Hope blinked in confusion. ‘Here?’
‘At the Hopwood roundabout,’ he said, then paused. ‘Past the place of the accident. We were talking so much I must have missed it.’
‘Ah,’ Hope said cautiously, trying to gauge his feelings. ‘Sorry.’
Will eased the car back into the traffic. ‘Don’t be. I’d much rather be engrossed in conversation than be reminded of what happened.’ He looked at her and smiled. ‘I’ve had a really good time today. Thank you.’
Once again, Hope felt she ought to be thanking him. From her quiet reflections on the cliffs to the breathless laughter of chasing him and Brodie across the sand, she couldn’t remember an afternoon she’d enjoyed more. ‘Honestly, it was my pleasure,’ she said warmly, then paused to fix him with a meaningful stare. ‘And I’ll tell you another great time just waiting to happen – my parents’ party.’
He laughed. ‘Do you ever take no for an answer?’
‘Sometimes,’ Hope said, grinning. ‘And if you really don’t think it’s a good idea then I won’t mention it again. But I’d like it if you came.’
He glanced across at her, still amused. ‘How about I’ll think about it?’
Hope sat back in her seat, satisfied. ‘Good enough for now.’
Chapter Nine
‘Your parents,’ Iris said, nudging Hope with a deep sigh of admiration. ‘They are just the cutest.’
It was just after eight o’clock in the evening and the party had been in full swing for over an hour. Hope wasn’t sure what had tipped her mother into her first eruption of joyful but effusive sobs – the sight of so many of her friends and relatives unexpectedly gathered in one place, the fabulous ruby-themed flowers and decorations that festooned the marquee in such breathtaking fashion, or the bonus appearance of her youngest child with a bouquet that had been painstakingly made by Iris to replicate the one she’d carried at her wedding forty years earlier. It had taken a lot of champagne and many tearful hugs to calm her down and even now, Hope could see her fluttering as she moved from group to group – more tears seemed inevitable. Thankfully, Hope’s father had reacted in a much more relaxed way and seemed to be exerting a calming influence on his wife, which, Hope reflected, was what had happened for their entire marriage.
‘Yeah, they’re not bad,’ she said to Iris, leaning back in her chair and taking a sip of her own champagne.
Her friend raised a jet-black eyebrow. ‘Not bad? They’re relationship goals. I’d like to be half as happy with someone as they seem together.’ She glanced around. ‘In fact, your whole family is adorable, including your little brother. I can’t believe you all have the same hair – you’re basically the Weasleys, but better looking.’
Hope glanced over at Joe, who was hovering by the buffet, and caught him staring at Iris with undisguised interest. ‘Hmmm. Well, watch out for my little brother. He can be quite the charmer and I think he’s got his eye on you.’
‘If only he was ten years older,’ Iris replied with a sigh. ‘Speaking of charmers, how’s Professor Sex God? Did you see him before he vanished back to darkest Scarborough?’
Hope thought back to the previous Saturday, when she and Ciaran had spent the whole night alternating between talking and kissing and sleeping. Sunday morning had been devoted to discussion of Elenor’s journal; Hope had been relieved when he’d agreed that it was unlikely there’d been a pregnancy. ‘There’s certainly never been even a hint of that in anything I’ve read about her,’ he’d said, frowning. ‘I think it’s a red herring.’
He’d finally left around midday, giving Hope just time to throw herself into the shower and slap on some make up to prevent Charlotte from giving her the third degree over lunch. ‘I saw him,’ she told Iris carefully. ‘He was still very interested in Elenor’s journal.’
Iris nodded. ‘Ordinarily I’d suggest boys only say that when they want to get you into bed but with him, I don’t think it’s true.’
Hope laughed. ‘No. But I won’t see him again until September at the earliest. He’ll probably have forgotten about me and the journal by then.’
‘Oh yes, that’s likely,’ Iris said, rolling her eyes in mock-annoyance. ‘But I do think you should be—’
Whatever Iris had been about to say was lost as an insistent tinkling sound floated across the marquee. Hope looked up to see Harry tapping a glass with a fork and looking round expectantly. ‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he said, lowering the glass and taking the microphone that someone was holding out. ‘If you’d all like together round, my parents would like to say a few words.’
Applause broke out and people began to drift in from outside. Hope’s parents waited for them to arrive, and for the clapping to die down, then her father took the microphone and began to speak.
‘Dear friends and loved ones,’ he said, with an encompassing glance that seemed to take in the whole room. ‘Firstly, thank you so much for coming here to celebrate our fortieth wedding anniversary. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to see you all here.
‘Many of you know the story of how Angela and I met – if you don’t, catch me at the bar later and I’ll bore you with the details – and some of you might even know that our son, Harry, was almost called Bryan. Very few of you know that Charlotte’s middle name is Roxy but she doesn’t like us to talk about that much so I’ll leave it there.’
There was a smattering of laughter and Hope didn’t need to look at Charlotte to know she was trying to hide a furious scowl.
Their father raised the microphone again. ‘What I really wanted to say is that over the last forty-something years, not a day has passed that I haven’t thanked my lucky stars for sending me to that gig.’ He turned to his wife and took her hand. ‘I couldn’t have hoped for a better woman to share my life with. Here’s to the next forty, my love.’
Now the applause was rapturous, so loud and long that Hope wondered whether the wedding guests from the other part of the venue had gate-crashed. But eventually it died down and Hope saw that her mother was holding the microphone. Hope exchanged a nervous glance with Charlotte, because their mother was clearly a little the worse for champagne, but there was nothing to be done.
‘Friends,’ she began, with only the faintest hint of a hiccup at the end. ‘Thank you for making this special anniversary even more special. I’m sure it can’t have been forty years since we said “I do” – inside, I still feel like the giggling teenager who saw the most beautiful man of her life at a concert and was lucky enough to marry him. But it’s been a pleasure to grow older with him – I won’t say old, because we all know sixty is the new forty – and I can’t wait to see what the next decade brings us.’
She paused and Hope could see tears sparkling in her eyes as she looked around. ‘We agreed not to buy each other a gift – it’s enough that we still have each other – but, as some of you know, I’ve never been one for sticking to the rules. So, here’s my gift to you, Gerry. I hope it makes you think of every minute we’ve had together, as well as all the time still to come.’
To Hope’s astonishment, it was Will who stepped forward to pass her mother a small white box. Iris seemed equally nonplussed and the two of them exchanged puzzled looks as Hope’s mother presented the box to Hope’s dad. A whisper of curiosity ran around the room as he opened it and then it was his eyes that glistened. He pulled out a silvery watch and suddenly Hope understood.
‘It’s my grandfather’s watch,’ she murmured to Iris. ‘Dad used to wear it all the time but it broke years ago and he never found anyone who could fix it.’
Iris caught on. ‘Obviously, he never found Wonder Will.’
‘Obviously not,’ Hope agreed. ‘Luckily for Dad, my mother did.’
‘Thank you.’ Hope’s father spoke into the microphone again, his voice husky with emotion. ‘And it’s funny you got me a gift, even though you weren’t supposed to, because I’ve never been very good at doing as I’m told either. So, I got you a present too.’
And n
ow Hope stared in disbelief as Will came forward again, this time handing a box to Hope’s father. ‘You have got to be kidding me,’ she said to Iris, who simply grinned in reply.
This box contained a pair of ruby and diamond earrings that flashed and gleamed in the lights. Murmurs of admiration and approval filled the air as Hope’s mother gazed at them, then she threw her arms around her husband and the room exploded into whoops and cheers. A moment later, she let go and turned to throw her arms around Will. Beside Hope, Iris let out a delighted laugh and Hope couldn’t help joining her.
‘And now let’s celebrate!’ Hope’s father called, which only increased the noise levels. ‘See you at the bar!’
‘Didn’t I tell you?’ Iris said, still beaming with evident satisfaction. ‘They are the cutest.’
But Hope had caught Will’s eye. She raised her hands in an obvious WHAT? gesture and he shrugged, pointing to the door that led out into the gardens. ‘Back in a minute,’ Hope told Iris. ‘Don’t forget, beware of Joe.’
It wasn’t until Hope was outside in the cooling summer air, under the ghost of the rising full moon, that she realized Will was alone. ‘Where’s Brodie?’ she asked the moment she was close enough.
‘Over there,’ he said. ‘She’s playing Giant Jenga with those two boys, who are very clearly related to you in some way.’
Hope followed his gaze and saw that Brodie was playing with her nephews, apparently oblivious that Will was not immediately beside her. ‘Wow,’ she said, smiling. ‘Didn’t I tell you this would be good for her?’
‘You did,’ he allowed. ‘And you were right. Thanks for inviting us.’
She batted him playfully on the arm. ‘Not that you needed the invitation – my mother has clearly decided you’re part of the family now. Why didn’t you tell me my parents had roped you into their gifts to each other?’
‘I didn’t know,’ he said. ‘Not at first, anyway. You mother came in with the watch last week but I didn’t connect the dots until I framed your photograph of the two of them.’
‘Of course,’ Hope said. ‘And Dad?’
Will spread his hands. ‘He came in to buy some earrings. I recognized him too, as well as his name, and told him we were friends. I offered to bring the earrings with me to prevent the risk of your mother finding them before the party.’
Hope had to concede it had been a sensible suggestion. Her mother was infamous for rooting out gifts before the buyer could give or even wrap them. ‘Of all the jewellers in all of York, they both happened to walk into yours,’ she said, with an incredulous shake of her head. ‘Amazing.’
‘I know,’ he said with a lopsided smile. ‘I thought about telling you, but I didn’t want to spoil the surprise.’
She wasn’t sure whether he meant the gifts themselves or his involvement in them but she supposed it didn’t really matter. His presence had made a wonderful moment even better. Sighing happily, Hope gazed around at the guests chatting in the fading sunshine, and the children playing on the immaculate lawn. She shivered as the evening breeze tickled her skin. ‘I need a drink. Want one?’
He shook his head. ‘No, I’m fine, thanks.’
‘You’re driving?’
‘Parenting,’ he corrected. ‘And we’ll probably be heading off soon. I don’t want Brodie to get over-stimulated.’
Hope could understand that but surely drink one wouldn’t hurt? He’d put away a few glasses of wine when she’d gone over for dinner, after all.
‘Honestly, I’m fine,’ he said, when she suggested one for the road. ‘I had some champagne earlier and it’s been a long day. Brodie is tired.’
Hope glanced over to where the little girl was bouncing around, apparently full of energy. She frowned. There was something stiff about Will’s expression, a weird tension that seemed to have come out of nowhere. ‘Is everything okay? You’re being a bit… off.’
His gaze skittered away. ‘No, everything is fine.’
Less than convinced, she stepped nearer. ‘You’re sure? Did one of the kids say something to Brodie? Or was it my mother? I’m sorry about the over-familiarity, she gets like that after a few drinks.’
‘No, it’s nothing like that,’ Will said, waving the apology away. He gave her a long look before sighing. ‘It’s not important.’
‘Right, that’s it.’ She folded her arms. ‘Something’s definitely going on. Out with it.’
‘It’s nothing,’ he insisted. ‘Let’s not do this here. Not tonight.’
‘Do what?’ Hope thought she might explode with frustration. ‘What shouldn’t we do? And why not tonight?’
‘Because…’ He took a deep breath, as though he was about to argue, and then deflated. ‘It’s just… have you seen Ciaran recently?’
Hope gaped. Whatever she’d been expecting him to say, it wasn’t this. ‘Not since last Saturday and he’s on a dig in Sussex now. Why?’
Will shifted uncomfortably. ‘Right. Have you heard from him much? Seen any photos from the dig?’
Now Hope stared at him outright, wondering if he’d put away more champagne than he was admitting. ‘The odd message but no photos. Why, do you have a sudden burning urge to look at Roman pottery sherds?’
This drew a reluctant half-smile which faded faster than it had appeared. ‘No.’ He ran a hand through his hair and avoided her gaze. ‘Look, I don’t know how to tell you this, or even whether I should but… has Ciaran ever suggested he’s – that he might be—’
‘Just spit it out,’ Hope said, as patiently as she could manage. ‘Has Ciaran ever suggested that he’s what?’
The seconds ticked by, during which Will grew more and more miserable. ‘Married,’ he said eventually. ‘Has he ever told you that he’s married?’
‘No!’ Hope said, and laughed incredulously. ‘Why would he?’
He stared at her mutely, then transferred his gaze to the ground.
She laughed again, a gurgle of amusement that caught a little in her throat. ‘I don’t know where you got that idea from but Ciaran isn’t married. He lives on campus five days a week and eats Pot Noodles for dinner.’
Again, Will stayed silent and Hope felt a bubble of bewilderment and anger start to grow inside her. ‘Why would you say such a thing?’
He started to reply then stopped.
‘Oh, for god’s sake, speak!’ She heard her voice getting shrill, just as she saw Will shrinking into his suit, but she couldn’t seem to calm down. ‘Seriously, what the hell would make you say such a thing?’
Will straightened up. ‘Because he came into the shop yesterday,’ he said, suddenly matter of fact. ‘To buy an eternity ring for the woman he was holding hands with, to celebrate the fact that they’d been married for ten years. He looked a bit puzzled as we talked, like he was trying to place me, and I thought I recognized him but I didn’t know where from until he handed over his credit card. So, then I looked him up online to make sure I wasn’t wrong and… it was definitely him.’
The blood rushed in Hope’s ears as she stared at him. There must be some mistake, she told herself numbly as her heart thudded against her ribs. It couldn’t be true. Ciaran had been in Sussex all week, he couldn’t have been in Will’s shop yesterday. There must be some mistake. ‘You’re lying.’
‘I’m sorry, Hope,’ Will said, with gut-wrenching apology. ‘I didn’t want to tell you, or at least not tonight, but I thought you should know.’
‘You’re lying,’ she repeated, and now her voice sounded reedy and broken. ‘Why are you saying this? Why would you—’
She stopped as the truth crashed through her flimsy denial. Will had no reason to lie and she knew him well enough to accept that he’d have made triple-sure he was not mistaken. Tears stung her eyes, rushing over her lashes like a bubbling geyser. Of course it was true. Letting out a half-sob, she turned away, running blindly to where she hoped the door to the marquee was. Behind her, she heard Will shout her name but she didn’t stop until she crashed into someone coming the ot
her way.
‘Hope?’ a voice said, ringing with concern. ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’
Shaking, Hope swiped at her eyes until her vision cleared. ‘Oh!’ she wailed, and threw herself into her sister’s arms. ‘Oh, Charlotte!’
End of Part 2
More from the Author
The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures Part Four
Little Shop of Hidden Treasures Part Three
The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures Part One
Coming Home to Brightwater Bay
Sunset over Brightwater Bay
Dangerous Tides at Brightwater Bay
Also by Holly Hepburn
Coming Home to Brightwater Bay
Broken Hearts at Brightwater Bay
Sea Breezes at Brightwater Bay
Dangerous Tides at Brightwater Bay
Sunset Over Brightwater Bay
A Year at the Star and Sixpence
Snowdrops at the Star and Sixpence
Summer at the Star and Sixpence
Autumn at the Star and Sixpence
Christmas at the Star and Sixpence
The Picture House by the Sea
Brief Encounter at the Picture House by the Sea
Singing in the Rain at the Picture House by the Sea
Dirty Dancing at the Picture House by the Sea
Some Like it Hot at the Picture House by the Sea
A Year at Castle Court
Snowy Nights at Castle Court
Frosty Mornings at Castle Court
Stormy Weather at Castle Court
Starry Skies at Castle Court
Last Orders at the Star and Sixpence
New Beginnings at the Star and Sixpence
Christmas Kisses at the Star and Sixpence
Cosy Nights at the Star and Sixpence
The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures Part Two Page 9