‘Mum, I’ve been trying to persuade you to leave that farm for years. You’re not happy there and you deserve to be happy.’
Prue stood there taking in the sight in front of her. She had come home to the village with nobody, but here stood in her little shop, were the three people that meant the world to her. Everyone was finally finding some happiness in their lives and that alone made Prue’s heart want to burst.
Chapter Thirty Six
The most important thing here was not to panic, Prue reminded herself. Packing for a weekend away was always going to be difficult, however for Prue it was made even more difficult by her opposing styles. Eventually she settled on items from both sides of her wardrobe. The mixture seemed to feel more like her, rather than just sticking to one style. Just as Prue had managed to zip up her suitcase Elliot had pulled up outside the manor to drive them to the train station. The car journey itself wasn’t too awkward, the worst part had been when Elliot went to greet Prue with a kiss and she had offered her cheek. They’d just ignored it though and climbed into the car. Prue hadn’t seen much of Elliot as he had been busy at work so that he could take time off for their trip. They had met for a drink in the pub on Wednesday evening and it had been lovely, if not a little awkward. Prue was hoping that a long weekend together would help dispel any awkwardness and they could look towards their future.
Now, here they were sat on the train together hurtling towards Brighton and Prue could feel the excitement boiling up inside of her. The village would always be home but a change would be nice and a change with Elliot by her side would be even nicer. They were going to enjoy their weekend together and then on Monday Prue would go and visit some contacts, whilst Elliot met up with some old friends from university. Monday could wait though, Prue was looking forward to the weekend that they had together.
‘Would you like a strawberry bonbon?’ Elliot asked, producing a paper bag filled with the pink sugary delights. Prue took one and laughed to herself, no doubt the strawberry bonbons had been Maggie’s idea.
‘So where are we staying?’ Prue asked, until then she hadn’t given much thought to what hotel Elliot might have booked. She had been too busy overthinking spending the weekend with him.
‘I’ve picked one on the seafront, it should also have a sea view.’
‘Sounds perfect.’ Prue sighed and relaxed into her seat as she chewed on her sweet. It felt like only yesterday she had packed up all of her belongings and got the train back to Ivy Hatch for her grandmother’s funeral. A few months later here she was going back to Brighton with Elliot by her side. How life had changed. Katie had insisted that they meet for brunch on Sunday and Prue couldn’t wait to catch up with her friend and finally introduce her to Elliot. It was about time Prue started merging her old life and her new life in order to find herself. Although Prue found it somewhat scary to not have a grasp on who she was, she also found it exciting. She had the opportunity to get to know herself and shape herself into whoever she wanted to be.
‘Prue, I’m sorry for what I said about you living in the past. I love your appreciation of the past and I also love your fashion sense.’ Prue could see Elliot taking in her outfit as he spoke. Today she had stepped out of her comfort zone with an above the knee red gingham short dress. It was flouncy and fun, just what Prue needed right now.
‘Thank you for apologising. I’m not saying you were right to say what you did but it did make me think. I think you helped me to move my life in the right direction. I was living in the past, so much that I’d lost myself in it. You made me realise that I had to enjoy being me.’ It was nice to finally clear the air between them. Elliot leant over and took Prue’s hand in his and squeezed it.
‘How’s your mum?’ Prue asked, she had been so busy packing for their weekend away that she hadn’t had a chance to speak to Maggie.
‘She’s okay. As you can imagine my father didn’t take the news well. She’s moved in with me until the cottage becomes vacant.’ The cottage would be empty in the next two weeks but Prue had been planning to renovate the place before Maggie moved in. Perhaps she could stay at Elliot’s and Elliot could stay at the manor, depending on how the weekend went.
They spent the rest of the journey in a comfortable silence, watching as the world passed them by as they sat content in their own little bubble of happiness. As they exited the station at Brighton Elliot hailed them a taxi and gave the driver the name of the hotel they were staying at. Prue couldn’t take her eyes off of the sparkling blue sea as they drove towards the hotel. When Elliot had said he had booked a hotel along the seafront Prue hadn’t expected it to be quite so extravagant. The hotel was beautiful with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out towards the beach. The room itself was nautical themed with a huge driftwood bed in the centre of it, facing the window so that you could look out to sea whilst snuggled under the duvet. It was utter perfection.
‘This is amazing!’ Prue exclaimed as she stood by the window looking out towards the sea.
‘It is isn’t it.’ Elliot agreed as he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her.
‘Thank you for this.’ Prue turned around in his arms so that she was facing him.
‘I love you Prue.’ Elliot almost whispered it, there was a look of hesitation in his eyes as to whether or not now was the right moment to confess his feelings.
‘I love you Elliot.’ Prue replied, she reached up on her tip toes and kissed him.
After a late lunch from the room service menu they decided to go for a little wander along the seafront and wind their way through the Lanes. It was romantic as they strolled hand in hand through the throngs of people and yet nobody recognised them. They appreciated every second of being able to be together in public without anyone knowing anything about them or having an opinion on their relationship. It was so refreshing to experience and it allowed them to pick their relationship back up and become stronger. When they returned to the village they would be ready to face everyone and their opinions. For now though, they were happy being lost amongst the crowds.
Epilogue
Someone coughed from behind making Prue jump and drop her clipboard, with a frustrated sigh she turned around to see Elliot stood in the doorway.
‘Is it your lunch break soon?’ He asked, holding up a picnic basket. She wanted to stay annoyed at him for interrupting her but how could she when he was stood there looking so handsome and with lunch in hand?
‘Let me just finish valuing this item, take a seat.’ Prue pointed Elliot towards an antique church pew that was pushed up against the back wall. As he took his seat she turned her attention back to the tea set that she was mid-valuation. Prue was trying to focus on the markings, however her mind kept wandering as to who had drunk from these cups and what conversations they had been party to. They were steeped in history and Prue couldn’t reign her imagination in.
‘Come on Prue, focus!’ Elliot called from his seat, he could see the look that had crossed her face and he knew she was no longer concentrating on her work.
‘Sorry!’ Prue called back and forced herself to focus on the task at hand. She could daydream about who had drunk from these cups later.
It was a Saturday morning and the auction house had just been instructed to value and sell the contents of an entire house and so Prue was having to work this weekend. She didn’t mind though, she was loving every second of her new job. After their trip to Brighton, Prue had been given the details of a local auction house that had recently been closed down and so after some research Prue had bought the place and re-employed all of the staff. Everyone had been grateful to have their job back and under Prue’s enthusiastic management the place was now thriving. Prue could barely keep up with the valuations and the auctions were always full with people either looking for a bargain or just intrigued to see what the Clemonte’s new business venture looked like. Either way, nobody ever left empty handed.
‘Finished!’ Prue finally announced as she closed the catalogue she wa
s working on and turned around to give Elliot a huge smile. She was very happy to see him, he had still been asleep when she left that morning.
‘Come on, let’s go and eat.’
The auction house was set in a Tudor cottage with beautiful gardens and so they took their picnic outside. It was an unusually warm October day and would probably be their last chance to have a picnic outside until the following Spring.
‘How’s your mum?’ Prue asked before she took a bite of her cheese and chutney doorstop. Elliot had bought the picnic from the cafe rather than make it himself.
‘She’s fine. Everything is finally unpacked and your father is helping her build some of the furniture she ordered.’ Elliot wiggled his eyebrows at Prue and she giggled before throwing her napkin at him. Robert and Maggie had been spending an increasing amount of time together, both of them enjoying some company as they healed their hearts.
‘Does this mean you’ll be moving back to your cottage?’ Prue didn’t want to ask the question but she knew she had to, the thought of Elliot leaving and going back to an empty manor each night made her want to cry. The renovations at Maggie’s cottage had taken longer than expected due to some structural work that needed to be completed. Because of that Maggie had been staying at Elliot’s cottage, whilst Elliot hard moved into the manor with Prue.
‘I don’t have to move back, unless you want me to?’ Elliot’s usually self-assured manor was suddenly overshadowed by a look of doubt that crossed his face.
‘I’d like you to stay at the manor.’ Prue smiled as she watched the doubt leave his face and he leant over to kiss her.
Her life was unrecognisable from when she first arrived at the village. Here she was running her own auction house and with Elliot to go home to every night. The Vintage Bookshop of Memories was thriving under Maggie’s watchful eye and her father often worked there at the weekend too. Whenever Prue wanted a break from life she popped into the bookshop and curled up with a book. These days she also had her father around, she had even called him dad the other evening. She hadn’t meant to, it had just naturally slipped out but they had both smiled and not made a big deal of it. Carol was also ecstatic to have her nephew back in the village and to be able to acknowledge Prue as family. The future was unknown but Prue knew that from now on whatever happened she would have Elliot by her side and her father would always be there to support her. She was happy and she only hoped that her mother and grandmother would be proud of her. If it wasn’t for that little bookshop she most likely wouldn’t have unearthed all those secrets and memories and her life wouldn’t be the way it was today.
The End.
Books By This Author
The Balance Between Life and Death
The balance between life and death can be precarious. Ana Adams wakes up every morning, goes to work and comes home at night to her dog. That doesn’t mean she’s living. After suffering the worst pain imaginable Ana is trying to make it through each day. The smile on her face means nothing, all that matters is the turmoil that is going on inside her head.
As Ana learns to open up to others and embarks on a new relationship she finds that letting life in is harder than she anticipated. Perhaps she’s moved too fast and needs to focus on healing before opening herself up to more pain and disappointment.
Will Ana learn her lesson or will it be too late for her?
This novella focuses on the importance of putting your mental health first.
A reminder that you never know what someone is hiding beneath their smile.
The Vintage Bookshop of Memories Page 17