Page 77 of Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village

‘I guess we might not have to wait to find out,’ Alex stage whispered.

‘To find out what?’ Flora stepped into the kitchen.

Alex looked at her and then back to everyone else. ‘Umm…’

‘Who wants more coffee?’ Standing up, Susan tried and failed to act normally. ‘Flora, would you like a cup or have you had some on your lunch da—’ stopping herself short of saying date, she grabbed Alex’s mug and tried again ‘—day. Did you have coffee on your lunch today?’

Flora chuckled and sat down. ‘Coffee would be lovely, please.’

Megan glanced quickly towards the door. Where was Percy? As she caught Jay’s eye, she was sure he was thinking the same thing.

Alex cleared his throat. ‘So, where’s Percy got to then?’

‘Oh, I left him there.’ Flora waved her hand dismissively.

‘You left him there?’ Ginny opened and closed her mouth.

‘Oh no.’ Susan clattered the teaspoon against the mug.

‘What do you mean?’ Alex leaned forward in his chair. ‘You left him stranded on your date?’

Flora shrugged, a glint in her eye.

‘You’re pulling our legs, aren’t you?’ Ginny raised her eyebrows. ‘I know you; you’re joking with us.’

‘Ha ha, yes, I am. The construction workers for the kennels have just arrived, so he’s seeing to them.’ Flora chuckled. ‘Tell me I had you going though?’

‘For a millisecond, maybe.’ Alex held his thumb and forefinger slightly apart.

‘I’ll take that.’ Flora grinned and took her mug from Susan. ‘Thanks, lovely.’

‘Oh, come on, you can’t just keep us in suspense like this.’ Alex tapped the top of the table.

‘Okay, okay.’ Placing her mug down in front of her, Flora held her hands up. ‘I’m guessing you’ve gone and told everyone what happened, Alex?’

Alex shrugged.

‘I thought as much.’ She grinned. ‘Yes, it went very well, thank you. And yes, we’ve decided to try to make a go of it.’

‘You and Percy are an item?’ Susan clapped her hands against her cheeks. ‘I didn’t think I’d ever see the day when you both admitted how you felt about each other.’

‘Admittedly, it’s taken a while.’ Flora took a sip of her coffee. ‘But that’s only because we’re such good friends and neither of us wanted to ruin the friendship.’

‘I rest my case, I knew the feelings between them were mutual.’ Sally grinned and looked around the table.

Flora smiled at Sally. ‘But now that we’ve both admitted how we feel… mostly thanks to Alex here…’ She held her mug up to him as he stood and took a bow. ‘We’ve decided to take things slowly and if it doesn’t end up working out, then we will remain friends.’

‘Oh, I’m so pleased for you, Flora. For both you and Percy.’ Susan rushed around the table and hugged Flora. ‘It’s been a long time coming, but now that it has, it’s just wonderful.’

‘Thank you,’ Flora said, wiping her eyes with a tissue. ‘See, look at me. If I’m this happy after one lunch date, what am I going to be like when we venture out again tonight?’

The room filled with laughter, and Megan looked around. This was perfect. It may have taken a broken marriage and a spell of living in her car, but now, she felt as though she was where she was supposed to be. She reached across and took Jay’s hand.

28

Megan balanced the pizza box in one hand and closed the front door of the cottage with her foot. Flora was out at the cinema with Percy and Poppy had gone to dinner with Mack and some friends, so Jay had insisted on treating them both to a takeaway.

She paused just outside the living room door and took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the cheesy, tomatoey aroma of freshly cooked pizza. She could hear Jay switch the TV on, looking for something for them to watch. She pushed the living room door open and he immediately stood up to help her.

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