Christmas in Lantern Square

by Helen Rolfe

Genres: General Fiction

Synopsis

This is Part Three in a charming new four-part serial from Helen Rolfe, author of The Little Café at the End of the Pier - perfect for fans of Holly Hepburn and Cathy Bramley Step into the cosy community of Lantern Square... As Christmas lights sparkle and the scent of mulled wine fills Lantern Square, Hannah is preparing for a busy season for her care package business, Tied Up with String. The whole village is brimming with festive activity, from a new book club at Butterbury Lodge to wreath-making workshops for the whole community. But with her one-time friend Georgia stirring trouble, her ex-boyfriend Luke still on the scene, and mysterious slip-ups putting her business in jeopardy, Hannah is need of a little comfort and joy... Can she save Tied Up with String and find her true friends this Christmas? *** The Little Cottage in Lantern Square is delightfully heartwarming story told in four parts. This is the third part.

Release date: November 5, 2019

Publisher: Orion

Print pages: 82

Sample

The Christmas tree which stood tall and proud in Lantern Square in the heart of the village of Butterbury had everyone talking. Early that morning, after the fog had cleared, local gardener Rhys rounded up enough helpers to somehow manoeuvre the tree from lying flat on the trailer of a tractor to standing sixteen-foot-tall in the corner of the square. Hannah smiled as she passed it on her way home to get changed before heading up to Butterbury Lodge, the care home where she volunteered. She’d be back here with all the locals for the big switch-on of the Christmas lights tonight and she couldn’t wait.

Hannah waved at Dawn and Troy, owners of the Lantern Bakery, who were holding hands like teenagers as they walked down the street. They may have been married for decades, but when they shared a kiss she could tell it was just as special as the day they met. Reminded of what it felt like to be close to someone, Hannah tried not to think about the way she’d danced in Joe’s arms at the summer fair, and the look they’d shared on Bonfire Night, as they’d been waiting to watch the firework display from high up on the hill in front of Butterbury Lodge. After a rocky start, Hannah had begun to change her mind about the local doctor, and to think of him as someone she’d like to know better. But as the beautiful fireworks fizzled to a close, Rhys had a texted her a photo of the latest woman leaving Joe’s house on the square after dark: her so-called friend, Georgia. Hannah had seen plenty of other women coming and going through the same red door, and everything pointed at the pair of them having some kind of fling.

She sighed, a feeling of loneliness coursing through her. Her ex-boyfriend Luke was back on the scene, at least as a friend, and moments like this made her wonder whether she should give their relationship another chance. She’d finally agreed to meet up with him last week in an attempt to keep things light and civil, rather than creating drama by awkwardly avoiding him. She’d had enough of animosity and she was sure she could at least manage friendship, especially after the way she’d ended their relationship so abruptly. But his parents had joined them for lunch which had made her uncomfortable, as though she were still part of the family. And as lovely as Rupert and Linda were, they were clearly hopeful of a reconciliation for their son and his ex-girlfriend, and Hannah didn’t want to feel any additional pressure when she had no idea how she felt. Part of her wanted to move on, leave the past where it should be, but the other part of her responded to Luke’s charm, his interest, his kindness, making her wonder if she’d made a mistake by ending things.

Inside Lantern Cottage Hannah changed and made a cup of tea to warm herself up. The temperatures lately had reminded them all that Christmas was right around the corner. And with the season that highlighted the importance of family and loved ones on her mind, Hannah took out the collection of letters Liam’s parents had sent from where she kept them in the kitchen drawer, hidden from view but ready to look at every now and again. Liam was the love of her life way before Luke ever came on the scene. He was killed in an army training exercise and overwhelmed by the devastating loss, Hannah had never truly moved on. But since coming to Butterbury, Hannah had slowly been able to process some of her grief. She’d read his parents’ letters, and she felt she was in a better place – even perhaps able to finally move forwards. Last night she’d decided to make Liam’s parents a special Christmas card which she’d left to dry until now. She picked up a calligraphy pen to add a personal message, good wishes for a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and she smiled, knowing they’d love the hand-drawn fireplace design on the front and a stocking bulging with presents.

She added her love and left the ink on the card and envelope to dry while she went up to Butterbury Lodge, and on the walk there she reminded herself it was time to turn her thinking around. Rather than wishing to push away reminders of the life she’d had with Liam before he was killed, she needed to embrace them and remember the Liam who’d made her so happy.

When she reached Butterbury Lodge, Hannah pulled off her winter layers and went through to join the residents. It was weird to imagine ever having been without these familiar faces who passed the time of day in the hallway, laughed and joked with her, shared details of their ailments even when it was way too much.

It was late November and the first book club meeting was about to commence; a mini-project Hannah had been working on to encourage residents to build friendships.

‘I see the fire’s going at last,’ Hannah told Maggie, one of the members of staff at the lodge, before she joined the group settling into the chairs all shaped in a semi-circle.

With a roll of her eyes Maggie confessed, ‘Ernest went on about it so much I had to. Anything for a peaceful life. And it has turned much colder.’

Hannah settled down in front of the group and reiterated that this was only the first book of many, and they’d all get a turn to choose a novel as they went along. She felt rather like a primary school teacher, but the suggestion box had been almost full just a week after Hannah had positioned it on the walnut reception desk at Butterbury Lodge – it seemed much as residents had originally dismissed her idea of a book club, nobody wanted to miss out. It had taken Hannah a good couple of hours to collate the responses, group them into genre, and then choose a starting point. She’d made a list of ten books and the order they’d be read in and today they were starting with The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules. Mr G. had already read it so Hannah had cleared it with him. She felt it was a good starting point and a few other residents had nominated one or two books from the series, so Hannah felt comfortable that at least more than one person would enjoy it. She felt sure she’d get a few converts too.

Residents were surprisingly enthralled, even those she’d known were sceptical at the choice of text, particularly Ernest, the dedicated thriller reader. Perhaps the fire had lulled him into a more receptive state, but whatever it was, Hannah thoroughly enjoyed reading the prologue and the first few chapters and when she declared an end to the session, she didn’t even have to encourage chatter: residents were talking amongst themselves, even Flo looked happy, and Mr G. gave Hannah a conspiratorial wink.

‘I’m gasping,’ said Hannah as residents continued on and Maggie came over. She’d not paused much during the reading; once she’d got their attention she’d wanted to keep a hold of it, and now she gulped down the glass of water on the side table.

‘What do you have in there?’ Hannah peered more closely at the box Maggie had been holding in her arms but had set down quickly due to its weight. ‘Are those copies of this book?’ She crouched down to see that it was in fact a further dozen copies of the same novel, the spines all lined up neatly in a row.

‘I found them at the back door. And get this – whoever delivered these must’ve seen the list you left of the books and the order you’ll be reading them in, because there are a dozen copies of each and every text.’ She and Maggie had talked about getting the books for everyone, plus a few extras, but Maggie had confided to H. . .