.
‘Thank you.’
Penny handed over the bag and hovered awkwardly but as there was clearly nothing more to be said she turned to go.
‘Will you stay for a drink?’ Kathleen blurted out. ‘I’d really like it if you stayed for a drink.’
Penny turned back and nodded. ‘I’d like that too.’
Kathleen went behind the bar. ‘What would you like?’
‘Just a tea please, I’m driving so…’
‘How about a hot chocolate?’
Penny smiled as she leaned on the bar. ‘You always were so good at making those. We used to come in here before we were legal just so we could have your hot chocolates and you used to let us sit in the booths, making one glass last a whole hour and you never kicked us out.’
‘I liked having you lot in here, and you weren’t doing any harm. The pub has always been a family place, always will be.’
Penny watched as Kathleen put a handful of marshmallows, a large spoonful of cocoa powder and a splash of milk in two tall glasses and stuck them both in the microwave whilst she heated some milk on the coffee machine. The microwave beeped and she pulled the glasses out, poured the hot milk into the gooey chocolatey mixture and gave it a good stir, topping it off with a good layer of squirty cream and a handful of chocolate shavings.
She passed a glass to Penny and gestured for her to go and sit by the fire. Kathleen sat opposite her on a soft leather brown armchair.
Penny took a sip, smiling at the fond memories she had of this drink and this place. She stared into the flames, wondering what she should say about what had happened in the past or whether to say anything at all. Maybe it was best just to let it go, move on and look to the future.
‘I’m sorry,’ Kathleen said and Penny turned to face her. ‘I am so sorry for what happened. I wanted to come and see you after the baby died, but… I don’t know… I thought maybe I should leave you alone for a few days. You had your family around you and I just thought you’d need a bit of space. I planned to come and see you at the weekend but then Chris left you and I found out…’ She trailed off.
‘That he had been sleeping with Jade the entire time I was pregnant?’