‘Which bit? The part where you didn’t know what to call me, or the part where HP became an official family member?’
‘Uh… all of it really. I mean… I think of HP as my family now and I couldn’t imagine if he wasn’t around, just as I couldn’t imagine not seeing you every…’ She bit her lip.
‘Go on… finish what you were going to say.’ Tom raised her hand and kissed it.
‘Sorry, I’m still getting used to this. What I was going to say is that I couldn’t bear not seeing you every day, Tom. Well, except for when you go back to Brighton and see your family and when you go on vet courses and… gosh, I know there will be times when I don’t see you every day, but I know I will see you again, so it’s okay… But if I wasn’t going to see you again, I don’t know what I’d do.’
Tom stopped walking and turned to her.
‘Camilla, it’s okay.’ He smiled then glanced left to check on the children, who were currently studying a beetle that was making its way along the dry-stone wall outside the village church. He gave Camilla a quick kiss that sent warmth flooding through her. ‘I need to see you every day too. You, beautiful lady, have become my whole world.’
‘You’re my world, Tom. I’m so glad you came to live in Heatherlea.’ She gazed into his soft brown eyes, knowing she would never tire of looking at him.
‘Me too.’ He kissed her again. ‘But I do think we need to decide upon an appropriate term.’
‘A term?’
‘You need to know what to call me if people ask.’
‘What do you call me?’
‘Camilla.’
She gave his arm a mock punch. ‘No, how do you describe me to people?’
‘I’ll be honest; I’ve skirted labels by saying that I’m dating you, or in a relationship with you, or that we’re a couple. Calling you my girlfriend feels a bit… young, I guess, and calling you my partner feels quite formal.’
Camilla nodded.
‘Perhaps…’ Tom’s brown eyes seemed to sparkle with mischief as he held her gaze.
‘Perhaps what?’
‘Perhaps we need to have a new way to refer to each other.’
‘A new way?’
He inclined his head. ‘Yes. You know… a more permanent way.’
Camilla frowned as she tried to work out what he meant. What other names were there for the person you were in a relationship with?
Tom squeezed her hand. ‘Camilla what I’m trying to say is—’
‘Aunty Camilla!’ Laura’s scream cut him off.
Camilla tugged her hand from Tom’s and ran towards her niece.
‘Oh my god, Laura, what’s wrong?’
She looked at her eight-year-old niece, who she swore resembled Dawn more every day, and winced at the tears brimming in her pretty eyes.
‘A wasp stung me.’
‘What? Where?’ Camilla stroked her niece’s soft hair as Laura lifted the hem of her flamenco costume and showed Camilla her ankle. ‘Oh, sweetheart.’
Camilla knelt next to Laura and gave her a hug just as Tom and HP arrived at their side.
‘I have some cream at the surgery that will take the pain away, and I’m pretty certain Auntie Camilla has some ice cream at her cottage that will make you feel better.’
‘James, what’s wrong?’ Camilla realized that her nephew was standing behind Laura and that he had tears running down his cheeks too.
He sniffed, his small shoulders shaking.
‘I should have protected Laura.’
‘How, sweetheart?’
‘With my powers.’ He gestured at his costume. ‘But I didn’t see the wasp and now she’s sad and hurt and… I’m a bad brother.’
Camilla reached out and pulled him into their hug. ‘James, you are not a bad brother. Wasps sting people all the time and no amount of super powers will change that. Isn’t that right, Tom?’
‘Indeed it is.’ Tom was holding HP on a tight lead because he was trying to get to the children, no doubt to shower them with slobbery doggy kisses to make them feel better.
‘HP is worried about you both.’
James turned and rubbed the bulldog’s silky ears. ‘We’re okay, HP. Don’t worry.’
Camilla got up, and with a child holding each hand, they made their way to Tom’s veterinary surgery. She’d only had her sister’s children for twenty minutes and already they were both in tears. She might be their loving auntie but she needed to make sure that they both had smiles on their faces when they returned to their parents later. Dawn and Rick were worn out and she wanted to help them as much as she could, but they’d never let her look after Laura and James if they returned home with horror stories of being stung and crying in the street.
Dawn had told her numerous times that parenting was wonderful but really hard work. Camilla hadn’t always believed it, wondering how such tiny human beings could cause a problem for anyone, but the more time she spent with Laura and James, the more she admired her younger sister.
Thank goodness that she and Tom hadn’t had a serious discussion about having children of their own. They’d cooed over baby Alison, and hinted that it could be something they’d consider in the future — likely testing the water with each other — but no concrete plans had been made. Which was just as well, because Camilla was inclined to believe that she’d be a disaster at the whole thing.
Better to be a favourite auntie and leave it at that.
When they arrived at the surgery and Tom unlocked the door then ushered them all inside, Camilla realized that he hadn’t had a chance to finish what he was about to say. That conversation would have to wait, because Laura had a wasp sting that needed treating and James needed ice cream to put the smile back on his sweet little face.
4
Honey
Honey stretched out her arms and legs, enjoying the delicious sensations that coursed through her limbs. Nothing like a Bank Holiday Monday to make a woman feel relaxed. The bedroom was golden with the early morning sunlight that was filtering through the curtains and whispering of a beautiful day ahead.
The duvet next to her moved and dark hair appeared first, followed by Dane’s handsome face and bright blue eyes framed with thick black lashes.
‘Good morning, roomie.’ He grinned lazily at her, his left cheek featuring a pillow crease and his stubble already casting a dark shadow over his strong jaw.
Honey leant towards him and kissed the bridge of his nose, widened by a break in a rugby game, then she kissed his full lips, the top one with its thin white scar where someone in the opposing team had caught him with their knee. She loved his scars, his small imperfections that made him who he was. To her, he was perfect in every way.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her back, and she breathed him in, the warm male scent laced with yesterday’s citrus-ginger cologne, a combination that made her stomach flip.
‘Mmmm. Good morning, to you too, roomie.’
They lay back on the pillows, holding hands, enjoying the birdsong from outside that seeped through the open window. Honey always left the bedroom window open a crack, even in winter, because she liked to have fresh air in her room.
‘What shall we do today?’ Dane asked as he played with the fingers of her left hand, straightening each one out in turn then planting kisses on the tips.
‘I don’t mind.’ She turned to peer at his profile and her heart fluttered. She couldn’t believe her luck. This beautiful man with his sapphire eyes, his short thick dark hair and his strong broad shoulders was hers. Her lover. Her friend. Her partner in crime. Dane had agreed to move in with her, now that he was staying in the village — after securing his teaching post at the local primary school — and she was beyond delighted.
‘I can tell you one thing, Honey.’
‘You can?’
He nodded. ‘I’m not doing any school work today.’
‘You’re not?’
‘Nope. Today is reserved.’
‘Ooh! Reserved for what?’
�
��You and me.’
‘Dane, that’s so good to hear.’
She rolled onto her side and snuggled up to him, winding her arm over his chest, her leg over his. Dane had worked so hard to secure a permanent position at the local primary school that Honey had been worried about him. In fact, he had recently admitted to being aware that he’d neglected everything else. But now he’d established himself, Honey hoped he’d be able to find more of a work-life balance.
‘And in that case… how about if we start moving your things in here?’ She ran her fingers over his chest, stroking the dusting of black hair on his chest then slowly following the line that ran down to his navel and beyond.
‘Hey!’ He lifted her chin with his forefinger.
‘What?’
‘I asked you a question. Didn’t you hear me?’
‘No… I, uh, was thinking about something.’
‘Were you now?’
He laughed then rolled her onto her back and leant over her, his blue eyes scanning her face.
‘I think I know what you were thinking about but I’ll have to test the theory.’
Honey smiled as he gently ran a finger over her cheeks then over her lips and down over her chin to the hollow of her throat, where he pressed a soft kiss.
‘I asked you, Honey, if we should have a good breakfast first, as moving requires a lot of energy.’
‘Definitely. I have lots of eggs, so I’m sure I can whip something up.’
‘No you don’t. I’ll make breakfast.’
‘Are you sure?’
He nodded. ‘Absolutely.’
‘Before you go…’ She smiled at him.
‘Before I go?’
‘One more kiss?’
‘Just one more.’
She rolled onto her side again then he kissed her, and all thoughts of making breakfast temporarily slipped from their minds.
5
Allie
Allie walked into the kitchen of the cottage she shared with Chris and shivered. It wasn’t cold in there, but she felt cold because she’d barely slept a wink. All night long, thoughts about Mandy and how upset she was had raced through Allie’s mind and she’d wondered if this could have been avoided in some way.
‘Morning.’ Chris looked up from his iPad. He was sitting at the kitchen table near the window.
‘Is that coffee fresh?’
‘It is indeed.’
She sat down as he poured the dark brown steaming beverage into a large mug then handed it to her.
‘Thank you. What time did you get up?’
‘About half an hour ago.’
She glanced at the clock.
‘You were up at six?’
‘Yeah, I didn’t sleep that well to be honest.’
‘I’m surprised I didn’t hear you get up.’
‘I was as quiet as I could be because I didn’t want to disturb you after the awful night you had.’
‘I know… I tossed and turned. I’m just so worried about Mandy.’
Chris reached out and squeezed her hand. His touch was warm and reassuring and she sent out a silent thank you that he’d come back to her. He made her feel safe but also that she could achieve anything. He saw her in the way she’d always wanted to see herself and she loved him for it.
‘Mandy will be okay. You know that don’t you? She has you and Jordan, and now, she also has me.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Hey, don’t thank me. I’m your partner, remember, and I love you more than anything, Allie. You’re my everything.’
‘Do you love me more than writing?’ She used their favourite joke, trying to lighten the heaviness that had weighed her down since Mandy had turned up at the café yesterday.
Chris frowned, pouted, then met her eyes.
‘You know… I think I do. But only just.’
They smiled at each other and she took comfort from his familiar handsome features, her very own George Clooney lookalike. But without the baby twins that Mr Clooney had, thankfully. In her early forties and with two grown up children, Allie did not fancy adding to her brood, and seeing as how Chris had agreed that he was happy to continue as they were, there would be no tiny feet pattering around in the cottage. It had formerly belonged to Chris’s mother, and even now, Allie sometimes thought of it as Mrs Monroe’s cottage. Not that it mattered, because Allie was happily settled there with Chris. Knowing that she would fall asleep in his arms every night and wake to find him next to her was the best feeling in the world.
‘Allie, I’ve been thinking.’
She sipped her drink, savouring the delicious aroma of the good quality coffee Chris insisted they buy.
‘I…’ He ran a hand through his salt and pepper hair. ‘I think that we should… now that we’re together and have been for a while, I was thinking it might be a good idea if we…’
Allie peered at him over her mug.
His cheeks were flushed and he was worrying his bottom lip.
‘What is it? You look worried. Chris, is everything okay?’
He nodded. ‘It is. Absolutely. I’m just trying to find the right way to say this. But perhaps here and now isn’t the right time. It should be more… special. Yes.’ He nodded as if listening to an internal voice.
A creak from above their heads made them both look up.
‘More special? What should be more special?’
Another creak from above.
Allie put her mug down on the table and stood up. Chris held up a hand. ‘She might just be using the bathroom. Don’t go up just yet in case she goes back to bed.’
‘But what if she needs me?’
‘Then she’ll come down. She probably needs to catch up on some sleep too.’
Allie sat down again. ‘You’re right. I’m like one of those space shuttle mums.’
‘A what?’
‘You know… the ones who hover around their children nervously all the time, waiting to hug them at the first sign of a frown or a wobbly lip.’
Chris’s lips twitched.
‘What’s amusing you?’
‘I think you mean helicopter.’
‘Helicopter what?’
‘Helicopter mums. They’re the ones who hover round their children.’
Allie waved a hand. ‘Yes, that’s what I meant. Then again, if I was more attentive and if I had gone to London more often then I’d probably have spotted that something wasn’t right in my daughter’s life. I could have saved her from this.’
‘No, you couldn’t. Mandy is an adult now, Allie, and she has her own life in London. She wouldn’t have appreciated you popping in every five minutes and even if you had, you couldn’t have controlled her social circle or who she dated.’
Allie drained her coffee then wrapped both hands around the empty mug.
‘I know. You’re right. I just feel so guilty. Even though she is a grown woman, she’ll still always be my baby and all I want is to see her happy. Jordan is happy here in Heatherlea with Max and they’re such a perfect match. But Mandy has always been such a go-getter, so determined and driven. I never thought she’d be the one to end up destroyed by love.’
‘Did she tell you any more about what happened?’
Allie shook her head. After they’d brought Mandy back from the café, Chris had made himself scarce by going out to see a friend, while Allie had tried to talk to her daughter. But Mandy had been too upset to explain properly and in the end, Allie had thought a long hot bubble bath and a very early night would be of more benefit to Mandy than trying to talk it all through. Sometimes it was better to sleep on something and return to it with a fresh mind and heart. Allie had ended up falling asleep on the sofa, only waking when Chris had come home and led her up to bed.
‘She needed to wash the day away and to rest. Perhaps she’ll tell me today. Perhaps she won’t. But either way, I’m hoping she’ll agree to stay for a while to get herself together.’
‘I’m sure she will.’
Allie got up
and went around the table to Chris then wrapped her arms around his shoulders and buried her face in his hair. He slid his strong arms around her waist and held her tight. They stayed that way for a while, as the boards above their head creaked, signalling Mandy’s return to bed, and outside a lawnmower started up as someone made the most of the bank holiday sunshine.
‘I don’t know what I’d do without you, Chris.’ Allie spoke into his hair, breathing in his sandalwood shampoo and his own very special scent.
‘You, my love, will never have to find out.’
Chris turned her around so she sat on his lap then kissed her softly. And although he’d never be able to stop her worrying completely, with him at her side, Allie knew she would be able to deal with whatever came her way.
6
Dawn
Dawn pushed the pram along the pavement, taking deep breaths of the cool fresh air. It was a beautiful April morning and she was glad to be outside. She’d left Rick and the children in bed, believing that after an exciting party at the café then an afternoon spent with Camilla and Tom, Laura and James could do with a lie-in. Rick had been up with her in the night when she’d seen to Alison, so she thought he deserved some more sleep, and Dawn had had to get up anyway to feed and change the baby at six.
When she’d opened the curtains downstairs to find such a glorious morning, she’d decided to pop Alison in the pram and make the most of it. She had an ulterior motive, of course, hoping it would make Alison sleep through the morning so she could spend some time with Laura and James, but a walk would also help get her fitness up and get her back in shape after her pregnancy. She’d need to be fit and healthy to run around after three children, after all.
She walked briskly, imagining the toning effect upon her legs and belly, and almost ran straight over a squashed black shape on the pavement at the end of her street.
‘What the hell is that?’ She peered around the pram, wondering if someone had lost a jumper or a scarf on their way home from the Easter party at The Cosy Cottage Café. But no… It was something else, something far more distressing than an item of clothing.
A Wedding at The Cosy Cottage Café_A delightful romantic comedy to make you smile this summer Page 2
