Page 17 of Promises & Petals in Nettleford-on-the-Wold (Escape to… Nettleford-on-the-Wold #1)

H annah paused in front of Sophie’s cottage, her finger poised to ring the doorbell.

After spending a sleepless night tossing and turning, Hannah had been grateful when Josh had turned up at the crack of dawn complete with a strong, sugary takeout coffee and bacon sandwich, but she just hadn’t been able to enjoy his company, she hadn’t been able to push past the worry of how Sophie would react and now she was here standing in front of her cottage, she wasn’t quite sure she was ready to break the news.

What if she upset her? Or worse, what if Sophie didn’t want to speak to her again?

She shoved her hands in her pockets, the doorbell staring at her, mocking her lack of bravery. What if she gave her an ultimatum? Her friendship or a relationship with her brother?

Hannah turned and began walking down the garden path, the beautiful fragrance of the million different flowers growing in Sophie’s well-kept garden wafting towards her as her ankles brushed past them.

No, this was Sophie, and however hard this conversation was going to be, Hannah had to talk to her.

Sophie deserved honesty. She deserved to know.

Taking a deep breath, she steadied her nerves, turned and strode back up to the front door.

Just as she was about to press the doorbell, she heard shouting from inside before Richard swung the door open and barrelled outside.

Pausing to glance at her, Hannah noticed his cheeks were flushed, his eyes narrowed, before he stalked down the garden path and onto the pavement, leaving the wrought-iron gate to slam shut behind him.

A loud sob sounded from inside, filling the silence outside, and Hannah realised it was Sophie. Without thinking, she stepped inside. ‘Sophie?’

Another sob.

Quietly closing the front door behind her, Hannah paused, trying to work out where the crying was coming from. ‘Sophie, it’s Hannah. I’m coming in, okay?’

Nothing.

Making her way through to the living room, Hannah frowned as she spotted Sophie curled up on the floor next to the sofa.

She was clutching a cushion to her chest as tears fell freely down her face.

Rising towards her, Hannah dropped to the floor and drew her in for a hug.

‘Sophie. What’s happened? Are you okay?’

Sophie nodded her head against Hannah’s shoulder before talking through her whacking sobs. ‘It’s... just... all... a... mess.’

‘He didn’t hurt you, did he?’ Pulling away from her, placing her hands on Sophie’s shoulders, Hannah held Sophie at arm’s length and looked her up and down.

‘No.’ Shaking her head, Sophie collapsed against the sofa and laid her legs out in front of her.

Settling back next to her, Hannah draped her arm over Sophie’s shoulder and pulled her close, Sophie dropping her head to Hannah’s shoulder. ‘Do you want to tell me what happened?’

Drawing a shaky breath in, Sophie shook her head. ‘Just what always happens. He tells me he won’t be back after work until late. I remind him he’s supposed to be looking after Florrie whilst I’m at work and he yells, calls me selfish and storms out.’

‘Oh.’ Hannah rubbed her on the back. What was she supposed to say to that?

Richard was Florrie’s dad; he should be looking after his own child.

He should be putting his daughter above whatever else he was doing.

When Sophie had mentioned things weren’t going well at brunch, Hannah hadn’t realised just how strained her and Richard’s relationship had become. ‘Where’s Florrie now?’

‘Josh popped by and took her for ice cream.’ A fresh wave of tears ran down her cheeks.

‘Okay, that’s good.’ At least Florrie hadn’t been at home to hear the arguing.

She could feel her heart warm at the thought of Josh taking his niece for ice cream.

He must have come straight here after delivering Hannah’s much-needed coffee.

Reaching forward, Hannah pulled a box of tissues off the edge of the coffee table before pulling out a bunch of tissues and handing them to Sophie.

‘Thanks.’ Balling the tissues in a fist, Sophie scrubbed at her cheeks.

‘I hadn’t realised how bad things were for you.

’ Hannah tucked Sophie’s hair behind her ears.

Her eyes were red raw and, judging by the dark circles beneath her eyes, she looked as though she hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in weeks.

How hadn’t Hannah noticed when they’d met up before?

Probably because Sophie had had make-up on and the fact that Hannah had been too preoccupied with everything going on in her life to notice her friend needed support too. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘It’s not your fault. You’re not the one who yelled at me.’ Sophie gave a small laugh, her voice hollow and cracked.

‘And this is a regular occurrence?’

Nodding sadly, Sophie drew her legs up towards her and wrapped her arms around her knees. ‘I know I need to end things. I know this isn’t good for Florrie. If Josh hadn’t taken her out, she would have heard everything. But...’

‘But what?’

‘I’m petrified. I’ve been with Richard for years. What if I can’t cope on my own? What if...?’ Her voice cracked again as a fresh deluge of tears flooded her face.

‘Hey, you’re not on your own. I’m here. Gemma and Lucy are here.

Josh is here. We’re all here for you.’ As soon as the words had escaped her mouth, Hannah knew she’d be postponing travelling again.

She knew her friend needed her, and she wasn’t about to let her down because she was too afraid to face her own fears.

She needed to hang around. At least until she knew Sophie was okay.

And to give her and Josh a chance. Heck, she could live in the caravan permanently if she didn’t feel ready to move into the cottage once the roof was done.

Although she had to admit that after going in every day to use the kitchen, it was beginning to feel more like home again each time.

Sophie looked at her and raised her eyebrows. ‘You’re not leaving us again?’

Hannah shook her head. ‘I’m afraid you’re stuck with me for a while longer.’

A small smile pulled at the corner of Sophie’s lips as she drew her in for a hug. ‘I don’t know what to say. I’m so pleased you’re hanging around for a bit at least. What’s brought about the change of heart?’

Hannah bit down on her bottom lip. She couldn’t exactly admit it was because she could see what was happening with Sophie and that she wanted to support her through a reaction breakdown.

But she couldn’t exactly drop the bombshell that she wanted to date her older brother either, so instead she kept quiet and shrugged.

‘Well, whatever the reason, I’m glad. it’s good to have you back.’ Dragging a cushion from the sofa behind her, Sophie clutched it to her chest and laid her chin on its edge. ‘I know what I need to do.’

Taking another tissue from the box, Hannah gently dried Sophie’s cheeks, letting her continue.

‘I know I need to end this. This isn’t love, not anymore, and if it is, quite frankly I don’t want it.’

‘It’s not.’ Hannah spoke quietly but confidently.

The few relationships she’d had in the past had just about fizzled out without any drama or upset, but she knew one thing: if what she’d just witnessed between Sophie and Richard was love, she didn’t want any part of it either.

Not that she thought for one second it was.

She knew she couldn’t really understand because she’d never really been in love before, lust, infatuation, sure, but only fleetingly, but this wasn’t what love was supposed to be.

Her heart had always remained firmly in Josh’s court, even though he’d only just begun to show his feelings towards her, and she couldn’t ever imagine Josh yelling at her the way Richard had yelled at Sophie.

Sophie nodded. ‘I don’t want Florrie growing up in a house full of arguments. I want her to grow up as I did, in a happy, loving environment. Just like I had.’

‘I know you do.’

‘Then why? How have we got here?’ Sinking her forehead to the cushion, Sophie’s shoulders shook with emotion.

‘I don’t know, Sophie. I really don’t.’

‘I don’t know if I’m strong enough. I’ll be a single mum.’

Hannah swiped at her own eyes as her own tears began to fall. ‘Sophie, look at me.’

Lifting her head, Sophie dragged her hand across her face before meeting Hannah’s gaze.

‘I don’t think I’ve turned out so bad, and I didn’t really have my mum or dad in my life.

Florrie will have both of you still, and she’ll be living here with you, the most caring, loving mum anyone could ask for.

’ Placing her hands on either side of Sophie’s face, Hannah kissed her on the forehead. ‘You’ve got this.’

Closing her eyes, Sophie whispered, ‘I hope so.’

Hannah glanced towards the living room door as the trill of the doorbell filled the room.

‘Oh no, that’ll be Josh with Florrie.’ Throwing the cushion aside, Sophie used the ball of tissues to scrape across her face.

Leaning forward, Hannah gave her friend a quick hug before pushing herself to standing. ‘I’ll go and take Florrie back to the cottage. She likes Alfie, so we can always take him for a walk through the fields, give you and Josh some time together.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘One hundred percent.’ Sophie and Josh’s bond had always been close, and if anyone could offer Sophie the advice she needed, it would be Josh.

‘Thank you.’ Sophie nodded as her eyes filled with tears again.

‘No worries, I’ll drop her round later.’ Giving her a quick smile, Hannah walked out of the room and towards the front door. Taking a deep breath, she plastered a smile on her face before pulling it open. ‘Hi, Florrie! Hi, Josh.’

‘Uncle Josh got me an ice cream.’ Florrie grinned as she held up a large cone filled with blue raspberry ice cream and topped with about a million sprinkles.

‘Wow, that looks delicious.’ Positioning herself so Florrie couldn’t run inside and find her mum in tears, Hannah grinned at her. ‘How would you like to help me take little Alfie on a walk now?’

Florrie nodded, her short ponytail bobbing up and down.

Hannah looked wildly around the garden, trying o figure out how to keep Florrie distracted whilst she filled Josh in.

She could already feel his eyes on her and knew he was aware something was up.

The last thing any of them needed was for him to assume she’d told Sophie about her and Josh and to go in there unprepared.

‘Could you do me a little favour before we go, Florrie?’

Florrie nodded again.

‘Can you go and pick mesome of those beautiful flowers, please? I think they’d really brighten my little caravan.

’ Hannah waited until little Florrie had run to the other end of the garden before she gripped hold of Josh’s hand.

Closing her eyes for a moment, she let herself enjoy the warmth of his skin on hers before she looked at him and leaned in closer.

‘I’ve not told her. When I got here, Richard was yelling and stormed out of the house. She’s really upset.’

Running his fingers through his hair, Josh’s face flushed. ‘If I catch up with him, I’ll...’

‘I know, but...’ Hannah shrugged as she gripped his hand a little tighter.

She’d always known he was the protective type.

He’d do anything for Sophie, and she could hardly stop herself from leaning forward and kissing him right then and there, but that wouldn’t get them anywhere.

‘I’ll take Florrie for as long as you both need me to. ’

Josh nodded; his eyes trained on the living room door beyond the small hallway, which Hannah had pulled to when she’d stepped out.

‘Okay, I’ll leave you to it.’ Stepping outside, Hannah paused as he shifted and laced his fingers through hers, pulling her close.

‘Thank you.’ He spoke quietly, his eyes trained on her, a million words unspoken before he let his hand drop to his side before he walked inside.

Stepping back, Hannah closed the door quietly behind her before hurrying down the garden path towards his niece. ‘Wow, it looks as though you’re doing a great job with those flowers.’