Page 102 of The Christmas Fayre on Holly Field

Harriet was beaming, too, and she swelled with love for her gorgeous little girl.

But she was soon brought back down to earth when Sara said, ‘I wish Owen was here. He’d be so pleased. Can I phone him and tell him?’

Oh, poo…

Owen spotted Harriet as soon as he’d driven onto Holly Field, his eyes drawn to her like iron filings to a magnet, and he had hurried to park the van. But by the time he’d reached her, she had been deep in conversation with another woman, and a small crowd had gathered around her.

As tempted as he had been to butt in, he’d hung back, sensing that something significant was happening. Kelly was with her, looking serious, and so were Harriet’s parents, so he edged closer to listen.

At first he was appalled, but as the story unfolded, he began to feel some sympathy for Darlene and her mother.

When he heard Darlene apologise to Sara and then Mrs Cooke ask Sara if she wanted to be the Eco Advisor, his pride had almost matched Harriet’s, and his heart clenched when Sara said she wished she could phone him to tell him her good news.

Owen was unable to hold back any longer. ‘You can tell me to my face,’ he said, and he choked up when Sara yelled, ‘Owen!’ and threw herself at him.

‘Oof!’ Her head caught him in the solar plexus and he almost toppled backwards. His arms automatically came around her to give her a hug, and when Bobby, not to be outdone, hurried to his side, Owen gave him a cuddle too. With a child under each arm, he stared at Harriet.

She stared back. Kelly leant into her and whispered something in her ear. He wished he knew what she’d said, but was reassured when Kelly gave him a brief wave and wandered off.

Harriet continued to stare.

Inanely, he said, ‘You’ve not had much snow here.’

Harriet blinked. ‘Um, no.’ The proud smile on her face from a moment ago had vanished, leaving her looking pale and subdued.

Reluctantly, he released her children, and Sara and Bobby began talking at once, but Owen’s attention was fixed on their mother.

‘I had a devil of a job getting here,’ he told her.

‘Did you?’

‘The roads around Narberth were almost impassable last night. I got stuck a few times on the A40.’

‘Did you?’ she repeated. Her tone gave nothing away.

Owen pushed on, his mouth chuntering as his brain tried to catch up. ‘I drove into a drift once and a police SUV had to pull me out. I’m glad it’s not as bad here.’ He glanced around the field. ‘It’s a good turnout.’

‘It is.’

The children had stopped talking and were looking concerned, sensing something was up.

Ginny said to them, ‘Come on, you two, let’s leave your mam and Owen to chat. I’m sure they’ve got plenty to talk about.’ And as she pushed past him, she hissed in his ear, ‘If you break her heart again, you’ll have me to answer to.’

Bemused, scared and hopeful at the same time, Owen watched Harriet’s parents lead the children away. Darlene and her mother had also disappeared, and everyone was going about their own business. No one was taking the slightest notice of him. Except for Harriet: she hadn’t taken her eyes off his face, her expression unfathomable.

‘Why are you here?’ she asked, just as the silence was becoming unbearable. ‘Is it to finish off your blog?’

‘My blog is the last thing on my mind.’

‘It shouldn’t be, it’s good.’

‘It’s not important. I’m here to beg you to forgive me. What I did was stupid. I should have asked you.’

‘Yes, you should.’

‘I can delete it, and I will if you want me to, but thousands have already read it.’

‘I don’t want you to. As I said, it’s good.’

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