Christmas at Lilac Cottage: (#1 White Cliff Bay) Read Online Free PDF Page B

stop and chat, even if they had only seen her the day before.
    The door to the bakery burst open and the warmth and delicious cake smells were interrupted briefly with a blast of cold air.
    Penny smiled at her friend Maggie as she waddled through the door. She was huge, and getting bigger by the minute. She’d never dream of saying that to Maggie’s face though, as everyone else in the town thought they should.
    Maggie flopped down in the brown leather armchair opposite Penny and took a large bite of the croissant Penny had bought for her.
    ‘Where are your little angels today?’ Penny asked, looking around for Maggie’s sons, conspicuous by their absence.
    ‘Daniel has taken them to watch football, so I get some peace for a few hours, but I actually miss them when they’re not with me, it’s way too quiet.’
    ‘You’ll have another little one to add to the menagerie soon; how is my godson today?’ Penny asked.
    Maggie rubbed her oversized belly affectionately. ‘He’s fast asleep now, but he never stays still at night, feels like he’s doing the samba in there.’
    ‘He’s eager to come out.’
    ‘Well, he needs to keep that eagerness to himself for another six weeks. January thirteenth and not a moment before. I’m too busy for him to come now.’
    ‘How are the preparations for the Christmas Eve ball going?’ With only ten days until the ball, Penny was sure that Maggie had everything organised with military precision.
    ‘Good I think. The marquee is being delivered a few days before. Food is sorted, tables, chairs, heaters, they’ll be delivered on the day and I have a crew of people who will set everything up. You know what I’m like, these were all organised months ago. But I’m still getting twenty emails a day with queries or changes or demands. The band want their own dressing room, which is a headache, but it’s the bloody ice carvers who are causing me the most stress.’
    Penny smiled. The competitors were an odd bunch. There was probably going to be ten of them, including her, exhibiting their entries at the ball, with one smaller competition in the lead up to the ball. In the next few days some of the best ice carvers in Europe would descend on White Cliff Bay. It thrilled Penny to be rubbing shoulders with the elite but she had met a few of them before and knew that they were highly competitive and some were very bitchy.
    ‘How are your new neighbours?’ Maggie said, through a mouthful of croissant.
    ‘I’ve only met Henry.’
    Maggie took a big sip of tea, eyeing her suspiciously. ‘What’s with the look, Penny Meadows?’
    ‘There was no look.’
    ‘There was definitely a look.’
    ‘He…’ Penny rubbed her eyes, hating that Maggie knew her so well. ‘He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.’
    Maggie clapped her hands and squealed with excitement.
    ‘Mags, he’s married.’
    Maggie frowned. ‘I know his sister, Anna, she was telling me how much she was looking forward to having him here at last. She never mentioned a wife.’
    ‘Daisy,’ Penny prompted.
    ‘Oh yes, I do remember Anna saying something about her now, my brain is rubbish lately, I can’t remember anything.’
    ‘Anyway, the weird thing is… I think he sort of flirted with me.’
    ‘Why is that weird? You’re funny, sweet, beautiful, hugely talented.’
    ‘Because he’s married.’
    ‘Oh yes. Urgh, what a creep, all men are the same. No loyalty.’
    ‘You say that when you’re married to one of the most devoted men I know.’
    Maggie’s face split into a huge grin. ‘Daniel is pretty amazing, isn’t he? He carried me home the other day because I was tired and couldn’t face the one-minute walk up the hill. I haven’t cooked a single meal since I became pregnant. I do love him.’
    ‘He’s so excited about becoming a dad again. I saw him the other day, it was all he could talk about.’
    The door opened, sending a blast of cold air over them again. Penny looked up straight into