Page 49 of Falling in Love at Pennycress Inn

‘Nothing wrong with what you’re wearing. We wrote on the invites that we specifically wanted people to feel comfortable in whatever they chose to wear. You’re more than welcome to stay and experience a Meadowfield wedding.’ Suzy grinned and looked pointedly at Nicola. ‘Take Nicola for a dance.’

‘Okay, thanks.’ Charlie nodded reluctantly and watched as Suzy climbed the stairs, carefully carrying her train draped over her arm to save herself from tripping, before he turned to Nicola. ‘I’ll get going.’

‘Aw, really? You’ve not got time for one little dance?’ She held her index finger up, suddenly wanting nothing more than to dance with him.

Leaning across, he kissed her on the forehead. ‘How could I say no?’

‘Great.’ Taking his hand, she led him outside, weaving back through the tables and chairs to the dance floor. By the looks of it, most of the guests were up and dancing, enjoying the music and the ambience of the wedding reception. Pulling Charlie towards a space on the dance floor, Nicola turned back to look at him. She hadn’t danced in ages, years. Not since she and Nathan got together. He hadn’t liked dancing. Always said it was just people putting on a silly show, letting themselves look foolish for the humour of others. She hadn’t agreed. She loved to dance. Or she had, but what Nathan wanted, Nathan got. She twisted her finger around a strand of hair as she stood awkwardly in front of him, suddenly unsure of herself.

‘Here.’ Stepping forward, Charlie wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling close to him as he swayed in time to the music.

Taking Charlie’s lead, she placed her hands around his neck and tried to match his slow movements. As they clung to each other, enjoying the feel of him in her arms, she closed her eyes, listening to the music and his rhythmic breathing. If only things could stay like this forever. If only they had time to get to know one another properly.

Opening her eyes, Nicola peered over his shoulder at the couples surrounding them, each and every one of them lost in their own world, their own circle.

‘This is perfect,’ Charlie whispered in her ear, his breath tickling her skin.

She smiled up at him. Yes, this was just perfect. Everything else could wait. All the worries about the future were just that. Bridges they’d cross when they came to them. For now, Charlie was here in her arms and she just needed to enjoy what they had between them.

26

‘So, tell me something else about yourself.’ With her head in his lap, Nicola took Charlie’s hand in hers, their fingers interlocked as she held it aloft, the flames from the campfire glowing in the background. Spending the evening at the farm with Charlie after the Landownes’ wedding was the perfect end to a perfect day. She didn’t have a clue what the time was, but the sun had set hours ago, and they’d spent the time talking, getting to know one another. He’d told her about his childhood, about moving across the country when his parents had split up, and she’d told him about her life here in Meadowfield at Pennycress Inn. They’d spoken about how their dreams had changed and grown as they’d got older. And she now knew he could name each and every character from all the Marvel films in less time than it took her to count them off on her fingers.

‘What do you want to know?’ He swept a strand of her hair back from her face.

‘Ooh, I don’t know.’ She watched the light from the flames flicker off her silver bracelet. There was a subject they hadn’t spoken about. One which they’d both skirted around. She swallowed as a lump formed in her throat. ‘What do you like about London so much?’

Charlie caressed the back of her hand with his thumb as she still held it aloft in the air. ‘That’s easy. I love the vibrancy of the city. The fact that whatever the day or time, somewhere will be open and something will be going on.’

‘The city that never sleeps…’

‘Exactly.’ He continued. ‘I love the fact that I can jump on the Tube and visit new places, go on new adventures and that there is always something, somewhere, new that I can learn about the place. Something I didn’t have a clue was there before.’

Nicola lowered their hands, letting them rest against her stomach.

‘I love the fast pace of my job, my apartment…’

‘Everything then?’ She spoke quietly, an uncomfortable heaviness forming in the pit of her stomach. London was a stark contrast to Meadowfield. And how could the calmness and slow pace of village life even try to compare with the bustling city?

‘Not everything, no.’ He leaned down to kiss her. ‘I don’t like the fact that you won’t be there when I go back.’

She smiled sadly. ‘I?—’

A loud crash sliced through the quiet and Nicola sat bolt upright, looking around, searching the shadows for any hint of what may have made the noise.

‘Stay here.’ Jumping up, Charlie made his way towards the edge of the field where the noise had come from.

‘No chance.’ Standing up, Nicola followed him, making sure to keep close. As they made their way across to the fence, she frowned and tugged on Charlie’s sleeve, pointing to a gap which had formed in the wooden fence. That’s what the sound must have been, the splintering of wood as the hole was formed in the fence panel.

Glancing at her, Charlie held his index finger against his lips as he crept closer.

The hole was big, big enough for a person to crawl through, but why would someone have bashed a hole in the fence instead of jumping over it? It wasn’t as though it was six feet tall or anything; it was barely three feet, just enough to border the farmhouse’s garden and the field.

Shrieking, she jumped back as a flash of white pushed past her. As whatever it was ran towards the campfire and the farmhouse, it triggered the outside lights into action and she realised it was Claudette.

‘Claudette!’ Charlie shouted as he ran after the sheep.

The sheep, clearly stunned by the lights, halted in her tracks as Charlie raced towards her.

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