Page 72 of Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village

Megan reached into the jar of treats on the counter and passed one to Cindy. ‘I guess you’re right. But what if it goes wrong? What if Flora says no?’

‘I don’t think that will happen.’ Ginny walked across to the kitchen door. ‘They’d make a great couple, but even if it did go wrong, Flora’s so lovely. I think she’d go out of her way to make him feel less awkward about the whole thing.’

‘Their friendship still wouldn’t be the same though, would it?’

Were they doing the right thing by interfering?

‘But if he never speaks to her about how he feels, then they will definitely never get together.’ Ginny shrugged.

‘True.’ Megan nodded as Ginny opened the kitchen door. Percy was sitting reading the newspaper in his usual spot at the end of the table, opposite Flora’s chair, and Susan and Alex were chatting between themselves. As they walked in, the room fell silent.

Looking up from his paper, Percy frowned. ‘What’s all this then?’

‘We wanted to speak to you,’ Susan spoke first.

‘You want to speak to me?’

‘No, yes, we all want to speak to you.’ Susan indicated Alex, Ginny and Megan.

‘Oh, I don’t know if I like the sound of this.’ Percy folded the newspaper and pushed it slightly across the table.

Ginny laughed. ‘It’s not anything bad. We just want to talk to you about something that’s been on our minds for a while.’

‘You don’t like my beard?’ Percy stroked his chin before picking up his mug. ‘Or I’ve not been making my fair share of cuppas?’

‘Ha ha, nothing like that.’ Ginny looked around the room. ‘We all like your beard and you make more than your fair share of drinks.’

‘Let’s just get on with it, shall we?’ Alex crossed his arms. ‘We think you should ask Flora out.’

Percy spluttered and lowered his mug before pulling a red handkerchief from his pocket and wiping his mouth. ‘I’m sorry?’

‘Just that. Just what Alex said. For as long as we’ve known you, you’ve held a torch for Flora and, well, now’s the time to act on it.’ Susan patted Percy’s hand.

‘I… No…’

‘There’s not any point in trying to deny it, Percy. We’ve all noticed it over the years.’ Alex raised his eyebrows. ‘And now you need to put your feelings into action and ask her out for dinner.’

Percy pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘Is it that obvious how I feel?’

Megan looked around the table as everyone else nodded.

‘Yes,’ Alex said. ‘It is.’

Frowning, Percy moved his chair a little. ‘If it’s that obvious, then does Flora know?’

Ginny frowned. ‘I don’t think so. Maybe.’

‘No, no, I can’t.’ Percy held his hands up and shook his head firmly. ‘I’m not jeopardising the friendship I have with her.’

‘But if you never ask her out, if you never tell her how you feel, you won’t ever get together.’ Susan spoke softly, kindly.

‘I know, I know all of that. But no, I can’t. And that’s final.’ Percy pushed his chair away and stood up just as the kitchen door opened.

‘What’s final?’ Flora paused in the doorway and looked around the room. ‘Am I missing something?’

As he slowly sat back down, Percy’s skin turned a deep shade of red.

‘Ginny? Susan? Alex? Megan? Percy? What’s going on?’

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