Page 32 of Flowers Go Flying in Crumbleton

‘Nope!’ said Milly. ‘Just tell me where you keep your cheese grater and I’ll do the rest. I would suggest you go and grab that second shower… but I think you’d better stay put until you’ve had something to eat.’

‘Best. Toasties. Ever.’ Murray popped the last bite into his mouth and sat back in his chair, his eyes closed and a happy little smile playing around his lips as he chewed.

Milly couldn’t help but echo that smile – though she was grateful he had his eyes closed for a moment because she couldn’t seem to look away from him.

The food had worked its magic, and the colour had come back to Murray’s cheeks. It was as though the fragrant, fatty goodness had breathed life back into him - which was a huge relief. Milly wasn’t really sure how to call a doctor out to a stranded trawler in the middle of the marshes!

‘Better?’ she said gently.

Considering Murray had just demolished an entire mountain of cheese toasties, she had a feeling she knew the answer to that question already. She’d helped herself to one when he’d insisted that she joined him – but Milly hadn’t got much of a look in after that. The man had clearly been starving and had wolfed the food down with little moans that had made her blush.

‘I feel like a new man,’ he said, opening his eyes again and beaming a smile at her that made her tingle from her head to her toes. ‘Thank you. And… just for the record… I don’t normally go all weak and feeble and expect my dates to cook emergency toasties!’

Milly swallowed. A date – is that what this was? She decided to let that one lie. She didn’t want to make him feel “weak and feeble” again! Hadn’t he already admitted that he’d been at the wedding just to see her? But… he’d been on the verge of passing out at that point, so it didn’t seem fair to take anything he’d said too seriously.

‘Okay,’ she said. ‘Noted.’

‘Not that this is a date of course!’ he said, suddenly looking horrified. ‘God, I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. Just… ignore everything I’ve said since you got here!’

‘Everything?’ said Milly, a lump of congealed disappointment landing in her stomach.

‘Maybe,’ he said.

‘It would be a bit of a shame,’ she said lightly. ‘To forget everything, I mean. You said you went to the wedding to – erm – see me?’

Murray squirmed slightly. She felt a bit mean bringing it back up – but she couldn’t face another eighteen months of pining. She might as well come clean. After all – it might be the only chance she got.

‘That’s why I went to the wedding too… to speak to you. Or… I don’t know… to see you – and dance with you?’

‘Am I hallucinating again?’ said Murray faintly.

Milly grinned at him. ‘Don’t think so…? Unless I’m a purple dinosaur or something?’

‘Definitely not a purple dinosaur,’ he laughed.

‘Well, that’s something,’ she replied.

‘And you’re definitely here?’ said Murray.

Milly nodded, and then – before she could overthink it – she reached out and laid her hand over his on the tabletop. ‘I’m definitely here,’ she agreed, squeezing slightly.

‘Oh,’ said Murray, his eyes on hers.

They both fell silent, and Milly removed her hand before things could get weird.

Hah! Bit late for that!

‘Want a piece of cake?’ she said.

‘I want all the cake,’ laughed Murray. ‘And more coffee.’

‘And then…?’ said Milly, wondering how to broach the subject of getting home. After all, he seemed to be fine again, and she didn’t want to outstay her welcome… any more than she already had just by turning up!

‘Then?’ said Murray, turning to her with a gleam in his eye. ‘Then I think we should go to bed.’

What?!

Milly felt her jaw drop. She blinked once. Twice.

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