Felicity switched on the machine and showed Esme how it worked. She was captivated watching the tiny balls float and dance in the air before being sucked up into the tube and pop out of the top. ‘And see that number on the ball—’ Felicity showed the ball to Esme ‘—you read that number out and cross the number off on the tiny books and once all the numbers are crossed off you shout Bingo and are the winner!’
‘That’s so cool,’ said Esme. ‘Can I help you call the numbers?’
‘I don’t see why not.’
‘Daddy … Daddy.’ Esme turned and ran towards Fergus. ‘I’m going to help Felicity call the numbers.’
‘Make sure you call my winning ones.’ He smiled at his daughter before sitting down next to Aggie and Rona.
They all watched as Esme ran back to Felicity.
Within ten minutes, every seat in the place was filled and the room was full of chatter with everyone raring to go. Felicity placed a stool next to the machine which Esme perched on and she switched on the microphone and blew into it.
The room fell silent.
‘Welcome everyone! I hope you’ve all got your books and a pen ready to hand but before we begin I would like you to put your hands together and give a huge bingotastic welcome to Esme, my helper for the evening.’
Esme grinned like the Cheshire Cat while the room erupted into rapturous applause.
Felicity started the first game and each time gave Esme the number to read out. The game was in full flow and the only sound that could be heard were the dabbers thudding on the table until there was a gasp and Aggie shouted, ‘HOUSE.’
‘Grandma’s won!’ cried Esme, then flew off her chair towards Aggie and gave her a huge hug.
‘I said my numbers, not your grandma’s!’ winked Fergus at Esme before she ran back off towards her stool ready for the next game.
After an hour of fun, the games came to an end. Everyone seemed to have a good time and spirits were lifted. Felicity had had a wonderful time and had enjoyed every second with Esme. Once the villagers had gathered their belongings, everyone seemed to head towards the pub.
‘Well, that was a success and good light-hearted fun,’ exclaimed Rona who joined Aggie and Fergus. They began to collect up the used bingo books while Rory packed up the microphone.
‘I’ll put away these table and chairs etc.’ Felicity turned towards Allie. ‘You were the one who got them all out. Get yourself to the pub and I’ll join you when I’m done.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Absolutely sure.’
Felicity began to stack the tables and chairs as everyone walked towards the doors. Fergus stopped, and Felicity saw him kiss Aggie on the cheek. She took Esme by the hand and Fergus turned back towards her.
‘I’ll help you stack all these up.’
Felicity was secretly pleased, and they began to work together to put the room back to normal.
‘I have to admit I quite enjoyed that,’ grinned Fergus, taking hold of one end of the table while Felicity grabbed the other.’
‘Can’t beat old-fashioned fun.’ She laughed as they stacked the tables.
‘You are really good with her, you know,’ said Fergus warmly, holding Felicity’s gaze. ‘Esme has really taken to you.’
‘I’ve really taken to her and you know whatever happens with all your tests, she is a special, amazing girl and that’s all down to you … you should be proud, Fergus.’
He leant against the stacked tables and Felicity did the same. ‘I am so sorry you can’t become—’
‘Hey,’ interrupted Felicity. ‘Let’s not go there. It’s something I can’t change and as much as I wish things were different there are so many positives in my life – Mum, the teashop, Heartcross, my friends, and of course there is Esme … and I’m glad me and you are friends. We are friends, aren’t we?’ she quickly added.
Fergus opened his arms wide, gesturing towards her, and Felicity slipped into them and rested her head against his chest. They stayed like that for a moment in silence and Fergus gently stroked her hair. ‘I have missed you, you know.’
Felicity’s heart skipped a beat at his words; being in Fergus’s arms felt like the most natural thing in the world. She tilted her head towards his and they held each other’s gaze. She studied his beautiful eyes as he brushed his finger across her lips and she willed him to kiss her. He tipped his head forward and pressed his lips lightly on hers. Neither of them spoke, but Felicity’s head whirled as his arms tightly wrapped around her body.
‘I’m glad you are staying in Heartcross,’ he mumbled.
‘Me too,’ she answered, their eyes never leaving each other, knowing that she was never going back to London. She wanted Fergus full stop and from that kiss alone, she knew he was beginning to feel the same. She made a promise to herself there and then that she wasn’t going to rush Fergus. She was going to let him take things at his own pace but make sure she was always there for him. Since she’d left Heartcross, his life hadn’t run smoothly. And once the bridge was up and running and the postal system back to normal, he had the worry of the results of the DNA test still to come – but whatever the outcome, Felicity knew they were in this together and she was going to be by his side no matter what.
Fergus couldn’t deny his feelings any longer. ‘I’m sorry I gave you a hard time when you turned up … I knew I’d see you again one day but didn’t quite expect it to be in the middle of a snowstorm when I was attempting to rescue a Shetland pony.’
‘Don’t worry about it, I never expected to see you again in such circumstances either. I’d played the situation over and over in my head for years and none of it played out like I expected.’
‘You had now, had you?’ He tilted Felicity’s chin up.
‘There’s never been anyone else that has come close to you, Fergus,’ said Felicity, raw emotion taking her by surprise. She blinked away a tear and glanced nervously into his eyes and took a deep breath. ‘There’s only ever been you.’ Her heart was clattering, and she could barely breathe, her pulse was racing.
Fergus traced his finger under her chin, and she could feel his breath on her face and the hairs on the back of her neck prickled. Their eyes stayed locked and neither of them faltered. Fergus grasped the back of her head lightly and pulled her in closer and then their lips met and sparks flew like she hadn’t felt in such a long time. They kissed slowly at first, the tingle in Felicity’s body immense.
‘I want you,’ he mumbled,
‘Is this what you really want?’ Felicity asked, pulling gently away.
‘Yes … I’ve missed you so much. I want you back in my life for good.’
‘I want that too.’
‘And Esme?’ Fergus held her gaze.
‘That beautiful little girl is just an added bonus.’ Felicity leant up and kissed him once more. ‘I won’t let either of you down … I promise,’ she whispered.
Fergus took her by the hand and they walked towards Heartwood Cottage, both knowing that they’d fallen madly and deeply in love with each other once more.
Five weeks later…
There was a loud knock on the door and Felicity and Rona immediately spun round. Aggie was standing outside next to Fergus who had a huge grin on his face and Esme had her nose pressed up against the window.
With a spring in her step, Felicity quickly opened up the teashop and spun an excited Esme who’d launched herself into her arms.
‘It’s today!’ squealed Esme. ‘It’s today you get to open the bridge and cut the ribbon … you are sooo famous!’ she emphasised, making Felicity giggle.
‘I’m not famous, all we did was raise a few thousand pounds … and you had as much to do with that as me!’
Fergus was hanging back looking very shifty. ‘And what are you doing?’ asked Felicity, narrowing her eyes at him. ‘What are you hiding behind your back?’
‘These are for you … I know they aren’t real as it’s very difficult to find real flowers in the village at the moment,
but Esme and I have made you these as we think you are very special.’
From behind his back he produced a small posy of handmade flowers from different coloured tissue paper. Felicity’s heart swelled at the sight of them. She took them from his hand, planting a kiss on his cheek, then automatically went to sniff them which made everyone laugh.
‘Thank you, they are gorgeous, I will treasure them forever.’ She turned and pressed a kiss to the top of Esme’s head before placing them in a jam jar on the counter. ‘They look perfect there.’
‘This one has barely slept,’ chipped in Aggie. ‘Honestly, you’d think Father Christmas was visiting Heartcross today.’
Esme gave a cheeky smile before sitting down at the table with a drink of juice.
‘But it’s not only the bridge that is re-opening today … is it?’ Aggie held her arms open and gave Rona a hug, before moving on to Felicity.
Instantly, Rona welled up with tears and cast a glance around the teashop. In the past couple of weeks, Hamish’s shelves had been fully stocked from the twice-weekly food drops by the army which meant Rona and Felicity didn’t have to feed the villagers en masse, and everyone had begun to take care of themselves. Over the past few days Felicity had worked really hard and had set to work giving Bonnie’s Teashop a fresh lick of paint, with new menus printed and the transformation was incredible. Felicity had taken down all the old frayed, discoloured bunting and created new ones from scraps of material found in the bottom of Rona’s sewing basket with the help of Esme. They criss-crossed them around the ceiling. She’d even taken the old plush velvet sofa that was gathering dust in the back room, hoovered it down and dressed it with throws and cushions creating a work area in the back of the teashop for anyone who wanted to sit with their laptop and enjoy an afternoon tea. The teashop had sprung back to life.
‘I know,’ said Rona, taking Felicity by the hand and giving it a quick squeeze. ‘Today we re-open this place … together.’
‘How are you feeling about it all?’ asked Aggie.
Rona took a breath and composed herself. ‘A little sad Mum isn’t here to see us working together, in partnership. There was a time I thought I wouldn’t step foot inside this place again without her but even though I’m feeling emotional I’m on top of the world … with Felicity by my side I know we will do Mum proud.’
‘We will. Grandma’s teashop will be up and running once more,’ agreed Felicity, her eyes welling up with happy tears as she shot a quick glance towards the photograph of Bonnie and her first customers hanging proudly on the wall.
‘How did it go when you sent the email resigning from your post at the department store … any reply yet?’ asked Fergus, grabbing himself a drink of water from the jug on the table.
Felicity had left it until the very last minute to email Eleanor Ramsbottom tendering her resignation.
The second she pressed send a huge weight had lifted off her shoulders. That part of her life had finally come to an end but she knew she would have to return to London one last time to empty her flat.
She flicked on to her phone and checked her inbox.
‘Yes, she’s replied.’ Felicity quickly scanned the email and gasped. ‘You aren’t going to believe this,’ she said pulling out a chair and sitting down.
‘What is it?’ asked Fergus, with a sprightly raise of his eyebrows.
‘The money, the final donation … the fifty thousand pounds was from Eleanor Ramsbottom…’ Felicity looked up at everyone who had gathered around her.
‘You’re kidding me?’ said Fergus.
‘Honestly, I’m not … look,’ said Felicity, passing the phone to Fergus.
‘Well, would you believe it? She wasn’t as bad as you thought!’ exclaimed Fergus, handing the phone back to Felicity.
‘I actually feel awful now,’ replied Felicity re-reading the email, not only taken aback by the grand gesture from Eleanor and the company she’d worked for, but by the tone of the email, which was extremely sincere. Eleanor not only wished her well but claimed Felicity was an extremely valued member of staff who would be welcomed back at any time if she ever changed her mind.
‘She’s even wished me all the best for future and offered to give me a reference if I ever needed one … I just can’t believe it was Eleanor who donated the money.’
‘You need to thank her,’ said Rona.
‘Absolutely, I will,’ Felicity replied still flabbergasted.
‘She’s not even making me work my notice … in fact, it’s like someone has hacked her email,’ joked Felicity.
‘I’ll look forward to reading that reference,’ teased Rona grabbing her bag from the counter. ‘Look…’ She nodded towards the windows. The majority of the villagers could be seen ambling down the track towards the river.
There was an air of excitement and Felicity couldn’t believe today was the day the temporary bridge was opening. At eleven o’clock the whole of Heartcross would be re-united with the outside world again.
In the last few weeks everything had continued to go from strength to strength. Felicity and Fergus’s relationship was getting stronger every day and she had been spending a lot of time at Fox Hollow Cottage with him and Esme. The teashop was about to re-open its doors and Felicity was feeling content with life again.
Everyone grabbed their coats and they followed the masses down to the water in the sunshine. The past weeks had been tough, but thankfully it seemed the winter days were behind Heartcross and the warmth was drifting in. How things had changed since Felicity had arrived during that winter snowstorm.
As they reached the bottom of the track, Fergus gripped Felicity’s hand and they hovered by the river bank. Her heart thumped with excitement as she took in the view. There was lots of activity on the water with press boats and cameras bobbing around and people on rowing boats joining in the fun.
‘I can’t believe this is going to happen, that the bridge is actually opening today,’ she gasped.
Esme ran off towards Hamish who was handing out balloons, quickly followed by Aggie.
They spotted Finn up high on Drew’s shoulders and Isla was gently bouncing Angus in the pram as they stood and watched the activity on the water. People had already started to form a queue to walk across the bridge as soon as it was declared open.
Felicity tried to hold back her tears. She couldn’t believe she felt so emotional. ‘This is all amazing,’ she said, wiping her bleary tears.
Fergus put his arm around her. ‘You did this, you raised the money to make this happen and I’m sorry I gave you a hard time about the video.’
‘Don’t be daft,’ she replied, fully understanding that was a situation that still needed dealing with. Fergus was still struggling with the bombshell in Lorna’s letter, undecided about what to do for the best.
Fergus looked out across the river and took a minute then shook his head. ‘You know what Flick … I’m not going to do it. I’m not going to take the DNA test.’
Felicity looked up at him.
‘Having Esme and you back in my life, I’ve realised that no matter what, I’ll always be Esme’s dad. Biology doesn’t matter, it’s all about care, love and security and as far as I’m concerned, she’s my daughter, I love her and nothing will ever change that.’
‘I agree,’ said Felicity, snaking her arms around his waist and hugging him tight. Felicity whole-heartedly agreed.
‘And I’m hoping you are going to be a part of our lives for a very long time.’
‘I think you can both count on that,’ said Felicity feeling the warmth of love rush through her body, as she reached up to plant a kiss on his perfect lips.
‘And now look at this,’ Fergus said as he took a step back, reluctantly breaking the moment. ‘All these people are here because of you.’
Alfie clapped his hand on Fergus’s back and appeared at their side. ‘Look at the turnout, it’s truly magnificent, the whole village has come down to see the bridge open. You should feel proud of yourself, F
lick,’ he said as he turned towards Felicity.
‘It’s not just down to me, you organised the best team, Alfie. Thank you. Now that the bridge is about to be opened, there’s no excuse not to go to London and visit your family.’
Alfie beamed. ‘I plan to do just that!’
They all watched the BBC boat moor at the edge of the water and Aidy Redfern climbed out. He scanned the crowd and spotted Felicity, then beckoned her over.
‘This is your moment, enjoy it,’ Fergus whispered into her ear.
Her eyes shone. ‘Thank you.’
Fergus squeezed her hand reassuringly before Felicity walked towards the edge of the bridge, the crowd behind her following closely.
The BBC camera crew had already set up their equipment and the opening of the bridge was being televised.
As Aidy Redfern shook Felicity’s hand she stood in front of the red ribbon that was draped from one side of the bridge to the other and the crowd behind her erupted in cheers. She spun round and took in the view. The whole of Heartcross had turned out and Felicity’s eyes brimmed with unshed tears. She swallowed down a lump in her throat and could feel the emotion rising inside.
The press photographers began to snap her photo and Fergus was smiling proudly, clutching Esme’s hand.
Aidy Redfern put his arm in the air and the crowd hushed.
‘Going live in five, four, three, two, one…’ He brought the microphone up to his mouth.
Felicity’s body trembled as he began to speak.
‘This morning we are live from the village of Heartcross where just weeks ago disaster struck and the Grade II bridge that linked Heartcross to the town of Glensheil collapsed in the ferocious storms. Local villager Felicity Simons took matters into her own hands with a community appeal that went viral and the funds to construct the bridge were raised in a matter of days. Environmental Minister Annie Boyd has invited Felicity here today to cut the ribbon and open the new bridge linking Heartcross back to Glensheil.’
Everyone cheered.
‘Would you like to say a few words?’ Aidy poised the microphone not far from Felicity’s lips.
Love Heart Lane Page 28
