A Surprise Christmas Wedding - Phillipa Ashley Page 0,46
to go into the drama of Jay’s brother and love life. She suspected that Jay wouldn’t want her to share that very personal story even with Steph. They also hadn’t spoken more than a few words of greeting since then and she was beginning to wonder if Jay regretted pouring out his heart to her.
‘Mummy!’ Jodie skipped up to them, interrupting any talk about Jay, which was probably for the best. ‘Come and look at this chocolate. It’s purple!’
‘Purple chocolate? Surely not?’
Myra grabbed Lottie’s hand. ‘It really is. We want to get some for Miss Langley!’
‘You go,’ Lottie said, ‘while I get the bill.’
Steph took the girls to look at the chocolate display, which Lottie knew included some lavender-flavoured treats. Watching them chattering and laughing with Steph, Lottie had a wobbly moment. They were so trusting, so unaware of how fragile life was. Steph was understandably terrified, no matter how much she tried to hide it, and Lottie couldn’t work out if she was looking tired because of the worry or because something was actually wrong. Lottie herself was trying to be optimistic but what if Steph’s MRI scan wasn’t clear and she had to have more treatment – or worse, couldn’t have treatment at all?
She went to pay the bill and reminded herself that they’d all got through uncertainty by taking each day as it came, and that today had been a good one. She would focus on the next day when the twins were coming to choose their tree and meet the reindeer.
On Saturday morning, Tigger had nothing on Myra and Lottie as the girls sprang out of the back of the car like demented jack-in-the-boxes. A light dusting of snow had come down overnight, creating a perfect backdrop for the Christmas tree launch, and the visit of the reindeer.
They were literally bouncing up and down when Lottie met them and Steph on the Firholme staff car park.
‘What are they on? Red Bull and E numbers?’
Steph shook her head wearily. ‘God knows but they were awake at midnight, and four o’clock and six … I was hoping for a lie-in after the week I’ve had but there’s no chance of that.’
Lottie did think Steph looked drawn. She really wanted to believe it was down to the twins keeping her awake and not something worse.
‘We’re going to see the reindeer! We’re going to meet the reindeer!’ they shrieked, running around the car park, leaving welly prints in the snow.
‘I’m going to hug a baby reindeer,’ Myra declared. ‘And I’m going to bring him home to live with me.’
‘You can’t bring him home,’ Jodie said. ‘Mummy won’t let you.’
Lottie called them over. ‘Now, girls. It’s very important that we’re super gentle and quiet around the reindeer, especially the baby. You don’t want them to be scared and upset, do you?’
They both shook their heads solemnly.
‘If we’re too loud, the reindeer farmer might have to stop our visit,’ Steph warned.
Myra’s bottom lip wobbled.
‘Don’t worry,’ Lottie said. ‘Because I know that you two are going to be the best-behaved, gentlest visitors the reindeer have ever met and they will love you.’
‘We will,’ Jodie whispered.
Myra nodded. ‘We’ll be very quiet and very gentle especially with the baby.’
‘Good. So, shall we head up to their paddock? We can choose a Christmas tree too, if you’re good.’
‘Yes!!’ The girls erupted into life again. ‘We’re going to get a treeeeeeee! We’re going to meet a babeeeee reindeeerrrrrr!’
‘Oh God, I hope we don’t cause a stampede,’ Steph said, walking beside Lottie to the forest entrance, the twins skipping ahead.
‘Jay said the reindeer handlers are very good with children,’ Lottie said, highly amused.
‘I hope so.’
The Christmas tree centre looked spectacular, as if an invisible hand had sprinkled icing sugar over the fields and roofs of Firholme. Lottie was bubbling, despite the strain of the wedding. Who couldn’t be infected with the excitement of two five-year-olds who had snow, Christmas and reindeer to look forward to?
Steph must have caught her mood. ‘Feels good, doesn’t it?’
‘Yes.’
‘Thanks for being an awesome sister and friend.’ Steph flung her arm around Lottie and gave her a squeeze.
‘You’re welcome.’
‘There they are!’ The children hared off across the grass towards the Christmas tree centre where in a small paddock half a dozen reindeer stood munching on hay. The baby was no bigger than a large Labrador. Lottie had to admit, it was incredibly cute.
‘Girls. What did I say about being quiet?’ The twins slowed