Page 14 of Promises & Petals in Nettleford-on-the-Wold (Escape to… Nettleford-on-the-Wold #1)

‘ H ere you go. Careful, I grabbed you some more of those sugar sachets too.’ Sophie lowered Hannah’s tea to the table, the sugar sachets falling from the saucer despite her trying to save them.

‘Thanks.’ Hannah waited until her friend had sat back down and taken her first sip of her hot latte before speaking again. ‘Is everything okay, Soph?’

‘Of course.’ Sophie gave a quick smile, one which didn’t reach her eyes, before looking into her latte and shaking her head.

‘Honestly? Things aren’t great. I’ve been getting a lot of overtime at work, you know, just people being away on holiday.

And the extra money is great. Really great.

But it just means that I’ve got to try to squeeze everything else in around the time I’m at home, and what with the summer holidays and Florrie having finished nursery, I’ve been relying a lot on my parents for childcare. ’

‘I bet they love that, don’t they? Getting to spend more time with Florrie?

’ Sophie’s parents had often had her over for dinner when her grandad had been working and the majority of times shed visited there had always been a houseful, Gemma, Lucy, and a bunch of Josh’s mates.

She could imagine them cherishing every moment they had Florrie over.

‘Oh, they do. It’s just me who feels bad. They’re retired now, and they should be off enjoying themselves rather than having to babysit because I have to go into work.’

‘Have you spoken to them about it?’ Crossing her legs beneath the table, Hannah leaned forward a little.

Sophie nodded. ‘And they say they love having her. I know it’s just me who worries, but, I don’t know, I think if Richard went and picked her up on his way home from work instead of going to the pub or wherever then I wouldn’t feel so bad, but because half the time her dad is literally able to look after her himself but can’t for various reason.

..’ Sophie hooked her index fingers around the word ‘can’t’, ‘…then I feel as though we’re using them. ’

Shaking her head, Hannah reached across the table and laid her hand on Sophie’s forearm. ‘They’re your parents, Florrie’s grandparents and two of the nicest people I’ve ever met. They would want to help you out, and they’d want to spend time with Florrie.’

Looking down, Sophie pinched the bridge of her nose. ‘I know.’

‘Is there something else?’ Hannah tilted her head. Sophie was really out of sorts, and she didn’t believe the guilt over her parents having Florrie was the only reason.

‘I don’t know. We’re just not getting along very well. Me and Richard, I mean. He’s out all the time, and I mean at every given opportunity he’s out of the house. Whether it’s because he’s been offered overtime, or his mate has invited him down the pub. Like whatever the excuse, he’s there.’

‘Oh, that must be difficult. Especially with little Florrie.’

‘That’s the thing, it’s not. I’m so used to not being able to rely on him for anything that I just get what I can done myself and me and Florrie, well, we’ve got used to it just being us so on the rare occasion he is at home for an evening its.

..’ Sophie shifted in her chair. ‘Actually, I’m not used to it, and I don’t think Florrie is either, if the way she plays up for him is anything to go by, anyway. ’

Hannah swallowed. How was she supposed to reply? If it were just Sophie on her own, then she’d know exactly what to say; heck, Sophie would have likely left him by now, but with Florrie... ‘What do you want to happen?’

Hitching her shoulders, Sophie sighed heavily. ‘I don’t know. I love him, but this just isn’t sustainable. He could be out doing all sorts, seeing another woman, for example. He’s not. I’d know if he were, but he could be. I guess we’ll just muddle through and see what happens.’

‘Are you happy with that? With muddling through?’ Hannah looked her friend in the eye. They both knew the answer.

‘Not really, and it feels like the beginning of the end, but I’ve got to try, haven’t I?’ Sophie looked across at the soft play area as Gemma and Florrie had a race down the slide. ‘For her if no one else.’

‘If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.’

‘I will. Thanks.’ Sophie shook her arms out at her sides. ‘Anyway, enough of me and my problems. How’s things with you?’

Picking up a sugar sachet, Hannah flicked it with her forefinger before emptying it into her tea.

Sophie had finished talking about Richard.

She could see that, and she didn’t want to push her to continue if she didn’t want to, still she didn’t like leaving it like this.

She hated seeing her so unhappy. ‘How long has this been going on? How long have you been feeling like this?’

Leaning her elbows on the table, Sophie massaged her temples.

‘I’m not sure, to be honest. At this point, it just feels normal, but I know it’s not, and I know it’s not how things used to be between me and Richard.

I guess we’ve been growing apart for a few years now, but his staying out all the time has got a million times worse over this past year though. ’

Hannah stirred the sugar in, watching as the tiny sugar crystals dissolved in the hot liquid. During their numerous phone calls, Sophie had never said a word about how unhappy she’d become. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

Sophie shook her head slightly. ‘It’s nothing, not compared with what you’ve been going through. I’m fine.’

Hannah nodded slightly. She didn’t look fine, and Hannah would have known that if she hadn’t gone travelling, or even if she’d popped into the village or arranged to meet her friends elsewhere every once in a while. She’d let her down. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be daft. You’ve nothing to be sorry about.’ Sophie dismissed her apology with a wave of her hand. ‘You really don’t.’

‘Does Josh know?’ Hannah spoke quietly. Part of her felt wrong asking, being as she was well aware of how he felt towards Richard after that phone call he’d taken, but she also wanted to know if he knew how unhappy Sophie was.

Sophie shrugged. ‘He knows bits and pieces. It’s not been easy for him either. Not since he moved back home, the last thing I want to do is to unload my worries on him when he finally seems to be getting himself together again.’

Hannah frowned. Josh had always appeared cool and collected; it was his very nature. It’s who he had been when they’d been growing up, and it’s how he seemed to be now, since she’d returned. ‘What do you mean, getting himself together again?’

Sophie scrunched up her nose. ‘I don’t know how much I should say, but when he finally saw sense and split with his ex, he lost everything.

They’d been living together in London, and I don’t know what she said to their friends, but they all took her side, completely ignored him, stopped inviting him out and all that.

Plus, she somehow took over the flat they’d been living in. ’

Hannah swallowed, the thought of people turning against Josh making her stomach twist in pain. ‘That’s awful.’

‘It was. He wanted to move back here to the village anyway, but if he’d been able to carry on at work, then he could have saved and moved back here on his own terms, got his own place rather than being forced to move back into my parents’’.’

‘What happened to his job?’

Sophie grimaced. ‘He was working for his ex’s dad, wasn’t he? I told him not to mix work and pleasure. Everyone knows not to date in the workplace, don’t they?’

Hannah nodded. ‘But if she ended the relationship, it’s hardly fair he...’

‘So, yeah, he was the one who ended it. They were ‘on a break’ at her insistence, and then when she wanted to get back together, he told her he no longer wanted to be with her.’

‘Oh, I...’ What was she supposed to say to that?

‘Thinking about it, it was probably the last time you saw him. He was back for your grandad’s funeral.’

‘Right.’ Hannah nodded before taking a sip of her tea, letting the sweet liquid pool in her mouth before swallowing.

Sophie shrugged. ‘It was weird actually, when he first came back to stay, he was super upset and couldn’t wait to get back to London.

he was planning on sending flowers to her, booking a nice holiday, that sort of thing, and then suddenly, he stopped.

He just seemed to decide overnight he was no longer interested in getting their relationship back on track. ’

Lowering her cup slowly, Hannah tried to form the words she wanted to ask.

She was being daft; she knew she was. He hadn’t walked away from that relationship because of what she’d told him all those years ago, but she suddenly needed to know a little more.

She needed confirmation. Twisting the cup on its ornate saucer, she tried her best to sound as nonchalant as she possibly could.

‘Do you remember when he changed his mind exactly? I was just thinking it might have been due to a big event, like their anniversary or something, which made him realise?’

‘No, I don’t think so.’ Sophie squirmed in her chair, not wanting to say what she was about to. ‘I don’t want to bring it up, but it was the day of your grandad’s funeral. He just came home and told us he was staying and he didn’t want to get back with her after all.’

‘Oh.’ Hannah felt as though time had slowed.

Gripping the teacup in her hands, Hannah leaned forward, eager to hear the answer. ‘To do with what?’

‘I don’t know how to say this, but I guessed it was because he realised how short life really was and that he didn’t want to spend it with her anymore.’ Reaching out, she rubbed Hannah on the forearm. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. Not like that.’

‘No, that’s okay.’ Hannah earned heavily back in her chair.

Josh had changed his mind about going back to his ex after she’d bared her soul to him.

Whether it was because of what she’d admitted or because of what Sophie said.

.. Hannah pushed herself to standing. ‘I just need to run to the loo. Won’t be a moment. ’

‘Okay.’ Sophie frowned, her forehead creasing and her eyes filling with concern. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t mean to bring up your grandad like that, I just...’

Forcing a smile, Hannah leaned down and hugged her friend around the shoulders. ‘It’s okay. I pushed you to answer me. Besides, I’m not upset; I literally do just need to empty my bladder. Too many teas, they go right through me.’

‘As long as you’re sure I’ve not upset you?’ Looking up at her, Sophie clasped Hannah’s hand.

‘Not at all, but if I don’t hurry, they’ll be a puddle on the floor soon enough.’ Hannah forced herself to laugh as she began walking towards the toilets.

Pulling the door open, she was thankful the restroom was empty.

Pausing in front of the mirror, Hannah grippe onto the edge of the ceramic sink and looked at her reflection.

She closed her eyes to the image of herself looking back at her and tried to steady her breathing.

It felt as though a million butterflies had taken residence in her stomach, and she had no idea why.

Josh hadn’t decided to stay on in the village because of her.

He hadn’t ended the relationship he was taking a break from because of her.

And she had the evidence. If he had, then he’d have left as soon as she’d run off. Or he’d have at least tried to contact her.

Opening her eyes again, Hannah pointed her finger at her reflection. ‘You’re being stupid, Hannah. You’re letting yourself daydream. He does not like you, not like that. Probably not even like, he probably just tolerates you. He did not stay in Nettleford-on-the-Wold because of you.’

There, she’d said it. Out loud at that. She slumped her shoulders.

If she didn’t have foundation on, shed splash her face with cold water like they do in the movies to make the character see sense.

Because that’s what she needed to do, she needed to see sense.

That conversation she’d had telling Josh how she felt about him and his ending his relationship and staying in the village were completely unconnected.

They might as well have happened a decade apart. They had nothing to do with each other.

Besides, he’s probably had girlfriends, partners, since. Someone like Josh wouldn’t very well have stayed single for four years in the hope shed return. Of course not.

She rolled her eyes at herself. She needed to put this whole notion of Josh liking her right out of her head because if she didn’t; she was only going to get her heart broken.

Pushing herself away from the sink, she turned to the door.