by Poppy Blake
‘Of course.’
Rosie smiled briefly at Matt and Mia as they joined her outside the Windmill Café. She watched the police 4X4 disappear down the driveway, her chest alive with a cauldron of sensations. Whilst she was relieved they had uncovered the identity of Rick’s attacker, Emma’s story had been a profoundly sorrowful one that she wouldn’t wish on anyone and she hoped that the circumstances of her actions would be taken into account at her trial.
She heaved a sigh and raised her eyes to the sky. Dusk had begun to send ribbons of indigo, violet and salmon pink across the canopy overhead, but she ignored its attempt at beauty in the face of such sadness. No one in the little Windmill Café had spoken since Rick had departed; each lost in their own thoughts as they tried to assimilate everything they had just heard into some kind of order they could understand.
‘I think we could all do with a drink.’
Rosie put the kettle to boil and Mia helped set out the teapot, the cafetière and a random selection of china mugs and cups. Matt fetched a bottle of whiskey from his SUV, whilst Rosie arranged a selection of the cakes and pastries she and Mia had baked on Sunday afternoon – a lifetime ago, but in reality, only four days ago.
Yet in that time everything had changed for all the guests in the Windmill Café’s lodges.
Chapter 22
‘Thank goodness everyone’s enjoying themselves,’ sighed Rosie, setting down her glass of warm cinnamon-spiced mulled wine and reaching for one of Mia’s scull-shaped ginger biscuits decorated in crimson icing.
‘You can say that again,’ agreed Matt. ‘Rumours of a murderer on the loose stalking ramblers, hikers and myth seekers isn’t the best marketing plan for the businesses in the area who rely on tourism. I’m happy to report, however, that the people who cancelled their courses have all rebooked and we’ve had more enquiries since that piece written by Dan Forrester was syndicated.’
‘Does that mean my job as a zip wire instructor is definitely safe?’ smiled Mia, tucking into a fluffy marshmallow ghost.
‘It certainly is. Monday morning, 8 a.m. sharp. No excuses, Miss Williams.’
‘Yes, sir!’ Mia saluted Matt and then collapsed into giggles. ‘Don’t worry, Rosie, I’ll still be helping out at the Windmill Café at weekends, and I’m really excited about the Christmas tree-decorating competition in December. You can’t get rid of me that easily.’
‘I’m relieved to hear it, Mia. How Graham expects me to run the café single-handedly is beyond me. I know we’ll only be open on Saturdays and Sundays from now until March, but we’ll still be as busy as ever – and I’ll miss you!’
‘Is anyone left in the lodges?’
‘No, everyone went home last night. No one wanted to hang around after the police left. Helen rang me from Norwich police station to ask me to pack up her belongings and when I went over to her lodge, Rick was surprisingly accommodating. Freddie’s promised to drive up to Manchester and drop everything off at Tim’s house for her.’
‘What about Brad? He must be devastated.’
‘I’m not sure how he’s feeling, to be honest. He apologized to Phil and Steph for his lapse in integrity over the artefact thefts and promised it would never happen again. Phil suggested Brad might like to become their social secretary just to underline how much they value his membership, but I don’t think the Myth Seekers Society will be arranging any foreign trips for a while. One good thing to come out of all this is that Brad told me he intends to spend more time with his parents because he appreciates how much they must miss him, especially without his brother around. I’m not sure he’ll be telling them his ex-girlfriend was a potential murderer, though.’
‘What about Phil?’
‘He’s promised to spend some of the society’s funds on attracting new, younger members so Brad feels more at home. And, he’s not planning on finishing his second book on folklore because he’s started on a first draft of a crime novel, would you believe? Set on the Norfolk Broads!’ Rosie laughed. That was one book she intended to pre-order as soon as it was available. ‘Apparently Helen’s engaged one of Norfolk’s top criminal defence lawyers to represent Emma. I don’t know what the outcome will be for her but at least she will get the opportunity to present her case.’
‘Is that a twinkle of envy in your eye?’ smiled Matt, sending Mia a covert glance over the rim of his glass that had the banned eyeballs floating on the surface.
‘What are you two cooking up?’ asked Rosie suspiciously.
‘Well, we know how much you wanted to follow in your father’s legalistic footsteps, so we just thought you might like to consider this,’ said Matt, producing a glossy prospectus for the local college and handing it over to Rosie, his blue eyes holding hers, sending a delicious spasm of pleasure swirling around her body. ‘I’ve marked the page.’
Rosie took the brochure from Matt and opened it, her heart performing a flip-flop of excitement when she realized what her friends were suggesting.
‘Oh my God! Are you serious?’
‘Totally!’ declared Mia, stepping forward to hug Rosie. ‘I’ve spoken to Mum. She knows the lecturer who teaches on the A level law course and he says it’s the perfect option. I know it’s not a degree, but it’s a start.’
‘Oh, Matt, Mia, that’s so thoughtful of you. Thank you,’ she just about managed to say as gratitude tightened her throat, but a kernel of anticipation and potential new beginnings had imbedded in her mind where she knew it would germinate. Could she?
‘It’s never too late to chase your dreams, Rosie. And I’m going to start with a slice of that Boston Scream pie over there.’ Matt drained his glass and made his way through the chattering throng of guests at the Autumn Leaves party to the makeshift bar where Graham, recently arrived back from his sojourn on his brother’s yacht in Palma harbour, was rushed off his feet.
‘So, have you and Matt talked any more about going to Grace and Josh’s wedding together?’
‘No, but it does seem like a great idea,’ said Rosie, her cheeks flushing with heat at her admission for the first time that there was more than friendship brewing between them. Happiness blossomed as she thought of standing next to Matt in the church whilst their friends exchanged their vows.
‘I happen to think you are perfect for each other, and maybe a wedding is the ideal opportunity for you to get together as a couple.’
‘Mia…’
‘Just giving the path of true love a little gentle nudge in the right direction,’ Mia giggled, taking another sip of the lethal blood-coloured punch that she and Freddie had concocted. ‘You’ve got to admit Matt is not only handsome, he’s also incredibly sexy in that rugged, outdoorsy kind of way. If you could both try not to attract any more chaos into your lives, I think things will run a lot smoother from now on. Willerby has never seen so much excitement since you landed on our doorstep, Rosie Barnes.’
A shadow fell over their table on the terrace outside the Windmill Café and Rosie looked up, a wide smile on her face, ready to tell Matt she’d be delighted to be his plus one for Grace and Josh’s nuptials. But it wasn’t Matt.
‘Ah, Rosie, there you are. I hope you don’t mind me dropping in on you without an invitation. Looks like a great party! I’m loving this Hallowe’en punch, but I don’t think I should drive anywhere afterwards, do you?’
Rosie stared at the man standing in front of her, a man she thought she would never set eyes on again – and certainly hoped never to set eyes on again. Her heart had escaped its moorings and jumped into her throat where it continued to flap and flutter as she struggled to understand what her eyes and ears were forcing her to believe.
‘Harry? What on earth are you doing here?’
‘Well, it’s probably not the best venue to discuss this, but I’ve come to make amends and take you back to London.’
‘Harry, I don’t want…’
‘What’s going on, Rosie?’ said Matt, appearing on the terrace, holding a tray of drinks. ‘Are you okay?’
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‘Of course she’s okay. Or she will be in just a few seconds,’ announced Harry, frowning at Matt as he fiddled to find something in his jacket pocket.
As Rosie watched on in horror, Harry produced a black velvet box, lowered himself down onto one knee and met her eyes.
‘Rosalina Catherine Barnes, will you marry me?’
THE END
Acknowledgements
A completed novel is always the result of a team effort, so I would like to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to the wonderful team at HarperImpulse, in particular my editor, Charlotte Ledger, for helping me make The Windmill Café series the best it can be.
Also in this series
The Windmill Café – Summer Breeze
The Windmill Café – Christmas Trees
If you enjoyed Autumn Leaves, then why not read the first book in the Windmill Café series, to see where it all began?
Click here to order now
About the Author
Poppy Blake is an avid scribbler of contemporary romance and romcoms. When not writing she loves indulging in the odd cocktail or two - accompanied by a tower of cupcakes. The Windmill Café series follows the life and loves of Rosie and Matt in the glorious countryside of Norfolk and will be opening its doors in March 2018 with Summer Breeze. Why not pop in for a visit?
@poppyblakebooks
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About HarperImpulse
HarperImpulse is an innovative, award-winning digital imprint. In the four years since launch, we have continually hit digital bestseller lists, hosted the UK’s first online romance festival, published into over ten countries and grown an exciting stable of commercial women’s fiction authors.
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