“I don’t want to miss the pre-dinner charades,” she said.
I chuckled. “Yep, definitely don’t want to miss that.”
She shoved me playfully as she passed me to go to the bathroom. “I mean it. This is going to be part of our annual traditions. Maybe Lemon being here will be one as well.” She reached for my face. “You are my favorite person on earth for bringing her here.”
“Griffin too. I invited him on my way back to Snowsly last night. He’s arriving by helicopter, so we should hear him when he gets here.”
Celia froze, then slowly turned toward me with eyes wide as Christmas baubles.
“What?” I asked. “You’re going to love Griffin. He’s a bit flash but he’s got a great heart.”
She nodded and I could tell she was cycling through ideas in her head. “Do you think Lemon will like Griffin?”
I chuckled. Oh, that’s what she was thinking. I shrugged. “I’ve never met Lemon. And neither has Griffin. Shall we give it twenty-four hours before you start matchmaking? Especially when we have twenty-five minutes to get up to the Manor.”
She squealed and bolted for the bathroom.
I caught her wrist and pulled her back to me. “Are you sure you don’t want to start a tradition where we just stay in bed all day?”
She pulled free. “Absolutely not, but we can talk about starting some kind of Boxing Day tradition that involves a lot of sex. But Christmas Day? We’re going to play games, eat and drink too much and watch the Queen’s speech with our friends and Snowsly family.”
And with that declaration, she stomped into the bathroom.
We got to the Manor at exactly midday, a box of crackers under my arm, ready for proceedings to begin. I wasn’t exactly nervous, but I wasn’t exactly not nervous either. This was it. My first Snowsly Christmas. I’d waited a hell of a long time for this and there was still a part of me reluctant to live the reality. Perhaps I was concerned I’d be disappointed or worse, I’d realize how much I’d lost all these years. It hadn’t happened so far, but there was still time.
“Sebastian and Celia,” Granny said, beaming up at the two of us as we entered the living room. On the sofas, Barbara, Howard, Keely, and Jim were all settled with what looked like sherry in their hands. Carols played in the background and the fire was crackling in the fireplace, filling the room with the scent of pine. The tree by the window seemed to have more lights on it than usual. So this was what Christmas Day was meant to be like. I had no idea why I’d stayed away so long.
“We brought crackers.” Celia nudged me and I handed them over. “I made them,” she said.
“Thank you,” Granny said. “Everyone has to contribute if you come to my Christmas Day at the Manor. Howard has made sure the firewood is well stocked. Barbara has cooked her infamous Christmas pudding, Jim provided the music and Keely brought her stuffing, Celia brought the crackers and I’ve tried to perfect the tablescape.” I glanced across at Granny’s dining table over by the tree, which had been transformed into a Christmas village, complete with ski slope and miniature figures creakily moving downhill. “I got so carried away, I think we’ll have to eat in the Manor dining room. But that’s by the by.” Granny fixed me with a warm look. “Oh yes, and Lemon is in the kitchen making . . .” A concerned expression crossed her face. “Something involving sweet potatoes and marshmallow.” She lowered her voice. “Sounds utterly disgusting but I’m trying to remain open-minded.”
“Since we didn’t know you’d be joining us, Sebastian, I haven’t allocated you anything. I suggest you give a little toast.” She nodded toward the two outstanding glasses on Mary’s tea tray that had been pushed up against the side of the sofa. “I chilled some port for you, Sebastian. I know you’re not a sherry drinker.”
Granny had thought of everything.
“Absolutely,” I said, picking up the two glasses and handing one to Celia. Her eyes went wide before she took a seat next to Barbara.
I cleared my throat. “I’m honored to spend my first Christmas at Snowsly this year among the finest people I’ve ever met—”
The door to Granny’s sitting room swung open and Griffin appeared, grinning from ear to ear and wearing a Santa hat. “Ho, ho, ho,” he said. “I’ve brought the champers.” He was carrying a large box which he half-dropped, half-placed on the floor.
“Welcome, Griffin,” Granny said. “It’s nice to meet you finally.”
Just then, Lemon—also wearing a Santa hat—appeared in the doorway behind Griffin.
Griffin turned to greet her. “Mrs. Claus?”
“Santa!” she said, as if a man in a Santa hat calling her Mrs. Claus was just what she’d been expecting. “I’ve just put the sweet potato casserole in the oven.”
“And Griffin bought champagne,” Granny said. “Now we just have Sebastian’s speech and we can seat ourselves at the table. Sebastian?”
“As I was saying, I’m delighted and honored to spend my first Christmas at Snowsly this year among the finest people I’ve ever met. We—I’d like to think I’m one of you now—have had the most successful Christmas market ever. We’ve overcome every obstacle put in our way.” My eyes slid to Celia, who blushed under my gaze. For the first time since I’d met her, she wore her hair loose. It fell across her shoulders in rivulets of glossy white icicles. Her ice-blue eyes burned bright.
“But I can’t be sorry for any of the issues we faced. Granny’s ankle brought me here, the tree falling down brought the village together, and getting stranded overnight in Snowsville . . . Well, let’s just say it all worked out in the end. We stayed on course and stayed true to what Snowsly is: a family.” I raised my glass. “To Snowsly.”
Everyone joined in with my toast. “To Snowsly,” they cheered in unison.
“Thank you, Sebastian,” Granny replied. “And I know you say it’s a group effort, and of course it is, but I wanted to say special thanks for coming when I called.”
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Granny.”
I hadn’t been prepared to stay in Snowsly for Christmas Day, not at first. But Granny’s continued love and commitment to me and my happiness meant that when I finally changed my mind, I was welcomed as if I’d spent every Christmas here since I was born.
I sat on the arm of the sofa next to Celia, leaned over and clinked my glass against hers.
“I know we shouldn’t say this, Sebastian,” Barbara said, “but we’ve all been rooting for you two since . . . well, honestly, since this time last year.”
I chuckled at the thought of Celia becoming single and the villagers of Snowsly planning her next relationship with a man none of them had seen for ten years. But then again, maybe they’d been on to something.
“Yes,” Howard said. “I always thought you two would be a good match.”
The last two weeks had felt like a lifetime. Not because it had been difficult, but because they seemed to erase all the time before. This was where I should have been all along. This was home.
“I knew he’d be back one day,” Barbara said. “We’ve missed you.”