Page 7 of Promises & Petals in Nettleford-on-the-Wold (Escape to… Nettleford-on-the-Wold #1)

A fter throwing the packet of rubber gloves onto the work surface, Hannah pulled the fridge door open wider so she could see in.

The inside was unrecognisable from the mould-infested science experiment of yesterday.

Today, the fridge was clean, and instead of the mouldy birthday cake and other items, the shelves held milk, cheese, a box of eggs, a loaf of bread, packs of strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, and a huge bar of whole nut chocolate. ‘What on earth?’

Rubbing her friend on the shoulder, Gemma grinned. ‘I mean, who puts bread in the fridge? But getting your favourite bar of chocolate makes up for that.’

‘I don’t understand.’ Hannah shook her head. When had he done this? He must have spent the evening cleaning it out and shopping whilst she’d been guzzling wine in Gemma’s back garden.

‘Maybe he actually feels the same way about you after all.’

Rolling her eyes, Hannah closed the fridge door, not even bothering to reply. ‘Don’t be daft. I’ll always just be his kid sister’s friend to him. He was just being kind. Or else he wants the work.’

‘Uh-huh. You just keep telling yourself that.’

‘What else am I supposed to tell myself?’ Folding the note neatly into a square, Hannah slipped it into the pocket of her jeans.

‘That he might just like you too.’

Biting down on her bottom lip, Hannah shook her head.

‘This is Josh Morgan we’re talking about.

The man I had a teenage crush on. We’re both adults now.

Besides, last I heard, he was happily partnered up with someone from the city.

’ She hadn’t heard that. The last she’d heard, he was on a break, but that had been four years ago.

Now, he was likely back with the same woman, or he was seeing someone else.

‘Uh, no. He broke up with Tasha, or whatever her name was, pretty much straight after your Grandad’s funeral.’

‘Nope. They were on a break then, remember?’ Leaning forward, Hannah pulled out the milk bottle Josh had left in the fridge and turned to the kettle.

Tilting her head, she stared at it. It looked different.

Shiny. He’d only gone and cleaned that too, hadn’t he?

‘Look, Gem, I don’t even know whether I’m coming or going, I don’t have the brainpower to think about dating at the moment, let alone josh Morgan. ’

Gemma nodded slowly before drawing her into a hug. ‘I know, sorry. I just thought...’

‘You thought I might need a distraction from this lot...’ Hannah waved her hand around the room, encompassing the dirt of a house abandoned for four years. ‘I know, and I do, but not yet. And certainly not him.’

‘I guess.’ Pulling away from their hug, Gemma placed her hands on her shoulders. ‘And you’re right. He wouldn’t be a distraction; he’d be a complication. I mean, can you imagine how poor Sophie would feel?’

‘Exactly.’ Breathing a sigh of relief that hopefully that conversation was now closed, Hannah flicked the kettle on as the memory of Claudia, who had been her arch enemy at college, ran through her mind.

Not that Hannah had ever done anything to her.

Nope, but for some reason Claudia had decided she’d be the one to berate with barbed compliments and plain old simple insults.

As well as belittling her at every possible opportunity.

When she’d asked Sophie’s permission to ask Josh out on a date, to say it hadn’t gone down very well was an understatement.

Sophie had told her in no uncertain terms that she wouldn’t speak to her again.

Not that she did very often anyway, but Claudia had had a weird way of trying to latch onto their small group despite the fact she made it visibly clear she didn’t particularly like them.

‘It’s nice of him to go to this trouble, but that’s all it is; he’s just helping out a friend of his sister’s.

Besides, he likely doesn’t want to come down with a stomach bug or anything from drinking coffee here. ’

Gemma nodded. ‘Right, that wouldn’t be any good for business, would it? Being laid up for a week due to food poisoning.’

Hannah smiled as she turned and poured the coffee.

She was grateful Gemma had stopped teasing her.

For now. And she’d enjoy the peace whilst it lasted.

She and Josh had always been a favourite topic for both Gemma and Lucy, which was entirely her fault as she’d begun it all by telling them how much she fancied him, but they were all adults now.

Plus, so much had happened over the past few years.

She had too much to think about; a relationship was the last thing she needed right now.

And certainly not one that jeopardised her friendship with Sophie.

She stirred in the milk. And then there was the tiny but very relevant detail that Josh would never look twice at her. Not in that way anyway.

Taking her mug, Gemma inhaled the bitter aroma. ‘ Thanks. Just what I need.’

‘You’re welcome to take the milk you bought back with you, if you like? I doubt I’ll get through two bottles before they run out of date.’

‘I might take it into the school then.’ Gemma surveyed the area. ‘Where are we going to start then?’

Leaning her back against the grubby counter, Hannah looked around her.

The kitchen needed a deep clean, the living room, at least a hoover and a dust. And she didn’t even want to brave looking in the bathroom.

Yes, it had been clean enough when she’d left, but she’d seen what a few years could do to the interior of a fridge; she wasn’t sure she could stomach the same in the bathroom.

She slumped her shoulders. ‘I’ve no idea.

Is it even worth it with the roof as it is?

I mean, from the little I’ve seen upstairs, yes, rain might not have got in, but it hasn’t stopped the mould growing as rain must get into the loft, which has basically ruined everything upstairs. ’

‘Of course it’s worth it! The roof will soon get fixed, and then we can throw a clean-up and decorating party and get the upstairs in a liveable condition again. We’ll get you moved into the cottage in no time.’

‘You do know I’m putting it on the market, don’t you? As soon as I can, I’m ff again.’ Hannah shifted position, her back still against the counter, and took a sip of her coffee, grateful Josh had left some sugar too.

‘Umm, just wait and see. You might find you rather like being back with us.’ Gemma grinned.

Hannah laughed. ‘You know I do. It’s not about you guys.

It’s this place, the village, the memories.

’ Hannah shrugged. She couldn’t explain it, but however much she’d adored growing up here and living here as an adult too, without her grandad it was just too painful to stay.

No, the sooner she was out of here, the better.

‘Fair enough.’ Gemma held her hands up, palms forward. ‘I’ll stop nagging you and trying to twist your arm to stay.’

‘Thanks.’ Downing the rest of her coffee, Hannah pushed herself away from the counter. ‘Well, I guess we’d best make a start then.’