Page 76 of Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village

‘Come on in. We’ve got so much to tell you!’

‘Ooh what?’ Taking Jay’s hand, she followed Alex through into the kitchen. Ginny, Sally and Susan were already sitting, mugs in front of them and a new packet of biscuits lying in the middle of the table.

‘You look happy!’ Ginny stood up and flicked the kettle on.

‘I am. I’ve just got a job at the ice-cream parlour in the cove!’ Megan grinned and sat down, Jay next to her.

‘Congratulations! That’s fantastic news!’ Ginny hugged her around the shoulders.

‘Thank you. I can’t believe it. I thought it would take ages to find one. And Primrose, who owns it, seems really lovely too.’ Megan looked down as Cindy placed her head on her lap.

‘Oh, she is.’ Alex smiled. ‘And just think of all that ice cream!’

‘Ha ha, yes! Plus, it’s part-time so I’ll be able to work on this…’ She tapped on the laptop, which had been pushed to the middle of the table. ‘And other stuff, too.’

‘It sounds perfect. Congratulations.’ Susan smiled.

‘Thanks.’ Megan took the mug of fresh coffee Ginny held out to her and looked around the table. ‘So, what’s this news you were talking about, Alex?’

‘Well…’ He paused.

Megan glanced around the room again. ‘And where’s Flora and Percy?’

‘That’s the news. They’ve gone out for lunch together!’ Sally squealed.

‘Together as in together?’ Megan widened her eyes.

‘Yes! Finally. It’s only taken just over three decades.’ Ginny laughed.

‘Percy did ask her out, then?’ Megan took a sip of her drink. ‘I really didn’t think he would.’

‘Ah no, he didn’t, but Alex here waded in with his size elevens to save the day,’ Susan said.

‘You did? How? What did you say?’ Megan raised her eyebrows.

Alex took a deep breath and straightened his back. ‘After a few minutes of us all leaving them to it, I popped in to grab a drink of water…’

‘To get the gossip more like.’

‘All right, Susan.’ Alex shook his head and continued. ‘Okay, to see if Percy had plucked up the courage to ask Flora out, which, obviously, he hadn’t, so I did it for him.’

‘What? How? What did you say?’ Megan tilted her head. She couldn’t imagine how he’d managed to get them together.

‘I just said what we’ve all been saying all this time. I told Flora that Percy was in love with her and had been for umpteen years and that he wondered if she wanted to go out for lunch.’ Alex shrugged nonchalantly.

‘Just like that? And she said yes, I presume?’

‘Yep. She looked as though she was about to cry, which I’m taking as she’s felt the same way towards him for a long time too.’

Sally nodded. ‘I told you she did, didn’t I?’

‘Yes, you did.’ Alex laid his hands on the table. ‘And that’s that. Our lives here at Wagging Tails will never be the same again.’

Ginny laughed. ‘Don’t be so dramatic. I mean, you’re right, they won’t, but that’s a good thing. I just can’t wait until they get back to find out how their lunch date has gone.’

‘What should we do, hang around and ask them or just get on with our jobs and pretend as though we don’t know what’s going on?’ Sally asked.

Just then, the bell above the door from the courtyard tinkled. Everyone looked towards the kitchen door.

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