Page 4 of Forever Love at Fleur's Flower Shop

‘You mean demand our help?’ Sadie asked.

‘He was in here the other night, with his partner, andtheywerediscussingit. I overheard them when I was serving him.’ Ruby glancedaroundtherestaurantagain,asthough worried he might have suddenly popped up from beneath a table.

‘Ireallydon’twantto be involved.’ Fleur took a gulp of her wine. ‘What did he say, exactly?’

Ruby shrugged. ‘He said that he’dthoughtof thisideaas he was in love andwantedeveryoneelse to have the chance to feel how happy he was.’

‘Yuck.’ Fleur pulled a face.

‘I know.’ Ruby grimaced. ‘I must admit, I did have to run out the back before I threw up over them.’

‘Haha, I can just imagine you trying to keep a straight face.’ Sadie’s shoulders shook.

‘Yes,Ican assure you it was a task and a half in itself.’ Ruby twistedaroundas the door chimed to announce a newarrival. ‘That’ll be my pickup order. Best run and check on it.’

As Fleur watched Ruby hurry towards the kitchens, she glanced towards the front of the restaurant and froze as her eyes landed on the man who had just walked in. Placing her wineglass down with a clunk, she didn’t notice the red liquid spilling over the rim of the glass and onto the white tablecloth beneath. She knew him.

‘Fleur? You okay?’ Bea asked quietly.

‘Uh-huh.’ Dragging her eyes away from the man, Fleur grabbed the napkin from her lap and patted at the spilt wine. It couldn’t be him. She’d not set eyes on him in ten years. Why would he suddenly turn up in Nettleford again after all this time? She allowed herself to look across towards the door again and bit down on her bottom lip. Itwashim. Matty Holmes. With his signature scruffy curly brown hair and deep brown eyes, there was no mistake. Yes, he’d gained a few laughter lines around hiseyes, and he no longer wore the denim jacket from their youth, but it was him. It was the man who had broken her heart, the man she’d been trying to replace for all these years.

‘Are you sure? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.’ Bea nudged her.

‘No, I’m fine. Absolutely fine.’ Tearing her eyes away from her ex, she forced herself to focus her attention on Bea and Sadie again. The last thing she wanted, or needed, right now was to have to recall the whole sorry story of her and Matty’s past relationship and them to turn around to look at him. No, that would only draw attention to herself, and she didn’t want Matty to notice her. Picking up a menu, she held it in front of her face and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. ‘I’m starving, that’s all. We should order.’

‘Okay... But that’s the wine menu.’ Bea tugged the menu away from Fleur’s face and replaced it with another. ‘You might find some food in this one.’

‘Of course, thanks.’ Fleur muttered as she lowered the menu just enough so she could keep an eye on Matty. How many meals had he ordered? Who for? And most importantly, what was he doing here?

‘I think I might go for the tomato and basil pasta. I feel like pasta tonight.’ Bea tapped the menu in front of her.

‘I was thinking I might order the potato and leek pie with chips.’ Sadie rubbed her stomach.

‘How about you, Fleur? What are you going to have?’ Bea asked.

‘Uh, the same.’ Had he moved back to Nettleford? Please no. She couldn’t cope with having to see him every day, running into him in the grocery store, or standing in line waiting for a coffee. She’d put him out of her head years ago, she’d moved on...

‘You don’t like leeks, though?’ Bea tilted her head.

‘What?’

Pulling the menu down from Fleur’s face, Bea frowned. ‘I didn’t think you liked leeks?’

‘I don’t. I hate leeks.’ Fleur mumbled as she forced herself to focus on Bea. What did leeks have to do with Matty walking into Ruby’s restaurant?

‘You’ve just said you’re going to have the same as Sadie, potato and leek pie.’

‘Oh, umm... I’ll find something else.’ Lifting the menu again, she tried to decipher the dishes as the words danced in front of her eyes. Giving up, she peeked across towards Matty again as her stomach churned. Something must have brought him back here. He wasn’t settling down, was he? Had he married and moved back to Nettleford to start a family? She didn’t think she’d be able to cope with that and live here if he was. She’d have to move. But where? Where could she go? Maybe it didn’t matter, as long as she got away from him and the memories his mere presence was already conjuring up.

‘What’s up with you?’ Now it was Sadie’s turn to pull the menu away from Fleur’s face. ‘You’re acting super weird.’

‘No, I...’ Despite her best efforts, she glanced back across at Matty, only for a split second, but it was enough for Sadie to notice.

Sadie followed Fleur’s gaze before gasping. ‘That’s not who I think it is, is it?’

‘Who? Who is it?’ Bea twisted in her chair to take a look. ‘That man waiting for his order? Who is he? I’ve not seen him around here before.’

‘That’s because if it’s who I think it is, and by your reaction, Fleur, it is, he’s not been seen in Nettleford for almost ten years.’ Sadie frowned.

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