change ever, before meeting Lottie in the Firholme car park. He’d loaded the tree into the back of the pick-up earlier so he wasn’t covered in mud and pine needles but he was five minutes late.
Lottie was wrapped in a red scarf, hat and gloves and her cheeks were pink in the frosty air. Jay thought she looked fantastic and she also smelled gorgeous, of some delicious floral perfume that reminded him of a trip he’d once made to Provence.
Momentarily, he found himself as tongue-tied as a teenager. ‘Um … sorry to keep you waiting in this cold weather,’ he said before they set off for the village where Steph lived, chatting about the busy day he’d had.
The curtains twitched and two small faces appeared in the front window the moment he pulled onto the driveway of the semi tucked at the end of a small cul-de-sac.
Myra and Jodie were in onesies and just as excited as earlier. Jay had brought his toolkit in case Steph didn’t have a suitable saw. With the girls watching from the window, he helped Lottie saw the bottom off the tree while it was on the truck, and trimmed a few of the branches. They carried it inside and fitted it into the stand Lottie had repaired.
The girls were allowed to water it but Steph said dinner was almost ready and it would be too late to stay up and decorate it afterwards.
They protested loudly. ‘It’ll be even more fun tomorrow,’ Jay said. ‘And your tree will be all the happier after it’s had a rest and a drink of water.’
‘Yes, it’s been a very long and exciting day,’ Lottie said. ‘Not only for the tree.’
Jay smiled. Actually, the first day of tree sales had turned out far more fun than he ever expected it to be. He’d been reminded that it might only be a job to him, but it was a highlight of the year for many families.
The girls went upstairs to wash their hands.
‘Will you stay for something to eat?’ Steph asked.
‘Thanks, but we’d planned on going into town for a pub meal,’ Lottie said quickly.
Jay felt good at hearing her say it. He was glad he’d found the nerve to ask her out, and the tree delivery had given him an excuse to keep things casual. Even so, he hadn’t been that confident she’d say yes. He’d been quite worried that he was overstepping the mark in offering to deliver the tree at all.
‘You’d be very welcome. We’re having a Christmas pizza night.’
‘I don’t know …’ Lottie said. She clearly felt it would be Jay’s worst nightmare. He also wondered if Steph was keen to vet him.
‘You won’t have enough for me,’ Jay said.
‘I can promise you we do. They’re pizza bases that I’ve topped with tomato sauce and I’ve made extra for the freezer.’
‘If you’re sure.’ He waited for Lottie to give permission. He didn’t know the family and he didn’t want to intrude.
‘Come on,’ Steph said. ‘Do you know what you’ve let yourself in for?’ she asked. ‘The girls can be very … inquisitive.’
‘Do they take after their mother?’ Lottie said, with an ironic eyebrow lift. She was now convinced that Steph’s invitation was purely so she could check Jay out.
Steph feigned innocence. ‘I’ve no idea what you mean.’
‘Hmm,’ Lottie said but Jay seemed OK with the idea.
He smiled. ‘Actually, I’m used to kids. I used to run outdoor courses for children. Not as young as the twins, mainly older primary and secondary school.’
‘I didn’t know that.’ Lottie sounded amazed. ‘Where was that?’
‘In my previous job at Greythwaite Hall. I enjoyed teaching adults and young people. I still have all the certificates. Outdoor pursuits instructor, forestry skills.’
‘Wow. That’s brilliant. Why don’t you suggest we do something like it at Firholme after Christmas?’
‘I’d thought about it but … life got in the way.’ The truth was he didn’t know if he could handle being around so many happy families. It was another avenue of enjoyment that he’d shut off because of his bitterness about Ben and Nadia – another door he’d slammed shut. A door that today had encouraged him to open, even if it was only a crack to peer inside at the possibilities. ‘With the new job and stuff, I’d put it on the back burner. Do you think Shayla might be interested?’
Lottie nodded enthusiastically and Jay wondered if he’d caught a tiny bit of her zest for making the most of life. ‘I’m sure she would,’