‘Andy?’
‘His middle name.’
‘Steven? Jesus! Steven! You don’t think…?’
I sighed. ‘I don’t know what to think.’
The bell jingled again. ‘Well, you can’t hide in here forever,’ shesaid. ‘You’ve got a customer and an ex-boyfriend wanting you. And can you put that poor teddy down before you rip his head off?’
I looked down. My knuckles had actually turned white. Releasing my grip, I gently placed him in the crate.Focus, Sarah! You have a business to run and a friend to face. Neither of them are scary prospects.‘Can you see to the customer while I see to Andy?’
‘I’ll have to steal you back if they want flowers.’ She leaned over and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. ‘Time to face your past. It’ll be grand.’
She headed back into the shop and I took a few deep breaths before following.
‘Andy! Long time no see.’
‘Sarah!’ He gave me a kiss on the cheek then moved in for a hug. ‘It’s been too long. It’s so good to see you.’
I hugged him back but pulled away laughing when he held on a little too long, muttering something about PDAs scaring the customers and Clare away. I could tell from the hug that he was carrying a little more weight these days but it suited him. Gone was the floppy fringe from university, although his hair was still thick and dark. A very tanned face – out of place in a northern seaside town a few days before Christmas – highlighted the years spent living and working abroad.
‘Welcome back to the UK. But what are you doing here?’
‘I said I wanted to take you out for a catch-up when I got back from Dubai so here I am. You look fantastic, by the way.’
I blushed. ‘Thank you. When did you?—?’
But the bell jingled and yet another customer came in. And another. And another. So much for the last half an hour being quiet.
‘I can see you’re busy.’ Andy headed towards the door. ‘What time do you close?’
‘Half past.’
‘I’ll be back then.’
I was about to protest that I had plans, but he’d already gone and an elderly lady was wittering something about chrysanthemums. Or was it christenings?
‘What did he want?’ asked Clare when the shop finally emptied.
‘To have a catch-up.’
‘What? He came all the way back from Dubai for that?’
‘He’s back in the UK,’ I said.
‘London to here is still a trek. I take it you weren’t expecting him.’
‘Definitely not.’
‘Then why’s he turned up out of the blue? People don’t travel several hours without warning just to catch-up with their ex. Hey, do you think he’s about to tell you he made a mistake by letting you walk out of his life eight years ago and he wants you back?’
My legs felt quite weak at the prospect. I leaned against the counter to steady myself, hoping Clare wouldn’t notice.
But Clare missed nothing. ‘Sarah! I know that look. What are you thinking?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Sarah!’
