Tristan took a deep breath and warned Lola, ‘Anna wants to come to the solstice ritual, but she said she is bringing her sister. I tried to put her off, but it was like trying to stop a steamroller.’
Lola glared at him. ‘I need to do your toast.’ Reaching for the kitchen door, she glanced back. There was a look of confusion on his face, like he knew something was off-kilter but not how to put it right. Lola prayed Anna wouldn’t manage to steamroll her way back into Tristan’s heart.
After all the indecision about making a move on Tristan, about not wanting to ruin their friendship, the appearance of Anna made Lola regret not moving sooner. Exhaling away the fear that Tristan might choose Anna, Lola put her palms together in semblance of prayer and asked for the ritual to be a success.
‘You ready for later?’ Alf asked as he stirred his tea when Lola brought toast out to him and Tristan.
Lola let out a harried puff of air. ‘No. Well, yes, but no, ugh, there’s been so much to do.’
‘Is there anything we can help with?’ Tristan asked.
Lola was about to say everything was fine, that she had it all under control, but instead she dropped onto the vacant chair between them. She desperately needed a hand. ‘Actually, could you pick up some logs for the fire. I decided I can’t just hope people will bring along enough bits to burn. I’ve got the logs on order and I was hoping to nip out, but .?.?.’
‘I’ll do it.’ Tristan reached to put a hand over hers, but pulled back. Lola’s own hand suddenly yearned for his touch before remembering she was the one who’d drawn the barriers up between them.
‘Thank you, I’ll text you the details of where to collect them.’ Lola stood up, her eyes darting all over Tristan looking for a sign, silently asking for everything to be OK between them. Seeing her own pain echoed in his eyes, she opened her mouth to speak but the arrival of Sue and her brood, who were now on school holidays, put paid to that.
‘Morning! Bread’s gone stale so I thought it was a perfect opportunity to grab breakfast here before we go last-minute shopping,’ she said as she directed her kids to a table. ‘All set for later?’
‘Yes,’ Lola said as she passed them menus, ‘I think I am now.’ She might have imagined it, but on the horizon there was a flash of light, as if someone up in the heavens was giving their blessing.
Chapter Thirty-Three
The arrival of the school holidays helped boost business. Their little corner of Cornwall had been blessed with bright winter sun and people were keen to make the most of the fine weather. Children ran around on the beach whilst parents perched on the harbour wall with takeaway coffee and cake. As distant family members began to arrive in the village, a proper holiday feeling descended and Lola briefly wondered if her plan to close between Christmas and New Year was a wise one. But she reasoned she deserved the rest, plus, she was looking forward to seeing the back of all the mince pies and getting her New Year baking plans ready.
As the last customers left, Lola locked the door and leaned back against it, her eyes trailing over the state they had left her café in. Chairs askew, a smear of cake on the wall from an excited small child, teacups that needed tidying away. However, it was a sight that made her happy, the mess an indicator of her success. Freya had headed back to Bayview to fetch Angelo so Lola turned the radio up and bopped around to the Christmas tunes as she embarked on her end-of-the-day cleaning routine – filling up the dishwasher, mopping the floor and wiping down the tables.
Once everything was straightened out, Lola pulled off her apron and nipped into the toilet to change out of her holly-print dress and into something much warmer, much more suited to spending a winter evening on a beach. She’d updated her social media earlier advising everyone to wrap up and bring blankets so they could make the most of the event. As she retouched her makeup, she couldn’t deny that she was both excited and terrified. It had been a very long time since she’d run any spiritual practices other than palm and card reading. Smoothing down her jumper she tried to soothe the butterflies in her stomach as well, unsure as to whether they were dancing due to nerves or excitement. After a few calming breaths Lola decided it was a bit of both and surrendered the success of the evening to the universe. Whatever would be, would be.
She’d just finished her preening when a loud knock at the door came. Hurrying to open it, she found Freya, Angelo and Tristan standing there. Tristan had two bags of logs at his feet and in Angelo’s arms was a very large round bowl.
‘What’s that?’ Lola asked as she stepped aside to let them in, enjoying the thrill of Tristan’s eyes catching her own.
Angelo placed the drum in the middle of the floor. ‘I found this out the back of Bayview and I wondered if you could use it to light your bonfire later? I removed the legs and have turned it into some sort of fire bowl. Keep the fire contained inside. I think it’ll be much better than laying it on the beach and far easier to tidy up. Maybe you can use it again next year?’
Moved by his thoughtfulness, Lola gave him a quick hug. ‘Oh, Angelo, it’s perfect. I think you might’ve saved the day, I’ve been so distracted by all the Christmas cakes and stuff that I’m not as organised as I’d like to have been, which does not sit well with me at all. After all, as you all know, I’m usually a planner. Thanks for getting the logs, Tristan, I’m sure with that many we’ll have quite the fire going,’ she added, unwilling to catch his searching eyes.
‘I’m sure it will all turn out wonderfully,’ Tristan said, in his usual reassuring way. ‘I think people are just expecting a bit of a bonfire, a bit of mulled wine and some nice words.’
Her heart thawing at his kindness, Lola turned to him, her grateful smile tight. ‘Maybe I can just claim I’m doing the ritual organically, you know, feeling the vibe and going with the flow.’
‘That would work!’ Tristan laughed. ‘I have to confess sometimes that’s what I do. If it wasn’t for Cathy watching me with her hawk eyes I sometimes think I could slip in something about pink elephants dancing on the church roof and no one would bat an eyelid.’
‘I’m sure they’re all listening intently,’ Lola reassured him, her resolve to stay angry at him fizzling.
Freya coughed to remind them they weren’t the only two in the café. ‘I think we should start setting up, don’t you? I mean it’s gone five and everyone is coming for six so we need to get the fire going. Chop-chop!’ She stood back and opened the door indicating for everyone to move. Tristan and Angelo picked up their cargo and went ahead.
Lola pulled her coat, gloves and scarf on and hauled her bag onto her shoulder. ‘When did you become the bossy one?’ she asked Freya on her way out.
‘When I was craving s’mores more than I wanted to listen to you and Tristan coo over each other. Although I don’t see much cooing going on. Is everything all right?’
Lola shook her head as she locked the door then dropped her voice. ‘His ex-girlfriend has tracked him down wanting to get back together and I don’t know, he just doesn’t seem very good at telling her firmly that it’s a no. Apparently she’s coming tonight.’
Freya’s jaw dropped open. ‘Why didn’t you say?’
‘I was trying to be the bigger person and not let it get to me. I don’t think anything will come of it, but, what if he does get back together with her?’
Freya pulled a disapproving face, ‘I wouldn’t worry about that. He clearly adores you. Anyway, you know what they say, an ex is an ex for a reason. Unless, of course, you’ve dumped him?’
