by Kitty Neale
‘Thankfully not a lot, just a couple of dents on the bonnet. She’s as nutty as a blinking fruitcake, but who’d have thought it, eh? Wait ’til I see that Kath, I shall be having words with her about her mental niece!’
Sarah began to chuckle and George asked indignantly, ‘What’s so funny? I’ve just had an encounter with the devil woman, and you find it amusing?’
Sarah’s chuckle turned to a giggle, and tears began to roll down her face. ‘Oh, George,’ she managed to splutter but couldn’t stop laughing. ‘I can just imagine the look on your face when she hit you. I wish I’d been a fly on the wall.’
‘She frightened the bloomin’ life out of me.’
Her giggling must have been infectious, as George started laughing too. ‘That’s the last blinking time I take any advice from you about women,’ he said. ‘I don’t know why we’re laughing, I was scared for my life.’
Sarah laughed harder. ‘George, Julie is tiny compared to you. I can’t believe you were scared of her.’
‘You’re horrible to me, you are. I don’t know why I love you,’ George said.
Sarah suddenly stopped laughing. George had declared his love again, but this time it felt different. She no longer saw his scars, and realised she could only see the wonderful man who was her best friend, one who had never let her down. It was then that Sarah realised that her feelings had changed and she began to wonder if she loved him too. Confused, she jumped to her feet and ran from the room to dash up to her bedroom, wanting time alone to sort out her muddled mind.
Could she have fallen in love with George without noticing? That would explain the jealousy she’d experienced towards Julie. Suddenly, her stomach flipped, and she felt the familiar butterflies she’d had when she’d met Roger.
She heard George call to her, ‘Sarah, what’s wrong?’
She couldn’t answer him, and closed the bedroom door before throwing herself onto her bed. Was it possible? Had she really fallen in love with George Neerly?
The following day, George was still kicking himself. Fancy telling Sarah again that he loved her! He hadn’t meant to say it – it had just slipped out. He hadn’t seen her that morning, and when he arrived home from work there was no sign of her. She was keeping out of his way, but she wouldn’t be able to avoid him forever.
When he heard the front door open, he fixed a smile on his face, determined to somehow lighten the atmosphere, but it was his mother who walked into the room.
‘What are you doing here?’ he asked.
‘Well, that’s a fine way to greet your mother.’
‘Sorry, Mum. It’s nice to see you and now that the shop’s been sold I expect you’ve come to tell me that you’re off on your travels?’
‘No, that’s not it. I want you to meet me tomorrow at the back of the shoe shop on the main road, the one that shut down.’
‘What for?’
‘I’ve got a surprise for you.’
‘What sort of surprise?’
‘I can’t tell you. I’ve been sworn to secrecy. Do you know how to get around the back?’
‘Yes,’ George replied with a furrowed brow.
‘OK, then just make sure you’re there first thing in the morning. I’m so excited so I’m going to shoot off now before I let the cat out of the bag.’
George was left with his mind whirling. It seemed like a very strange request.
He sat in his armchair and racked his brains, but he couldn’t think of a single reason why his mother would want to meet him by the shoe shop. He heaved a sigh, but then the door opened again and Sarah walked in. He tensed, but she smiled at him, saying pleasantly, ‘Hello, George.’
‘Hello, Sarah. I’ve just had the strangest visit from my mother.’
‘Have you now,’ Sarah replied, but something in the way she said it made George think she already knew.
‘She wants me to meet her tomorrow morning behind the shoe shop on the main road but she won’t tell me why, only that it’s a surprise. Do you know anything about it?’
‘No, I haven’t a clue,’ Sarah answered.
She wasn’t a convincing liar and George got the impression that both she and his mother were up to something. ‘You do know, Sarah. I can tell when you’re fibbing so please spill the beans.’
‘Nope, I’m not saying a word. And I’m warning you, if you keep on at me about it I’ll chuck a bucket of cold water over you.’
‘Please tell me, Sarah,’ George begged.
‘I’m going to get the bucket. I mean it! Blimey, you’ve only got to wait ’til tomorrow to find out. I bet you was one of those kids who got up at silly o’clock on Christmas morning to see what Santa had left you.’
‘Yep, and I still am. OK, I’ll shut up about it ’cos I know how bloody stubborn you can be. I’ll be wasting my breath trying to get it out of you.’
Sarah smiled as she looked at him, but it was a strange smile, almost one of fondness. George was relieved. At least his declaration of love hadn’t ruined their friendship, and though he’d prefer her love, friendship was better than nothing.
‘Is everything ready?’ Lena asked as she walked into the old shoe shop the next morning to find Sarah flapping around like a woman possessed.
‘Yes, I think so. Oh, Lena, I’m worried sick. What if George doesn’t want to do this?’
‘Sarah, take a few deep breaths and calm down, love. We both know George is going to be thrilled to bits, so stop panicking and relax,’ Lena said. ‘He’s going to be here in twenty minutes, and he’ll wonder what’s wrong if he sees you in this state.’ The girl looked like a nervous wreck, but Lena knew her son was just about to get the surprise of his life, and she couldn’t wait to see the delight in his eyes.
‘OK, I’m calm … sort of. Let’s wait for him outside. You know him, he’s so eager to find out what’s going on, he’s bound to show up early.’
Just as the women stepped into the yard, they saw George’s van pull up.
‘Blimey, here we go,’ Sarah said excitedly to Lena.
She was tapping her finger and thumb together, but Lena couldn’t understand what Sarah was so worried about. This was a wonderful opportunity for George and he wasn’t daft enough to turn it down.
‘I knew you two were in cahoots,’ George said as he walked towards the women. ‘Now, is someone going to tell me what this is all about?’
Lena looked at Sarah. ‘Go on, love, put him out of his misery.’
‘Well, I know you hate working down the market in the winter, and I also know you’d like to have more stock to sell but haven’t got the room,’ Sarah said.
‘Yes, but what has that got to do with meeting you here?’
‘Welcome to your new premises!’ Sarah exclaimed.
‘What premises?’
‘These,’ said Sarah, flinging open the door. ‘Come on, come inside, George. I’ve rented this shop, and … and I want you to come into business with me. We can sell second-hand clothes, and furniture too.’
‘Are you serious?’ he asked.
‘Yes, very. As you can see the shop needs a bit of work, but between us we can soon sort that out.’
‘Bloody hell, this is a lot to take in.’
‘George, just put Sarah out of her misery, will you? She’s been fretting that you won’t want to be her partner,’ Lena said, rolling her eyes.
‘I’d love it, but I don’t see how we can afford to take on a shop. There’s the rent to pay, and stock to buy.’
‘Don’t worry about that for now. I’ll explain everything later, but trust me, we can afford it.’
‘Right then, Sarah, you’re on,’ George said. ‘Let’s shake on it.’
Lena was so pleased to see her son beaming from ear to ear. It had been a while since she’d seen him this excited about anything. ‘Oh, George, I’m so happy for you. I know that you and Sarah will make the shop a big success,’ she said, chuffed for him. She and Albert would soon be off on their travels, and she could leave knowing that her son’s futu
re looked bright.
Sarah shook George’s hand, but her heart was hammering in her chest and her mouth was dry. This was it. This was going to be the big reveal.
‘I’ve got to say, Sarah, you couldn’t have picked a better position. These windows are great too. Blimey, for someone who doesn’t like surprises, this is the best one I’ve ever had. Gawd knows how you two managed to keep this quiet from me, but well done,’ George said, and Sarah was pleased to see he was beaming from ear to ear.
‘George, it won’t be the finished article, but I’ve done a mock-up of our shop sign. Come out the front and I’ll show it to you,’ she said nervously.
George and Lena followed her outside and she watched his face as he read the sign. His jaw dropped, then he looked at her, and back to the sign again.
‘Oh, Sarah,’ Lena said, her eyes flooding with tears.
Sarah held her breath as she waited for George’s reaction.
As he read the sign out loud, it slowly seemed to dawn on him. ‘I can’t believe this. “Mr and Mrs Neerly New Shop.” Is … is that you and me?’ he asked, sounding unconvinced.
‘Yes, George, if you’ll still have me.’
‘But … but I don’t get it.’
‘When you told me again that you loved me, I realised that I love you too. So, George Neerly, will you marry me?’
George threw his arms around her and she felt herself being lifted off the ground as he swung her around and kissed her hard on the lips. ‘Of course I will, you amazing woman! You’ve just made me the happiest man on this planet,’ he said as he lowered her back to her feet. ‘Did you hear that, Mum? Have you seen that sign? I’m getting married!’
Lena nodded, hardly able to speak through her tears. ‘I’m so happy for you both, but as this means Albert and I will have to put off our travels until you tie the knot, don’t leave it for too long.’
‘We won’t,’ Sarah said, and seeing the love for her in George’s eyes, she knew she’d made the right decision. Since Tommy’s death, she hadn’t expected to feel happy again, but she felt a surge of happiness now. Though the pain of her loss would never leave her, she now knew there was room in her heart for joy too. ‘I love you, George Neerly,’ she said, ‘and I can’t wait to be your wife.’
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kitty Neale was raised in South London and this working- class area became the inspiration for her novels. In the 1980s she moved to Surrey with her husband and two children, but in 1998 there was a catalyst in her life when her son died, aged just 27. After joining other bereaved parents in a support group, Kitty was inspired to take up writing and her books have been Sunday Times bestsellers. Kitty now lives in Spain with her husband.
To find out more about Kitty go to www.kittyneale.com
By the same author:
Nobody’s Girl
Sins of the Father
Family Betrayal
Desperate Measures
Lost and Found
Forgotten Child
Lost Angel
Mother’s Ruin
A Father’s Revenge
A Broken Family
Abandoned Child
A Daughter’s Disgrace
A Family Scandal
A Mother’s Sacrifice
A Daughter’s Courage
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