‘There will be a few more short-term relationships before you meet someone else who you think is The One. He may wear the uniform of your dreams, but he still isn’t The One for you. It will take you a long time to accept this but, when you do, the ending will be quick and a whole new chapter in your life will start. This is the person I was talking about earlier.’
‘Will I ever get married? All I’ve ever wanted to do is get married.’
‘I know you have. I know you don’t want to end up alone like your uncle and you won’t. You’re nothing like him. In the new chapter of your life, you’ll get together with someone very special. He’ll have the looks and personality you’ve always hoped for and treat you with such care and respect. Would you like to know his name?’
‘Do you know it?’
‘Yes. It is Steven.’
‘Steven?’
‘Yes. But beware, Sarah, your grandma’s saying that it won’t all be plain sailing. In this new chapter of your life, there’ll be options presented to you and one key moment when you have to pick between two special men – one who meant a lot in your past and one who means a lot in your present – forcing you to choose between the familiar and the unknown. Make sure you follow your heart, not your head. Following your heart will lead you to the true Steven.’
‘Can you tell me anything else about Steven? Where will I meet him? When? Will I know it’s him straightaway?’
‘I’m afraid your time’s up, Sarah. All I’ll say is that your grandma’s telling me you won’t get together until you turn thirty and that you must be patient and remain hopeful.’
‘Thirty? That can’t be right; I’m getting married when I’m twenty-four.’
‘We’ll see, Sarah. I know that’s what your Life Plan says but life doesn’t always turn out as we plan. Enjoy the ride.’
‘Surely there’s something else you can tell me about Steven. How will I know it’s him? Steven’s a common name.’
‘The name isn’t that important. Your grandma says you’ll just know he’s The One. I’m going to give you this CD and I suggest you put it somewhere safe and listen to it on your own in a week or so when you can really think about what I’ve said. Or perhaps when you hit your crossroads and it finds its way back into your life.’
‘Okay. Thanks.’
‘Your grandma says night-night and to please send her love to her two little girls and her grandson. She also says your mum will be devastated in the future when she can’t find your grandma’s bracelet. It’s not lost. It’s under the sofa. Goodbye Sarah.’
‘Thanks again.’I could hear the sounds of chairs screeching on the CD, telling me I’d got up to head for the door.
‘Oh, Sarah! Stop a moment. I’m getting a message through for you from the man I mentioned earlier. Your uncle.’
‘Uncle Alan?’
‘Yes. He says he’s so sorry that you were the one who found him. He’d give anything to not have scared you like that. He wants you to know that, although he may have been grumpy sometimes, the time you spent with him meant so much to him, and… Sorry, Sarah, he’s gone now and this doesn’t make sense to me. He says he still has one every week, but now it’s a chocolate one. Do you know what he means?’
‘A digestive. A chocolate digestive.’
With very shaky hands I leaned forwards and pressed the stop button before slumping back against the bed. ‘There’s no way she could have made that up,’ I said. ‘No way at all.’
7
‘I still can’t believe you’re here,’ Auntie Kay said while we waited at the counter of The Chocolate Poton Monday morning. ‘And so quickly. I thought you’d have to work a month’s notice.’
‘I did too, but I was owed a stack of holiday so my manager agreed to a week.’
‘That was lucky.’ Auntie Kay paid and handed me a cup of hot chocolate and a bag with a croissant in it. ‘Saves us rushing to cram everything in before I fly.’
‘I felt bad about abandoning Clare so quickly. I’m worried about her being lonely.’
‘It’s sweet that you worry about your friends, but I’m sure she’ll be fine.’
We headed slowly up Castle Street towards Seaside Blooms.I smiled as the autumn sun warmed my face and breathed deeply to take in the fresh sea air. Instead of feeling stressed at the unknown that lay ahead, I felt content and relaxed. Definitely the right decision.
‘Good to be home?’ she asked.
‘So far, so good. It feels almost as if I never moved away.’
