Page 81 of Watching Henry

“So what do you say? Would you stay here with us?” Maeve pressed.

Florence didn't know how to say no. She was formulating the words in her mind, trying to find the best way of turning Maeve down, when Henry came rushing out of the coffee shop waving his arms.

“What on earth...” began Maeve, but Florence was already getting out of the car.

“Come quick,” Henry said, running back inside.

Florence followed, Maeve on her heels, banging through the shop door and then skidding to a halt.

All three children stood in a neat line. All healthy, all uninjured, all with beaming grins on their faces. Florence's heart beat slowed a fraction.

Then she looked up and her heart sped up out of control.

Because standing behind the three grinning children was Hadley.

Chapter Thirty Five

The children cheered and Henry held up his mobile phone.

“I knew she was here the whole time,” he said gleefully. “Hadley texted me when she came back!”

“And now you don't have to miss her anymore,” Charlie added.

Hadley could see the shock on Florence's face and really didn't want the children to be in trouble. “It was all my idea,” she said. “I wanted to surprise you.” And I wasn't sure you'd meet up with me if I actually asked you, she added to herself.

Eleanor appeared out of the back room. “I was complicit too,” she said.

Hadley saw Florence groping for something to say, anything to say and knew that she had to rescue her. “I was wondering if perhaps you'd like to go for a walk?” she asked. She flicked a glance up at Maeve, who grinned in response.

“I'm taking the meddling kids to the grocery store,” Maeve said, ushering the children out of the shop one by one.

“And I'm running a business here, not a dating agency,” Eleanor said, but she was smiling.

Hadley did what she had to do, stepping toward Florence, looping her arm through Florence's, trying not to let her knees buckle at the first touch.

“A walk?” Florence spoke finally.

“Just down the street,” Hadley said. “All in public, not more than ten minutes. I swear to you. I just want to talk, that's all.”

“This whole charade was to get me to talk to you?” Florence asked.

Hadley felt herself blush. She nodded. And for a small moment she thought that perhaps Florence stifled a smile. “Come on,” she said.

She unhooked her arm from Florence's and walked out of the coffee shop into the warm sun. She felt Florence follow her.

“What are you doing back here?” Florence asked, as they walked away from the shop.

Hadley took a deep breath. She had to be careful to explain herself properly. There was no room for miscommunication here.

“I came back,” she said. “I'm sleeping in Eleanor's spare room, but I'm looking for an apartment. And I'm working at the coffee shop full time until the university semester starts.”

Florence stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and for a second, Hadley thought she was going to walk away. Then, suddenly, she laughed, long and loud.

“What?” Hadley asked, confused.

Florence shook her head and wiped her eyes. “Just that we seem doomed to apply for the same employment opportunities, that's all,” she said. “Eleanor offered me a job too, and I was about to take her up on it.”

“You can have the job,” Hadley said immediately. “I mean, I'll find something else, it's not a problem.”

---