Page 74 of A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft

I heard a car pull up outside around mid-afternoon and was surprised to see Fizz approaching the house with shopping bags in her hands.

‘Food delivery,’ she said when I opened the door.

‘For me?’

‘Courtesy of Chef Joel. I understand he’s making you a meal tonight.’

‘He sent you shopping?’

She laughed. ‘I offered. I was going anyway.’

I led her through to the kitchen.

‘You’re in for such a treat,’ she said as she placed several items in the fridge. ‘Joel’s an amazing chef. Such a shame he didn’t make a career of it after all.’

‘I thought he’d worked in the factory straight from college.’

‘Oh, he did, but he studied catering at college and…’ She shook her head. ‘Not my story to tell. Ask him about it later. When Grandma said you were staying an extra night, I wondered if he might have had something to do with it.’

‘He hadeverythingto do with it,’ I admitted. ‘And if it wasn’t for my dad, I’d stay even longer. I don’t know what’s come over me, Fizz. I’m not the sort of person who throws her plans out the window for a man she’s only just met.’

Fizz smiled at me. ‘That’s because you hadn’t met someone worth doing that for and now you have. I’m so thrilled for you both. Joel’s a great bloke and I’ve never understood why he hasn’t been snapped up, but I do now. He was waiting for you to come along.’

It was such a lovely thought, and it gave me a warm glow inside.

‘Joel has had such a nightmare with women dismissing him as too nice and just wanting to be friends,’ Fizz said as we sat down in the lounge with mugs of tea. ‘How can someone betoo nice? I’ve never understood that. It’s as though nice equates to boring and Joel isnotboring. He’s great fun.’

We discussed the friendship aspect of relationships and Fizz agreed that, for her, friendship was fundamental for making a relationship work.

‘Phoebe and I were friends first for a long time and we’re both convinced it’s why our relationship is so strong. You’re absolutely right that you can have passionandfriendship.’

‘I think Joel’s lovely and I feel like a little schoolgirl going all gooey over him!’

‘It’s super cute to see and I know Joel will pull out all the stops to make the distance work for you both. I can tell you mean the world to him.’

‘It’s mutual.’

‘Good. Because I have something for you.’ She dipped into her bag and handed me an envelope. ‘An invitation to our wedding. It’s the last Saturday in May at Hedgehog Hollow.’

My throat tightened with emotion, a sense of belonging enveloping me. ‘Thank you so much! I’d love to come.’

‘Whatever happens with you and Joel, Phoebe and I want you there. But I don’t think we have anything to worry about with you two. I think this is it, isn’t it?’

Tears pricked my eyes and I nodded. ‘It feels like it.’

She clapped her hands together, squealing. ‘I’m so happy for you both. I wish I could find out more, but I’ve got to love you and leave you. Phoebe’s meeting me at Bumblebee Barn in ten minutes to finalise a few things with Natasha and Zara, our awesome wedding planners.’

I presented Fizz with a gift bag containing her sandals and the thank-you candle and asked her if she wouldn’t mind being delivery woman for the others. I’d also bought another bouquet of flowers for Mary and she said she’d deliver them too as her next stop after Bumblebee Barn was her grandma’s house. I followed her out to her car and placed the flowers across the back seat.

‘It’s been an absolute joy meeting you,’ she said. ‘Phoebe and I have both sent you friend requests on Facebook and followed you on Instagram. Our phone numbers and emails are on the invitation so there’s no escaping us. You’re one of us now, like it or not.’

‘I like it,’ I said, laughing. ‘Very much.’

She hugged me tightly and I had that sensation once more of having found something very special in Yorkshire. When she’d gone, I stood on the drive looking at the house for several minutes. It was so beautiful. I could definitely see myself living here and, more than that, I could imagine myself living here with Joel. Was it really possible to meet somebody and know withinforty-eight hours that they were the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with? Because that’s how I felt about Joel and I couldn’t wait to see him tonight.

My early start this morning had put me ahead with my work and I was able to stop at five but my excitement at seeing Joel meant I was quicker getting ready than usual, leaving way too much time before he arrived. I decided to distract myself with an episode ofDarrington Detectsbut hadn’t got far into it before Wilf rang and my stomach lurched. Wilf texted – heneverrang.

‘I’m so sorry to interrupt your holiday but Damon has just been to my house demanding to know what you’re doing in York and who all the people you’re with are.’

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