A Surprise Christmas Wedding - Phillipa Ashley Page 0,48

be left with Lottie and Jay. They chased around the felled spruce and fir, playing hide-and-seek for a few minutes before racing back to the adults, pink-cheeked and lively as ever.

‘What tree are you having?’ Myra asked Jay.

Lottie held her breath.

‘The biggest one, of course!’ Jodie said.

‘I’ll have to wait and see if there are any left when we’ve finished the sales,’ Jay said.

Jodie pulled a face. ‘You should put a tag on one now.’

‘A big one saying “Jay’s tree. Do not touch!”’ Myra shouted.

He caught Lottie’s eye. ‘Maybe I will.’

‘You need a tree for your children,’ Jodie said solemnly.

‘I don’t have any children yet,’ Jay said cheerfully enough though Lottie was instantly on edge.

‘Auntie Lottie doesn’t have any children either,’ Myra chirped up.

‘She has us instead. We’re her nieces,’ Jodie declared before staring up at Jay with her hands on her hips. ‘Do you have nieces?’

‘No …’ Jay said. ‘I have a nephew though.’

Lottie caught her breath, nursing a faint hope the twins wouldn’t pursue this topic.

Jodie folded her arms. ‘He needs a tree, then. When he comes to your house, he needs a tree.’

‘Girls …’ Lottie murmured.

‘Santa won’t know where to leave his presents if you don’t have a tree,’ Myra said.

Lottie dived in. ‘Now, you two, don’t get personal.’

‘What’s personal?’ Jodie asked.

‘Being nosy! Nosy Jodie!’ Myra sang. ‘Jodie is nosy. Nosy!’

Jodie looked upset and clutched Lottie’s hand. ‘I’m not nosy.’

‘No, you’re not,’ Jay said. ‘It’s OK,’ he said to Lottie, with a faint smile.

‘You’re not nosy,’ Lottie said, directing this to Myra. ‘But I think Jay is very busy and we should let him get on with his work.’

Myra subsided and pushed out her bottom lip. ‘Are you going to chop all the trees down?’ Jodie asked.

‘Not all of them.’ Jay didn’t seem upset by the girls’ interrogation but Lottie thought it had gone far enough. She telegraphed a silent thanks to him.

‘Mummy’s been a long time in the toilet,’ Jodie said.

‘She’s back now. Look!’ Lottie said, with relief. ‘Say thanks and goodbye to Jay.’

‘Thanks, Jay, Byeeee …’ the twins trilled in unison and dashed towards their mother.

Lottie hung back. ‘Thanks for the tree and the reindeer experience. I never expected the girls to give you the third degree about your personal life.’

‘They’re only curious,’ he said. ‘And it was a pleasure to see their faces.’

‘See you later, then?’

‘Yes, shall I pick you up around seven? Is that too late?’ he added hastily.

‘No. It’s fine.’

He pushed his hands into his pockets. ‘Maybe we could go into Keswick after for something to eat.’

Taken aback, Lottie hesitated.

‘If you want to,’ he added quickly.

‘That’s a good idea. I’ll look forward to it.’

A smile spread across his face. ‘Great. Now, I really do have to go. We’re almost ready to open the gates. It’s officially Christmas at Firholme.’

Fizzing with delight, she watched him walk away, whistling what sounded very much like ‘Jingle Bells’.

Chapter Fourteen

Three weeks to the wedding

Jay waved Lottie and her family goodbye before jogging to the sales centre. He hadn’t lied when he’d said he was too busy to help them choose a tree but there was no way he was going to miss a chance to spend more time with Lottie. Being able to bring some happiness to her family had been a bonus.

He was relieved that the team had prepared well because there were already a few people queuing up at the entrance, hoping to be first to choose a tree. Some folk liked to have their decorations up before December had even arrived. With the right care, plenty of watering and a cool room, their trees should last right through to twelfth night.

There was no time for a break for him from eleven a.m. right through to six p.m. when the centre closed and he’d had to call Lukasz, the chef at the house, to take Trevor for a walk. Yet, as he buzzed around the site, fixing minor issues and lending a hand with the carrying and netting, he couldn’t help thinking of the twins’ comments about Sebastian.

It was probably the first time he’d ever acknowledged the baby as his nephew. Hitherto he’d tried to pretend he didn’t exist. He now felt ashamed that it had taken two five-year-olds to remind him that no matter the circumstances in which Sebastian had arrived in the world, he was still Jay’s flesh and blood, even if not in the way he’d hoped.

After making sure the tree centre was secure, he had time for the quickest shower and