‘Hiya, Sophie,’ she said, hoping she was still on for a girly natter later like they’d planned.
‘Hi. Where are you, exactly?’
‘I’m in town doing my Christmas shopping.’ She had told Sophie. She’d even asked if she wanted to come along but Sophie had said something about preferring to have Edward Scissorhands give her a back massage than face the city centre at Christmas time.
‘Yeah, but where exactly?’ repeated Sophie. ‘Right this second?’
Anna glanced about her. ‘Standing between a German lebkuchen stand and the Christmas tree in Victoria Square. Why?’
‘The Christmas tree in Victoria Square. Right. Stay there!’
‘Why? Sophie?’ But the line had gone dead. Around her shoppers all wrapped up against the early bite of winter hurried past. She put the bags down and rubbed her sore fingers and waited. She still needed to get something for Petal and a chocolate orange for her dad because she got him one every year.
She scanned the crowd. Presumably Sophie had changed her mind and decided to join her. Lots of people just went for the evening and to enjoy the hot chocolate, gluhwein and German sausage. A woman began singing carols making it all rather festive. Someone did a shrill whistle, the kind you need your fingers for and Anna glanced over her shoulder and up towards the Council House that stood resplendent facing the square.
At first she didn’t see anything other than the mass of shoppers but then she spotted someone in a hoodie wave and leap up onto the edge of what was known locally as the ‘Floozie in the Jacuzzi’ fountain. They couldn’t be waving at her but she was going to watch anyway. The way they were leaping about she feared her first aid skills might be needed. The person then proceeded to forward flip, twist and vault their way down the steps much to the delight of the crowd. When they reached the bottom, they did a double backflip landing so close to Anna she grabbed her shopping and moved nearer to the Christmas tree. A brief but spontaneous round of applause broke out as the gymnast stepped nearer to Anna and pulled off his hoodie.
‘Hudson!’ Anna dropped her shopping and flung her arms around his neck. Joy engulfed her and she had to stop herself from crying because she knew he’d think she was ridiculous. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I came to see you.’
She stepped back to look at him as if needing to check he was real. ‘What was with all the acrobatics? You’ll get yourself killed.’ Although a small part of her was mightily impressed.
He hung his head slightly. ‘I didn’t tell you the whole truth. I used to be a free runner.’
‘What, one of those crazies who jumps from building to building?’ The thought of it sent a chill through her.
Hudson gave a lopsided smile. ‘Yeah. It comes in handy.’
‘What for?’
‘Saving people on roofs.’
Anna felt like a whoosh of air had been knocked from her lungs. Sensations shot through her body taking her back to being on the roof. The shove in the back that saved her from falling. The voice. ‘You?’
Hudson gave a modest shrug. ‘The door to the roof was locked. I climbed up the outside.’
‘You could have died.’
‘You were about to.’ His eyes told her so much.
‘Thank you.’ Her voice was barely a whisper. ‘Why weren’t you there when the emergency services arrived?’
‘I didn’t like to move you but there was no signal on the roof so I had to climb down to call 999. As I was speaking to the ambulance Liam arrived, then a police car showed up real quick and Liam seemed to take over. I guess I felt I was in the way.’
‘Did you see what happened with Connor?’
He squeezed her shoulder. ‘I heard most of it.’
‘I can’t remember much.’
‘When you’re ready I’ll tell you.’ He beamed and something fluttered in her heart.
Her brain went into overdrive. ‘Free running … that’s how you got the wheelbarrow on bonfire night.’
He nodded and gave a cheeky grin. ‘It’s also how I got in the park without a ticket.’ He looked suitably ashamed but only for a nanosecond.
Anna couldn’t stop grinning. She was overjoyed to see him again. ‘Are you over here for Christmas?’
‘Err, I don’t know. I keep jetting back and forth like I’m on a bungee. Something keeps pulling me back here.’
‘Last time I spoke to you, you were with Emily.’ She watched closely for his reaction.
He seemed to wince at her name. ‘Emily is … Emily.’ He raised his shoulders. ‘She’s now in a relationship with Dad’s business partner.’
Anna was relieved. ‘Is everything else okay?’
Hudson seemed to scan her face making her feel a little self-conscious and she pulled down her woolly hat a fraction. A crease appeared on his forehead. ‘You see for everything to be okay, you and I would need to be in the same country for a start …’
Anna gave a nervous giggle; she wasn’t sure where this was going. ‘We are.’ She held up her hands.
‘Permanently. Always. Forever,’ he said. There was a wisp of mist when his words hit the chill of the evening air.
She swallowed. It felt like her insides were turning to mush. ‘How would that work?’
Anna’s eyes were wide. Her breathing was ragged. She saw a spark of something in his eyes.
‘Anna, we’re great together but there lies the issue – we’re not together and I can’t for the life of me think why that is.’
Anna’s grin was actually starting to make her face ache. ‘Nor can I.’
Hudson leaned in and hesitated, which made Anna’s heart soar even higher at his trepidation. She closed her eyes and savoured the moment when their lips met. He pulled her gently to him and she was lost in the kiss.
‘Hey, you need this,’ came a friendly voice and a stallholder pulled a decoration off the wooden cabin and bounded over waving some mistletoe.
They broke apart and began to giggle. Anna put her fingers to her lips. They didn’t feel quite like her own – they were sure, brave and certain. And so was her heart.
‘Thanks, buddy,’ said Hudson, taking out his phone and pulling Anna in for a selfie. And as the camera flashed, Anna knew this was how it was meant to be.
Chapter Forty
Anna was grateful to Hudson for lugging the cat carrier. She was sure Maurice was getting bigger. She couldn’t contain her pride as the carers at the nursing home all did a double take when Hudson walked in. They had finished her Christmas shopping in Birmingham and then spent the best part of the next two days in bed together. Brief interludes between fabulous sex were filled with chatter. All the things they had wanted to say for so long had all tumbled out. And now she was introducing him to Bert.
‘I am very pleased to meet you,’ said Bert, standing up and vigorously shaking Hudson’s hand. ‘I’ve been following Anna’s love life closely.’
‘Bert,’ said Anna with caution in her voice. She let Maurice out of the carrier and hoped that would distract him.
Bert pulled Hudson down a fraction to tell him something. ‘I wanted it to be you.’
Anna and Hudson exchanged looks. They doubted Bert was aware of the You Got Mail reference and it made them smile all the more.
‘I wanted it to be me too, Bert,’ said Hudson, taking the seat next to him, and Maurice instantly jumped on his lap.
Bert felt for the cat. ‘And you have Maurice’s seal of approval.’
‘So, it would seem,’ said Anna. ‘Which is good because Hudson’s applying for jobs locally so he’ll be sticking around for a while.’ They couldn’t stop the grins that spread across both their faces.
Bert leaned in conspiratorially. ‘Watch out for other men’s underwear,’ he said with a chortle.
Hudson looked beyond confused. ‘Don’t worry, it’s mainly Dave’s,’ said Anna, which did nothing to change Hudson’s expression. ‘Where’s Rosie?’
‘She’s getting some things from my room.’
On cue Rosie appeared carrying a gift bag.
They exchanged welcomes and Christmas wishes and Rosie handed the bag to Bert who immediately passed it to Anna.
‘It isn’t much but it’s something to open on Christmas Day.’
‘Thanks, Bert. I got you something too,’ said Anna, handing him a large wrapped box.
He brushed his hands along the top of the box and down the sides, establishing its dimensions. ‘My, this makes me look like a miser. Can I open it?’ he asked, eager as a child.
‘Of course.’
He ripped the paper off, pulled open the box and began feeling around inside. ‘It’s some sort of machine. There’s a cable and a lid. You’ll have to tell me.’
‘It’s a coffee machine,’ said Rosie, peering over his shoulder.
The excitement faded from Bert’s face. ‘Oh, I see.’
‘No, Bert. It doesn’t mean I’m not going visit you. It means you don’t have to wait for me to get a decent cup of coffee,’ said Anna and the grin instantly returned to his face.
‘Thank you, Anna. You know how I love an Americano. And now you do too.’
‘Bert!’ said Rosie and Anna together.
Later that day they met up with Sophie and her brood and were all playing hide-and-seek in Wildflower Park. It was a bright fresh December day, with a clear sky and a chill in the air.
‘Found you!’ shouted Arlo, his bobble-hatted head pushing through the bushes.
‘Well done,’ said Anna. ‘Who else have you found?’
‘I found Reuben. He was hiding under the bench with Mummy. He’s rubbish at hide-and-seek.’
Anna scrambled out from behind the bush and tried to keep up with Arlo who raced off across the park. They had limited the hiding area to avoid any missing-children incidents. Anna thought she’d spotted a flash of bright pink behind the large tree stump and she called to Arlo who stumbled to a halt. She pointed to the stump and they both started running towards it.
‘Found you!’ shouted Arlo as Petal came into view giggling wildly. Anna took Petal’s pink-mittened hand and they went to find Hudson. Sophie was watching them from the safety of the bench and she was pointing towards the wooded area. Arlo charged off but Anna veered off towards Sophie.
‘Dave just rang, he’s ready for us. If it’s a disaster I could always do Marmite sandwiches,’ said Sophie, pulling a worried face as they passed.
Arlo hollered, ‘Found you! I win!’ He was already running back to Sophie before Anna had even reached the trees. Petal chased after her brother.
Anna stepped into the copse. A whistle drew her attention and she looked up. Hudson was sitting high up in a gnarled tree, the picture of chilled-out cool.
‘You are such a big kid. Come down.’ In an easy fluid movement he bounded down through the tree, swung on a branch and landed effortlessly on the grass. He opened his arms and she fell into them. ‘Found you!’
‘You have,’ he said, kissing her softly.
‘Come on.’ She tugged at his hand. ‘Dave’s cooking. It’ll be like an initiation ceremony.’
‘Awesome.’
‘No,’ she said with a grimace. ‘It’s unlikely to be awesome, but it will be fun.’
‘Is this some weird British holiday I should be doing something for, like maypole dancing or cheese rolling?’
‘Nope. It’s just something me and Sophie make a big thing of because after today it’s all family focused but Christmas Eve eve has been our mini Christmas for the last few years.’
Sophie came in step with Anna as they left the park.
‘How’d it go taking Reuben into the office yesterday?’ asked Anna.
‘It was fine. Karl was actually quite sweet. He said he could hear women’s ovaries creaking into life at the mere sound of a babby.’
‘The last of the die-hard feminists is our Karl.’
As they approached Sophie and Dave’s garden they could see smoke. ‘Plugholes,’ said Sophie with feeling.
‘Daddy’s burning something!’ yelled Arlo excitedly. ‘Is it a Viking party?’
‘Not intentionally, no,’ said Sophie, exchanging worried looks with Anna.
The children ran ahead and the adults followed up the pathway with Sophie scanning the house for any signs of flames. Further up the path she could see Dave waving although he didn’t seem distressed, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t any need to be alarmed.
Dave was leaning over the old wheelbarrow. When they got closer they could see he was using it as a barbecue.
‘That is the coolest barbecue ever,’ said Hudson, reaching out to shake Dave’s hand.
‘Thanks, mate,’ said Dave, puffing up with pride. ‘I saw Mary Berry do it on the telly.’
‘Can we wheel it round the garden while it’s on fire?’ asked Arlo, jumping up and down.
‘No, sorry, son. It needs to stay put. I’ve got drinks for you and Petal on the wall.’ He indicated two plastic mugs of squash nearby. Anna was impressed: Dave really had changed.
The garden was neat and tidy and swathed in tiny lights, giving it a very festive feel.
‘I like your fairy lights,’ said Hudson, and Dave and Sophie sniggered.
‘I’ll explain later,’ said Anna, shaking her head at her juvenile friends.
‘Here you go. You can man the flames for a bit.’ Dave handed the barbecue tongs to Hudson, tapped Sophie’s arm and guided her up the garden a little way away from the others.
‘I wanted to give you this.’ He held out a small black velvet box. ‘It’s not your Christmas present. It’s just … Here.’ He passed her the box and shoved his hands deep in to his coat pockets.
Sophie was surprised but a thread of excitement spun inside her as she opened the box a fraction and peeped inside. Nestled in the velvet box were two rings. Her engagement ring and her wedding ring, although they looked quite different to the last time she’d seen them. No longer cut in two by the hospital they now sparkled as if under jewellery shop lights.
‘You got them fixed,’ she said, tears springing to her eyes. It was such a thoughtful thing to have done and she’d not even noticed they were missing. Dave took them from the box and slipped them onto Sophie’s finger.
‘They fit too.’
‘I got them resized at the same time.’
‘Because I’m not the skinny person you married?’ she said mock reproachfully.
‘Because you’ve changed. We both have.’
She was very happy. She tore her eyes briefly away from the sight of her rings glinting on her finger and looked at her husband. Her stupid, ordinary, brilliant, thoughtful husband. ‘I love you, Dave,’ she said, pulling him into a kiss.
Anna found she was staring at Sophie and Dave. It was a lovely thing to witness – they’d been through a lot.
‘They’re a great couple,’ said Hudson, butting into her thoughts.
‘They certainly are,’ said Anna, leaning back into Hudson’s arms.
‘If we’re swapping gifts, I got you this,’ he said, pulling a small wrapped package from his pocket.
Anna opened it carefully. ‘Strawberry and black pepper jam. I love it.’
‘I saw it and thought of you,’ he said. ‘But then I’m thinking of you most of the time.’
‘Anna?’ Arlo’s voice came from near the house. They all turned to look. Arlo was pointing at Maurice. ‘Is he allowed to play with those?’ asked Arlo, pointing at the cat who was proudly marching off with a pair of Dave’s Batman pants.
And despite the chaos, despite the fact her cat was thieving again, she kissed Hudson. Because right at that moment she had everything she could possibly need.
THE END
Acknowledgements
It takes so many people to get a book over the finish line so massive thank yous to my fabulous editors Katie Loughnane and Rachel Faulkner-Wilcocks for doing an amazing job of knocking this one into shape along with all the fabulously talented folk at Team Avon. Thanks too to my wonderful agent Kate Nash
for always being on hand to nudge me in the right direction.
Huge thanks to my technical experts and life experience sources: Dr David Boulton for wonderful medical ideas and guidance – any errors are entirely my own. Anna Jennings of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust for answering all my wildflower questions. Cherie Niles for some top corporate phrases. The free runners of Birmingham City Centre for parkour information. Cheryl Bourne for, well, you and I know which bit and that’s how it shall remain ;-)
I’d like to raise a gin to the ladies of the RNA party train: Erin Green, Phillipa Ashley, Christie Barlow, Liz Hanbury and Nell Dixon for continued support, laughs and full glasses.
Thanks also to Kearan Ramful for his ongoing support.
Special thanks to the custodians of Moseley Park for letting me spend a blissful day there with my family, which provided a lot of inspiration for Wildflower Park.
A special mention to all the people I have ever worked in an office with – you are most definitely not in this book; however, you have kept me going for the last thirty years and provided much inspiration – thank you.
And probably the biggest thank you goes to the terrific bloggers, reviewers and wonderful readers that spent their hard-earned cash and precious time on my book – you guys rock! And if you have a minute, a review really does make all the difference and means such a lot – thank you.
Anna must start a new chapter after her fiancé breaks off their engagement …
Escape to Wildflower Park in the first part of a gorgeous new four-part series from Bella Osborne.
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When Anna meets the man behind the mystery texts, could he be the new start she needs?
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There’s going to be fireworks …
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