Love Heart Lane Series

‘Come on …’ urged Allie. ‘The suspense is killing us.’

‘He’s actually, not bad … Prince Charming, indeed.’

Martha gave Aggie a knowing look, ‘See, just call me Cupid.’

All attention was on Rona.

‘This is exciting! Maybe I do need to get myself on Tinder after all,’ joked Polly.

‘He’s called Bill, and lives ten kilometres away …’

‘He must be somewhere over in Glensheil then,’ interrupted Isla.

‘And he’s retired and loves hiking. He does have a kind face,’ said Rona, thinking out loud.

‘It can’t hurt to drop him a message,’ said Felicity, beginning to clear away the empty bowls from the table.

But Rona wasn’t listening. ‘As much as I’ve had fun tonight … there … the profile is deleted.’

‘Spoilsport!’ the disappointment was written all over Martha’s face as Rona handed her back the phone.

‘If I’m going to meet a man, and call me old fashioned, but I want to meet him because he’s walked into my life, not through some sort of … what do you call them … apps?’

‘Unfortunately, it’s the way of the world these days,’ chipped in Polly. ‘But I know what you mean, I want someone to walk into my life and knock me dead.’

‘You’re no good to anyone dead,’ grinned Allie.

‘You know what I mean! I want to feel the first flush of love, feel the butterflies flutter in my stomach and be swept off my feet by someone in person. I want the whole fairy tale.’

‘So, you won’t be joining Tinder then, Pol,’ said Isla, draining the last of her wine from her glass.

‘Not any day soon!’

They all chatted and listened to Martha’s stories for the next ten minutes, then Isla felt herself beginning to physically tire. She knew she’d be up during the night with Angus for his night feeds. ‘It’s time for me to be making a move,’ Isla said, knowing she should make a move yet dreading going home to Drew, but as her gaze drifted towards her watch, she felt relieved knowing he’d be fast asleep due to his early morning start.

‘And me,’ admitted Jessica. ‘I’m up early for school.’

Everyone began to gather their belongings and they all thanked Felicity for a great evening. As the front door shut behind them, Felicity slouched into the chair and smiled to herself, hearing Martha singing down the road. ‘I hope I have that amount of energy at that age,’ she said.

‘Don’t we all. I’m exhausted just watching her,’ laughed Polly, pressing a swift kiss to Felicity and Rona’s cheeks. ‘See you in the morning … night.’

As Rona and Felicity began to load the dishwasher, Felicity noticed her mum deep in thought.

‘What is it, Mum? You seem like you’ve suddenly got the weight of the world on your shoulders,’ added Felicity tentatively.

Rona straightened and exhaled slightly. ‘Don’t mind me, I’m a little tipsy.’ Rona took a breath and leant over to wipe the worktops. ‘But for the first time in a long time I actually laughed tonight, and I mean laughed.’

‘So why the sigh?’ asked Felicity, perplexed.

‘Because as much as Martha is a loveable old eccentric, she knows how to have fun.’

‘You know how to have fun.’

Rona leant against the worktop. ‘When do I ever have any fun? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I’m unhappy, far from it …’

‘But?’ interrupted Felicity.

‘Even though I’m surrounded by people every day and I have you … sometimes I actually feel lonely.’

Felicity felt saddened, she’d never even considered that her mum felt this way.

‘I do the same thing, day in and day out … and I love my life … and I love our teashop and you are my world, but tonight … it made me think about the past … and all those special times I’d spent with your father. Nothing will ever replace the love we had, but sometimes …’ She took a breath. ‘Sometimes I wish to be cuddled or even have the opportunity to make more of myself … dress up, maybe be wined and dined.’

Felicity was unable to hide her amazement at her mum’s words but was quick to reassure her. ‘Dad died many years ago and you are very much alive. It’s natural you should feel this way. As much as we laughed and joked tonight, maybe it’s about time you looked for that special someone in your life,’ she said, knowing it was only a matter of time before she and Fergus would talk about setting up home together, leaving her mum rattling around in Heartwood Cottage all by herself.

‘Maybe it’s the drink talking,’ admitted Rona, pouring herself a glass of water. ‘But look at Martha, she’s still living life to the max even at her age. The stories she told us tonight …’

‘No-one can deny Martha lives every day like it’s her last,’ Felicity touched her mum’s arm tentatively. ‘But you have to do what’s right for you, and who knows who’ll walk through that teashop door when you least expect it.’

Rona gave a short smile, ‘I look at you youngsters, all flourishing in life, starting out and I still feel young inside, but I know I’m not … my knees remind me of that every morning when I climb out of bed. What I’m trying to say is, my life is trundling along so fast. One minute you are here and the next you are gone.’

‘Mum, don’t talk like this,’ said Felicity, feeling the tears well up in her eyes.

‘It’s true … one minute I’m a little girl pinching my mother’s baking whilst she wasn’t looking and now, she’s gone. In a blink of an eye everything changes.’ Rona took a breath. ‘I do know you’ll want to set up home with Fergus and Esme.’ She took her daughter’s hand and squeezed it gently. ‘I don’t want you to worry about me.’ Her voice faltered and a tiny tear slid down her cheek. ‘Don’t put your life on hold for me. You deserve your happiness … your happy ever after, and it’ll make me happy to see you happy, but there’s just one thing I ask.’

Felicity swallowed down the lump in her throat, she’d never heard her mum talk this way before. ‘This place, Bonnie’s teashop, keep it alive for Mum, me and you.’

‘Always, Mum … always. I’ll never let you down.’

Rona pulled her daughter in for a hug. ‘I don’t say it often enough, but I love you.’

Felicity nodded, ‘I love you too.’

Chapter 7 (#ulink_a57e415c-d56a-5347-9ae0-63ec7075bd57)

The 5 a.m. alarm sounded, and Isla woke feeling exhausted. It only felt like she’d closed her eyes five minutes ago. As usual, Drew was lying next to her in a deep sleep which she was extremely jealous of. As she shook him lightly, he began to stir. ‘Drew, it’s time to get up, the alarm went off.’

‘Already,’ he murmured, half-asleep, before gingerly pulling back the covers and slowly swinging his legs to the floor. Isla shivered as a blast of cool air hit her, she quickly pulled the duvet back up around her neck.

Drew reluctantly wandered down the stairs and Isla turned over as she heard the kitchen light switch on, followed by the sound of running water. Her head felt fuzzy, the wine hadn’t helped last night but she’d barely slept in between Angus waking up and worrying about Drew’s mood.

At 2 a.m. she’d found herself drinking a mug of tea in the kitchen while staring at Drew’s phone charging on the side. Jessica’s comment was firmly on her mind. What if Drew did have a gambling problem? What if there was something wrong with his health and he was too scared to tell her? Or could he even be having an affair? Isla couldn’t settle with all these thoughts whirling around in her mind.

Part of her was itching to check his phone, but the other part of her knew it was dishonest. But before she could stop herself, she reached over, unplugged the phone and stood at the bottom stairs and listened.

Silence.

Thankfully, she hadn’t disturbed anyone by coming downstairs.