Page 32 of Promises & Petals in Nettleford-on-the-Wold
Josh let out a soft chuckle. ‘In my defence, I didn’t know you weren’t going to come back for four years. Every time I asked Sophie, she’d tell me she was hoping you’d come back soon. And I took soon as being next week, next month at the most.’
Hannah smiled. Sophie had never begged her to come back, but by the sounds of it, she’d wanted Hannah to. That was Sophie’s way; she’d never ask anything of anyone. ‘Plus, I’m guessing you were preoccupied with setting up our business and everything.’
‘Yep, retraining, the business, moving out of my parents’.’ She felt Josh nod beside her. ‘I’ve certainly rammed a lot into the four years. As have you.’
‘And you don’t regret it? Moving from the hustle and bustle and excitement of London to sleepy old Nettleford-on-the-Wold?’ Hannah lowered their hands to her lips and kissed his.
‘Not one bit. I love it here. This is my home.’ Rolling onto his side, he looked at her. ‘And it’s only got better since you’ve returned.’
‘I’m glad I came back.’ Shafting to face him too, Hannah felt him pull his hand gently from her grasp before he traced his finger down the side of her face.
‘We’ll tell Sophie tomorrow. After Florrie’s birthday party.’ Josh’s tone was confident. ‘And then we can spend every spare minute of every day together. Make up for the missed time.’
‘Okay.’ Leaning forward, she kissed him, hoping some of his confidence would rub off onto her. After she turned back to face the sky as he leaned his chin on the top of her head. Closing her eyes, she wished this night would never end. He made her feel everything she ever wished, safe, wanted and giddy with excitement about their shared future.
Chapter Twenty Two
Ripping a large bag of crisps open, Hannah emptied them into a large bowl before taking another bag from the large crate of food, plates and party bags Pat had brought into the village hall an hour earlier. She, Lucy and Gemma were on kitchen duty preparing the party food while Sophie, Pat, Meg and Josh were decorating the hall with Happy Birthday banners, pink and purple balloons and sparkly bunting.
Looking through the small hatch from the kitchen into the hall, Hannah watched as Josh climbed a short stepladder to hang some bunting above a window. She smiled as memories of last night flooded through her. She’d never had someone treat her as he had done - the firelights, the petals, the stargazing. And just spending time with her. He hadn’t been clock-watching or given her a limited time slot. In fact, they’d stayed up there on the scaffolding platform surrounded by fairy lights until the sun had begun to rise, chatting about their lives and their wishes for the future.
Holding the back of her hand over her mouth, she yawned. She’d managed a few hours before heading over here, and thatwas likely more than Josh had managed as he’d had to drive to Meadowfield to pick up Florrie’s birthday cake from the bakery.
‘Tired, are we?’ Lucy sidled up to her.
Jumping, Hannah turned to see Lucy had appeared next to her. ‘Jeez, Lucy! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?’
Giggling, Lucy placed her elbows on the small shelf between the hatch and leaned her chin in her hands. ‘Good view.’
‘Oi!’ Tapping her on the shoulder with the packet of crisps, Hannah rolled her eyes before relenting. ‘Yes, it is rather.’
‘What’s this?’ Throwing a tea towel over her shoulder, Gemma joined them at the hatch. ‘What are we looking at?’
‘You mean, who are we looking at?’ Lucy spoke without moving her eyes.
‘Oh, really? Who are we looking at?’ Gemma frowned as she peered around the hall.
‘Hannah’s new boyfriend.’ Lucy said with such indifference, just as though she weren’t lighting a detonating cord.
‘Shush.’ Pushing herself away from the hatch, Hannah turned her back on the hall, her face burning.
‘Your...? Sorry, your what now?’ Turning to face her, Gemma widened her eyes, her face etched in shock.
‘No, I...’ Dropping her head and looking at the discoloured tiles on the floor, Hannah felt a gnaw of dread in the pit of her stomach, the more people who knew about her and Josh, the riskier it was that Sophie would find out before she and Josh told her. She could deny it, but that would be another person she was lying to, besides it had been Gemma who had begun teasing her about him the moment Sophie had mentioned he should fix ‘Yes.’
‘Hannah! Why didn’t you tell me? How long has this been going on? Does Sophie know?’ Gemma gripped Hannah by the shoulders, searching her face.
‘I didn’t not tell you. I was just trying not to tell anyone. Not long. And no, not yet.’ Hannah scrunched the top of the crisp bag in her hand. ‘We plan to after the party.’
‘We plan to? As in you and Josh?’ Gemma breathed a long slow breath out from her mouth. ‘You’re already speaking like a couple.’
‘We’re not.’ Hannah shook her head. They were, and she wanted to scream it from the rooftops, but there was still a part of her who wanted to play it all down, to protect her heart in case she had to choose between her relationship with Josh and Sophie. She glanced towards the kitchen door as Sophie bustled through.
Gemma jumped back, lowering her hands from Hannah’s shoulders quickly. ‘Hey, Soph, how’s it going out there?’
Sophie pulled open the top drawer, rummaged through the cutlery before closing it again and pulling open the next one. ‘You’ve not seen any scissors, have you?’
‘Umm, yes. I was using them to open the bag of sausage rolls. Super tough plastic.’ Gemma stepped forward and picked up the scissors before handing them to her.
