Page 80 of The Wisteria Tree Cottage

She pulled back slightly to look at him, her breath heavy against his lips. ‘As second kisses go, that would have been amazing.’

CHAPTERFIFTY-THREE

Meadow walked towards the restaurant holding Bear’s hand. She was feeling happier than she’d ever been in her life but, as he pushed his way through the entrance, letting go of her hand as he grappled with the door, she was surprised to see Heath waiting for her just inside.

‘Is everything OK? Where’s Star?’ Meadow said.

‘She’s inside with River and Indigo. I thought I better meet the man first before we introduce him to Star,’ Heath said, looking over Meadow’s shoulder. ‘I have to say this all feels a bit quick. I’m happy you’re out meeting people and having fun, but we did say that we wouldn’t tell her until things got serious. Just because you slept with him doesn’t mean it’s going to last.’

Meadow smiled; he clearly hadn’t cottoned on. ‘I have every confidence this man is going to be my forever.’

‘I know the guy really well,’ Bear said. ‘I think he’s a good bloke.’

Meadow stifled a giggle.

Heath frowned. ‘Where is he then?’

Meadow took Bear’s hand again and lifted it up. ‘Right here.’

Heath took a few seconds to take in the situation before a huge smile spread across his face. He reached forward and grabbed his brother into a huge hug. ‘I’m so happy for you, for you both.’ He let go of Bear and hugged Meadow too. ‘This is wonderful news. You two have always been so close. And I know Bear has always had feelings for you, I just had no idea if you felt the same way. This is brilliant news.’

‘It is really,’ Bear said. ‘She’s made me the happiest man in the world.’

Meadow smiled as Bear kissed her on the forehead.

Heath frowned slightly. ‘How do you want to play this with Star? I know she absolutely adores Bear but this will be a new dynamic she will need to get her head around.’

‘Your daughter has been trying to matchmake us all week,’ Bear said.

Meadow nodded. ‘She has. I’ve got the feeling she will be OK with this. Let’s just go in there holding hands and see what she says, we don’t need to announce it to her formally, she’ll just get used to Bear being in our house a bit more and us kissing and cuddling together.’

‘OK, let’s do that, but genuinely, this is wonderful news,’ Heath said.

They went into the restaurant, Meadow and Bear holding hands, and as soon as Star saw them she came running over. ‘Bear, I saw Snuggles again last night at our treehouse. He came for the food at the bottom of the steps and then climbed up them to eat the food at the top and I came out to see him and he let me stroke him again and he was wagging his tail but when I went to get Daddy he ran away again. Come on, we need to come up with a plan to capture him.’ Star grabbed Bear’s hand and dragged him off back to the table.

Meadow looked at Heath with a smile. ‘Well, that was a lot smoother than I expected.’

Heath rolled his eyes. ‘She either didn’t notice or Snuggles news trumps you and Bear being together.’

‘It’s OK, I actually prefer it this way, we’ll just continue being together and if she has any questions about it, we’ll answer them as they come up.’

‘Good plan.’

Meadow sat down at the table next to Indigo. She smiled at River who was helping Tierra with a puzzle book she had open.

‘How did it go last night?’ Indigo asked. ‘With the, erm…’ She made quick kissing sounds with her mouth so that Star and Tierra wouldn’t pick up on what they were discussing. Although neither of them would have heard anyway, Tierra’s puzzle book was holding all of her attention, a little frown on her head as she tried to find the right curly line that joined the rabbit to the carrot. Star was talking very animatedly with Bear about a very convoluted plan to capture Snuggles. ‘Heath said you’d found a nice friend who you had a sleepover with last night?’

‘I did,’ Meadow confirmed, inclining her head towards Bear. ‘And it was utterly wonderful.’

Indigo looked between Meadow and Bear, her eyes widening. ‘You two?’ she said, her voice a near squeak with excitement.

‘Yes.’

‘Oh my god, that is amazing,’ Indigo hugged her.

River looked up from the puzzle book in confusion. ‘What’s going on?’

Indigo did some elaborate gestures with her head, pointing to Meadow and Bear and then waggling her eyebrows.

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