‘I know, right? Proper Cornish butter and fresh bread are the perfect combination. Good job you got a slice now because when Reggie stops by, he’ll eat a whole loaf on his own before I can try to save a piece for Titus.’
‘Really?’
Finn nodded. ‘Proper hollow legs my son has got, I can tell you.’
‘He’s so tall now,’ she said with a smile.
They fell silent while they ate and drank and then Edith said, ‘So… you know that Wyatt and I were together?’
‘That’s right. Seeing him after ten years must’ve been a shock, although you did a great job of hiding your feelings. It was mainly the fact that there was electricity between you that alerted Titus, but then he knows Wyatt quite well, and he picked up on the sparks flying around.’
‘I’m sorry.’ Edith looked down at the bread and then took another bite. It was the ultimate comfort food.
‘Don’t be sorry, doll.’ Finn shook his head. ‘It’s not your fault you fell in love in the past. Just like it’s not your fault that Titus chose Wyatt to be his best man and we asked you to be our wedding planner. It’s a strange one for sure and what we could call a cosmic coincidence, but these things happen.’ He held up his hands. ‘What can you do?’
‘Not flip out when you’re at a cake tasting.’
‘It’s fine.’ Finn waved a hand. ‘All is well, sweetheart.’
‘Really? Did you decide about the cake?’
‘We’re going to have three cakes of different sizes — elderflower and lemon, chocolate fudge cake and a gluten-free fruit cake for whoever wants, or ratherneeds, it.’
She smiled. ‘That’s an excellent plan.’
‘Ellie said she’s happy to do it, and so we have that item ticked off our to-do list.’
‘Wonderful.’ Edith finished the piece of bread then reached for her tea again.
‘Want another slice?’ Finn pointed at the plate of bread.
‘Oh… no thanks. That was delicious though.’
‘You’re very welcome.’ He sipped his tea. ‘So… Do you want to talk about it?’
‘About yesterday?’
He nodded.
‘I thought I was fine, that I was managing it all, but then I don’t know… Something just tilted inside me and I lost it. I… I really loved Wyatt when we were together, and when he went back to New York without me and then barely contacted me at all, I was heartbroken. It was like he didn’t have the guts to tell me he didn’t want to be with me anymore, and so he let it die a sad, lonely death. I got the message when he stopped contacting me, and to be honest, it was completely heartbreaking and humiliating.’
‘I can only imagine,’ he said. ‘And he never told you why?’
‘No, he just left me wondering for ten years. Not that I spent my life hankering after him, but I did wonder from time to time why he didn’t care enough to explain things to me. I mean… I saw him with women in photographs online, and so I guessed someone else had come along and he preferred her to me. It seemed like the obvious explanation for his behaviour. But I grieved for the first few years. He was my best friend and my world, and I thought…’ She pushed her hair behind her ears and sighed. ‘I thought that we’d get married one day and start a family. It was that serious between us. Except for the fact that he never took me home to meet his mother or any family. I should have known from that, really. I was an idiot, but then many people are idiots for love, right?’
‘Oh absolutely!’ Finn nodded. ‘It’s why there are so many songs, movies, and books about it.’
‘Of course.’ She drained her tea. ‘Thanks for that. It helped.’
‘Tea and bread are the staples for mending a broken heart,’ Finn said. ‘Or at least for helping you start healing.’
‘Where’s Titus?’ Edith asked, realising she hadn’t seen him.
‘At work. Got the house to myself.’ Finn laughed. ‘I love that man, but I also love some alone time. It’s my chance to reset.’
‘We all need time alone.’
‘It’s true.’ He tapped his mug. ‘Want another?’
