By late afternoon, the crowds disappeared, and the vendors packed up and left in dribs and drabs. Brenda left on good terms with Cat, even if it was just for the sake of appearances. When the last business owner had departed, Nell told Zoe to go home and thanked her for all her hard work. She wasn’t going to make her stick around for the clear-up, it was going to take a while.
In the aftermath, Nell, Tom, Cat and Kieran were having a cup of tea in the lounge before she tackled putting all the furniture back and an epic hooverthon to clean up all the cake crumbs and debris on the floor.
‘Well,’ said Nell, ‘I officially declare the Holly Lodge wedding fair a success. I had lots of enquiries and I’ve even got some people coming back after Christmas to chat some more.’
‘I’m – I mean we’re really proud of you, Nell,’ said Tom and Nell took a moment to admire the light in his eyes at her success.
‘Very proud,’ Cat added. To be back to their normal friendship was the icing on the cake.
A noise in the hall had Nell halfway out of her seat when Harry stuck his head in the doorway, back from a day with his family.
‘Wow, looks like your wedding thing was a success. Great job, Nell!’ Enthusiasm filled his features, brightening his already blue eyes, and she felt that rush of attraction that ran in her veins whenever he was around.
‘Thanks, Harry. Nice day?’
‘Yep. We went somewhere called Thornhill Hall. What a place. Wouldn’t mind somewhere like that myself.’
‘Did you want a drink or anything?’ She hoped he’d say yes and join them, even though Tom was scowling. She really couldn’t figure out what he had against her polite, handsome American guest. It wasn’t like he’d ever been rude or complained about anything. Not like these other mystery guests whose reviews kept appearing on HotelRater.
‘No thanks. I think I’d like a soak in the tub and a good book on that amazing bed of yours. I mean …’ Colour flooded his cheeks. ‘The amazing bed in my hotel room. I’ll be going out again in a few hours anyway.’
Nell clenched her stomach muscles tight to stop the fluttering inside her as she imagined him naked in the bath. Had that been a Freudian slip? Had he been imagining her in bed with him? The thought that he might have been thinking of her in that way made her hot. Retaining some professionalism, she said, ‘Well, I’ll be down here if you need anything.’
‘Sure thing.’ And with a kind of salute he said goodbye.
Nell watched him go, knowing Cat’s eyes were on her but she didn’t look for fear that everyone would see the hope in her face.
‘Who salutes when they say goodbye?’ Tom said. He was getting a bit grumpy again and she wondered if it was another headache coming on.
‘Cool people, mate,’ Kieran teased. ‘I only salute when I see a magpie.’
‘And that’s not weird at all,’ Nell replied. ‘Do you salute magpies, Cat? I’ve been known to curtsey at cats before, but I don’t normally salute magpies.’ Cat giggled just as Mr Scrooge appeared at the window, tapping with his paw. Nell jumped up to let him in. ‘Hey, my little pussycat. Welcome home. Did you have a nice day out?’ She turned to see everyone smirking at her. ‘What?’
‘Do you think you’re getting a bit too attached to him?’ asked Tom.
‘No,’ Nell lied. She was getting far too attached to him and with every passing day hoped no one would claim him but didn’t fancy admitting it. After teasing Kieran just now he wouldn’t fail to tease her back. ‘I just like him, that’s all.’
‘No takers yet then?’ Nell shook her head. Tom held his hand down and surprisingly Mr Scrooge didn’t immediately back away or scratch him to death. ‘Seems he’s getting used to me.’
‘And me,’ said Kieran. Mr Scrooge curled up by the fire that was now roaring in the grate and Nell had to force herself to move from her comfortable chair.
With a great sigh she said, ‘Okay you lot, if you’re not helping then off you go. I’ve got a lot to do before I can relax for the evening.’
‘What movie is it tonight?’ asked Cat, knowing Nell would be curling up on the sofa and watching a romcom.
‘After today and given the fact it’s nearly Christmas? It’s got to be Love Actually. The wedding scene with Keira Knightley when everyone starts singing ‘All You Need is Love’… Perfect.’
Cat nodded approvingly. ‘Good choice.’
‘Want to join me?’
‘No, thanks. It’s my only night off so me and Kieran are cuddling up and watching a movie too.’
‘Not a romcom though,’ he added. ‘Unless I can count The Fast and the Furious as a romcom.’
‘Definitely not,’ Cat and Nell said in unison.
‘What about you, Tom?’ Nell asked. He was scrunching up his eyes and opening them slowly. He did it a couple of times and Nell’s worry began to grow again that he was getting another headache. It had been deafening in the hotel at times today so it wasn’t that surprising. ‘Tom?’
‘Yeah?’
‘Are you okay?’
‘Yeah fine,’ he answered, stopping blinking.
Nell cast a glance at Kieran and Cat, but they were snogging and didn’t seem at all worried. She was happy to see them back to normal and hoped the blow-out with Cat and Brenda had cleared the air, but the worry over them was replaced with worry over Tom. Maybe he had something in his eye. ‘Did you want to watch a movie with me tonight?’
‘Oh, umm.’ He considered for a moment. ‘No, thanks, Nell. I’ll help you clear up but then I’ll be off. Bit worn out after today.’
Feeling unusually disappointed that he didn’t want to stay, she stood up. ‘Go on then, lovebirds, you two go and let me get started.’
‘We’ll help you tidy first,’ Cat
