I blush. I didn’t really do anything, just a few shifts in the shop which I loved. “It was a pleasure. I love that little shop.” I almost feel a little emotional with the closing of this chapter. I knew it was not forever. I knew this was until I had to return to Greg. But it has come so soon. “What will happen to the shop?”
“Well, that is why I am here. I have asked Aradia to take it over, with Pete’s help, and, if you would like to, yours. The customers just love you, Harri. You’ve really earned your place there. I know it’s not the big bucks of London, but if you arestaying here in Brindlewood, there is a place for you.”
I feel sick. Why does everything have to be so perfect. Can’t he just fire me? Tell me I am awful and then Granny and Aradia can call me a disappointment and then Sam can tell me I am awful and all of this would make everything so much easier.
“That’s really kind,” is all I can say. The lump in my throat appears making it hard to talk. Sam brushes my fingers with his before holding my hand.
Aradia looks at me for a moment and can sense my hesitation. “Wonderfully kind, Jim, and I know Harri must be in shock by your kindness.” She pats him on his arm and stands. He looks confused by my reaction but smiles and stands with Aradia.
“I’ll pop by this week and we can sort out the details, Jim.” She leads him to the door as he nods.
“That would be great, Aradia. See you both.” He waves at us as he leaves and Aradia waves him down the path.
Sam tips my chin towards him. “You OK?”
“Sorry.” A tear drops down my cheek and he wipes it without hesitation.
“For what?” he asks tenderly.
I want to tell him everything. I do. But I can’t. My mouth just will not. “I’m just all emotional.” I smile, feeling a little embarrassed. “Just how kind Jim is, how kind everyone is. It’s so different to what I’m used to.”
“You’re so silly,” he teases, pulling me into him. His sage and woody scent calms my breath. He gives me a big squeeze then releases me. “Hey, so I do have to go to a little thing called work, but tonight, shall we do something?”
I nod. I want to spend any time I have left with him. God, I sound dramatic, but I know if I marry Greg, Sam will never want to see me again.
He kisses the top of my head and heads to the door pastAradia.
“See you later, love,” she calls after him. He waves back.
Aradia strolls into the kitchen and sits down on the chair she was sat on earlier. “You. Sit. Now.”
I follow her command and walk over to the kitchen table.
“First of all, that boy is just oozing love. He really is smitten.” She smiles like a Cheshire cat then drops the smile and narrows her eyes at me. “But you, Harriet. You are the opposite. What is going on?”
“What’s not going on, Aradia?” A rush of feelings fills my stomach and retches out of my throat as word vomit falls out of me. “Not only am I completely in love with the most amazing man ever, but I’m also given the opportunity of a home, a job, friends that have welcomed me into their arms and family that treats me as that, family. I am in a place that is peaceful, calm and beautiful. I have this amazing opportunity, and I can’t take it. And you will tell me I can. Because again, you are just so lovely but I can’t take it, Aradia. And then to top it off I am either losing my mind or there is a wolf loose in the Brindlewood woods which could be a dog but I am fairly sure it was a wolf and…” I stop to breathe.
Aradia throws her hands up. “Woah, woah, woah, hold on.” Aradia takes a breath herself before looking at me. “A wolf?”
I nod, still trying to inhale oxygen into my lungs. “Last night, in the woods.”
Her eyes narrow. “Harri, I have told you not to go into those woods at night. It’s not safe.”
I nod. “I’m sorry. I just needed a walk. It was fine. Sam found me.”
“Sam?” She looks puzzled.
“Yeah, he was chopping up firewood.”
Her eyebrow raises. “At night?”
“Yeah, I don’t know. Isn’t that something people do at night?”The words leaving my mouth are quick and rushed.
She pulls a face, the face of someone unsure. “So he saw the wolf too?” she questions.
“No, it ran off before he got there.”
She sits silently, looking within herself. She refills her cup with tea from the pot on the table which is probably lukewarm by now.
