Page 74 of Cupcakes and Kisses in Micklewick Bay

‘It so is,’ Maggie agreed. ‘Never thought we’d see the day, mind.’

‘Yeah, love suits you, flower. It’s making you sparkle,’ Florrie chipped in, causing Jasmine to roll her eyes, while her face took on a beetroot hue. She was still uncomfortable talking about her relationship with Max, not to mention how he was affecting her.

‘I reckon it’s not just love we can attribute to that particular type of glow and sparkle.’ Stella chuckled wickedly into her glass.

‘Trust our Stells to lower the tone,’ Maggie said, laughing. ‘Mind, I reckon she could have a point.’

‘Yes, but whatever Jazz is doing with Max, it’s all wrapped up in love, isn’t it?’ Lark said, deepening Jasmine’s blushes and making her cringe. ‘You can see it a mile off, they’re so loved up.’

‘Yeah, you two are so meant to be together,’ said Florrie.

‘Argh! Will you lot stop with the torture! You’re making my bloomin’ toes curl with it all! And since when have I said anything about the “L” word, or anything else for that matter?’ Jasmine covered her scarlet face with her hands. Though shekept it to herself, she knew Lark was right. She recalled her mum saying that as a little boy, Max had been easy to love. Which was exactly how Jasmine felt right now. Before she knew what was happening, she’d found herself falling head over heels in love with the kind, considerate and gentle man he’d become. And though the intensity scared her a little, she’d found herself unable to stop herself. There was something about his smiles and the way they made his eyes twinkle that made everything seem right.

The other two matters that had been a cause for concern earlier in June had finally been put to bed much to her relief.

It was early August when it reached Jasmine’s ears that the police had been showing a keen interest in Jason Scragg, with one of their vehicles being regularly parked up outside his house. It had added weight to the rumours circulating around Micklewick Bay linking him to a spate of burglaries. Not long after, the unscrupulous family had packed up and left town, disappearing under a shadow of suspicion. Jasmine had been inordinately relieved, knowing that her children could enjoy their summer holidays and go back to school without the worry of having to face the Scragg children.

As for the Forsters and their relentless hounding of her, Mr Cuthbert had seen to it that their latest campaign of harassment was ceased. By a stroke of luck, the pawnbroker in Lingthorpe still had copies of his transactions with Bart and had provided Cuthbert, Asquith & Co with copies of the same. It proved, irrefutably, that Bart had pawned the jewellery and never returned to buy any of it back. Instead, the items had been sold on to other customers.

In his letter to the Forsters, Mr Cuthbert had not only imparted this information, but also advised that unless theystopped making a nuisance of themselves, the firm would be forced to take further action, starting with a cease and desist letter on her behalf. So far, Jasmine was relieved to find that the response had been met with radio silence. She was optimistic that’s how it would remain.

And now, standing there on the beach with Max’s arm wrapped around her, waves crashing against the shore and sending spray into the air while the autumn wind nipped at her face, a feeling of utter contentment washed over Jasmine. She looked on, smiling, as Zak, Chloe and Connor, along with the hapless Ernest, tore about, kicking up sand, their laughter and cries of delight, joined by the occasional happy bark, whipped up by the breeze. She’d never imagined it was possible to feel this level of happiness; was unaware it even existed. For so many years, stress and tension had ensured her body was on a permanent state of high alert, but she’d been pleasantly surprised to find herself absorbing Max’s calm, relaxed approach to life, letting her anxiety drift away. If anyone had told her this was possible, she would never have believed them.

Jasmine inhaled a lungful of salty air, releasing it in a sigh as she rested her head on Max’s chest.

‘You okay, Jingilby?’ he asked.

She looked up to see his gentle hazel eyes gazing down at her, triggering a now-familiar flurry of butterflies looping the loop in her stomach.

‘More than okay.’ She smiled up at him, oblivious to the harsh cries of the seagulls that screeched overhead.

‘Good.’ He pulled her close and pressed his lips against hers.

‘Mmm.’ Her heart dissolved into a delicious molten puddle.

After their initial tentative kisses on that very spot way back in June, the couple had agreed to take things slowly, not wantingto unsettle the three children if things didn’t work out. As cheesy as she thought it sounded, everything about being with Max felt right. Even from the start, the ever-cynical Jasmine had found that any feelings of doubt on her part had been overridden by the unspoken acceptance that she and Max were meant to be together.

Thought you didn’t do love and mush and happy-ever-afters, Jasmine Ingilby,she’d said to herself one night gazing over at Max as he’d slept contentedly beside her when he’d stayed over one night. But one look in his eyes, and the brush of his lips against hers told her that she very definitely did.

She’d never dared to believe she could ever feel such happiness or know what being properly in love felt like. But being with Max had allowed her to experience all of that and more. He made her feel safe and loved, which had taken some getting used to, but now she’d reached the point where she allowed herself to enjoy it.

The sound of the children’s laughter growing closer pulled her out of her thoughts.

‘Hey, Mum, is it true that Max told you he was going to come back to Micklewick Bay in a fast car and ask you to marry him?’ Zak asked, mischief dancing in his eyes.

‘Did anyone ever tell you you’re a right little squirt?’ Embarrassment sent a blush creeping up Jasmine’s neck and flooding her cheeks.

Max let out a roar of laughter.

‘Yep, you, loads of times.’ Zak gave her an impish grin that melted her heart.

‘My dad told me he said that when he was about nine before he left for Harrogate with his grandad,’ said Connor, wearing an equally mischievous smile.

‘Is that why you’ve come back, Max?’ Chloe asked, swiping her hair off her face as she gave him an enquiring look. ‘Andwould that mean you’d be mine and Zak’s daddy as well as Connor’s?’

‘That would besocool!’ said Zak.

‘You’d be a dead mint brother,’ said Connor, both boys beaming broadly at one another.

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