“You can drink and talk!” He glanced fondly back at Theo, who was laughing companionably with Erin and some of her schoolteacher friends. “Take it from me, it’s best to lay all your cards on the table from the get-go.”
Pippa sighed. Frankie was right. After all, hadn’t she and Alex fallen foul of that snag? If she’d known what Alex really wanted from his life, maybe she wouldn’t have clung on to that relationship beyond its expiration date. She squeezed Frankie’s arm and then headed over to where Wolfie was ensnared in deep conversation with Pat’s grandmother. The elderly lady had his hand gripped in her tiny ones and her eyes sparkled when they alighted upon Pippa.
“You must be the woman I’ve been hearing so much about!” Agnes greeted her.
“You’ve been gossiping about me?” Pippa said to Wolfie.
“He literally mentioned you once,” Pat reassured her.
“Yes, but thewayhe mentioned you...” Pat’s grandmother wagged her finger, “was practically an essay. She’s every bit as beautiful as you described.”
“Agnes, now I thought all that was between us,” Wolfie gently chided the woman.
“You know, I was just saying, I knew his grandfather and he was a true gentleman,” Agnes went on. “Charming, just like you, young man. I think this town is lucky to have you.”
Wolfie swallowed, visibly moved. His hand found Pippa’s and squeezed it tight. “Grandpa was a good man,” he replied hoarsely.
Pippa tugged on his hand. “As are you,” she said. Wolfie smiled at her, and Pippa was awash with love. The way Wolfie looked at her, the way he touched her… It was incomparable. She thought she’d known love with Alex, but just being in Wolfie’s presence made her feel as if a million fireworks raced beneath her skin.
Todd cleared his throat. “All right, lovebirds,” he said. “When is the prize-giving?”
“Whenever the mayor shows up,” Pippa said with a laugh.
“Um, I last saw our mayor necking Dmitri’s ouzo,” Wolfie said. “We may be waiting a while for her.”
Pippa texted Erin for an update on the mayor’s presence and was toldten minutes.She let out a sigh of relief. “Not long now,” she assured them all. “I just need to borrow this man for a moment.” She pulled on Wolfie’s arm.
“A pleasure to meet you.” Wolfie stopped and shook Agnes’s hand. “Hope to see you again.”
“Anytime!” Agnes smiled.
“What’s up?” Wolfie asked, as soon as they were out of earshot.
“I need to ask you something,” Pippa said. “And it’s—” She was interrupted by Mae’s sister, Katie, demanding to know where Mae was. “She’s at the gates,” Pippa informed her. She turned back to Wolfie, only for the winners of the Teens Wheelbarrow Race to interrupt with their clamouring to find out when the trophies would be handed out. “Ten minutes,” she told them, trying not to show her frustration.
“You won’t get a minute of peace!” Wolfie’s eyes darted around. “Follow me.” He led her down to the bottom of the garden. A cordon had been erected here to stop people wandering into the overgrown maze. Wolfie lifted it and guided Pippa through. “Come on.”
Thanks to Pippa’s efforts, the path to the centre was a little less overgrown, however not yet ready to be walked through. But Wolfie persevered in clearing a path, and soon, the cacophony of the crowds magically hushed as they finally made it to the middle of the maze where the bench still rested.
“So, what’s up?” Wolfie asked again.
“As thrilled as I am that you aren’t selling up,” Pippa said, “I just want you to be certain about what you’re taking on here. You still need to clear Carmichael’s debts.”
“You don’t need to worry about that,” he said.
“Wolfie.” Pippa grabbed his chin. “All cards on the table. It’s the only way forward.”
He nodded soberly. “Fine, fine. The truth is, I’m not sure. I’ll work something out.” He pulled her down to the bench next to him. “Selling Squires wasn’t my only option, to be fair; it merely seemed the most attractive option at the time. But I’ll work something out.”
“Are you sure?” Pippa said. “Because please don’t let your financial situation go to shit just because of me. Sell the house if it’s the best thing to do.”
He looked at her with a laugh. “The best thing for me to do is to stay here with you. Don’t you get that? I’m good with money, I’ll think of something.”
“Wow.” Pippa shook her head in disbelief. “You’re really not going to sell up and take the easy way out?”
Wolfie shrugged. “Doing the right thing isn’t always easy but deciding to do it, is.” He met her eyes earnestly. “I’m willing to put in the work, if you are.”
Pippa remembered something Frankie had told her that bleak day she’d moved her meagre possessions into Squires House. He’d said that sometimes, the worst thing to happen to you can turn out to be the best. Well, the best thing was right in front of her, and Pippa truly thought she might explode with the love she felt for this man. “Wolfie,” she said seriously. “I’d move to Kent for you.”
