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

‘I’ll get the Pretty Beach people onto it, we’ll all do our funny little rain dance for you.’

Sallie smiled and chuckled, got her bag and the teabags out from under the pram and said goodbye to Pete.

She pulled open the huge door of the Orangery, the botanical scent together with the smell of the Christmas tree hitting her nose. She pushed the door shut, put her bag down and walked over to the tree. It had held up well in the pot and hadn't dropped at all - she wondered how long it would last and had a plan in place if it didn’t.

At two, there was a knock on the door and Lucian, the photographer and two assistants bundled through the door out of the rain. All four of them stopped and looked at the enormous tree in the corner as it twinkled and sparkled in the fading light. Luke the photographer, shook his head.

‘Not my favourite, Christmas shoots I have to say, and I wasn’t looking forward to this one. Really hard to capture Christmas but with that tree and this building, it won’t be quite as tricky. Not saying it will be easy mind, just so as you know.’ He moved around the tree, looking at it from different angles as his assistants started to unload the masses of gear onto the Orangery tables.

Three hours later, all sorts of angles, thousands of images, leads, equipment and people all over the place, Sallie up and down ladders, Lucian behind the tree holding it completely straight and they had enough images to get at least a few good ones.

Lucian had captured a whole behind the scenes video on his phone for his social media accounts and it was already being broadcast live. His phone pinged constantly with notifications as his followers began to respond to the beautiful tree.

At the end of it all, when the photographer and his team had packed up and gone home, they’d cleared up all the mess and random pieces of greenery that littered every surface of the Orangery, Lucian sat with Sallie by the tree, exhausted, their feet up on the chairs.

‘Fancy a Gin and tonic in the fernery?’ Sallie asked.

‘Darling, I don’t think I’ve ever had a better offer.’

Chapter 52

Sallie tucked Ottilie into the carrier, popped on her little white hat with the pink bobble, opened the door of the Boat House and walked down across the bridge and into the bakers. Warm, thick air and the smell of bread hit her and Holly came sprinting around the side of the counter.

‘There she is, the little doll,’ Holly said and took hold of Tillie’s tiny little hand, cooing at her.

‘Any news?’ She asked Sallie hopefully, as Sallie put the huge changing bag on the floor.

‘Nothing, no further activity. They say it will be at least a few weeks.’

‘Terrible times. I was just talking about it with Rory... you just never know, do you?’ Holly said.

‘I know and this little one must be feeling it now.’

‘At least she’s got all of us here in Pretty Beach and you.’ Holly replied, stroking Tillie’s hair.

‘And Lilly and Pete - to be honest it’s not been too bad, what with everyone chipping in. Thanks again for your help Holly, it’s been invaluable,’ Sallie said as Holly smiled at Tillie.

‘Ahh, not a problem at all - just wish we could do more. But you have to keep Tillie’s routine and stability and not pass her around all over the place. Anyway, what can I get for you?’

‘I don’t suppose you’ve any cinnamon buns this morning? I’m on my way to Lucian’s for a meeting and to talk to the groom for the wedding competition and thought a bag of buns might go down quite nicely.’

‘Funny you should ask - we did a small batch this morning. Let me go and see if there are any left,’ Holly replied and went out to the back of the shop. She came back through the side door with a little white paper bag full of the buns, and she poked the bag into Tillie’s change bag and put her fingers to her lips.

‘There you go,’ she lowered her voice, ‘and I’m doing vanilla buns tomorrow, trade secret though - shall I drop some over for you all?’

‘Absolutely, thanks.’

‘You’ll be at Nina’s or the Boat House?’

‘We’ll be at Nina’s - it’s much easier to be there and I’ve got a few clothes and my work bits there now too. This little darling settles much better there, and I must say although it’s a cosy little cottage it’s bigger than the apartment and I’m getting used to the extra space. It’s made us realise that we definitely need to move.’ Sallie said, tapping Tillie’s back through the carrier.

‘Nothing on the market still?’

‘Well, I can’t really say much because it’s a bit of a secret - but I can say Old Town and Victorian.’

‘Ahh, yes, I know the one you mean - that’s been on the cards for the last few years. I had the little nod when I was in the Marina Club the other day playing the fruit machine but didn’t want to say anything to you.’

‘Wow! Is there anything in Pretty Beach you don’t know about, Holly?’

‘I’m quite confident that I can say no in answer to that,’ Holly replied and shook her head.

Sallie said goodbye and walked down the laneway with Tillie and arrived a few minutes later at Lucian’s - he’d been waiting for her and sprung the door open, looking over the side of the carrier to see if Tillie was awake and exclaimed.

‘Darlings! Oh good, she’s awake! Hopefully, I’ll get a cuddle.’

Right on cue, Tillie gurgled and smiled up at Lucian who was giving her the biggest smile and had grabbed her chubby cheeks.

‘Come in, darlings! We’re all set up and ready for the video call to go through all the last things.’

‘And Katie’s still no idea at all?’ Sallie asked as she