Page 34 of I’ll Be Home for Christmas

‘I’m a bit older – fifty-three.’

She puffed out her cheeks. ‘Much older.’ He laughed. She liked it when he did that.

‘Do you miss working?’ her mum asked Jonathan when talk fell back to his carpentry talents. ‘You’re always making things at your chalet. Is that enough for you?’

He scraped his last piece of pancake through some syrup. ‘Some days I miss working full time. But retiring early was a timing thing.’ He spoke more to Meg when he added, ‘Mum and Dad had gone and I really wanted to keep the chalet. I contemplated having it as a holiday house, but when I came here to clear it out, I realised I wanted to be here longer term. I had a carpentry business I owned and ran with a good mate and he bought me out.’

‘At least you’re still doing what you love,’ said Meg.

‘What about you?’ he asked. ‘Do you still love what you do?’

‘Yes.’ Meg made sure she had a good mouthful of fruit so she could take her time should he ask more.

Her mum had already gone over to the sideboard and brought back the little basket, still filled with a good supply of the chocolates Meg had brought over. The branded boxes, with The Cocoa Cupboard in white writing on a pink background, were so familiar that it hurt to see them. That very same shade of pink had been torn down from the window dressings and the signage when the shop was sold, and now it was awaiting a new sign to cement the change.

‘You made these?’ Jonathan asked as he admired the packaged chocolates.

‘They’re so good,’ Sarah insisted. ‘The honeycomb crunchy bits are the best.’

‘Try some,’ Earl urged.

Meg smiled at Jonathan. ‘Be my guest. Honestly, I brought loads over with me.’

‘So where is this business of yours?’ Jonathan asked.

‘Camden, London,’ Meg said. She couldn’t very well not answer; that would be rude.

‘I go over to England now and again – my sister lives in Surrey with her husband and kids so I try to get over a couple of times a year. I could bring the kids into the shop. They love all things chocolate.’

To change the subject, Meg urged him to try the chocolate in front of him and when he did – and declared it the best he’d ever tasted – Meg didn’t miss another sneaky grin from Sarah as she smiled at the praise. Her niece was on to her.

Talk turned to some of the alterations Jonathan had made in his chalet, and he said he was ready to do some repainting.

Sarah was right on it. ‘I’d love to help while I’m here,’ she offered. ‘It’s all good experience.’

‘I’ll gladly take the help,’ said Jonathan. ‘But this is supposed to be a holiday for you.’

‘I don’t mind, I kind of love it.’

‘Well then, I’ll pay you.’

‘No way,’ said Sarah. ‘You help Grumps and Nanna all the time. No payment necessary.’

But Jonathan insisted harder. ‘I get paid in food, believe me.’

Sarah rolled her eyes, which made Meg smile; it was something Chrissie had done as a teenager whenever she got told off.

‘Fine,’ said Sarah, and held out her hand to Jonathan even though it was tricky with him sitting next to her at the table. ‘It’s a deal.’

Talk moved to paint colours and the DIY store just outside Winterbruck. And by the time Meg had finished clearing away the breakfast things with Grumps, Jonathan and Sarah had locked in an idea about colour schemes and when the work would start.

Jonathan left after coffee, and when Meg was telling her dad her plans to go to the Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe, Sarah overheard.

‘I’d love to go with you,’ said Sarah. ‘I’ve never been.’

Meg knew she should say no because of Chrissie and how she’d feel if – or more likely when – she found out.

But she didn’t want to.