Page 24 of Promises & Petals in Nettleford-on-the-Wold
‘I know I need to end this. This isn’t love, not anymore, and if it is, quite frankly I don’t want it.’
‘It’s not.’ Hannah spoke quietly but confidently. The few relationships she’d had in the past had just about fizzled out without any drama or upset, but she knew one thing: if what she’d just witnessed between Sophie and Richard was love, she didn’t want any part of it either. Not that she thought for one second it was. She knew she couldn’t really understand because she’d never really been in love before, lust, infatuation, sure, but only fleetingly, but this wasn’t what love was supposed to be. Her heart had always remained firmly in Josh’s court, even though he’d only just begun to show his feelings towards her, and she couldn’t ever imagine Josh yelling at her the way Richard had yelled at Sophie.
Sophie nodded. ‘I don’t want Florrie growing up in a house full of arguments. I want her to grow up as I did, in a happy, loving environment. Just like I had.’
‘I know you do.’
‘Then why? How have we got here?’ Sinking her forehead to the cushion, Sophie’s shoulders shook with emotion.
‘I don’t know, Sophie. I really don’t.’
‘I don’t know if I’m strong enough. I’ll be a single mum.’
Hannah swiped at her own eyes as her own tears began to fall. ‘Sophie, look at me.’
Lifting her head, Sophie dragged her hand across her face before meeting Hannah’s gaze.
‘I don’t think I’ve turned out so bad, and I didn’t really have my mum or dad in my life. Florrie will have both of you still, and she’ll be living here with you, the most caring, loving mum anyone could ask for.’ Placing her hands on either side ofSophie’s face, Hannah kissed her on the forehead. ‘You’ve got this.’
Closing her eyes, Sophie whispered, ‘I hope so.’
Hannah glanced towards the living room door as the trill of the doorbell filled the room.
‘Oh no, that’ll be Josh with Florrie.’ Throwing the cushion aside, Sophie used the ball of tissues to scrape across her face.
Leaning forward, Hannah gave her friend a quick hug before pushing herself to standing. ‘I’ll go and take Florrie back to the cottage. She likes Alfie, so we can always take him for a walk through the fields, give you and Josh some time together.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘One hundred percent.’ Sophie and Josh’s bond had always been close, and if anyone could offer Sophie the advice she needed, it would be Josh.
‘Thank you.’ Sophie nodded as her eyes filled with tears again.
‘No worries, I’ll drop her round later.’ Giving her a quick smile, Hannah walked out of the room and towards the front door. Taking a deep breath, she plastered a smile on her face before pulling it open. ‘Hi, Florrie! Hi, Josh.’
‘Uncle Josh got me an ice cream.’ Florrie grinned as she held up a large cone filled with blue raspberry ice cream and topped with about a million sprinkles.
‘Wow, that looks delicious.’ Positioning herself so Florrie couldn’t run inside and find her mum in tears, Hannah grinned at her. ‘How would you like to help me take little Alfie on a walk now?’
Florrie nodded, her short ponytail bobbing up and down.
Hannah looked wildly around the garden, trying o figure out how to keep Florrie distracted whilst she filled Josh in. She could already feel his eyes on her and knew he was aware something was up. The last thing any of them needed was forhim to assume she’d told Sophie about her and Josh and to go in there unprepared. ‘Could you do me a little favour before we go, Florrie?’
Florrie nodded again.
‘Can you go and pick mesome of those beautiful flowers, please? I think they’d really brighten my little caravan.’ Hannah waited until little Florrie had run to the other end of the garden before she gripped hold of Josh’s hand. Closing her eyes for a moment, she let herself enjoy the warmth of his skin on hers before she looked at him and leaned in closer. ‘I’ve not told her. When I got here, Richard was yelling and stormed out of the house. She’s really upset.’
Running his fingers through his hair, Josh’s face flushed. ‘If I catch up with him, I’ll...’
‘I know, but...’ Hannah shrugged as she gripped his hand a little tighter. She’d always known he was the protective type. He’d do anything for Sophie, and she could hardly stop herself from leaning forward and kissing him right then and there, but that wouldn’t get them anywhere. ‘I’ll take Florrie for as long as you both need me to.’
Josh nodded; his eyes trained on the living room door beyond the small hallway, which Hannah had pulled to when she’d stepped out.
‘Okay, I’ll leave you to it.’ Stepping outside, Hannah paused as he shifted and laced his fingers through hers, pulling her close.
‘Thank you.’ He spoke quietly, his eyes trained on her, a million words unspoken before he let his hand drop to his side before he walked inside.
Stepping back, Hannah closed the door quietly behind her before hurrying down the garden path towards his niece. ‘Wow, it looks as though you’re doing a great job with those flowers.’
