Page 23 of Promises & Petals in Nettleford-on-the-Wold (Escape to… Nettleford-on-the-Wold #1)

R ipping 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 that was 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.

‘Cheers.’ Taking them, Sophie glanced around the kitchen. ‘How’s it going in here?’

‘Good, good.’ Pushing herself away from the hatch, Lucy glanced between Sophie, Gemma and Hannah.

Sophie frowned. ‘Are you sure? Is something going on?’

‘Nope. How about out there?’ Lucy waved her hand towards the hatch. ‘It’s looking good.’

Sophie ran her fingers through her hair. ‘Do you think? I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I normally love a good party, but Richard is bringing Florrie in a few minutes, and I think I just might throw up.’

Stepping forward, Hannah placed the crisp packet on the old pine table in the middle of the room before she drew Sophie in for a hug before pulling away and holding her hands, the scissors dangling between them. ‘You’ll be fine. You’ve done an amazing job, and this is going to be the best party.’

Taking a deep breath in, Sophie sighed. ‘I hope so. I just want Florrie to enjoy it. You know to have a super happy memory before we tell her that her parents are splitting up and break her heart.’

Joining them, Gemma rubbed Sophie’s forearm. ‘She won’t be heartbroken. Sure, it’ll take her some time to adjust to her new reality, as it will you all, but two happy homes are always better than one miserable one.’

Sophie nodded. ‘I know. I just... I don’t know. I just want to fast forward a year and have everything sorted out and feel settled.’

‘That year will go by as quick as a flash.’ Lucy walked across to them before leaning against the work surface. ‘You’ve got this, Soph. And you’ve got us all behind you cheering you on.’

‘That’s right, you do.’ Gemma added.

‘Yep.’ Holding her arms up, Lucy pretended to wave two pom-poms. ‘Go, Sophie. Go, Soph!’

Shaking her head, Sophie smiled. ‘Thanks. I don’t know what I’d do without the three of you.’

‘Now go and finish the decorating before Florrie arrives and is bowled over by how pretty and princess-like you’ve made this hall.’ Taking her by the shoulders, Gemma twisted Sophie on the spot and guided her towards the door.

‘Okay, I’m going.’ Laughing, Sophie pushed open the door again, letting it swing shut behind her.

Turning back to face Hannah, Gemma raised her eyebrows. ‘Now, where were we?’

‘Please, not here.’ Hannah picked up the bag of crisps again and snapped her head in the direction of the door as it swung open again.

‘What don’t you want to do here?’ Josh’s easy voice filled the room before he appeared through the doorway.

Biting down on her bottom lip, Hannah felt both Gemma and Lucy scrutinise her for any hint of a reaction.

‘I think I’m going to pop to the Ladies. That coffee I had earlier is going straight through me.’ Gemma pulled the tea towel from her shoulder and laid it on the counter.

‘Me too.’ Clutching her belly, Lucy hurried towards Gemma before grabbing her by the elbow and practically marching her out of the kitchen.

‘What was that about?’ Josh stared at the door as it swung shut behind them.

‘I...’ Hannah kept her eyes fixed on the door in case anyone else decided to wander inside and whispered, ‘They know about us.’

‘Okay.’

Looking at him, Hannah met his gaze. ‘You’re not annoyed that they’ve both guessed?’

‘Why would I bet?’ Glancing behind him at the closed kitchen door, he walked across to her and wrapped his arms around her. ‘They’re two of your closest friends; it’s not a surprise that they guessed. Especially since, I’m guessing, they know all about our conversation before you left to travel?’

‘They do.’ Wrapping her arms around him, she sank into his embrace. ‘They won’t say anything, but we do need to tell Soph before she guesses.’

‘We will.’ Josh kissed her on top of her head, his lips lingering against their hair.

‘Good.’ She smiled, butterflies forming in her stomach at the thought of them being able to do this whenever they wanted instead of sneaking around behind closed doors. She glanced towards the door as it swung open and jumped back, picking up the bag of crisps she was still yet to empty.

Letting the door close behind her, Sophie looked from Hannah, who was now quickly shaking the crisp packet, to her brother, who was standing in the middle of the kitchen dithering on the spot. ‘What’s going on here?’

‘Umm, nothing.’ Josh ran his palm across the back of his neck.

‘Really, because it doesn’t look like nothing. You two, standing in silence in the middle of the kitchen.’ She placed her hands on her hips. ‘I hope you’re not bothering Hannah about the roof right before Florrie’s birthday party?’

Josh shook his head, the back of his neck flushing.

‘Good, because I don’t need you two arguing over what type of straw to use to thatch the house or the amount of dust you’re walking through Hannah’s home.’ She shook her head. ‘Today’s going to be stressful enough without you two bickering.’

Josh replaced his impression of a rabbit caught in headlights with his easy smile as he looked at his sister. ‘I know, Soph. But don’t worry, I won’t mention the words straw, thatch or dust once today.’

‘Good, because I don’t know how I’m supposed to hold it together when Richard arrives and I need you both in my corner. Okay?’ She looked at them both, the expression in her eyes pleading.

‘We are.’ Walking across the kitchen towards her, Hannah gave Josh a wide berth just in case seeing them close would be enough for Sophie to realise they were hiding something, before drawing Sophie in for a hug.

‘Thank you.’ Sophie’s voice was muffled against Hannah’s shoulder before she stepped away and pointed at Josh. ‘No work talk. Let Hannah have the day off from cottage dramas.’

Dipping his head, Josh nodded. ‘Understood.’

‘Soph, love.’ Meg pushed open the door and peered into the kitchen. ‘Florrie’s just arrived, love.’

Hannah watched as Sophie’s face fell before she whispered. ‘Wish me luck.’

‘Good luck.’ Hannah spoke softly. She could see how hard this was going to be for Hannah, to play happy families whilst knowing her relationship with Florrie’s dad was falling apart, but she also knew she had the strength to overcome this, to build a happy life for herself and her daughter whilst trying to strengthen the relationship Richard had with his daughter.

She watched as Sophie reluctantly left the safety of the kitchen, Josh by her side.

As the door closed behind them, the timer on the oven pierced the silence in the room, and Hannah hurried over and took the sausage rolls out before they burned.

‘... if I had my way, I’d go right up to him and tell him what I thought of him.

..’ Gemma walked into the room, deep in conversation with Lucy, who was a few steps behind her.

Passing, she looked at Hannah. ‘Thanks for taking those out. How was it? Did you get the chance to do some secret canoodling?’

Rolling her eyes, Hannah transferred the sausage rolls from the baking tray to a plate to cool. Ignoring Gemma’s question, she instead focused on what she’d overheard them talking about. ‘Does Sophie look okay with Richard now here?’

Walking across to the hatch, Lucy looked out into the hall. ‘She does. She looks pretty damn confident.’

Slippingthe hotbakingtray back into the oven, Hannah joined her and watched as Florrie ranaroundthe hallexcitedlylooking at the decorations, leaving herparentstotalk.

Her eyes automatically driftedtowardsJosh,who was standing glued to his sister, his hand protectively on her shoulder as Richard spoke.

‘Let’s hope they canbothget through the next couple of hours without any drama going down.’ Lucy blew astrandof hair from her face. ‘Sophie’sworkedso hardto organiseall this, it’ll be awful if Richard spoils it.’

‘I don’t think he’d dare. Not with Josh there, ready to pounce if he as little as puts a foot wrong.’ Gemma raised her eyebrows beforeglancingacross at Hannah and grinning. ‘I can see the attraction,Hannah.’

‘Umm.’ She could too. Despite her mind telling herself to go careful and not to rush into anything, her body wasn’t listening one bit.

She could feel the flutter of excitement in her belly just at the possibility that Josh wanted to be with her.

She reminded herself that he did, that she wasn’t daydreaming, he’d actually said he wanted to be with her.

He’d been super clear on that. Last night whilst they’d been stargazing, he’d even admitted he could see the relationship becoming something serious.

She smiled as she remembered his suggestion of them learning about a new star or constellation a week.

‘Careful, you look as though you’re gushing all over him.’ Lucy nudged Hannah’s shoulder.

‘I am not.’ Shaking her head, she tore her eyes from him and busied herself getting the last of the party food together.

‘It’s cute. And you deserve it, just try not to make it too obvious before you’ve broken the news to Soph.’ Gemma turned her back to the hatch.

Nodding, Hannah picked up a lone crisp lying on the table and popped it in her mouth.

She was trying not to. She was trying not to get her hopes up either.

Things like this didn’t happen to her; the good guys didn’t just fall at her feet.

Besides, she was only too aware that the future of the relationship lay in the hands of Sophie.

She wouldn’t hurt her, and she wouldn’t jeopardise their friendship, however much it would break her heart to walk away from Josh.