Page 89 of Coming Home to Wishington Bay
‘I keep telling her that.’ Gabe winked across at me, and I gave a little headshake but I couldn’t stop my smile.
‘Talking of which …’ She pointed to her own eyes, wiggling her finger between them. ‘What happened here? I thought you were a doctor?’
‘And how did you know that?’ He grinned, as the lady flushed a little.
‘Clearly you didn’t live in a village back home. Everyone knows everything here. Especially when a big handsome chap moves in. We’re all just surprised you managed to keep quiet the fact that you weren’t single after all.’
‘Oh well, that …’
‘We didn’t want my grandmother having to answer lots of awkward questions if things didn’t work between us,’ I said, stepping in and sliding my arm around Gabe’s waist.
‘That was probably a good idea. Although it’s lovely to see that it has. And was that your parents here the other week?’
Good God, word did get around …
‘Yeah. They’re over for a visit.’
‘Have you met them before?’ she asked me, clearly on a roll now.
‘No, first time.’
‘Aah. I’m sure they loved you.’
‘They totally do,’ Gabe stated.
‘Lovely. And, any special reason for the trip …’ She lifted her left hand and wiggled the third finger.
‘Ha! No, no. Nothing like that,’ I said, dropping my hand from Gabe’s waist and bending to scoop up Bryan, more for something to do to relieve the sudden awkwardness that swarmed over me.
‘Shame. We love a good wedding in the village.’
‘Live in hope, eh?’ Gabe grinned at her, and I could have kicked him.
‘Now, let me have your name and number and we’ll sort out a time that suits you for me to pop round and have a look at those pieces, shall we?’
I gave her the details and we said goodbye and headed out of the shop.
‘So … on a scale of one to ten, how much trouble am I in?’ he asked, taking the basket off me as I shuffled it on my arm, trying to find a comfortable position now that it was heavier with the various purchases.
‘For announcing my hobby to a professional, or for telling her, and thereby no doubt the whole village that I’m apparently opposed to marrying you?’
‘You are opposed to it.’
‘That’s because I’m not even your girlfriend, which makes it a bit damn difficult to be your fiancée!’ I hissed, keeping a smile on my face in the hope that those walking past wouldn’t see and report that throughout the village too. ‘Also, just so you know, the knowledge that you’re looking to get married is going to be round like wildfire, so be ready for the attention once we’ve “broken up” and I’ve gone home.’
‘And the other?’ Gabe said. ‘I actually didn’t mean to drop you in it. She was nice and I just got caught up talking to her – and I’m proud of what you’ve done.’
It was kind of hard to be cross with when there was six feet four of gorgeousness standing in front of you, telling you they were proud of you.
‘Thank you. I’m just feeling a bit awkward. What if she comes and says it’s no good?’
‘She won’t but if she does, what have you lost? Knowing you, I think you’d just take that as a lesson and use it as a chance to improve. But like I say, she won’t because your stuff is just as good as the things already on sale in there. I think she’s going to be thrilled at the chance to have stock in her shop when she thought she wouldn’t.’
‘I guess we’ll see.’
* * *
‘Oh, Holly! You shouldn’t have! It’s beautiful,’ Gabe’s mum said, as we sat at the restaurant table later that evening and she undid the bow on the basket so that she could start smelling all the goodies within it.
