The Mince Pie Mix-Up (22 page)

The pair went to the bar, where Judy saw a familiar face. ‘Sarah! You came!’ She couldn’t believe Calvin’s colleague was standing in front of her but she was happy to see her again. It had only been a week, but Judy felt like months had passed. She’d missed Sarah.

‘Judy?’ A wavering smile appeared on Sarah’s lips and Judy realised she had never met Sarah as Judy before. Would the confusion of this body swapping never end?

‘Yes.’ Judy stuck out a hand, which Sarah gave a tentative shake. ‘Hello. Calvin showed me your photo on the company’s website.’

‘Oh. Okay.’ Sarah looked terribly uncomfortable, which was understandable. Here she was with the wife of a colleague, a wife she had never met before now and whose husband she had kissed.

‘I’m glad you could come,’ Judy said. Calvin had invited Sarah to the pub at Judy’s insistence. It was probably a little strange for Sarah, but Judy thought they could be good friends. ‘Calvin said you had no plans, which is a shame, what with it being New Year’s Eve.’

Sarah nodded. ‘All my friends are off doing loved-up couples things and I’m single so …’ She shrugged her shoulders. ‘Here I am.’

‘I’m glad you are. This is my friend, Laura.’ Judy thrust her friend forward before she came across as weird and clingy. ‘Laura, this is Calvin’s colleague, Sarah.’

The women said hello and thankfully, after a couple of drinks, they all began to loosen up and it transpired they had a lot in common. The group swelled in numbers when Curtis arrived with Pierce, Richie and Danielle in tow. Danielle seemed relieved to have some female company, which Judy didn’t find at all surprising.

‘Where’s Calvin?’ Curtis asked.

‘He’s babysitting,’ Judy replied, expecting a series of jokes at her husband’s expense, but none were forthcoming. Instead, the conversation turned to the classical Christmas concert Richie and Danielle had attended on Christmas Eve.

‘It was magical.’ Danielle gazed at Richie and gave his hand a squeeze. ‘It was the best early Christmas present ever.’

‘Was that the one at Bridgewater Hall?’ Sarah asked. ‘I would have
loved
that.’

Danielle nodded. ‘It was amazing. You should come with us next time.’

‘I’d be up for that,’ Curtis said. Judy gave him a quizzical look, but it soon became clear that it wasn’t the classical music he was interested in. He couldn’t take his eyes off Sarah.

‘So what is it you do?’ Sarah asked later when they had a moment together at the bar. The group had moulded itself together seamlessly so they hadn’t had the chance to chat individually until now. ‘Calvin said something about baking?’

‘I’m a waitress at a tea room,’ Judy replied. ‘And I do some baking on the side.’

But all that was about to change. With some encouragement from Calvin, Judy had decided to take the plunge and set up her own baking business. She was starting out small and would still be supplying Enid with the usual cakes and biscuits, but she would no longer be waitressing once Enid had found a replacement. Judy would be baking full-time, catering for parties and events and creating bespoke celebration cakes. She already had a booking for the christening of Mrs Freeman’s great-niece in the New Year.

‘Do you need a hand?’ Curtis asked. The drinks were all lined up on the bar but there were too many for Judy and Sarah to carry in one trip.

‘Thanks,’ Judy said, loading Curtis up with glasses to carry over to their table. Together they just about managed.

‘It’s nearly midnight,’ Laura said when they returned with the drinks.

‘Let’s hope next year is better than this one,’ Danielle said, smiling at Richie.

‘I’ll drink to that,’ Sarah said, lifting her glass.

Judy excused herself, moving outside where it was quieter. She wanted to phone Calvin and wish him a Happy New Year as the clock struck midnight.

‘How are you getting on?’ she asked. There was silence in the background, which was either good news or the most terrible news.

‘They’re all asleep apart from Scott and Bobby. I said they could stay up until midnight as they’re a bit older. Is that okay?’

Judy was impressed Calvin was coping so well. ‘That’s fine. You’re doing great. Thanks for this.’

‘It’s long overdue,’ Calvin said. ‘I hope you’re having a good time.’

‘I am. It’s been fun.’ Judy could hear the countdown from inside the pub, followed by a loud cheer. ‘Happy New Year.’

‘Happy New Year. I love you.’

Judy smiled. ‘I love you too.’

‘And Judy?’

‘Yes Calvin?’

‘I’ve one more resolution. I’ll never eat another mince pie. Ever.’

Judy laughed. They’d well and truly learned their lesson there. ‘Agreed.’

When she returned inside, her group had paired off, with Richie and Danielle celebrating the New Year with a smooch. Curtis and Sarah were locked together and, more surprisingly, so were Laura and Pierce. Deciding to leave them to it, Judy crept out of the pub again. She sent a quick text to Laura to let her friend know she’d gone home – if she ever prised herself away from Pierce, that is. Judy and her husband had a bit of New Year smooching to do themselves.