Page 19 of Forever Love at Fleur's Flower Shop

Turning the tap off, she wrapped her hand in the tea towel and headed back into the living room. Before sinking back onto the sofa, she switched off the light. She didn’t have the energy or the inclination to head upstairs to bed, much less to get changed or clean her teeth.

Chapter Thirteen

Clenching and unclenching her hand, Fleur winced. The pain from the burn was still very much there, probably not much helped by the fact she’d been arranging flowers all day. Still, she was pleased with the progress. With the Burton’s wedding tomorrow, she’d completed all she could today, and she’d get the rest of the order finished early tomorrow morning before travelling into Stratford-Upon-Avon to decorate the church and the reception hall.

Letting the last of the stem cuttings and excess leaves fall from the dustpan into the bin, she rolled her shoulders back. Tonight though, she was looking forward to her bed. After sleeping on the sofa last night, her dreams had been vivid and disturbing to say the least, so an early night in her own bed was calling her.

She checked the time on the clock behind her and sighed. It was seven o’clock. Matty would be outside now. She had planned to somehow avoid the meeting altogether, but she’d left it too late. There was no way she’d be able to dodge him now.

Feeling her phone vibrate in her pocket, she pulled it out, relieved to see Bea’s name flashing across the screen rather than Matty’s. ‘Hi, Bea. You okay?’

‘Hey. Yep, all good here. I’m just ringing to remind you of your meeting with Matty.’

Fleur slumped hershoulders.Sheshouldn’thave mentioned it to Bea. Her friend been Matty’sbiggestsupporter ever since she’d told her the whole sorry story about how she’d left him at the altar. ‘I haven’tforgotten.’

‘Good. I really think it will do you the world of good to meet him andtalkabout things. You’ve beenactingreally weird ever since you saw him when we were in Ruby’srestaurant.’

‘No, Ihaven’t.’Fleurfrowned. Had she? Yes, his arrival in Nettlefordhad stirred up a lot of buried emotions, but she hadn’t realised she’d been outwardly different. She was usually very good at putting on a front.

‘Yes. Imean, to me anyway. I can tellsomething’snot right with you and iftalkingto Matty means you can get on with your life, then I think it’s worth a go.’

‘I don’t.’ Fleur tugged her coat from the coat hook.

‘Well, I do. Besides, your way of just glazing over the fact he’s here to stayhasn’texactly been working so far, has it?’ Concern flooded Bea’s voice. ‘I’venoticed the dark circlesbeneathyour eyes.You’venot beensleepingproperly.’

‘Oh, great. Thanks for that.’ She ran the pad of her index fingerbeneathher eyes beforeshrugginginto her coat. ‘Talk aboutbigging a girl up.’

‘You know what I mean. I care about you, and I can see how much his return is affecting you.’

Fleur sighed as she switched out the lights. Talking of Matty, she could see him sitting on the bench on the green opposite her shop, obviously waiting for her, and she couldn’t help feeling claustrophobic, trapped. She had no way out. Yes, she could run out the back of the shop and find somewhere to hang out and wait until he gave up and left, but what would be the point? He’d only be back tomorrow and the day after and the day after that.

No, she needed to face this thing head on. She needed to let him tell her what he thought of her, let him get it all off his chest, and then hopefully she’d be able to get on with her life. Him too.

‘Do you want me to come with you? I can see he’s waiting outside.’

Fleur laughed. ‘You’re standing at your window, aren’t you? To make sure I don’t run out on him.’

‘No! I’m just pulling the blinds down, that’s all. I just happened to see him, so thought I’d let you know in case you’re hiding out the back.’

‘I’m not. I’m about to go outside right now. I’ll go and face the music.’ Fleur tilted her head as she watched Matty check the time on his watch.

‘Okay, good. Well, good luck and call me later. Or come round. Let me know how it went.’

‘I will do.’ Fleur pulled the keys from her coat pocket. ‘And thanks.’

‘For what? I’ve not done anything.’

‘For being there for me.’ Ending the call, Fleur filled her lungs with the comforting sweet, flowery aroma of her shop and pulled the door open. Stepping outside, she paused as Matty stood up and headed towards her before turning and locking up. This was it, wasn’t it? There was no escaping this conversation now.

Chapter Fourteen

‘Hey, Fleur.’

Turning slowly, she shoved her keys back into her pocket. ‘Hi.’

‘So, what do you want to do? Shall we grab some dinner or something?’ Matty shifted on the spot as he looked towards Ruby’s restaurant.

‘I can’t.’ She lifted her hand to her face, tucking her hair behind her ear. ‘I don’t have that long.’

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