Page 109 of The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts

Amber nodded. ‘She’s just arrived,’ she told him. ‘She’s fine.’

Josh relaxed again. ‘Good. I was starting to worry.’

‘I need to talk to you,’ said Amber, glancing around them.

Josh too looked around and found that both sides of the river were absolutely packed with crowds of people.

‘Come with me back to the shop,’ said Amber, abruptly turning around.

But she seemed to slip on the frozen paving stone of the bridge as she spun around. Josh automatically grabbed her arm to steady her, but it was too late.

As if in slow motion, they both fell into the river – again.

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The shock of falling into the river almost made Amber lose her train of thought as she sat in the freezing cold water.

‘That’s so cold!’ she cried out.

‘I don’t believe this!’ said Josh, sitting next to her as the water spilled around them. ‘We’re in the river again!’

Amber began to laugh at the ridiculousness of them ending up in the river once more. And this time they had an audience, as the crowds on both sides of the bridge were now watching them.

Josh swore and stood up, the water rushing from his clothes and body. He turned and held out a hand to help her up as well. And that was what he did, she realised. He helped her out whenever she needed it. And there was no way she was going to let him go.

Her heart was thumping. Humiliation was no doubt just round the corner waiting for her if he turned her down, but she didn’t care any more. She loved him too much to worry about pride. Besides, they’d just fallen into the river. What could be more humiliating than that?

She let him pull her up and then looked at him.

Josh turned to begin to lead her out of the water, but she stood still.

‘What’s the matter?’ he asked, turning back to her when she didn’t move. ‘Are you hurt?’

She shook her head, staring up into his handsome face. ‘No.’

She took a deep breath to speak before she looked around. Everyone on the riverbanks was still watching on. So she had to do this with an audience? So be it, she thought.

So she took a step forward, grabbed him by the collar and leaned in to kiss him. This wasn’t a gentle, brief kiss on the lips. This was pure passion and love, everything she felt for him.

With a start, he drew his head back from hers.

‘What are you doing?’ he whispered, glancing over her shoulder at the crowd behind her on the lane.

She too looked up and saw that whilst everyone was looking somewhat amazed, a few were also nodding their approval.

‘I’m kissing you,’ she told him. ‘Because I wanted to and because I love you.’

‘You do?’ Josh looked utterly amazed.

‘Yes,’ she said, sounding more confident than she felt.

She then held her breath, hoping beyond everything that she hadn’t got this completely wrong.

‘I, er…’ He blew out a long sigh as he glanced over her shoulder at the waiting crowd. ‘Look, can we talk about this somewhere else?’

She shook her head. ‘Absolutely not. I want to say this right here, right now. I love you. I love him!’ she added, shouting as loudly as she could.

There were a few giggles and mutterings from the onlookers at her announcement.