Page 26 of Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village

‘Yes, well, I didn’t want to put you out.’ Percy lowered himself into his chair, wincing a little.

‘Um, I rest my case.’ Flora took a sip of coffee and looked across at him. ‘You need to start thinking about yourself a little rather than everyone else.’

Frowning, Percy looked across the table. ‘As I said yesterday, you’re a fine one to talk.’

Standing up, Flora ignored his comment. ‘I’m going to go and make a start on…’ she said, picking up her mug and disappearing out of the door, leaving her sentence unfinished.

‘She’s just worried about you, that’s all,’ Ginny said, placing her hand on his shoulder. ‘You gave her a scare yesterday when you hurt your back.’

‘Umm.’ Percy shook himself. ‘Well, she’s got nothing to worry about. I’ll be just fine in a day or two.’

Megan watched as Percy took a sip of his drink and pulled the morning paper towards him, suddenly seemingly engrossed in what the Trestow Telegraph had to say about the proposal of a skatepark by the supermarket. She bit down on her lip. Maybe she should go and see if Flora was okay.

She picked up her mug and made her way into the reception area, careful to close the door behind her.

‘Are you all right, lovely?’ Flora looked up from a stack of letters she was opening on the counter.

‘Yes, I just thought I’d come to see if you were?’ Reaching the front of the counter, Megan lowered her mug to the surface.

Flora nodded. ‘I am, thank you. I’m sorry about that. I just worry about him. He’s been my closest friend for years now.’

Megan laid her hand on Flora’s forearm for a moment. Flora obviously cared for him very much, that was obvious.

‘I should go and apologise.’ Flora pinched her nose. ‘I just wish he’d take more care of himself, that’s all.’

She took off her reading glasses and propped them on the pile of letters in front of her just as the kitchen door opened and Percy hobbled through. Her face softened, and she smiled at him.

‘I was just going to come through and apologise to you,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry I spoke to you the way I did.’

Walking across to the counter, Percy gave her a warm smile. He took Flora’s hands in his. ‘No, I’m the one who should be apologising, love. I know you’re only trying to look out for me.’

Deciding to give both Percy and Flora a little privacy, Megan walked back into the kitchen and closed the door quietly.

‘All okay?’ Jay looked up from Percy’s newspaper.

‘Yes, I think so.’ She leaned against the counter. ‘I just thought I’d give them a bit of space.’

‘Oh, I’ll nip out now before they get into one of their deep conversations. I need to take Rex out.’ Ginny slipped out of the door.

‘Look, I was wondering…’ Leaning back in his chair, Jay rubbed the back of his neck. ‘And don’t worry if you want to say no…’

‘But…?’ Megan frowned.

‘I thought the chips were really nice on the beach yesterday, so I wondered if you’d like to go out for dinner. If you’re free, that is.’

Megan stifled a laugh and straightened her face. ‘The chips were nice?’

‘Aw no, you can tell I don’t do this very often.’ Leaning forward again, Jay ran his hand over his face, his skin blushing a pale crimson. ‘I mean, the chips were good, but the company was even better.’

Megan grinned. ‘I knew what you were trying to say.’

Chuckling, Jay shook his head. ‘Sorry, I completely blew that one, didn’t I? So much for trying to be charming.’

Megan laughed and slipped into the chair opposite him. ‘I’d love to come for dinner with you.’

‘Great! That’s great.’ The blush subsided. ‘Maybe we could pop out after work today, then? And of course, by work, I mean our non-work day here.’

‘I’d like that.’ Megan took a sip of her drink in an attempt to calm the fluttering in her stomach.

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