Chapter Eighteen

‘ T hank you.’ Taking the money, Robyn passed over the cake box full of red and green iced cupcakes. She nodded towards the tables in the coffee and cake area, which they had set up with blank lanterns, felt-tip pens, and an assortment of other crafty bits. ‘Are you staying to make a lantern?’

The young boy looked up at his dad, who nodded enthusiastically. ‘Yes, please.’

‘Great. Find yourselves somewhere to sit and give one of us a shout if you need anything else.’ She smiled as the dad and boy sat at the table in the window.

‘I love lantern parade day.’ Brooke grinned as she sidled across to her and plucked a bread roll from the breadbasket before bagging it up. ‘There’s something about us and the cafe next door opening our doors to people to decorate their lanterns. Not to mention the actual parade itself.’

‘What exactly is it?’ Robyn asked, as she began serving her next customer.

‘It’s a lantern parade.’ Diane stated and shrugged.

‘Haha, I know it’s a lantern parade, but where do people parade to? And why?’ Robyn smiled at her customer. ‘Sorry, was it two or three gingerbread Santas you wanted?’

‘Three please,’ the woman smiled back.

‘We. Not people. We.’

‘We? As in you?’ Robyn passed the gingerbread across the counter. ‘Thank you, that’ll be three pounds, please?’

‘Thank you. Merry Christmas.’ The woman tapped her card against the machine before leaving.

Robyn frowned. Normally, when being uttered those words, Robyn would have this feeling of dread and sadness creep across her, but she hadn’t. Not then. She’d actually felt hopeful. She glanced towards the window, half-expecting to see Jasper pulling up in his van or walking Dasher past. It was because of him, wasn’t it? She’d felt hopeful because of the dance they’d shared last night. She’d felt hopeful because of the kiss they’d shared.

‘Earth to Robyn.’ Diane clicked her fingers.

‘Sorry, I was miles away.’ Robyn shook herself back to reality.

‘We’d noticed.’ Diane laughed. ‘Anyway, what I was trying to say was that ‘we’ includes you. You’ll join us for the lantern parade, right?’

‘Umm, I guess so.’ She hadn’t given it much thought. It hadn’t really occurred to her that everyone from the bakery would be going along too.

‘Good.’ Diane rubbed her belly. ‘Right, so now we know you’re definitely joining us, I’ll tell you what it is. As you can see, all local residents and people coming into Penworth Bay for the event decorate their own lantern and then everyone meets opposite the pub.’ Diane continued, a huge grin plastered to her face. ‘And when everyone is ready, Gerald, the pub landlord, will tell the Penworth Bay band to start and we’ll walk down to the beach.’

‘Singing.’ Brooke laughed as she smiled at Diane. ‘You forgot the most important bit.’

‘Haha, so I did.’ Diane slapped her forehead. ‘Yes, we all sing carols along to the band’s music.’

‘Oh, that sounds sweet.’ Robyn walked out from behind the bakery and picked up a stray felt-tip pen which had rolled from one of the tables towards her. Giving it back to the young girl decorating her lantern at the table, Robyn returned. She’d never been in a parade before. Of course, she’d watched them throughout her years, for various reasons, but never actually been involved.

‘It is. It’s just perfect. So, umm, Christmassy.’ Diane giggled. ‘I can’t think of another word to describe it.’

‘She’s right, though. It’s so lovely seeing everyone joining in.’ Brooke passed a cupcake to her customer and thanked them before turning back to the conversation. ‘After the parade, everyone rushes down onto the beach to warm ourselves round campfires and drink hot chocolate.’

Robyn smiled as the question of whether Jasper would be there flashed through her mind. After their kiss yesterday, they’d spent so long talking and getting to know one another that she couldn’t wait to see him again. She laughed. She could almost feel her heart flutter with anticipation and yet before they’d danced together, she’d been certain he would hate her forever. She must remember to thank Lizzie and Terrence for their part in pushing the two of them together.

‘Robyn?’

Brooke’s voice drew her from her thoughts, and she blinked before looking at her. ‘Yes, sorry. I was just thinking.’

‘No problem.’ Brooke grinned. ‘You wouldn’t happen to have been thinking about a certain man with a van selling cider, would you?’

‘Huh?’ Was it literally written right across her forehead? She drew her hand up automatically, touching the skin beneath her fringe.

‘Jasper just came in. He’s asking after you.’ She pointed towards the door.

‘Oh, right.’ Robyn looked across to the other side of the counter and sure enough, Jasper was standing at the side, speaking to Diane, but with his eyes firmly fixed on her every move. A grin tugged at the corners of her lips as she tried to keep her face neutral. After all, what was to say he wasn’t here to inform her yesterday's actions had been a mistake? She straightened the breadbasket before walking across to him, feeling herself relaxing as soon as he smiled at her. He wasn’t here to tell her it was over before anything had begun. He was happy to see her. ‘Hi.’

‘Hey, sorry to just barge in on you at work.’ He folded andunfolded the woollen beanie hat in his hands. ‘I just thought I’d pop in on the off chance you were due your lunch break soon?’

‘Oh, umm...’ Robyn stuttered. She’d been right. Hewasn’there to end things.

‘Why don’t you take it now, Robyn?’ Dianesidledbackup to them. ‘We need to start breaks about now, anyway.’

‘Really?’ Robyn looked betweenDianeand Jasper. She wanted nothing more than to throw off herapronand join him for lunch, but she also knewDiane must be tired having been on her feet all morning. ‘Didn’t you want to go for yours first?’

‘Nah, Ian will be here in about ten minutes and he’s going to take over behind the counter while I go and help Elsie in the kitchen, anyway.’ Diane rolled her eyes. ‘I say help, but what Imeanis I’lllikelyaccidentallymess something up.’

‘Haha, Elsie told me about the burnt batch of rolls from yesterday.’ Brooke laughed.

‘Aw, I know. I still can’tbelieveIliterallyhad one job, to take the rolls out of the over, and I clean forgot.’ Diane grinned. ‘It’s a good job I work for Elsie. I think I’d have been fired from anywhere else.’

‘Nah, you wouldn’t.’ Brooke turned back to her customer.

‘Anyway, we’re all well here. You take your break.’ Diane winked at her.

‘Okay thanks.’ Puling her apron off, she joined Jasper around the other side of the counter and followed him outside. The cobbled street was busy today. People rushing into the cafe or the bakery to decorate their lanterns and people carrying their decorated lanterns high in the air as they walked home, seemingly practicing for this evening’s parade. She stepped to the side, clasping her hands in front of her, suddenly unsure what to do or what to say.

‘About last night...’ Standing in front of her, Jasper ran his hand across the back of his neck.

Ahh, and there it was. She felt the blood drain from her face. It had been a mistake. Too good to be true. And now he was trying to let her down gently. She shifted on her feet, averting eye contact. ‘Don’t worry, it was a mistake. I understand...’

‘Oh,’ Taking a step towards her, he tentatively took her hands in his, his skin cold against hers, warm from working in the bakery. ‘I was rather hoping it wasn’t.’

Snapping her head up, she met his gaze. She needed to know what he meant. Needed to know he was feeling as she was before she allowed hope to flood through her again. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Just that. I was rather hoping you felt something shift between us yesterday. I know I did.’

‘You did?’ She glanced down at their hands. His thumb was drawing circles against the back of her hands. It felt natural. ‘What?’

A smile flickered at the corner of his lips. ‘Something which led me to hope this could be the beginning of something between us. Something special.’

Letting out a long breath, Robyn allowed herself to smile. That was just what she’d been hoping too. ‘Same here.’

‘Good.’ leaning forward, Jasper cupped her cheeks, drawing her towards him until their lips touched.

Closing her eyes, she felt his hands wrap around her as she placed her hands behind his neck, keeping him close.

Once the kiss was over, he leaned back ever so slightly. ‘Would you let me show you that Christmas can be good?’

‘’What do you mean?’

‘My family are having a bit of a party over at my parents’ house. Will you come with me? Let me show you that happy families exist?’

‘At your parents’ house?’ She could feel the full force of a blush heat her face. She couldn’t meet his parents! They’d only just started seeing each other.

He laughed, the corners of his eyes creasing. ‘I don’t mean as in a ‘meeting my parents’ way. There’ll be other people there too, some neighbours and friends. They’ve been hosting a Christmas buffet for lunch on the day of the lantern parade for years now.’

‘Oh right. Of course.’ She bit down on her bottom lip. She wasn’t sure if she was more embarrassed now that she’d even hinted that he might be trying to introduce her to his parents than when she’d thought he actually was.

‘It’d be nice, you being there and meeting my family, though.’ He smiled.

‘I don’t know. They won’t want me. I’m just a stranger.’ She shook her head slightly. As much as her heart was screaming out for her to spend as much time with him as possible, she wasn’t sure if she was ready for this.

‘Do you trust me?’ His dark brown eyes locked with hers.

She nodded. ‘Yes.’

‘I wouldn’t ask you to come if I thought it would be awkward. It’s a super informal thing and everyone’s friendly. I just thought it would be a good excuse to spend some more time with you.’ He grinned. ‘Plus, I’m still on my mission to show you that people can really enjoy family get-togethers.’

‘Oh, okay.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I’ll come.’

‘Great!’ He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.’ ‘You sure?’

Meeting his gaze, she nodded. Why not? If there were going to be other people there besides just his family, it shouldn’t be awkward. Well, that awkward anyway. Besides, at this precise moment in time, she’d probably do anything just to be able to spend some time with him. Since last night, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him, about the way they’d danced, his hands in hers, the kiss.