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‘That would be lovely.’ Brooke smiled.
‘Come on then, Grams, let’s get you home.’ Nolan headed back out to the hallway and Clover packed her wool and the blanket she was crocheting and then followed him. She slid her feet into her shoes and put her coat on.
‘Thanks for babysitting,’ Brooke said.
‘Any time. Allegra is adorable.’ Clover gave Brooke a quick hug, then Nolan opened the door. He paused just outside it, gazing at Brooke. Clover realised he wanted to speak to the younger woman, so she slipped past him and went to the car which he’d already opened.
She watched discretely as he spoke to Brooke and saw her smile, then gently peck his cheek. When Nolan turned and headed towards the car, she could see the wide smile lighting up his face and it filled her with joy. Nolan climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine, then they both waved at Brooke.
‘So you had a good time then?’ Clover asked.
‘I did and I think Brooke did too.’
‘Do you like her?’ she asked softly.
He nodded. ‘She’s lovely but…’
‘But?’
‘She’s not ready for a relationship with someone else yet.’
‘Not yet no, but in time she will be. She’s young and she has her whole life ahead of her.’
He glanced at her. ‘I can wait, Grams.’
Clover hugged herself tight. Brooke needed time, and Nolan was prepared to wait. Who knew what could happen in the future if these two young people she adored found their way to each other?
It would make one old woman very happy indeed.
Epilogue
Brooke sat back in the deck chair and shaded her eyes with a hand. The July sunshine was warm on her skin and aromas of sun lotion, chlorine, hotdogs and onions filled the air.
‘Watch me, Mummy!’ Allegra called from the side of the pool.
‘I’m watching.’
Allegra jumped into the water, then started to swim, and Brooke’s heart swelled with pride. She was having weekly swimming lessons at the village lido and doing very well. One of Nolan’s friends was an instructor, and she held classes for children on Saturday mornings at the lido through the summer, so Brooke had paid for Allegra to join.
‘Fancy a coffee?’ Nolan asked from the deckchair next to her.
‘I’d love one, please.’
‘Latte?’
She nodded, then as he stood up, she brushed her fingers against his. He flashed her a grin then crouched down and pressed a quick kiss to her hand before heading for the steps that led to the lido café and shops.
Nothing had happened between them but they had been spending quite a lot of time together. Sometimes this was withClover and, sometimes, when Allegra was with a friend or with Clover, they’d spent some time alone. They hadn’t even kissed but Brooke was very fond of him and found his patience and consideration endearing. Nolan was one of the good guys that you read about in romance novels or heard about in movies. Being kind and caring, he had been a good friend to her. He was amazing with Allegra and with his grandmother. He was also very handsome and, even though that was the least important thing about him for Brooke, she did find herself admiring him from time to time, wondering what it would be like to kiss him or to do more if things progressed between them. Only time would tell, but with every passing day, she felt herself open a bit more to the idea and suspected that before long, she’d be able to commit herself to finding out.
‘Brooke!’
She looked across the grass to see a familiar figure ambling towards her wearing a brightly coloured kaftan and a wide brimmed straw hat.
‘Hey Clover!’ She waved back.
Not only had she been able to create a new home for her and Allegra, she’d met the lovely Nolan and made a very dear friend in Clover. The difference in their ages didn’t matter at all because they had so much in common and laughed together like she’d never laughed with anyone. Clover was able to see into Brooke’s heart in a way she didn’t think anyone ever had done before and it had made them grow as close as if they’d been family. Maybe closer in some ways because they never took a thing about their relationship for granted.
‘What a gorgeous day,’ Clover said as she sat next to Brooke.
