Tori looked down at a sleeping Aidan as she buttoned up her shirt. It was still early but she wanted to be out of there before he woke. They’d had fun and she would never regret that. She couldn’t be angry at him just because he didn’t feel the same way. But it was better to walk away now, there was no point in prolonging the agony. Although she didn’t think this pain in her chest could get any worse.

She noticed the sheets of coloured paper on top of the drawers that he had obviously been using to make the paper flowers for her.

She picked up a red sheet and quickly folded it to make a paper heart, she laid it on the pillow next to him, then placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. He smiled in his sleep and her heart ached.

She looked around the room to make sure she had everything and then, giving one last look at Aidan, she left the room. She’d only made it to the front door before the tears spilled over her cheeks.

Tori walked back down the drive and into Blossom Cottage. Melody and Jamie were sitting together on the sofa, feeding the puppies and laughing and chatting. She really didn’t want to talk to anyone right now, but she needed to pack and leave, and she would need to explain to Melody why she was leaving early.

Melody looked up at her as she walked in, a huge smile on her face, which quickly fell from her lips.

‘Oh god, what’s wrong?’ she said.

Tori gestured helplessly over her shoulder, trying to find the words. ‘It’s over between me and Aidan.’

The words made her choke and tears filled her eyes again.

Melody leapt up, handing her puppy to Jamie and quickly enveloping Tori in a giant hug.

Tori wrapped her arms around her and cried into her shoulder.

Melody brought her to the sofa and sat Tori down between her and Jamie.

‘What happened?’ Jamie said.

‘He’s scared of getting hurt again,’ Tori said, wiping the tears away only for them to be replaced with more. ‘He cares about me, but he’s not willing to take a risk.’

They were silent for a moment and Jamie, clearly not knowing what to do or say to make the situation better, handed her a puppy which in some small way helped. Tori snuggled it against her chest, burying her face into its warm fur.

‘Was this to do with what I said?’ Jamie said.

‘No, we are totally capable of screwing this up on our own, we don’t need any help,’ Tori said.

‘He’s crazy about you, anyone can see that. I was wrong about that. There is nothing casual about the way he looks at you,’ Jamie said.

‘It’s not enough though.’

‘Do you like him?’ Melody asked.

Tori nodded. ‘I’ve fallen in love with him.’

Melody took a little intake of breath, and despite everything let out a tiny squeal of excitement. She really couldn’t help herself.

‘And did you tell him that?’

‘Yes, he didn’t say it back.’

‘Perhaps he just needs more time, you guys haven’t known each other long,’ Jamie said.

‘I’m not expecting marriage and happy ever afters. I thought I might rent a house here for a few months, see if we actually have something. He didn’t even want to do that.’

God, saying it out loud was completely heartbreaking. Aidan didn’t want anything more from her than sex. That’s what it had been all along.

They fell into silence. There really wasn’t anything to say.

‘The man’s an idiot,’ Jamie said, and Tori smiled despite everything. ‘You have made him happier over the last few days than I’ve ever seen him. I can’t believe he would throw that away.’

‘I get it, he’s scared. I’ve been there. Love hurts and he’s trying to protect himself. I’m not worth the risk.’

‘Idiot,’ Jamie muttered, loyally.

Tori sighed and turned to Melody. ‘I need to go, I’m sorry. I know I was due to stay for another week, but I just can’t stay here and see him every day, it hurts too much.’

To her surprise, Melody nodded with understanding. ‘I know, it’s OK.’

‘Why don’t we arrange for a week’s holiday somewhere soon? We could get a cottage, maybe in the Cotswolds, just me, you, Isla and Elliot.’

‘I’d really like that.’

Tori hugged her and then went upstairs to pack.

She had just lifted the suitcase onto the bed when there was a big crash downstairs, which sounded like the front door had been slammed open.

There were raised voices and feet thundering on the stairs and then suddenly Aidan was standing in her bedroom, staring at her.

His eyes fell on the suitcase.

‘You’re really leaving?’

‘Yes.’

He looked pained. ‘Why?’

She looked at him incredulously. ‘You know why.’

‘You said you loved me.’

‘Yes, you never said it back,’ Tori said, tears choking her voice.

‘I did. I told you I loved you, straight after we made love, I said I loved you and that I had never felt this way about anyone before which was what made it so scary, because I knew if I lost you it would hurt even more.’

She stared at him, her heart thundering in her chest. ‘Wait, what? You never said those things.’

‘I did. You fell asleep. I didn’t realise when I was giving my big speech, I was too busy kissing you all over. I was hopeful you had heard some of it, you went to sleep with this big smile on your face. And then I wake up this morning and you’d gone, leaving only your heart behind.’ He had the paper heart in his hand.

‘I…’ Tori had no words, tears filling her eyes again. ‘You love me?’

He sighed and moved closer, cupping her face with his large gentle hands.

‘I love you. I’ve fallen head over heels in love with you, your kindness, your passion, the way you make me laugh. I love all those things. I want to make a future with you.’

‘Oh,’ Tori said lamely, tears coursing down her cheeks.

‘I’m sorry I was an ass, I was scared, and I know how hard it was for you to put your heart out there like that and even harder that it was rejected.’ He handed her the paper heart and as she took it she realised it had plasters over it. She laughed. ‘I want to take care of your heart from now on, I want to heal it of all its cuts and bruises.’

‘And I want to help heal yours,’ Tori said, leaning forward and placing a kiss over his heart. ‘And we’ll go slowly. I can get a cottage down here. We don’t have to rush anything.’

He smiled. ‘I love you, I want you with me at Heartberry Farm, that’s where you belong. I realised that last night, watching you work so damned hard to save the berries in the pouring rain, running backwards and forwards, taking the full baskets from people, replacing them with empty ones, working so well with the people of the village. You belong here, and I was an idiot to doubt that.’

Her heart soared. ‘I belong with you, I love you. Wherever you are, that’s where I belong.’

He kissed her, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her against him. She couldn’t help but smile as she kissed him back.

He lowered her to the bed, the kiss continuing.

‘Um, Aidan, Tori. We’re going to go,’ Jamie called up the stairs, awkwardly. Tori laughed against Aidan’s lips as Aidan sighed. They’d both forgotten that Jamie and Melody were there.

‘OK,’ Aidan said.

He kissed her again.

‘We’ve fed the puppies,’ Jamie said, and Tori heard Melody giggle.

‘OK, thanks,’ Aidan said, kissing her again.

‘And, umm, they’ll need feeding again in two hours, so, um, don’t be too long, umm… doing what you’re doing,’ Jamie said, and Melody’s giggles got louder.

‘OK!’ Aidan said, his voice getting louder, laced with irritation.

‘And Beauty and Beast have already been fed too,’ Jamie said, and Tori got the impression he was now doing this deliberately.

‘Get out,’ Aidan said, and Tori laughed.

They heard the door close below them and Aidan sighed with relief.

‘I hate my brother.’

‘I love him. I love all your crazy family.’

‘Good job too, because they’ll be your family soon enough.’

She smiled at that thought. ‘When we get married, we can have Dobby as the ring bearer.’

He laughed. ‘Agatha got it right for once, she saw our fate even before we saw it.’

‘I might have to thank her for the nudge,’ Tori said.

‘Oh, don’t do that, she’ll be smug enough when we tell her we’re together.’

Tori laughed, and he kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back.

As he moved his mouth to her neck, she glanced out the window at the glittering sea of Sandcastle Bay.

It was funny how fate worked. It might look like it was against her sometimes but also it had a canny knack of giving her exactly what she needed. Fate had given her Matthew, who had gifted her strength and courage to give love a chance after her heart had been bruised so badly. It had led her to Leo who had encouraged her to take the fun path, to take a risk. And those roads had led her to Aidan, the man she loved with everything she had. Right then, she couldn’t be happier with fate. Following the fun path was definitely the way forward from now on and it looked like she would have some gorgeous company on her journey.

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