Page 55 of Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village

Megan sat down, placing the notebook next to her, and looked across at Flora, who had begun to fold dry towels from the tumble dryer. She knew she’d promised Percy she’d talk to Flora, but she wasn’t sure how to bring up the topic of dating. Not whilst keeping the conversation natural.

‘How are things between you and Lyle?’ Flora asked, folding the last of the towels. ‘I hope he’s not making life too difficult for you?’

‘Not too difficult, no.’ Megan shrugged. ‘I’ll be glad when I can close the book on that part of my life, if I’m honest.’

Flora nodded. ‘I can imagine. Still, you must have been happy together once.’

Megan looked ahead. She had been. She’d been very happy when they’d first met. She hadn’t believed her luck – how could someone confident and ambitious like Lyle have fallen for her? She’d always been the quiet, shy one at school and college and now this man who was the complete opposite of her – outgoing, popular – had chosen her to spend the rest of his life with. He’d promised her a future full of holidays and fancy restaurants. And once his business had taken off, he’d given that future to her. All of it. She’d never felt so special. In the beginning, that was.

‘Yes, we were once.’

Flora sighed. ‘Life can be cruel, can’t it?’

Megan nodded. It certainly could. The more successful Lyle had been, the less he’d needed her, the less time they’d spent together and even when he’d been home, she’d felt like a nuisance. He hadn’t wanted to listen to her dreams, her ambitions. There had only been room for one person’s dreams in their marriage, and that had been his. At the expense of hers.

‘You’ll find someone else.’ Flora leaned across the table and patted her forearm. ‘Someone who sees you for who you are and treats you right.’

‘Umm, I’m not so sure about that.’

There was a time she’d thought Jay might have been the one to show her how love was supposed feel, but thanks to Lyle, he’d run a mile from that idea.

‘You will,’ Flora said. ‘I’m a firm believer in true love and you’ll get another chance at it.’

Megan bit down on her lip. This was her chance. This was the opening in the conversation where she could bring up what she’d promised Percy.

‘How about you? Do you think you’ll find love again?’

Flora smiled sadly. ‘I think my second chance at love has sadly passed me by.’

Megan frowned. ‘Why do you think that?’

Sighing, Flora shook her head. ‘Who would take on someone like me? Devoted to this place, to the dogs we rescue? Only someone as mad as me would even contemplate sharing my lifestyle.’

‘There’s a lot of people who share your passion for this place, though. Susan, Ginny, Alex, Sally, to name a few.’ Megan met Flora’s eyes. ‘Percy.’

Flora nodded slowly, thinking. ‘I suppose you’re right.’

Megan opened the notebook and began to make a small pile of the receipts held inside.

‘So, you think everyone has a second chance at love, then?’

Flora frowned. ‘Yes, maybe I do.’

Megan nodded. Without actually asking her out for Percy, she couldn’t really say much else, but at least she could report back that Flora might well be open to dating. She glanced across at Flora quickly, who was still seemingly busy thinking. Maybe it was Percy she had on her mind?

21

‘Right, Cindy. We’d better get you across to the cottage now and settled with Poppy and Dougal before I come over and lock up.’ Flora stood up and tapped her side as Cindy opened her eyes and stretched. ‘And you’d best get home too, lovely.’

Megan nodded and began to pull her papers into a pile.

‘I’m sure I heard on the radio that we’re expecting a bit of a storm tonight, so I don’t want anyone staying late and getting caught up in it on the way home.’

Megan scrunched her nose up. There went any hope of a decent night’s sleep tonight then. If she couldn’t sleep when it was quiet and the weather relatively calm, she’d have no chance when the rain was lashing down around her and the wind was bombarding the car. She stifled a yawn. Still, she was tired, so maybe it wouldn’t affect her as much as she thought.

‘You look as though you need an early night too.’ Flora smiled kindly.

Megan covered her mouth as she yawned again. ‘Sorry. Yes, I think I do.’

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