Page 37 of Home This Christmas

THIRTY-TWO

‘Well, that was quite the story.’ Nathan grins.

‘I guess the villagers have done all they can!’ I shrug. ‘They have a petition too, which is gaining some serious attention online.’

‘Do you fancy a coffee?’ He gestures to the bookshop café.

‘Sure, it might warm me up a bit,’ I say, walking beside him slowly on my crutches.

Inside is as warm and comforting as I remember, and I can smell a hint of cinnamon. At the counter I see there are gingerbread lattes for sale, so I plump for one.

Seated in a corner, away from the window, we enjoy our warm drinks.

I glance at the gingerbread latte, which is almost a dessert, topped with whipped cream, marshmallows, and a mini gingerbread man poking out of the top.

‘I saw you chatting to Will Sutton earlier…’ I say, as I attempt to drink my latte without wearing a cream moustache. ‘I didn’t realise you knew him.’

‘I don’t know him exactly. But I know who he is,’ he tells me. ‘As most people around here do. We were chatting about the demonstration mainly.’

‘And what did he say?’ I ask, keen to know how he felt about it all.

‘Not a lot. He did say he was surprised by the reaction, though, as he reckons he has personally spoken to lots of people around here who are desperate for housing,’ Nathan reveals.

‘Well, he would say that.’

‘Actually, I don’t disagree with him… Although I do think he might have chosen somewhere other than the library and park.’

‘Exactly.’ I nod in agreement.

‘Perhaps land around here is hard to come by,’ he suggests, ‘and the council would sell land in a heartbeat to a developer, especially if the library is under-used and costing too much.’

‘It’s not always about money.’ I sigh.

‘But sometimes it is. The council are only given so much money, that they must spend wisely.’

‘That may be, but it will be sad to see it go. It hosts all kinds of activities in the summer holidays.’

‘Well, it isn’t over yet,’ he reminds me. ‘And maybe they could find another venue for that sort of thing.’

‘Will spoke about you too,’ Nathan says as he takes a sip of his coffee.

‘He did? What did he say?’

‘He said you made your feelings clear that you were against the plans, when you went for a walk together.’ He raises his eyebrow.

‘Oh right, yes.’ I can feel my cheeks burning.

‘So how do you know him?’ he asks.

‘He didn’t tell you?’

‘Why would he? As I said, he just dropped in the fact that you mentioned the planning, whilst out walking together.’

‘I drove his father here from London. Or more accurately, we shared the driving.’ I tell him all about the train problems and how we ended up travelling here together.

‘I sort of got the impression he likes you.’

‘I don’t think so.’ I shake my head.

‘Well maybe he thinks I am a decent person, accompanying his dad here from London, but I’m sure that’s all.’

‘He seemed very interested when you were talking to the reporter. He could barely take his eyes off you.’ He grins.

‘Are you sure it wasn’t the reporter he was looking at? She was very attractive.’

‘No, it was definitely you,’ he insists.

‘Perhaps he was interested in what I had to say. This housing development is a big deal to him, remember.’

‘If you say so.’ He smiles. ‘Anyway, I can understand why he might like you. He would be mad not to.’ He holds my gaze, and I feel suddenly feel flustered. ‘And he was keen to let me know that you went for a walk together.’

‘And did that bother you?’ I find myself asking.

‘Perhaps it did. Anyway, I kind of told him you weren’t looking for romance.’

‘Why would you say that?’ I ask, surprised.

‘Because, Ruby Holmes, it’s obvious he fancies you, and I hate the thought of you dating someone around here, if it isn’t me,’ he says candidly. He reaches across the small table and takes my hand in his. ‘And that, I am afraid, is the truth.’

‘Nathan. Please don’t.’ I draw my hand away from him, despite the tingles I feel all over.

I can’t fall for him all over again, I simply can’t. And there is the small matter of me hearing he is always out with different women. At least that’s what Will has led me to believe – unless he had an ulterior motive.

‘I’m sorry if it isn’t what you want to hear, but there it is… I never expected to feel the way I did when I saw you again after so long,’ he tells me. ‘Are you telling me you don’t feel something too?

‘I’m not sure what I feel. It’s complicated,’ I say.

‘It doesn’t have to be,’ he replies softly.

‘But my life is not here anymore; I just don’t see how things could possibly work.’ Though a part of me wishes I could take the risk and just stay here forever.

I bring the subject back to the library, my thoughts all over the place, but Nathan is keen to talk some more about us.

‘Things might not work out the way you want them to, but I guess that’s life,’ he says as he finishes his coffee. ‘We don’t always get what we want, do we? I know that more than anyone.’

He glances at his watch then and tells me he must leave. ‘How long will you be staying in Brindleford?’ he asks, searching my eyes.

I want to tell him I will stay on at the cottage at the farm. I want to tell him I would love to spend more time with him, and see how things go, but I don’t. Instead, I tell him I will be leaving tomorrow morning for London.

‘Then maybe I can see you this evening?’ he asks.

‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea…’ I tell him and he takes his jacket from the back of his chair and leaves.