A Seaside Escape: A feel-good romance to warm your heart this winter by Lisa Hobman (15)

It felt good to be emancipated, even if was temporarily, from the stress of the chaos that had become her relationship with Greg. She was looking forward to seeing Josie too.

She flicked through her iPod and found her workout songs tracklist. An angry singalong was just what the doctor ordered and the growling, scathing lyrics of ‘You Oughta Know’ by Alanis Morissette seemed so fitting and rang through the car and out into the warm September morning via the rolled down windows. Then it was the turn of Pearl Jam and ‘Rearview Mirror’ followed by Avril Lavigne’s ‘My Happy Ending’. All good clear-your-head-get-it-outta-your-system songs. She could almost convince herself she felt better already.

Seven hours later after taking only one brief stop-off; and after singing along to as many angry, loud songs as she could lay her hands on, at the top of her voice – much to the amusement of other motorists – she arrived at Railway Terrace. It was just after six and she was starving.

Josie had seen her pull up and was waiting. Exiting the car and almost running up the driveway, Mallory flung her arms around her best friend.

‘It’s so good to see you,’ Josie said as she hugged her back hard. ‘Brad is just out pricing up a job but he’ll be home soon. I’m so glad you’re here.’

‘It’s good to be here, I’ve missed you,’ Mallory replied, fighting back the threatening tears.

Josie helped Mallory into the house with her things and then made a pot of fresh coffee. Ruby ran around in the familiar surroundings wagging her tail. Once Mallory had deposited her case upstairs she came and sat with Josie in her old lounge and told her about Alice and her antagonistic accusations.

Josie gasped in shock, her hands on her face. ‘So, do you think they’re getting back together for real? Or is that just her wishful thinking?’

She shook her head. ‘I don’t know. She kept touching him and kissing him, but he looked uncomfortable. All the songs he sang had messages which were clearly aimed at me. I don’t know what to think. But it’s irrelevant, Josie. I can’t trust him.’

Josie took a deep breath and paused. ‘Mallory, I get that he was economical with the truth, but you obviously have feelings for him or you wouldn’t have rushed down here. Don’t you think maybe you’ve overreacted a little?’

Mallory was annoyed by the direct approach, but that was Josie; she was nothing if not direct. Mallory shifted in her seat and her lips were pressed together.

Josie continued on her mission of truth, ‘You need to think long and hard, like I’ve said before. If he feels for you like he says he does, then Mrs Conceited-Pants will have no chance at getting into his life again. There are only so many times you’ll let someone break your heart, you know.’

Mallory relaxed a little and sighed as she remembered what Greg had told her about Alice. She was a nasty piece of work, out for her own gains. Greg was just the opposite.

Josie sighed deeply. ‘Mally, can I be honest with you?’

Mallory huffed. ‘When have you ever been anything else?”

‘Okay, true. But… I think I know what you’re doing.’

Mallory scrunched her brow. ‘So do I. I’m escaping from people who are messing with my mind.’

‘No. I think what you’re doing is sabotaging things out of guilt.’

‘Pfft. How am I doing that?’

Josie took Mallory’s hand. ‘Because you feel guilty for having feelings for Greg. So, you’ve latched onto the first thing that’s cropped up as an obstacle. It’s given you the perfect excuse not to try and make things work with him. You feel guilty because Sam hasn’t been gone long and you’re scared of what people will think. But here’s the thing. People will think you fell in love. They’ll think how lucky you are for getting to have that twice in your life. They’ll think it’s wonderful that you found someone to love and be loved by. That’s all.’

Mallory’s lip trembled and she squeezed Josie’s hand. ‘I just need some time away. I need to be able to think clearly about everything. Not just Greg but what I want to do too. I was considering a second shop at Easdale, up near the house, but then all this happened and I’m now thinking of coming back here and getting a house with a workshop so I can just make things and be near you.’

Josie squeezed her hand. ‘Mallory, you have enough money to open a second shop. You should do it. The Leeds branch is doing so well and I love running it and don’t get me wrong it’s not that I don’t want you to be near me. Of course I do but… I honestly don’t think being back here is what you truly want.’

Regardless of what Josie had said Mallory wasn’t convinced that this was all a smoke screen. She had a lot of thinking to do.

The following day was a trip down memory lane. Mallory hadn’t been into the centre of Leeds since she had scattered Sam’s ashes and even though the journey was tinged with a little sadness it felt good to be back in the hustle and bustle of the busy shopping precinct with its huge department stores and vast array of designer shops.

Josie had suggested that Mallory came into the shop to see for herself how things were going. She wanted Mallory to see the fruits of her labours as she had managed to encourage other local craftspeople to have commission-based stands within the shop and so the variety of goods had increased dramatically. Business was booming. Mallory’s heart warmed to think that what started as a hobby had become a viable business venture. Aunt Sylvia would be so proud, she thought.

As she watched Josie work her sales magic, her mobile buzzed in her bag. She expected there to be a message from Stella as she knew she was concerned about her, so she fumbled around in her bright red bottomless pit of a bag and located the phone. It was a text.

From Greg.

She thought for a moment and hit reply.

She hit send but when she re-read the message she realised that perhaps she had been harsh. Too late now, lady, her subconscious chided.

Josie had arranged for them to go out for a meal with a few friends that night. They had been booked into the Tandoori Palace for eight. Mallory was looking forward to some good Indian food. She slipped on a pair of straight leg jeans, a purple V-neck top and black stilettos and she wore the bracelet from her first Christmas with Sam.

The restaurant was lively and warm when they arrived. The air was filled with the most tantalising aromas of exotic spices. Mallory’s mouth began to water in readiness for the delights she was about to savour. She sat towards the end of the long table with Josie at her right and Brad opposite. It was a kind of an accidental shield created by the friends for their supposedly fragile guest.

The night was filled with great conversation and delicious food but she was surrounded by couples and seeing others so happy made her strangely homesick for her little cottage in Scotland. She missed Greg. And reflecting on things with him she realised that Josie was right. She had clung to the first problem they had encountered. And the guilt over feeling she was being unfaithful to Sam was at the root of it all. But the truth was Sam was gone. He would never return and at some point she would have to move on. Life was for living and she knew Sam would want that for her. And Sam had wanted their life to be in Scotland. There had to be something in that too, surely? Being back in Yorkshire hadn’t eased her heart as she had expected and she realised that perhaps relocating once again wasn’t the answer.

The morning after the meal out, she visited the graves of her parents and her Aunt Sylvia who were all interred in the Westerman family plot. She placed flowers there and sat, eyes closed, enjoying the peace and quiet of the tranquil cemetery.

She opened her eyes and tilted her head to rest it on her shoulder. ‘I wish you guys were still around so you could tell me what to do,’ she told the headstone. ‘I think back to the lives you had and the way you loved and I feel like I should be the same. Aunt Sylvia, you remained single after Uncle died. Dad you left to be with Mum when she was gone. It doesn’t feel right that I’m even considering moving on from Sam. I don’t know what to do. I loved him so much. But is it possible to have a love that deep again?’ She closed her eyes and as she sat there a warm breeze blew across her face. Something shifted in the air around her and a calm serenity settled over in her tumultuous mind.

If she had any chance of being happy again she had to at least hear Greg out. Give him a chance to explain. It was the only way she could move forward. Being down in Yorkshire wasn’t helping things at all. She couldn’t resolve anything down here.

Mallory decided that the next day would see her return to Clachan Seil and the cottage she now called home. She concluded that perhaps she should give Greg another chance at friendship… it would be a start.

Her early start had meant that the return journey home was fairly straight forward. She took a brief break at the Green Welly stop and took Ruby for a quick walk. Grabbing a coffee and croissant to go, she set off for home once again.

Walking through the door of the house felt good. This was the first time she walked in and felt at home fully; totally. She sighed in a mixture of melancholy sadness and hopeful happiness. She had serious thinking to do.

After taking a nap she headed on over to the pub. Greg was standing behind the bar. Alice was nowhere to be seen thankfully. She walked over and his eyes lit up when his gaze lifted to meet hers.

‘Mallory, you’re back.’ He sounded joyful, but then his expression changed. ‘How long are you here for?’

‘I’m not exactly sure, Greg. Not yet. Can I speak to you in private please?’ The pub was fairly quiet apart from Ron in his usual spot and Colin and Christine eating a meal. Do they ever cook? She smiled to herself. They all acknowledged Mallory with a wave and a smile.

‘Is everything okay, Mallory?’ Greg asked with a look of concern as they stepped outside.

She locked her gaze on his. ‘Greg, I’ve done a lot of thinking whilst I’ve been away.’

His dark eyes were like an open book today – one filled with mixed emotions. He gave a sad smile. ‘I’m not going to like this, am I?’ he winced.

She smiled at him which seemed to relax him a little. ‘I think maybe I was… too hard on you about the whole marriage thing. I think I was waiting for things to fall apart and discovering that was a way out. I think it proved I wasn’t really ready to be anything more than friends. I don’t know if that will ever change now. Maybe there’s too much water under the bridge. But I think we could be friends again… If you want to?’ she asked.

Disappointment creased his brow. ‘Mallory, I love you. I probably always will. It’ll be hard to just be friends, but I would rather have that than the icy chill between us.’ He reached out and stroked her arm, his chocolate brown eyes now tinged with sadness.

‘I’m sorry but friendship is all I can offer,’ she reiterated.

He nodded, a defeated expression replacing the sadness. ‘It’s better than nothing.’

‘So, where’s Alice?’

He sighed and ran his hands over his face. ‘She went home. She… wants to give things another go with me,’ he admitted.

Mallory snorted derisively. ‘Oh, I’m fully aware of that. Did she not tell you about our cosy little chat in the ladies the last time you played?’ Greg’s expression changed to one of anger, but Mallory continued. ‘She accused me of breaking your heart worse than she had and pretty much warned me off you.’

Greg’s eyes widened. ‘Shit! Really? Is that why you went—’

‘Ha! Greg, I won’t be scared off by her or by anyone. I’ve become quite tough lately. I just needed a break. That’s all,’ she said sternly.

‘Okay. Well, I haven’t made her any promises and I won’t be doing so either.’

Mallory raised her eyebrows at him. ‘Not that it’s any of my business, but she told me you’re thinking about getting back together with her.’

‘I’m thirty-eight, Mallory. I admit that I don’t want to be alone forever, and I know now that I can’t have the person that I want but… if I’m really honest with myself, I think I’d rather stick with being alone than go through another relationship with her. She’s asked me to think about things and I said I would, just to appease her enough to make her leave, but deep down I think she knows it’s a no-go—’

‘I know it’s nothing to do with me, but I think she’d hurt you again and, as my friend, that prospect doesn’t sit right. But anyway, I… I’m glad we talked. Look, I’ll be off now. I’m not staying for a drink. I just wanted to see you,’ she said brusquely, backing away and turning to make her way home.

She was shocked that Greg was even pretending to consider taking Alice back after everything she had put him through. But as his friend she would be there to support him. That much was clear in her mind.

The shift in her heart over Greg had pushed her to make a decision about the house too. She couldn’t sell. Sam had wanted them to make a life in Scotland and the way she had felt on returning home to Sealladh-mara Cottage had cemented in her mind that this was home now. She called the estate agent and informed him of her decision and then cried tears of relief as she looked around her surroundings, knowing this was where she was meant to be after all.

*

Mallory was happy to be back at the pub that night. Greg would be there too as he was playing again. Stella had to ask him to increase his dates seeing as he was being asked for on a regular basis. Mallory was so happy that it was working out for him.

She dressed in black trousers and a black fitted shirt for her shift. She pinned up her hair and went with glasses instead of contacts. She chose red earrings, shoes and a belt. Greg was there when she arrived and he smiled when he saw her. He was clutching a half-empty whiskey glass.

She frowned. ‘I thought that stuff dried your vocal chords out,’ she teased him as she pulled herself a diet cola.

‘Aye, but I’m a tad nervous tonight. Some guy put a clip of me on the internet and this bloke from an entertainment agency is coming to see me play.’ He gulped down a large swig of the amber-coloured liquid, clearly trying to quell a tumult of nerves in his gut.

Mallory gasped. ‘Wow, Greg. That’s brilliant. What will happen if he likes what he sees?’

‘Ah… I won’t be famous or anything quite so crazy, but it could mean I get gigs further afield. He has a list of places all over Highland that I could be booked for.’

Mallory caught sight of a man and woman she didn’t recognise as locals as they walked in. They emanated professionalism, but looked awkward and out of place in the country pub, wearing their suits and carrying files. Rather than the entertainment agents she presumed they were, they looked more like not-so-secret agents or debt collectors, Mallory surmised.

Following her eyes, Greg inhaled sharply. ‘Shit, that must be them.’ He took another gulp of his single malt, then, shaking like a leaf, he went over to introduce himself.

Mallory watched as the two smartly dressed agency reps chatted to Greg and she saw his anxiety gradually subside. She was relieved for him.

The pub had become very busy and she was rushed off her feet at the bar as Greg took his spot behind the microphone.

‘Evening all.’ His usual greeting fell casually from his lips. ‘Good to be here again and to see the place packed. I’m sure Stella’s grateful and I know I am.’ An appreciative rumble traversed the room. ‘I’d like to start tonight off with a dedication to someone. They know who they are. The words have to be said and I can think of no better way to say them… It’s a song by a band who you may think obscure for a weeknight in a village pub. And it’s another fairly old one, but you know me and my love of twentieth-century music. Anyway, the sentiment is important. It’s by a band called Incubus and it’s called “Dig”.’

Mallory looked over and sure enough his gaze immediately locked on to hers.

The song was beautiful and talked of friendship, forgiveness and being there for each other. Mallory found her arms covered in goosebumps as the words touched her deeply. Greg’s voice never ceased to amaze her, hitting every note with precise perfection. Her heart swelled and she smiled despite the tears that formed in her eyes. He reciprocated her smile and all felt good. She was beginning to love that about Greg. He could always find the perfect song to express his feelings.

At the end of the night Greg chatted with the reps again. He looked happy and relieved and there was a lot of handshaking, smiling and nodding.

Mallory waited until they had gone before excitement got the better of her and she made her way over to where her friend was putting away his beloved guitar. She watched as he carefully placed the instrument in its case and remembered how those long, lean fingers had lovingly touched her skin only a short while ago. She shook her head to rid herself of the unwelcome intrusion.

‘Well?’ she waved her hands at him, eagerly awaiting his response.

‘They’ve taken me on!’ He grabbed her and hugged her before she had a chance to protest. But it felt good to be hugged so naturally again by him and she briefly rested her head on his hard chest.

Realising she was holding on a little too tightly she released him and stepped back. ‘I’m so happy for you, Greg. How amazing.’ She was incredibly proud of her friend – and it felt good to be able to call him her friend again. But she couldn’t help but wonder about what might have been.

He locked his gaze on her and for a moment she thought she saw something else lurking behind those chocolate brown eyes. But all too soon the moment was gone and he clapped his hands together. ‘Look, I’ve something to ask you. Feel free to say no if it’s too soon to socialise with me again but… I’m going to an open mic night at the beginning of October in Oban and I wondered if you’d like to come along? I’ve been before and there are some great performers there. What’s even better is that you can get up and do something if the mood takes you.’ He smiled.

She loved the sound of that and she had missed spending time with him. She grinned and nodded enthusiastically. ‘I think I can safely say I’ll be there.’

*

October, 2015

Things had settled down well for Mallory and Greg. They were back to joking and laughing again. Every so often there would be a tricky moment where he looked at her in the way that meant he still loved her, but she managed to rein her own emotions in. And although they didn’t discuss Alice, Mallory was very much aware she was the invisible elephant in the room.

The first weekend in October was dull, cold and rainy. Friday, the ninth was just as wet as the rest of the week so she had spent the day reading and listening to CDs Greg had loaned her. She had decided that she was going to encourage him to get an MP3 player and subscribe to some online streaming channels. She was determined to drag him kicking and screaming into the present. Greg picked her up and they set off for Oban at seven for the open mic night.

He was giddy and excitable like a kid on Christmas Eve. ‘So, Mallory, have you ever been musical at all?’ he enquired as they chugged along in the Landy.

Hesitantly she admitted, ‘Well… actually I used to sing in a choir back in Yorkshire a few years back.’

‘Really?’ After doing a double take, a wry grin appeared on his face. ‘What happened? Why’d you stop?’

‘I had a couple of solos and really enjoyed it, especially when I was asked to sing “Martha’s Harbour” by All About Eve… I love that song as it reminds me of Mum and Dad… but then the conductor changed and it all went downhill. I stopped enjoying it.’

‘Soooo, you’re a singer then?’ He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

‘Not for a long time and don’t be getting any ideas.’ She poked him.

He feigned shock. ‘Me? I don’t know what you could possibly mean.’

The sky was heavy and dark as they drove the journey to the club but in stark contrast the venue was alive with excitement and effervescence when they arrived. They got a drink from the bar and listened to the young man who was on stage performing a cover of ‘Fight Song’ by Rachel Platten, accompanied by his guitar. He was really good and it was interesting to hear it sung by a man.

They listened to a few more artistes. One of which was a girl with long red hair and green eyes who must have been in her late-twenties. Greg was transfixed on her as she sang a beautiful rendition of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, Eva Cassidy style. Mallory watched Greg as tears welled in his eyes and she realised from his reaction and from photos she had seen, that the girl bore a striking resemblance to Mairi.

Mallory squeezed his arm and he looked down at her, shaking his head as if he realised he had been staring. He leaned over to tell her he was going to the men’s room and disappeared. He was gone quite a while and Mallory was wondering if he was okay.

When he eventually returned, he grabbed Mallory’s arm and pulled her with him towards the stage. ‘You know you sang “Martha’s Harbour” in your choir that time?’ he whispered.

Mallory scrunched her nose as she looked up at him. ‘Yes, yes of course I remember. We were just talking about it.’ Her mouth fell open and she shook her head beginning to panic. Oh no. What has he done?

He grinned. ‘Aye well, I hope you remember the words, cos you’re just about to sing it live on stage. It just so happened it’s one of my favourites too and I know it like the back of my hand.’

She gasped and pulled against him. ‘You must be mad! There’s no way I’m—’

‘Ladies, gentleman, it’s time for a duet now. Next up this evening we have Greg McBradden and Mallory Westerman performing “Martha’s Harbour”.’

There was a rumble of applause and whistles and Mallory looked at the crowd, realising with horror that she was already on the stage. Unsure as to how she got there, she sat on the stool next to Greg as he began to play the opening chords to the haunting melody. He nodded and winked at her. Her mouth felt dry. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Never expected to be doing this tonight. Somehow, she managed to come in at the right time and the beautiful lyrics came flooding back to her.

She kept her eyes closed as she sang and a strange feeling washed over her. It was a sense of calm at the lilting guitar and how well Greg played the piece, but also at her inhibitions melting away. Memories of being with her mum and dad on a beautiful long beach in the Highlands danced around her mind. The cornflour blue sky a contrast to the pale golden sand and her dad’s words ringing around her, ‘Who needs tropical beaches when we have this amazing seaside escape right here on our own island…’

When the song finished, there was a rousing, raucous applause which took Mallory by surprise. She looked over at Greg who was grinning from ear to ear and glowing with pride. His eyes were glassy as he applauded her too and she buzzed with excitement and happiness like she hadn’t for a very long time.

When they had climbed down from the stage, Greg put his guitar down and scooped Mallory up in a bear hug. He kissed her head and both cheeks. She gazed up into his sparkling, intense brown eyes and for a moment she was lost. He leaned down close to her face and kissed her chastely on the lips, never taking his eyes off hers.

Her heart pounded against his and they were so close she felt sure he could feel it. She desperately wanted to kiss him back but shook her head and looked away. He seemed to have got the point and released his grip on her.

He cleared his throat. ‘You were amazing up there, do you know that?’ he said, running his hands through his hair as if to occupy them somehow. ‘You’re a bloody good singer. You’ve been holding out on me, you sly lassie.’ He laughed.

‘I have to admit it felt pretty amazing too,’ she confessed, her heart still galloping, but the adrenaline that had been coursing through her veins was beginning to calm.

Greg got up and did a few more numbers throughout the night and he was wonderful. He even slotted in a rendition of Hozier’s ‘Take Me to Church’, which the audience loved.

But Mallory was hounded by confusion about her feelings for him again. The pounding of her heart wasn’t just down to the rush of being on stage and she knew it. The fact it skipped a beat or two when he was so close was playing on her mind. He made eye contact with her periodically throughout his songs, making heat rise in her face. And he performed Buzzcock’s ‘Ever Fallen in Love’ with a grin on his face and his eyes locked on her whilst he sang. The temperature of her cheeks soared yet again.

During the journey home Greg attempted to make small talk, but as always, he was better at communicating through song so the conversation melted into an awkward silence. Eventually, they parked outside her house.

He turned off the engine and swivelled in his seat to face her. ‘Thank you for a wonderful night.’

‘Thank you for making me confront my fears. I loved singing tonight.’

‘We’ll have to do it again soon, eh?’ he suggested hopefully.

Narrowing her eyes, she replied, ‘Hmm, we’ll see about that.’ She wasn’t sure if she wanted it to become a habit considering how nervous she had been.

With an intensity to his dark eyes he reached for her hand. ‘Can I ask you something, Mallory?’

She broke away from his gaze and pulled her hand away. ‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea.’

‘I’m going to ask anyway. I think I’ll be able to tell the real answer by your body language.’

She turned to him again, trying to plead with her eyes. ‘Greg, don’t, okay? We’ve had a lovely evening please don’t spoil it.’

‘Mallory, can you look me in the eye and tell me honestly that you don’t want to be more than friends?’ His gaze was filled with hope.

She sighed. ‘Greg, you lied about being married. It doesn’t matter how I feel. You broke the trust we had, even if it was a lie by omission. It’ll take a long time to get that back. I would always be wondering if there was more to come.’ Her heart rate increased yet again and she swallowed in a bid to dislodge the lump of emotion tightening her throat. Why couldn’t she keep her emotions in check around him?

His eyes became glassy again and his voice strained. ‘Mallory, you know I don’t love her. I still love you. It’s been you since the first day we met.’ He took her hand in his again. ‘I know you feel something for me. I know you do. Why deny it?’

She tried hard to be annoyed, but it was so difficult when he looked at her that way. ‘Greg, stop. I’m not going there again. It doesn’t matter how I feel.’

‘Just let me kiss you. It’ll all melt away; all your doubt.’ He leaned towards her and slipped his hand into her hair.

A betraying tear escaped her eye. ‘I can’t,’ she whispered. She removed her hand from his grasp, pulled herself away and climbed out of the car, closing the door behind her.

*

Greg was friendly at the pub and as time went on, he seemed to become more resigned to how things were between them. Mallory’s heart broke a little each time she saw him, but felt that at least things would be more straightforward. Greg’s song choices became more generic and Mallory simply stopped looking for the hidden meanings and messages that he used to send in the hope that her heart would change. He even stopped making eye contact with her when he sang. A line had been drawn in the sand. It was over… for good.

Greg had started to play at a variety of other venues following being signed up to the entertainment agency Class Act Talent and, as a result, his bar work at the pub became less and less.

Mallory missed him. But when she did see him he regaled her with tales of the other venues. It sounded like he was having fun. She listened with enthusiasm and even suggested songs for his set list and he made notes, finally admitting that it would be easier if he had an iPod.

He was attracting a lot of attention from the opposite sex too. Women were slipping him their numbers on a regular basis. But why wouldn’t they? He was, after all, gorgeous.

‘Aye, they loved me over by Fort William. I got handed three phone numbers! Can you believe these women? It’s like I’m some celebrity. I still can’t believe it.’ He laughed, shaking his head as they washed glasses at the end of one shift.

‘Well, you must be doing something right.’ Mallory tried to sound happy despite the ache in her chest.

‘I just feel like a piece of meat,’ he joked dramatically. ‘They only want me for my body. Never mind my talent.’ He played the camp act well, making Mallory giggle.

She flicked him with a towel. ‘You should be so lucky.’

‘You’ll have to come along with me to one of the other places sometime.’

She forced a laugh. ‘What? To watch women fawn all over you? No thanks.’

Greg shrugged. ‘Your loss,’ he simply stated and walked out the back.

*

One night in late October came the inevitable and dreaded news that he had met a woman he liked. Mallory’s warring internal feelings rose again. Of course, she wanted him to be happy and she had resigned herself to the fact that it wouldn’t be with her, but now that it was happening she hated the way it knotted her insides.

The new woman was called Kate and Greg said they had flirted a little when he had played one of the venues through his new agent. He described her as a curvy brunette and said she was the daughter of one of the venue owners and that she was training to be a nurse. He hadn’t taken her out yet, but was considering asking. Mallory listened as he told her all about Kate and her heart sank. She kept reminding herself that after he had kept things from her she and Greg could have no future. But what irked her most was that he had told Kate straight off about his marriage. Apparently, he had learned from that mistake.

‘She’s really nice. I really like her and think you would too. I just don’t know whether I should take the plunge, you know?’

‘Well, maybe you should just go for it,’ she offered without enthusiasm or emotion.

Scratching his beard, he thought for a moment. ‘Aye, maybe I will…’

*

Sam’s birthday was looming and knowing how difficult she would find it, Mallory hopped on a train to visit Yorkshire. The drive was too stressful and the train afforded her time to sketch designs and read. Ruby stayed with Ron this time as he adored the little dog and Ruby apparently felt the same. And even though escaping to Yorkshire was easy she knew deep down it was the coward’s way out.

When October twenty-fifth finally arrived Josie and Brad made sure to keep Mallory occupied. They spent the day in York visiting the dungeon and taking an open-top bus ride in the freezing cold. Mallory appreciated so much that they had made the day fun and when they arrived home Brad ordered a takeaway and produced a bottle of champagne to accompany their Indian food.

‘We got you a little something to remember Sam by,’ Josie informed her once the meal was finished.

‘Yeah, it was Josie’s idea to get this so you can blame her.’ Brad nudged his girlfriend.

Brad disappeared into the kitchen and returned moments later with a huge tub that contained a tree.

Mallory scrunched her brow. ‘What on earth is that?’

Josie cleared her throat and wiped at her eyes. ‘Erm… it’s a… erm… Maple tree, Mally. We thought you could plant it in your lovely garden up there in Scotland.’

Mallory’s lip trembled and she grappled the pair into a bear hug. It was such a wonderful sentiment and she was lost for words.

‘Yeah, daft bat forgot you were on the train,’ Brad laughed, trying to lighten the mood even though it was clear from his voice that he was emotional too.

Mallory wiped at her eyes and gazed at the sapling. ‘It’s the best gift ever. Sam would’ve loved it and I can’t wait to plant it.’

Whilst she was in Yorkshire she caught the train into the city just because she could and she covered for Josie in the shop, enjoying being back on the frontline again. It was like old times and it felt comfortable. The thought of opening the second shop at Easdale began to dance around her head again. So many things to think about and so little will to face them.

After boarding the train to make her journey home to Scotland, Mallory secured the huge tub and the sapling it contained in the luggage rack. Once seated, she got chatting to an elderly lady, quite out of the blue. The lady enquired as to her marital status, as old folks tend to, and when the train broke down due to an engine fault, she found herself telling this complete stranger all about Sam and Greg. It felt good to talk to someone who just listened without preconceived ideas and without any prejudice.

The lady, who introduced herself as Edith, spoke candidly, reminding her of her Aunt Sylvia. ‘You know, my dear, after the Second World War things were tough. We had little money back then but we were so relieved to have peace. I loved my husband-to-be so dearly. Geoffrey was such a handsome fellow – a bit older than me, but I couldn’t wait to be his wife. But then war broke out again, this time in Korea and he was called up to serve his country and my heart broke. It’s a war that people don’t really think of any more but my Geoffrey was killed in action the first week out. I couldn’t believe it. I never thought I’d ever love anyone again. But it just goes to show that love doesn’t follow strict timings.’

‘What goes to show, Edith? What happened?’ Mallory asked enthusiastically.

‘Well, there were all these “yanks” as we called them, still in the UK after the Second World War. Many of them chose not to go home. Stanley was one of the “overpaid and over here” lot.’ Edith chuckled at her memory. ‘He was handsome, sure enough. But I was grieving for my Geoffrey. The trouble was, Stanley fell head over heels for me and was determined to make me do the same.’

‘What did he do?’ Mallory was intrigued by the romance of the story.

‘Oh… he gave me extra rations for my family… he brought me silk stockings and chocolate when they were virtually impossible to get hold of… he picked flowers for me.’ She smiled fondly. ‘He was a true gentleman and slowly but surely I realised that life was too short to look backwards. I was never going to get Geoffrey back, but I had a chance at happiness again.’ She looked directly at Mallory, her eyes filled with sincerity. ‘If you love someone enough, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, dear. It doesn’t matter what’s in his past. If he truly loves you and no one else and you know that deep in your heart… well, I wouldn’t be sitting on a broken-down train chatting to some daft old lady. I’d be on my way to wherever he was.’ She squeezed Mallory’s hand and Mallory immediately realised that the story had come back to her and Greg.

Mallory’s eyes stung. ‘But… his wife… he lied.’

The old lady took a deep breath. ‘Now dear, I think seeing as I don’t know you, I can be brutally honest. The wife he has is what you youngsters these days call “emotional baggage”. He doesn’t love her. It sounds to me like he doesn’t even think about her long enough for her to become a concern for him and that’s why she never came up in conversation. What you need to decide is whether you’re prepared to accept that?’

The train jolted into life again and Mallory sat back, open-mouthed at the clarity that Edith had brought to her situation. The train pulled into the next station and Edith rose to alight the carriage.

‘Edith!’ Mallory was shaken from her thoughts. ‘What happened… to you and Stanley I mean? Did you get your happy ever after?’ Mallory was desperate to know.

Edith smiled warmly. ‘Dear, we were married for fifty-four years, blissfully happy until I lost him to the dreaded cancer.’ She shook her head. ‘I never regretted a single moment of “rushing into it” with him, dear. He was wonderful. Now see that you don’t miss that chance at happiness. Take care.’ And with that, Edith was gone like a fairy godmother.

Everything suddenly became clear. Mallory knew exactly what she needed to do and just had to pluck up the courage to do it. Another journey beyond her comfort zone was on the horizon, that one thing was certain.

*

Mallory arrived back in Scotland in time for the Halloween bash at the pub. Stella had texted and asked her to come in and help decorate the place with accessories for the party and she had cordially agreed to do so. She was so excited. She had done a lot of thinking about things whilst she was away, thanks to Edith and of course straight-talking Josie. She was looking forward to seeing Greg to ask for his forgiveness over how she had reacted and to ask if he wanted to give things another go.

But before going to the pub, she had a couple of important things to do. After collecting Ruby from Ron she drove along the road to see a little shop in Easdale with a view to renting it. The village, with its whitewashed one-story buildings, had a nice community feel with a couple of restaurants and little shops where Le Petit Cadeau would fit in very well.

The place she viewed was perfect. The amount of space was just right and the owner had welcomed her interest. He gave her some figures to look through and she was going to peruse them to see if it could work out running the two shops concurrently. It was an exciting prospect and she couldn’t wait to tell Greg that she would be sticking around after all.

Once she returned home she changed into scruffy clothes and took the little sapling out into the back garden. Ruby followed close behind and helped dig the hole by the workshop where the maple tree would be situated.

After planting the young tree in the soil, she watered it and placed a large pebble with Sam’s name painted on over the newly settled dirt.

‘Sam, I want you to know that I didn’t mean to fall for someone so soon after losing you. It was never my intention to fall in love at all. But you taught me what real love is and so now I know how to recognise it when it happens. But I miss you. And that will never change. But I have to look to the future now. I have to live the life you wanted for us. I will always love you, Sam. And you’ll always be in my heart.’ She closed her eyes as a warm breeze caressed her face and she smiled.

*

After she showered and dressed in clean clothes, Mallory clipped Ruby’s lead to her collar and she set off for the pub with butterflies doing the Highland Fling in her stomach.

When she arrived at the pub Greg was already there. She grinned like a Cheshire cat when she saw him and had to restrain herself from running into his arms. She was about to shout a greeting to him where he stood behind the bar pinning up pumpkin streamers. But before she had a chance to speak and much to her dismay, a pretty dark-haired woman, presumably Kate, walked in from the back and slid her arms around him. Mallory’s heart sank. Oh. Ship = sailed, her subconscious mocked her.

Greg spotted her and waved. ‘Hey! You’re back matey! Welcome home!’

Oh, so we’re back to matey now. ‘Yup. Can’t seem to get rid of me, eh?’ she joked but Greg just frowned.

He took Kate’s hand and brought her over. ‘Kate, this is the very talented Mallory who made my chalkboard. Mallory this is my… erm… this is Kate.’

Kate held out her hand. ‘Nice to finally meet you. I was admiring your signs in Colin’s shop. Greg’s right about your talent. They’re beautiful things.’

Mallory shook the proffered hand. ‘Good to meet you, Kate. And thank you. I’m glad you like them.’

Kate seemed very nice, but a little cagey around her although Mallory had no clue why. She tried hard to be cordial, but found it tricky considering that Kate kept on making romantic gestures towards Greg in Mallory’s direct eyeline. She was like a cat marking her territory, although Greg looked uncomfortable with it all.