Then Claire found a CD of Christmas music, and they sang along to favorite carols and songs before heading outside to check on the sheep. Noah explained the basics of animals husbandry to Molly as they walked, gratified at how interested she seemed to be, thankful for Claire by his side. It was, he decided, as he got ready for the Christmas Eve service at church, just about the best day he’d ever had. It was already getting dark when they headed out in the Land Rover to the parish church in the middle of Ledstow. The narrow high street was strung with fairy lights, with a massive Christmas tree outside the village’s lone pub, The Fair Maiden. Noah saw Claire smile at the decorations, and he wondered how Ledstow’s few attractions would measure up to life in the big city. For a day or a week, probably, village life would seem charming. But for longer? For a life? And how on earth could he be thinking like that, so soon? He parked the car on the high street across from the village post office shop; Claire glanced in its bow windows with a little smile before they all went through the lych-gate and then down the path that led to the church with its square Norman tower, the bells ringing out merrily, calling everyone to the service.
