Christmas At Willowmere. Abigail Gordon

was the same as the night before. Anna didn’t want them to have to separate and on the spur of the moment she said, ‘James has given you the guided tour of the surgery that I promised, but if you like I’ll show you some of the village beneath a full moon. Willowmere covered in snow in the moonlight is something to see.’

      ‘I’d like that,’ he said, taken aback, and when she’d grabbed a coat and put boots on they went outside. ‘Are you trying to confuse me, Anna?’ he asked as they walked down the path. ‘One moment you are hastening me on my way and the next you are dangling your beautiful village in front of me like a carrot, and considering that it’s called Willowmere, I can’t see any willow trees at a glance.’

      ‘You won’t,’ she told him. ‘Not here anyway, but on the edge of the village at the foot of the peaks there is a lake and they are there in profusion. From Willow Lake came Willowmere many years ago when people began to move into the area around it, and once you’ve seen the lake you will know why they came. The trees may be short of a few leaves at this time of year, but they’re never bare, and it’s a beautiful place no matter what the season.’

      ‘Hmm, it sounds like it. Why don’t you and the children show it to me tomorrow after school is over? If it isn’t too far, we might get there before the light goes and then we could go for afternoon tea somewhere. I’ll call for you.’

      ‘Oh…yes, all right,’ she agreed, taken unawares by the suggestion, yet it did have its appeal. It would give her the opportunity to show Glenn some of the reasons why she loved this place and Willow Lake was high on the list. Though she would rather have taken him there on a spring day, or in summer when the weeping willows hung over the water in an abundance of fresh greenery.

      But Glenn wouldn’t be around then and she didn’t want to think about that, even though his arrival was like having a wound that had healed open up again.

      As they strolled along the main street with its quaint shops and onto the bridge that spanned the river he asked, ‘Are there any eating places around here that would be open and suitable to take the children to at this time of the year?’

      She nodded. ‘Yes. There’s the very place, over there. The Hollyhocks Tea Rooms, a couple of doors away from the post office. They’re open all year round and the food is always good. The owners of the place are friends of mine.’

      ‘So the Hollyhocks Tea Rooms it shall be,’ he said, ‘where Cheshire cheese and Lancashire hotpot will, no doubt, be on the menu as we aren’t far from where the two counties meet.’

      ‘And what’s wrong with that?’ she asked, sending him a look as the moon scudded behind a cloud and they were left in cold, velvet darkness.

      ‘I didn’t say there was anything wrong,’ he replied hastily, hiding a smile. Then he saw the teasing sparkle in her eyes.

      ‘You know we still have the stocks in the village for those who misbehave,’ she joked, ‘and we pelt them with rotten eggs. So beware!’

      ‘What?’ he exclaimed in assumed horror. ‘I would have thought a place as perfect as this would only be able to lay its hands on fresh free-range chuckies.’

      As they laughed together it was like the old days for a moment. They’d been happy and carefree when they’d first met. In a moment of weakness Anna wished they could go back to those early days.

      ‘What are you thinking?’ he asked, observing the change in her expression.

      ‘Nothing,’ she said flatly. ‘I was just remembering, that’s all.’

      ‘So you’ve not forgotten how it used to be?’

      ‘No. Of course I haven’t! Have you?’

      ‘No. I haven’t forgotten either,’ he told her, and could have gone on to remind her that during their last year at university all his hopes and dreams had been formed and she had demolished them with just a few words. But what was the point? It had all been long ago…

      ‘We’ve both missed out on many things since then,’ he said gravely, ‘and I still don’t know why.’

      At that moment the moon appeared again and he saw her expression in its light. ‘What?’ he asked. ‘What’s wrong, Anna?’

      ‘Nothing,’ she said quickly. Desperate to lighten the moment, she pointed to an ancient stone building beside the river. ‘That’s an old water mill. It isn’t used now, of course, but it’s a favourite with local artists.’

      ‘I can imagine it would be,’ he said absently, still concerned about how she’d looked a moment ago. But it was clear that she wasn’t going to tell him what was wrong so he said easily, ‘I seem to have seen quite a few things tonight, but one thing you haven’t shown me is where you live. When do I get to see that? I’d like to be able to picture you there when I’ve gone.’

      ‘Another time maybe,” she promised. ‘I’ll show you round some time, but I think maybe we should call it a day now.’

      She was feeling too emotional to take him into her smart little dwelling. Outside in the cold it wasn’t hard to keep at a distance but in a more confined space she couldn’t guarantee anything.

      * * *

      When she arrived home James was on the point of putting the ironing board away and on the kitchen table was a neat pile of newly ironed laundry.

      ‘You didn’t have to do that,’ she protested.

      ‘I know,’ he replied. ‘Just the same as you don’t have to look after me and mine, but you do.’ He observed her keenly. ‘I liked Glenn. It takes some guts to do what he’s been doing.’

      ‘Yes, it does,’ she agreed, and wondered what was coming next.

      ‘How would you feel if I offered him a temporary locum position in the practice until he’s decided what he wants to do permanently?’ he asked, choosing his words carefully. ‘I feel he could be just what we need if he agrees. I will have to consult Georgina, of course, though I can’t see her objecting to more help around the place. It’s what you think of the idea that I’m most concerned about. Would you want him living in the village, working in the practice, back in your life to some degree?’

      Anna was gazing at him open-mouthed. ‘I know you’ve been thinking of employing a locum for some time,’ she croaked, ‘but Glenn! You hardly know him.’

      ‘That may be true,’ James pointed out equably, ‘but you know him so it will depend on what you say whether I offer him the position.’

      She took a deep breath. Was this the moment to tell James just how close she and Glenn had once been? That he had once been the love of her life, but because she couldn’t give him children she had sent him away?

      Or was it the time to burden herself with another secret, this time kept from James, and let him go on thinking she and Glenn were just casual friends? Otherwise he would be devastated to know just how much the operation had ruined her life and it might show through when he was in Glenn’s company. It didn’t seem as if there was much of a choice.

      She took a deep breath. ‘You are putting me on the spot, asking me to give my opinion. Glenn and I were close once but we drifted apart, like students do, and as you know I haven’t seen him in a long time. But I can tell you one thing with regard to how good a doctor he will be. I have a very clear picture of that. I’m confident that you would find him extremely capable and caring. He would be an asset to the practice. Glenn sailed through every exam and was top of his year at university.

      ‘We would be fortunate to have him on board and I would say go for it if that is what you want. But don’t expect anything to change as far as I’m concerned. My life is mapped out and I don’t anticipate taking any side turnings. Just so you know, he’s offered to take the children and me to the Hollyhocks Tea Rooms tomorrow afternoon after I’ve shown him the lake. But before you get any crazy ideas, we’ve no plans to socialise after