Winter at Pretty Beach by Polly Babbington (inspirational books txt) 📕

Ok, see you shortly. x

She wrapped the rolls into three different packages, placed them in her basket, put her boots, coat, scarf and gloves back on and braved the outside again. The snow had started to fully settle and it wouldn’t be long before the whole place was white, but the storm wasn’t quite what she had been expecting. She loved snow, but the calm, pretty, lovely side of snow - not the bit when it brought with it wind and people running around trying to lock things down.

Sallie, head down and bracing what was quickly becoming a blizzard, crossed over the road from the Boat House, snow driving into her face and eyes and walked up the middle of the pavement on the laneway. There weren’t many people out at all - everyone was tucked up indoors and getting ready for the storm. She hurried down the street, peering up at the lights and bunting overhead blowing in the wind; the snow already half a centimetre thick on the ground.

She walked up to the end, past the first set of fisherman’s cottages and as she passed peered in at a cottage with a for sale sign in the garden, she pulled her scarf up over her nose and knocked on Nina’s door. Nina answered wrapped up in an enormous jumper, and Sallie stepped into the hallway, standing on the mat with her wellies dripping.

‘I won’t stay, just dropping these in - I’ve got a few more to deliver yet,’ she said, pulling a package of the rolls from her basket and giving Nina the milk. ‘Text me if you need anything. Ben just sent me a report and this should be over by this time tomorrow. Apparently, it’ll calm down slightly in the early hours of tomorrow morning, so not long really.’

Nina started coughing, there was a little wheeze too.

‘You really should get that looked at again, doesn't sound good to me at all,’ Sallie said, concerned.

‘On the list for once this is all over.’ Nina replied, taking the rolls and milk.

‘Cheerio then, I’ll speak to you later.’ Sallie called out as she stepped back onto the path.

Nina closed the door and Sallie turned right and headed towards the Orangery to drop Juliette’s parcel over and then get home, lock everything up and settle in for a night of yoga and watching the snow. The wind whipped the gate of Juliette’s cottage back towards the wall as she walked up the path, and rang the bell. Juliette looked out the window to see who it was and Maggie, Juliette’s little girl opened the door. The smell of lavender and rose hit Sallie’s nostrils as Maggie reached up to the handle, opened the door, and Sallie walked in, took off her wellies and placed them neatly on the mat.

‘We’re in the kitchen,’ Maggie said and caught hold of Sallie’s hand.

Sallie looked around. What a difference to the place. Sallie had ripped most of the hideous decor out, painting it in a neutral base, and Juliette had added her own touches and fabulous furniture and the result was a wonderful, cosy, home-y combination. Little side tables and lamps sat between two oversized comfy sofas and chunky knit throws were scattered on the backs of the chairs. Discreetly placed diffusers pumped lavender and rose into the air and little vases full of dried hydrangeas and jugs of lavender sat around wherever you looked. It was cosy and comfortable - candles and lanterns were grouped beside the open fireplace, a ditsy print quilt was neatly stacked in a wicker basket and a large mirror stood on the floor. Maggie was bouncing beside Sallie, her tight blonde curls jumping around on her head.

‘We’re going to bake fairy cakes later and watch a Disney movie with hot chocolate.’ She told Sallie excitedly.

‘That sounds lovely, just right for this weather and a cosy afternoon indoors,’ Sallie replied and followed her in.

Juliette walked out of the kitchen, on the phone to work, and indicated she would be finished shortly. She pointed to the kettle; Sallie nodded and Juliette crooked the phone between her ear and shoulder, filled up the kettle and flicked it on. She poured the water into the teapot, finished the call and sat down at the table opposite Sallie.

‘Thanks so much, these smell delicious, don’t they Maggie?’ She patted the parcel of rolls.

‘Can we have them for lunch with lemonade?’ Maggie asked.

‘Of course - we better get them eaten up before your sister gets home for the weekend or she’ll eat the lot if I know her.’ Juliette pushed her tortoiseshell glasses up her nose and looked over at Sallie.

‘So, how’s it all going then? I saw your first few functions went well.’

‘My goodness, that first bride was a nightmare, even though it was a tiny wedding. Never again. She obviously loved it though and even emailed me to see if she could book a first-anniversary event. I replied and said we were fully-booked. At least I’m starting to spot the warning signs now.’ Sallie said, shaking her head from side to side.

‘You want to be in my job. Most of them are wonderful, but with the odd one, you have to wonder what goes through their minds.’ Juliette laughed and rolled her eyes.

‘What about, you know, the other thing?’ Juliette flicked her eyes over and to the right.

‘No change, I suppose we just keep trying. Ben’s really hoping, but I’m thinking what will be, will be. Right now I’m still not going down the IVF route. We’ll see.’ Sallie had talked about it quite extensively with Juliette. Not that Juliette had too much knowledge in the area - more than being a midwife and having two children of her own and experience of all kinds of things in birth, so she understood things. Other people had asked Sallie why she was not going full steam ahead into IVF as time was running out at her age, whereas Juliette had