‘Jill!’ I nearly fall over with the shock. I can’t believe she said that.
‘It’s time. In fact it’s overdue! I just thought it would help you to hear it said out loud. Let’s just call it food for thought for now.’ Jill simply shrugs her shoulders and I’m a little lost for words. It did sound good!
‘Okay.’ I feel my head nodding.
‘Good. Now I’m saving all the videos to post on my stories when I’ve touched them up and I have more content.’
‘May I?’ I suddenly have an overwhelming urge to hold my hand on Jill’s flat stomach.
‘Please do! You will be spoiling this baby after all as their godmother.’
‘Really?’ I can actually feel my cheeks flush and my face light up.
‘Who else?’ Jill says as I gently touch her stomach. ‘Now, where is this Dan gone? Dan the man! Have you spoken any more to him? I cannot wait to be introduced properly!’
‘He’s here. Oh, I don’t know, Jill. I probably overreacted on the phone to you. Maybe it just is what it is, a holiday romance.He knows I leave tomorrow. He hasn’t mentioned a future .?.?.’
‘So, tell him how you feel! I was watching you earlier for a few minutes before I called you, I’ve never seen you so confident, so happy. You seem to belong here.’ Jill puts her hand over mine.
‘I wish,’ I tell her honestly.
‘Where is my pregnant wife.’ Max calls out as he and Dan reappear.
‘Here, darling.’ Jill waves as Max and Dan make their way over.
‘Hi, I’m Dan,’ Dan says in his white T-shirt, faded denim jeans and leather jacket. I don’t think he’s ever looked as handsome.
‘H-hello Dan,’ and I try not to laugh as I see Jill take him all in, her eyes wide, and she side-eyes me.
‘I can’t thank you enough for agreeing to help us promote the castle on your social media,’ he tells her.
‘It’s out of this world. Happy to help, Maggie is very dear to me. Very, very dear,’ Jill says, shooting Dan a warning glance that only I would recognise.
‘You’ll stay with us tonight, I said it to Max,’ Dan says.
‘We were just going to find a local B&B?’ Jill tells him.
‘No chance. You are in the bridal suite, I’ve told Mary to get it ready – after all, you guys are celebrating!’ Dan opens his arms and Jill steps in for a hug.
‘Lunch is ready!’ Mary tells us all, hobbling into the room. ‘Everyone into the Heart Ballroom.’
Inside, plates of crusty rolls, thick doorstep bread sandwiches of every description and cups of tea and coffee are all laid out. Jill and I fill our plates and sit down near the fire to catch up. When we’re done, I tell her my sad news.
‘So, my mom called me this morning,’ I say, pouring milk into our third cup of tea. ‘Mrs Schwartz died.’
‘No! Oh, Maggie, I’m so sorry,’ Jill says quietly, taking the cupfrom me by the small handle and pulling me close to her. I stay there for a few minutes just remembering a wonderful lady.
Then I sit up. ‘I know but she was ready to go see Jacob again,’ I say, ‘I’m just going to miss her so.’
‘See? Some people actually have great marriages,’ Jill says very softly.
‘They certainly did. Eat,’ I command, handing her over another plate, and through a mouthful of thick baked ham and cheddar cheese sandwich she says, ‘As do I.’ Swallowing hard.
‘I’ve been thinking since I’ve been here and met Dan and traced my roots, I need to grow up.’ I reach for another hot chicken and stuffing sandwich, hold it between my two hands, squeezing the filling tightly.
Jill looks at me, tilts her head. ‘What do you mean?’ She holds a napkin to her mouth.
‘I’ve been terrified to fall in love again because I don’t want to be hurt, and especially not like my mom was. Then I met Dan and though it’s only been days he’s proved to me that there are truly decent men in the world. Since Cooper I’ve been looking for excuses to pull away from relationships. I was putting up a barrier and I didn’t realise. Because true love is so much more than sparks or whatever. It’s a feeling that I don’t have the words for. They don’t even exist. I need to grow up and get out there again. Let myself love.’
