Page 17 of Promises & Petals in Nettleford-on-the-Wold
‘How about that coffee? Freddie will be okay. He’s out of the way now.’
Hannah looked from Josh to the stairs and back again. She needed to get away from him, to give herself some time to process the fact that all he’d done for her had just been because he cared for Sophie and she was her friend, and of course, the reputation of his business. Which she’d known all along. She’d known he didn’t feel anything towards her, not like that, but still... she just needed a bit of space. ‘I’d best not risk it. Sorry. Help yourself though.’
‘Okay, no worries.’ Josh frowned as she left.
Chapter Twelve
‘What time is it now?’ Lucy glanced around the restaurant of Cotton Mill Garden Centre. ‘Sophie’s usually the first one here.’
Checking her watch, Hannah looked across the table at Gemma and Lucy. ‘It’s twenty past already.’
‘That’s so odd. And she’d not messaged either of you to let you know she’d going to be later?’ Gemma picked up her mobile from the table and scrolled through to her messages.
‘Nope, nothing.’ Lucy shook her head.
‘She’s not messaged me either. Maybe she’s just got the day muddled up. Perhaps she thought it was next Saturday we were meeting?’ After double-checking her phone, Hannah placed it back down on the table next to her pot of tea.
‘No, I spoke to her last night. She was looking forward to us all catching up.’ Lucy picked up her mobile. ‘I’ll give her a call.’
‘Hold on, there she is.’ Hannah waved her hand towards the entrance to the restaurant as Sophie and Florrie hurried in. Waving, Hannah waited until Sophie had seen where they were sitting before lowering her hand again.
‘I’m so sorry I’m solate. I hope you don’t mind that I’ve brought Florrie?’ Sophie looked down at Florrie, who washolding her hand, and stroking a small pink bunny soft toy across her cheek.
‘Of coursenot. We’realwayshappyto see you, aren’t we, Florrie?’ Standing up, Lucy hurried around the table and gave Florrie a hug before stroking her bunny on the nose. ‘Who have we here then? I’ve not seen Bunny before.’
‘She’s called Cuddles. UncleJoshie gave her me.’ Florrie smiled.
‘Hello, Cuddles. She’s very lovely.’ Lucy grinned as Florrie nodded in agreement.
‘Shall we move tables so we’re over there by the soft play area?’ Pushing her chair back, Gemma began loading their drinks back onto the tray. ‘We got you a latte, by the way, although it might be a tad cold now.’
‘Oh, since when have I cared about cold coffee? I think I’m so used to making a drink, getting distracted and then downing it whilst it’s cold that I wouldn’t know what to do with a hot drink.’ Sophie laughed.
‘Haha, fair enough. In that case, we’ve got you an iced latte. Just the way you like it.’ Gemma picked up the tray before leading the way through the tables towards the back of the restaurant, where an area was dedicated to a soft play area. Placing the tray on the closest free table to the soft play, she then began unloading it again.
‘Right, shall we go and explore?’ Lucy held her hand out towards Florrie.
Looking up at her, Florrie nodded before taking Gemma’s hand too, the bunny now dangling from her fingers but one ear.
‘I’ll take your bunny, so you don’t lose him.’ Holding her hand out, Sophie waited until she had the bunny in hand and Florrie had led both Gemma and Lucy towards the play area before slumping into a chair.
‘Is everything okay?’ Hannah slid Sophie’s latte across the table towards her.
‘Honestly? It’s just been one of those mornings. Richard usually takes Florrie swimming so I can have a bit of adult time with the girls, so I assumed he was doing the same today. Instead, just as I’m about to walk out of the front door, he announces that he’s going on a pub crawl for one of his mate’s birthdays.’ Sophie rolled her eyes. ‘It’s ten in the morning for goodness’ sake.’
‘Atleastsheseemshappy enough.’ Hannah noddedtowardsthe soft play area, which Gemma, Lucy and Sophie had disappeared into.
‘Yes, she is. It’s me that’s not. I told him he was being unfair becauseInever get any time to myself, and of coursethat started an argument.’ Picking up her latte glass, Sophie downed the drink in one go. ‘It just seems to be one thing after another at the moment.’
Hannah nodded. ‘How’s the washing machine? Did Josh manage to fix it?’
‘Oh, was he at yours when I rang him? I hope I didn’t pull him away from his work?’ Sophie grimaced before continuing. ‘Yes, it’s fine. As good as new thanks to him.’
‘That’s good then.’ Hannah frowned. Josh hadn’t told his sister he’d made Hannah dinner then. Why wouldn’t he have mentioned it? ‘Glad it got fixed.’
‘Yes, same here. The last thing I need at the moment is to be lugging laundry into Nettleford to the laundrette.’
‘You could have used my machine.’ Hannah took a sip of her tea.
