HAPPY 2016 TO ALL MY LOVELY READERS!

Don't worry, I hadn't forgotten you, or indeed this story. I'm back on the writing horse again, and I hope this chapter will be worth your long wait. As always, reviews and feedback are extremely welcome and I hope you all find success and fulfillment in your own writing in this new year!

...

December raced by, almost as if it had decided to chide November for its slow and unwieldy pace. Before the Masons and their guests felt they had turned around, it was time to deck the house with Holly and Ivy, while Josie's afternoons were passed in the kitchen with Daisy, constructing paper chains and cutting out Christmas biscuits. Mr Mason rubbed his hands with glee at the sight of the plum puddings and Christmas cake stacked up in the pantry, ready for their big day.

Anna, now back on her feet and able to move around a little more freely, decorated the Christmas tree which now flanked the snug, with a little help from Josie, who supervised the hanging of the baubles. She'd already picked out the exact place on the mantelpiece where her stocking would be hung, and was seeking regular assurance from her father that Father Christmas would not deliver her presents to the hotel in Whitby by mistake.

The 21st of December rolled around and the hotel was due to be shut for the festive period. The phone sprang to life once more for a couple of days, as messages were sent back and forth between Joseph Moseley and John Bates, with instructions for shutting up the building and timings for trains, along with one or two extra requests from John which were passed on while his wife and daughter took an afternoon nap together. Listening in the kitchen, Mrs Patmore chuckled to herself, enjoying the gentle plans which were being laid for the delight of the Bates family.

"And your tickets have been booked? You're all packed up now to travel tomorrow?"

Bill motioned to catch John's attention, tapping at his watch. John understood the pantomime immediately.

"And what time will you be getting into Downton? ... Mmmm hmmm ... At 4 o'clock, is that right?"

Bill gave John a thumbs up and nodded.

"Marvellous. Thank you Mr Moseley. Yes, and we look forward to seeing you too. Best wishes to Phyllis. Travel safely."

"Nicely done John," Bill beamed across from his armchair. "They'd never had asked for a lift, I'll go pick 'em up in the wagon."

"Y'do right Bill," Mrs Patmore bustled through with a plate of shortbread and tea. "That ice out there, it's treacherous."

"I was thinking, my love..."

"Ooh, 'eck, there's a dangerous occupation..."

Mrs Patmore gave him a saucy grin over the rim of her tea cup.

"Ah, well first time for everything. No, what I was going to say was, they'll stay here, won't they? Can't send 'em back to that cottage, all shut up for months on end. The whole place will be damp through, they'll need fires in every room to air it out."

Mrs Patmore's smile turned warmer and deeper.

"I do like it when we think alike my dear. I had Daisy make up the upstairs spare room this morning. We'll be stuffed to the gunnels round that table for Christmas Dinner mind you!"

"Well..." Bill puffed away at his pipe and raised his teacup in salute to John. "Isn't that just grand!"

...

"They're here!"

Daisy shouted over her shoulder, hurrying away to help Mrs Patmore lay the table for tea.

"Josie, quick, are we ready?"

Josie nodded firmly, climbing up onto her chair to hold her corner of the pillow case which she and her mother had been decorating all morning.

"All home, safe and sound," came Bill's voice from the back kitchen door. "Come on in, you two..."

Anna motioned to Josie, counting one, two, three in a whisper.

As Joseph and Phyllis rounded the corner to the snug they were greeted with an enthusiastic, childish shout.

"THANK YOU MISTER AND MISSUS MOSELEY"

The pillow case, held out between Anna and Josie displayed these words in big wobbly letters, sketched out by Anna and decorated with food colouring by Josie.

"Well! What a lovely welcome!" Mr Moseley looked tired, but delighted to see his friend in better health. Phyllis tried not to cry.

"Thank you Josie... can I have a hug?"

Josie clambered down and went to embrace her friends.

"It was Josie's idea," Anna explained as the travelers settled down and divested themselves of coats and hats. "She knows you've been looking after the hotel for us."

"Ahhh... now, Miss Bates, I've got a letter here for you somewhere..."

Mr Moseley tipped a wink over to John surreptitiously, rummaging in his pocket and drawing out a large red envelope, addressed to Josie in immaculate copperplate writing.

Josie was thrilled. Not since the letter inviting them all to stay at Yew Tree Farm had there been such an exciting piece of post, and this time it was all for her. Eagerly, she tore it open and folded out a single piece of paper.

Anna gathered her up, suspecting a loving conspiracy from the joy bursting out of John's smile and the small giggles that Phyllis was attempting to swallow.

"Dear Josie," she read aloud. "Mr Moseley has written to me to inform me that you will be staying at Yew Tree Farm for Christmas and that I should bring your presents there on Christmas Eve instead of delivering them to the Gull's Nest in Whitby. I have made a note on my list and the reindeer know the place very well, having often delivered presents to the Crawley children at Downton Abbey. If you could ask Mrs Mason to leave out one of her famous mince pies, and a carrot for the reindeer, I would be much obliged. Your friend, Father Christmas."

Tea was, naturally, an uproarious affair. Josie was beyond delighted, racing up and down to show everyone that Father Christmas had really and truly written to her, that he was coming to bring her a present and knew where the farm was. For the first time since their arrival, she showed no interest in the chocolate biscuits and iced shortbread, her attention wholly and completely taken up by the letter clutched in her chubby little hand. The adults, for as long as possible, held in their laughter and joined in with her joy, while Anna used all of her whiles and stern remonstrations to persuade Josie to eat her jam sandwich and fruit bun and actually drink her mug of milk. At long last, when Josie was born away to have her bath, once the bathroom door clicked shut behind Daisy and Josie, each of the grown ups sat around the tea table exploded into their suppressed giggles.

"Oh Joseph, that was beautiful. Thank you so much," John wiped his eyes with laughter.

"Well now, we couldn't have the little thing worried that Father Christmas would leave her out now, could we?" Joseph beamed under his success.

"So ... Father Christmas wants a mince pie, does he?"

Mrs Patmore's steely gaze reached across the table to Joseph, causing him to quail momentarily.

"And I suppose if Father Christmas is too full of mince pies, you'll be volunteering to eat it for him, Mr Moseley?"

Mrs Patmore managed to look fierce for a whole two seconds until she collapsed into laughter again. Joseph, relieved, wiped his brow and smiled at his wife across the table, who wore an expression of pure and shining love for him.

"Well, it's a good thing I made a batch of two dozen this morning then, isn't it!"

"I'd say," Anna smiled across the rim of her cup, looking rounder and rosier than she had even during her first pregnancy, "that this Father Christmas has absolutely earned his mince pie."

Her smile and glowing expression across the table were all the thanks that the Moseley's would ever need for their generous work in keeping the Gull's Nest open for business.