Page 52 of A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft

Zara nudged me. ‘Shouldn’t be me convincing her to stay anyway. It should be you. Do I need to remind you of a conversation we had a couple of years ago about missed opportunities?’

I rolled my eyes at her and she laughed.

‘You said she’s staying at Whisperwood? So she’s not local.’

‘Don’t you dare let that put you off! Have you learned nothing?’

I hadn’t acted on my attraction to Zara a few years back for that exact reason and she was right to challenge me not to make the same mistake again.

‘If you’re feeling something – and I can tell you are – then act on it. Talk to her, ask her to dance and take it from there. Please, Joel.’

Poppy glanced in our direction and, as her eyes met mine, her smile widened. My heart pounded as I smiled back and raised my hand in a small wave.

‘I think she likes you too,’ Zara said.

‘What do you know about her?’

‘Not much. She helped us make the favours the other night and she seems really lovely, but most of the talk was about weddings, which is how I know about her ex. Here’s Mary. She might know more.’

Barney’s grandma stopped. ‘Did I hear my name?’

‘We were trying to work out who all the guests were,’ Zara said. ‘Joel didn’t know Poppy so I told him she’s staying at Whisperwood.’

I smiled at Zara, appreciative of her quick-thinking and discretion. If Mary had a sniff of a suggestion that I was interested in Poppy, she’d have marched me straight over to her and blurted it out.

‘Oh yes, such a sweet girl,’ Mary said. ‘She arrived on Monday for a week. Poor lass needed a break. Her dad’s got late-stage Alzheimer’s. Heartbroken she is. So sad.’

Natasha appeared, needing Zara’s help to set up the photo booth and Mary excused herself, leaving me alone for a moment. I glanced over at Poppy once more. She was with Samantha’s family, crouching down beside Samantha and Josh’skids, laughing at something one of them had said. They passed her their bride and groom pigs and she moved them around. Whatever she was saying gave Thomas and Lyra the giggles. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. It wasn’t just her looks that captivated me, although I wasn’t blind to how attractive she was. It was that she’d been kind to my daughter and now she was making Samantha’s kids laugh. After what had happened with Marley, I couldn’t even think about being with someone who didn’t love kids. It had to be a dealbreaker if they didn’t understand and accept that I came as a two-for-one package, accompanied by a whole lot of ex-shaped baggage.

I thought about what Mary had said about Poppy’s dad and wondered whether the smiles and laughter were a mask or whether this was a rare moment to escape from the heartbreak for a few hours and let her hair down. Now that I knew about her dad, Poppy suddenly seemed vulnerable and my heart sank. If we did get talking and she opened up about him, I’d listen and empathise and very likely get pushed into the friend zone.I met this really nice bloke at the wedding. Such a sweetie, but we’re just friends.

I sipped on my drink and reprimanded myself for the negative attitude. How about manifesting a different scenario?I met this really nice bloke at the wedding. Such a sweetie and exactly what I’ve been looking for – someone who listens, cares, understands. He might be the one.I liked that scenario a lot. I’d learn from my mistakes and take Zara’s advice not to be put off by Poppy not being local. I wouldn’t worry about the ex-husband either. We all had a past. I had an ex-fiancée and life would have been so much easier if we’d maintained the sort of friendship that Poppy and her ex clearly had. And I wouldn’t place myself in the friend zone. I just needed to find the right moment to approach her.

19

POPPY

If Mum could see me now, she’d barely be able to believe it. Hobnobbing with Cole Crawford and his family, being introduced to their celebrity friends, and being welcomed as though I was a good friend. I was on an absolute high, but it wasn’t just from meeting the Crawfords and friends – it was Joel. I’d caught his eye a few times and, when he smiled at me, butterflies went wild in my stomach. I wasn’t planning to act on the feeling, but it was so nice to have that sensation again.

Just before 7p.m. guests were invited to move into the Rowan Room where the bride and groom would be taking to the floor for their first dance. Phil and I followed the crowd and paused just inside the doorway, taking in the high ceiling, grand embellishments and the sparkling chandeliers catching the colourful lights. Surrounding the dance floor were plush chairs and round tables covered in fresh white linen with floral centrepieces and dried flower confetti on them. There were a couple of pretty sweetie carts in one corner and I could imagine them being a huge hit with children and adults alike, and there was a bar beside the entrance. We already had drinks so wemade our way to the edge of the dance floor where the guests had gathered to watch the first dance.

‘Good evening!’ announced the DJ. ‘For the guests who’ve just joined us this evening, your bride and groom bid you a warm welcome and for those who’ve been here a little longer, they hope you’re enjoying yourselves. We’ll be welcoming the newlyweds for their first dance very soon, after which the bride and bridesmaids have something special lined up. They’ve asked me to invite you to join in partway through, so watch those moves carefully. The third song will be for absolutely everyone. I’m excited for tonight, I’m open to requests and I wish you all a fantastic evening. Without further ado, please welcome Mr and Mrs Kinsella for their first dance as a married couple!’

To applause, cheers and some wolf whistles, Amber and Barney walked to the centre of the dance floor, holding hands and beaming at each other. They’d chosen ‘My Universe’ by Coldplay featuring K-pop sensations BTS. I hadn’t listened closely to the lyrics before but the chorus was so uplifting and apt for a first wedding song. From the way they were looking at each other, Amber and Barney clearly were each other’s universe. I remembered feeling that way about Phil. Would I feel that way again? I glanced up at Phil and he smiled at me, giving me a warm glow of friendship. Moments later, my eyes locked with Joel’s across the other side of the dance floor and the butterflies in my stomach soared as he smiled back at me.

‘My Universe’ came to a close with the happy couple kissing. Barney left the dance floor, but Amber stayed and was joined by her bridesmaids. They organised themselves into a formation of four at the front and five at the back.

‘Do we have any Swifties in the room?’ the DJ asked.

There were several loud cheers, and I laughed as Imogen bounced up and down, clapping her hands. I put my hand in the air and so did Phil.

‘That’s a relief,’ he said, ‘because it’s over to Taylor for the next one. I’m told this was Imogen’s idea, that she and Sophie choreographed it together via Zoom and this is the first time all nine have been in the same room at the same time, so what could possibly go wrong? I give you your bride and bridesmaids with Taylor Swift’s “Paper Rings”. Enjoy!’

I adored Taylor Swift’s music and was full of admiration for everything she’d achieved in her career so far. The routine Imogen and Sophie had prepared was delightful and a great mix of different dance styles. I found myself copying the moves as I became familiar with them. Looking round the edge of the dance floor, I smiled at the other guests doing the same.

‘Are you going to join in?’ I asked Phil.

‘Have I ever mastered a dance routine?’ he replied, raising his eyebrows at me.

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