I helped Carole tuck Ethel safely into the passenger seat and stood back to give her some privacy while she clutched Scamp to her for a final hug and I pretended not to see the tears run down her face.
‘Are you belted up, Mum?’ Carole asked, putting the keys in the ignition. Ethel confirmed that she was and I lifted Scamp out of the car.
‘Let’s talk again soon,’ I said, kissing her cheek.
‘I’d like that.’ She hesitated. ‘Keep having those adven- tures, Fearne.’
‘I will if you will,’ I replied.
‘Lord help us,’ I heard Carole mutter as I shut the door.
Scamp and I stayed on the pavement, me waving and him whimpering softly until they were out of sight. And then we turned and went back inside where I sat on the floor and cuddled my dog, a tear of gratitude and relief slipping down my face.
By the time Sam arrived back I’d pulled myself together, sold half a dozen posies to the customers sitting outside the Lemon Tree Café and hurriedly made a bouquet for Sam to give to his mum.
He walked in as I was tying raffia around the stems.
‘Bad news,’ I said, grinning at him. ‘Unless you’ve managed to sell a miraculous number of flowers while you’ve been gone, I’m declaring myself the winner. But to show I’m a gracious winner, these are for you, or your mum anyway. With my compliments.’
I held them out to him and he took them from me.
‘That’s very thoughtful of you,’ he said flatly.
He didn’t return my smile; in fact, now I looked properly at him, he’d gone a ghostly shade of grey.
‘Sam?’ I demanded, ‘what is it?’
‘More bad news, I’m afraid. Come and sit down.’ He took my hand and led me to a stool at the counter and numbly I did as I was told. ‘I’ve just taken a phone call from my father-in-law, Duncan Hogg.’
I gasped, worried for him. ‘What’s happened? Is it the children?’
He smiled grimly. ‘It’s not the kids, but it’s kind of you to think of them. No, the bad news involves you and this shop.’
My heart was in my mouth as I stared at him, waiting for him to elaborate.
He raked a hand wearily through his hair. ‘There’s no easy way to say this but Duncan’s decided to terminate your lease.’
‘No!’ I clamped a hand over my mouth. ‘Can he do that?’
He nodded. ‘As long as he gives you adequate notice, he can do what he likes.’
I leaned towards him, resting my head against his chest, Sam put his arms around me.
‘This is all my fault,’ I murmured. ‘Poor Nina, she’s going to wish she’d never got involved with me.’
‘It’s my fault, not yours.’ His touch on my back was gentle, but his voice was as hard as stone. ‘I’m absolutely livid. Pandora will have spun him some lies about you and me and he’s acting out of spite. The sooner I’m out of this family the better. I’ll do my best to talk him out of it, but to be honest that might make things worse. My best bet is appealing to Pandora’s better nature.’
Then we’re doomed, I thought to myself.
‘Thank you, it’s got to be worth a try. I suppose I’d better tell Nina,’ I murmured, conscious that it would probably spoil the rest of her New Zealand adventure.
I sat up straight again and we smiled at each other sadly; it was such a rubbish end to a happy day.
‘I’m going to find Pandora now and have a few things out with her.’ Sam shoved his hands in his pockets looking very glum. ‘I guess this means we’ll have to take a rain check on that dinner.’
‘Probably for the best.’ I swallowed down my disappointment.
‘Chin up,’ he said, kissing the top of my head chastely. ‘I’m not giving up yet. And I’m glad I’m the loser, because now there’s no getting out of having dinner with me.’
A laugh bubbled up inside me; he’d done it again: managed to make me happy even when times were hard.
‘Every cloud has a silver lining,’ I said with a grin. ‘See you soon.’
He laughed and headed out to his car with the bouquet for his mum.
As soon as Sam’s car had vanished from view, I made a snap decision to close the shop early. I needed some fresh air and some time to work out what I was going to say to Nina. I quickly tidied up the shop, topped up the water in the flower buckets and flipped the shop sign from open to closed.
Scamp and I got into the van and I wound down the windows to let in some cool air. I’d just strapped us both in when my mobile rang again. I smiled with relief when I saw Laura’s name flash up.
‘Boy, am I glad to hear from you,’ I said, relaxing back in my seat. ‘You wouldn’t believe everything that’s happened to me today.’
Laura laughed shakily. ‘Ditto.’
Scamp settled down on the seat, sensing he could be here some time and I fondled his ears, a renewed sense of relief washing over me that he was still here and not halfway to Yorkshire with Ethel and Carole.
‘So what’s up?’ I asked.
‘I don’t know where to begin.’ She let out a long breath. ‘There’s good news and there’s bad.’
I frowned, not liking the vibes I was getting from her down the line. ‘Laura, are you sure you want to do this over the phone? I can drive over if you like.’
‘No, not today, tomorrow maybe, but I … we … just not tonight. Thanks,’ she added as an afterthought. She sounded high-pitched and panicky.
‘OK’ I said softly. ‘Tomorrow, that’s no problem. I’m here for you whenever.’
She groaned. ‘I’m sorry, I’m all over the place. Right, here goes: I know I told you not to do any more wedding flowers, but will you make an exception for me and Hamish?’
‘Of course! You know I will.’ I held my breath, wondering what was really going on here.
‘Thank you,’ she said in a wobbly voice. ‘He’s just proposed and I said yes.’
‘OH MY WORD, this is so exciting!’ I squealed. ‘Congratulations. Tell me everything: how did he propose? Have you set a date? And who’s going to be maid of honour? Oh, Laura, I am so thrilled for you!’
My reaction to this wonderful news was so exuberant that it took me a while to pick up on the fact that Laura didn’t seem to be laughing with me.
‘Hamish proposed to me in the garden at Dad’s, under the rose arbour. He was wonderful, he told me that I made his life complete and if I’d be his wife he’d make it his mission to make me the happiest woman on earth.’
‘That’s so romantic!’ I exclaimed, but my brain was sounding the alarm, something didn’t fit.
‘And I’m hoping that as well as being my florist, you’ll also be my maid of honour.’
‘I’d be delighted,’ I said, aware that she still hadn’t mentioned the bad news.
Laura continued as if I hadn’t spoken. ‘Hamish is already on his way to start the ball rolling. We’re going for the first date possible. It takes a minimum of twenty-eight days to do the legal bit, so I’m hoping we can do it about thirty days from now.’
My eyes widened. ‘So you and Hamish are hoping to get married in July?’
‘It’s Dad, you see,’ Laura blurted out, her voice finally cracking. ‘He’s ill. Properly, seriously ill. Hamish and I have been with him all day today. And if we don’t get married in a hurry, he might never get the chance to walk me up the aisle. I’m losing him, Fearne and he’s the only family I have left.’
‘Oh, darling, I’m so sorry, your poor dad,’ I said, my own voice wavering. My heart ached bitterly for her. Just when she and Hamish were enjoying their life together.
She blew her nose. ‘I feel so helpless. He’s known for a while but wanted to deal with it by himself, not wanting to make a fuss. But now he’s been told he’s only got weeks.’
‘I think you’re amazing,’ I said stoutly. ‘You and Hamish, I’m so proud of you.’ Holding back the tears, I added, ‘You just concentrate on your dad and leave everything to me. Every tiny thing.’
; ‘Really?’ she gasped. ‘That would be so helpful. I want to make the wedding as special as it can be but I just don’t think I have the energy to do that and look after Dad.’
‘I give you my word,’ I said solemnly. ‘Your wedding day will be magical and memorable and the happiest day of your life.’
Laura sobbed. ‘Oh Fearne, you don’t know how much that means to me.’
‘You’re my best friend,’ I said. ‘And you were there for me. Now it’s my turn to be there for you.’
‘It’s so good to have you back, Fearne.’
Laura was right; the old me was back, I realised. I was done with keeping people at arm’s length, I’d had enough of letting my grief get the better of me. Forcing myself out of my comfort zone and accepting the job with Nina had helped beyond doubt, but choosing to be happy, taking risks and letting others see what was written in my heart had also worked wonders. Life was exhilarating and fraught with ups and downs, but whatever the future threw my way, I knew I could deal with it.
I smiled through my tears. ‘It’s good to be back.’
I drove back home, my head whirling with ideas and plans, sadness and pain and my hand stealing across to comfort Scamp as often as I could. The day had been such a roller coaster and a few months ago, all this would have sent me into freefall, I’d have shut myself off, hidden from my grief. But I’d learned a lot since then.
This time I wasn’t going to run away. The pain of loss might be strong, but my love for life was stronger. I had a business to save before Nina came back, an emergency wedding to organise and as for Sam, could I hide my feelings and be the true friend he needed right now? The next month was going to be the most challenging of my life. So what, I thought, as I pulled up outside my house.
Bring it on.
It’s all change for Nina’s Flowers and Fearne is rushed off her feet helping Laura and Hamish plan their wedding – but when a potential date with Sam arises, will Fearne be able to take one last risk and open her heart to happiness…?
Continue the story in Part Four of My Kind of Happy: A Perfect Arrangement
About A Perfect Arrangement
It’s all change again for Nina’s Flowers, but Fearne’s surprised at how excited she is for the future. Especially when a date with Sam might be on the cards. She needs to take one last risk and open her heart … but will the stars align for them both?
And there’s a new wedding keeping her busy: Laura and Hamish want to get married, and quick! Pulling in help from the Barnaby community, including her friends at The Lemon Tree Café, Fearne sets out to throw her friend the perfect wedding. But is it Fearne’s turn for a happy ending?
One year later, has Fearne’s happiness list worked its magic?
You can find out what happens next in the fourth and final part of the My Kind of Happy story – a joyful and funny novel told in four parts, following Fearne’s search to discover happiness on her own terms.
Pre-order Part Four of My Kind of Happy now!
About the Author
Cathy Bramley is the Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling author of The Lemon Tree Café. Her other romantic comedies include Ivy Lane, Appleby Farm, Wickham Hall, Conditional Love, The Plumberry School of Comfort Food and White Lies and Wishes. She lives in a Nottinghamshire village with her family and a dog.
Cathy turned to writing after spending eighteen years running her own marketing agency. She has been always an avid reader, never without a book on the go and now thinks she may have found her dream job!
Cathy loves to hear from her readers. You can get in touch via her website www.CathyBramley.co.uk, Facebook page Facebook.com/CathyBramleyAuthor, or on Twitter @CathyBramley
Copyright
AN ORION EBOOK
First published in Great Britain in 2020 by Orion Books
Copyright © Cathy Bramley 2020
The right of Cathy Bramley to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted 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 permission in writing of the publisher, nor to be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
All the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 978 1 4091 9976 2
The Orion Publishing Group Ltd
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London, EC4Y 0DZ
An Hachette UK company
www.orionbooks.co.uk
My Kind of Happy - Part Three: A new feel-good, funny serial from the Sunday Times bestseller Page 11