by Clare Lydon
“He may well be, who knows?” I laughed. “Did she say how her date went the other night?”
Maddie nodded, giving me a glass. “Early days but she said he seemed nice. They’re going out again next week, so who knows? Must be so weird dating again.”
“Let’s never have to do that again, okay?”
“Agreed.” She popped the cork, poured wine into two glasses, and raised her own. “I don’t want to dwell on this tonight, so let’s have a toast now. To absent friends. To Mum, to Amos, to James. Wherever they are, thanks for making our lives better as long as you did.”
I tapped my glass to hers.
“Could you check the front door’s shut, by the way?” Maddie shivered. “I can feel a draught?”
I nodded and went into the hallway, but it all looked fine. I frowned, turning back. “The door’s shut,” I began. But the words dried in my throat as I walked back into the kitchen to find Maddie on one knee, her face flushed, a small ring box open in her hand. And inside, something sparkling. I put a hand to my chest, and the room swayed.
Oh fuck, was this really happening? Blood rushed to my cheeks and my face must have been a picture. I clutched one of the old dining chairs and swallowed hard. Maddie was proposing in this kitchen. It was too perfect.
Maddie gave me that smile she kept just for me, one solid eyebrow quirked as she looked up. “Justine Amelia Thomas, will you do me the honour of being my wife?”
A grin split my face as warmth washed down me. Then I was nodding. I wasn’t good at quizzes, but I knew this answer straight away. This was me defying the universe, and defying the odds. I had a new home, a refreshed business, and soon, a new wife.
“Of course I fucking will,” I replied.
Maddie was on her feet, and then I was in her arms, her embrace my favourite place.
In Maddie’s old house, now our house, I was finally home.
If you’ve enjoyed this book and want to read more, you can download a FREE lesbian romance It Had To Be You by going to: www.clarelydon.co.uk/it-had-to-be-you
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Acknowledgments
This book has been a long time in the making. I first began to write it in May last year, after unexpected death touched my life twice in two months. The kernel of an idea formed in my mind. But then, after committing 15k words to the page over one weekend, I left the project hanging. However, I was drawn back to it at the end of 2018. Once I started over, there was no stopping the story tumbling out. This book is my tribute to those who are gone, but not forgotten.
The inspiration for the baking school came from the wonderful Fair Cake in Greenwich. Thanks so much to the fabulous owner Shikhita Singh who let me sit in on the classes and told me how and why she set up her cake school. She even baked me the best cake I’ver ever tasted. I can now officially say that Swiss meringue buttercream truly is da bomb. Thanks also to my friend Rachel Batchelor, property developer extraordinaire. Thanks for telling me the ins and outs of property auctions, as well as the amount of times you visit Wickes in an average week. Answer: a lot.
Thanks also to my trusted first reader, HP Munro, for your initial feedback that helped elevate this book to the next level. Buckets of gratitude to my ARC team manager Tammara Adams, and all my early readers who caught the last-minute errors to make this book the best it could possibly be.
Design plaudits to Rachel Lawston for the cake-a-licious cover. I absolutely love it. A bunch of thanks to Cheyenne Blue for her considered editing skills. This is the first full project we’ve worked on, but it won’t be the last. Also, a tip of the nib to Adrian McLaughlin for his all-round cheerleading.
No book of mine would be complete without saying huge thanks to my wife, Yvonne, for always being there for me. Without her encouragement and reassurance that my writing doesn’t suck, I wouldn’t get through any book project. Quite simply, she’s my rock. I love you, darling.
Last but definitely not least, thanks to you for buying this book and supporting my work. Without you, I wouldn’t be doing my dream job, so I can’t thank you enough. I hope you enjoyed this book, because I wrote it especially for you.
Also by Clare Lydon
Other Novels
The Long Weekend
Nothing To Lose: A Lesbian Romance
Twice In A Lifetime
Once Upon A Princess
London Romance Series
London Calling (Book One)
This London Love (Book Two)
A Girl Called London (Book Three)
The London Of Us (Book Four)
London, Actually (Book Five)
Made In London (Book Six)
All I Want Series
All I Want For Christmas (Book One)
All I Want For Valentine’s (Book Two)
All I Want For Spring (Book Three)
All I Want For Summer (Book Four)
All I Want For Autumn (Book Five)
All I Want Forever (Book Six)
Boxsets
All I Want Series Boxset, Books 1-3
All I Want Series Boxset, Books 4-6
All I Want Series Boxset, Books 1-6
London Romance Series Boxset, Books 1-3