Page 21 of A Second Chance in Seabury
Connie had been amazing, and the pair of them had giggled their way through over an hour’s worth of trying on, styling, and over-the-top catwalk struts around the little shop. It had been more fun than she’d had in years.
‘Right… let’s hang you up!’ she murmured, gently running a finger under theAll Things Woollysticker holding the first package closed, before peeling back the delicate sheets of tissue.
As the rich, wine-coloured knit came into view, Hannah’s smile grew even bigger. As weird as it sounded, Mr Eaves’s choice for her had been nothing short of perfect. She’d known it the moment she slipped the dress over her head – it suited her figure perfectly and made her feel… well… beautiful. It was something she hadn’t experienced in aseriouslylong time.
Grabbing the padded hanger she’d found abandoned in the master-bedroom wardrobe, Hannah carefully arranged Ewan’s beautiful creation and hung it from the curtain-rail so that itcould drop out a bit before she was ready to change for the evening.
After admiring it for several long moments, Hannah turned her attention back to the mountain of packages still waiting for her on the bed. It was fair to say that she’d gone a little bit nuts. In fact, she’d bought so many bits and pieces from All Things Woolly that it hadn’t all fitted into one bag.
She really shouldn’t have…
‘No – don’t start with the guilt!’ she huffed, as the familiar feeling started to gnaw at her gut. This was a hangover from her marriage, and she was SO over it!
Pulling a couple of the smaller packages towards her, Hannah opened the first one and grinned as the beanie hat with the prancing Stanley dog pattern fell out onto the bed. She hadn’t been able to resist… maybe it would help her to remember the happy side of Seabury after she’d left it all behind for good.
Right now, though, the beanie wasn’t the item she was searching for. She reached for the next parcel, opened it carefully and smiled.
‘There you are!’
Nestled inside the tissue paper was the pair of fingerless gloves she’d bought as a token present for the birthday boy. They were charcoal-grey and boasted a single cable rib in bright orange. Connie had assured her they’d be perfect for Jason because he’d be able to wear them while working with Lizzie over at Moore Bikes.
Hannah frowned as she stared down at them. The gloveswerelovely, but somehow, they didn’t feel like quite enough. Hannah stroked the soft knit, turning on the spot and staring around the room as she hunted for inspiration. Her eyes landed on the stack of boxes at the foot of the bed. They containedAunty Millie’s personal belongings that Gareth had ousted from the master bedroom.
‘Wait… that’s it!’ said Hannah, popping the gloves back down on the bed. She’d give Jason something of Aunty Millie’s to remember her by… and she knew the perfect thing. The only question was, had it already been thrown away? And if not, could she find it in time for this evening?
Hurtling out of the bedroom, Hannah jogged down the stairs and into the tiny back sitting room. Gareth had hated this room for some reason, preferring to lounge around in the larger, emptier front room whenever they visited. Hannah had never understood it… but now she was glad this cosy little bolthole had largely escaped his attention, because it meant that it had remained pretty much unchanged.
Pausing just inside the door, Hannah peered around. The room was so full of good memories that it practically took her breath away. She gazed for a long moment at the old-fashioned open fireplace. It had been the perfect spot for toasting crumpets, and the two long-handled forks they’d used still rested on the edge of the hearth. Millie’s collection of knick-knacks still vied for space on the mantel piece – feathers, bottles full of sea glass, and miniature photo frames filled with black and white shots of smiling faces.
Hannah turned towards the old-fashioned sideboard, crossing her fingers.
‘Come on... please be there!’ she muttered, kneeling down in front of it and pulling open the doors.
A wash of nostalgia ran through her. Everything, from the sound of the fastenings clicking open to the faint scent of lavender furniture polish and Murray Mints, took her straight back to her childhood.
Of course, several things were missing from inside. The top shelf where the biscuit tin used to sit was empty, and AuntyMillie’s ever-present packet of Murray Mints was missing in action, too. But several worn packs of playing cards still sat in their spot behind the central pillar that separated the doors.
‘Yes—there you are!’ she cheered, spotting the worn navy and red cardboard box she’d been hunting for at the back of the bottom shelf.
Was she being daft? Jason was a nineteen-year-old boy after all… he probably wasn’t as prone to fits of nostalgia as she was. In fact, he might not even remember that long, wet afternoon when he was little. Aunty Millie was babysitting, and she’d charged Hannah with keeping the lad occupied while she baked a fresh batch of biscuits for tea.
Hannah grinned to herself. Five-year-old Jason had adored every second of their snakes and ladders marathon, giggling every time he thrashed her.
Well… it wasn’t like she’d be needing the old board again while she was here. She drew the worn box out of its hidey-hole and stroked her hand across the lid, smiling at the old-fashioned cartoon. Perfect. This was one memory she could pass on to Jason’s safekeeping. Hannah had a feeling Millie would approve.
Pausing just outside the hotel, Hannah smoothed her hands nervously over her dress.
Nervous? Why?!She felt amazing right now. The butter-soft wool hugged her curves, and the drape of the cowl neck made her feel both casual and a little bit glam.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Hannah had taken the time to style her hair, pinning the top half up in twists and letting the rest fall in smooth tendrils. Sure, the overall effect had probably been wrecked during the rather breezy stroll downinto town, but she didn’t regret the walk one bit. Seabury’s evening air—full of calling gulls and lapping waves—had cleared her mind.
Unfortunately, all that had dissolved the moment Pebble Street had come into view. Hannah couldn’t help but wonder if she’d made a mistake accepting this invitation. What was she going to talk to these relative strangers about all night? Why had they even asked her to join them in the first place?
Sucking in a deep breath, Hannah let it out slowly. Then she rolled her eyes at herself. She really was an idiot, wasn’t she?! This was Seabury, not London. These people weren’t playing some kind of power game. This was just good food and a couple of hours spent with nice people. Besides, if conversation ground to a halt for any reason, she could always resort to talking about Aunty Millie.Shemight not know Mr Eaves all that well, but he’d been Millie’s next-door neighbour for years.
‘Hey! Hannah?’
Hannah whirled around, the paper bag containing Jason’s gift clutched tightly in her hand. ‘Sarah!’ she said, breaking into a broad smile. ‘Wow, you look lovely.’
