by Lucy Daniels
Contents
Praise for the Hope Meadows series
About the Author
The Hope Meadows Series
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Praise for the Hope Meadows series
‘A wonderful heartwarming story … I couldn’t turn the pages quickly enough’ With Love For Books
‘A gorgeous book to curl up with for a few peaceful hours of reading’ Shaz’s Book Blog
‘An adorable read [with] a real sense of village community’ Bookworms and Shutterbugs
‘A stunning, emotional, beautiful tale of friendship, love, and the importance of being who you need to be … I laughed, I cried, and I cannot recommend [the novel] highly enough – it really has got it all!’ Books of All Kinds
‘[A] lovely romp through the glorious Yorkshire countryside … a really lovely summer read and the start of a promising new series’ Jaffa Reads Too
‘Just the right amount of nostalgia … wonderful and very poignant’ The World is a Book Blog
‘An incredibly lovely story’ Rachel’s Random Reads
‘The author creates a perfect balance between the human and animal stories in this book … this is an absolute must read for animal lovers’ The Book Bag
About the Author
Lucy Daniels is the collective name for the writing team that created the bestselling children’s book series Animal Ark. Hope Meadows is a brand-new Lucy Daniels series for adult readers, featuring the characters and locations that were so beloved in the original stories.
Sarah McGurk, the author of Snowflakes over Moon Cottage, has the twin advantages of being passionate about Animal Ark, and a fully qualified vet. Sarah writes fiction related to her work in general practice and in emergency and critical care. Her special interests include anaesthesia and pain relief, and low-stress techniques in small animal handling.
Sarah currently lives in Norway. She has worked for two years in a local veterinary practice and speaks Norwegian fluently.
The Hope Meadows Series
Summer at Hope Meadows
Christmas at Mistletoe Cottage
Springtime at Wildacre
The Lost Lamb on Honeysuckle Lane (eBook only)
www.hodder.co.uk
First published in Great Britain in 2018 by Hodder & Stoughton
An Hachette UK company
Copyright © Working Partners Limited 2018
The right of Working Partners Limited to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library
eBook ISBN 9781473682429
Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
www.hodder.co.uk
Special thanks to
Sarah McGurk BVM&S, MRCVS
To Victoria Holmes, with love
Chapter One
‘And that was the last time Mum and Dad ever bought us matching outfits!’ Freddie Arnold chuckled. ‘So yes, in answer to your question, Phil and I did get up to lots of twin tricks when we were younger.’
Susan Collins laughed as she placed her knife and fork on her plate. She was having a lovely time. Really, for a first date, things couldn’t have been going much better. The food at the Fox and Goose was delicious, as always, and the company was excellent. They were sitting at a small wooden table next to a window. Raindrops spattered against the panes, but Susan could see the cheery glow of Christmas lights in the November darkness outside. The heat from the nearby crackling fire made her feel pleasantly cosy, despite the weather. She felt totally relaxed and the butterflies that had set up camp in her stomach for most of the afternoon had all but faded away.
She had met Freddie on LoveSpark, an online dating app, and they had hit it off instantly. He’d made her laugh with a couple of opening quips but had quickly revealed a sweet side that Susan had warmed to. He was even more handsome in person than in his photos. He had dark hair in a neat and tidy cut, and a boyish grin coupled with handsome brown eyes. Susan hoped that she was exceeding his expectations too. For this date, she’d chosen some skinny black jeans, heeled boots and a turquoise blouse. It had become her standard first-date outfit, since it was cute and smart, but not too overdone. To finish off the look, she’d loosely curled her straight brown hair, dabbed on some powder and added a swipe of red lipstick.
‘So how about you?’ Freddie said. His head was on one side. He seemed genuinely interested. ‘Tell me about your family.’
Susan sat very still for a moment. On the surface, it was a simple enough question, but Susan’s heart quickened and her chest felt tight. She shuffled in her chair, sitting up a little straighter. ‘I’m actually an only child,’ she said. ‘My dad died five years ago, but my mum lives in Walton. Luckily for me, she also helps out often with my son Jack.’
Let’s see what he thinks of that …
She watched as he blinked, then glanced sideways. She was growing used to seeing that uncomfortable look. To her son’s existence being a bombshell thrown into the middle of an early date, often deciding the outcome of the encounter.
She never mentioned Jack online. Not that she was ashamed of him, but because she felt it was safer that way. However, it complicated things when she did mention it. She always did, as soon as she felt she might want to see someone a second time.
Freddie’s jaw clenched for a moment, then unclenched. ‘You have a son?’
He sounded quiet, but serious and for a moment, Susan felt optimistic. Maybe it was going to be okay. She found her smile. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘He’s four.’
One side of Freddie’s mouth lifted as if he was trying to return her expression but couldn’t quite make it. ‘And he’s called Jack?’ he asked.
‘Yes.’ Susan felt her shoulders relax infinitesimally. Bein
g willing to use his name seemed like a good sign. Although, Susan had to admit to herself that she probably had a very low benchmark for this. Some men didn’t believe her when she’d mentioned Jack, some had looked terrified and some had even been angry! The very first man she’d dated since having Jack had stood up, shouted across the table about liars and stomped out. Perhaps Freddie was going to be different.
Freddie lifted his napkin, dabbed his mouth, dropped it on the table, then pushed his chair out. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I just need to go …’ he nodded towards the gents. ‘Back in a minute.’ He stood up and made his way past the bar.
Susan’s eyes followed him. She guessed he wanted to process what she’d said in private, but she hoped he wouldn’t be long. Then another movement caught her eye. Bev, the landlady of the Fox and Goose, was coming over. Her cheeks were pink in the warm room, but she looked tidy in her smart white blouse and narrow black trousers. She grinned at Susan. ‘Was everything okay?’ she asked as she gathered the plates.
‘It was lovely, thanks,’ Susan replied.
Bev leaned a little closer. A conspiratorial grin lit her eyes. ‘How’s the company?’ she asked in a loud stage whisper.
Susan smiled. She had known perfectly well when she came to the Fox and Goose that she and her date would be on display. But the comfort of the old coaching inn, with its open fire and traditional hearty food, was a worthwhile pay-off for Bev’s amiable nosiness. Plus, it was close to home. ‘It’s going well … I think,’ she said. ‘Can you bring us the dessert menus when he comes back, please?’
‘Of course.’ Bev grinned as she piled the last of the plates and whirled away towards the kitchen.
The room buzzed with the chatter of other patrons. Across the room, Susan could see two old men sitting at the bar, chatting quietly.
She turned her chair slightly so that she could face the room more comfortably. Bev was back behind the bar, polishing a glass. Near the fireplace, a group of teenagers were enjoying a raucous night out. Leaning an elbow on the wide windowsill, Susan propped her head against her hand. She remembered being eighteen, when pubs were still a novelty and every night out had been the best one ever. Another wave of laughter from the teenagers washed over her. They sounded so happy. For a moment, she envied them their uncomplicated lives. Outside the window, a pair of headlights appeared from the car park behind the pub and accelerated away towards the Walton Road.
After a few minutes, there was still no sign of Freddie. He really was taking a very long time, she thought, a sinking feeling in her chest. Surely, he wouldn’t have … Bev was still at the bar, pulling a pint of ale for one of the old men. Susan pushed her chair out and made her way over.
‘Hello.’ Bev smiled. ‘Do you want to look at the menu?’ She glanced across the room and her grin disappeared when she saw the empty table. A crease appeared in the middle of her forehead. ‘Is everything all right?’ she asked.
Susan leaned against the bar, feeling a flush spread across her face. You don’t know that he’s gone, she told herself. ‘Would someone be able to check the gents?’ she asked. ‘My date went in and he hasn’t come back.’
Bev’s eyes widened. ‘Do you think he’s ill?’ she asked, looking concerned. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll get Gary to go and look.’
‘Thanks,’ Susan said. She turned and watched as Bev emerged from behind the bar and walked round the corner towards the snug. Maybe Freddie was ill, she thought. Her mind had jumped to scepticism. The timing of Freddie’s disappearance had seemed suspicious, coming as it did, just after she had mentioned Jack, but there might be an innocent explanation. But a moment later, Bev returned with her husband, Gary, following close behind.
Gary’s hair was standing on end as if he’d pushed his hands through it. His expression was uncomfortable. ‘I’m really sorry, Susan. I’m afraid he left a few minutes ago, out the back. I’d no idea you were still here. I thought the two of you were heading home separately or I’d have come and said.’
He looked so guilty that Susan felt even more sorry for him than she did for herself. It was hardly his fault if her seemingly pleasant date had decanted before dessert. She managed a rueful smile. ‘Never mind,’ she said. ‘And thanks for letting me know now.’
‘Rotten beggar.’ Bev’s cheeks were redder than ever and she seemed outraged on Susan’s behalf. ‘Well, I don’t know what happened, but he could at least have had the decency to tell you he was going. If I see him in here again …’ She trailed off and for a brief moment, Susan felt amused. It would almost be worth seeing Freddie in here again, if it meant that Bev would give him a piece of her mind. Bev was an inveterate gossip, but her heart was in the right place and she was fiercely protective of the young women of Welford.
‘Thanks, Bev,’ Susan said. ‘And thanks, Gary … it wasn’t your fault,’ she added. He still looked doubtful. Their concern somehow made her feel even more humiliated. There was no way she could avoid what had happened; her date had run away from her and now they felt sorry for her. She suddenly couldn’t bear being in the pub a moment longer. ‘I’d better be off,’ she said. ‘I’ll settle up before I go.’
Bev raised her eyebrows and looked at Gary, who gave the tiniest nod. Bev turned her gaze back to Susan. ‘I’ll not charge you for his meal,’ she said. ‘I’ll work out how much your bill comes to and we can call it quits, okay?’ She reached out a rather awkward hand and patted Susan on the shoulder.
‘Thanks, Bev.’ Susan willed her voice not to wobble. The kinder they were, the more wretched she felt. Doing her best to smile, she paid her bill and donned her jacket. Pulling the fur-edged hood up, she opened the door and stepped out into the November night. The cool air felt good on her burning red face. Well, that’s that, she thought, trying to calm herself down as she turned left onto High Street, walking towards the church. The rain had slowed to drizzle, but the wind was getting up. To her right, the village green opened up. A string of chilly white icicle lights hung from the gable end of the old school house. They swayed and danced in the wind. Susan squared her shoulders and tucked her chin into her chest as a flurry of raindrops pattered against her face, and she didn’t see the tall figure coming in the opposite direction until it was almost upon her.
‘Susan?’ The voice was familiar.
‘Mandy!’ Susan found her smile easily. Mandy Hope was a veterinary surgeon who also ran Hope Meadows rescue centre. She was one of Susan’s closest friends. She and Jack often visited the centre to help out with the rescued animals. At Mandy’s heel trotted her much-loved collie Sky, thick fur ruffling in the wind. Despite the wind and rain, Sky began to caper, her tail beating frantically as Susan bent to greet her.
‘Are you on your way home already?’ Mandy frowned, her face shadowed in the dim light of the streetlamps. ‘I thought you had a date? Heel, Sky,’ she added as she turned to walk with Susan towards the post office.
Susan groaned. ‘Well, I did,’ she said, ‘until he bailed on me. Just after I told him about Jack.’
‘Really?’ Mandy sounded scandalised. ‘So … what? He just stood up and said he was leaving?’
Susan let out a short laugh. ‘Worse than that,’ she said. ‘He said he was going to the gents and never came back. Skipped out the back door, leaving me with the bill.’
‘What a shit!’ Mandy’s exclamation cheered Susan immediately. Mandy always got to the heart of things fast. It was one of the things Susan liked about her. In fact, it had been Mandy’s blunt nature that had begun their friendship in the first place when they were only twelve years old. Mandy had believed that something was wrong with Susan’s pony, Prince, and had gone to the lengths of hiding him from Susan so that she couldn’t compete on him. When it emerged that Mandy had been right and Prince was suffering from the heaves, a sort of equine asthma, Susan had had to thank her for saving Prince’s life. Thus, an unlikely friendship had been born.
‘It’s a shame Bev didn’t catch him,’ Mandy went on. ‘It would have been funn
y to watch him thrown out on his ear.’
Susan found herself grinning. ‘Well, Bev did say she would sort him out if he ever came back but I have a feeling he will be conducting his future dates elsewhere.’
Mandy laughed and then leaned in to give Susan a quick hug. ‘Anyway, seems to me like you had a lucky escape. There are better men out there, that’s for sure. You’re well clear of that one.’
‘Thanks.’ Susan felt another wave of humiliation washing over her. Having Bev, Gary and Mandy feel cross on her behalf, whilst nice in its own way, did underline how pitiable she felt. When she had set out to join LoveSpark, she hadn’t expected it to be easy. But she hadn’t expected Jack’s very existence to define everything. Only one of her matches had actually made it to the end of their first date and he had said he didn’t want to take things further. Two more had walked out. Now Freddie had done the same without even telling her. One of them had referred scathingly to ‘her baggage’ and had sneered, telling her she would never find a man to ‘take on someone else’s brat’. It would have been one thing if they’d met Jack and didn’t feel it would work out. It was quite another to find herself rejected outright and told she was foolish to even try. Now here she was, walking home to an empty house when the night was only half done.
Mandy seemed to sense Susan’s feelings. She reached out and took Susan’s arm, linking it through hers. ‘Is Jack at your mum’s?’ she asked as they continued to walk.
They were nearing the end of High Street. Across the road, Susan caught a glimpse of a Christmas tree in the window of one of the houses. It lifted her a little. She’d always loved Christmas, ever since she was a little girl, living in London. Moving to Welford when she had been twelve had only made it more magical. She had fond memories of pure white fields, village carol concerts and wintery hacks on Prince. ‘Yes. He’s sleeping over,’ she replied.
‘Well, in that case, how about you and me have a drink?’ Mandy suggested. ‘The village shop’s still open. We could get a bottle of wine.’