Underneath the Christmas Tree

By Clare Revell

When Violet Noble begins her new job as council events planner in Winkfield Green, she' s horrified to learn she has twenty days to organize the, as yet unplanned, Christmas Fayre— and it won't be easy. All the files regarding previous events have disappeared, along with most of the decorations. She needs a miracle, but what she gets instead the council' s maintenance man, carpenter and all-around fix-it guy— Derek Xenon.

When Violet turns to Derek for help with the Christmas Fayre, his first instinct is to say no. His regular job is demanding enough without adding the resident damsel in distress to his workload. However, he' s never one to turn down a challenge— even one from Christmas obsessed out-of-towner, and especially when someone seems to want Violet's plans to fail.

Will Violet' s vision of Christmas ever come to fruition, or will she throw in the stocking?

• Language: English
• Publisher: White Rose Publishing
• Release date: Nov 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9781522304371

Book preview

Underneath the Christmas Tree

Clare Revell

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Underneath the Christmas Tree

COPYRIGHT 2023 by Clare Revell

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or Pelican Ventures, LLC except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. eBook editions are licensed for your personal enjoyment only. eBooks may not be re-sold, copied or given to other people. If you would like to share an eBook edition, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Contact Information: [e-mail]

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version(R), NIV(R), Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations, marked KJV are taken from the King James translation, public domain. Scripture quotations marked DR, are taken from the Douay Rheims translation, public domain.

Scripture texts marked NAB are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition Copyright 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Cover Art by Nicola Martinez

White Rose Publishing, a division of Pelican Ventures, LLC

www.pelicanbookgroup.com PO Box 1738 *Aztec, NM * 87410

White Rose Publishing Circle and Rosebud logo is a trademark of Pelican Ventures, LLC

Publishing History

First White Rose Edition, 2023

Electronic Edition ISBN 978-1-5223-0437-1

Published in the United States of America

Dedication

For Ty. As it’s only fair since Tilly got a book dedicated to her. You don't make working from home easy. Like when you drool on the laptop or shout at me for working on the PC like you are now. Or when you put your head on my wrist, preventing me from typing like you are now. Or when you shift your head and make me close the entire form so I have to start typing it All Over Again.

Despite this you are not a bad dog. At least not all the time. And I do like you...just don't tell anyone I said that.

What People are Saying

Christmas Eva

Do you want a good cry? Do you want a happily ever after ending? Do you want a story that makes you feel that true love is worth fighting for and that the best love between a man and a woman honors God, too? Then you need to add this wonderful story to your Christmas preparations. Then, maybe, just maybe the spirit of it will keep you smiling through all of the busyness and chaos of the season! SAJL

Fairytale of Headley Cross

I love being swept away through Revell's writing. She expertly sucks you in and allows you to fall in love with each character as God's love and grace shine brightly. TSuckoo

1

Violet Noble glanced at the clock on the dashboard of her car and sighed. Twice. She resumed tapping the steering wheel and gave the traffic lights on the A4 the death stare. Not that it made any difference. Were the lights stuck on red in all three directions? No traffic was moving at all.

And who invented three-way lights in the first place? It wouldn't be so bad if there was anyone working at the side of the road, but there wasn't. She'd been here fifteen minutes already and the lights had changed twice, letting one car through at a time. One!

Violet's stress level rose. She had five minutes in order to get to work on time. She couldn't be late. Not on her first day at the new job.

The lights changed, and the car in front of her inched slowly forwards. Much too slowly for her liking. As she reached the STOP HERE sign, the lights changed over to amber. Oh, no, you don't!

Flooring the accelerator, Violet tailgated the car in front of her through the contraflow, refusing to wait any longer. However, once back onto the clear road, the bloke ahead still only did twenty, despite the fact it was a forty limit along this stretch. Was he messing with her deliberately? With the queue of stationary traffic on the other side of the road, there was no way she could overtake him.

Or was this God's way of keeping her from avoiding an accident further down the road?

The pips sounded on the radio followed by the nine o'clock news.

Violet sighed again. She was late. A great start. Still at least the job came with a cottage in the village, so she wouldn't have to commute in each morning. Perhaps she should have taken her best friend's advice and driven down yesterday and stayed overnight in a hotel. But no, she'd known better and left at six o'clock this morning. What should have been a forty-minute drive had taken three hours, and she still wasn't there.

Finally, she passed the village sign. WELCOME TO WINKFIELD GREEN. PLEASE DRIVE CAREFULLY.

Yeah, right. As if she had a choice with Grandad out for his morning drive in front of her. And the speed limit was now twenty. Wonderful. Grandad immediately reduced his speed to ten. If he went any slower, he'd stop dead in the middle of the road.

She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel, counting to ten slowly in her head, and then letting out the breath she'd been holding. The whole point of moving to the country was to slow down, take things easy, not stress. Yeah, right.

The sat nav told her to take the second turn on the right, so she did. Thankfully the octogenarian in front of her kept going straight. Small mercies. The council offices were in what appeared to be a large Victorian house on the right. She turned and pulled into the first available parking space. Which was also the only one left and didn't appear to have a sign saying it was allocated.

Violet switched off the engine and checked her hair in the driving mirror. Even if she was late, she still wanted to look her best. She took a deep breath and exited the vehicle. She tugged down her jacket. It was cold and drizzling, but there was no point in putting on her coat for the thirty seconds it would take her to dash inside the building. Instead, she laid it over her arm, grabbed her briefcase and handbag, and locked the car.

She trotted up the three wide stone steps and pushed open the heavy wooden door.

A woman with a mass of long, soft brown hair glanced up and smiled. Good morning. Can I help you?

Violet ignored her for a moment as her gaze flicked around the entrance hall of the old house. The large open space had three doors off each side. A wide staircase to the right of the desk wound up to the next floor. She glanced back at the receptionist. Violet Noble, the new events planner. So sorry I'm late. I got stuck in the roadworks on the A4. Not that there was any work being done.

Not to worry. The mayor isn't here yet either. The woman held out a hand. Pleased to meet you. I'm Wren Faulkner. I usually work in the library, but right now Mondays find me here. Tracy does Tuesday and Wednesday and Simon does Thursday and Friday.

Violet shook her hand, thinking the system of three part-timers wasn't particularly cost effective. I see, I think. Wouldn't it be easier to have one receptionist rather than three? For continuity if nothing else.

Yup, totally agree with you there. Not to mention it'd be easier on the finances as we all get paid different hourly rates. But the mayor, Mr. Khan, doesn't like to sack anyone without due cause.

Note to self. Don't give the mayor cause to sack me.

The main door opened again. Violet turned, expecting to see the mayor.

A tall, somewhat handsome man wearing a back-to-front baseball cap, boots, green wax jacket, and waterproof trousers stood there. He grinned at the receptionist, his piercing blue eyes shining. Morning, coz.

Wren returned the smile. Hello to you too. Derek, this is Violet Noble, the new events planner. Violet, meet Derek Xenon, carpenter and maintenance man.

Derek's firm grip encased her hand in warmth as he shook vigorously. I also happen to be related to this one, but don't hold it against me.

Violet managed a smile, not expecting the tingles that shot up her arm from her hand. I won't.

Wren handed Derek a clipboard. Here's your list for today. I don't suppose you've seen the mayor anywhere, have you?

He's just this second pulled in. I'd better go, before he adds a dozen things to this list. Have a good first day, Miss Noble. He headed to the door and paused. Oh, before I forget. I found these in the car park. He tossed a set of keys to Wren, who deposited them on the desk. Nice catch. No doubt someone will claim them before too long.

Violet recognised the unicorn keyring instantly. They're mine. They must have missed my bag somehow when I locked the car. She grabbed them, making sure they slid inside her handbag this time. Thank you.

She perched on one of the seats near Wren's desk and glanced at the paintings on the wall. Why had she reacted that way to his touch? It had never happened before and in her line of work she shook hands with plenty of people.

Before she had time to fully digest her strange reaction, the door opened again. A lofty, brown-skinned man with a neat, pointed beard, black hair, and dark eyes that flashed with fire breezed in.

Wren glanced up. Good morning, Mr. Khan.

Ah, that answered her question as to whether this was the mayor. He'd interviewed her by telephone rather than face to face.

Someone has stolen my parking space. His north London accent filled the reception area. He held out a piece of paper. Find out who this car belongs to and get them to move it. Also ask Derek to reattach my sign. It was on the ground.

Of course, Mr. Khan. This lady here is your nine o'clock.

Violet rose, her heart pounding away in the soles of her shoes. Violet Noble, the new events planner.

Mr. Khan hefted his briefcase. He turned his gaze to Violet and inclined his head. Ibrahim Khan, mayor. Miss Noble. I apologise for keeping you waiting.

It’s fine. I was late myself due to the traffic on—

The A4, he finished. Yes. I'm not sure what's more irritating. The three-way lights, or lack of men working on the repairs. Give me a few minutes, and I'll be right with you. Wren, I need coffee and lots of it.

On it. As the office door closed, Wren glanced at Violet. I don't suppose you drive a red car with a license ending in YHS?

Her heart sank. Yeah, but there was nowhere else to park. And as he said, the sign wasn't there.

That's an easy mistake to make, so don't worry. There's a carpark around the back of the library, about a hundred yards down the road to the left. It’s pay to park, but one sec… Wren fished in the desk and pulled out a permit. If you put this in your dashboard, you won't have to pay. I'll sort a designated space here for you. Once I've done his coffee, that is.

Thank you. Taking her keys, Violet dashed out into the now pouring rain to move the car. It soaked through her suit jacket quickly, sticking her hair to her head. She drove down to the library and parked for the second time that morning.

Grabbing her umbrella from the driver's door, she dashed back through the deluge to the council offices. She shook the brolly to remove the excess rainwater, dropped it into the bucket on the top step, pushed open the door and strode inside, hoping she looked more confident than she felt.

Mr. Khan strode out of his office and raised an eyebrow. Is the ceiling leaking?

No, I went to move the car. I'm afraid I was the person who inadvertently parked in your space.

I see. You weren't the first person, and won't be the last to do it either. You'd better put your jacket on the radiator to dry and come through.

Grateful her shirt wasn't white, Violet did as he suggested, then grabbed her bag and briefcase and followed him into his office.

The large room had deep pile blue carpet, several bookcases, and a massive wooden desk in front of a window which overlooked a large garden.

Take a seat. Do you have milk and sugar in your coffee?

Both and two please. Violet sat down, crossing her legs.

He tossed her a towel. Here. Use this to remove some of the dampness from your hair. We don't want you catching pneumonia on your first day.

Gratefully, she caught the towel and began to dry her hair. Thank you.

There have been a few changes since you accepted the job here.

Violet's stomach pitted. Oh? she asked, not entirely sure she wanted to know. Was she fired already?

Mr. Khan glanced over his shoulder. Don't worry. Your job is still available and still full time. And yours. His eyes twinkled. Even if you did steal my parking space. The revised list of duties is on my desk.

Violet's hands shook as she picked up the sheet of paper. She didn't know him well enough to know if he was teasing, even if his tone implied he was. And she really hoped he was.

As you can see, you are now totally responsible for everything.

She read the paper, swallowing hard. I thought I had some staff.

As much as I hated to do so, I had to let the two of them go. He carried over two cups of steaming coffee and held one out to her. Sadly, they had not been doing the jobs they were hired for. It’s November. The tree lighting is in twenty days, and they hadn't even ordered the tree. In fact, nothing has been done at all.

Violet sipped the coffee. That did not bode well. Oh?

Evidently, they didn't like the way your predecessor was terminated. I told them they could also find employment elsewhere. However, you come highly recommended, which is the reason why I hired you. I'm sure you'll cope admirably.

Violet stared at him in astonishment, not sure how to respond. If she couldn't cope admirably, she'd probably find herself out of a job just as quickly.

~*~

Derek sat in his workshop at the bottom of the garden behind the council office, and forced his mind to concentrate on work, not on the pretty woman he'd just met. He double checked his list of jobs. Nothing looked too time consuming or difficult, and most of them were inside, which was a bonus given the fact it was still chucking down rain. Said raindrops were currently pounding on the window whilst leaves swirled in the wind.

His work phone rang. He reached into his pocket. Hello.

Hey, It’s me. Wren's tight voice filled his ear with dread. If she called the work phone it only meant another job. I don't suppose we still have the events manager parking space sign hiding away someplace, do we?

Derek glanced around the workshop. "Aye, we do. I'm looking at