This London Love

by Clare Lydon

  “What’s irking me?” she asked, poking her head under Kate’s outstretched arm and squeezing past her to stand next to Jess.

  “Jess’s many faults — but I’ll leave you to find them out in good time,” Kate said.

  Lucy waved her hand. “It’s fine — we had this discussion and Jess assured me she was perfect, as am I, so it’s all good.” She paused, before turning to Jess. “Shall we get going with the first load? I’ve given up hoping the rain’s ever going to stop, so let’s just get this show on the road.” Lucy dangled her car keys from her thumb and index finger.

  Jess bit her lip as she looked to Kate and then back to Lucy. “Let’s do it.”

  Kate stepped back and ushered them out. “No tears this time around — we’ll leave that till you return, okay?”

  Jess stepped forward and gave Kate a hug. “Deal.” But she gave Kate an extra-tight squeeze for good measure anyway, before grabbing her coat from the rack.

  “Mind the bike!” Kate shouted at their backs.

  ***

  Kate waited for the sound of Lucy’s engine to fade and then wandered out of the lounge and into the kitchen. She opened the fridge, where Jess’s shelf stood empty. Then Jess’s cupboard — same thing, bar a single can of baked beans. Had Jess decided beans were no longer in her diet now she was co-habiting with her girlfriend rather than her sister-in-law?

  Kate scratched the back of her head as she walked down the hall and stood in the doorway to Jess’s room, bed stripped, wardrobe bare. A black bag of clothes and another of shoes stood waiting to be collected, along with two other boxes by the door. The room smelt of vanilla and coconut, Jess’s go-to scents.

  Kate recalled Jess moving in, just back from Australia, sad, jobless and single, her possessions then easily fitting into the back of her dad’s car. But nearly two years in London had seen her acquire a job, a girlfriend and possessions that required two trips even with Lucy’s back seat down — that’s what putting down roots meant. More stuff to cart about.

  Kate walked down the hall and made herself a cup of coffee — just instant now there was only one of her to make it for. She walked through to the lounge and switched on the TV, listening to the rain hurl itself onto the pavement in violent patterns — it wasn’t giving up today.

  So what could she do to cheer herself up? What would do the trick? Her mind was blank as she stared at a football show on the TV.

  A bike ride perhaps? Too wet.

  Go up to see her sister? But that would go dangerously near to Fabulous Flowers, where Meg would be. Sure, she couldn’t avoid the area for the rest of her life, but perhaps just for today.

  Perhaps she’d get the tube and visit Dawn and Nick — they could go for a pub lunch. She picked up her phone and sent Dawn a text.

  A shower, a coffee and a bacon sandwich. It was a plan.

  Kate would make today a success if it was the last thing she did.

  ***

  Meg clip-clopped down the stairs, her black tote bag banging against her hip as she did. Her hair was springy, her make-up perfect, her attitude gung-ho. She had everything crossed that this bubble didn’t burst before she turned up at Kate’s front door, because Meg was going to need every ounce of courage to follow this one through. As she grabbed her jacket from the rack, Meg heard a chair scrape back in the kitchen.

  Tanya appeared in the doorway, a half-eaten piece of toast in her hand. “Look at you,” she said, sweeping her eyes up and down Meg. “Ready for battle?”

  They exchanged a knowing glance.

  “As I’ll ever be.” Meg paused. “How do I look?” Meg puffed out her chest.

  Tanya smiled. “Like a million dollars.” She stepped forward and hugged Meg to her, planting a kiss on her cheek. “Now go get your girl.”

  Meg put up her umbrella — this weather was getting worse by the minute and was definitely not part of the script. But seeing as she’d yet to write the script, she figured it was all part of life’s rich tapestry. Today, she was going with her heart, trying to drown out the panicked voice telling her not to take a chance. And it was Tanya, her ex, of all people, who’d finally persuaded her — that, and the Sainsbury’s receipt. The house was sold and they were moving on. But would Kate be ready to move on with her? Meg could only hope.

  Water splashed around Meg’s leather boots as she skipped along the pavement, the bricks of the surrounding houses weeping in the damp grey morning. A fine mist hung in the air and swiped her face as she walked towards the tube — her hair was going to be a flat mess by the time she arrived at Kate’s place.

  She got a seat on the tube and sat in silence as the train rumbled its way through London’s basement tunnels. Meg’s eyes flicked over adverts for religious conventions, takeaway meals and online dating sites, but her brain took none of it in. All she was thinking about was Kate, what she might or might not say, how she would react to Meg finally deciding she wanted in. Kate had to say yes, didn’t she? It was the only outcome Meg’s brain was entertaining today.

  Meg reached Kate’s stop and rode the giant escalators up to street level, jostling shoulders with tourists and Londoners alike. Once outside, she put her umbrella up and strode purposefully towards Kate’s flat. Within seconds, a gust of wind took hold of her umbrella and turned it inside out. Meg swore and tried to turn the umbrella back the right way. It refused. She wrestled with it for a few minutes, before giving it up as a bad job and depositing the umbrella in a nearby bin. So much for her carefully coiffured appearance. Her heart sunk, but then she rallied as she rounded the corner of Kate’s road, rain running down her face.

  One thing was for sure — Meg was about to find out how much Kate really liked her.

  ***

  Before she knew it, Kate heard the doorbell ring — Jess must have left her keys. Typical.

  Kate rolled her eyes and trotted down the stairs. “Trust you to forget your keys!” she said, pulling the door wide.

  But instead of Jess and Lucy standing on the doorstep in the rain, she was faced with Meg. Getting wetter by the second as the rain dripped down her face in tiny little rivulets.

  Kate simply stared. “What are you doing here?” As first lines went, it wasn’t her most romantic, or even original.

  Meg stared right back, before rubbing her face. “I’ve come to give you a rose. We had a rush on in the shop yesterday — we got an extra 24 delivered.” She rummaged in her bag and produced one of Kate’s roses. “So I brought you one. The rest you’ll get when you come over to mine.”

  Meg’s hair was flat against her face and she was soaked to the skin. In Kate’s eyes, she radiated beauty.

  Kate took the rose. “I’m coming over to yours?”

  Meg nodded. “If everything goes according to plan. Which of course it totally is. My first plan was to come here, break my umbrella, get soaking wet and stand on your doorstep in the rain looking bedraggled — and that part has gone like absolute clockwork.” Meg gave Kate a lop-sided smile, before wiping some rain out of her eyes.

  Kate stepped back. “Sorry — do you want to come in?”

  “I don’t know.” Meg stumbled over her words. “Do you want me to?”

  There was silence on the doorstep, the only sound being the steady boom of the rain on the pavement, the outside traffic and their hearts stamping an insistent beat.

  Before Kate knew what she was doing, she was nodding slowly. Her heart had taken over, and seeing Meg looking like such a drowned rat only made her melt that little bit more. Warmth oozed through her body like hot chocolate.

  “Do I want you to come in? I’d like nothing more. But seeing as you’re so soaked, I might as well get wet, too.”

  Before Meg could protest, Kate kicked on her trainers and stepped into the morning rain, splashing in a puddle for extra effect.

  Meg’s laughter pierced the air, her smile flooding her eyes.

  And as Kate laughed too, the rain got more insistent and a brittle crack of thunder rumbled not too far
away.

  Both Kate and Meg peered upwards, before turning back towards each other.

  “I think you might have mystical powers.” Meg turned her full-beam smile on Kate.

  Kate was suitably dazzled. “You should know that by now.” Kate searched Meg’s almond-shaped eyes and found what she was looking for. “I missed you so much.”

  Then Kate stepped forward and took Meg’s face in both hands. She kissed her on one cheek, then the other, and finally on Meg’s soft mouth. As their lips fused together again, Kate’s heart swelled. She steadied herself and they pulled away, staring at each other as the rain showed no sign of abating.

  Meg trailed her hand down the side of Kate’s face. “Thanks for the flowers.” She put her lips to Kate’s again.

  Kate smiled shyly, her lips never leaving Meg’s. “You said you never got any.”

  Meg shook her head. “You’re the first.”

  “I’m glad.”

  Their lips touched again.

  Kate took hold of both of Meg’s hands and they stood face to face, lip to lip, water running down both their cheeks. “But what about your dad and my mum? How’s that going to work?” Kate breathed in the smell of petrol and wet tarmac as the rain slackened a little.

  Meg shook her head slowly, dropping one of Kate’s hands to run her fingers through her wet hair. “I don’t know — but our parents aren’t what’s important right now. What is important is us — you and me.” She gave a single, defiant nod. “We’ll deal with the rest together. Good enough for now?”

  A smile creased Kate’s face. “More than good enough.”

  They kissed again, a long, deep, passionate kiss. When they pulled back, Meg’s eyes had clouded over with emotion. “There was one other thing,” she said. A tear tracked its way down her cheek, mixing seamlessly with the rain.

  “Don’t cry,” Kate said.

  Meg sniffed and wiped the tear away. “It’s a happy tear.” She sniffed and wiped the back of her hand across her nose. “I must look a right state.”

  “You look beautiful,” Kate said. “What was the other thing?”

  Meg smiled hesitantly. “Just to say… I love you too — and I’m sorry I never told you before. And I’m sorry I ran off when you told me — it wasn’t the best response.” Meg winced, never taking her eyes off of Kate.

  “I’ve had better.”

  Meg let out a bark of laughter. “Am I sharing too much on your doorstep?”

  Kate smiled, then shook her head. “Not at all. I think it’s perfect. You’re perfect. This is definitely my most favourite doorstep moment ever.”

  “You’ve had a few?” Meg raised one eyebrow.

  “Never with so much rain and such a gorgeous woman.”

  Meg laughed and held up her palm. “And the rain seems to be stopping — at last.”

  Kate turned her face to the sky and just at that moment, a massive drop of rain landed on her face. She spluttered and Meg laughed.

  Kate wiped her face, before turning her full attention back to Meg. “And just so there’s no confusion, I love you, too. More than you know.”

  They kissed again and Kate’s head swam. She sunk into the kiss, reveling in its warmth and how right it felt. But after a few seconds, it was interrupted by a shout from nearby.

  “Oi, you two — take it inside!”

  Kate and Meg stumbled apart, their bubble pierced. They turned to see Jess and Lucy slamming their car doors.

  “What’s going on here, apart from you two looking like you’ve just been for an impromptu swim?” Jess grinned as she walked up to them.

  Kate smiled right back. “We’re having a doorstep moment.”

  “Oh, really?” Jess said.

  “Well, don’t let us stop you — we’ll see you upstairs.” Lucy dragged a gawping Jess away and into the flat.

  Kate laughed, then turned back to Meg. “Now where were we?”

  Meg moved forward and planted her lips onto Kate’s. “Right about here,” she replied.

  39

  Two months later and Christmas was upon them. The week had been a busy one at Fabulous Flowers, with festive orders booming and Olivia officially retiring. Anya had agreed to come on-board at least three days a week, more when required, and their new delivery driver was working out a treat, so Meg wasn’t daunted. Rather, taking on the shop as the official boss was something she was looking forward to — but, as she’d told Olivia, she’d still need her on the end of the phone for making some decisions, which had pleased her mum. Olivia might be retiring, but she wasn’t redundant.

  And now, as Meg packed up the last of the flower remnants at 4pm on Christmas Eve, her mind turned to the coming festivities and what they might bring — this year was so far removed from the last. Back then, it had been Meg and Olivia having dinner alone, with Jamie and Greg away skiing. This year, however, the boys were cooking Christmas dinner for Olivia, Meg and Kate, and tonight Meg and Kate were going out with Kate’s mum and Meg’s dad — their first date as a foursome.

  Meg’s thoughts were interrupted with a rat-a-tat-tat on the door. She looked up and saw Lawrence — he gave her a wave. She walked over and unlocked the door.

  “I thought we were seeing you at the pub?” Meg stepped aside so he could come in.

  Lawrence rubbed his hands together, shivering as he came in from the cold. “Freezing out there!” he said. “And you were — but I thought I’d stop by to pick up some flowers for Maureen. I was going to buy them from Waitrose, but then I thought, why don’t I buy them from my daughter? Seemed a better option.” He smiled broadly at Meg and shivered again.

  “Anything in particular?”

  Lawrence shook his head. “Whatever the lovely florist advises.” He paused. “And the more expensive, the better.”

  Meg laughed. “Big spending will get you everywhere.”

  She spent the next few minutes putting together a colourful, seasonal bouquet she knew Maureen would love, squatting to select the flowers while Lawrence watched her every move.

  “You’re good at this, you know,” he said.

  Meg raised an eyebrow as she wrapped the bouquet. “I should hope so by now.”

  She presented Lawrence with the bouquet and he gave a low whistle, before reaching inside his jacket.

  “Just perfect,” he said. “How much?”

  Meg waved a hand. “On the house — consider it a Christmas gift.”

  But Lawrence already had his wallet out. “No, I insist — I would have paid for them from anywhere else.” He took two £20 notes and put them on the counter.

  However, Meg pushed them back towards him and shook her head. “It’s on the house — honestly. My gift to you.”

  Lawrence shifted on his feet, his mouth twitching uncomfortably.

  Meg wrapped her hand around his. “It’s what families do.”

  His head dropped slightly and she saw tears glistening in his eyes, before he nodded at her. “Thanks.”

  The bell tingling broke the moment, and Meg looked up to see Kate striding into the florist. “Thought you were closing up early?” She walked over and kissed Meg on the lips, then nodded at Lawrence. “I hope those are for my mum,” she told him, smiling.

  Lawrence sniffed, then nodded. “Of course — and I’d better get them to her.” He straightened up, pulling down his grey winter coat. “Thanks again for these — see you at the pub at seven?”

  Meg smiled at him. “See you there.”

  He kissed her on the cheek, then Kate, before leaving the shop.

  When he was safely out the door, Meg stepped into Kate’s embrace, wrapping her arms around her neck, breathing in her perfect scent. Meg could happily live right here, in this very spot, forever.

  Kate kissed her cheek. “You okay?”

  Meg nodded, then lifted her head and stared into Kate’s exquisite face, before kissing her perfect lips. “I’m more than okay.” She kissed Kate again. “I have you, I have Mum and Jamie, and now I have Dad.” She sw
allowed down a wave of emotion. “I never thought I’d ever say that. My dad. Isn’t life weird?”

  Kate nodded, a smile warming her face. “Life is weird and wonderful. Luckily for me, you’re more wonderful than weird.”

  Meg threw back her head, laughing. “Glad to hear it.” She kissed Kate again, heaving a contented sigh. “And you know what you are? You’re some kind of wonderful.”

  CONNECT WITH CLARE!

  If you’d like to know what I’m up to and never miss another book release, please sign up to my mailing list here.

  If you have a moment, I’d greatly appreciate you leaving a review on the site you bought this book on — or any other reading site you use.

  Plus, any mentions on Facebook, Twitter or any other social media would be greatly appreciated by me. Better yet, if you want to let me know what you thought, tweet or Facebook me — details below.

  Twitter: @ClareLydon

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/clare.lydon

  Find out more at: www.clarelydon.co.uk

  Contact: mail@clarelydon.co.uk

  MY TOP FIVE LONDON ROM-COMS

  As you can probably tell, I’m a sucker for a rom-com. My top five rom-coms starring London also suffer from a permanent case of Hugh Grant…

  5: About A Boy

  Hugh Grant is the feckless singleton who tries to woo single mums with his make-believe son Marcus, a young Nicholas Hoult. About A Boy is heart-warming and life-affirming, with North London taking a starring turn.

  4: Run Fatboy, Run

  Simon Pegg is the runner as he tries to woo back his ex from her smarmy new American boyfriend. Cue tight shorts and hilarious running around the capital’s streets, but the even tighter script and acting make this an assured London hit.

  3: Four Weddings And A Funeral

  The breakout British rom-com that set the standard for all those who followed. Four Weddings has a stellar cast, rich screenplay and is packed with just the right balance of romance and cheese to make it deliciously irresistible.