'You're my bride?' Jet said, a look of something close to fear etched across his face when Mia opened the door to him that evening.

She smiled. 'Only for tonight, don't panic. You're a very handsome Frankenstein.'

'And you look beautiful. But then you always do.'

'Thank you. Ella and Gill will catch us up.' She stepped outside and closed the door behind her. 'I've got something to tell you.'

'Oh? Should I be worried?'

Mia laughed. 'No. Quite the contrary.'

'Shall we walk and talk?' He held out his hand and she took it. 'Come on then. Don't keep me in suspense.'

They ambled down the drive.

'I'm up to the very last diary. I haven't read it yet but there's only a couple of months in it so I'll read it tomorrow. But I have read the codicil to Mattie's will. She left it for me with the final diary and another note. That was one of the reasons she wanted me to read the diaries in order. So that I wouldn't find the codicil until I'd got to know her through her diaries.'

He raised his brows and then smiled. 'Wow! And that makes sense. So now you've nearly finished them, what are you going to do? You said at Hettie's reception that you, Ella and Gill are going to write a novel. Is that still the plan?' They left the drive and turned onto Lily Pond Lane.

'Yes. Gill's also writing the biography of his grandad and he's including Mattie's story. I'd like people to know about her life and how brave she was, and so utterly incredible. The novel will also include some aspects of her life, but through a fictional character. It should be fun.'

'And the so-called hero who she and her partner keep rescuing, is he still going to be called Jet?'

'Unless you have any objections, yes. Jet's a lovely name.'

'I've no objections. And you did rescue me the other day, so I suppose that's what they call art imitating life, or the other way around.'

She glanced up at him. 'You haven't asked about the codicil.'

He shrugged. 'Is it important? You're going to stay, aren't you, so it doesn't matter who is named in it. Unless it gives a clue as to who may want you to leave?' He met her look and held it. 'Does it?'

'No. And yes, I'm definitely going to stay. But I don't have to. The whole thing was a ploy to get me here and make me stay. I told you the other day that she thought we might get on. Well, it seems she got the idea from the fortune-teller.'

'The fortune-teller? The one at the Fête?' He grinned at her.

Mia nodded. 'The very same. Mattie was going to change her will anyway but the fortune-teller told her that there was a man whose heart needed to be healed and a woman who was looking for her True Love. And that Mattie could bring the two together and it would help her heal her own past, or something like that. I'll show you the note and you can see exactly what she said.'

'And those two people are you and me?'

'Yes. Mattie was so convinced of it that she put the condition in her will to make me come and make me stay. She was certain we would fall in love. But the thing is. I get it all, whether I stay or not. Are you cross? Do you feel manipulated? I hope you don't because although it was a crazy thing to do, she was doing what she thought was best for us.'

He shook his head and laughed. 'I'm not cross. It seems Mattie knew us both better than we know ourselves.'

'It seems she did. But that's what she was so good at. Mattie could read a person inside out and she rarely got it wrong. And she could manipulate people to get what she wanted. She wanted us to be together.'

He smiled. 'Then it looks as if she's accomplished her final mission, doesn't it?'

Mia nodded and smiled up at him. 'And we don't have to live together or anything. I have the cottage, you have your farm.'

He stopped abruptly. 'Hold on. Are you saying we should live our lives together but apart?'

'It's the perfect compromise. You always said you don't want marriage, or kids, or a woman moving in with you.'

'And you said people can change if they want to. I haven't been able to stop thinking about that angel falling, or that you nearly got sliced up by the harvester. I've been thinking how I would feel if anything happened to you, or to me, and that's made me see the light. I can't make any promises but one thing I do know for sure. I want to change, Mia. I want to be in love. No. I'm already in love, I think. I've never been in love before, but I've never felt like this and I'm pretty sure it's love. I could live without you. But I don't want to live without you. I've never told any woman I loved her. Apart from my mum. But that was different.' He grinned.

'I know, Jet. I understand. Saying the words won't be easy for you.'

'Actually. I think it will.' He became serious as he looked her in the eyes. 'I love you, Mia.' He sighed deeply as if saying that had been a huge relief.

She beamed up at him. 'And I love you, Jet. I have said that to someone else. But this time it's different. This time I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that you're The One, Jet Cross. And there will never be another. So you'd better start getting used to the idea. It's a pity you didn't go into that fortune-teller's tent that day. It would've been interesting to see what predictions she had for you.'

'There's always next year.' He smiled. 'Although I don't think I need to be told what my future has in store.'

'Happiness and joy beyond my wildest dreams is what she told me I'd have. If I chose Love wisely. So as I've chosen you, I'd say you'll have that too.'

'I'm pretty sure I already have.'

The moon was on the wane and a few puffs of clouds drifted across the sky as he bent his head to kiss her in the otherwise silence of the evening, but a second before their lips met, a high-pitched screeching shattered their tranquillity.

'Are those police sirens?' Mia said.

Jet turned. 'Yes. And they're pulling up outside the church.'

'Oh God. Perhaps there's been another accident.'

'I hope not.' He took her hand again and they hurried towards Tom's cottage, the sirens competing with the deafening music emanating from the pub.

'Wait a minute.' Mia couldn't believe her eyes. 'Is that Tom the police are bringing out? Is he in handcuffs or am I imagining it?'

'You're not imagining it. What the hell's happened? There's Bear. Perhaps he'll know. Bear!' Jet called and waved to him a couple of times, and he finally saw them and nodded his head in acknowledgment. 'What's going on?'

Bear scratched his head as they reached his side. 'You're probably not going to believe this, or perhaps you will. Craig, a friend of mine from Little Whitingdale did the video of Hettie's wedding, and caught on camera, that angel that almost fell on you. He hadn't played it all back until today and when he did, part of the video was of the belfry and the steeple. Hettie had asked him to try to film and record the Angel Bell while it was ringing. In one corner of the video, you can see there's someone on the roof, tampering with the carved stone angel. When Craig enlarged it, it was clear that it was Tom. Craig had caught him giving the thing the final shove and then it shows the angel wobbling and smashing to the ground and you and Mia almost being hit by it. I believe that comes under attempted murder or at least intent to do grievous bodily harm.'

'Tom tried to kill me?' Jet looked stunned and Mia gasped. 'Tom? But why?'

Bear shrugged. 'That's the way it seems. Perhaps he thought with you out of the way, he stood a chance with Mia. Oh hold on. Why is Alexia dashing towards the car? What's that about? Is she trying to hit Tom?'

'Oh my God,' Mia said. 'She's trying to kiss him. Look! She's trying to wrap her arms around him.'

'Tom! Tom!' Alexia screamed, as a police officer attempted to hold her at bay. She hit him in the face and attacked the other officer who was trying to get Tom in the car.

Jet let go of Mia's hand. 'Stay here,' he said, and ran with Bear to the officers' aid.

It took all of them to get both Tom and Alexia under control and by this time, Ella and Gill had raced to Mia's side, Gill also going to help the police and Jet and Bear.

'Bloody hell,' Ella said. 'This is just like a Saturday night in London. God, sometimes I miss those days.'

Mia looked at her and blinked. 'Except it's Wednesday and even in London I don't think I've ever seen a vicar being arrested.'

'Or a barmaid coming to his rescue. Hey! This adds a whole new dimension to my vicar and tart jokes!' She grinned.

'It's not funny, Ella. Tom actually tried to kill Jet! He pushed that angel off it's corbel. A friend of Bear's got it all on video. But what I don't understand is why Alexia would risk getting arrested to try to free Tom.'

'You heard her in the cave. She called out his name.'

Mia nodded. 'Yes. But she also called out Jet's.'

'True. But it looked as if she was trying to kiss Tom just now. Perhaps something had been going on between them, just as Mattie thought it had.'

'She was trying to kiss him. I saw that. But that's what I don't get. I thought she was dating someone from one of the other villages. That was the last I heard.'

Ella shrugged. 'Perhaps she and Tom have been secretly dating.'

'But why keep it secret? And why pretend to date other people? And does that mean Tom wasn't really in love with me? God. This is making my head hurt.'

'Mine too. I suppose we'll eventually find out. Well, it looks as if they've got things under control.'

Mia and Ella walked forward as another police car roared down the lane towards them and Lori and Franklin, along with several others, came tumbling out of the pub. Lori waved and rushed to Mia, as Alexia was led towards the second car.

Alexia spotted Mia and glowered at her. 'This is your fault,' she hissed. 'Why wouldn't you just bloody well leave? Tom and I should've got at least half of that old bag's money.'

Jet looked furious. 'Ignore her, Mia.'

'And you can drop dead,' Alexia spat at him. 'How could you prefer that silly cow to me? How could Garrick? At least Tom had good taste. He wasn't in love with you, Mia. He was only pretending so that we could find that sodding will and codicil.'

'Get in the car, miss,' the officer said.

Alexia struggled until the officer slammed the door. The other officer she had hit, rubbed his chin.

'She's got a good right hook. I've arrested men who haven't hit me as hard as that.'

He got in the car and after a few minutes more, they drove off.

'Did she say Tom was pretending to be in love with you?' Ella asked. 'He's a bloody good actor, if that's the case. He certainly had me convinced.'

Mia nodded. 'Me too. Although I still don't know what all that was about. Did they think they were named in the codicil?'

'That's what it sounded like,' Lori said, wrapping her arm around Mia until Jet came back and joined them.

'Well. That was a bit of a surprise,' he said, taking her hand and holding it tight. 'Alexia and Tom? Who would've guessed that?'

'Mattie did,' Mia said, as Toby Bywater came towards them, head bowed. The man looked mortified.

'What can I say?' Toby said, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head. 'Mum, Dad and I had no idea. I swear we didn't. Not until Alexia ran out screaming that the police were taking away the man she loved. Dad tried to stop her and that's when it came out. She's been secretly dating Tom for months, but they both pretended to be interested in other people to divert suspicion from them. She called us stupid and said she had to get out of this dump. And that once they got Mattie's money, they would be off. It seems she was the one who left you those warnings, Mia.'

'And Tom was the one who broke into my cottage, I suspect. He was looking for the will and codicil.'

'And he was the one who pushed the stone angel,' Bear said. 'And I presume, he also tampered with your brakes, Jet.'

'But why? I had nothing to do with the will?'

Toby sighed. 'I suppose because it was pretty clear to everyone except you, that you fell for Mia almost immediately. And it was also pretty obvious that she had fallen for you. I don't know, I'm only guessing, but I do know that Alexia was still bitter at being dumped by you over two years ago, and then, even though she was secretly with Tom, she dated Garrick and he dumped her for Mia. Tom wanted you out of the way, Jet, because he knew Mia would stay if you asked her to. I think they were both starting to get desperate and things took a more serious turn.'

'Then why not simply do away with me?' Mia queried.

'They're both unhinged,' Ella said. 'Nutters do nutty things. There doesn't need to be a reason and it doesn't have to make sense. Perhaps killing you off would bring too much suspicion on Tom, if he had been named in the codicil, as he obviously assumed he had.'

'And I thought Alexia was nice.' Mia shook her head. 'I thought we could be friends.'

'Imagine how we feel,' Toby said. 'We had no idea my sister was like this and we've lived with her all her life. We knew she had a temper, and reacted badly if things didn't go her way, but we never, for even a second, suspected anything like this. We're really sorry, Mia. And you, Jet. We hope you won't tar us with the same brush. Mum's in a right state and Dad's trying to put on a brave face, but this is the worst thing to happen in our family, ever. I'm not sure what we'll do. Mum thought the sun shone out of Alexia. And I can't believe I didn't know my own sister. It's so unreal. We're all in a state of shock. But I felt I had to come and talk to you about it. To apologise for all of us.'

Mia sighed softly. 'It's true what you said, Mum. You can be with someone all your life and never really know them. And you can be with someone for a day and know them inside out and up and down and backwards. I won't hold any of this against you, Freda and Alec, Toby. It's not your fault. But I think I need a drink.'

'Under the circumstances,' Toby said. 'The drinks are on the house for all of you tonight. It won't make up for what Alexia did, but at least it'll help with the shock.'

'And all for nothing,' Mia said. 'I found the codicil and I get everything whether I stay or go. Tom wasn't left a penny.'

Toby blinked. 'Wow! That's great. You deserve it after this. Um. Did you know that Mattie also owned Grace's cottage?'

'What?' Mia blinked in disbelief. 'Grace Tyburn? Tom's gran?' She looked at Jet, who shook his head, and then at her mum and Ella. 'I had no idea. The solicitor told me she owned other assets, but he wouldn't say what until I inherit at the end of the year. Although, of course, once I show him the codicil and he opens his copy, I'll get it all now, I suppose. But no. I didn't know. Are you sure?'

Toby nodded. 'That's what made Tom even more angry, I suppose. And Alexia. They obviously thought Tom would inherit Corner Cottage after Grace died, but when she did, that's when Tom found out that Mattie had bought the cottage from Grace several years ago so that Grace would have plenty of cash to live on. There was hardly anything left by the time Grace died.' He shook his head. 'It seems Grace had an addiction for online gambling and blew almost all her money on that.'

'Wow!' Mia said. 'So that's what Mattie meant. She said she was making sure Grace had money. She didn't say she was buying the cottage.'

Toby shrugged. 'Come on. I'll get you those drinks.'

'Hold on,' Jet whispered, squeezing Mia's hand. 'I'd like a word.'

Ella, Lori and the others smiled and left them to it when Mia nodded.

'Please don't tell me you're having second thoughts,' Mia said.

He grinned. 'Absolutely not. I just don't understand how everyone could see how we felt about each other but we couldn't.'

'I could, Jet. You were the only one who couldn't. But only because you didn't want to.'

'Well, I want to now. And I want to ask you something.'

'Go on.'

'You keep saying that people can change. You, your mum, Fiona, me. Well, if that's true, and even I now believe it is, does that mean you might be able to change the way you feel about animals and farms?'

She smiled up at him. 'With some time and effort, yes. And a bit of one to one training and hands-on experience. I would say I'll have it cracked in a year or two.'

He swallowed. 'A year or two? As long as that?'

'Says the man who doesn't believe in relationships, or a woman moving in, or marriage, or anything else like that.'

'Says the woman who can't wait to get me into bed and says she's sure that I'm The One.'

'Oh I am sure, Jet. I told you that and I meant it. But that's why there's no rush. I'm not going anywhere and neither are you, I think. I also think you're right to want to take things slow. And I think you're right to—'

He cut her short by kissing her and when he finally eased away, he smiled and looked into her eyes.

'And I've told you, you think too much. And this time, I'm not going to walk away. I'll never walk away from you again.'

She grinned at him. 'You won't? Is that a promise?'

'I won't. I promise.'

She ran her hands down the front of his torn and tattered Frankenstein shirt. 'Jet?'

'Yes, Mia?'

'Will you sleep with me tonight?'

He sighed. 'It's always about sex with you, isn't it?'

'Does that mean no?' She gave him a disappointed look.

His lips twitched before blossoming into a huge smile. 'No, Mia. That means yes. Most definitely, yes. Although I think I can guarantee we won't get much sleep.'

'I certainly hope we won't.'

'Do you still want that drink?'

She shook her head. 'There's plenty of wine and beer at home.'

'There's brandy at my home. Do you want to come home with me?'

'Jet Cross. I thought you'd never ask.'

She grabbed his shirt collars, pulled him to her and kissed him. As he returned her kiss, he picked her up, lifted her legs so that they wrapped around him and he carried her towards his new car, parked in the drive of Sunbeam Cottage.

A group of laughing children rushed from door to door, yelling, 'Trick or treat?'

Jet stopped kissing her for long enough to open the car door.

'Treat,' she said, smiling into his eyes. 'Without a doubt, if that kiss was anything to go by.'

He smiled at her and winked. 'I know a few tricks,' he said, his voice crackling with excitement and laughter.

'I know a few tricks of my own,' she replied. 'And I'm telling you now, Jet Cross. You're in for one hell of a treat. I think we both are.'

He kissed her again as he sat her in the passenger seat before dashing to his side of the car and jumping in.

'I know we are,' he said, beaming at her as he turned on the ignition.

She matched his smile, leant across and kissed him on the cheek. 'And all because of a fortune-teller and a great-aunt I never even knew I had.'