Snowfall in Lantern Square

by Helen Rolfe

Genres: General Fiction

Synopsis

This is Part Four 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... Snowflakes are swirling, and the inhabitants of Butterbury are preparing for the final celebrations of the year. The lantern-lit Boxing Day walk is the perfect time for the whole community to come together - but behind the scenes, someone is trying to cause trouble... Is Hannah's one-time friend Georgia behind the problems with her care package business - and why is ex-boyfriend Luke really back on the scene? As the New Year's Eve celebrations light up Lantern Square, and a special package lands on Hannah's own doorstep, she finally discovers who her true friends are - and where her heart belongs... *** The Little Cottage in Lantern Square is a delightfully heartwarming story told in four parts. This is the fourth part.

Release date: December 3, 2019

Publisher: Orion

Print pages: 74

Sample

Boxing Day dawned fresh and bright. The sun woke Hannah from a deep slumber through the gap in the curtains where they didn’t quite meet in the middle, and when she looked out of the window a smile spread across her face because the whole of Butterbury had a frosty glow that only served to make the village all the more special. She’d been hoping for snow – it was forecast for today – but with the annual Lantern Walk that raised money for different charities each year, perhaps it was a good thing, this time, that the forecasters had been wrong.

The carol concert last night had been the perfect ending to Christmas Day in Butterbury, and a welcome distraction for Hannah and everything that had been going on lately. Up at the lodge yesterday, Hannah had arrived to find one of her neighbours, Mrs Ledbetter, getting into the thick of things with the other residents, and she was enthralled when her favourite choir, Sounds Over the Bridge, launched into action. Flo’s reaction was similar and it hadn’t been long before both women were extolling the virtues of the choir and engaging in a lengthy chat about their favourite Christmas carols and traditions. And after Hannah had exchanged a conspiratorial look with Mr G., she made sure that Mrs Ledbetter heard her comment on the amount of dust on the mantelpiece and the windowsill. It was all part of their plan to get Mrs Ledbetter involved with the community rather than simply gossiping about it – and, Hannah suspected, feeling very lonely – but Mr G. had almost given the game away. Hannah had held in her amusement but he’d looked fit to burst with laughter at their ingenuity.

Now, at Lantern Cottage, Hannah padded downstairs and scooped Bandit up into her arms. ‘I’ll bet you’re hungry.’ She ruffled the fur between his eyes and was rewarded with a deep purring as she set him down and gave Smokey a fuss. After she had fed them and changed their water she touched her hand to the radiators as she made her way through to the lounge. Sure enough, the heating had kicked in, although with outside temperatures so low it was taking a while to warm up inside the cottage, so after she’d switched on the Christmas tree lights Hannah loaded some more pieces of wood into the log burner, closed the doors and knelt down beside it. She’d slept well last night considering the thoughts tumbling around in her mind, and today she was determined to think only about the Lantern Walk, keep her Christmas spirit among friends, and deal with everything else later.

But all it took was the time to boil the kettle for her thoughts to tap away and tell her brain that she didn’t really want to leave it at all. She wanted to know what her so-called friend, Georgia, was playing at. She still held on to the mild hope that Georgia hadn’t been involved in trying to sabotage Hannah’s care package business, Tied Up with String, but there didn’t appear to be any other explanation. She wasn’t sure what made her angrier: the fact that her ex-best friend had messed with her reputation as a businesswoman, or that she’d messed with her head, leaving Hannah to think she was making silly mistakes, doing things wrong, doubting herself. If Georgia’s aim had been to give her confidence a knock then she’d succeeded.

Before she had the chance to go into the dining room and do some delving, a knock at the door revealed Rhys standing on her doorstep.

‘Good morning to you,’ he said. ‘How’s the head?’

‘After the antics at the Christmas lunch and the carols?’ she smiled. ‘Not bad actually. It was good wasn’t it?’ She ushered him inside. The freezing temperatures in Butterbury carried on a wind that zipped right up her pyjamas through any gap they could find.

‘Just came to check you’re ready for the walk later, and on hand to dish out the lanterns.’

‘Come through.’ She led him into the kitchen and held up a mug to indicate tea was on the agenda and when he nodded she did the honours. ‘I’m ready to help out. Mrs Ledbetter reminded me several times last night.’

‘She’s not a bad old sort.’

‘I’ve warmed to her.’ Hannah handed him the mug of tea and he helped himself to a heaped teaspoon of sugar from the pot nearby. ‘I thought she was a bit of a busybody at first but she’s just after some company.’

‘She was thrilled to get the job of coordinating the lanterns this year when Mrs Addington asked her to take over.’ Mrs Addington, retired judge and owner of the grandest thatched cottage in the village, didn’t miss a thing. Perhaps she was doing her bit to get Mrs Ledbetter more involved with the community too.

‘Ah, but what was she happier about? The lanterns or the fact Mrs Addington has moved on from the time Mrs Ledbetter gossiped about her son when he came out as gay?’

‘Good point.’ He slurped his tea. ‘And well done for getting her up to the care home. What made you do that?’

Hannah filled him in on the plan that had formed in her mind for both Mrs Ledbetter and Flo who lived at Butterbury Lodge, two women who needed companionship. ‘I didn’t even think to suggest she go there for Christmas lunch rather than the pub, that was all her doing, or rather Ernest’s and Mr G.’s.’ She’d asked Mr G. if he’d had anything to do with it and the look he gave her in return said of course he had.

‘It was probably far nicer for her to be there than the pub.’

‘I agree – and by the look of her when I got up to the lodge for carols, she’ll probably try to wangle an invite for next year too.’

‘I’m glad you and she have started to see eye to eye.’

Hannah laughed. ‘I wouldn’t go that far. But I’m glad she’s a bit more approachable. And both women really hit it off with their shared love of the choir.’

‘And how exactly do you intend to have them carry on a friendship? Can’t see our Mrs Ledbetter trudging up to see Flo each day. And she’ll never move. She’s already let it be known the only way she’ll ever leave her cottage is in a box.’

‘Oh dear. In a way it’s nice she’s happy in her home, but she really is very lonely. I have another part of my plan though. Phase two.’

‘And what is phase two?’

This time Hannah told him about the cleaner at Butterbury Lodge handing in her notice and leaving Frankie with far too much to do as they hadn’t found a replacement. ‘I made sure I pointed out some dusty surfaces to Mrs Ledbetter, I also hovered near the coat stand at the lodge, next to which is a big advert for a cleaner. I’d already suggested Frankie put it up because there’ll be loads of visitors to the lodge over Christmas and someone may have a relative who’s a cleaner, or at least know of one.’

‘And what does that have to do with Mrs Ledbetter?’

‘You’ve seen her home, right?’

‘I have.’

‘It’s spick and span; even my mum would be impressed. She’s forever got a duster in her hand. . .