Always and Forever at Glendale Hall
Page 30
He nodded. ‘We’re hoping for a spring opening; full steam ahead, isn’t that what you say? They talk about you often. Chloe and Ash. They definitely think they had a hand in you wanting to be a chef. I like to think that I did too.’
‘Of course you do.’ I rolled my eyes. He would always think things were about him. ‘I enjoyed working in your kitchen though,’ I added. Which was true. We paused at the gates.
‘Even when I kissed you?’ He raised an eyebrow.
‘Actually, yes. You made me realise what I did and didn’t want.’
‘I knew when we met that I’d never forget you, Anna. And I certainly won’t. If you ever want to work in my kitchen again, just call.’
‘I will keep that in mind,’ I said, knowing that he really did mean that. ‘Take care, Pierre.’ I gave him a kiss and a wave before I walked off to my car.
I got in and checked my phone but there were no missed calls or messages. Emily was almost at her due date and it felt like we were all on tenterhooks waiting for her to go into labour. Relieved I hadn’t missed anything while I was in the talk, I set off for Hilltop Farm. I felt really positive about my course, and it had been nice to see Pierre again and know that the past didn’t always have to carry with it bad memories. We hadn’t meant much to one another when we were in France but he was right: I would never forget him and it felt good to part on better terms now, both hopefully better people than we were then. I was excited for my course to start properly on Monday but, for now, I was going to spend the weekend with my boyfriend. I smiled as I turned up Queen on the radio and sang along. Calling Cameron that still hadn’t become old.
Hilltop took a while to come into view but I enjoyed the country drive listening to my favourite music, and the sun began to set as I turned into the gravel drive and parked outside the farmhouse. Guests had left the last retreat earlier in the day so we would have the place to ourselves and it was my favourite thing to spend quiet alone time with him out here. We were usually surrounded by family and friends so we enjoyed our nights alone on the farm.
Well, not completely alone as sheep now grazed on the hill.
I walked towards the woodland, smiling over at them as they looked up to watch me pass. The sun had dipped behind the trees and the sky had turned pastel pink, the same colour as my hair, as I walked under the cover of the trees. The noise of Glendale was blocked out now. All I could hear was birdsong. I weaved along the path until Cameron’s cabin appeared through a gap between the trees. The cabin was always peaceful and it made me feel calmer just to see it again.
Practically skipping up to the door, I didn’t need to knock because it swung open in front of me. ‘Well, hi there.’
‘Hey, babe.’ Cameron leaned down to kiss me. ‘How did it go? Coffee?’
‘Great. And yes please,’ I said, going inside. Cameron wrapped an arm around my waist to stop me, kissing the side of my neck. I gasped. ‘Miss me or something?’
‘Always. Right, I’ll put the kettle on, you tell me all about your day.’ He slipped past me into the kitchen. I watched him go, aware that I was smiling rather stupidly. I’d never had anyone to just share my day with. I liked it.
I sat down on the sofa, curling my legs up as Cameron listened to me talk while he made us both a coffee. Behind me, the sun set slowly on the day and on the summer. A summer that had changed everything. A summer that I would always remember.
Forever.
A letter from Victoria
Dear readers,
I can’t believe I’m writing the letter for book four! I really didn’t think there would be four Glendale Hall books so thank you so much for how you’ve taken this series into your hearts – this book is here because of you, and that’s why I’ve dedicated it to you.
This time, we are following Anna’s journey. I was always intrigued by Brodie’s little sister – the reason that he became a minister. I wanted to explore how the accident that led him to his vocation changed her life. And Anna’s life after the car accident has definitely not been as smooth sailing as her brother’s and she’s been on a journey to find what she wants in life ever since. Saddled with guilt, Anna has struggled. But this summer, she finally makes her way to Glendale and we all know that Glendale has a magic to it – a magic that can heal a heart and soul…
I hope you will take Anna into your hearts. She’s so different from our other main characters and brings a breath of fresh air into the village. She is very complex and is haunted by the past but she’s also fun and passionate, and I just love her pink hair and feisty spirit. I hope you will too!
I also hope you’ll enjoy being reunited with everyone we know and love in Glendale, seeing how Hilltop Farm is working, watching Beth become a wedding planner and meeting another farmer – Cameron – a man who is haunted by his past just like Anna. But who also, just like Anna, has a heart of gold.
My favourite scene to write in this book was the murder mystery weekend that our Glendale family go on and I hope you will all love reading it too. It was particularly special to me as it gives a little hint to my next writing venture – a brand new crime series! I am so excited for you all to read Murder at the House on the Hill so please do look out for it coming in September 2021!
Thank you for all your lovely messages about Glendale – they really do make my day! I hope you will love book four just as much as the first three. If you do, please do pop up a review on Amazon or any other retailer and let me know on social media.
I hope you’re all staying safe and well!
Lots of love,
Victoria
Instagram: @vickywalters
Twitter: @vicky_walters
Facebook: VictoriaWaltersAuthor
YouTube: Victoria Walters
Blog: www.victoria-writes.com
Acknowledgements
Wow, Glendale Hall 4! Thank you so much Keshini, Lindsey, and the Hera and Canelo teams for making this possible. Big thanks also to Hannah and everyone at Hardman and Swainson for all your hard work and support. Thanks also to my copy-editor, Eleanor Leese, and Vicki McKay, and Cherie Chapman for another lovely cover.
A huge thank you to all the bloggers, reviewers and readers who are so enthusiastic about this series – book four was only possible because of how much you love the Glendale books! I’m so grateful to all of you. Special thanks to my Facebook Book Squad too for being such great cheerleaders.
Special thanks to Kiley Dunbar, Lisa Swift, Anna Bell and George Lester for being so supportive and for all our chats this past year. It’s helped more than you know!
As always, a huge thank you to my mum for your love and support and for listening to all my plot problems too. And, of course, Harry for always being by my side.
About the Author
Victoria Walters writes uplifting and inspiring stories. She’s the author of the bestselling Glendale Hall series, which continues with its fourth book Always and Forever at Glendale Hall, as well as two other standalone novels – Summer at the Kindness Café and The Second Love of my Life. She has been chosen for WHSmith Fresh Talent and shortlisted for two RNA awards. Victoria was also picked as an Amazon Rising Star, and her books have won wide reader acclaim. Victoria is a full-time author who lives in Surrey with her cat, Harry.
Also by Victoria Walters
Glendale Hall series
Coming Home to Glendale Hall
New Beginnings at Glendale Hall
Hopeful Hearts at Glendale Hall
Always and Forever at Glendale Hall
Standalone novels
The Second Love of my Life
Summer at the Kindness Café
eBook short stories
Dancing in the Fire
The Summer I Met You
Coming September 2021
Murder at the House on the Hill
First published in the United Kingdom in 2021 by Hera
Hera Books
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London, E5 8NS
; United Kingdom
Copyright © Victoria Walters, 2021
The moral right of Victoria Walters to be identified as the creator of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Ebook ISBN 9781912973613
Print ISBN 9781800325067
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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