‘So, what you’re telling us is that you’ve fallen in love—’
‘I didn’t say love!’
‘Darling, I’ve known you for twenty years. You didn’t have to,’ Naomi said, arching one immaculate eyebrow. ‘You’veobviouslyfallen in love, found some friends in a place you adore, and have finally –finally– started to get unstuck from your grief. And you still haven’t decided whether or not to stay there? What, is this place full of roses, because I can’t think of a single other reason why you haven’t already started looking for a house there. One that doesn’t have wheels or rattle when the wind blows.’
‘It has a rose garden,’ I admitted. ‘But that’s something else I’ve been working on.’
I described the art therapy, and my own rose therapy, and then Ezra made me tell her that Maid Marian’s Garlands had offered me a job.
‘Seriously, Ezra. A silent partner isn’t supposed to be that silent. Why aren’t you insisting on dissolving the company?’
Ezra patted his wife on the knee. ‘Because it’s Sophie’s decision. And it’s wise to take her time over something this monumental. Closing a successful business to work ad-hoc for a flower stall isn’t that straightforward.’
‘Hello? Have you looked at her?’
Ezra turned and looked at me. I met his gaze with a shrug.
‘We can always spend some time going over the different options. I mean, if you’re not sure one way or the other.’
My head wasn’t at all sure. My heart, on the other hand? My heart had put its stake in Riverbend soil the first time Gideon grabbed my hands and lifted me out of that muddy puddle.
* * *
We stayed up so late that the morning had all but gone by the time I padded downstairs to find a picnic packed, boots ready and some very impatient children plus dog waiting to conquer a peak or two.
Naomi handed me a travel mug of coffee and a croissant and, after another glance at the kids, I offered to consume them in the car.
It was magnificent, soaking up the panoramic view after an exhilarating scramble up a rocky ridge. Muffin had the time of her life, racing the children through empty fields, sniffing the sheep from the safety of her lead as we skirted those that were occupied. We ate cheese and tomato sandwiches, sausage rolls, apples and thick wedges of fudge cake by the side of a mountain stream, and bought ice cream from one of the farms we passed on the way back to the car.
‘Auntie Sophie, do you have a boyfriend?’ JoJo asked, when we’d arrived back home and were busy arranging toppings on our pizza for tea.
‘Why do you ask?’ I stammered, stalling for time. I still wasn’t completely sure of the answer.
‘Because when girls have a boyfriend, they start floating about and smiling all the time, on a magical cloud of love,’ she sang, clasping her hands together and fluttering her eyelashes. ‘Usually, you look sort of sad even when you’re smiling. Now, you’re like really, properly happy, right in your eyes. So, I thought maybe it was because you were in love.’
I looked up at the five expectant faces around the table, all of them looking really, properly happy as they waited for me to answer.
‘Yes, I have a boyfriend.’
Above the hoots, whistles and dozen or so questions, I didn’t think any of them heard me try to explain that Gideon wasn’t the reason I was happy…
Once the kids were in bed, Ezra did offer to spend some time discussing the business, but I assured him that all I wanted to do that weekend was relax and enjoy being together.
‘Can you even hear yourself?’ he asked. ‘Who is this Sophie who likes to relax and have fun, and what have you done with my friend?’
‘Was I really that bad?’ I picked at the tassel decorating the cushion resting on my lap.
‘You were who you needed to be, after a tragedy that is impossible for most of us to imagine.’ He looked across at me from his armchair. ‘But, oh, I have missed this Sophie. I’m not sorry to have her back.’
‘Aaliyah wants to know when we can meet your boyfriend,’ Naomi said, walking in with a tray of tea.
‘Does she?’ That made me pause.
‘Yes. We’re free on the bank holiday Monday, so I thought we could pop down to Nottinghamshire for the day? Stop off for a cup of tea?’
‘Um… Hattie’s having a birthday party that day. Quite a big one.’
‘Well, that’s perfect, then, isn’t it?’ Naomi gave a smug smile. ‘You can ask if there’s room for a few more.’
